I Died and Returned to Life In the Library At Midnight, and I Married a Cold-blooded Duke to Reclaim

Episode 3: Conditions of a Contract Marriage

The library's reading room in the middle of the night was surprisingly quiet, considering it was in the basement.

　The magic lamps placed on the long table cast several pale blue circles. I sat at one end, while Elisha across from me still hadn't taken off his cloak. It was probably to prevent me from escaping, and also so that he could move at any moment.

　I'm not trusted. And that's fine.

　We will regain your trust starting now.

　"First, let's check."

　Elisha clasped his fingers together and said in an emotionless voice:

　"There's talk that the welfare hospital's accounting records will be swapped during next month's audit, but which records are they?"

　"These are the donation ledger and the expenditure ledger. Ostensibly, they are being collected for repairs. But the real reason is to rewrite the expenditure column and the records of the transfer of protected children."

　"What is the pretext for ordering the recall?"

　"The Board of Accounting has issued a notice preparing for an audit. We tell the relief center that it's for the preservation of their accounting records."

　Elisha's gaze shifted slightly. It was the look of someone whose eyes align with information they already knew.

　"What day is the collection?"

　"The third of next month. It's a rainy morning. Two carriages will arrive, but the real boxes will be loaded onto the back of the carriage."

　"...Is it really that specific?"

　I nodded. My mouth is dry.

　"After that, the original documents are temporarily placed in the accounting office's sealed vault. However, just before the audit, the original documents are moved to another location. What remains in the vault are copies and the falsified ledgers."

　"The person who will carry out the transfer"

　"Ostensibly, it's two junior clerks and one guard. But it's Lafont who issues the orders."

　The moment Elisha heard the name Lafont, his eyelids drooped slightly. He was already suspicious of that man.

　"What is the evidence?"

　"We don't have one yet. That's why we need you, Your Excellency."

　"That's quite frank."

　"As a result of taking a roundabout route, I died once."

　I regretted it after I said it. It was like I had just blurted out the phrase "return by death."

　But Elisha didn't criticize my words, he just looked at me quietly.

　"You've been speaking like someone who knows the future."

　"Do you believe it?"

　"I still don't believe it."

　He answered immediately.

　"But liars usually don't go into that much detail. Because if it's verified, it's over for them."

　It makes breathing a little easier.

　"Okay, next."

　I leaned over the table. I was so excited that the inkwell shook, and I quickly held it down. That small mistake strangely brought me back to reality.

　"In two months, there will be an attack at the South Bridge. It will take place around 1 a.m. The route you will take to return from the castle has been anticipated, and three men will be hiding behind the bridge railing. The first attack will be a decoy; the real attack will come from the right."

　"How many bodyguards do I have?"

　"On the surface, there are two of us. But that night, one of us is called away, so the number decreases."

　For the first time, a clear tension crossed Elisha's eyes. If she knew that much, it couldn't be just a rumor.

　"How do you know that?"

　"...After that, news spread throughout the capital that His Excellency had been attacked on the bridge. Some people heard that he had survived, but in reality, it was his injuries that caused the problem..."

　The words get stuck in my throat.

　I didn't see it. But I know. In my first life, I heard about it before the execution. That the duke who had been investigating corruption within the royal family had died while bedridden with illness. That's what was announced at the time.

　Elisha remained silent for a while, then leaned back in his chair.

　"This is all information that only someone close to me could know."

　"So, you probably think I might be an agent of the enemy, right?"

　"Of course."

　The words were cold, yet strangely, they weren't cruel. The lack of unnecessary comforting remarks actually allowed the conversation to progress more effectively.

　"So, how can I get you to believe me?"

　"I didn't say I believe it. I'm just judging whether it's usable or not."

　That way of putting it made something deep inside me feel incredibly quiet.

　Ah, that's the kind of person he is. He doesn't wrap things in gentle words. But he provides what is needed in the way it is needed. I think it was probably the same when he was trying to say something from beneath the scaffold. Even if it was too late, those were the eyes of someone who tried to reach out until the very end.

　"...That's enough."

　When I said that, Elisha's eyebrows twitched just a little.

　"sufficient?"

　"Yes. There were people who said they believed in me but couldn't keep their promises. I feel more at ease now when people judge me based on whether I'm useful or not."

　"What a strange woman."

　"Weren't you often told that?"

　"No. This is the most unusual marriage proposal I've ever seen."

　That one sentence made my cheeks flush slightly. It would be problematic if, in this situation, only the formality of the proposal resonated with me.

　Elisha pulled a blank sheet of paper from the table and picked up a slender brush.

　"Set conditions"

　The sound of a brush on paper echoes faintly in the quiet library.

　"Firstly, marriage is a contract. You will stand before the royal capital as my wife. Use the name and position I give you to gain access to the infirmary and related ledgers."

　"yes"

　"Secondly, you will hand over all the information you gather to me. Do not contact the enemy on your own. Do not act as a decoy without permission."

　"...I will do my best."

　"Effort alone won't do."

　"I will protect you."

　Quickly correcting himself, Elisha continued writing.

　"Thirdly, I will not allow anyone to harm what you want to protect—the children at the relief center and yourself."

　"...Me too?"

　"If you die, our losses will be great."

　"So that's how you put it."

　"Do you prefer sweet words?"

　"No, actually, it's easy to understand."

　I meant it. I know that the kindest promises are the most painful when they're broken.

　Elisha passed the finished paper to me. It was concise but flawless. The last line stated that both parties' signatures were required for the contract to be valid.

　"What are your conditions?"

　"Saving the children. Finding the original ledger. And..."

　I hesitated for a moment.

　"And it's about changing the nights in Minamibashi."

　Elisha's hand froze for just a split second.

　"Is it for me?"

　"If you die, fewer people will be able to be helped afterward."

　"That's logical."

　"If that's how it sounds to you, then that's fine."

　But that wasn't all.

　I don't want to leave to die the person who looked up to me from below the execution platform, even though it was too late. That's probably not just rational. But there was no need to give it a name, here and now.

　Elisha stared at me for a while, then wrote his name.

　Elisha Valentwar.

　The flowing brushstrokes leave a deep black mark on the white paper.

　"Next one."

　A piece of paper and a brush were placed in front of me.

　My fingertips trembled slightly. Despite the trembling, I continued writing.

　Skyler.

　In my first life, my name was written below a list of charges; today, it lies beneath a contract.

　The moment I finished writing, a strange realization welled up inside me. There's no turning back. No, I don't want to turn back either.

　Elisha picked up the contract, examined it under the magic lamp, and then said in a low voice:

　"From tonight, you are the Duchess of Valentine."

　"That's quite sudden."

　"You rushed me."

　"That's right."

　A small sigh escaped my lips. It was almost laughter. To laugh the night I returned from the execution platform, I knew I was crazy. But I couldn't stand it if I didn't laugh.

　"Return to the surface"

　Elisha stands up.

　"I'll make the bare minimum arrangements by tomorrow morning. Don't go on your own."

　"Just one"

　"What is it?"

　"Can't I go back to the infirmary tonight?"

　When I asked him, he seemed to understand the meaning immediately.

　"Is it because if I disappear without saying goodbye, the children will be worried?"

　"……yes"

　"Then I'll send a carriage to pick you up. We don't have much time for explanations."

　"That's enough."

　I stood up. My legs were still a little unsteady, but it was much better than the steps I took on the way to the execution platform.