The contract continued.
Now, I have only two chances left.
I had no intention of altering the existing contract terms. Even though these were written unilaterally by Abel, they were not unreasonable.
The remaining course of action was to add a new term to the contract.
“I will add a condition. Abel von Hardenberg shall provide Adelle von Este with as much information as possible about the royal family.”
At the same moment, the number of remaining attempts reduced to one. A pristine white flame began etching my suggested term as the sixth clause of the contract.
Abel, who had been quietly observing this process, slightly lowered the paper he was holding.
“I revoke the sixth condition.”
As soon as he spoke, the written characters vanished in a blaze of bright, white light. Perplexed by his sudden decision to delete the clause, I looked at him in bewilderment.
Meeting my questioning gaze, Abel slowly shook his head.
“State secrets of the royal family are distorted the moment they are spoken aloud.”
“What do you mean..”
I tilted my head in confusion as his statement made little sense.
“Take it literally. For instance..”
After a brief pause, Abel continued.
“□■□□□■■■■”
A language beyond comprehension flowed from his lips. The unintelligible words resonated in my ears, creating a disorienting sensation in my mind.
Instinctively, I covered my ears against the invasive sound that infiltrated my thoughts. Abel ceased speaking as he watched me.
The buzz from that eerie sound continued to haunt me.
“What is this…?”
“In the void space, it’s already a milder version of the distortion.”
“You call this mild?”
If this was mild, what would the distortion sound like in reality? Even this mild version felt quite unpleasant.
So, the inability to discuss royal secrets meant more than just confidentiality—it could lead to such an aversive experience.
But a contradiction arose in my mind.
“How does the princess manage to talk about these secrets then?”
I recalled her explaining the emperor’s hand in the library. If what Abel said was true, shouldn’t the princess also be unable to speak about the royal secrets?
To my query, Abel shook his head again.
“Royal family members are exceptions. Otherwise, even the emperor would face restrictions.”
An exception then.
This made me question what Estelle had told me about the emperor.
“—Wait, could it be that even back then..”
I revisited my last conversation with her.
“Do you happen to know where His Majesty the Emperor hails from?”
“From the capital of the Frillettch Kingdom: Ark.”
“That’s correct. It’s been a long time since it fell to the Arie Empire.”
“Did my hint help?”
Upon reflection, she had not directly addressed the mysterious aspects of the royal family. She merely skirted around the topic by mentioning the emperor’s hometown.
The revelation that the emperor himself had led to the downfall of his homeland came from my own understanding of imperial history.
Did Estelle call it a “hint” for this very reason?
As the pieces of the puzzle began to fit, my prior doubts started to dissolve.
“We are down to the last chance.”
At Abel’s words, I shook my head to clear my thoughts. Details about the royal family could be sorted out later. The present objective was completing this contract with him.
The final chance to amend the conditions remained.
While considering what to add, an idea came to mind.
Though it might seem somewhat deceitful, as long as I stayed within ethical bounds, it should be acceptable.
“I will add this condition. Abel von Hardenberg must grant Adelle von Este’s wishes, up to three times.”
“Ho.”
Abel leaned slightly with crossed arms while looking at me with evident interest. Feeling slightly uneasy, I averted my gaze, which only made him smirk.
“So, you’re more greedy than I thought.”
“Is it okay?”
“Not necessarily bad.”
Relief washed over me as I listened to Abel’s response.
What I suggested felt similar to asking a genie in a lamp to multiply the opportunities to make a wish.
I had briefly worried if he might disapprove, but it appeared my concern was unfounded.
A pristine white flame started inscribing the sixth condition onto the paper, while the remaining chances counter dropped to zero and then disappeared.
Abel skimmed through the contract terms before speaking.
“The contract stands as follows.”
First, Abel von Hardenberg shall serve as the fiancé of Adelle von Este for a year, providing as much support as possible to his fiancée, Adelle.
Second, in return, Hardenberg will have an exclusive monopoly over the commerce of the Este family for one year.
Third, either party can extend or cancel the contract with mutual agreement, provided both are in sound minds during the decision-making process.
Fourth, when necessary, Adelle von Este will cooperate with Abel von Hardenberg’s acts of treason.
Fifth, the term “necessary” refers to instances where mutual agreement is reached in sound minds.
Sixth, Abel von Hardenberg must fulfill three wishes of Adelle von Este.
“Is this sufficient?”
“Yes.”
Three opportunities to call upon Abel’s assistance would be more than enough.
The reason I specifically limited it to three was that I did not want to incur his enmity.
Besides, suggesting three opportunities was itself a gamble.
“The preparation for the contract is complete.”
The papers he had held fluttered in the air and intertwined at the center, merging into one.
A small, golden box then revealed itself.
“This is..”
Its sacred aura made me unconsciously gulp.
Abel slowly approached the box and drew a dagger from his pocket.
With no hesitations, he slashed his finger. Blood dripped onto the golden box as Abel remained impassive.
The droplets permeated the box, which started glowing with white light.
“Is it okay?”
“Yes.”
Seeing blood was nothing new and did not scare me. As Abel handed over the dagger, I approached the golden box and took it.
Drawing it across my finger caused a sharp sting, blood trickling down my wrist.
I had grown numb to such discomfort, unlike in the past, where the sight of blood would have made me shriek.
Placing my hand on the box, the blood soaked in, and the box glowed with a red hue.
A soft vibration followed, as the box dispersed into tiny beams of light.
“The contract is complete.”
The light gathered on the back of my right hand, tracing a pure white pattern. Despite the searing pain it brought, I winced only slightly.
Eventually, the pattern finished and emitted its own soft, white glow.
“This…”
A white pattern consisting of three strokes had formed.
“The seal of the contract has been an heirloom of the Hardenberg family.”
A relic that wields absolute power in enforcing the contract. If the necessary conditions are met, it can compel the contract holder to act in any manner.
“The conditions are simple.”
Both parties of the contract must perceive it as fair. During the contract process, one must not betray the other’s trust.
At first glance, it might seem straightforward, but it’s not easy to achieve. Without mutual trust, a contract cannot even be formed.
“Then, does this mark..”
“Represent the right to request something from me.”
Abel added that I could ask for anything as long as it does not involve life and death.
Of course, considering the artifact’s conditions favoring fairness, an order related to life and death wouldn’t be possible, nor would I wish to make such a request.
As the white cracks spread across the dark void, the black pieces soon shattered.
The familiar garden landscape reappeared before my eyes.
I looked at the pattern on my wrist and Abel’s face. With this, I now had, in essence, three wish opportunities from Abel.
“You have three chances.”
“That’s correct.”
“You decide how to use those opportunities.”
Three chances.
A fleeting question then crossed my mind.
What happens if I use one opportunity and then return in time?
Would the event be undone, making the pattern revert, or would it stay the same?
I was not about to experiment with it. If it did not return, I’d effectively waste one chance.
Moreover, the Hardenberg family treasure artifact might not be influenced by time travel.
“Come to think of it, was there a reason for limiting it to three?”
His question made me falter slightly.
I noticed his slight tilt of the head, signaling genuine curiosity. I hesitated a moment before responding.
“That..”
Did I really need to say it?
If I did, surely he would tease me.
Unless, if I didn’t say it, wouldn’t he find that amusing as well?
“Because I thought Abel might dislike it if it’s more than that.”
“..I see.”
His momentary reaction showed he was a bit surprised by my reply.
I saw a subtle upward curve on his lips as he turned his head. Frowning at him, his smirk only became more pronounced.
“Indeed, there’s a softer side to you than I expected, our dear Adelle.”
“..Shut up!”
That’s why I didn’t want to say it.
Aware or unaware, Abel chuckled quietly. His reaction was more exasperating than his usual open mockery.
“..I’ll take my leave now.”
“Alright. See you next time.”
Before his words even finished, I strode determinedly ahead.
Truly, he was the most aggravating man in myriad ways.
