Read Rewriting the Marriage Contract Novel Translation Chapter 8

(다시 쓰는 결혼 계약서)

Original: 백설홍 (White Snow) | Translation: Genie

#josei #drama #romance #contract-marriage #mature #fantasy

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Madam.

There was only one person in the world who could call her that. Someone who rarely came to the palace and, even when he did, stayed no more than a day before rushing back to the borders. Yet, he always made sure to share at least one meal with her before leaving.

Laniakea slowly lifted her head.

The figure standing before her shielded her as though encasing her in a protective cocoon. The sun at his back obscured his face, but she didn’t need to see it to know who he was.

“Your Highness, Hypherion…?”

She uttered the unfamiliar name softly.

Her eyes struggled to adjust to the backlight, but the piercing blue gaze that met hers was unmistakable.

“Hypherion?”

Someone among the gathered crowd murmured in disbelief.

As if that one voice was a signal, the funeral hall erupted in whispers.

“Hypherion? What is he doing here…?”
“What do you mean, ‘what is he doing here’? He’s the First Prince—of course he should attend!”
“Well, yes, but still…”

All eyes were fixed on Hypherion, who remained calm amidst the rising commotion. He glanced briefly at the crowd, his expression unchanging, before turning his attention back to Laniakea. Gently but firmly, he helped her to her feet.

“Thank you…”

Not knowing what else to say, Laniakea bowed her head slightly, her words tentative.

As she did, the faint metallic tang of blood reached her nose, causing her to flinch.

Hypherion noticed and clicked his tongue softly before releasing his hold on her.

“My apologies. I came in a hurry.”

The comment brought memories of his rare visits to the palace to mind. Though they seldom met, Hypherion had always appeared dishevelled—his clothes often stained with blood or dirt, his hair hastily combed. Today, however, he seemed even more untidy, as if he had truly raced here without pause.

Laniakea stepped back, distancing herself from him. Hypherion opened his mouth to say something, but a guard’s shout interrupted him.

“Your Highness! What should we do about… her?”

Hypherion turned his head, and Laniakea followed his gaze to see the Empress, now surrounded by her maids, looking both shaken and enraged.

After observing her for a moment, Hypherion’s voice turned cold.

“She seems overwhelmed by grief. Escort her back to her chambers. And…”

He looked back at Laniakea.

“You must have been greatly distressed. It would be best for you to return to your quarters as well.”

Laniakea nodded quickly, eager to leave the scene. The sharp glare from the Empress, who seemed ready to lunge at her again, left her with no desire to stay.

As if sensing her unease, Hypherion leaned closer and murmured near her ear, his voice low and private.

“Let us speak after the funeral. We’ll have plenty of time then.”

He offered a faint smile—oddly out of place for the setting—before stepping back.

─── ･: .☽ . :･ ───

Later, Laniakea returned to her annexe. Fortunately, Lucy was allowed to accompany her, thanks to Hypherion’s command.

Under normal circumstances, that would’ve been unthinkable, Laniakea mused.

Lucy, who had shoved the Empress, could easily have been executed on the spot. Yet the imperial guards had released her without protest, obeying Hypherion as though it were the most natural thing to do.

“Your Highness, I… I’ve committed a grave sin,” Lucy murmured, uncharacteristically subdued. She hung her head, her usual vigour replaced with guilt.

Laniakea managed a wry smile and patted Lucy on the shoulder.

“No, Lucy. If it weren’t for you, I might have been seriously hurt.”

The image of the Empress tumbling across the floor flashed through her mind. Though Lucy’s strength was immense, the Empress’s exaggerated fall was likely the reason the maids had made such a fuss.

“Lucy, you should rest for the day. Go and get some sleep.”

Lucy nodded, her shoulders drooping as she shuffled away.

Once Lucy was gone, Laniakea changed into simpler clothes, draped a thin coat over her shoulders, and stepped out into the rear garden.

The sky was painted with the fiery hues of sunset. She paused for a moment to admire it before moving deeper into the shaded corners of the garden. Lowering her voice, she called out softly,

“Mole, come out.”

The ground at her feet stirred immediately. A moment later, a mole emerged, its tiny face peeking out from the dirt.

[You called?]

The mole’s bright eyes sparkled with anticipation as it looked up at her.

“You were behind what happened at the funeral, weren’t you?”

[Hmm? Me? What do you mean?]

The mole tilted its head innocently as if it had no idea what she was talking about.

“Don’t play dumb. Even if Lucy pushed her, the Empress fell far too dramatically.”

[No idea what you’re talking about, really.]

The mole’s wide-eyed expression was the picture of feigned ignorance.

The mole crossed its front paws and whistled, exuding an air of smugness. Its behaviour screamed, Yes, I did it, to anyone watching.

Laniakea crouched down, lightly tapping the mole’s head with her finger.

“Thank you for worrying about me and showing up, but didn’t you say your presence would be in danger if you appeared uninvited?”

[You’re grateful, aren’t you? Come on, admit it—you’re grateful!]

“Stop hearing only what you want to hear.”

She pressed her finger firmly against the mole’s head. The mole flailed its short front legs as if to protest, but its efforts didn’t even come close to reaching her hand.

During the outdoor funeral, Laniakea had seen it clearly—the ground under the Empress had suddenly dipped, causing her to stumble and fall even more dramatically. While the Empress had been too consumed by her wailing and screaming to notice, she was likely suffering from a swollen ankle by now.

When Laniakea withdrew her hand, the mole pouted, muttering under its breath.

[What kind of reaction is that? I helped you!]

Its bristling whiskers twitched in indignation, though the sight was more pitiful than intimidating.

“I’m telling you to be careful. What would I do if something happened to you? And didn’t you warn me not to let anyone find out I can summon a spirit?”

[That’s true, but… that crazy human woman—!]

The mole’s whiskers stood on end again, its anger rekindled by the memory. Yet even it seemed to realise that displaying its power in such a public setting was a mistake, so it didn’t push its argument further.

“The humans would definitely panic if they thought a spirit had been summoned,” Laniakea said, her voice lowering. “And then…”

Her thoughts trailed off, dark with foreboding.

What if people discovered I could summon spirits outside of Friatra?

Someone would undoubtedly try to exploit her.

Even a low-tier spirit might not seem powerful, but with the right strategy, even small abilities could become significant. Take the mole, for example. In a royal garden, it could easily eavesdrop on secret conversations, unearthing information that could be weaponised.

The potential applications of a spirit’s abilities were vast and frightening. That’s why her secret could never be exposed.

People will want to use me. Or worse…

Her thoughts drifted to Friatra, to the family she hadn’t heard from in three years.

She wasn’t surprised, nor did she feel sad. She had expected nothing from them.

But if word spread that she could summon spirits outside of her homeland, they would undoubtedly send someone to fetch her.

And then…

They might try to take me back.

Friatra’s royal family, proud of their fae heritage, would never tolerate such a power being under another empire’s control.

Returning to Friatra must never happen.

As Laniakea immersed herself in these grim thoughts, the mole spoke up, interrupting her thoughts.

[By the way, your husband came back, right? Does that mean he’s going to be the new emperor?]

“Probably,” she replied as if it were obvious. With the other princes gone, Hypherion was the only heir left.

The mole twitched its whiskers thoughtfully before speaking again.

[So, does that make you the empress?]

Laniakea’s eyes widened in shock. She quickly waved her hands in denial.

“What nonsense! He’ll divorce me.”

To her, it was the most logical outcome.