Gillen looked at Yuan in disbelief, and Yuan brazenly responded.
"Sign it. Cecil's waiting, isn't she?"
"I don't understand the first one. When did I ever stare at you suggestively?"
"You're doing it right now."
"I'm just looking! My eyes are naturally moist!"
"That's what people call suggestive."
Yuan didn't budge an inch.
"The second one, fine… I can see how you might feel that way. The third through sixth make sense too. But what's with the seventh and eighth? If I can't call you Marquis Hampton or Yuan, what am I supposed to call you?"
"Just call me Hampton."
What a difficult guy. Gillen barely swallowed a sigh. But despite his restraint, a sigh escaped at the ninth rule and another at the tenth.
"When did I ever look at you and say something was delicious!"
"Exactly thirteen days ago, in the study of the Blake ducal residence, you said so while eating cherry pie. With a very lecherous look and a creepy voice."
"…"
It seemed the self-proclaimed genius wasn't entirely full of hot air. Yuan had an excellent memory. But that didn't mean everything he said was correct.
"I was just saying the pie was delicious, not with any indecent intent!"
"Of course you'd say that."
"Phew…"
Gillen steadied his breathing. Cecilia was nearby. Don't raise your voice. Having trained himself for twenty years to avoid yelling in front of his young daughter, Gillen calmed himself once more.
"I'll be careful with the tenth. Pheromones are a sensitive matter."
In truth, the tenth rule pricked Gillen's conscience a bit. He had intentionally released pheromones a few times to keep Yuan from approaching Cecilia.
Properly containing pheromones was basic etiquette among trait-bearers. Unless openly seducing or threatening someone, most didn't release pheromones.
But Yuan seemed to have interpreted Gillen's pheromones as the former—seduction, not a threat.
'Now I'm starting to understand, just a tiny bit.'
Yuan's obsession with his own perfection played a role, but Gillen's pheromones had solidified his misunderstanding from the start.
In the end, Gillen signed the absurd magical contract.
Party A: Yuan Hampton. Party B: Gillen Blake. Duration: While staying in Capelli. If Party B violates the contract, they must fulfill Party A's demands equal to the number of violated clauses, with no restrictions on the demands.
Gillen realized that if he broke even one clause, Yuan would likely demand a meeting with Cecilia.
'That's absolutely not happening.'
For the six weeks in Capelli, Gillen had to avoid Yuan as much as possible, prevent him from interfering, and advance Cecilia and Hexion's relationship. It was a tough challenge, but not entirely hopeless.
Fight fire with fire. Fortunately, Gillen had his greatest ally right now.
"It seemed the conversation was dragging on, so I came to check. Are you alright, Duke?"
The future thief—no, the future son-in-law, Hexion.
"I'm fine, Your Highness. I was just about to head back. I kept you waiting while catching up with Hampton. My apologies."
"No worries. Cecil seemed like she wanted to rest, so I came to suggest continuing any remaining talk at the lord's castle. You seem surprisingly close with Marquis Hampton."
Hexion said with a good-natured smile, not even glancing at Yuan standing before Gillen.
If anyone else had said it, it might've been taken as a subtle jab, but this was the male protagonist of this world, someone who wouldn't know tact if it hit him. He likely had no intention of slighting Yuan or blaming Gillen.
But Yuan's cheeks flushed slightly with humiliation, as if he thought the crown prince was passively-aggressively angry at him.
Gillen simply gave Hexion a bright smile.
For the next six weeks… I'm counting on you, male lead.
Since it wasn't yet time for dinner, Gillen's party was first shown to their rooms. Hexion was assigned the largest room on the third floor, while Gillen and Cecilia were placed on the second floor. The problem was the location of Cecilia's room. It was right next to the lord's room, traditionally used by the lord's wife.
Upon reaching the second floor and realizing this, Gillen was about to protest with a flushed face, but Cecilia was quicker.
"Yuan, I don't like that room. Honestly, it feels a bit creepy. How could you give a female omega guest such a meaningful room? It's perfect for causing misunderstandings."
Gillen looked fondly at his progressive, intelligent, and confident daughter. Who raised her to speak so well?
"But Cecil, you're going to be my wife, so it's only right you use that room."
"…?"
Gillen stared at Yuan in disbelief. How could such a disaster happen less than an hour after they were put together?
Hexion, too, looked at Yuan with a dumbfounded expression. Gillen blinked and thought to himself. My strategy to fight fire with fire… The month I spent blocking him despite the stigma of being called his admirer…
"That I'm going to be your wife?"
"Yeah. We promised ten years ago. To get married."
The unusually innocent remark from Yuan lightened the mood a bit. Gillen let out an awkward "Ha! Ha! Ha!" and said.
"What a cute promise. I don't know when or where you two met, but ten years ago, Cecilia would've been a thirteen-year-old little lady."
"Quite adorable. For a moment, I thought you were seriously talking about marriage, Marquis."
Hexion chimed in.
But Yuan, looking confused, responded.
"The promise from ten years ago was obviously just kids' play. I'll send a formal proposal later. I've already mentioned it to Duke Blake."
Yeah, you mentioned it. Over and over. That's why I blocked you.
Gillen grinned and subtly pulled Cecilia behind him.
"But I told you, didn't I? Cecilia's consent is needed for a marriage to happen. I want my daughter to marry the man she loves when she's ready."
"Right, Yuan. What does it change that you told my dad? You haven't even sent a proposal yet. And I have no intention of marrying you."
Cecilia peeked out from behind Gillen and said.
"Dad, let's switch rooms."
"Huh? Sure, let's do that."
Gillen agreed to Cecilia's suggestion without much thought. Soon, Cecilia disappeared with the servants carrying her luggage to the room at the far end of the second floor. Hexion, fidgeting as he watched Cecilia's retreating figure, headed to the third floor.
And… on the second-floor hallway, only Gillen and Yuan remained.