* * *

“The Master of Velon, Hernan Velon Yudenet, and the heir of Nirvan, Jurgen Nil Everdeen, swear to faithfully follow the clauses below and fulfill the contents of this contract.”

This was a common format for the beginning of a pledge.

“The rightful successor of Yudenet adds the following conditions to the recovery of the 8,000 gold given as dowry to the Everdeen family. First, the dowry repayment period is three years from the date of transfer, with additional interest charged at the standard annual rate set by the market.”

If I had borrowed from the bank or the royal family on credit, I could have borrowed at a much lower rate than the standard one!

Although the increased interest made my stomach churn, I was relieved that the repayment date was significantly pushed back, and I might be able to avoid selling off my shares by using the incoming cash to repay it directly.

“Second, the engagement between the heir of Yudenet and Berta Everdeen Callis is annulled immediately upon the return of the dowry.”

That was only natural in principle.

But still, he’s the male lead…. I was worried that Hernan might show some obsession with Berta or demand her hand over immediately, but he signed off on the annulment with no lingering attachment.

“Third, the heir of Nirvan must stay at the Yudenet estate for half of each year to assist the Yudenet’s heir to fulfill their duties as the rightful heir, as a guarantee for the dowry refund and the nullification of the ceremony that should have been rightfully performed.”

Huh? I could understand the first part, but the rest was something I couldn’t anticipate, so I frowned.

“However, the method of assistance is determined by the Yudenet’s heir.”

“What?”

“Since Nirvan is far from Velon. I need you to come here and report in person so I can see with my own eyes that the situation in Nirvan hasn’t changed during that time.”

But isn’t the stay period way too long for that?

As I frowned suspiciously, Hernan gently caressed the back of my hand, which I had gripped tightly.

“If you can help me succeed in any way, you don’t have to spend half a year in Velon. You can choose whichever is more convenient.”

His words, whispered like a sweet temptation, made me waver for a moment.

The lingering scent of strong liquor I had consumed earlier mixed with his sweet words, making it hard for me to think clearly.

“Isn’t this penalty rather light for trampling on the authority of Yudenet? You know this wouldn’t end lightly if it went to the royal court, right?”

Ugh, Hernan whispered cruelly with a gentle face, as if he were rubbing salt into my wound.

Hmm…. But still, isn’t it a bit much to be matchmaking the female lead with someone else?

As I hesitated, Hernan squinted his eyes and looked down at me.

“If you find it difficult to agree, then we’ll consider the pledge void.”

At my reluctance, Hernan lifted the paper with the elegant handwriting he had painstakingly written, as if he were going to tear it up.

“No, no! It’s fine!”

If push came to shove, I’d just consider it as living as a hostage in the North for half a year.

I decided it was worth getting a promise that the dowry wouldn’t be recovered immediately, so I took the pen Hernan handed me.

Then Hernan spoke up again.

“Fourth.”

Wait, what now? As I frowned, Hernan turned his head, his shoulders shaking slightly, and then cleared his throat.

“Any judgments and grounds for actions during the pledge’s duration will follow Northern customs.”

This was clearly a poison pill clause.

I had been quietly listening… well, not exactly quietly, but this time I felt I couldn’t let it slide, so I started complaining.

I could still do this because I wasn’t entirely sober yet.

“Hold on. Isn’t this too disadvantageous for me? I’ve lived in the South my whole life and have always followed Southern customs.”

Of course, my current behavior was against even Southern customs.

When I voiced my complaints, Hernan sighed briefly, then raised the pen high again.

“Then let’s add one more thing that might please Mr. Everdeen. Fifth.”

What on earth is he planning… I looked up at Hernan with a doubtful expression, and unexpectedly, Hernan uttered a sentence I hadn’t anticipated.

“During the execution of this pledge, the heir of Nirvan is promised an investment of 10,000 gold to establish a northern branch of Hotel Ever Paradise in any region of Velon that the heir of Nirvan desires. This is separate from the return of the dowry and will proceed accordingly. If any separately agreed-upon details are deemed unfair by the heir of Nirvan, this clause will be subject entirely to the will of the heir of Nirvan.”

“……?”

I stared at Hernan with wide eyes, unable to believe what I had just heard.

Wait a minute, 10,000 gold? How much is that in modern terms?

Considering the costs of land development, facility construction, and stable transportation of hot spring water, it’s a considerable sum, but suddenly, the amount had skyrocketed astronomically, and the unexpected proposal made me feel like the intoxication was instantly fading.

“No… wait a minute. Why the sudden generous offer?”

It was so good that it seemed suspicious.

“Perhaps you could call it collateral. During the investment, you wouldn’t think of breaking the contract, would you? If you don’t want this, shall we nullify the pledge?”

But that’s not necessary. It wouldn’t work anyway due to the pledge. Although it’s suspicious, the premise that the detailed conditions could be renegotiated caught my attention.

No, this… even thinking about it again, it’s too… but considering the earlier detrimental clauses, it’s somewhat reasonable… but still, it’s too much of a dream proposal to back out of.

I had been planning for this for a while, but the funds available at the moment only allowed for expanding rooms in Nirvan.

Moreover, Velon is a region where it snows year-round. When you think of hot springs, snow-covered fields and warm spring water naturally come to mind.

This could be a huge success. Missing this opportunity would be foolish. I thought hard with my spinning head and eventually spoke up.

“Thank you. Mr….”

“Excuse me?”

Ugh, I almost called him ‘Mr. Wealth.’ I steadied my racing heart and quickly clarified.

“I meant, I appreciate it.”

A smooth signature traced over my name, and the paper began to shine. There was no turning back now.

In any case, with the sense of relief that the immediate crisis was averted, the tension in my body eased.

My consciousness continued to sway, and the ceiling started to tilt.

No, was it me that was tilting? As my body touched the soft carpeted floor, my vision turned black.

---

Five months before Jurgen learned about Berta’s escape, Berta herself had sought out the young Duke, suspecting he might be mad.

Determined to persuade the Duke to annul the engagement on behalf of her family, she went alone to Velon.

Although she claimed that her absence from school was due to attending an academic conference for scholars from the Rosenpierre Girl’s School, Berta was heading to a different destination—one that her family and school were unaware of.

‘Since the dowry hasn’t been finalized yet, let’s see if we can persuade him to break off the engagement.’

Of course, Berta did not expect the Duke to agree to break the engagement easily.

After all, her reputation wasn’t one of a proper bride.

Instead of being known as a noble and dignified lady, she was infamous as “the fierce and notorious student council president of Rosenpierre.”

She had no illusions about a man willingly annulling an engagement to someone of her reputation.

What was she famous for, anyway? S

he had once reduced professors from other universities to despair within a week with her flawless paper, despite their concerns that Rosenpierre’s students were poor at large-scale statistical analysis.

Her name was immortalized as a dedication in the preface.

She thought her path to marriage was blocked at least as far away as the other side of the globe.

Who would have thought such an unexpected obstacle would appear?

Berta devised a strategy: She would present herself in a manner that forced the Duke to break the engagement.

As his fiancée, she was expected to uphold the dignity and virtues of a prospective noble lady.

The shocking sight of her suddenly bursting into his study wearing riding attire would be an audacious breach of decorum.

If the servants of Velon, who stubbornly adhered to centuries-old traditions, saw a noble lady arriving on horseback instead of in a carriage and entering the indoor space in riding clothes, they would surely faint from the shock.

Moreover, she planned to make a shocking confession—one that would cause disbelief among the few who supported her in Everdeen.

It was a half-truth that would scandalize the tradition-loving northerners and was a serious taboo.

When Berta confidently arrived at the Duke’s residence, she was met by a young man who appeared more composed and less affectionate than she had anticipated.

His expression, though outwardly polite and smiling, seemed superficial, as though he would offer the same smile to a neighborhood child.

It was hardly the face one would expect from someone seeing his own fiancée.

* * *