Secret Love Affair between a Former Saint and a Dark Hero - Chapter 88
After that, they exchanged terms. The man, whom she had expected to be a rather difficult contract target, was strangely desperate to give everything away. On the other hand, it was Iora who rejected and mediated the terms. Something’s wrong, she thought, but Vigros tapped a number with a grimace.
“Not this one. Take it out.”
Iora’s face twisted with frustration.
“Why are you removing that? Meeting often is important too!”
“Ha, you’ve never dated before, have you? If a couple just started dating, it wouldn’t even be weird to run over right away just to see each other. And you’re saying every three days? Are you kidding me? We should see each other at least once a day.”
“You’re a duke — you must be busy. I included that out of consideration for you…”
“I’m not busy, so include it. Once a day. No exceptions. Or is seeing me every day a burden for you?”
“H-hmph! You think I won’t put it in?”
Situations like this repeated themselves over and over. Iora found herself oddly more exhausted than when dealing with her own family, and she finally grabbed the feather pen he conjured from the air and signed her name.
Iora von Ribandt. Now, the name that was hers settled at the end of the document in an elegant script, and the weight of the completed deal began to feel real.
My god. I’ve actually made Vigros my ally.
What’s more, as she continued writing, the whole situation started to resemble those cliché dramas she’d seen — where the male and female leads get entangled by chance and end up signing some sort of contract relationship or marriage…
Just as it became his turn to sign and their hands brushed slightly when she passed the feather pen—
“I’ve read a lot of romance novels.”
Vigros suddenly blurted it out, lifting his head toward Iora as if a thought had just struck him. She blinked at him in surprise — his expression was a bit odd. He was smiling in that strange way, tapping the contract lightly with his finger as he spoke in a sing-song tone.
“These things show up quite a lot. The so-called contract relationship.”
“…What nonsense are you talking about.”
“Romance always starts like this, you know.”
His gaze grew more intense, locking with hers. Iora quickly turned her head away. It was exactly what she’d just been thinking about, so it felt as if he’d peeked right into her mind. That smug smirk he wore as he teased her made her feel even more flustered. Maybe she even made a face, thinking how obnoxious he looked — but his looks and the atmosphere around him made it work, somehow.
“We’re not the main characters in a novel.”
But actually, we kind of are.
“But my acting skills are top-notch. I’ll make sure it feels like you’re falling in love.”
“Aren’t you a little too enthusiastic…?”
As he finished signing with an air of confidence, golden light swirled around the paper.
The contract was complete. One copy flew to her, the other to him, and with a soft roll, each sheet disappeared naturally into their chests. Since it was a magical contract, breaking it would cause a sharp pain in the heart.
“Then, Iora.”
Vigros tapped her lightly on the tip of her nose with a gesture so casual it felt oddly familiar.
“My Saint.”
“……”
“Don’t catch a cold — go on inside.”
It didn’t hurt, but she was so stunned that she rubbed the spot instinctively. And then he smiled so sweetly. The kind of smile that could daze you. Was this what it felt like when a devastatingly handsome celebrity smiled at you up close? To stop herself from saying something ridiculous, Iora bit the inside of her cheek hard. She suddenly had the absurd thought that if she kept meeting this man, there would be no flesh left inside her mouth.
“See you later, darling.”
With that shameless farewell, he vanished like smoke before her eyes.
Only then did Iora finally let out the breath she’d been holding and glance up at the moon hanging bright above. Then she pinched her cheek.
It hurt.
“This isn’t a dream.”
The sudden turn of events left her completely dazed.
* * *
As smoke dissipated and long legs began to appear, murderous intent gleamed in the red-rimmed eyes of someone buried in a mountain of documents. The moment he saw who had materialized, he couldn’t hold back and shouted at the figure.
“Are you insane?! How could you disappear after causing such a mess?! You’re not some thoughtless child!”
Vigros frowned at the sharp voice and nonchalantly cleaned his ear before replying gruffly.
“You were there, weren’t you?”
“Ha!”
“If you’re going to take that fat paycheck, then at least do your job properly. What’s the big deal?”
“Please! Look at this nightmare of paperwork, will you? You couldn’t just pay me double to expect me to be okay with this!”
“Tsk, tsk. You’re blinded by money. Want me to bury you in bills until you suffocate?”
No matter how he looked at it, his lord was utterly devoid of conscience. Cursing under his breath with every vile word he could think of, the aide Lake stormed over with heavy steps and slammed a stack of urgent documents right in front of Vigros.
