A Fake Marriage? Sure! …Wait, Is It Actually Fake? Something’s Not Right Here! - Chapter 33

“I’m in the same situation, but isn’t your marriage also arranged between families? I understand that as ‘those who possess,’ we can’t talk about love or romance, and I get that too.”

The foreign knight smiled brightly.

“Marriage and romance are separate. I don’t mix business with pleasure.”

He narrowed his eyes as if asking for praise.

“My partner probably understands that too. After all, I’m the third son. I’m not being pressured to produce an heir, so a white marriage – marriage blanc – is fine with my spouse.”

“I see.”

There was no proper response to give.

A white marriage likely meant one without physical relations, just on paper. It could also refer to marriages of convenience like theirs.

“You’re the same, right?”

She was startled by his assumption.

“N-no! I married someone I respect and love!”

Even if it was a sham.

“Eh? Really? I totally thought that was the case. That’s why I was thinking about privately making you my lover and enjoying romance with you.”

“I believe I’m not eligible for that.”

“Really? But…”

The foreign knight crossed his arms, tilted his head slightly to the right, and stared intently at Lidoria for a while.

“W-what is it?”

Being stared at for so long, Lidoria hesitantly asked.

“Do you have a night life?”

She almost screamed.

How did this man know?

“O-of course! We spend every night together! If you must know, we hold hands! We hold hands when we sleep!”

When she emphasized her clenched right hand, he chuckled and laughed.

“Ah. I see. You don’t seem very loved. I thought maybe you were still in a pure relationship, or assuming a white marriage.”

“Th-th-th-that’s not true! We feed each other when we eat! And we take baths together and help each other…!”

“Is your spouse an old man?”

The foreign knight asked with a puzzled expression.

“Caregiving?”

Her carefully crafted appeal had been seen through as caregiving.

Lidoria was stunned into silence.

Oh no. She had been getting by with this story until now, but had some people actually been looking down on her thinking “Ew, it’s like caregiving (lol)”?

“If it were me, if it were me,”

The foreign knight smiled cheerfully while making eye contact with Lidoria.

“I could please you in many ways? Guaranteed satisfaction! If crossing the sea is difficult for you, I’ll come here. Hmm. Probably about three times a year, but I think I can get long vacations. See, I belong to the navy. My vacations come in big chunks.”

“No, really, I’m fine!”

“Don’t say that, think about it. I’ll even consider allowances? We’ll properly sign a contract too.”

“No, you seem really shady!”

When she said it clearly, the foreign knight laughed heartily.

“I really love strong-willed women! Of course, in bed too.”

“Um… excuse me, I’m working right now.”

She thought he was a foreigner in trouble.

But he turned out to be a knight looking for a lover.

Just as Lidoria was trying to shake off the foreign knight, she felt relieved to hear several footsteps approaching from deep in the corridor.

“Ah!”

She was about to ask for help when she saw Alex leading the group.

“Oh, my husband! That’s my husband!”

She pointed, but Alex stopped momentarily with a shocked expression before rushing toward them at incredible speed.

She flinched at what might be happening, but quickly realized it was strange for Alex to be here at all.

Wasn’t he supposed to be at the meeting between the Third Prince of Lavria Kingdom and the main royalty in the palace right now?

As the deputy commander of the “Hunting Dogs,” the crown prince’s personal guard and closest aides, even if he wasn’t in the same room, he should naturally be waiting nearby. In fact, this morning Alex had briefly explained his schedule for the day to Lidoria, saying “I don’t think I’ll be home today.”

She had been thinking he’d probably be stationed at the palace not just today, but throughout the Third Prince of Lavria Kingdom’s stay.

“What. Your husband is one of the ‘Hunting Dogs’?”

The foreign knight smiled wryly. Seeing Lidoria nod, he shrugged.

“The crown prince’s favorite, huh? Being his wife then… ugh. That’s troublesome. Probably can’t make you my lover then.”

“I never said I’d sign a contract from the beginning!”

Lidoria said, then appealed to Alex who had just arrived.

“Alex! This person keeps persistently asking me to be his lover!”

She pretended to be a weak victim and clung to Alex’s arm.

Alex, for his part, was unusually dumbfounded as he alternated looking between Lidoria and the foreign knight, clearing his throat lightly several times. It somehow seemed like he was buying time, since a few seconds later he regained his usual expressionless face.

After signaling his subordinates to wait there, Alex approached the foreign knight while letting Lidoria hold his arm.

She expected him to say “What are you saying to my wife?” but instead,

Alex made a salute by clenching his right fist and placing it over his left chest.

“Prince Morris. My apologies for keeping you waiting, but please return to the venue.”

Lidoria, who was holding Alex’s left arm, stared blankly at him, then turned her gaze to the foreign knight.

As for him,

He smiled like a child caught misbehaving and scratched his head.

“…The Third Prince of Lavria Kingdom.”

She pointed before hurriedly lowering her hand.

Wasn’t Prince Morris the name of the Third Prince of Lavria Kingdom?

“I just wanted to tour the royal castle. I was bored. And when I speak my native language, nobody in the castle approaches me.”

“Your attendants are extremely worried.”

“Eh? They’re looking for me?”

“Yes. To be frank, they’re in a state of panic.”

He looked up at the sky saying “oops,” but Morris looked at Alex with a carefree expression.

“Then I’ll go back. Hey, hey, hey. Just to confirm.”

“Ye…ah”

Though showing caution, Alex and Lidoria approached Morris who was beckoning them.

“Married?”

Morris pointed alternately at Lidoria and Alex with his index finger.

“Yes”

Alex nodded as the representative, furrowing his brow.

“It seems you offered a lover contract, but our country has no such legal system.”

“We have it in my country.”

“It doesn’t apply here.”

“Then come to my country after all?”

Morris smiled as casually as if inviting someone to his home.

“After your younger brother comes of age is fine.”

“That’s what I’ve been telling you! I’m married to my husband Alex!”

She spoke loudly, including her irritation. But acting completely unbothered, Morris laughed.

“I can definitely make you happier! I’ll properly prepare a ring, and buy you any accessories you like!”

“Not necessary.”

“I’ll get you haute couture clothes too.”

“Don’t need them.”

“I’ll prepare a luxurious house too.”

She wavered slightly at this.

After all, they were currently renting a single-story embassy building. She would have been in trouble if she hadn’t noticed Alex’s sharp gaze, but Morris pressed on.

“You can decorate the interior however you like! Money is no object. Ah, that’s right. Let’s make the bedroom a huge, spacious layout. Then decorate it however you want.”

Morris deepened his smile.

“I’m good at the night stuff too, you know.”

After saying this, he glanced with his golden eyes toward Alex.

“I think I can satisfy you more than him.”

Though Alex’s stern expression became even more pronounced, “Well then,” Morris stretched as if raising both hands.

“I should probably head back now. The princess must have arrived by now, no matter what.”