: The Return

Contract.

All they had was a business contract.

A partnership wherein they gain something from using one another.

Yet she was the one who fell first.

Mabaya signed a contract to marry Duke Teotimo Almasen. He needed a cover up so that no one would have knowledge about his commoner lover and she needed his name to leave her household. They were two people who made a deal that could benefit them both.

Luningning, that was the woman's name. She wasn't beautiful but she was quite cute and innocent looking. However, it seems like her heart wasn't as pure as she made it out to be.

Mabaya was schemed against by her yet at the end of the day he, her husband in name, gave her no leeway nor the chance to explain her side as he one sidedly decided her guilt. He took away all her servants and made her live in an abandoned cabin... destined to suffer and die with no one by her side.

Or that was what's supposed to happen yet....

'What the hell is going on?' Mabaya dumbfoundedly thought when she found herself inside an awfully familiar room that she wished she never should've entered.

"You have already signed the papers, with this you are now officially my wife. Pleasure doing business with you."

'Ah... I came too late.'

Mabaya felt baffled beyond belief. If she had reborned just why did it have to be at the wrong time?

Mabaya glanced at the handsome looking man before her and she could only stared dazedly at his rugged hands that was held out, it looked like it had held a sword for many years. His hands served as evidence of his attainment as a mahika knight that was once the pride of their kingdom.

Mabaya's thoughts were running through her mind. She was contemplating if she should slap his hands away and just tear that piece of paper and pretend this event never occurred.

She truly was debating against herself.

Her gaze roamed all around the room and before she could put her thoughts into action, her gaze landed on the plate filled with desserts on the table and she visibly froze.

'No... I can't leave this estate. Atleast not right now, I need to find that person first.'

Mabaya made a quick decision as she reached out and shook the Duke's outstretched hand.

"Same to you, Duke Almasen. Pleasure working with you."

The Duke glanced at Mabaya with displeasure as he frowned when he heard her way of addressing himself.

"We are now supposedly a wedded couple so we must atleast address each other familiarly."

Mabaya inwardly snorted at the foolish mans words but she didn't dare show it outwardly, she feigned indifference as she let out a graceful giggle before speaking, "Never fear Duke Almasen, I'll do so when necessary. I highly gurantee you my attainment in pretending."

'Since I've mastered it in my last life.

I acted as if I was never affected every time you embraced her.

I acted as if I wasn't harmed by your lover.

I acted as if my heart never moved when I was with you.'

"Is that so? Then I'm looking forward to your performance." The Duke lightly said as if he was truly counting on her, this to which Mabaya answered with a distant smile. Seeing that she looked like she wanted to end the conversation, the Duke could only bid her farewell, "Well then that'd be all."

As if she had expected his words, Mabaya stood up and patted her skirt as she rised from the sofa whilst stretching out her limbs. Her former graceful countenance was nowhere to be found and this shocked the Duke immensely at the quick change in Mabaya's personality.

"Ah before I forget, considering we are working together I figure it'd be best to not have any secrets so I will say my piece first. I will only be pretending if there are people within the room other than that I really won't spare you any effort to act with pretense and so please don't get offended if you find my actions rude."

The Duke who wanted to remind Mabaya to never expect any affection from him and to never fall in love with him, choked as he could only swallow back his words. Thinking that he'd sound egotistical if he let out his words now.

"No, not at all. I wouldn't have it any other way."

If there was one thing that Mabaya had learned in her past life. It was the fact that every little thing in life is a luxury that she can one day easily lose. She had nothing and no one that truly belonged to 'her' and her alone, so at the end of the day she died all alone in that god-damned cabin.

She had spent all her emotions during her past life and she was too tired to even spare even a miniscule of care towards the foolish Duke and his greedy lover.

'These two brain dead lovers can rot in hell for all I care.'

It seems like Mabaya has utterly used up all her emotions for the two as she only felt indifference towards them. During this renewal of her life, she wanted a fresh start, and hopefully it was a new start together with that person.

'I need to quickly look for that person, they must be somewhere here in the estate. Ah..... but I'm feeling quite lethargic so I should probably rest first before starting my search.'

Duke Almasen suddenly saw Mabaya's face show eagerness as she lifted her skirt and ran to the door to quickly leave the room.

"Where are you off to?" Duke Almasen was surprised by her unexpected movements.

"I'm off to bed."

"Bed? But it's only 3 in the afternoon? Why are you going to bed?" Duke Almasen asked with furrowed brows.

Hearing his words Mabaya's eager face cooled down and the former warmth in her eyes were no longer found, "Duke Almasen, it seems like I forgot to mention something in the contract."

"What is it?"

"Though shall not disturb my sleep."

"...."

The Duke felt utterly confused to silence by Mabaya's words.

"Oh and also.... let's just mind our own business, okay? I won't care about you and you won't care about me." She added.

"...." The Duke felt like she took the words right out of his mouth so he could only embarrassedly nod his head in agreement.

Seeing his agreeing look, Mabaya clasped her hands in glee as she said, "Perfect."

The Duke felt like the script was flipped and was not properly followed. So he was only left with a feeling of deep loss.