My Favorite Character Proposed a Contractual Relationship

Chapter 1 – The Man in The Terrace (8)

“Planning abruptly… You’ve done a great job.”

“But don’t let your guard down. As you know, he’s an ‘Ismal’.”

Nicklaus frowned as if the name was unpleasant. It was because his annoyance had surged up, to think that Ismal might bother him and ask him for a duel.

No, regardless of that, if Sir Ismal had the same nature as that sister, he would have to be extremely wary. It was due to the fact that he personally experiences someone he hates that keeps sticking close to him. It would be a disaster if he had bad intentions towards Alaina.

While he thought so, he suddenly felt impatient. Having listened enough to the possible scenario, Nicklaus threatened his subordinates to come up with useful advice.

The first one to give advice was Normel. As she was the only woman there, her remarks seemed to have some credibility to it.

“First of all, find out the location of a gathering that she often attends or a place that she likes to visit, and then you need to make a good impression. First impressions have a big impact on judging people’s personality. In other words, we need to revamp your image slowly by creating several opportunities to meet her.”

It was reasonable advice, even for Nicklaus who was not familiar with how the relationship between humans worked. The problem was Alaina had been staying away from all outings for months.

Nicklaus let out a grunting noise and nodded. Then Leo, a self-proclaimed ladies’ expert, held up his hand.

“I think differently.”

“I’m listening.”

“People are naturally attracted to strangers.”

Nicklaus, who seemed not interested at all, wore an expression that said ‘So?’

“What would happen if the first time you had seen her at the terrace, the master of the tower handed a handkerchief to her and said ‘Are you okay, lady?’ What’s with this guy? Why is the scent on the handkerchief so sweet? What is that handsome person thinking about now? While both of you are thinking the same thoughts, wouldn’t she start having expectations of the stranger who suddenly approached her?”

Sincio furrowed his brows as it was hard to stand the cringe that was being spoken.

But the boss, whom he thought would have reacted the same way, seemed to be falling for Leo’s words.

“Is, is that so?”

“If you don’t believe me, trust the discerning eyes of the women I’ve brought over.”

‘Having expectations of him’. How nice would it be if she was expecting him. Before he knew it, he was interested in Leo’s words as much as Normel’s. Nicklaus licked his lips and asked,

“Then what am I supposed to do? I shouldn’t visit her too often?”

“You could take advantage of the greatest weapon that can be used at the beginning, your mysterious persona. In an unprepared situation, you should show up when she’s not expecting it at all. After the sudden impression like that, you should give her some time alone.”

“Time?”

“I mean time to remember. You should give her time to reminisce about the brief encounter and let the expectation build up. If you keep showing up like Normel says, that will be too obvious and embarrassing for you. A man like that is not attractive! I guarantee it with my years of experience.”

Nicklaus ponders around the conflicting opinions. Was the cause of his pondering because both of their opinions were reasonable? He looked like a person that’s devoted to making crucial decisions.

Receiving the boss’ burdensome gaze, Sincio held his sideburns tightly and struggled. Earlier, everyone was bluffing that they could collapse with just one glance, but it was a joke. He wasn’t a woman nor a man who knew women well. If he could express his opinion in such a situation, he would not have been stuck in the lab every weekend. In the end, Sincio rubbed his nose and avoided his gaze.

“I don’t really have a big idea.”

“Useless.”

“……”

That’s why the boss was hammering about whether I have a knack for dating or not. Sincio, not knowing why he felt humiliated, opened his mouth.

“Then at first, as Leo said, create a mysterious and accidental encounter. And when it seems to work, do as Normel said, slowly leave a good impression.”

“Useful.”

His reputation was rapidly restored. Sincio smiled happily.

All that was left was to make a plan. They had to come up with the plan to steal the woman’s heart.

“What can I do to leave a good impression?”

There was a whirl of silence. Sincio was embarrassed by the question itself, so his face twitched.

While touching his chin, Leo spoke.

“We need to know something. Like what she likes and dislikes, personality, family circumstances, any relationship, or her interests. Or is there any sudden change of heart? Don’t we need to know these details to give advice?”

It was indeed a valid point. He already got some information about Alaina from Ewoldan. Doesn’t that mean he is approaching this the right way? Nicklaus recited everything he had learned earlier without missing a single thing. Leo, who was giving such contrived responses like ‘I see, oho, it should be like this’, at one point, banged on the table.

“This is it.”

“What?”

“That’s it.”

“Why don’t you just say it in brackets instead, if possible?”

“I just had a good idea.”

“So tell me what it is!”

Fortunately, perhaps Leo’s sense of survival kicked in, since he spoke without further ado.

“Broken hearted, what does a person who has been shamefully betrayed want?”

“I despise koan.”

(T/n: koan is a riddle or puzzle that Zen Buddhist use to unravel greater truths about the world and themselves during meditation.)

“It’s to show in front of those guys that ‘I’m very happy right now and I’m quite busy enjoying my life, so I don’t have time to care about you’. For instance, by showing that she is currently dating a man who’s more marvelous than the man who broke her heart.”

This time, Normel nodded her head as if agreeing. Sincio also joined in on the bandwagon and eagerly nodded his head. However, Nicklaus creased his forehead, there was still something that bothered him.

“But what kind of steps should be taken to show that we’re currently in a relationship in those gatherings? It’s not like a snake eating its tail.”

(T/n: snake eating its tail is also known as ouroboros, which is interpreted as a symbol of cycle for eternal cyclic renewal or a cycle of life, death, and rebirth. So for this context, the relationship couldn’t happen easily like ouroboros.)

“Hooh.”

It was Normel who let out a theatrical laugh. This situation was all too familiar for Normel. A subject material that was commonly found in popular novels that she enjoyed reading.

It is called 「 a contract relationship」.

In reality, Normel Odineri had a common view of romance, but since such a dramatic subject appeared, she was willing to give bold advice.

Normel pulled up one corner of her mouth and said.

“It’s been awhile since I’ve had something in common with Balileo.”

“I told you to say it in brackets.”

“Let me explain it.  It is a contractual relationship under a mutual agreement.”

“What?”

“I never thought I’d have to say those words out loud either.”

As she said that, his smile looked somewhat sinister. Nicklaus turned his face away from the face he didn’t want to bruise. And then he asked Leo.

“Do you have the same thought?”

“Yes.”

What on earth are in these guys’ heads? But it was a pity that he couldn’t leave this situation. Nicklaus clicked his tongue and explained.

“You guys must have forgotten, but this body is supposed to share ‘true’ love with her? Don’t talk about unheard-of words like a contract relationship as if it was groundbreaking.”

It was Sincio, who had been quiet for a long time, that had reacted to his words.

“Isn’t the purpose of a contract about getting what each other wants? And if it’s a mutually beneficial relationship, wouldn’t you develop a good feeling in the process? At the beginning it was a contractual relationship, but I think it could be used as a stepping stone to build a close relationship.”

He was another student in the Introduction to Relationship class, who was pretending to not listen to it.  And with the current spoken statement, it would at least be graded an A. In order for Nicklaus to escape grade F, he needed to get his act together now. Because grade F meant pitifully dying at a young age.

Normel looked at Sincio as if she was proud of him. On the other hand, Leo was staring at Nicklaus while wondering if he had seen such a frustrating gentleman before.

It was a crisis. Nicklaus decided to look at the proposal in the positive light for now. But the problem was how to make it.

“How do you make a contractual relationship?”

He even asked them to advise him. Leo spoke while shaking his head.

“How about I draw up a contract and take you to young Lady Hilt? I could also act as a witness for both of you.”

“I’d appreciate it.”

Nicklaus was even showing a rare smile. It seems that he didn’t even understand that it was a joke. He was a human who couldn’t communicate with others.

Sincio spoke on behalf of speechless Leo.

“That’s what it means to be in a contractual relationship, not to write an actual contract and stamp a seal on it. Shouldn’t you just ‘pretend to be in a relationship’ so Sir Biel whatever-his-name-is and Lady Duke’s nose can be flattened and young Lady Hilt can stand up? And that’s how both of you got close.”

It suddenly went from grade A to A+. Normel nodded violently with a relieved face.

Only then he realized that Leo’s words earlier were nothing more than sarcasm.

“You bastard…. Were you being sarcastic?”

“That’s impossible. Why do you say such an aggressive word like ‘bastard’?”

Nicklaus stepped back.

“I’ll forgive you.”

“..Ah, yes.”

“Instead, think about what you can do about that contract relationship.”

His boss was adamant. At this rate, he should just ask for marriage instead.

Fortunately, Normel joined in before he could make another fuss.

“I’m telling you this out of frustration, you can’t just go and say ‘it is a contractual relationship’.”

“I’ve thought that far.”

“…let’s just say that you were surprised.”

“Don’t mess around, Normel.”

Normel shrugged her shoulders.

“Let me advise you based on my abundant indirect experience…”

Starting from then, a great deal of know-how tips were said. Nicklaus stuck his tongue out at her erudition.

As expected, the tower’s talent was different. Her exoskeleton tendency was not only displayed in the laboratory. She was revealing how recklessly she had been reading romance novels. When her story was finally over, even Leo looked like he had learned a lesson.

“Now, you understand right?”

Normel looked white as a sheet as if she worked too hard, she sipped the tea that Sincio gave to her. Nicklaus was also busy organizing the information that had been poured in at once, but he didn’t let out any remark.

“Good work.”

It was a word that they didn’t hear even when they did an experiment all night for three days. The three of them expressed their rising love and affection(?) as they felt the emotion rushing in.

“I wish you good luck!”

“If it goes well, please invite the young Lady Hilt to the lab.”

“If all goes well, shouldn’t we get a bonus?”

The last remark was said by Sincio. The master didn’t like it, but decided to take it as a cheer.

Nicklaus, who left the lab like that, was no longer the former virgin Nicklaus Solandry. No. He was still a virgin, but he was reborn regardless.

As a scheming man.

Anyway, the scheming Nicklaus returned to the mansion to put his plan into action.