Looking for the Villainess’s Contract Husband
Chapter 12
In contrast to Jack, Laviella appeared composed, as if she had been practicing these words in her mind for a very long time.
“First of all, by marrying my mother, you can avoid external pressure regarding marriage. Once you take a wife, the issue of an heir will surface, and it might become difficult to pass the title to Lucian.”
Laviella spoke rapidly, then paused to catch her breath as if she were winded before continuing.
“And second. In the end, Lucian is publicly considered a ‘collateral relative.’ If you suddenly name someone like that as your heir, there will definitely be opposition.”
“…….”
“To marry you, my mother would need to be unmarried and without children, right? So…….”
“……Are you suggesting that I pretend to adopt you, an ‘orphan,’ to create the impression that the collateral relative Lucian is a better choice?”
“Yes, exactly.”
“Ha, look here.”
Jack’s brow furrowed even more deeply than before.
Only then did he realize that the girl wasn’t just spouting nonsense or making absurd claims.
However, that didn't mean his sense of bewilderment had vanished.
Jack finally wiped the hollow smirk from his face and spoke with a serious expression.
“If we did that, the people would tear you apart until you’re in tatters. You have no idea how vicious those people in the capital are…….”
“Is that really so important? If we don't escape the Marquis’s house like this, my mother and I will just be used until we die anyway.”
But Jack’s words were cut off with laughable ease by that slender voice.
To think a child who looked barely ten years old could speak of ‘death’ so calmly.
Jack couldn't find his words and stared at Laviella with an indescribable feeling.
Meanwhile, Laviella continued speaking.
“Marquis Diarmuid plans to marry my mother to Duke Bryan to control the Dukedom. But my mother doesn't want that, and neither do I.”
Laviella met Jack’s gaze head-on, driving her point home.
“So please, propose to my mother, Duke.”
“…….”
“If you protect my mother, I will protect Lucian in return.”
Jack finally let out a groan that sounded like a pained ache and rubbed his furrowed brow with his hand.
Inside his mouth, a messy tangle of profanities swirled, held back only because he was in front of a child.
‘What on earth is this situation?’
Clearly, until just a few days ago, his days had been perfectly normal.
Crushing the vermin trying to cling to the name of the Dukedom, and processing mountains of paperwork.
Master! Right now, in front of the main gate……!
Then, out of nowhere, news arrived that a blood-soaked man holding a child had collapsed unconscious in front of the Duke’s estate.
At first, he was simply baffled.
Did his front gate look like some kind of clinic or daycare center?
But soon, the words delivered by the guard made it impossible to even scoff.
Before the man collapsed, he clearly said, ‘Please tell the Duke, but let no one know of this.’
Since the man had collapsed after specifically naming Jack, it felt too unsettling to simply ignore.
In the end, Jack decided that he could always kick them out after they woke up and he heard their story, so he ordered them to be taken in.
If he had known this small child would be such a headache, he would have told them not to…….
‘No, damn it. I probably would have brought them into the mansion anyway.’
No matter how much the world called Jack cold-blooded, he couldn't turn away a child burning up with fever.
Jack, whose face looked ten years older in just a few moments, let out a deep sigh.
He clutched his throbbing forehead with one hand and looked at the girl.
“So, what the Young Lady is saying is……. Ah, what is your name?”
“You can call me Laviella.”
“Fine, Laviella. So what you’re saying is……”
“I’m asking you to become my mother’s contract husband.”
“……A contract husband.”
He had heard countless marriage proposals in his life, but this was the first time he’d ever been asked to be a ‘contract’ husband.
Furthermore, it was a first for the person proposing to be a mere child rather than the party involved in the marriage.
Staring at Laviella with a look he couldn't quite define, Jack spoke seriously.
“Laviella.”
“Yes.”
“How much do you know?”
His heavy voice echoed in her ears.
Laviella rolled her eyes at his question.
The child hesitated before whispering softly.
“How much should I say I know so that you won't be offended?”
“Ha…….”
Jack finally covered his eyes with the hand that had been on his forehead and let out a short, dry laugh.
Ultimately, those words were as good as saying she knew everything.
It was something he had anticipated from the moment she uttered the name Lucian ‘Floyd.’
He wasn't even bewildered anymore. He just felt like he was being possessed by a ghost.
‘……Lucian.’
Lucian Floyd.
That child, known as one of the collateral relatives Jack was currently sponsoring, was actually the son of his deceased former aide.
A pathetic thing like this is acting like an Imperial Prince?
During Jack’s youth, he had accompanied his father to the Imperial Palace and punched the current Crown Prince—who was then just a prince—in the face, earning the Empress's hatred.
In truth, even without that incident, it was certain that Jack would have rejected the Empress and the Crown Prince.
They were the leaders of the Aristocratic Faction, who prioritized their own interests over the nation’s, while the Esperanza Dukedom had been the head of the Imperial Faction for generations.
Since Jack was not the type to pay deep attention to others by nature, he had soon forgotten about hitting the Crown Prince, who had been spouting crazy nonsense about bowing at his feet from their very first meeting.
However, it seemed the Crown Prince and the Empress had not forgotten.
Considering that ten years ago, they had finally tried to frame him for treason and take his head.
I…… will take all of this on myself.
Are you insane? That makes no sense……!
The false evidence they’ve manufactured points to the ‘Esperanza Dukedom’ anyway. I will simply confess that I harbored vain dreams using the Dukedom’s prestige. They won't be able to easily refute it either, as they’d risk exposing that the evidence was fabricated.
Victor!
Victor, Jack’s aide and childhood friend, had said those words upon seeing the Imperial Guard surrounding the Duke’s residence, and Jack had been unable to stop him in the end.
All Jack could do was smuggle away the young son of those who had been branded traitors and beheaded, raising him under the guise of sponsorship.
And one day, to hand the hilt of the sword named Esperanza to the grown Lucian so he could take his revenge.
That was the sole purpose for which Jack Esperanza continued to live.
“Um…… are you okay?”
And this child before him seemed to know all of that. Though he had no idea how she found out.
‘……Even if I ask, it’s not like she’ll give me a straight answer.’
Jack let out a sigh for the umpteenth time.
Wiping his face with one hand, he looked at Laviella with a considerably fatigued expression and asked.
“That aside, Laviella.”
“Yes.”
“Does your mother know about this?”
“…….”
At those words, Laviella, who had been talking quite well without even being prompted, clamped her mouth shut. Her pale blue eyes shifted slowly to the side.
Seeing that, Jack’s face looked twice as haggard.
Laviella added belatedly.
“……I haven't been able to tell her yet. Escaping before being dragged to the Marquis’s house was the priority.”
“Sigh……”
“I want to explain it to my mother myself. So please don't tell her…….”
Laviella fidgeted with her hands, glancing at him nervously.
With a deep sigh, Jack rose from his seat.
Then, he picked Laviella up effortlessly.
A dazed sound escaped the child’s lips.
“Ack.”
“The Young Lady must be worried sick. Fine, I understand. I’ll think about your proposal, so go back to your room for now.”
“Okay. But can I go see Paul?”
“Who is Paul…… Ah, that knight.”
Jack strode toward the door with Laviella tucked under one arm and opened it.
He set her down in the hallway and clicked his tongue.
“I’ll let you know through Odile once he wakes up, so stay in your room for now. Besides, if you want to realize your plan, shouldn't you avoid letting people know you’re here for the time being?”
“Who is Odile?”
“The one who dressed you earlier. She’s the head maid, for your information. Go and quietly take the medicine the doctor prescribed.”
Jack reached out and ruffled Laviella’s hair before calling out for Odile.
Then, he disappeared behind the closing door.
* * *
Meanwhile, Gilbert’s group, having entered the capital, quickly made their way into Marquis Diarmuid’s estate.
The carriage, which had been running silently like a shadow, finally came to a halt once it was inside the high walls.
Creeeak—
Gretel, who had been sitting dazed in the carriage with her hair disheveled, turned her head at the sound of the carriage door opening.
She glared with a fierce gaze at the person visible beyond the door.
A man she didn't even want to call her father anymore.
A man she would jump at and snap the neck of right this instant if she could.
It was Marquis Diarmuid.
