My Favorite Character Proposed a Contractual Relationship

Chapter 2 – The Birth of The Scheming Man (1)
Translator/Editor: Silvia/Sarcasm

“What?”

Alaina opened her already big eyes wider.

“Princess, no, Her Majesty told me to tell you so.”

Demian’s words, which came into the room out of the blue, were surprising. “Her Majesty” that he spoke of was Princess Syrmendi, who married the monarch of the neighbouring country and became the queen. The princess is 25 years old this year, and since she moved to the neighbouring country because of her national marriage a few years ago, Alaina had not seen her face for a very long time.

They had known each other even before the national marriage, but Alaina was too young to be considered a close friend. However, the princess who visited her parents for the first time in years, invited Alaina to the palace. Of course it wouldn’t be a private meeting, but it was still a surprise.

It was a proper comeback for Alaina, who had long been absent from any social gatherings. Of course, she didn’t really want to socialize with people yet, but she didn’t want to worry her family so what else could she do. She had to go out, meet and talk to some people, and also get rid of the cobwebs in her mouth.

Alaina asked, feeling a little nervous.

“When is it? Do you know who else is coming?”

It was a question that was very conscious of Riley Pemollo. But her younger brother only shrugged his shoulders. He didn’t know the exact thing as he heard it from his friend, the prince.

“There will be a formal invitation soon.”

Sure enough it wasn’t long before the formal invitation arrived. After ripping off the wax seal that was engraved with the royal family’s crest, an invitation with gold leaf was revealed. As she had heard before, this was sent by Princess Syrmendi, no, it was sent by Queen Syrmendi. It was for a tea party after the award ceremony for the upcoming day of the sword competition. The sword competition was a big spectacle, surely a lot of nobles would come. It didn’t seem to be a special invitation as she thought earlier.

“It’s going to be an eventful day then.”

If she hadn’t received such an invitation, she wouldn’t even have attended it no matter how interesting the spectacle is. It was because it was clear that Idrian Bielvardo would shine as the fourth winner like the previous year.

No, would he just show his face? There was no law that prohibited them from participating again just because they were the previous year winners. Normally, if there was no way to go higher, she wouldn’t go for it over and over again. However, to the knights, it was a different matter.

If a knight turned blue for fear of not winning, surely the knight would be a laughing stock for people. They instead participated in a fair and square duel. It was the honor of the low level knights to participate in the good-natured competition for mutual development by neatly surrendering and giving up their place if they lost.

Of course, there were people who won consecutively in a row, so Idrian must have been working hard for it. Or he could have fallen in love with the young lady Pemollo, who would give him the title of duke as a dowry, and threw away his knighthood for it.

Alaina snorted and folded the invitation neatly, then placed it in the drawer.

The Duke of Pemollo must be crazy too. No matter how much the only daughter was raised as his prized possession, how dare he pass down the title to his son-in-law while ignoring his blood relatives.

Well, it wasn’t Alaina’s business, but if their ancestors, who were granted the title by doing merits, knew, they would grab the back of their necks in anger.

It was not until she fully thought ill of Idrian, Riley, and even the Duke of Pemollo that she went on with her daily life.

After days of freedom filled with happiness, one bright day in July dawned. It was the day of the sword competition.

The people of the Hilt family also left early to the detached palace. The detached palace that was given by the royal palace was closer to a perfect party hall. Built next to the amphitheatre, it was called the palace but it was actually a place for the nobles rather than the royal family.

The amphitheatre was used to hold today’s sword competitions, as well as events open to the general public such as the coronation and triumphal ceremonies. Therefore, the nobles needed a place to stay in order to avoid being among the crowd, so the detached palace was built for that purpose.

In the garden connected to the detached palace, there was a bridge that allowed royalty and nobles to enter directly into the amphitheatre. However, there was still plenty of time before the competition started, so the nobles gathered in the detached palace and chatted. Of course, among them was Alaina.

She had her father and brother on either side. The three of them strolled through the garden surrounding the detached palace and talked about it.

It was reassuring to be together with her family. But that didn’t last very long.

Count Hilt was a well-established gentleman, no, it’s more like he was an aristocrat. He soon left his two children and went to chat with people of his age. Most girls would be happy to see that. It would be inconvenient and uncomfortable for an adult to spend all day with her father.

But Alaina, who wasn’t like other girls, crossed her arms in discontent. And it wasn’t long before Demian left her side too. As soon as the prince arrived, her brother ran away as if he didn’t care about his sister.

That unfaithful fellow. Somehow, she felt something troublesome would happen. She should move to a quieter place before someone tries to talk to her. That was what she planned until,

“Ari.”

Someone called her name. It was a very familiar voice. Besides, there aren’t many people that were allowed to call her by her nickname.

Alaina shut her eyes tightly and looked back.

“Long time no see. Are you doing well?” (T/N: This wench, b**ch; E/N: All in favour of beating the sh*t out of that b**ch, say “Aye!”)

“Is there anything that makes me not well?”

She wanted to act brave, but she couldn’t bring herself to speak with a friendly voice. Still, it was a good defense because there was no anger behind her voice.

Riley spoke abominably without erasing the smile on her face, as if she had no shame.

“I was very worried because you didn’t attend the recital and kept refusing any invitation to parties.”

Worried? What a load of bullshit. Isn’t hitting the back of someone’s head enough to get her point across, why did she come and say something ridiculous? Should she retort that because of Riley, she felt skeptical about everything in the world? Or should she say ‘Oh my, thanks to you, I am fine.’? She didn’t like either one of them. Because, it was impossible to deceive that girl.

That girl will already know what’s going on in her mind. So she would laugh at Alaina whether she reveals or hides it.

Damn it. In this situation, the one who thinks a lot loses. She didn’t even respond but was already hit.

Alaina smiled silently. Although anger was rising from the bottom of her stomach, she could still easily manage her facial expression.

She was still thinking what to say, but unexpectedly Riley’s expression cracked slightly. It was only for a short time, but there was no way that she couldn’t recognize it as it happened in front of her.

Why? She didn’t even open her mouth yet though? Was her smiling face unlucky?

But before Alaina could fathom it, Riley opened her mouth first.

“Anyway, I’m glad you look good.”

No matter what Riley did, she looked miserable, now it was a fight that she couldn’t win.

Riley talked well on her own, she twitched her lips as if she was going to talk again. But the words that came out of that little mouth were far beyond common sense.

“Are you seeing anyone these days?”

Why? If she said no, is she going to introduce someone to Alaina? Alaina couldn’t bear to hold her smile because the back of her head was numb.

It was at that moment when Riley tried to open her mouth again.

“Hello”

Suddenly, a tall man stepped in between the two women.

While Alaina still felt her lips trembling, she hastily moved her gaze. It was because Alaina thought she would do something bad if she saw Riley’s face even for a second more.

“I am the Count of Solandry, Nicklaus Solandry.”

Alaina, who was stiff, dazedly looked up at the man’s face. The smooth face that she had seen before was glued to Alaina, as if he didn’t care about Riley.

“May I dare to ask for the name of a beautiful lady?”

There was silence. Alaina slowly blinks her eyes. It was not a polite silence, but the man waited patiently.

Alaina wondered why this man was here and why he was speaking in such a polite manner. That man was the man who handed her the handkerchief on the terrace at the prince’s birthday banquet. To be precise, he was a man who spoke informally to someone he just met for the first time.

That was more than a month ago. The fact that she remembered his face was even more embarrassing.

But what did that person just say, for sure……

Alaina opened her eyes wide and breathed in. The man was looking down at her with a piercing look. As if possessed by the intense gaze, her lips opened on their own accord. Her mouth spewed out a familiar name.

“I am Alaina Hilt.”

At the same time, she began to recount the history of how she got that name. Her mind was spinning like crazy. The past 21 years of her life flew by like turning the pages of a book and landed on the first page.

Nicklaus Solandry.

The main character of 「The Curse of The Witch」 and the reason why she was born in this world.

That was him?

The scorching sun of a summer day was shining brightly on his silver hair. A gentle smile that had never been seen before spread across his face.

Alaina looked vacantly at the man. With the sun shining like a halo, he was shining splendidly.

While she was losing her mind, Nicklaus grabbed her hand and kissed the back of it. After a brief kiss, he took a step closer and stood beside her. It wasn’t the right distance for facing each other. She even had to tilt her head back because he was too close.

Alaina took the trouble of tilting her head without realizing it.

But he was not looking at her. Slowly turning his head, he looked down at Riley’s face for a while.

As Riley received his attention and was about to politely greet him, his expression suddenly changed. He returned to his arrogant face in an instant and twisted his lips, as if asking who she was and why she was still here.

Perhaps it wasn’t only Alaina who felt that way, even Riley who had a good smile also looked bewildered. But she wasn’t the one who lost her dignity over this. Riley greeted him calmly with a hand on her chest.