Chapter 1: The Contract Period is Two Years

“This marriage is just a formality.”

“Sure.”

Inside a spacious room, sitting on a luxurious-looking sofa, Urien rested his fist on his lap, answering in a flat tone.

Sitting before him was a soldier who was known as the God of the Silent Battlefield, Rodrick Edel. His black hair was haphazardly styled, but it was still oozed with sex appeal, while his face looked ever-so gallant and handsome. With his large, muscular stature, he was probably three heads taller than Urien. Befitting his countless achievements in the battlefield, he had a magnificent physique, while his face was unexpectedly good looking for his build. Hidden behind his thin bangs and beautiful double eyelids were his gold eyes. That pair of somewhat tired-looking eyes were protected by his long eyelashes and between them was his nose bridge, standing straight. Anyone could tell just by glancing at him. This guy was an Alpha.

It had been a few minutes since Urien had met him. And those words were the first thing he had said to him after he made him enter this room to talk.

“This contract marriage has conditions attached to it.”

“Sure.”

Urien replied again in a listless voice. He had only been repeating vague responses of, ‘Sure’, or ‘Mhm’ all this time. Regardless, he was still aware that this was a contract marriage. Though he wasn’t sure what the other guy’s side wished to offer to him in exchange for the exemption of the dowry.

That aside, Rodrick’s black hair really was captivating. It was the first time that Urien had ever seen such jet black hair. Urien himself had chestnut-colored hair and purple eyes. As he let himself drown in such thoughts, Rodrick’s neatly shaped eyebrows furrowed as he threw him a suspicious stare, thinking, ‘Is he even listening to me?’. Urien noticed his gaze, replied with a strong ‘Sure’ as he nodded his head—his bangs trembled—before asking.

“So, what are the conditions?”

“This is the written contract.”

“Thank you very much.”

A written contract. Since he had prepared such a thing, this meant the Martritz Family didn’t have a say in this. This was already within Urien’s expectations, but the surprisingly quick development still made him taken aback. Regardless, he received the written contract with the unnecessarily thick cover and immediately opened it.

From today onwards, the 18-year-old Julian Martritz would be married to Duke Rodrick Edel.

It had been over a decade since Rodrick inherited his current position. According to the rumors, his father, the previous duke, passed away when he was 15 and he was forced to succession at his young age. Then, for over the next ten years, he fought over various battlefields, gracing the kingdom with numerous victories, spreading his name throughout the kingdom.

Currently, Duke Rodrick Edel was 27 years of age. On the battlefield, he never revealed his face, always covering his whole body with thick armor. Outside of it, he rarely socialized with other nobles, giving birth to rumors that he was a tough, ugly man with a terrible scar on his face.

According to the rumors, he had a ruthless personality. If he deemed his subordinates or even allies to be useless, he’d cut them down without mercy. A born war maniac who had cut hundreds necks. Though he became a noble at a young age, rumors about how he had abnormal sexual tendencies put off the other noble families to offer their daughters to be wedded to him.

But suddenly, Duke Rodrick Edel proposed a marriage to Urien Martritz.

Martritz Family, Urien’s family was a baron household whose land was right next to the duchy. When he first received the proposal, Urien’s father, Baron Martritz, was so frightened that he thought the duke was blackmailing him to force him to give up his son.

And so, a week later, Urien traveled all the way across the vast duchy to the duke’s estate. During his journey, he pondered the reason why the duke had sent that proposal to begin with.

Although, the proposal really wasn’t the most inconceivable thing. First, Urien was an Omega, which meant, even though he was a male, he could bear children no problem. Also, Martritz Barony was right next to the duchy, they could be a valuable asset for the duke during times of war.

But still, why did he ask specifically for Urien Martritz?

Urien was known for his debauchery, a man-slut who’d seduce all the men he could lay his hands on. In contrast, his younger brother, Arnault Martritz, was a handsome and intelligent herbivore, making him objectively a better choice.

No one didn’t know of Urien’s attractive blond hair and jewel-like purple eyes. After all, he used his good looks to spend nights partying with all the attractive men he could find, much to his parents’ dismay.

In comparison, his younger brother, Arnault Martritz, never even made his appearance in high society. Though he had reached his adulthood, his parents kept him locked at the back of the mansion, fearing that his older brother would try to make his life miserable.

…From an outsider’s perspective, marrying Urien off to a warmonger felt like a punishment for his past debaucheries.

For Rodrick to marry such a frivolous, shallow person like Urien, what good would it bring? Also, why didn’t he find it odd that Urien’s appearance—with his skinny build and chestnut-colored hair—didn’t match with the rumors of a dazzling man-slut?

As he entertained such a thought, Urien summarized the first condition and read it aloud. Unlike Rodrick’s deep, low voice, Urien’s voice lacked any trace of strength or vigor.

“First, the duration of the contract marriage would be…two years?”

‘Two years?’ He looked up at Rodrick when he read those words, his eyes wide open, only to meet the duke’s cold gaze.

“What?”

“No, nothing… Second, our marriage is just a formality, we’ll stay in separate rooms. No interfering with each others’ lives, but avoid any acts that will give birth to rumors, especially ones related to infidelity.”

Reading it this far, he felt like shouting. The words ‘two years’ kept flashing in his head. But he kept his composure, continuing to read out loud.

The third condition was that there would be no wedding ceremony. The fourth, since the duke would often be out of his estate, matters regarding the duchy would be left to his younger brother, Theobald Edel, and Urien had no say in that at all. In other words, while the duke was away, he had to lay low and not do anything. The fifth, as the duke’s consort, he had to attend all the necessary social events.

“Sixth, after the two year period, a divorce will be held immediately. Afterwards, compensation will be paid…”

“As for other details, we can iron it out later. Lastly, anyone who breaches this contract will be required to pay for the compensation.”

Urien nodded, letting out an answer that was between an ‘Uh’ and a ‘Yes’, prompting Rodrick to look at him in disdain.

“I only have one thing to say.”

Rodrick declared, his words sharp like a blade.

“In the next two years, you will have to live quietly in the estate. Don’t go out unnecessarily. After that, you’re free to live however you want.”

“…Yes.”

Seeing how he went out of his way to say that, it seemed that he was aware that Urien Martritz was a massive man-slut, and that he hated that. But that brought up the question, ‘Why did he choose to marry Urien in the first place?’.

He should’ve heard about the rumors about Urien’s appearance too. Though his eyes were purple, the same as in the rumors, his hair was chestnut-colored, not dazzling blond like what the rumors said.

So many questions were left unanswered, but the atmosphere between them was too tense—so tense that Urien felt that the man in front of me would cut off his neck if he were to say the wrong thing. He touched the choker on his neck. Not because he was afraid that he’d lose his neck here, though. If anything, rather than fear, his feelings towards the man in front of him was closer to admiration.

The nickname ‘God of the Silent Battlefield’ really suited Rodrick to the tee—even the mere atmosphere he exuded was so cold that it made Urien’s fingers shiver. The origin of that nickname was simple, yet terrifying; whenever his army joined a battlefield, what was left would be a silent battlefield, filled with the corpses of their enemies, as if the battlefield had turned into a graveyard.

“I’ll tell you this in advance. No matter what happens, this contract will expire in two years.”

Rodrick said without changing his expression.

Urien just stared at his deep, golden eyes.

“This is the condition I want you to agree to, in exchange for the exemption of dowry.”

“Yes.”

The Maltritz Family’s finances were in a dire strait. So, the offer for an exemption of dowry was actually a godsend to them.

“There is no need for love between us. Always keep in mind that we’re only a married couple bound by a contract.”

“Understood.”

After that, Urien ran over the terms and Rodrick’s words in his head.

The part that he was focusing on wasn’t ‘There is no need for love,’ but rather ‘Two years,’ and ‘Compensation’.

As long as he could survive for two years, he’d get his freedom back, and also money… A lot of them…

“…”

“Anything you’d like to say?”

“No.”

“Then, I’ll be leaving.”

At that moment, a certain someone that he loved crossed his mind.

He immediately lowered his head and his shoulders started to tremble. Rodrick glanced at him and he noticed it, but neither of them said anything, so Rodrick just left the place.

Then, Urien was finally alone. He let out a deep sigh, desperately suppressing the voice that threatened to spill out of his mouth.

‘…A contract marriage. For two years.’

‘After that, with that money. We would be able to go anywhere we want. Just the two of us.’

‘God, please tell me this isn’t a joke.’

“Have you finally turned your gaze at me?

‘This is the best marriage I can hope for!’