“No.”
The answer came without a second of hesitation.
“Really this is good.”
“Does it bother you?”
Dale looked at me questioningly.
“No, it's not.
There's a clause in the contract here that says I won't interfere in your personal life.
You know that clause.”
“If Dale meets someone nice, he can date him.
We're not a real couple.”
“…….”
“But the contract must be adhered to, especially Clause 3, the duties of the false spouses.”
“…….”
"We will never give anyone a reason to doubt our relationship as a couple.
So if you want to date someone, you have to do it in secret, and that's why I asked for it."
Dale's brow narrowed.
“Maybe we should delete this.”
That's when Dale spoke in a low voice.
He looked really upset.
“I have no intention of neglecting your request.”
"truly?"
“You saved my life, so I'll make sure I make it up to you.”
“It was just a simple treatment...”
Not a bad deal for me, by the way.
Dale was a local who had lived in Grunwald for six months, and I was an outsider.
This means that there are a lot of people who will be interested in my alternative and will watch my actions.
I also had no intention of dating another man until the contract was secure.
“Okay.
Do you want me to delete this item then?”
“Yes now.”
Dale agreed, and I deleted the item.
“Now, shall we go?”
Dale opened the carriage door and took my arm.
We stood in front of a huge temple.
The reason why Dale and I have been married for exactly “364 days.”
It was in this very temple.
* * *
The only independent institution outside the influence of the Emperor.
Temple.
Long ago, all marriages on the continent were performed by temples.
'This is the most corrupt temple ever.'
The Lockhart family continued to donate to the temple.
They had a close relationship.
That's why the priests were greedy and loved money so much.
-sigh.
I handed the fist-sized jewel to the priest in the hall.
“I am here to register my marriage.”
I put my arm around Dale and we played passionate lovers.
The corrupt priest examined the jewel.
“Love escape, normal marriage, or something else?”
“Love’s Escape.”
“Come this way.”
The temple was so majestic and grand that I felt overwhelmed.
'The temple is familiar to Dale.'
Why are his arms so stiff?
Upon closer inspection, Dale's eyes were hard, and his gait was strangely stiff.
"Dale.
Walk normally."
I whispered softly.
Was it because we were crossing our arms?
'If I had known this would happen, I would have practiced kissing.'
“You remember our concept, right?
We were lovers and had no choice but to separate due to my father’s opposition, but in the end we met again, a spark ignited between us, and we ended up getting married.”
I squeezed Dale's hand and he blushed and narrowed his eyes.
“Hold me tight.”
“……!”
“I don't want it to sound awkward, so please bear with me for a moment even if you don't like it.”
“…….”
He was walking in a strange way, like a man who had never been in contact with a woman in his life.
What would I do?
I was going to divorce him soon, but could I still fake marriage to a man like this?
For someone who is innocent and naive and has never met anyone before?
“If we go any further, this contract cannot be cancelled.
Are you sure it is okay?”
Dale looked at me calmly and then nodded with a calm expression.
"decent."
He wrapped his large hand around my outstretched hand.
“I won't bite.”
* * *
Marriage procedures in the empire were simple.
All the lovers have to do is go to a nearby temple, pledge their love to the priest, fill out the information in the report, and place their thumbprint.
There he is!
The marriage is over!
But the divorce was very complicated.
There were six great temples spread across the continent, and divorce required traveling to all of them to announce the end of the relationship.
Because of this complexity, divorces took an average of three to five years and were very expensive.
This was created by the Emperor at a time when the divorce rate in the empire was high, and was a very radical solution to reduce the divorce rate.
Thus the marriage rate declined, and new laws were put in place to compensate.
When a couple registers to get married, they are not immediately recognized as a couple.
-The couple must be together for one year from the date of registration.
The couple will not be recognized as legal spouses until one year has passed.
Instead of delaying recognition as an official couple, the marriage can be annulled at any time during the reservation period.
This means that if things do not work out between the spouses, they can still obtain an annulment on day 364.
It was a trial marriage of sorts.
“Can we get the papers?”
A priest greeted us when we entered the room after a short ceremony.
“You guys, surely you won't regret this?”
“We don't regret it, do we, Dale?”
I squeezed Dale's hand and looked at him.
Say you don't regret it.
Say you don't regret it.
Say you don't regret it.
I pressed him with my eyes.
“I've been waiting for this day.”
His voice was sweet like honey.
'Wow, he's a good actor.'
His tone was sweet enough to fool me, even though I knew it was fake.
“Dale, you looked like someone who had been in a relationship for a very long time and was finally getting married.”
“…….”
I whispered, and then a mysterious smile spread across Dale's face.
“Great.” “With the blessing of Ruler Jupiter, I declare that the holy marriage between the two has been concluded.”
When the priest placed his hand on the document, the papers flew into the air.
“However, you two have not yet officially become husband and wife.”
The priest looked at us and spoke sternly.
“Under Imperial Law, you will have a one-year period of reflection, and on the first day of that year, you will officially become husband and wife.”
I nodded slowly, and Dale nodded too.
Then the delighted priest gave his blessing.
* * *
“Oh, my robe.
Where did he go?
I left the temple and looked around.
For some reason, I was cold.
“I must have left it at the shrine!
I’ll go get it, just wait here.”
“I'll go get him”
"Dale?
Do you remember what my dress looks like?"
“It was floral with white fur on top and lace on the bottom.”
I was surprised by his excellent memory.
I don't think I can remember my clothes in such detail.
"Of course I know what Enya-san's clothes look like."
He paused and lowered his voice.
“Because she is my wife.”
“Oh, because I'm your contractual wife?”
He was a truly meticulous and excellent mercenary.
“Then do me a favor.”
I smiled happily as I watched him return to the temple.
“He's very nice, by the way.”
* * *
After the priest finished his work, he sat on his chair and fell asleep.
At that moment.
His peaceful dream was suddenly interrupted by a dark cloud and a giant tornado that crushed his body.
“Ah, this dream…….”
“Where is the document?”
“Huh!”
The astonished priest came to his senses.
“Ah, what are you talking about...”
The priest woke up and slowly got up from his seat.
‘Ah- I was wondering what kind of terrifying energy it was, and it turned out to be the new groom from earlier.
'It was just a dream.'
“Where is the document?”
“I got it sorted.”
After finding his marriage certificate with Enya, Dale picked up a pen and started writing something more.
“Hey!
Wait...”
The moment he saw the name written in large letters on the document.
The priest closed his mouth.
'That's not an ordinary name, is it?'
Dale Blanc Ilkeston.
Ilkeston was clearly an imperial family name.
A name that could lead to the beheading of anyone who dares to imitate it.
“Wait young man, why are you using the imperial family name?”
At that moment, the priest's mouth opened wide.
Because Dale Dale is his ID card.
No, not everyone can have an ID card bearing the royal family's seal.
Only one.
Emperor of the Empire.
His cold eyes, under his black hair, were frightening.
“Ah, ah, no……?No……!!”
“I think I can apply again.”
With a cold face, Dale tapped on his real name written next to Enya Lockhart.
Marriage is certain.
It doesn't matter even if there is a one-year reflection period.
He was indeed Enya's husband.