"This man is disgusting," Lucas said after looking over the letter.

"I know. But disgust isn't grounds for breaking a contract."

"No, but pattern of behavior might be." Lucas carefully set the letters aside. "These show escalating inappropriate conduct. If we can prove this continues or worsens after marriage, if we can establish a pattern of abuse or predatory behavior..."

"The king might intervene," Marie finished, understanding dawning on her face. "But we'd need concrete proof, not just letters."

"Which is why I need to go to Jazhad." Lucas said.

"What? No. Lucas, that's crazy!"

"It's the only way. If I can gather evidence of Lord Rathek's activities, real evidence that even his family's money can't suppress, then we have grounds to petition the king to nullify the contract on moral grounds."

Marie shook her head. "That's insane. You'd be putting yourself in danger. If the Al-jack family discovered what you were doing..."

"They won't. I'll be careful."

"Lucas, please. I can't ask you to do this." Marie said.

"You're not asking. I'm offering." He took her hands in his. "Marie, you're my friend. I'm not going to stand by and let you be sold off to some degenerate noble without a fight."

Fresh tears appeared in Marie's eyes, but she was smiling through them. "You're either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid."

"Probably both." Lucas grinned. "Now, can you show me to your father's study? We need to see that contract."

---

The study was on the second floor, a spacious room lined with bookshelves and dominated by a large oak desk. Marie closed the door behind them and locked it.

"My father is meticulous about organization," she said, moving to a filing cabinet. "If the contract is anywhere, it'll be in here."

She pulled out several folders, sorting through them quickly. "Here. This is it."

Lucas took the document carefully. It was written in formal legal language, but the essential terms were clear enough.

Marriage Contract between the Houses of Zellivan and Al-jack

The contract stipulated that Marie Zellivan would marry Lord Rathek Al-jack within three months of the signing date.

In exchange, the Al-jack family would assume all debts currently held by the Zellivan branch family, totaling twenty-three thousand gold pieces.

Lucas read through the clauses carefully, looking for any potential loopholes.

[System highlights clause 7, subsection 3.]

Lucas focused on that section:

"Should either party be found to have misrepresented their character, health, or circumstances in a material way that would render them unsuitable for marriage under church law, this contract may be dissolved by mutual agreement of both houses or by ecclesiastical decree."

"There," Lucas said, pointing to the clause. "That's our opening."

Marie read it over his shoulder. "Material misrepresentation of character. But how do we prove that? Lord Rathek has been nothing but polite in all official correspondence."

"Because his family is controlling what he sends officially. But if we can prove his actual character, his real behavior when he thinks no one important is watching..."

"Then we can argue he misrepresented himself in the contract negotiations." Marie's eyes lit up with hope for the first time since Lucas had arrived. "But gathering that evidence..."

"Will be dangerous. I know." Lucas carefully placed the contract back in its folder. "That's why I need to leave tomorrow morning for Jazhad."

"Tomorrow? But you just got here!"

"Every day we waste is a day closer to that wedding. I can't afford to delay." Lucas said.

Marie bit her lip, clearly torn between hope and worry. "Even if you gather evidence, even if we can prove Lord Rathek misrepresented himself, my father might not agree to dissolve the contract. The family needs that debt relief."

Lucas had been thinking about that problem too. "Then we need a different solution for the debt. One that doesn't involve selling you off."

"Twenty-three thousand gold, Lucas. Where are you going to find that kind of money?" Marie said.

[System suggests Host rob a bank. Estimated potential earnings: 15,000-20,000 gold. Still insufficient, but closer to goal.]

Not helping, Lucas thought.

"I don't know yet," he said. "But I'll figure something out. One problem at a time."

Marie looked at him for a long moment. "Why are you doing this? Really? We've only known each other for a few weeks."

Lucas thought about his previous life, about dying to protect his parents, about getting a second chance he didn't deserve. About Raymond and Damion and all the friends he'd made since arriving in this world.

"Because I'm tired of standing by while bad things happen to good people," he said finally. "Because you deserve better than being treated like a commodity to be bought and sold. And because..." He smiled slightly. "Because that's what friends do."

Marie threw her arms around him in a sudden hug. "Thank you. Even if this doesn't work, even if we can't stop it, thank you for trying."

Lucas hugged her back awkwardly. "It's going to work. I won't let it fail."

She pulled back, wiping her eyes again. "You should get some rest. You've been traveling all day, and if you're leaving tomorrow..."

"Right. Is there somewhere I can stay for the night?"

"I'll have the servants prepare a guest room." She moved toward the door, then paused. "Lucas? Be careful in Jazhad. The Al-jack family has a lot of power in that region. If they discover you're investigating them..."

"I'll be careful. Promise."

After Marie left to arrange accommodations, Lucas sat down at the desk and pulled out Henrik's journal from his storage space.

[Host should prepare for tomorrow's journey. Jazhad is approximately four days' ride from here.]

"I know. I'm thinking about what supplies I'll need."

He flipped through the journal to the section on useful potions. The Ethereal Sight Draught he'd noted earlier would be valuable for detecting magical surveillance or hidden documents.

He'd also need more smoke bombs, maybe some of that adhesive resin for emergencies.

[System recommends Host also craft truth-detection reagents. If Host can get Lord Rathek to consume one unknowingly, gathering verbal evidence would be simplified.]

"That's... actually a good idea. Does Henrik's journal have anything like that." Lucas said.

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