Chapter 3

The Count smirked.

“Do you mean a give-and-take relationship?”

The absurd question implied the meaning of what Eve could give, but she straightened her back without being intimidated and continued,

“Yes, I wish we could check before we get married to see if we can give each other what we want. It would be nice to leave it in writing so that we can not break that promise.”

“Are you asking me to sign a contract?”

Eve nodded her head in reply.

“Kind of.”

After an uncomfortable silence, the Count asked,

“Why should I do that?”

“Because I will make your life more comfortable when I become the Countess.”

“What do you want from me?” asked the Count scornfully.

“If you don’t like my conditions, you don’t have to marry me.”

Eve thought she was too confident considering she had nothing to offer, but she accepted the Count’s glare as casually as she could as if nothing had happened.

“Something really strange has come in. Okay, what are you asking for?” said the Count with a smirk.

The conversation was going as Eve wanted. She calmly talked about her conditions, pressing down the corner of her mouth that was about to rise.

After several battles of nerves lasting about an hour, the agreed conditions were generally satisfactory. While Eve, who got most of what she wanted, smiled sincerely, the Count straightened his posture by loosening his crossed legs.

“Prepare the contract now.”

“Yes.”

Eve looked at the terms of the contract after the Count rang the bell and gave orders to the servant.

「 First, we do not intervene in each other’s private lives.  (However, Eve should not do anything that will damage her dignity as a Countess.)

Second, we recognize Eve’s right as the Countess. (However, the right is limited to that inside the mansion.)

Third, Eve freely uses the noble-dignity maintenance expenses and other dividends given to her personally. (Money is paid on the 1st of every month, and if she uses more money, she needs to get permission from the Count.)

Fourth, Eve must attend the party requested by the Count. (However, if Eve attends the party, the Count shall pay Eve a separate fee.)

Fifth, Eve could not use her position as Countess to influence the Count’s decision in deciding his successor. 」 

In addition, there were several small provisions, but the five provisions above stood out the most.

The first clause was the first to be proposed by the Count, which was for his free sex life, but it does not apply to Eve.

The second clause was written by Eve for living in a peaceful mansion, which she added for her personal convenience. Although the position as the Countess was only in name, at least she would be treated as a Countess and be able to live a comfortable life.

The following clause was added by the Count, who didn’t want Eve to engage in more social activities than the clause. It was pressure to not go out of the mansion recklessly. In the first place, Eve had never been good at socializing and had no desire to do so, so it was a condition she didn’t have to worry about.

And the third clause; the reason, and purpose of marriage for Eve, was written by Eve after asking the Count of Hound how much the Countess’ allowance was for a month.

When Eve became Countess, the monthly allowance she would receive was much more than the money the Jenna family earned a year. It was more than enough for Cynthia’s dowry.

Eve pressed her hand to the corner of her mouth, which was about to soar up again, and looked at the fourth clause. It was also a clause added by the Count, and considering what he added next, she willingly accepted it because if she accompanies him to the party he requested, she will receive side income as well.

And the fifth clause was more like a condition to solidify the influence of the Count himself. This was probably another reason why the Count has to marry a woman from the poor Baron’s family. Eve, who had no background, could not exercise any influence without the help of the Count even if she became the Countess, but the Count seemed to be more cautious than expected. Eve doesn’t know if something would change if she gave birth, but for Eve, who originally had no intention of having a child, the right to decide on a successor was not a very important issue.

Eve looked over the draft of the contract once more. If a party breaks the contract and demands a divorce, another party will be paid 100 million gold in kind.

Eve’s monthly allowance was 2.000 gold. She has to save a full year without spending all her allowances to make 24.000 gold.

Obviously, 100 million gold was an amount she would never be able to repay. But this provision was a warning from the Count to the prospective Countess who made him write such an unprecedented contract. In other words, he told her not to be noisy about divorce like his previous wives.

But it wasn’t much of a threat to Eve. In fact, Eve does not intend to ask for a divorce. She would be given 2.000 gold every month and not have to bother socializing often.

‘Why would I divorce?’

Eve ignored his warning and looked at the Count’s aide as he entered the drawing-room.

The Count asked one last time, “So, do you really want to sign the contract?”

“I do. Ah, about the fifth clause……”

At Eve’s words, the count’s eyes shone sharply.

“The right to decide the successor?”

Eve understood why the Count suddenly had such a wary attitude. However, what Eve was trying to say was not something the Count could be wary of.

“Yes, I would like to add extra provisions to that,” said Eve, nodding.

“What?”

Anger began to show on the Count’s face. Eve once again checked the contents of the contract.

“The clause that says I can’t influence your decision in deciding your successor means that even if I have a boy, that child will not become the heir, right?”

“That’s right.”

Eve smiled brightly at the Count’s firm answer as if he had no intention of changing the clause.

“Then is there a reason why I have to have a baby?”

“What?”

“I don’t know why I have to have a baby.”

The Count, who looked at Eve with a confused expression on his face, blinked a few times and asked,

“So, shall we remove that clause?”

Eve corrected him, “No, I mean to use contraception.”

Eve clearly conveyed her opinion to the Count, who had his eyes widened.

“Either the Count or me, one of the two of us must use contraception.”

The Count frowned as if he could not believe it.

“Is that the condition?”

“Yes.”

The Count smirked at the answer without hesitation. Then he beckoned to his aide after a while. Eve looked satisfactorily at the added clause next to the fifth clause.

***