Mother’s Contract Marriage

Chapter 3

Lyrica was startled but quickly composed herself. After all, this information was far easier to digest than the idea that her mother was marrying the emperor because she’d fallen in love with him.

“So, this is like a job?” she asked, her expression serious.

Ludia tilted her head slightly as she brushed a stray breadcrumb from her daughter’s mouth.

Is it like a job?

It was a little reductive to put it in such simple terms, but there was also no reason to not phrase it that way. Regardless of the terms or conditions, a deal was a deal, and a contract was a contract.

“That’s right,” she responded.

Lyrica felt a sense of relief. It was easier to accept that this was all just a job or a work contract. After all, who was Lyrica Vans if not the best worker in the slums, a girl who lived by the principle that work equaled trust? Quickly growing calm, Lyrica nimbly plucked a fresh piece of bread from the plate on the table.

But still, if Mother marries the emperor... Then will that make her... the empress?

Ludia, just sitting at the table and smiling serenely, was so beautiful that she was certainly well-suited for the position. However...

My mother, the empress? she thought incredulously.

Her cheeks puffed out as she stuffed the rest of the bread in her mouth. But as she chased her mouthful with a few swallows of orange juice, she decided that she would have to help her mother with this task.

“What will happen to me then?” she asked.

Ludia grew slightly pouty.

“I thought you’d be a bit more surprised, Rica.”

“I’m plenty surprised.”

“The emperor has decided to adopt you as his daughter. That means starting from the day after tomorrow, you will be a princess.”

“A princess?”

Her mind grew blank for a moment, but Lyrica quickly regained her composure. This was to be her contracted role. It was a duty that she would diligently have to carry out. Lyrica was proud of herself for knowing such a difficult word as “duty,” but she quickly fell into thought.

What exactly did a princess do? She was still considering this when she asked her next question.

“If this is a contract, then how long will it last?”

Lyrica looked around, making sure to keep her voice low.

“It will be until His Highness the Crown Prince comes of age and ascends to the throne,” her mother replied. “That will be in roughly eight years’ time.”

“Eight years...”

It was an incredibly long time—so long that it was hard to wrap her head around it. Her mother continued to speak.

“And after that, the two of us will buy a house on the outskirts of the capital and live happily ever after. We can even maintain a small garden.”

“Really?”

The thought of a small garden cottage felt much more real to her than palaces or princesses.

“Yes. We’ll relax, take lots of trips, and just enjoy life. He’s promised us a great deal of money, you know. But in return...” Ludia spoke seriously. “We must never, ever tell anyone. This must remain a secret, and must never come out.”

“Yes. I swear I won’t tell anyone! Not even if it costs me my life!” Lyrica exclaimed.

For a brief instant, her mother’s lips trembled, then she suddenly pulled Lyrica into a tight embrace.

“I know, Rica. I know you won’t.”

Ludia’s voice shook faintly, and Lyrica patted her mother on the back to reassure her that everything would be fine. It seemed to her that her mother was nervous—which was understandable, given the enormity of the task at hand. Lyrica straightened and spoke with confidence.

“Don’t worry, Mother. I’ll do my best to help you.”

Ludia laughed quietly and released her.

“Then, you must help me with my first task,” she said.

“What is it?”

“You’ll be a flower girl at the wedding.”

Her mother smiled brightly.

* * *

The next two days passed by in a whirlwind, and though Lyrica tried to keep up, it was simply impossible. Everything happened far too quickly. Of course, Lyrica was not the only one who was overwhelmed. The entire palace—no, the empire itself was in a state of shock.

The sudden announcement of the emperor’s wedding was one thing, but that the bride was a woman who came from nothing, with a young daughter to boot, had been nothing less than an absolute scandal.

“We shall be wed on the morrow.”

The emperor seemed to think that was all he needed to say, but the people who worked beneath him had not necessarily agreed. Fortunately, many of the nobles had already been gathered in the capital as it was the spring ball season. Otherwise, the ceremony would have been held in an empty temple.

Even the wedding dress was not a new custom creation but instead a hastily prepared alteration. Upon seeing the pristine white gown, Ludia had simply requested that all the fabric at the hem be gathered and that the back of the gown be padded. No one could argue, as they had been pressed for time, and they’d frantically altered the dress as the bride requested, while additionally adding layers of pleats. No one knew it at the time of the wedding, but the fashion of the era would soon be transitioning from crinolines to bustle skirts.

The emperor’s wedding was an event that normally required at least a year of planning, but the ceremony was planned and executed in only two days, in a mass state of confusion. It was held and over before the rumors about Ludia even had time to spread.

The day after the wedding, the ceremony to formally adopt Lyrica as the emperor’s daughter had taken place, but it had passed by almost as if it were an afterthought. Lyrica had seen her mother that day, and she’d looked exhausted, almost as if she hadn’t slept at all. She could not help but feel concerned.

From that day forward, Lyrica Vans ceased to exist. Instead, she came to be known as Lyrica Nara Takar.

“There are only three individuals to whom you must bow your head, Princess Lyrica. His Imperial Majesty the Emperor, Her Majesty the Empress, and His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Lyrica listened intently, her expression solemn. Her thin face did not possess the plump cheeks typical of a child, but her large eyes sparkled with liveliness.

Madam Glendelyn regarded Lyrica with appreciation as she instructed the tiny girl. She had hesitated at first when asked to take on the task of teaching her, worried that it would be possible to instruct a child who’d come from the slums.

However, the prospect of having access to the palace had quickly captured her interest. In the empire, the nobles were divided into two categories—those who had permission to enter the Sun Palace, and those who did not. While any noble could freely access the Sky Palace, the Sun Palace was an entirely different story, as it was the emperor’s personal residence.

Entering its walls was a privilege the emperor reserved for only a few, and though most of the high-ranking nobles possessed it, it could be revoked at any time if one were to lose his favor. Everyone understood that the exclusive nature of the Sun Palace was only a means of strengthening imperial power, but they had no choice but to reluctantly accept the practice. Therefore, nobles with access to the court were jokingly—but earnestly—referred to as the gifted nobles.

For Madam Glendelyn, a low-ranking noblewoman who possessed no land of her own, this was the opportunity of a lifetime. And so, she had resolved to endure regardless of the pupil she had been given.

However, the girl in question was nothing like she’d imagined. She did not act in an unruly manner or cause any disruptions, nor did she dart about or use coarse language. In fact, her demeanor was far more composed than most of the spoiled noble scions she knew.

For an instructor, there was no better student than one who desired to learn, and Madam Glendelyn found herself enjoying her lessons with Lyrica far more than she had anticipated. Of course, the little girl found a lot of the things still awkward, but she was sure to improve with time.

“Now, let us practice your curtsy again.”

Lyrica sprang to her feet. The goal was to bend her knees gracefully and perform a curtsy with poise, but Lyrica still moved in far too sprightly a manner, crouching abruptly and then springing upright. They practiced several times before moving on to their next lesson. There was far too much to learn in so little time.

A new worry began forming in Lyrica’s mind as she spent most of her days in lessons. Since Madam Glendelyn came to the palace in the afternoons, the only time Lyrica could see her mother was in the mornings.

However, she was often informed that her mother was exhausted and resting whenever she went to visit. The maids who relayed this information always seemed annoyed with her, but Lyrica didn’t care, filled with concern for her mother as she was.

What is happening every night? Why is she so exhausted and always sleeping?

It was only after several attempts to pay her a visit that Lyrica was finally able to see her. Ludia was still wearing only a gown and greeted her daughter from the middle of her bed, all while looking utterly exhausted.

“Are you all right, Mother?” Lyrica asked.

Ludia nodded.

“Of course I am.”

“But you look so tired! Are you sleeping well at night?”

“At night?” Ludia mumbled to herself and then gritted her teeth. “No, I have not been sleeping very well at night.”

“But you must get proper rest!”

Ludia smiled when faced with a plea full of concern.

“Don’t worry. I’m fine,” she answered, before asking Lyrica a series of questions about how she was adapting to palace life. Truthfully, she did nothing all that tiring, now that she spent her days endlessly attending her etiquette lessons. Not wanting to trouble her weary mother any longer, Lyrica left shortly after. She worried that her mother’s personal maids weren’t taking proper care of her.

The young girl sighed and murmured out loud, “Why is Mother so exhausted?”

Hearing this, the maid holding the door for her giggled.

“That’s because His Majesty is tormenting her every night, all night long.”

The maid’s tone was mocking, but the words struck Lyrica like a thunderbolt.

“His Majesty?”

Lyrica spun around in shock, but the maid only laughed brazenly and repeated herself.

“But let’s keep it a secret that you heard it from me, yes?”

Lyrica nodded, still in shock.

His Majesty is tormenting Mother every night...?

What on earth was he doing to her? The mere thought made her break out in a cold sweat. Even Lyrica had heard all the rumors about how the emperor was a terrifying man. Was he striking, shouting at, and abusing her mother all through the night? As she pictured her mother’s weary face, Lyrica felt her hesitation harden into resolve.

No! I must do something about this. But what can I do? Lyrica Nara Takar!

She chanted her new, unfamiliar name to herself several times in an attempt to become more used to it and give herself strength. All the while, she racked her brain for a solution but could only come up with worries rather than fresh ideas.

As she moved down the long corridor that led to her room, she paused, then swallowed nervously and turned to her maid.

“Would you submit a request to His Majesty to grant me an audience?”

The maid looked at her with surprise.

“An audience with His Majesty?”

“Yes, ma’am... Um, I mean, yes,” Lyrica stammered.

“Understood.”

The maid summoned an attendant and relayed Lyrica’s request, and though the man seemed startled, he left without protest and returned quickly.

“His Majesty will see you now, if it is not a lengthy matter you wish to discuss.”

“I-I’m coming.”

Lyrica leaped to her feet. The maids exchanged looks of surprise and anticipation upon hearing the emperor had accepted her request. Although one of them insisted that she should change into something more formal, the others hesitated, and the attendant interjected firmly.

“His Majesty specified that he can only spare a brief moment. There is no time to change your attire.”

Lyrica nodded, and the attendant gave her a polite bow.

“This way, please. I shall escort you.”

“Okay. Let’s go.”

It was awkward for her to speak authoritatively, but it was what was expected of a princess. Lyrica followed behind the attendant, her tightly clenched fists trembling with fear.

It’s fine, Lyrica. It’ll be fine, she silently reassured herself.

Before she knew it, they were already standing in front of the emperor’s study. It was unjust that traversing the previously endless corridor had suddenly become such a short affair.

She was nervous, especially seeing as she’d never come here before, and she took a deep breath to steady her resolve.

“Princess Lyrica has arrived,” the attendant announced.

There was no response, but the doors to the study swung open. The attendant bowed deeply, clearly indicating that he would proceed no further, and Lyrica stepped inside alone. She was so nervous that she forgot that she was never supposed to look directly at the emperor.

Inside the study, there was no one standing in her immediate line of sight. Only the emperor could be seen, seated behind a massive desk with his eyes focused on a document. Lyrica stared at him openly before awkwardly bobbing a curtsy.

“What is it?” came his low, firm voice.

Lyrica felt sweat dripping down her back.

“I... came with a request.”

“Speak.”

“M-my mother...” She paused for a moment and steadied herself. “P-please stop tormenting my mother every night!”

Her voice was not as loud as she wanted, but the emperor’s study suddenly fell into a deep silence, as if time itself had stopped. Then, from somewhere in the room, snorting and snickering cut through the stillness. Startled, Lyrica tried to hastily explain herself.

“Sh-she cannot rest properly at night, and... she struggles to wake in the morning. Sh-she seems exhausted, so please... stop troubling her.”

The emperor stared at her, seemingly in a daze, then finally spoke as if he were embarrassed.

“Wait, but your mother definitely enjoyed—”

“Ahem!”

“Ahem, ahem!”

The sound of several people loudly clearing their throats made Lyrica jump in surprise, and the emperor frowned and shut his mouth. Was it good manners, perhaps, to clear one’s throat whenever the emperor spoke? Lyrica nervously looked around and then decided to follow suit.

“Ahem... ahem?” She cleared her throat timidly.

“Hahahaha!”

There was an eruption of laughter, and Lyrica flinched and looked up. Standing near the desk in the middle of the enormous study was a large man, his broad back shaking as he tried—and failed—to suppress his laughter. The emperor appeared to be supremely irritated by this.

It was only then that Lyrica realized there were other people in the study. She had vaguely registered their presence before, but only now did she turn her attention to them properly.

The large man who was laughing seemed to be a knight, and there was another man who looked as if he was assisting the emperor with his documents. Seeing that the flustered Lyrica was not comprehending the situation, this man stepped forward. He had soft brown hair and eyes and wore a gentle expression. Lyrica noted the monocle he wore over one eye and the mole in the shape of a tear near the corner of that same eye.

The man lowered himself to one knee so that he was at eye-level with her.

“That oaf over there is not laughing at you, Your Highness. You are a truly brave little princess.” He smiled warmly and added, “Rest assured, His Majesty will no longer be tormenting your mother at night.”

“Hey!”

The emperor cried sharply, but the man, much to her surprise, did not even blink an eye as he turned to face him.

“Isn’t that right?”

The emperor grimaced as though he’d bitten into a clam full of sand, then turned his gaze toward Lyrica. He sighed upon seeing her pale, drawn face.

“Fine.”

“Th-thank you!” Lyrica beamed.

Her face lit up, and she offered him an enthusiastic curtsy.