Chapter 3
What is this forbidden book that he wants to see so much that he can’t tell me his reasons?
“Please place a curse on me, Your Excellency!”
“Don’t say such a thing…”
“Please, please…”
When his shoulders were pushed, Syran easily moved away and placed his forehead on the floor in a fluid motion.
“Don’t you have any self-respect?”
“If you could only grant this request, then I would do anything for you.”
Hydrangea perked up at his words.
“Anything, you say?”
“Y-yes.”
“Do you have a daughter?”
“…”
Syran’s eyes almost bugged out of his head. He began to shake and tremble, showing his obvious agitation.
“Please, please spare my daughter!”
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
“Then what do you mean?”
“How old is she?”
“10 years old.”
“Perfect.”
Hydrangea proposed a deal.
“I will be engaged to your daughter. However, this engagement is only a deterrent to those who want to approach me for marriage offers.”
“Th-then you wouldn’t actually marry my daughter?”
“Well, yes.”
Syran was clearly relieved when he said that. Hydrangea was a little annoyed when he saw the man’s reaction.
“Do you not want your daughter to be wed?”
“N-no! But my daughter’s body is…”
“Body? Is she sickly?”
“Eh? … Uh, why yes, yes she is. I’m afraid she won’t even be able to make her debut.”
“Then that would be even more convenient.”
If that were the case, the girl would not be involved in quarrels with other women if she became betrothed to Hydrangea.
“However, I would still need to put a curse on you. I do not trust you after all.”
“Y-yes, yes of course.”
“Also, I need to have a contract written which will be handed to your daughter in the future.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
Hydrangea fetched a pen and paper from the office and had the contract drawn on the spot.
Syran readily approved the contract which promised his daughter to be married to Hydrangea.
“So her name is Violette.”
“Y-yes. She is very beautiful like my wife.”
“I have no interest in beautiful girls.”
“I-I see.”
Syran was not discouraged by Hydrangea’s curt response but was rather relieved.
Everyone in noble society was vying for a connection with the Duke Laudense House, but Syran was the odd man out.
“Would this be alright?”
“Yes. From now on, Violette von Northpole and I are engaged.”
“It is my honor to have my daughter betrothed to His Excellency.”
Next was the application of the curse.
“The conditions for the activation of this curse is limited to the use of magic for evil deeds. Is this acceptable?”
“Yes, I accept.”
That meant that the curse would apply to more than just using the magic from the forbidden books for evil, but Syran agreed to it nevertheless.
“Then, I’ll begin.”
“I’m ready.”
With a snap of his fingers, a magic circle appeared out of nothing and a crystal staff appeared from its center. Hydrangea grabbed it and struck it against the floor.
Tendrils of magic appeared as the incantation was invoked. After the crystal staff was struck against the ground several times, its tip was tapped against the person to be cursed.
“Ugh!”
Having been tapped by the tip of the staff, Syran rolled on the ground while holding onto his forehead. He lay curled up on the ground while his whole body was covered in sweat.
He was in agony for about ten minutes, but he got up as soon as the pain calmed down and asked to be accompanied to the forbidden archive.
◇◇◇
Thus went the events from 10 years ago.
“After that, I accompanied him to the forbidden archive and let him read the forbidden books.”
Because of that event, Hydrangea could claim to be engaged to Violette von Northpole.
Prince Magnolia was flabbergasted.
“What?”
“Well, I mean, is that contract valid?”
“Of course it is. That is, if Violette von Northpole is still unwed.”
“Is she?”
“I do not know.”
“…”
Prince Magnolia heaved a huge sigh. He pressed his fingertips against his forehead and shook his head.
“So what are you planning to do?”
“I plan to go to Violette von Northpole’s estate… and marry her if possible.”
“Eh?”
Didn’t Syran say that Violette was sickly and unsuitable for marriage? If that were the case, Prince Magnolia thought that no one else would be suitable enough to marry Hydrangea.
“It’s called a contract marriage.”
“Are you alright with that?”
“Marriage offers have been coming in day in and day out that it’s already affecting my daily life and the only solution to this is to get married.”
This effectively cut off their conversation and Hydrangea forcibly ended his meeting with the prince.
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