The Villainess Proposed a Contractual Marriage

The dead of night.

Yulian gazed at the stars embroidered across the sky, unable to sleep.

Normally not one for insomnia, the incredible scene he had witnessed earlier refused to fade from his mind. The overwhelming impression kept resurfacing, chasing away any drowsiness.

'Was the Director originally from the Temple?'

He never would have guessed.

All the people Yulian knew from the Temple were pious and virtuous. To put it bluntly, they possessed a lofty dignity far surpassing most nobles who prided themselves on their supposed nobility.

'I can't believe it.'

Objectively speaking, Harte wasn't a bad person. If anything, Yulian judged him to have a kind nature.

But he was frivolous.

His manner of speech was casual, and his behavior far from dignified. He simply had the air of a commoner from the streets.

'That's why I had so many doubts when Count Arwel entrusted me to this place.'

Indeed, the Court Count's judgment was remarkable. No one could have imagined Harte possessed such abilities.

Yulian recalled the vivid golden light etched in his mind.

'That was definitely divine power.'

The miraculous force wielded only by those few granted a baptismal name in God's name - that was divine power.

The Temple was such a closed organization that even the Imperial Family didn't know how many baptismal name holders there were.

They could only guess that the number could be counted on one hand.

The fact that the Pope was the only publicly known holder spoke volumes.

That's why it was all the more puzzling.

'The Temple wouldn't just let someone like the Director roam free...'

One thing was certain: Harte was keeping his use of divine power a secret. Probably the bare minimum to avoid catching the Temple's eye. The fact that he revealed that minimum to Yulian meant...

'Even if it means crossing the line in an emergency, he'll protect us... I suppose that's a fair assumption.'

Last night, there were seven hunters present when he used divine power. If even one of them had regained consciousness by chance, he would have been caught for sure. Yet he cast aside his hesitation.

Yulian was deeply impressed by that decision.

'Me, who he's only known for a short time. And a girl he just met. In the end, that's the extent of our relationship. The Director has no obligation to sacrifice himself for us.

...I suppose despite his outward frivolity, his true nature is that of a Temple person after all.'

In any case, it was enough to make Yulian see Harte in a new light.

"... He's better than my father."

The thought suddenly struck him. If only he had been by the side of such a person earlier, wouldn't his current self be somewhat different?

Yulian could never forgive the current Emperor, who had left his mother to die.

He was already someone too shameful to call a father.

"How foolish..."

As dawn approached, his thoughts seemed to scatter in all directions. Yulian shook off his reverie and lay down in bed, preparing for tomorrow.

The thick blanket was warm.

---

---

A week had passed since rescuing the girl.

It was morning, with sunlight lazily filtering through the windows. The girl, who had shown no signs of waking, suddenly opened her eyes as if coming to her senses.

"Director! That child has woken up!"

Yulian, who had been keeping watch by her side, ran to inform me.

I abandoned the task of organizing food ingredients and rushed down the narrow hallway following Yulian.

Bang!

I hastily flung open the wooden door.

On the narrow bed in the small room, I saw the girl sitting up. Her unkempt pink hair was sticking out in all directions.

And her unfocused blue eyes gazed vacantly into space, as if still caught in the lingering effects of a long dream.

I knocked on the wall with my knuckles, belatedly announcing my presence.

Only then did the girl turn her gaze towards us.

"Ah..."

Her cracked voice quickly changed to a shrill cry.

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"Aah...!"

Thud!

The girl hastily retreated backward. But with the wall behind her, there was nowhere to escape.

Her words were a one-sided rejection.

"Don't come...! No, please run away... Please... Please..."

'I expected this to some extent, but still...'

The sight of her rejecting human contact with her entire body was pitiful. Even though there was no longer any need for that...

I carefully stepped forward, trying to reassure her.

"It's alright now."

"No, it's not. You don't know anything..."

"Calm down and look at me. Do you still want to hurt someone?"

"..."

The girl slowly blinked her round eyes and gradually focused on me.

Soon, her expression began to fill with surprise, and then she started shedding tears like morning dew.

"It doesn't... hurt..."

"See?"

"It doesn't... It doesn't hurt at all... Even when I see people..."

"Yes, you're completely fine."

After briefly savoring her first moment of peace, a dark shadow fell across the girl's face.

"What if it's only temporary...?"

"What is? Being okay around people?"

"...Yes."

"Ah, is that all?"

I grinned while patting the girl's head.

"You see, I happen to be an outstanding physician. I can cure symptoms like yours in no time."

"Really...? Are you a doctor?"

"Well, among other things."

I had even saved the Court Count's son from the clutches of baldness. At this point, no one could dispute my right to the title of doctor.

"So, little miss, what's your name?"

I asked despite already knowing, and the girl murmured the answer I expected.

"Tina... It's Tina."

"Right, Tina. I'm Harte. And..."

I silently signaled Yulian to come closer. Thus, the auspicious occasion of this world's male and female leads meeting in one place was arranged.

"This is Yulian."

"I am Yulian. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

"... Mm."

Yulian's stiff manner of speech seemed to raise her guard. I tapped Yulian's shoulder, giving him a light rebuke.

"Come on, you should speak more gently to a girl your age."

"Hmm, but it's difficult to change a lifelong habit in an instant. I'll try to improve gradually, Director."

"Well, that's true enough."

I'm just grateful that a prince is willing to follow instructions so readily. I find Yulian's open-mindedness quite admirable.

That's when Tina asked:

"Director...?"

"Ah, this place is actually an orphanage."

"And this man is the orphanage director," Yulian added.

At Yulian's introduction, the girl narrowed her eyes.

"So you're not a doctor...?"

"Well, I do that too."

"Oh..."

Tina nodded as if she understood.

After an appropriate interval of silence, I stood up and addressed the two children.

"Let's eat first. We'll all have our meal here... Yulian, you stay and play with Tina."

"Understood, Director. However, I hope you'll avoid overly spicy food for Tina's sake, considering she just woke up."

"Of course."

Look at that, already taking such delicate care of his woman.

With a pleased smile at the heartwarming sight, I left the room. As much as I wanted to eavesdrop on their chattering conversation, it wouldn't be right for an adult. I didn't even consider it.

'Sounds like the original plot is going off the rails from the start.'

But what of it?

As long as the kids are happy.

Those were my soft-hearted thoughts at the time.

---

---

Mealtime passed peacefully.

Fortunately, both Yulian and Tina ate their food without being picky, popping it into their small mouths.

They were both so beautiful, like living sculptures, that just looking at them was filling.

Meanwhile, Yulian kept glancing at me nervously, as if he found my presence burdensome...

In any case, Yulian seems to have hit puberty or some kind of chuunibyou phase far too early.

Now that the uneventful meal was over.

What should be done for children's health?

Why, running around and playing, of course.

Therefore...

"Yuliaaaan! What do you liiiiike? Random, game!!!"

"Ahem, wh-what... game...!"

"Tag!"

At Tina's cheerful suggestion, the random game Yulian liked was decided to be tag.

"I haven't really played tag before...? And I don't particularly like it."

"Ah... um... Then we don't have to... We shouldn't force you to do something you don't like... I, I just... I've never played with other people before... So I was envious of kids playing tag..."

When Tina dejectedly lowered her head at the harsh rejection, I seized the opportunity to jeer at Yulian.

"Trash."

"... Perhaps I'll try liking it from now on."

"Really? I'm so excited!"

Tina clapped her hands together and bounced up and down. Who could possibly refuse a girl rejoicing so innocently?

"Then I'll be 'it' first. I'll count to ten and come after you, got it? By the way, going outside the orphanage yard is obviously out. Now, try your best to run away."

"Understood."

"Okay!"

"Alright, then... One, two, three......"

Ten seconds.

I intuitively sensed the children's presence as I finally finished the countdown.

"Let the game begin."

At that moment, I touched Yulian's shoulder at a speed his ten-year-old stubby legs could never match.

Yulian, who had been running away earnestly, looked at me with a dumbfounded expression.

"Pfft, bwahahahaha! Yulian's it!"

"Th-that's unfair, Director! Is it okay for an adult to commit such an outrage without penalty in a children's game?!"

"Even a lion uses all its strength to catch a rabbit. You're probably the weakest among us. That's just how the world works."

Honestly, it's all excuses and teasing Yulian is the most fun.

When I first saw him, I thought he was a boring kid, but surprisingly, there's a certain charm in poking at him. It's fun to uncover the true nature of a child pretending to be an adult.

"Ugh..."

See that? Clenching his tiny fists and making that frustrated face. Yes, this must be a type of cuteness.

Yulian, now burdened with being 'it', gave up protesting and started counting to ten.

And so began the second round of tag.

"Eek..."

"Come on, give it your all."

Whoosh, whoosh!

I tormented Yulian with graceful movements that seemed catchable yet always eluded him. A competitive glint appeared in Yulian's eyes as he kept barely missing.

'Did I tease him too much? If Yulian focuses only on me, Tina will feel left out...'

I deliberately guided Yulian to get closer to Tina. Sensing the approaching 'it', Tina also began running around innocently.

"Oh my, Tina's close?"

"...!"

Pretending to casually mention it, I made Yulian aware of Tina's position. Judging that this unfair adult would never go easy on him, Yulian's eyes flashed towards Tina.

The distance between the two children was only three or four steps.

Without warning, Yulian changed direction towards Tina.

"Eek!"

Tina let out a shrill cry.

The contrasting emotions of Yulian and Tina - one thinking he was about to tag her, the other fearing being caught - were evident on their faces.

At least, until the thunderous sound rang out.

Boom!

The ground shook.

A cloud of dust momentarily obscured our vision.

The cause was simple.

Tina, sensing danger, had desperately stomped her foot.

In other words, a simple long jump.

Except she fully utilized her superhuman physical abilities as a half-dragon.

"Hehe..."

Tina laughed from a corner of the yard, far from the 'it'.

Yulian stared at his suddenly lost prey with a dejected face, then turned his gaze to me.

'What, why.'

I innocently shrugged my shoulders.

"I told you earlier, didn't I? Yulian, that you'd be the weakest among us."

"Th-this can't be. Then... this is just bullying!"

Yulian's body trembled. He seemed to despair at realizing he was the weakest.

He'll become a typical overpowered male lead in the future... but he's still too young now.

Even so, I showed no mercy despite his pitiful state.

"Tina! Yulian's crying!!!"

"Cr-crying...? I'm sorry, don't cry..."

"I am not crying!!!"

Yulian bellowed.

His face was bright red, but tears hadn't quite welled up yet. However, it seemed like they might start glistening if I pushed just a little more.

This should be enough.

It was time to cheer him up, as he was probably getting upset.

'I should wrap up the game of tag.'

Yulian liked walking through busy streets.

It would probably feel safe, being in the Count's domain, and he seemed to enjoy the scenery of crowds gathering.

"Kids, let's go out to the streets."

"The streets?"

"Yes."

"Wow..."

Just being able to walk among people would be a blessing for Tina. Her soft exclamation revealed her feelings.

"Yulian... let's stay out until dinner today. We'll eat there too."

"... You promise?"

"Yes, I promise."

Only then did Yulian's sullen mood start to lift.

After all, kids are still kids.

Looking at them like this, they still have a long way to go.

'I wish it could stay this peaceful...'

Somehow, dark clouds seemed to be gathering over the mountain ridge.