Contract Marriage: Rewritten - Chapter 15
Chapter 15
Translator: Yonnee
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Wife.
There was only one person in the world who could call her that.
A person who rarely came to the imperial palace. Even when he did, he never stayed more than a day before hurriedly leaving again.
And yet, he always made sure to share at least one meal with her before departing.
Laniakea slowly raised her head.
The man was standing as though shielding her in an embrace.
His face was obscured by the sunlight at his back, but there was no need to see him to know who he was.
“Your Highness Hyperion…?”
Laniakea uttered the unfamiliar name.
Her eyes, still not adjusted to the glare, couldn’t make out his features clearly, but when she called his name, she could distinctly feel his blue eyes gazing at her.
“Is it really him?”
Someone nearby murmured in a stunned voice.
As if that voice were a signal, the funeral hall erupted into murmurs.
“His Highness Hyperion, she said? How is he here…?”
“How, you ask? He’s the First Imperial Prince. It’s only natural for him to attend.”
“Well, yes, but still!”
Unable to suppress their astonishment, everyone stared at Hyperion, who stood shielding Laniakea.
Hyperion glanced indifferently at the crowd before helping Laniakea to her feet.
“Thank you…”
Laniakea, unsure of what else to say in the situation, bowed her head slightly and spoke.
But then she flinched, startled by the faint scent of blood emanating from him.
Had he noticed her reaction? Hyperion clicked his tongue softly and released her hand.
“My apologies. I came in haste.”
At his words, Laniakea was reminded of the rare times he had returned to the imperial palace.
Though their encounters were infrequent, Hyperion was always disheveled during those visits.
Sometimes his clothes were stained with blood, other times with mud. His hastily arranged hair was always noticeable.
Today was no exception—if anything, he looked even more unkempt than usual, like someone who had run desperately to get here.
Laniakea stepped out of his embrace and took a step back.
Just as Hyperion seemed about to say something, a knight shouted loudly from behind him.
“Your Highness! What should we do about this?”
At the sound, Hyperion turned his head. Laniakea also tilted her head slightly to see what was happening.
The ‘this’ the knight referred to was the empress, who stood surrounded by ladies-in-waiting, her face filled with confusion.
Hyperion regarded the scene for a moment before speaking in a cold voice.
“She seems overwhelmed by grief. Escort her back to the palace. And…”
He turned back to Laniakea and continued.
“You must have been terribly shaken. I think it would be best for you to return to the palace as well.”
At his words, Laniakea nodded quickly.
The funeral was still ongoing, but she felt there was no benefit to remaining here any longer.
The empress’s piercing gaze, filled with hostility, was enough to convince her.
As the empress glared at her, looking as though she might charge at Laniakea again at any moment, Hyperion leaned slightly toward her and whispered.
“Let’s talk at length after the funeral.”
Then, with a faint smile that seemed out of place for the occasion, he added,
“We’ll have plenty of time now.”
* * *
Afterward, Laniakea returned to her detached palace.
Fortunately, Lucy was also allowed to return with her thanks to Hyperion’s command.
‘That would have been impossible under normal circumstances.’
Even pushing the empress could have easily led to an execution, yet the imperial guards had released Lucy without a word under Hyperion’s orders.
As if it were only natural to listen to him now instead of the empress.
“Imperial Consort Highness, grave sin, I commit…”
Noticing Laniakea’s somber expression, Lucy, uncharacteristically subdued, lowered her head.
Laniakea gave a bitter smile and gently comforted her.
“No, Lucy. If it weren’t for you, I would’ve been seriously hurt.”
Laniakea recalled the sight of the empress tumbling to the ground after Lucy had swung her arm.
Even though Lucy’s strength was formidable, the empress had fallen in an especially undignified manner, which must have caused the ladies-in-waiting to make an even bigger fuss.
“Lucy, let’s call it a day. You should rest as well.”
At Laniakea’s words, Lucy nodded and, with slumped shoulders, quietly left to take a break.
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