Chapter 11
“My bad reputation will protect you?”
Beneath his elegant, elongated eyes, his clear blue gaze narrowed as if he had just heard something absurd.
But I met that gaze and nodded firmly.
“I intend to become someone worthy of that reputation.”
In other words—I’m Your AGGRO.
“Admiral Richard Aquilus.”
It was rather amusing to see ripples form in those sapphire-like, steadfast blue eyes.
Keeping about two steps of distance, I slowly circled around him as I continued.
“Have you heard what my nickname was in Reinfeld?”
In the dim room, shadows overlapped and parted repeatedly.
“Is that something I need to know?”
“Well, if you don’t know, you can just say so honestly.”
To be fair, I didn’t really know until two months ago either.
“A natural disaster of high society, the red-haired witch, the party destroyer.”
There were a few more, but… hmm. Let’s leave out “fiancé collector.”
“These nicknames didn’t appear out of nowhere.”
The original owner of this body had quite a collection of titles.
“What do you think?”
“So you’re saying you’ll use the excuse of being my lover to behave outrageously as you please?”
Ah. I was so busy admiring my own clever idea that I hadn’t even thought of that.
The admiral’s gaze sharpened. Well, he looked like the kind of man who would personally execute a corrupt official on the spot.
I clasped my hands behind my back and shook my head.
“Don’t misunderstand. I did a lot of reflecting and repenting before coming south from Reinfeld. I even issued a public apology. In fact, I’ve become a completely new person.”
I tried to smile brightly, though with such a worn-out soul inside, I wasn’t sure how well that worked.
Still, I had become a new person. After all, my soul had been swapped out.
“It’s easy to wag one’s tongue. I cannot trust you, Lady.”
“Then don’t trust me. Watch me. Use me, Admiral.”
I shrugged, looking at the handsome man whose suspicious expression could’ve been part of a magazine spread.
“In the short term, it might hurt your reputation. But you don’t have anyone you’re interested in right now anyway, do you? If anything, it’s the opposite.”
Of course, that could change over time.
“If you do fall in love with someone, I’ll step aside cleanly.”
“And if it’s the other way around?”
“Me? Ah, about that. Realistically, I don’t want a lifelong position either. Hmm… how about a 100-day contract?”
I only suggested that number because a year felt too long, but come to think of it, in the original novel Contract Saintess, the heroine Anael also had a 100-day contract with the emperor.
The difference being, she was a real saintess—and I was now a fake villainess.
“During the contract, you can use me to fend off people approaching you.”
I’ll take care of everything even if you do nothing.
“At the same time, monitor me as much as you like. Whether I’m truly suspicious or not, whether I’m a villainess trying to use you, whether I reveal the existence of the curse to anyone else.”
And afterward, please just let me go.
I came here to enjoy the life of a wealthy, unemployed person—what kind of mess is this?
“You already are a suspicious person.”
“Because I’m too calm?”
“No.”
The admiral’s gaze passed over the dried flowers and returned to me.
“…You’re presenting terms that are far too favorable to me.”
“The fact that I get to admire your handsome face up close for 100 days is an advantage for me.”
There wasn’t a single lie in that statement.
Having exclusive access to a face worthy of world heritage status? That was an unexpected jackpot.
They say you can’t spit on a smiling face, so I smiled—but what I got in return was him stepping closer…?
“To say something so blatant—”
He closed the two-step distance between us in an instant.
Startled, I tried to step back but tripped against the table behind me and ended up sitting on it.
He stepped closer again, bracing one hand on the table beside me.
In a blink, I was trapped within his arm.
“To tremble while saying it like this… you’re the first.”
His low voice brushed past my ear.
Then, as he straightened up again, dried red petals fluttered down from his white glove.
Watching that, I moved my hands from where they had been braced behind me to rest on my knees.
The faint remnants of dead flowers clung to my fingers, which trembled slightly.
“I’m scared. That’s why I made the offer.”
But it wasn’t like saying that would make him stop doubting me—what kind of twisted hobby was this?
As if reading my thoughts, the admiral sneered.
“If you want me to stop doubting you, then be more honest about what you want.”
Beneath his long, thick lashes, his deep, lake-like eyes captured my hands.
“Then please lend me some paper and a pen.”
I don’t trust verbal agreements.
“Let’s draft a proper contract—with a confidentiality clause included.”
Mikhail Haslov quickened his pace toward the admiral’s residence.
—“Why was the carriage moved all the way here?”
—“S-some navy officer—lieutenant or captain or something—said it was a no-parking zone and told us to move it farther away…”
Other carriages were still parked there. It was clearly unreasonable.
Seeing Mikhail’s cold gaze, the coachman swallowed nervously.
Though his young lady looked intimidating, she was kind to her servants, so much so that they had begun to deny her bad reputation on her behalf.
But this young butler who served her—he had a beauty that rivaled noble sons, paired with an icy personality—making him extremely difficult to deal with.
—“A-are you angry?”
—“No. My lady fell into the water, so I came to fetch a change of clothes.”
—“Oh dear, that’s terrible! Is she hurt?”
—“She didn’t seem to be. Still, I must hurry.”
The last expression he had seen on Kalia’s face weighed heavily on his mind.
‘Come quickly.’
It was the first time he had seen Kalia Labius—who was always brazen—make such a face.
A face that looked like she might burst into tears at any moment. Urgent, fragile.
As if that emotion had transferred to him, Mikhail now felt extremely anxious.
‘Does she know the admiral? Unlikely.’
It was rare for the admiral to leave the south and come to the capital, Reinfeld.
At most, he came for discussions regarding national security—so there should’ve been no reason for him to cross paths with Kalia.
Even if they had met by chance, why would she recoil from his touch in fear?
‘Why am I so worried?’
No—this was a rational emotion.
If something happened to Kalia Labius, the Duke of Labius would hold him responsible.
So it wasn’t strange at all that he felt this way.
“I am Mikhail Haslov, butler to Lady Labius. I’ve brought a change of clothes—please allow me inside.”
Having practically run to the residence, he addressed the naval guard at the door.
“Lady Labius?”
“Yes. I was told Admiral Aquilus brought Lady Kalia here.”
The admiral was known to be a germaphobe with no interest in women—so surely he would let him in right away.
But contrary to expectation, the guard refused.
“You cannot enter right now. Wait.”
“Is there a reasonable explanation?”
“Orders have been given.”
Why would the admiral have any reason to detain Lady Labius in his residence?
“Do you understand the consequences of your actions?”
“I-I’m just following orders!”
“If it becomes known that the navy has confined the sole daughter of House Labius, you could be executed for treason.”
“W-what?! That’s ridiculous!”
“Does it sound baseless?”
Mikhail calmly and concisely explained the potential consequences of unlawfully detaining a noble lady of such status.
“M-my future grandchildren too…?”
“If you don’t want to bear full responsibility, you’d better open the door now.”
The guard, trembling, grabbed the bronze handle.
At that moment—
“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten military law out of fear of imperial law.”
A gray-haired naval officer appeared from around the corner, warning the guard.
“Gasp—Sir Zipfel!”
“I acknowledge your loyalty.”
“I-I wasn’t really going to open it—”
“Shut up.”
The unfortunate guard fell silent. Mikhail locked eyes with the officer called Zipfel.
“If you heard everything, there’s no reason to stop me.”
“That kind of threat doesn’t work on me.”
“It’s not a threat—it’s your future. Open the door.”
“My master isn’t in the imperial palace. He’s inside here.”
The longer they delayed, the more Mikhail’s vague unease solidified.
Watching Zipfel smirk as if to say what now?, Mikhail lifted his foot instead of replying.
Bang—!
“You bastard!”
“Lady Kalia!”
The heavy bronze door flew open like a plank under a single kick, and sunlight flooded the dim interior.
“My master is inside here too.”
Mikhail shook off the guard trying to stop him, dodged the officer’s punch, and pushed his way inside.
And the lady who had caused him so much worry—
“Oh! Mikhail! Hey, I’ve been waiting!”
—greeted him brightly.
Seeing that, relief surged—followed immediately by anger.
“Wait… were you just about to hit my butler?”
“Zipfel.”
“It was just arm exercise.”
At the admiral’s single word, the officer averted his gaze and made an excuse.
“Oh, then next time I’ll do some limb exercises in front of you too.”
At Kalia’s heated response, Mikhail felt strangely drained.
“What exactly were you doing here that the navy wouldn’t let me in?”
Even as he asked, he didn’t expect a significant answer.
Perhaps, since the admiral—who avoided women—was alone with one, his subordinates had tried to help by restricting access… though that was unpleasant in its own way.
In any case, judging by the admiral’s expressionless face and Kalia’s bright smile, it seemed nothing had happened—
“We decided to date!”
For a moment, Mikhail’s thoughts froze.
“I must have misheard. Please say that again—”
“Dating! A romantic relationship! But only for 100 days!”
He couldn’t process the situation.
His lady… with Admiral Aquilus… doing what?
