My Contract Husband Resembles the Male Protagonist - Chapter 9
“No, I’m not.”
The answer came without a moment’s hesitation.
“Absolutely not. Not at all. Never.”
“Really? Good for you.”
“Does it bother you?”
Dale looked at me intently.
“No, here in the contract, it says we won’t interfere in each other’s private lives. It’s in the clauses.”
I tapped the contract.
“If you meet someone nice, you can go for it. We’re not a real couple, after all.”
“….”
“But here in the contract. Article 3. Duties as a fake couple.”
“…”
“We won’t create situations that make others doubt our relationship as a married couple. With this, if you want to meet someone secretly, you have to ask for permission. That’s why I asked.”
Dale’s eyebrows narrowed.
“How about deleting this part?”
Dale said in a low voice. He wore a serious expression.
“I have no intention of neglecting this clause.”
“To that extent?”
“You saved me, so I’ll definitely repay you.”
“It was just a simple cold treatment…”
But for me, it wasn’t a bad condition.
Dale has been residing in Grunwald for six months, and I’m an outsider.
This means there are many people interested in Dale’s actions, observing me as well.
For the sake of a secure contract, I had no intention of meeting other men.
“Okay. Should we delete it then?”
“Yes, please. Right away.”
With Dale’s agreement, I promptly erased the item.
“Well, shall we go now?”
Dale opened the carriage door and took hold of my arm.
Before us stood a giant temple.
The reason our contract marriage was precisely ‘364 days’ was right in this temple.
* * *
The only independent institution untouched by the Emperor’s influence. The temple.
Since ancient times, marriages of people from all continents have been officiated by the temples in their respective regions.
“And this is the most corrupt of them all.”
The Lockheart family consistently made donations to the temple, maintaining a close financial relationship.
Therefore, they needed a priest who could be influenced by money.
Swoosh—
I handed a fist-sized jewel to the priest in the lobby.
“We’ve come to file for marriage.”
I clasped hands with Dale and played the role of an affectionate newlywed couple.
The corrupt priest examined the gem.
“Runaway love? Shotgun wedding? Or something else? Which is it?”
“Runaway love.”
“Come this way, then.”
The temple was unintentionally overwhelming. It was the first time I was visiting after along time, and the entire place felt solemn and grand.
“Dale seems accustomed to this, doesn’t he?”
But he looked nonchalant.
Or not? Why is his arm so stiff?
Upon closer inspection, Dale’s eyes were frozen. Not only that, but his gait also seemed oddly rigid.
“Dale, walk naturally,”
I whispered quietly.
Is it because we’re holding hands?
I knew this might happen; I should have practiced some physical contact.
“Remember our concept? We had to part due to our parents’ opposition, but eventually, we reunited, sparks flew, and we ended up getting married.”
As I held onto Dale tightly, he widened his eyes and blushed.
“Hold me like this.”
“…!”
“Even if you feel uncomfortable, just endure it for a while. We don’t want to look suspicious.”
“….”
He seemed strangely awkward, like someone who had never had contact with a woman in his life.
What should I do?
I initially thought of quickly divorcing him, but is it okay to subject such an innocent and naive person, whom no one has ever met, to a fake marriage?
“Moving forward, this contract can’t be annulled. Are you really okay with this?”
Dale looked at me for a moment before nodding with a calm expression.
“It’s okay.”
He enclosed my hand with his large one.
“I have no intention of annulling the contract.”
***
The marriage procedure in the Empire was simple.
You went to the nearest temple, pledged your love under the priest’s guidance, wrote down information on the declaration, stamped your hand, and voila! Marriage complete!
However, divorce was incredibly complicated.
There were six substitute temples scattered across the continent, and during a divorce, one had to visit each of them to personally declare that the love had ended.
Due to this convoluted process, the average divorce period was three to five years, and the associated costs were substantial.
This system, established during a time of high divorce rates in the Empire, was created by the Emperor to address the issue fundamentally and lower divorce rates.
As a result, the marriage rate decreased, and a new law was enacted to counterbalance this shift.
<Marriage Deferral Act>
Even if you file for marriage, you are not immediately recognized as an official couple.
– Must live together for one year from the date of filing.
Couples who complete the filing are only officially recognized as legal spouses one year later.
While the formal recognition as a couple is delayed, the deferral period allows them to annul the marriage at any time.
Thus, even on the 364th day, the marriage can be annulled if the relationship sours.
It was a sort of trial marriage.
“Could you provide the documents, please?”
After completing the simple procedure, we entered a room where a priest welcomed us.
“Young ones, are you sure you won’t regret this?”
“I won’t regret it. Right, Dale?”
I squeezed Dale’s hand tightly and looked at him.
Say you won’t regret it.
Say you won’t regret it.
Say you won’t regret it.
