CWEGDH - Chapter 5

5. Let's sign a contract

Only a tense silence remained in the spacious bedroom. Sienna sat on the bed, almost lying down, while Kion stood before her with a grim expression. Between them, a single wet towel lay all alone on the table.

"... What are you thinking?" 

The silence was broken by a low, subdued voice. Sienna looked up. 

"What do you mean, 'thinking'?" 

She wore a nonchalant expression. Kion's eyes narrowed slowly. Really. The more he thought about it, the less he wanted to be in the same space. 

"Well, it just so happened you didn't have anything to do." 

Kion's brow furrowed at the abrupt remark. 

"... How childish." 

Sienna let out a hollow laugh. It was true that her reaction was amusing and made her feel childish, but that didn't mean he was mature enough to say something like that. 

"You aren't exactly grown-up either."

"..." 

A faint wrinkle formed on his forehead. Sienna swallowed her laughter inwardly. 

'He really scratches easily.'

Sienna, who had been staring at him intently for a moment, soon adjusted her posture. It was fun teasing, but she couldn't miss the point. 

"Well, enough joking." 

She rested her chin on her hand. 

"I heard you hardly ever come home." 

Kion didn't answer. Sienna recalled what Nia had told her at the market. That he was away from the mansion for as short as two months, or as long as nearly half a year, mostly stationed on the northern front. 

Sienna's expression relaxed. Aha. Now she understood. A husband who is away from home for long periods, and a sickly, quiet wife who would never cause trouble outside. 

Ha. It must have been perfect. They rarely saw each other's faces, and there was no troublesome entanglement. To Kion, she must have been a wife in name only. A mere backdrop to hold the place.

'What on earth was this woman thinking while she lived?'

She thought for a moment. About Sienna Bertian, who had no one on her side in this world. 

'Why am I thinking this?' 

She thought pointlessly. However, from her perspective, this situation wasn't bad at all. No, it was actually on the better side. After all, what she wanted was freedom and money. The position of Grand Duchess? Great. Lots of money, a spacious house, and no one bothers me. And since her husband rarely comes home, isn't that the absolute best? 

Sienna smiled sweetly. 

"...That's nice." 

Kaion's eyebrows twitched. Sienna leaned forward on the bed. 

"I have a proposal."

"To avoid making things that will tire us out, let's set a few boundaries." 

Her clear voice continued quietly. 

"So, let's make a contract."

"...A contract?"

"To not touch each other." 

Sienna swept her hair back. Her blue eyes shone with determination. Kaion looked at her silently. Sienna continued speaking, folding her fingers one by one. 

"One. I won't take an interest in your affairs. Two. You shouldn't interfere with my life either. Three. I'll spend money and live freely. Four. To ensure there is nothing to worry about." 

She smiled broadly, her eyes curving beautifully. 

"Isn't that a win-win for both of us?" 

A brief silence followed. Kaion still looked down at Sienna without saying a word. His red eyes and deep black eyes met in the air.

"...Seems like not bad." 

He said, without changing his expression at all.

Sienna's eyes widened. Oh. It worked much better than I thought. 

Kion added with an indifferent look.

"I'm planning to go back up soon anyway." 

"Soon?" 

"In fifteen days." 

What? Fifteen days? It hasn't even been that long since you returned...But well, it's none of my business. Especially not now.

"Right. Well." 

He cleared his throat for no reason and immediately pulled out a piece of paper and a pen. 

"Here, words alone won't do, right?" 

Before long, a contract with ridiculous terms was completed.

[1. Do not interfere with each other's lives.] 

[2. Respect each other's freedom and spending habits.] 

[3. Refrain from unnecessary disturbances when staying in the same space.] 

'Looking at it this way, it is quite self-centered.'

She glanced at Kaion.

"Why did that guy allow this?" 

Really, I just can't figure him out. Does he hate me talking to him that much? Anyway, it's good for me, so I don't really care.

Just then, the door opened with a knock. Kendall entered, carrying a rather large document. He was about to speak when he flinched at the atmosphere in the room. Sensing the strangely chilly mood, he cautiously gauged the mood. Kaion gestured with his chin for him to speak. Kendall glanced back at Sienna. He seemed to be bothered by her presence. 

"Um..." 

Kendall turned his gaze back to Kaion. He still appeared quite reluctant to have her around. Kaion noticed the look in Kendall's eyes but said nothing to Sienna, instead speaking to Kendall. 

"Just speak." 

At his command, Kendall returned to his composure. 

"His Imperial Majesty has issued an order." 

At that moment, Kaion's expression changed. 

"He orders you to enter the palace immediately." 

Kendall glanced at Sienna over his glasses. 

"With Her Highness the Grand Duchess." 

The room fell silent. Sienna slowly raised her head. 

"...What?" 

The moment he heard Kendall's words, Kaion's expression wavered ever so slightly. It was a fleeting moment. But she saw it clearly. Kaion's gaze, usually cold and indifferent, sank deeply in an instant. And his face flushed slightly. Unlike usual, he appeared neither calm nor indifferent. It seemed as though deep, unhidden rage had taken over him. 

'...Why is his reaction like that?' 

No matter how strained their relationship was, he was his half-brother. It was the moment she muttered this to herself. 

"Everyone get out." 

At that single word, the air froze instantly. Kendall and the maids moved in unison and stepped back. Sienna watched them, then blinked. Kaion's gaze slowly turned toward her. It was chilling. Unlike just moments ago, his demeanor was severely on edge. 

"Right now." 

Sienna's brow furrowed slightly. What the heck. Just moments ago, they were talking so freely about the contract and all that. But I didn't bother to argue. The deal was struck. That man's mood swings were truly no longer something worth caring about 

"Hmph." 

I snorted softly, raising the corners of my mouth crookedly. 

Bang. 

Even as the door slammed shut, the atmosphere inside the room remained chillingly somber. Walking down the hallway, Sienna finally couldn't hold back any longer and turned to look at Nia. With her short legs, Nia was practically running to keep up with her.

"Nia." 

"Yes, yes?" 

"Is he always like this when the Emperor summons him?" 

Nia clamped her lips shut for a moment. After surveying her surroundings for a moment, she cautiously opened her mouth.

"His Highness the Grand Duke... is occasionally summoned by the Imperial Palace" 

"Hmm." 

"And after he returns... he sometimes gets a little sensitive." 

Her voice trailed off. Sienna narrowed her eyes. 

"Sensitive?" 

"So... they say that when that happens, even Your Highness the Grand Duchess should stay a little quiet..." 

Nia finally lowered her gaze. Sienna rolled her eyes and smirked. To tell me to be quiet? Wasn't it too late to say such a thing? 

"By the way, this is the first time he has summoned Your Highness the Grand Duchess along." 

"The first time?" 

"Yes... I don't really know the reason either." 

Sienna fell into thought for a moment. But she soon shrugged. Judging by Kaion's reaction, it didn't seem like he would actually take her. He was the kind of person who would refuse this order, if only to avoid asking her to go with him. He looked like he wouldn't go either.

"I don't think so. I guess." 

In any case, a place like the Imperial Palace was just a hassle. Roughly dismissing her useless thoughts, Sienna changed the subject. 

"Is everything I told you to prepare going well?" 

'Right. This is the important thing.' 

Nia's eyes sparkled with confidence. She was feeling a sense of pride in the fact that she was being of some help. 

"Yes! It's almost finished! I'll report it right away once the final version is organized." 

Sienna's lips curved into a satisfied smile. 

"Very good." 

The room was completely silent. Only Kaion remained. He stared at the table without a word, then slowly opened the drawer. He saw a stack of documents piled up in order. He pushed the papers aside. Deep inside, there was a single piece of paper turned over. A single sheet of paper small enough to fit in one hand. He looked down at the old object, then quietly picked it up. Soon after, he carefully turned the paper over. There was only one person in the photograph. A young woman smiling brightly.

"..."

It was a woman whose blue eyes shone with vitality. Her black hair was flowing naturally. The photo was blurry, as if ten years had passed since it was taken, but her smile in the picture was vivid. It was a face that was strangely light and transparent. 

There was no other change in Kaion's expression. With the same blank and cold look, he simply stared at her silently for a long time. 

The sun was completely setting. The sky that had sparkled with the sunset was no more.

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