The contract continued.
Now I had only two chances left.
I didn’t intend to touch the existing contract clauses. They were written by Abel unilaterally, but there was nothing unreasonable about them.
What remained was the method of adding clauses to the contract.
“I’ll add a clause. Abel von Hardenberg will provide as much information about the Imperial Family to Adele von Este as possible.”
As soon as I said that, the number dropped to 1. A pure white flame began to write down the clause I suggested as the sixth clause.
Abel, who had been quietly watching, slightly lowered the paper he was holding.
“I will delete the sixth clause.”
Before his words even finished, the text turned white and disappeared. I looked at him in shock at his sudden choice to delete it.
With a questioning gaze, I stared at Abel, and he slowly shook his head.
“The secret of the Imperial Family is distorted the moment it is spoken.”
“What does that mean?”
What a strange thing to say. I tilted my head, looking at him.
“It means exactly what it says. For example…”
Abel paused for a moment and then opened his mouth again.
“□■□□□■■■■”
I hesitated at the incomprehensible language coming from his lips. Words I couldn’t understand swirled around in my ears, making my head dizzy.
I instinctively covered my ears with both hands, feeling a chilling sensation that seemed to penetrate my brain. Abel, watching me, stopped speaking altogether.
The buzzing sound lingered in my ears, still tormenting me.
“What on earth…”
“It’s less distorted in this space.”
“Less distorted?”
Then how does it sound in reality? The sound I just heard felt quite unpleasant.
Was this what it meant that I couldn’t talk about the Imperial Family’s secrets? After all, even if I tried to speak, I wouldn’t understand and only feel discomfort.
But if that were the case, there was a contradiction.
“How could the princess talk about secrets?”
She clearly explained about the Emperor’s Hand in the library back then. If Abel was right, shouldn’t the princess also be unable to speak about the secrets?
He shook his head again at my question.
“The royal family is an exception. Otherwise, the Emperor would be restricted too.”
An exception.
That meant what Estelle had told me about the Emperor was troubling.
‘…Wait, could it be that time too?’
I recalled the last conversation we had.
“Do you happen to know where His Majesty the Emperor’s hometown is?”
“It’s Ark, the capital of the Kingdom of Prillecha.”
“That’s right. It’s been a long time since it was destroyed by the Empire.”
“Did that give you a hint?”
Thinking back, she never directly mentioned anything suspicious about the Imperial Family. She only referenced the Emperor’s hometown in a roundabout way.
The fact that the Emperor himself destroyed his hometown was information I deduced from my knowledge of imperial history.
Was what Estelle said a “hint” in that sense?
Finally, the questions began to clear up, and the situation slowly started to fit together.
“I have one last chance left.”
At Abel’s words, I shook my head, shaking off my thoughts. The information on the Imperial Family could be sorted later. What was important now was completing the contract with him.
There was one last opportunity left to change the clause.
As I pondered what to add as a clause, one idea sparked in my mind.
It might seem a bit cowardly, but as long as I kept the lines, wouldn’t it be fine?
“I’ll add a clause. Abel von Hardenberg must grant what Adele von Este desires three times.”
“Interesting.”
Abel crossed his arms and looked at me as if intrigued. Feeling a bit uneasy, I averted my gaze, and he chuckled.
“You’re surprisingly greedy.”
“Is that okay?”
“Well, it’s not really a problem.”
Hearing Abel say that, I let out a sigh of relief.
What I asked for was akin to wishing for additional opportunity from a wish-granting lamp.
I was worried he might dislike it, but it seems that concern was unfounded.
The pure white flame began to write the sixth clause on the paper. Simultaneously, the number changed to 0 and then completely vanished.
Abel scanned the contract clauses and then spoke.
“Here’s the contract.”
First, Abel von Hardenberg will be engaged to Adele von Este for one year and will assist his fiancée as much as possible.
Second, in return, the exclusive rights over the Este Count’s company will be taken by the House of Hardenberg for one year.
Third, if necessary, the contract can be extended or canceled through mutual consent. Both parties must be of sound mind during this agreement.
Fourth, if necessary, Adele von Este will cooperate in the treason of Abel von Hardenberg.
Fifth, ‘if necessary’ as mentioned in the above clauses refers to when both parties have mutually consented in a sound mind.
Sixth, Abel von Hardenberg must grant what Adele von Este desires three times.
“Is that sufficient?”
“Yes.”
I had a total of three opportunities to receive help from Abel. That was more than enough.
The reason I wanted to limit it to three was that I didn’t want to earn his dislike.
After all, the number three was just a spur-of-the-moment thing I blurted out.
“The contract is ready.”
The papers I held fluttered and flew away. Two sheets intertwined in the center and soon merged into one.
A small golden box eventually revealed itself.
“What is this…”
I swallowed involuntarily at the sight of the box exuding a sacred aura.
Abel slowly approached the box and took out a dagger from his belongings.
Swish.
Without any hesitation, he cut his finger. Without a trace of pain, he let the blood drip onto the golden box.
As the droplets seeped in, the box soon shone with a white light.
“Are you okay with this?”
“Yes.”
Seeing blood wasn’t new to me, and I found nothing particularly scary about it. Stepping closer to the golden box, Abel offered the dagger to me.
I took the dagger and cut my finger. A sharp pain accompanied the flow of blood down my wrist.
Had it been before I experienced death, I might have screamed, but now I felt nothing but indifference. I placed my hand over the box.
The dripping blood seeped into the box and began to emit a red glow.
Buzz…
With a momentary vibration, the box began to scatter into tiny particles of light.
“The contract has been completed.”
The light particles gathered on the back of my right hand and began to draw a white pattern. The sensation felt like something was searing me, causing me to frown involuntarily.
Before long, the pattern completed itself and emitted a white glow.
“What is this…”
A white symbol made of three strokes.
“The contract’s token is an artifact passed down through the House of Hardenberg for generations.”
An artifact that demonstrates absolute power in fulfilling the contract. Given the conditions are met correctly, it can compel any action from the contractor.
“The conditions are simple.”
Both parties involved in the contract must perceive it as equitable.
Do not betray each other’s trust during the contract process.
On the surface, it seems like simple conditions, but they weren’t easy at all. Without mutual trust, it was impossible to even form the contract.
“Then this symbol…”
“It signifies your right to request something from me.”
Abel added that as long as it didn’t relate to life and death, I could say anything.
Well, looking at the conditions, it makes sense that an artifact pursuing fairness couldn’t carry out orders related to life.
Moreover, even if such commands could be made, I didn’t want to.
Buzz…
The black space began to split open with white cracks. Soon it shattered into black fragments.
The familiar scenery of the garden reappeared before my eyes.
I looked at the pattern on the back of my hand and then at Abel’s face. This meant I practically had three wishes I could use on him now.
“I have three chances in total.”
“Indeed.”
“How you use those opportunities will be up to you.”
Three chances, huh.
Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind.
What happens if I use a chance and then rewind time?
Will the wish I made turn into nothing and the symbol return? Or will it remain unchanged?
I didn’t particularly want to test it out. If by any chance, it didn’t return, I’d just waste an opportunity.
Moreover, the contract’s token is an artifact practically equivalent to a family heirloom of House Hardenberg. I couldn’t be sure if the contract would be affected even if I rewound time.
“By the way, was there a particular reason for setting it to three?”
He hesitated at my question.
I noticed him tilting his head slightly. Abel seemed to pause momentarily due to his pure curiosity, hesitating for a moment.
“Well…”
Do I really have to say this?
If I do, he’ll likely tease me for it.
No, he would probably find some way to tease me even if I didn’t say anything.
“I thought you might dislike it if it went beyond that.”
“…I see.”
My response seemed to surprise him, as he flinched for a moment.
Turning my head, I saw the corner of Abel’s mouth slightly rise. When I glared at him with a frown, that smirk rose even more.
“Indeed, you’ve got a surprisingly soft side. Our lovely Adele.”
“…You’re annoying.”
This was exactly why I didn’t want to say it.
Whether he knew my thoughts or not, Abel simply smiled quietly. It was an even more infuriating reaction than usual when he was openly teasing me.
“…I’ll be going now.”
“Sure. See you next time.”
Before his words even ended, I quickly walked away.
Truly, he was an annoyingly unfortunate man.
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