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Translator: penny
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Contract Engagement is a Cliché
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"You may... enter."
It took quite a while before permission came from beyond the door.
As I turned the doorknob and stepped inside, Roselia stood by the window, exuding the dignified poise of an imperial princess as if nothing had happened.
Her poker face was so flawless it made me wonder if the earlier clattering noises had been a hallucination.
But my eyes couldn't be fooled.
The edge of the bed was slightly rumpled, and her breathing—leaking out ever so faintly—was as erratic as if she'd just sprinted a hundred meters flat out.
Of course, her effort to appear nonchalant was admirable, so I sat on the sofa opposite without commenting.
"Have you had a chance to compose yourself?"
"...Yes, thanks to you."
Roselia naturally took a seat on the sofa across from me.
Her fingertips still trembled faintly, though, as if the tension hadn't fully ebbed.
"Then let's get started. That new relationship Your Highness mentioned."
"..."
"To be frank, I'm skeptical. As far as I know, the Second Imperial Princess's position in the empire isn't all that secure."
I said it deliberately harshly.
Whatever the case, with no information to go on, I had to make her spill everything herself by any means necessary.
Whether through negotiation, intimidation, or aid—I'd use whatever worked.
"Low in the line of imperial succession, with scant support in the imperial court. And this northern visit? A solo act without permission from His Majesty or even the north itself."
I rested my chin on my hand and stared straight at her.
"Coldly speaking, Your Highness doesn't seem to have any cards that would benefit Kaltstein. So why should I take the risk and ally with you?"
A blunt, arrogant question.
But Roselia didn't back down.
She bit her lip for a moment, then lifted her head with resolve.
"I admit it. As you say, Duke, the current Roselia de Loen is... powerless."
A straightforward admission.
"Influence in the empire? None. Imperial backing? Can't count on it. I'm just a nominal princess... no, little more than a glorified vessel for bearing a child with imperial succession rights someday."
"Someone who knows that— what gave you the nerve to come to me?"
"But."
Her eyes changed.
The fragile woman's gaze vanished in an instant, replaced by the venomous glint of a survivor clawing for life.
"I possess information that neither you, the imperial family, nor anyone else knows."
"Information?"
"Yes. About what will happen in this empire going forward. And the crisis that will befall Kaltstein."
She put all her force into her voice.
"Even secrets of the north that you yourself don't know."
'Ho.'
I raised an eyebrow, feigning intrigue.
Inside, I was already piecing it together—'Ah, the original story details I don't know?'—but outwardly, I kept up the act.
Gaining confidence from my reaction, she leaned forward and spoke rapidly.
"Let me propose a deal, Duke."
"I'm listening."
"Allow me... to stay here in Kaltstein Castle for the time being. Without interference from anyone, legitimately and safely."
"..."
As expected—I'd overheard enough earlier to anticipate it.
The princess wanted a safe haven.
I pretended to ponder in silence before slowly opening my mouth.
"...A request for protection, then. What's the price?"
"I'll reveal to you—no, to Kaltstein—a secret that could grant influence over the entire continent, beyond even the empire."
"A secret to wield influence across the continent."
She was betting big.
I chuckled softly, fiddling with the teacup on the table.
"Well. As you know, the north is already a power comparable to the Loen Empire. We're at a point where we could easily go our separate ways. But Kaltstein has no need to discard the empire's shield voluntarily, so we maintain this relationship...
I got a bit long-winded there. Anyway, my point is, do we really need such a grand secret?"
"You will!"
Roselia cried out desperately.
"It's not just mere power! If you use it well, Duke, it could change Kaltstein's fate entirely."
"..."
Her eyes gleamed with desperate earnestness.
She was pushing this hard—refusing would be impolite.
Besides, I was curious what this 'secret' was and just how messed up her idea of 'fate' really was.
I let the moment hang, then slowly nodded.
"...If you put it that way, very well. I accept your proposal."
"Ah...!"
Color bloomed on Roselia's face.
But it was too early to relax.
"However, there's one issue to resolve."
"An issue? What?"
"Simple. Your Highness needs a legitimate reason to stay here. Something ironclad enough to convince His Majesty and the central nobles. Otherwise, rumors might spread that I'm holding the princess hostage."
"Well... couldn't you frame it as political asylum or convalescence...?"
"Excuses like that won't fly. His Majesty would march an army here demanding his daughter back."
"Th-then...?"
I grinned, pulling out my pre-prepared scenario.
"There's only one way."
"What is it?"
"Your Highness is madly in love with me."
"...Pardon?"
Roselia's eyes widened as if they might pop out.
Who knew human whites could expand like that.
Or maybe everyone in this romance-fantasy world got an appearance buff? Fascinating.
"Non-aggression pacts? Imperial orders? Dignity? None of that matters—she's utterly smitten with Noxion von Kaltstein."
I held up a finger.
"Desperate enough to sneak out in the dead of night. She raced all the way to this distant north to seduce me."
"W-wait, Duke? What do you...?"
"In the end, she succeeds in seducing me, and we get engaged. How's that? His Majesty might even buy it as his lovestruck daughter running off. Plus, he'd be pleased to have imperial blood in Kaltstein's inner circle."
"..."
Having heard my full plan, the possessor looked utterly dumbfounded, struck dumb like she'd swallowed honey.
Her face flushed red, then paled, cycling repeatedly.
She was probably cursing inwardly: 'This madman's talking nonsense.'
But she couldn't refute it.
She had no real options right now.
After flapping her mouth silently for a while, she finally let out a deep sigh of resignation.
"...Haa."
"Not to your liking?"
"No... it's perfect. So perfect it's almost tear-inducing."
She replied in a soulless voice.
"Fine. We'll go with that. I'll say I chased after you in mad love. The letters... I'll forge a few later as proof."
Deal struck.
I smiled in satisfaction and extended my hand.
"Pleased to be working with you, fiancée Your Highness."
"...Yes, Duke."
She gripped my hand, teeth gritted.
Her squeeze felt like she wanted an arm-wrestling match.
Cute.
"Now, as promised."
I leaned back and asked.
"Shall we hear that grand secret?"
"...Hoo."
Roselia took a deep breath, glanced around, and lowered her voice.
"This... will shock you the moment you hear it."
Her eyes grew solemnly grave.
"Do you know the tale of an ancient dragon that dwelt in the northern snow-capped peaks of Drakenspitze, long before the Loen Empire was even founded...?"
"I do. It's a story every head of Kaltstein, including me, grew up hearing. A fairy tale."
"If that fairy tale's content isn't fiction, but fact... could you believe it?"
Her voice was low and serious.
Like a prophet unveiling the world's secrets.
But my reaction was icy.
"...Ha."
I let out a hollow laugh and leaned back.
Expectations high, disappointment followed.
A dragon lair? That's all she had?
"Your Highness, didn't I just say? It's a tale passed down through Kaltstein heads."
I tapped the teacup on the table with my finger.
"Meaning our ancestors scoured the Drakenspitze range countless times. For centuries, mobilizing thousands of knights and mages."
Anyone could grasp how insane it was to comb a single mountain in the north's brutal cold like that.
"The result? Nothing. Not a single dragon scale. So the conclusion was it's just a myth romanticizing the north's harshness."
I didn't hide my disappointment.
"A secret to influence the continent, you said. And all you bring is an old wives' tale. I expected too much."
After pushing that hard, anyone normal would back off.
But this woman didn't bat an eye.
Instead, with a relaxed smile as if she'd anticipated it, she said,
"A natural reaction. Kaltstein's search parties failed not due to incompetence, but because they didn't know the method."
"...Method?"
"A dragon lair doesn't reveal itself by digging through snow. It requires specific conditions, a specific time, and... a specific location all aligning to open the entrance."
She lifted her chin confidently.
"And I know all those conditions. Down to the exact position."
"..."
This wasn't the bluff of a gambler without evidence.
If anything, it was the gaze of a test-taker on exam day holding all the answer keys.
Utter confidence.
'Is it really there?'
I mentally crunched the numbers.
This woman knew the original story's future info.
If the novel had an episode where the dragon lair was found?
And the protagonist claimed its treasures for immense power?
Then it made sense why Kaltstein's parties had dug in vain for centuries.
Like hunting a hidden dungeon without a guide.
'Nothing to lose.'
If she lied, I could always turn her into a snowman later.
But if true? Kaltstein would gain wealth and power to devour the empire, transcending a mere northern overlord.
That said, she was pretty sloppy otherwise.
Writing in Korean—nobody else here would understand, so it was safe enough casually.
Of course, if scrutinized, 'The princess is suddenly using a strange language! She's gone mad!' But excuses like studying ancient tongues or minority dialects could muddle through.
Explaining how a palace shut-in knew such info? That's trickier.
If I weren't a modern soul myself or hadn't spotted she was possessed, I'd have suspected her outright.
Worst case, booted her from the north.
Though that timeline no longer exists.
'Or maybe the sudden possession and life-or-death panic left no room for such thoughts.'
I pretended to mull it over, then slowly nodded.
"Very well. I'll trust you once."
"A wise choice."
"But with conditions. If your information proves false, the price will be severe. Far beyond mere banishment from the north."
Even with my chilling warning, she stood firm.
"Doesn't matter. My info's solid. In exchange, I'll add one condition."
"Go ahead."
"The lair's treasures—gold, jewels, artifacts. Give me exactly thirty percent."
"Thirty percent?"
"Cheap for the intel value. You take seventy—no complaints, right?"
I chuckled.
Bold.
A penniless girl demanding thirty percent.
But it showed her conviction.
"Agreed. If the lair exists and holds treasure, gladly. If those old tales are true, centuries of wealth won't run dry anyway."
"Thank you, Duke."
True relief finally crossed her face.
The deal's framework was set.
Details remained.
I placed my interlaced hands on the table and shifted topics.
"Now, shall we flesh out our passionate love story?"
"...Haa—love story, romance, yeah, crucial. Sure. Fine."
Roselia's expression soured again.
"Our tale needs a convincing narrative to fool His Majesty and the nobles."
I recited my premeditated script.
"Last year's Founding Festival and Crown Prince investiture banquet... Remember it?"
"...Yeees."
"??"
Why the awkward face all of a sudden... Ah!
Possession happened after that, huh.
No choice—the only time she could've seen me in the empire was then.
"You were gazing at the moon alone on the terrace, spotted me passing by, and fell at first sight. Thoughts?"
"...Isn't it too cliché?"
"Clichés work because they're believable. People swoon easier for predictable romance."
I raised another finger.
"Afterward, you sent dozens of letters north, but gruff me ignored them. Burning with love, you finally ran away to confess in person."
"...Um, Duke? Why's the story all about me pining?"
"Because you're the desperate one. You might not know, but princesses from countless kingdoms have proposed to me since I was ten. If I may pat my own back, I'm Loen's finest gem."
"..."
Her face screamed she wanted to rebut every point, but since I held the upper hand in this deal, she swallowed it bitterly and nodded.
"Fine. I'll play the fool madly in love with you. Letters... I'll whip up a few as evidence later."
"Excellent attitude, fiancée Your Highness."
I stood.
Conversation was done.
Any longer, and Seria waiting outside might worry.
"Stay in this annex for tonight. Tell the servants if you need anything—they'll prepare it."
"Thank you for your consideration."
"And... at dawn tomorrow, move to the main keep."
"The main keep? No need to go that far..."
"We're lovers engaged in passion—if I house you like a guest in the annex, it'll raise suspicions."
I gripped the door handle with a grin.
"The late Duchess's room is empty now. Lavish and spacious—perfect for your station."
"..."
Duchess's room.
She swallowed dryly at the words.
Feeling the no-escape reality of playing future Duchess, no doubt.
"Then, good night. See you tomorrow."
I bowed politely and exited.
Click.
The moment the door shut, a pillow flew from within again.
"Uwaaaah!! My fate!!"
Standing in the hall, my lips curled high hearing her wail.
This was way more fun than expected. Dragon lair and fake fiancée.
The sudden duke inheritance had irked and saddened me a bit, but it seemed duke life would be anything but dull.