Contract Marriage Rewritten
Chapter 9
[Divorce? Why?]
The mole tilted its head, clearly uncomprehending.
Having spent so much time with Laniakea, the mole was now quite accustomed to human customs.
Thus, it knew that marriage was a promise between a human woman and a human man to live together.
Due to the complicated affairs of humans, the male human named Hyperion did not seem to live with Laniakea, but the mole roughly understood without needing a lengthy explanation.
Wasn’t human life complicated by nature anyway? Besides, because that human wasn’t around, Laniakea could summon them often, which was nice.
[Isn’t marriage a promise to stay together until you die?]
“Well… not necessarily. People often end that promise and part ways for various reasons. In any case, the Prince will soon demand a divorce from me.”
When she returned to the Detached Palace and came to her senses, Laniakea had immediately sensed it.
‘Ah, the 1st Prince will demand a divorce.’
His figure from the funeral came vividly to mind.
Even while the princes’ funeral took place, no one had thought of Hyperion—despite the fact that he was now the Emperor’s only remaining child.
But after seeing him, their faces turned to realization. The next Emperor would naturally be Hyperion.
It wasn’t merely because he was the sole surviving child. Standing in the funeral hall, Hyperion commanded everyone’s gaze.
It wasn’t just his tall height and imposing build. The intimidating presence she had felt when they first met had grown even stronger over the past three years.
Laniakea could feel it too: he possessed an aura of someone born to rule.
Thus, the Empress’s faction that filled the Imperial Palace would soon have no choice but to bow before him.
‘But that’s not all.’
Inside the Imperial Palace, the 1st Prince had no foundation of support whatsoever. So even if he became Emperor, steering state affairs as he wished would be difficult.
Therefore, he had to quickly secure allies within the Imperial Palace.
‘And the best way is marriage.’
Even though the Empress had seized control of the Imperial Palace, it wasn’t as if there were no factions opposing her.
People from institutions with long histories, such as the Imperial Academy and the Temple, had voiced that, according to Imperial Law, the 1st Prince, Hyperion, should be appointed Crown Prince.
The Empress had wanted to purge them all, but because the Emperor was reluctant to touch the elderly ministers, hadn’t they been left alone in the end?
And fortunately, they had held onto respectable positions within the imperial court to this day.
‘He will surely try to grow closer to them.’
But shaking hands and sharing a few meals wouldn’t make them trust and rely on each other.
Since ancient times, there was a proven method to solidify an alliance in such situations.
Marriage.
She didn’t know how many daughters of marriageable age were in the families supporting Hyperion, but there would surely be at least one well-suited to be made Empress.
‘That person will become the Empress.’
Having thought that far, Laniakea let out a short sigh.
“I should head back now. Anyway, under no circumstances are you to come out until I call you for the time being. Understood?”
[Tch.]
The sulking mole’s whiskers drooped. But Laniakea had no intention of comforting it. If it had been discovered, disaster truly would have struck.
“Go on, hurry.”
At Laniakea’s words, the mole waved its front paws in acknowledgment, then burrowed back into the ground and vanished from sight.
After tamping down the earth where the mole had disappeared to make it flat, Laniakea headed straight for her room.
Next, she opened her desk drawer without hesitation. Reaching deep inside, she soon pulled out what she was looking for.
Upon the cover of what resembled a thick book, the words ‘Marriage Contract’ were clearly inscribed.
“It’s been a while.”
She had hardly opened it since arriving at the Detached Palace.
After all, it was a marriage contract, but with no husband around, she had no real reason to look at it.
Searching her memory, Laniakea flipped through the contract. Then, about halfway through, she found the clause she wanted.
“Division of assets and other matters upon divorce….”
It was said that in the marriage contracts of royals or nobles, this section was drafted in the greatest detail.
Yet in the contract Laniakea held, that section was not very long.
“There’s hardly anything here.”
Just as Laniakea muttered, the portion regarding asset division after divorce in this marriage contract was written very briefly.
“Upon divorce, all items bestowed by the imperial family must be relinquished, no titles or territories shall be granted, and an escort will be provided for the journey back to the homeland….”
At least the maintenance allowance she had received thus far wouldn’t be taken back, but that was genuinely all.
Of course, it wasn’t as if she hadn’t tried to grow her meager fortune.
However, the Empress’s eyes were everywhere in the Detached Palace, and doing anything while evading them had been no easy feat.
Re-reading the contract several times, Laniakea swallowed a sigh and closed it.
Then, as if having made up her mind, she clenched her fist tightly.
“Let’s negotiate.”
She couldn’t return to Priatra like this. No, she didn’t want to go back.
Of course, she didn’t necessarily have to return even after the divorce.
‘I could stay in the Empire.’
But that was only possible if she had money.
‘With the money I’ve saved now, it’ll be hard to keep living in the Empire.’
Laniakea imagined the life she desired.
A house with a single bedroom, a small kitchen, and a living room big enough for a table. A yard attached would be nice, but she wouldn’t mind much even without one.
She didn’t yearn to live in a grand city either. Rather, she wanted a quiet life in the countryside without many people around.
‘There might not be much I can do in a place like that… but either way, I want to live without worrying about food.’
A life with bread and vegetables to eat each day, and books to read. With just that much, she could live happily for the rest of her life.
Laniakea fell into deep thought.
The Emperor’s passing was only a matter of time. When that happened, Hyperion would ascend the throne immediately.
The problem was that, in such an event, Laniakea would become the Empress as well.
Compared to divorcing a Crown Princess, an Empress’s divorce would naturally involve a far more cumbersome process.
So Hyperion was certain to seek a divorce right away.
‘Which means I can negotiate the terms.’
I will sign the papers right away, just as you wish. In exchange, once I leave the Imperial Palace, could I ask for a modest financial support so that I may continue living in the Empire?
…if she were to say that.
“He’ll surely agree gladly.”
As she imagined it, a smile crept onto Laniakea’s lips.
She hadn’t expected to leave the Imperial Palace so suddenly—and through a divorce at that—but it wasn’t a bad thing.
Flopping onto her bed, Laniakea pondered what she needed to do.
‘First, I need to secure severance pay for the people at the Detached Palace… and Lucy will probably serve the incoming Empress.’
And what among her belongings could she take with her? Would she be allowed to take the books she had been reading? More importantly, since she wouldn’t be able to stay in the Capital, she would have to go somewhere far away—where should she go?
Normally, facing a divorce would fill one with worry, but Laniakea’s heart fluttered with excitement.
Then, she suddenly thought of Hyperion—her husband, with whom she had had no particular interaction over the past three years aside from a few meals.
Honestly, Laniakea harbored no special feelings for him. To her, he was merely a handsome, intimidating, paper-only husband whom she saw once in a blue moon.
She neither liked nor disliked him.
‘If I had to choose, it’d lean toward… like, though.’
She recalled how he had stepped in to shield her when the Empress lunged at her.
Since it had been a marriage arranged by the Empress, she had worried he might harbor ill will toward her, but that didn’t seem to be the case.
‘So if I tell him I’ll grant him a divorce immediately, he might show some consideration.’
What good could come from parting on bad terms with the man who would soon become Emperor?
Resolving to grant whatever he asked for, Laniakea slowly drifted off to sleep.
* * *
The next day, just as Laniakea had expected, attendants from the Main Palace came for her.
Arriving at the Main Palace with them, Laniakea sensed that its atmosphere had grown even heavier in the meantime. Following the princes’ funeral, preparations for the Emperor’s funeral would undoubtedly begin soon.
The attendant guided Laniakea to an unfamiliar place.
“This place is….”
“His Highness the Crown Prince’s office.”
To be led to a place she had heard remained empty because the Emperor had never designated a Crown Prince.
It seemed no one had objected to Hyperion taking over the Crown Prince’s office.
‘I knew it would come to this.’
Laniakea stepped cautiously into the office. Instantly, the gazes of those inside turned toward her. Most were ministers whose faces were unfamiliar to her—surely the ones who had opposed the Empress.
They stared blankly at Laniakea for a moment before scowling with displeasure.
Noticing the discontent written across their faces, Laniakea averted her eyes. She could guess why they were glaring at her like that.
The reason they had crowded around Hyperion like this was likely to talk about her.
“Everyone, you may leave.”
Just as the atmosphere was turning even bleaker, Hyperion stood and spoke. At his low voice, the men immediately bowed their heads and soon filed out of the office.
Once only the two of them remained, silence settled over the office.
In the end, unable to bear the weight, Laniakea broke the silence first.
“I was told you were looking for me….”
“Ah, yes. That is correct. You see….”
Unlike how he had treated the ministers just moments ago, Hyperion answered hesitantly.
“It is because I have a favor to ask of you.”
Seeing Hyperion’s earnest expression, as if he had made up his mind, Laniakea swallowed dryly.
‘It has finally come.’
Though they were practically strangers as a married couple, even he would hesitate when asking for a divorce the moment he arrived.
“I know what you desire. Do not worry. I intend to comply with whatever Your Highness wishes.”
“Is that so?”
At Laniakea’s answer, Hyperion’s expression brightened.
Seeing him look so openly relieved, Laniakea felt a tiny pang of hurt.
Even if it had been a marriage that neither of them wanted, wasn’t it a bit much to make it so obvious how welcome a divorce was?
Still, seeing him so pleased, it seemed he would grant her request without issue as long as it wasn’t unreasonable.
Thinking to herself how fortunate that was, Laniakea spoke quickly.
“Let’s hurry and sign the divorce agreement.”
At the exact same time, as if he could hold back no longer, Hyperion said:
“A son or a daughter does not matter, so let us hurry and have a child.”
