It's Not A Childcare But A Contract Marriage - Chapter 13 Part 1

“Oh yeah.”

“…….”

“……you.”

Doulian’s face turned into an annoyed expression as he puffed up his cheeks and shouted.

“Did you hear me correctly? I’m not joking. I really won’t send you a single coin!”

“Uh.”

“Who are you, really…”

‘No, what? Did you expect me to look desperate?’

Stupidly deceived by a man. Therefore, no dowry can be given for such a fraudulent marriage. I suppose this is the logic he concocted after returning home.

This is a milder version of the threatening scenario I anticipated.

‘You can’t think you can manipulate me so easily.’

Seeing my calm expression, Doulian raised his voice with a hint of impatience.

“Pudding! Think this through! What would a marriage be like without a dowry?”

“….”

“Right now, the duke may say he likes you, but will his feelings remain the same when you go to him with nothing but yourself, without a single coin as dowry?”

Doulian spoke loudly enough for everyone present to hear, glancing behind me as if expecting someone to deliver the message to the duke.

‘Hmph, how shallow.’

A snort escaped me at the obvious manipulation.

It was clear why he chose to tell the story in front of the duke’s vassals.

‘It’s just pathetic.’

This woman has nothing to offer as a bride to a marrying family. Since even her own family disregards her, she probably won’t make it far even within her future husband’s family.

It’s a signal to someone within the groom’s family.

‘Then, once I return home pretending to be all naive and innocent, they will immediately send the message to the marquis’

I chuckled, clearly feeling a few steps ahead of the cunning family’s scheme.

‘Seriously, someone worked hard to accumulate that dowry.’

Seeing such a shameless example in front of me, I couldn’t help but think that my ancestors were right – black-haired beasts cannot be tamed easily…

Well, of course, the cunning family’s hair is silver, but still.

Just by not overturning the table right now, I’m already showing a great deal of patience, but Doulian kept pushing my buttons.

“No, let’s assume for now that the duke is genuinely smitten with you and says it’s fine… but what about a few years from now?”

‘I won’t be the duchess by then.’

Perhaps I’d be busy rebuilding the upper realm and managing the continent’s resources while briefly contemplating the future.

As I was envisioning the future, Doulian regained a polite expression and spoke again.

“Pudding, you know this older brother understands the hearts of men. Men are all the same, whether they speak of love or anything else, until they get what they want—well, until they’ve achieved their goal.”

“……”

“No matter how satisfying a woman may be, they eventually get tired of her.”

Ugh.

Just his expression alone is enough to be repulsive, and now he adds those words on top of it.
‘It’s beyond discomfort.’

“How can I remain still when I imagine you writing pitiful letters then—”

I firmly interrupted Doulian, who was about to spout more nonsense.

“You’re having pointless thoughts.”

“What?”

“I won’t have any reason to send you a letter in the future, so wake up.”

“What! Do you think I said all this because I want to receive your letters? No, it’s not that I dislike your letters, of course…”

Doulian was still trying to maintain his façade as ‘the caring older brother,’ hastily picking up his words or letting them go.

Quietly, I looked around and found what I had instructed the maid to prepare in the tea room.

‘Ah, there it is.’

“Pudding, are you even listening?”

Ignoring Doulyan’s increasingly agitated voice, I poured water from the prepared teapot.

‘What a shame it’s not ice-cold water.’

Thinking that way, I stirred the water diligently.

I had specially prepared tea leaves for times like this, and as soon as I put them in, the formerly transparent water quickly turned murky.

As the water, resembling a slimy creature pulled from a muddy pond, bubbled up satisfactorily, Doulian couldn’t bear it any longer and started complaining.

“No. Is this the time to have tea? I might mistake it for Pudding.”

A peculiar smirk played at the corner of his lips as he pronounced the sweet nickname.

“……”

I felt my gaze softening as I looked at him.

‘He wasn’t always like that from the beginning.’

When I succeeded in my business and ascended to the capital, he imitated the mannerisms of a considerate older brother.

‘When did it start?’

The explicit and insincere family act of the cunning family. Was it because I made it too easy?

Since they were treated like family, they naturally took it for granted. Yes, this is my fault.

I smirked and stirred the tea even more vigorously.

‘After being treated so well, they still haven’t forgotten their humble roots and come seeking help.’

I thought as if I had entrusted it to them.

I decided to correct the mistakes I had made in certain aspects like a responsible citizen.

As if on cue, the tea was ready.

Thud.

I gently put down the teaspoon and lifted the teacup. At that moment, the knight who had been standing behind me all along bowed his upper body and whispered.

“Lady, if you wish to send the uninvited guest away, please let me know at any time.”

“Oh, I see. As expected of the duke’s household. The staff training is impeccable.”

“If you’re concerned… Should I escort the Duke here?”

“No, it’s okay.”

I replied with a gentle smile, and as I stopped stirring the teacup, I turned my head towards Doulian.

When his frightened gaze met my cold eyes, he flinched and raised his voice like a barking dog.

“I, I did everything for you! That’s what I meant!”

“I’ve heard more than enough nonsense.”

There’s no need to listen any further.

I firmly grasped the handle of the cup, snapped my wrist, and swung it.