Chapter 2.2

“So now only the wedding is left, right? Please discuss the rest with our parents. I’m getting tired now.”

“After buying dresses, buying shoes, and buying all the jewelry at the capital’s famous jeweler, now you’re tired? You weren’t tired before?”

Rubellian laughed heartily and sighed deeply.

“My, to think you’d like spending money so much.”

“Are there people who hate spending money?”

I said with wide eyes. At that, Rubellian, who had been watching me press my ankles firmly, bent down and lightly grasped my ankle.

“Excuse me.”

“Oh my, a lady’s ankle isn’t something to look at carelessly.”

“…”

“I’m joking, just joking. You don’t need to look at it like that. Haven’t we reached the point where we’ve seen each other’s bangs?”

Rubellian shook his head and wrapped my ankle. After slightly lifting my dress, he soon took off my shoes and placed them on his leg. Soon he frowned seeing the white skin with slight blood seepage.

“With your feet all scraped up like this, how did you manage to walk around?”

“I originally have quite outstanding perseverance.”

“You didn’t seem like someone who endures things so well.”

“Because it was my things being bought, I had to keep moving despite wanting to cry. If it were yours, I probably would have collapsed in 5 minutes.”

Staring at my confident face incredulously, he lowered his head again and pressed my ankle firmly.

“Next time, if there’s something you want to buy, just buy it as you please. You don’t need to try to buy everything at once like this.”

“My goodness, it’s a Harlequin novel.”

“…?”

“Nothing. I was just admiring to myself.”

“Sometimes I think I can’t understand what you’re saying.”

“You probably don’t understand for your own good. If you understood, you’d have nightmares.”

At my refreshing words, Rubellian shook his head.

But I was being serious. What would he think if he found out he’s actually the mastermind in a novel and that he dies in the end? If it were me, I’d be devastated. Then, all of a sudden, a strange thought crossed my mind.

“But perhaps, what you’re trying to do now-“

Flinch.

Just as I was about to ask “Would you do it to the end even if your death was predetermined?”, before my words could finish, I blinked seeing Rubellian suddenly flinch.

What’s this reaction like he’s been hit on a nerve? What was he thinking? I don’t think he would suddenly think of rebellion in this situation, hmm? But he looked like he was trying to do something?

Surprised by his reaction, I blinked, and he opened his mouth.

“…Wh-what?”

He’s even stammering.

So he was trying to do something. And it coincidentally matched my words. I narrowed my eyes and looked at him searchingly.

But Rubellian, somehow avoiding my gaze, grabbed my foot on his leg and picked up the shoe.

“Let’s go home first. Can you walk?”

“Tell me, what were you trying to do? What were you thinking?”

“Nothing.”

Watching Rubellian shake his head to the end, I pursed my lips and fell into thought while watching him carefully put on my shoes.

Could it be what I’m thinking? He doesn’t actually want to marry me because he’s in love with me… right? That would be troublesome… If he fell for me after seeing all that, there’s a problem with his eyesight or brain. A loveless marriage—I’d like to at least have it with a man whose eyesight and brain are intact.

After putting shoes on my feet, I lightly grabbed his arm supporting me. Seeing him flinch for a moment, I once again seriously pondered my hypothesis and narrowed my eyes.

However, because he turned his head and feigned ignorance, I had no choice but to keep my mouth shut.

* * *

And a few days later.

Two days before entering the original story, the day before the wedding.

I opened my mouth wide seeing the countless things that people who appeared with Rubellian were setting down.

What’s this? Are these sparkling things jewelry? Could these be shoes? Now there are jewels on the shoes… Ah, I normally don’t get easily surprised by objects, but this was a bit too much.

I asked Rubellian in horror.

“Did you perhaps buy all the shoe shops in the capital?”

“Your feet seemed to get scraped easily, so I just ordered shoes that fit your feet perfectly.”

“Now that I’m your woman, you want me to dress up prettily… something like that?”

“No. You don’t need to dress up prettily.”

“Then…”

“Just wash your face diligently and wash your hair well.”

“…”

“Ah, the back of your hair too.”

It seems my husband’s grudge-holding is no joke. I looked up, dumbfounded.

“So why did you come? To watch me wash my hair?”

“No.”

Even at my sarcastic tone, Rubellian didn’t seem particularly offended. Rather, after looking me over, he slightly lowered his head toward my feet and asked.

“Are your feet okay?”

“They’re fine.”

Why ask so seriously about one scraped foot? I slightly narrowed my brows and lifted my foot to take off my shoe. But due to Aida stopping me in horror, I just showed my heel slightly.

“Look, see. It’s fine, right?”

“Yes, it looks fine.”

“So, is there anything else?”

At my question, Rubellian hesitated for a moment. He seemed to be thinking about something, then gestured with his chin to someone behind him.

Soon a middle-aged lady standing behind came forward, smiled gracefully, and slightly lifted her dress.

“It’s my first time meeting you. Madam.”

“…?”

I’m not married yet though? Why are you arbitrarily depriving me of my last chance to live as a young lady? Do you really think you can just call me whatever you want?

I looked at Rubellian with a face full of complaints. Seeing him tilt his head as if asking why I was doing that, I pushed my lips out quite a bit and opened my mouth.

“I’m still unmarried.”

At my words, the middle-aged lady let out a light exclamation as if she realized. But making that realization meaningless, she smiled brightly again and said.

“But you’ll soon become Madam.”

“Do you have to call me that? How about at least calling me Lady, wouldn’t that work?”

“That’s what people outside the family would call you.”

You insist on calling me that? I puffed out my cheeks and thought for a moment, then smiled brightly again and I cast my gaze at Rubellian.

“That’s great. Since I’m Madam, from now on Your Grace will be Stone Head!”

“…?”

“Why are you looking at me like that? Originally, Madam isn’t paired with nobles but with Stone Head!”

“…What?”

“Shall I serve you rice?”

Seeing that he clearly didn’t know how to respond to my innocent expression, I suppressed my laughter. There’s no way this person would know about our long tradition of the secret relationship between Madam and Stone Head. From now on, I’ll have to call him Stone Head for a while.

I smiled brightly and turned my head back to the middle-aged lady.

“So, what’s the matter?”

“Ah, I…”

After hearing my conversation with Rubellian, she hesitated a bit, then forced a smile again and held out the box in her hand to me.

“I came to give you this.”

“What is this?”

The small box radiated an unmistakable air of luxury.

What on earth is this thing used for? For some reason, I felt reverent and received the box with both hands, then carefully opened it.

Since we’ve already fitted wedding rings, it can’t suddenly be a proposal, and there’s no way this middle-aged woman would propose to me on Rubellian’s behalf saying “Will you become our Madam?”, so it’s probably not a ring…

“Hmm?”

But I couldn’t help but blink at what was shown when I opened the box. What was in the box was none other than a sapphire ring.

“What’s this again? Are you really proposing to me saying ‘Will you become our Madam?'”

When I asked in horror, the middle-aged lady shook her head. Then, Rubellian’s low voice murmured to me.

“It’s a symbol that has been passed down to the mistresses of the ducal family for generations.”

“Ooh.”

What, was that it? I was convinced, thinking of the jade bracelet that my previous life’s mother always wore on her wrist, saying it was something grandmother had passed down.

“It’s the symbol of Florence. Made from a type of sapphire that only comes from Florence, so even the craftsmanship cannot be imitated.”

“I see! It must be expensive?”

“…Don’t sell it. It’s still an object passed down through the family for generations.”

“What do you take me for?”

I glared at him. However, he seemed quite serious and had a considerably anxious face, so I seriously reflected on what kind of image I had in his head.

“And, most importantly, it’s a very useful object.”

“How so?”

“When buying things.”

“…?”

“It has ancient magic cast on it, so it can be used across the entire continent. If you show the ring, the amount will be charged to Duke Florence. There’s no amount limit. Still, don’t bankrupt the ducal family.”

For a moment, a tingling sensation ran down from my head, and I quickly looked at the ring. What once seemed like an ordinary sapphire now appeared incredibly beautiful.

So setting aside the ancient magic and whatnot, what I’m holding in my hand is actually…

“An unlimited credit card?!”

“…What’s that?”

“My goodness, how could this be! A man who presents a credit card even before getting married! And it’s unlimited! My goodness, Rubellian! You, you’re an educated man!”

“…What?”

“I love you.”

Hugging the sapphire ring tightly to my chest, I made a moved expression. I was someone who wouldn’t sell my conscience for dresses and shoes, but could sell my conscience for an unlimited credit card.

That made sense because even our distinguished family in my previous life didn’t have an unlimited credit card. Of course, we had credit cards where the limit was meaningless.

But after leaving home and starting to live alone in a tiny room, I, who used to carry Birkin bags like shopping bags, had to spend years shedding tears over even 200-won plastic bags.

Of course, I had no regrets about that life.

Anyway, an unlimited credit card—I actually got to touch something like that. Well done, Seo Ian! You didn’t live your life in vain! You did well possessing someone! So what if this life is doomed? At least I got to hold it before I die.

I looked at Rubellian, overflowing with emotion. However, soon I had to blink seeing Rubellian’s strange expression.

“What’s wrong? Are you going to give it and then take it back?”

“…To say you love someone so easily…”

“Why, is that not allowed? Is it not okay to love?”

“How can a person be so consistently and thoroughly materialistic…”

Rubellian let out a deep sigh. He seemed to take my “I love you” seriously, but don’t friends say that all the time? It’s just an expression of excitement—no need to get so sensitive about it.

I hugged the box and stared at Rubellian.

“Are you perhaps thinking that I’m meeting you because of money?”

“That’s not it. The Clauda merchant family is quite renowned even in the empire, so I don’t think you’re doing this because you lack money.”

Rubellian quickly shook his head at my words, but I chuckled at his denial and said,

“What’s wrong with loving someone for their money?”

“What?”

“Of course I don’t really love you, but even if I did—think about it. There are so many rich people in the world, so why would I specifically love you among them?”

“…?”

“So in the end, I’m loving you.”

The middle-aged lady tilted her head at my logic.

How’s that? Are you confused? Isn’t it great? Good logic, right?

At my words, Rubellian made a very complicated expression. He returned to his cold face and spoke.

“Anyway, don’t think useless thoughts. Don’t go selling it anywhere.”

“Ah, really! What do you take me for?”

“Think about your own actions so far. Do I look like someone who wouldn’t worry about this?”

What did I do? I pursed my lips.

But then, Rubellian suddenly smiled.

“Sleep early.”

“What? Suddenly.”

“Don’t be too nervous about tomorrow’s wedding.”

“I’m not nervous at all though?”

Rubellian nodded at my words. Watching his retreating figure as he moved away saying that was fortunate, I curled up the corners of my mouth.

Indeed, if only he wasn’t the mastermind, I could try seducing him.

* * *

The next morning, while the Clauda mansion was bustling with wedding preparations, the bride who should be most nervous was peacefully eating an apple, making her mother wipe away tears.

“My goodness, our Eve is getting married… I never thought such a day would come.”

“Mother, don’t cry. It’s not like I’m going to die.”

“Once you’re married, you won’t be able to come home often… Don’t feel inferior for being a commoner, and make sure to endure well at the ducal family. Do you understand?”

I’m confident I’ll endure well, but I wonder if the ducal family people will endure well. When I marry Rubellian, it’s not me but them who need to endure well.

Swallowing my words and spitting apple seeds into a bowl, the door opened and father entered.

“Eve! My daughter, my pride!”

“Father.”

“You don’t need to be too nervous at the ducal family. The Duke can’t do anything to you. You understand? So there’s no need to feel intimidated. If the Duke ever ignores you, make sure to tell father. You understand?”

Why am I getting moved by our father in this situation?

This person who was usually desperate to sell me off acting like this was… how should I put it, it made me feel complicated.

If you’re going to act like this, then just don’t marry me off—what’s the point? And yet, this person still thinks he loves his daughter in his own way. It’s something else.

After finishing preparations, I got into the carriage with father’s escort. Looking at the employees waving for me to finish the wedding safely, I remained silent.

Especially Aida was shedding tears, and since she was a commoner, it seemed impossible for her to work as a maid at the ducal family and come with me.

Of course, someday I should definitely ask Rubellian to call for her.

After some time passed, arriving at the temple, I took a long breath.

In my previous life, I was against marriage.

The people around me were all the type to go astray if they didn’t stay sharp, and after seeing my parents give up on marriage, I had no illusions about it myself.

And that was still the same now.

“Madam, you’ve arrived? Oh my, goodness!”

As soon as I got out of the carriage, Lilith welcomed me. She, who had officially become my personal maid, approached me with the maids behind her, then covered her mouth with both hands.

“…How could it be? My life was one without regrets.”

“Miss!”

“Miss, you can’t collapse!”

The maids behind frantically caught her as she suddenly grabbed her forehead and fell backward. But Lilith, still seeming mentally confused, stared at me with an utterly ecstatic face.

“It was worth breaking through the thousand-to-one competition rate.”

“…Pardon?”

What’s with that tremendous competition rate? What competition rate exactly? Though I couldn’t understand well and frowned, Lilith smiled brightly and approached me.

“Madam will become the most beautiful bride in the world.”

“I’m grateful but…”

“Hurry inside and see His Grace! I guarantee he’ll faint!”

I don’t think that will happen. I muttered to myself as I walked down the corridor. The maids holding my long dress slowly matched my pace, and standing before the large door, I called him.

“Your Grace?”

“You came…!”

Rubellian, who turned his head at my words, hesitated.

With his dark black hair neatly swept back and wearing black formal attire, I had to naturally let out an exclamation at his appearance. No, he’s too sexy. I let out a “Whoa” of admiration.

“You look wonderful.”

“…”

“Your Grace?”

“…”

“What’s wrong? Did you eat something wrong this morning?”

“…No.”

Looking closely, he’s really good at denying things. I smiled looking at Rubellian and holding my dress hem slightly, I asked.

“’m pretty, don’t you think? It’s almost blinding, right?”

“Yes.”

“Huh? If you acknowledge it like that, I have nothing to say back. You should scold me. Ask if I washed my face, if I washed my hair.”

I opened my eyes wide. Why is he suddenly acting like this? With a hint of disbelief inside, I tilted my head as Rubellian came closer and softly took my hands.

“You don’t seem to need to wash your face.”

“What are you saying?”

“You don’t seem to need to wash your hair either.”

“Could this be a compliment? No, is this even what a compliment looks like?”

“So just stay as you are.”

Not knowing what he meant and slightly raising my eyebrows, he suddenly lowered his head slightly. And then—

Smooch.

“Huh?”

“From now on, you’ll probably just need to brush your teeth properly.”

“…!”

What was that! At his sudden action and completely mismatched words, I couldn’t continue speaking.

Wh-what was that? Why is he doing this? Maybe this person just wanted to check if I was brushing my teeth properly? No, but what’s with checking directly like this?

“Let’s go in.”

He lightly led my hand, which had stiffened in confusion, and moved his steps.

Looking at his peculiar smile, stunned, I finally forced out a word.

“…I did.”

“What?”

“I brushed my teeth so hard it hurt.”

“That’s fortunate.”

“No, but what was that just now? Checking that way…”

“Let’s go in.”

In the end, I couldn’t finish my words and pursed my lips looking at Rubellian.

I’m only putting up with this because we’re getting married, otherwise, with my temper, a punch to the jaw would be inevitable. I’m not cruel enough to lay hands on that face.

“We’re going to do it inside anyway, so is there a need to show off?”

“No, that’s true but…”

I paused to choose my words. Something about the order seemed completely wrong. While thinking that, the door opened and I entered the wedding hall with Rubellian.

Thus, the original story began to flow.

* * *