Contract Marriage Rewritten
Chapter 3
Chapter 3
“Of course.”
Laniakea bowed politely.
A Marriage Contract.
Across the continent, it was a document that anyone of reasonable status and wealth had to draft before getting married.
For the privileged, marriage was less a union of love and more a transaction between families.
After all, marriage not only mobilized vast sums of wealth and legions of people, but staked the very future of a house.
For that reason, a Marriage Contract was more intricate and detailed than any other legal agreement.
What each would bring to the table, where they would reside, how many servants they would employ and under what conditions, how many times a week they were required to share a meal—
Even the mundane details of daily life were stipulated down to the exact number of occurrences.
Of course, if the couple enjoyed a good relationship, the Marriage Contract mattered little.
Even if terms were breached, who would raise an objection when neither party cared?
But when relations soured, the contract became more critical than anything else.
Even more so in the event of a divorce.
For it was used to tally who had committed more breaches compared to the initial agreement, thereby assigning fault for the divorce.
If a contract was paramount in a noble marriage, its weight was exponentially greater when it involved imperial and royal blood.
“It so happens the 1st Prince returned to the palace today. So, if it suits you, I would like us to finalize the signing of the contract this very day.”
Her voice was tender, but this was a decree, not a suggestion.
“I do not mind at all.”
Laniakea replied. But in truth, she was far from fine.
This was the first long-distance journey of her life. It had taken a full twenty days by carriage to travel here from Priatra.
For Laniakea, who could count on one hand the number of times she had ever stepped outside the castle walls in her entire life, the journey to the Empire had been nothing short of torture.
Yet, Laniakea was perceptive.
Perceptive enough to know that saying she wished to rest in this situation was out of the question.
Perhaps pleased by Laniakea’s docile answer, the Empress’s smile softened a fraction more.
“I apologize, knowing you must still be weary from your travels. But as a joyous occasion for the nation, and out of a mother’s heart longing to see her prince wed, I merely hoped the two of you would expedite matters.”
“Not at all, Your Majesty.”
From the moment she crossed the Border into the Empire, Laniakea had felt down to her bones that the Empress held the real power.
In other words, groveling appropriately before the Empress would bring no harm.
For the sake of a peaceful future, enduring a bit of travel fatigue was an easy price to pay.
Perhaps recognizing Laniakea’s efforts, the Empress gave an order to the waiting maids nearby.
“Still, you must be refreshed and groomed a little. All of you, assist the princess so she may relieve some of her fatigue and review the contract in comfort. She is so lovely that the gowns of our Empire will surely suit her splendidly.”
At the Empress’s command, the maids bustled into motion. Watching their swift movements, Laniakea realized something.
This brief respite had not been scheduled; it was a grace bestowed by the Empress.
It was a good start.
* * *
Following the Empress’s orders, the maids attended to Laniakea with utmost devotion.
After being bathed in water scented with fragrant oils and floating petals, the maids brought out a white summer dress and dressed her.
From the undergarments to the dress itself, the attire was vastly different from what she wore in Priatra.
Once she was fully dressed and her hair neatly combed and styled in an updo, the waiting maids couldn’t help but gasp in admiration.
“Oh, my…!”
“You are truly… stunning.”
They stared at Laniakea, mouths agape.
Yet, at the same time, pity welled within them.
Had she become the wife of any prince other than the 1st Prince, she would have enjoyed favor alongside wealth and prestige. But no matter how breathtaking this princess was, she would never hold any of it in her grasp.
Once her preparations were complete, Laniakea was escorted to the meeting room.
“Please review the Marriage Contract before His Highness the 1st Prince arrives.”
An elderly lady, a minister of state, placed thick-bound documents before Laniakea and at the seat opposite her.
“Is this the contract?”
By all appearances, its thickness rivaled that of a book.
Though she did not voice the thought, the minister seemed to grasp what Laniakea meant.
“For a state marriage, this is merely standard. The terms regarding state relations have already been confirmed with Priatra, so there should be no complications.”
It was a veiled way of telling her that diplomatic matters had already been settled, so she need not concern herself with them.
“What remains are merely a few personal details for the two of you, as husband and wife, to agree upon. Please, review it at your leisure.”
With that, the minister exited the meeting room.
The only people left in the room were Laniakea and two maids.
They stepped back to keep their distance, yet their eyes remained fixed on Laniakea.
‘I suppose they’re telling me to hurry up and read.’
Feeling the silent pressure, Laniakea opened the book-thick contract.
Marriage, under the holy name of God, is founded upon mutual trust, faith, love, and so forth and so on…
The contract opened with a tedious and antiquated preamble.
Forcing her eyes to stay open as they threatened to droop, Laniakea examined the document.
As the maid had just said, reviewing it wouldn’t change much anyway.
The essential clauses had already been decided, and the few things she could alter were strictly limited to personal details.
Still, a contract was a contract. It would do no harm to read it thoroughly.
Focusing as best she could, Laniakea began reading through the terms with meticulous care.
True to its bulk, the contract contained a vast amount of material.
It detailed not only where Laniakea would reside after marriage and the banquets she was obligated to attend, but also the budget allocated to her as Crown Princess with painstaking precision.
‘Fifty thousand gold a year, is it?’
It was a subtle amount.
It was by no means a small sum, but for the budget of a Crown Princess, it felt somewhat lacking.
‘Salaries for the serving maids, personal purchases, and even hosting banquets must all be covered by this sum.’
Though she was unfamiliar with the Empire’s cost of living and Imperial Palace wages, this allowance was likely the bare minimum required to maintain her dignity as Crown Princess.
‘To receive any additional funds, I’ll need the Empress’s approval.’
The moment she saw that clause, Laniakea was certain.
An amount sufficient to eat, dress, and live plainly, but tight enough to strain over hosting even a modest banquet. In other words, proper social engagements were out of the question.
The Empress intended to control Laniakea’s every move.
Having expected as much, she wasn’t particularly surprised.
‘Honestly, I’d rather do nothing at all.’
But behaving that way would only displease her in another manner, so she would have to bow her head moderately and request supplementary budget allocations when needed.
Wondering how many times a year she ought to make such requests, Laniakea kept turning the pages.
Among them, what drew her closest attention was the map of the Imperial Palace and the floor plan of the Detached Palace where she would reside.
‘Just as expected, it’s the Detached Palace in the outermost corner.’
Not only was it small, but it also bordered a small forest within the Imperial Palace grounds.
Compared to other detached palaces, it was less than half the size.
Rather than a proper detached palace, it was likely an imperial villa meant for resting near the woods.
‘I actually prefer this.’
Such a secluded location. Furthermore, with it being so compact, there wouldn’t be many servants around.
Which meant she could lead a far quieter life.
With a much lighter heart, Laniakea examined the floor plan of the Detached Palace in detail.
The more she looked at the Detached Palace, the more she liked it.
Unlike standard detached palaces where imperial family members lived, there was no shared master bedroom for husband and wife.
Her room and the 1st Prince’s were located on opposite ends, meaning even if he occasionally returned, they would rarely cross paths.
And between the forest and the Detached Palace lay a fairly spacious garden.
Perhaps because the blood of the Fairy Tribe ran through her veins, faint though it was, Laniakea was fond of nature—forests, lakes, and the like.
‘Of course, there is another reason too.’
Laniakea glanced subtly down at the thick-carpeted floor.
Then she turned her head and directed her gaze toward the open terrace doors.
Since this meeting room was on the first floor, the terrace provided direct access to the palace garden.
Laniakea asked the maids:
“May I review the contract in the garden? My stomach is unsettled from the long carriage ride, and I would like to get some fresh air.”
“But…”
The maids exchanged glances. The only instruction given to them upon arriving was to serve the prospective Crown Princess well. And…
“Her Majesty the Empress seemed quite pleased with her.”
According to what another maid had mentioned, since she had found favor with the Empress, it meant they should treat her kindly rather than harshly.
After a moment’s hesitation, the maids looked out toward the garden.
Though the garden connected to the Empress’s palace appeared serene and beautiful, tight security stood watch just beyond.
It was among the safest places in the entire Imperial Palace.
Telling her not to go into such a garden might make it seem as though the Imperial Palace’s security was lacking.
“The fountain looks lovely, and there are flowers I have never seen before. I only wish to look around for a moment.”
Laniakea spoke with an intentional, faint sigh.
Hard-pressed to firmly refuse her, the maids exchanged looks before bowing their heads.
“Understood, Your Highness. We shall accompany you.”
“Ah, there is no need. I simply wish to rest alone for a short while.”
Saying so, Laniakea rose from her seat with the contract in hand. Her swift movement left the maids hesitating before stopping at the terrace threshold.
If the Empress favored this princess, it was best not to do anything to get on her bad side from the start.
Leaving the maids behind, Laniakea walked to the fountain in the center of the garden and sat on the bench beside it.
Once she confirmed no one else was nearby, she whispered toward the ground beneath the bench.
“No one is watching. You can come out, Mole.”
The moment Laniakea spoke—
With a soft rustle,
The ground at her feet stirred, and a tiny mole popped its head out from the dirt.
[Is this the Empire?]
The Mole was a lowest-tier Earth Spirit, and one of her very few friends.
