Grand duke Kallakis’ residence was tidy. No, there weren’t many things present so it felt hollow.
No servants nor any maids. Instead, Aedis’ subordinates, who all appeared to be knights, were clustering the area.
Weelll, it’s kind of pitiful but it’s not like I don’t understand. Gilbert presumably breaks a lot of stuff and hits the servants, so they might’ve been driven out by him.
But why was there the aroma of food lingering around at this hour?
“Huh?”
As I passed by the hall, I paused.
What’s that?
The dining room, which for so odd reason was connected to the first floor, exposed a majestic feast.
Whoever cooked that al seed to forget that it was midnight.
Did they think I’d be moved by a delicious al?
Puzzled, I passed by the roasted turkey without sparing it a glance.
“Sob, but I worked so hard on it…….”
A young green-haired boy suddenly burst into tears. It was Prokeon.
Vega whispered to him.
“Look, I told you she wasn’t gonna eat it.”
Guys, I can hear you.
I narrowed my eyes.
I didn’t know much about Prokeon or Vega, since they were re supporting characters in the novel.
All I knew was that they were knights who served Aedis, so for the very first ti, I learned that Prokeon has a gift for cooking and Vega doesn’t know how to speak with his inside voice.
Even in the novel, Prokeon was nicknad ‘the kid knight’. He even seed younger than Rehan, who was only eight at the mont.
It seed like he hadn’t lived in the north for very long. He had tanned skin and freckles scattered across his face. Those round and droopy eyes of his reminded of a puppy, so my first impression of him was ‘cute’.
But this wasn’t it. You’re a bit too passionate, sweetie.
How am I even supposed to digest turkey at midnight?
I had a sowhat sullen tone.
“What about my room?”
“Her excellency’s bedroom is located on the third floor, not too high yet not too low. It’s the best area when it cos to sunshine and moonlight so that every morning you can wake up to…….”
You’re just writing a poem.
I saw Sarah pinch herself in order not to laugh, but I just pretended not to see.
“Stop.”
“Pardon?”, Prokeon asked, puzzled.
Vega was quickly able to read the atmosphere and pushed him back.
“The lord…… I’m incapable of showing you to his excellency’s bedroom, no, should I?”
The two knights in front of looked to be trying their best.
The reason for the absence of servants in the mansion was because of Gilbert’s tyranny. Since the servant issue was related to , I felt the need to be generous. Of course, I’m not saying Gilbert isn’t a son of a bitch.
“Please do so.”
When I smiled at them, they both rushed over to Aedis’ bedroom. It was located on the fifth floor, all the way at the end of the hallway.
Ummm, it’s quite far from my temporary bedroom.
Sensing my gaze, Prokeon’s face flushed and he tried his best to explain.
“That…… I don’t believe he’s used to it yet. Our lord’s impression is kinda, uh, yeah.”
There’s also the fact that I’m not used to being served turkey at midnight……
Not knowing what was happening, I sighed and knocked on the door.
“Mr. Aedis? It’s , your wife.”
“Co in.”
He gave his approval in an elegant tone. He said it loudly, though it seed like he adjusted his tone so that it doesn’t sound like a command
Prokeon hit his chest before opening the door.
“Cough cough, w-what are you doing right now…….”
The two knights who were guiding suddenly coughed, as if sothing was stuck in their throats.
“C-captain, I think the ti for to die has co.”
“I, too, have just heard sothing absurd.”
Even though they whispered silently in disbelief, there wasn’t much distance between us.
Do all the knights from the north act like this?
It disturbed a bit, but for now, I’ll just open the door.
A desk, a bed, and a small tea table. The bedroom that ca into my line of sight was really minimalistic.
A man who resembled a sculpture sat at his desk.
When I put my luggage on the floor, Aedis’ expression changed into a strange one.
“Naturally, I thought that you’d want a separate room.”
Huh? Why?
I cocked my head to the side.
“I only asked for one, but for so reason, we have separate rooms.”
He drew his mouth into a line, as if not wanting to seem too enthusiastic to sleep with .
“Is it because of the successor thing? I rember you said it’d be difficult to have children. Are you sure there’s no need to discuss it again?”
I questioned him as I opened my bag.
I didn’t have much besides personal belongings. At the mont, I just had plain pyjamas to wear at night, a jewelry box with a lock and a few ornants.
“Yes, but……”
Then what’s the problem?
I asked as I picked up my pyjamas this ti.
“My dear Mr. Aedis, do you enjoy sadistic play?”
“That’s……”
Aha. So that’s what you like.
I gave him a big smile.
“But not as much as I do.”
“……”
“I’ll be right back after I change. Or should I do it here?”
“That way.”
He imdiately pointed over to the powder room.
This man, the more I got to know and learn about him, the more he seed different from the indifferent and listless adoptive father Rehan had in the novel.
Maybe he wasn’t able to express his feelings well because he was a supporting character?
Or……
Sarah was waiting nearby, but since I didn’t wear an overly-complicated dress that required help to take off, there was no need to call her. After I took it off, I brushed my hair with my hand. When I ca out, Aedis said as if he were waiting,
“Marquis Morgana didn’t seem surprised when he saw .”
“I told them in advance that my husband wasn’t so dying old man like everyone else thinks.”
I answered without much thought and brushed my hair.
Ouch, it got tangled.
“Are you not going to ask about where I heard about it?”
It was a question that he had asked at the imperial ball.
Back then, I avoided answering, but now we’re married. Since we’re partners now, I was willing to answer sowhat truthfully.
He smiled with his eyes closed.
“It’s fine since I’m having fun now.”
“I’m glad you find this fun.”
I stood absentmindedly before pulling out a chair and sat next to him.
He laughed when he saw .
“For the wedding, is there anything you want in particular?”
Huuh? I raised a brow.
“Sothing I want?”
“Sothing you want.”
“You’ll walk with in the ceremony hall even though you find it botherso to save face? Are you really this considerate?”
“Aedis.”
You seem to dislike it when I don’t call you by your na.
“Considerate Mr. Aedis, do you like being called by your na this much?”
“It’s not bad.”
“We’re in no rush for a wedding. Let’s just do it when the timing is right.”
“The timing is right.”
Do you think I don’t dream of a romantic wedding?
I don’t want to force myself into the arms of a groom who’s about to die from boredom.
Though I kept that to myself and said sothing else,
“Also, where did all the servants go?”
He responded to my inquiry,
“They cried for to fire them, so I let them go.”
“So, only Mr. Aedis’ n are left?”
“I guess so. I’m searching for new employees, but rumours have spread so much that no one will apply no matter how high the salary is”
“That’s unfortunate.”
“Two people were killed and thirty were assaulted. When I ca here, the first thing I had to do was clean up the bodies.”
Truly, a man who lived up to my expectations.
“I thought you’d ask about Gilbert’s room first.”
“I wouldn’t bolt on the first night just because I was left alone, even if it seed quite fun. Anyways, tonight’s our first night as a married couple. I know my priorities.”
“Is that so? What do you wish to do? Since today is special after all.”
Even though he smiled softly, I felt his deep blue eyes stare at unwaveringly.
“Eve.”
“Yes?”
“You have a sinister look on your face.”
I forced a smile.
“How about now?”
“I’m afraid I’ll see you in my nightmares.”
Huu.
I sighed and sank into my chair.
“To be frank, I’m quite angry. Not enough to crack his pathetic little head open but I’ll end up doing sothing unwise in the long run.”
No matter how young I was, I’d still be a stepmother with two sons as soon as I got married. An image embedded into the public’s mind.
Let alone the fact that my stepson was a cruel and pathetic villain both in a novel and now real life.
I don’t want to be seen as a perpetrator, especially since I’ve lived much kinder than that guy.
I’ve already rejected Gilbert’s proposal with one stroke and rumours were circulating about how I poured wine on him at the imperial ball.
Was it necessary to add to those rumours here too?
And so, I ca straight to Aedis. Please stop .
“That misfortunate fucker.”
Aedis asked with a smile.
“Eve, are you really a noble?”
“Of course.”
Can’t nobles curse too? Every once in a while I’d search for my ancestors and tell them that.
Ah really, I have a lot to say to them.
I attempted to untangle my hair with a grumpy look on my face when Aedis suddenly reached out to . He looked to be trying to feed sothing, so I opened my mouth on impulse.
Huh?
“Candy?”, I asked as I chewed sothing tiny and round. Aedis shook his container of candy. As he did that, red round candies coated in sugar moved around.
I-I thought you gave it to so that I can calm down, but this flavour……..
“Since it’s red, shouldn’t it taste like cherry or strawberry? It tastes like a boiled tomato.”
Like it ca out of so subtle business market.
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