Bala: The Duke's Contract Wife

Marriage Contract

Rose did not answer. 

That question was a trap. 

She knew her situation was like a double-edged sword. If she stayed in the Ellyseria Kingdom, Anisa and the royal family would make her suffer. If she went to Maraina ... she might be killed by this man in front of her. 

See? There is the word 'might,' an uncertainty. 

Twenty-two years with the Fullmeir family made Rose finally chose the uncertain. After all, Rose had her own cards to play with. If she played right, she could stay alive. Maybe even live comfortably. 

Victor clicked his tongue. He did not like to see the girl ignoring him. The man picked up some papers on his desk containing reports about his prospective wife. One paper was fully filled with various nicknames belonging to the girl. The rest was a list of the rumors and scandals she has had. 

In short, Rose Fullmeir was a ticking time bomb. 

Having a wife like that would surely only endanger the Maraina family's social standing. And Victor could not risk his popularity any more. From the start, the Maraina family's social standing was on the edge. This was because Victor was not good at navigating the social and political environment. 

Victor was a man who spoke with his sword, not with his mouth or fakery. Victor could read his opponents' strategies on a battlefield. However, he must admit that he was poor in reading social circles. 

Standing before him was a lithe woman. No, she looked more like a girl. She had long, jet black hair and ruby eyes. He could not see her full facial features because the girl was wearing a mask covering half of her face. 

"Looks like the rumors about your beastly look are true," said Victor. "Seeing you even hide your face now." 

Rose did not answer again. 

Finally, Victor sighed. "I have no intention of accepting you as my wife. Go home." 

"You will let a woman be food for the beasts in the cold Maraina?" It was the first time Rose had spoken. Her voice was solid. No sign of fear. "It will only ruin your reputation more." 

"No," replied Victor, "I am giving the girl the opportunity to return home safely." He spoke the last word with emphasis. 

"You'll regret throwing me away, Duke." Hearing Rose's words, Victor looked back at the red eyes sharply. He thought Rose would be a spoiled annoying girl. But it was clear that she was not what he expected. 

Victor raised his eyebrows, "I would regret to get rid of the girl nicknamed 'The Ugly Witch from the South'? 

Rose did not flinch at the insult.

"I honestly don't understand why Pierre sacrificed his life for you," said Victor, more to himself. 

"You know Pierre?" Rose asked in surprise. 

This time Victor didn't answer. 

The man started to play this game as Rose had. A game of ignoring the other's questions. So, Rose decided to stop the game she had started and got into her main focus. 

"I can help you, Duke." 

The old man standing beside Victor chuckled at Rose. 

"You think you can help me?" asked Victor mockingly. 

"I know you need to repair your reputation." 

This time they fell silent. 

Rose continued, "Do you think the bad rumors that accumulate on me while all praises were directed at Anisa was a coincidence?" The atmosphere quickly grew tense. Like the freezing cold outside of the office's window. 

"In your opinion ... how did Anisa Fullmeir, an illegitimate child rise to become the future queen of the Elysseria Kingdom?" she challenged them.

Victor himself knew that for Anisa to rise to her current position, a strong political and social scheme was in order. Starting from having a brilliant reputation to making the aristocratic faction support Anisa. An illegitimate child could not possibly occupy the position of candidate queen without playing hidden political games or possessing unlimited wealth. 

Victor understood what Rose meant. The girl in front of him indicated that she was the strategist behind Anisa's promotion. Even though Victor did not immediately believe it, the fact that Rose brought up this topic ... meant that Rose at least knew the information about the political game. 

If Rose really was the strategist, Victor might be able to use her. And if not, Rose's knowledge could be of use to suppress the Elysseria Kingdom and Marquis Ferinde's faction. Marquis Ferinde was secretly the right-hand man of the Crown Prince of the Ellyseria Kingdom. 

"If you are that great ... Why did Anisa Fullmeir and the Crown Prince throw you away?" 

It was strange if a strategist with abilities like Rose –if she was telling the truth, would be thrown to the Montserra Empire just like that. "Did they send you to be a spy?" asked Victor, "If so, you are very stupid to disclose your secrets." 

Rose tilted her head. "Agree." 

The Duke put his chin in his hands. His gaze continued to burn Rose. However, the girl behind the mask did not shrink in the slightest. Seeing Rose agreed with Victor's statement, meant that the masked woman wanted to tell him that Rose was not sent as a spy. 

"They threw me out ...," explained Rose, "... because until now only the late Marquis Fullmeir knew my abilities." 

"My stepsister is not very smart. And Rama — I mean, the Crown Prince of Ellyseria Kingdom thinks all schemes came from the late Marquis Fullmeir."

Victor narrowed his eyes. The girl did not call the late Marquis Fullmeir 'Father' showed their relationship was not close. 

"In other words ... you are Marquis Fullmeir's tool," Victor continued, "Then why don't you tell Anisa and Rama about your abilities?" 

Rose snorted. Although behind her mask, her voice could be heard clearly in the office room. It took a while until Rose finally answered, "You're right, Duke." She continued, "I was Marquis Fullmeir's tool. After I got rid of him, why would I crawl into a similar cage again?" 

Victor raised his eyebrows at the statement. From Rose's words, it meant that the late Marquis Fullmeir had something to restrain her, to put the girl like she said, in a cage. Something that made Rose had to help him unwillingly. 

Rendre Fullmeir was one of the two marquis of the Ellyseria Kingdom. He became a marquis because he married Rose's mother, Santika Fullmeir. During Rendre's tenure as a marquis, Victor heard that he often played dirty tricks. The late marquis was able to get the various nobles of the Ellyseria Kingdom entangled by his foul play. Now a girl in front of him admitted that all these schemes have been her strategies. 

"Besides, Rendre threw me out first. He threw me an accusation of attempted murder of his daughter," said Rose. 

About a month ago, Rendre Fullmeir was murdered by Pierre Cornohen when the trial that charged Rose Fullmeir guilty was taking place. Rose Fullmeir had charges for attempted murder against Anisa Fullmeir. It was suspected that Rose gave tea leaves mixed with Delicacio poison to her stepsister. But in the court, Pierre Cornohen suddenly came out and confessed that he was the one who put the poison in Anisa's tea. Then out of the blue ... Pierre killed Rendre Fullmeir right then and there. Because of that Pierre was sentenced to death on the same day. 

"I can help you, Duke," Rose said again. 

"By doing the same thing you did for Anisa and Rendre?" 

Rose was in no rush to answer. She stepped closer to Victor's table. The man's eyes never left her figure. Rose smiled knowing that she had the Duke's attention. 

"No," Rose said, "But by overthrowing the noble faction that plans to overthrow you. Marquis Ferinde's faction." 

Victor smiled faintly. He did not expect Rose to say that. Though he liked this development. 

"You need me to bring down the faction." Rose continued, "And I need you for my protection. So I'm offering a contract marriage." 

The old man beside Victor choked with laughter. He covered his mouth to prevent the laughter from being heard though his shoulders shook violently. While the other man standing next to Victor had a face of dislike.

Victor and Rose, on the other hand, were silent for a long time. The two individuals just looked at each other. Trying to read the other. 

Finally, Victor took a blank piece of paper and started writing. "Only protection?" asked the man casually. 

The two men beside him were about to protest but Victor gave them both a glare. 

"Protection, a basic necessity for life." Rose thought for a while. "And guarantee you will never hurt me like hitting, grabbing, burning, and other torture." 

Victor was silent for a while. He wrinkled his brows as he finally wrote down Rose's request. 

"You don't want money?" asked Victor, "Position? Power?" 

Rose smiled behind her mask. "All of those things can be easily obtained and taken. I don't need anything like that." 

Victor shrugged his shoulders at Rose's answer. The girl continued to surprise him even more. "In exchange, you'll help me bring down that shitty faction," said Victor. "As long as you are my wife, you have the position of 'Duchess.' Are you able to take care of the internal matters of the Maraina residence?" 

Huh?, Rose had a blank look. You want to give me the authority to become a 'Duchess'? 

When Rose did not answer, Victor swirled his pen. "I do not give a position to a person who will not fulfill their duties. Being my wife is a position in itself. Even if you offer other services, the main obligation as a Duchess still upholds." 

She rolled her eyes thinking. She had never been given any authority to administer the Fullmeir residence before. Financial affairs, staff, and land maintenance were fully held by Rendre. Rendre also never gave pocket money to Rose. On the other hand, Anisa was always spoiled by Rose's family money. So, she was inexperienced in managing internal affairs. 

But Rose was good at one thing. She could read people and situations. Besides, she had seen the butler of the Maraina residence. An old man named Adrian, who had a hardworking aura. Rose was sure that she would have no problem taking care of the Maraina residence if she could persuade the butler to help her. 

So Rose nodded. 

Victor formed a victorious smile at that. His hand returned to writing. 

"Also divorce after one year," said Rose suddenly. Victor searched her eyes again. The man did not write down Rose's last sentence, at least not yet. The silence grew longer between them. 

"How about this?" Victor continued, "After one year of working together we will evaluate each other. And if at that time one party wants a divorce, then it will be done."

Rose nodded. She felt that it was fair enough. She agreed quickly because Victor's sentence gave confirmation to her. The man did need someone like Rose. A person who can navigate the social circles. A strategist. Victor needed Rose's ability despite the rumors that Rose had. 

When he finished writing everything down on paper, Victor signed it. Then he turned the paper and gave a pen for Rose to sign. She accepted and signed her quietly. Then Rose stretched her hand to Victor. 

"Why not?" the man muttered to himself before accepting Rose's handshake. A sign that they have accepted each other as partners for a purpose. 

Thus, their marriage contract was completed. 

"With the power given to me, I declare you as husband and wife," said the old man beside him in a humorous tone.