The Sub Male Lead is Burning with Jealousy - Chapter 1 Part 12

“This might be a blessing in disguise.”

 

 

 

“What are you talking about? Accepting her demands might distance the Calix Ducal family from the royal house.”

 

 

 

“With you around, there’s no danger of the Calix family drifting away. Moreover, someone so blunt can be more secure. She is wise and will do her best as Empress.”

 

 

 

Sion didn’t think Anais’ demands were unreasonable at all. She was, in fact, asking for the bare minimum.

 

 

 

Who would accept being friends with the woman their husband openly pines for? Such an arrangement would likely end in a vulgar brawl.

 

 

 

“Shall I write it down? Or shall we end this agreement?”

 

 

 

“…Write it.”

 

 

 

As Anais gracefully wrote, Rahil looked down at the document, then spoke with a smirk.

 

 

 

“You seem to have other demands?”

 

 

 

“… I plan to have up to five consorts. I’d appreciate if you neither opposed nor interfered with this matter.”

 

 

 

What did she just say?

 

 

 

For a moment, Rahil thought he had misheard. The attendants and aides in the room mirrored his shocked expression. Only Sion wore an ambiguously nonchalant look.

 

 

 

“I don’t plan to sit around looking pathetic while you entertain other women. I’m human too, and I need someone to love.”

 

 

 

“By national law, indeed, the Empress does have the right to take on consorts.”

 

 

 

Sion spoke, but Rahil’s attention remained solely on Anais. With an annoyed expression, Anais continued.

 

 

 

“Besides, this is also for your sake and Duchess Calix.”

 

 

 

“Why would that be?”

 

 

 

His voice inadvertently sharpened. However, Anais responded with a face that betrayed no emotion.

 

 

 

“Your love may be a romance to you, but to my family and friends, it may seem unfair. They will try to sway your heart away from her or criticize the Duchess.”

 

 

 

If the marriage goes through, Anais’s father and brother would undoubtedly worry. Her friends would likely gossip about the Duchess’s nefarious nature.

 

 

 

“If I keep consorts, signaling that our marriage is purely strategic, the criticism towards you or the Duchess would lessen. The public would find it easier to blame me.”

 

 

 

A scenario he hadn’t imagined left Rahil’s face pale. Coldly, Anais addressed the taken-aback Rahil.

 

 

 

“If there are no objections, I’ll assume you approve and proceed to write it.”

 

 

 

The room fell silent as Anais gracefully put pen to paper, the only noise being the scratch of the pen. It was so silent that one could barely hear each other’s breathing.

 

 

 

“How many children are you considering?”

 

 

 

Caught off guard by the new bombshell, Rahil looked at Anais. Obviously, considering the succession, they needed an heir.

 

 

 

“Do we need to specify that as well?”

 

 

 

“Children are a crucial matter. I hope to have two children within five years, regardless of gender.”

 

 

 

For the common nobility, it might be rare, but in the case of the imperial throne, females inheriting wasn’t unheard of. Rahil shared the sentiment and nodded.

 

 

 

“I think so too. Two children would be ideal.”

 

 

 

He thought one would suffice for his case, but considering unforeseen circumstances, having more than one was necessary. Reflecting on the Marquis Ruol’s family, Rahil hoped the children would get along.

 

 

 

“Also… I’d like to come to an agreement about our marital bed.”

 

 

 

“What?!”

 

 

 

Rahil’s face flushed with shock and embarrassment. Anais gave him a suspicious look. Given the original story, Angelica would have been his first love, and he would inherently shy away from women, having no experience in even a simple kiss, let alone any other form of physical intimacy.

 

 

 

“Do you have no shame?”

 

 

 

“Shame won’t alleviate pain, will it? I don’t want a terrible experience. I don’t want to shed tears of shame and pain after spending a night with my husband!”

 

 

 

“I never intended to be such a terrible husband! How do you see me?”

 

 

 

“The ink from the threatening words in the letter you sent me hasn’t even fully dried! How can I trust you when our genuine conversations can be counted on one hand!”

 

 

 

Confronted with the unyielding Anais, Rahil turned his gaze around the room. With his face reddened, he shouted.

 

 

 

“Everyone, out!!”

 

 

 

The attendants, courtiers, and even Sion hurriedly left the room. As Sion, the last to exit, closed the door, another aide approached him.

 

 

 

“Is it alright to leave the two of them alone?”

 

 

 

“It should be fine. Doesn’t His Majesty always have a soft spot for those he’s fond of?”

 

 

 

“It seems he’s taken quite a liking to the young lady.”

 

 

 

The aides gathered in the corridor let out a collective sigh of relief. Meanwhile, oblivious to their chatter, Rahil, his face flushed to the tips of his hair, glared at Anais.

 

 

 

“Then… what are you suggesting?”

 

 

 

“First… even if our hearts don’t align, I’ve heard that mutual effort in certain intimate activities can create positive feelings. So, please try. I will too.”

 

 

 

“We don’t need a contract for something like that!”

 

 

 

“It’s not alright. It becomes a problem if, in the heat of the moment, you say otherwise. Please stop if I dislike something… and causing pain is strictly out of the question.”

 

 

 

While detailing further specifics, Rahil felt his head spinning. Do I really have to go through all this just to marry? Was my decision to choose this young lady truly the right one?

 

 

 

However, as he looked at Anais meticulously writing out the terms, he couldn’t help but feel that canceling wasn’t the right decision either. Despite the irritation and angst welling up within him.

 

 

 

‘I trust my judgment.’

 

 

 

Regardless of whom he would have chosen to marry, there would have been headaches. Given that, he felt Anais Ruol was the right choice. Especially recalling the piercing blue gaze she directed at him at the entrance of the wedding hall, almost in contempt.

 

 

 

Unbeknownst to him, Rahil continued to stare blankly at Anais, lost in his thoughts.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

The contract resulted in three copies. The original was with Anais, one copy was with Rahil, another sealed copy was destined for the temple, and the last copy was to be sealed and sent to a noble she trusted. Rahil was against this last part, but Anais was adamant.

“It’s my safety net. It will be sent to a noble known only to me. Someone trustworthy, so you don’t need to worry.”

 

Should this contract’s content leak out, it would be a disgrace to the royal family. Rahil sighed deeply, questioning again if his decision was truly right.

 

It seemed like he had agreed to a losing contract.

 

Moreover, the penalties outlined in the contract for any breach were not light. It mentioned relinquishing ownership of three cities of the empire.

 

‘Have I lost my mind?’

 

These were all stipulations that he could not have broken anyway. He admitted he wasn’t a good guy, but he believed himself not to be the worst man out there.

 

The safeguards she put in were based on worst-case scenarios. Had it not been so, he might not have agreed to sign.

 

Although the contract was drafted, Anais still looked displeased. Her face gave away that she’d gladly call the wedding off if he were to back out now.

 

But that wasn’t possible.

 

“The marriage  proposal letter will be sent soon.”

 

As they gathered their respective copies of the contract and he said this, Anais looked taken aback. It was a response that further stung his pride.

 

“Why?”

 

What.

 

“Why the rush to send the proposal letter?”

 

At Anais’s question, Rahil’s eyebrows twitched. Even with her softly spoken words, he could clearly discern her intent.

 

She might have reluctantly agreed to draft a contract, but it was clear she intended to postpone the wedding for as long as possible. That wasn’t an option.