Chapter 14
“I’ll be sure to help you all when you need it. If you meet someone you truly like, I’ll divorce without hesitation. No alimony needed.”
“……”
“Since the vows are done, there’s no need for you to feel burdened any longer.”
Eugenie intended to say that they could live comfortably, free from the obligations of husbands. However, the expressions on their faces…
They looked as if they had just bitten into a sour lemon.
…Did they dislike what she said that much?
Alfred brushed his hair back and let out a soft sigh.
“Sigh… Eugenie, the contract isn’t that simple.”
“What do you mean, Brother?”
“We all agreed to become your husbands in exchange for Missus Theodora Norton’s help, didn’t we?”
“Well, yes…”
“That means we truly have to fulfill our duties as husbands.”
“…What does ‘truly fulfill’ entail?”
“Sharing a household, of course, and… um.”
A reddish flush crept onto his sun-kissed face. The other men were no different, adjusting their necks or turning their ears pink.
Percival Troys bowed his head and quietly replied to her.
“It includes physically pleasing the lady.”
“Oh. I see.”
Her voice, shaken by the shocking terms of the contract, somehow remained calm.
“But what happens if those contractual obligations aren’t fulfilled?”
“Then the help received from Missus Norton would be nullified… and we would likely return to the state we were in before receiving any help .”
“What?”
It was a type of contract she had never heard of before.
‘No, Mother.’
It was one thing to have brought in five husbands, but there was no need for such toxic clauses.
‘And isn’t this a magical contract?’
If these men couldn’t change the terms with their wealth and power, magic must have been involved.
Magic users had existed in the Empire since ancient times, but all information about them was shrouded in mystery. Everyone claimed their lineage had been severed long ago…
Had Theodora Norton sought help from a wizard before her death?
‘I’ll have to figure this out later.’
Eugenie swallowed hard as she slowly looked up at the five men. Each of them, now dressed in more comfortable clothing, had undeniably well-toned bodies…
She fought against her urge to look down, reminding herself that even as someone who disregarded social norms, she knew how to maintain a modicum of decorum.
“So… does that mean I have to spend the first night with all five of you?”
“Doing all five at once might be a bit much for your body…”
“I dismiss that outrageous suggestion.”
‘All five at once?’ What kind of ridiculous statement was she hearing from this reserved and dignified Duke?
Eugenie bit her lip to suppress the heat rising to her cheeks. The stimulation from the outside world was overwhelming compared to her days confined in graduate school.
She had had her fun crashing the wedding with these men. But could she really… do that on the bed…?
“Eugenie.”
At that moment, Carter approached cautiously, a faint blush lingering around his eyes.
“Are you alright?”
“Um…”
“I mean, it’s part of the contract, but if you don’t want to…”
Carter trailed off, his face growing redder. As she gazed at him, Eugenie felt herself calm down again.
Although it started off as a farcical puppet show, this was still a legitimate marital agreement as adults.
‘Thanks to this, I’ll also receive my inheritance, but can I back out?’
Knowing she would likely go down in history as a notorious femme fatale, Eugenie decided it was better to act boldly rather than shy away.
“No, I’m fine. If I show that I can handle a proper marriage, then Agatha won’t bother me as much.”
“Eugenie…”
“So, um, how do we determine the order?”
As Eugenie made her decision, the men all seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, their expressions brightening. She appreciated that none of them revealed any sinister expectations just because she mentioned sharing a bed.
To her question, it was Cassius who spoke up.
“How about drawing lots in a fair manner?”
“Drawing lots? Hmm… that sounds good.”
Leaving it to chance wasn’t her preferred method, but it seemed like the most equitable approach. Of course, she hadn’t anticipated that a container packed with lots would actually appear.
“Alright, Lady! Go ahead and draw from here.”
“…Ah, okay.”
Eugenie extended her hand, feeling all eyes on her.
Everyone held their breath as she pulled the first lot and looked down at it…
[With everyone at once!]
Eugenie slowly gazed up at Cassius.
“…This is…”
“Oh, that’s one I put in! You drew that?”
Cassius’s eyes sparkled. While he originally seemed like a fairy-tale beauty, that gleam in his eyes made him appear rather sly.
Eugenie tossed aside the audacious lot and said.
“I’ll draw again.”
But the next lot read,
[With everyone at onceee!!]
What was up with that typo?
She had just thought that it was a relief that no sinister expectations had been revealed earlier? Perhaps that was a misunderstanding…
Eugenie looked up at the ceiling and let out a sigh that seemed to rise from the depths of her chest.
“…I’ll meet with my lawyer, Mr. Banker, first before drawing again. And Cassius Lysander.”
“Yes.”
“Please remove all lots with that writing.”
“Of course, Lady!”
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