Chapter 3.3

“I heard you’ve started managing the ducal house’s internal affairs?”

“Yep.”

At Lilith’s question, I smiled brightly while recalling Bill’s dumbfounded expression as he looked at the perfectly organized ledgers.

“I didn’t just start—I did very well.”

“No wonder Bill’s face looked a bit stiff. That individual tends to be rather arrogant by nature. I was internally worried that Madam might get hurt…… It seems Madam has a talent for ledger management.”

“I have talent when it comes to studying. I hated math but was good at it. There was nothing I couldn’t do.”

Looking at the beauty smiling brightly in the mirror, I cupped my cheeks with both hands.

My goodness, I’m so pretty.

Lilith gave me a gentle smile.

“Still, Bill’s face was quite satisfying. Seeing things like that, I guess I’m pretty wicked.”

As she said that and added flower decorations to my hair, I heard a familiar voice behind me.

“Who’s being wicked?”

“Oh, Rubellian. You’re here?”

I cheerfully called out from where I sat at the vanity table. When I got up and ran to him, Rubellian spread his arms. I smiled brightly as I was embraced in his arms.

“From now on, you should run over and be embraced in my arms. I’m only doing this for you today.”

“……”

“Do I really have to come running in such a frilly dress?”

“Got it.”

My husband listens well too. With that thought and snuggling into his arms again, Rubellian opened his mouth.

“By the way, there’s an imperial banquet in three days. Originally, the ducal couple should naturally attend, but……”

“I don’t want to go.”

“With the Empress incident and all, you don’t have to go.”

Rubellian continued while lightly kissing my forehead.

“And they said that woman Rachel will also be attending, so there’s no telling what might happen. It’s dangerous, so just stay home—”

“Wait a moment. Rachel is attending?”

“Yes.”

At his words, something suddenly came to mind and I took a long breath. No, what’s this? This development sounds very familiar…… Ah, that banquet!

I froze completely.

The banquet where the Crown Prince begins to take genuine interest in Rachel! And the banquet where Rubellian, seeing this, begins to seriously plan opportunities to eliminate both Rachel and the Crown Prince together!

“Rubellian.”

Having thought this far, I grabbed Rubellian’s arm.

“Don’t go to that banquet.”

“……I think I need to attend, why?”

“Well, that’s……”

I pondered for a moment. What excuse should I make? After briefly considering the most appropriate one, I finally said seriously:

“I have something prepared for that day.”

“Prepared? What preparation?”

“For a fantastic night.”

“……!”

“So can you not go?”

I’ll have to make some absolutely delicious food that day. Though I’ve never tried it before, thinking I need to hold onto him, I spoke quickly.

At my expectation-filled gaze, I could feel Rubellian’s eyes twitch. As soon as Lilith said “Oh my—” while looking at us and left the room, he opened his mouth.

“Do you know what you just said?”

“A fantastic night?”

“……”

“Why? Is there some problem…… Ah, did you understand it in a different way?”

Watching him immediately frown at my question, I finally realized that it wasn’t his comprehension ability but my mouth that was the problem. As warmth flooded my cheeks, like a vow silently shared between us, I lightly struck his arm.

“Not that!”

“You’re the one who said it strangely first.”

“Even if I spoke like crap, you should understand it like rice cake!” 

“I have no idea what that means but…… No, Eve. Sometimes I think your language organization is very different from other people’s.”

“Of course it’s different! People are different!”

As I boldly tapped his shoulder with my hand, Rubellian frowned.

“That hurts.”

“Oh my, I’m sorry. Did it hurt a lot? Are you okay?”

Too embarrassed, I…… looked at him with a worried face in surprise, when suddenly strong arms wrapped around my waist.

“So, why are you telling me not to go?”

Looking at his eyes blinking right in front of my nose, I pouted.

“Was saying it hurt a lie?”

“Yes. How much could it hurt when you hit me with those tiny hands of yours?”

Hmm, it’s good that it doesn’t hurt, but somehow it seems like he’s deliberately trying skinship by taking advantage of this moment? I looked up at him and said:

“If I really used force, you’d be surprised and fall over.”

“Oh my, how surprising.”

“You’re teasing me, aren’t you?”

“I’m teasing you.”

I tapped his shoulder again. But this time, instead of saying it hurt, Rubellian wrapped his other hand around my head.

“So, what exactly is this fantastic night?”

“Cooking.”

“Cooking?”

“With delicious food, I’ll capture your stomach and incidentally your ankles too would be nice.”

“That’s not very appealing.”

His words were quite playful, but I couldn’t take it as a joke.

I actually knew how important this banquet was. Even if it weren’t that important, there were almost no cases where Rubellian, as a duke, would skip an imperial banquet.

In the end, I racked my brain again. While pondering what to do, he tilted his head.

“Is there some reason I can’t go?”

“No, well……”

Ahhh, my brain! Quickly think of a good reason! Think of one!

But my disappointing brain wasn’t producing any decent reason, so in the end I grabbed his arm and shook it as a last resort.

“Don’t go and stay with me. I want to be together.”

“I’d like that too, but this time it really won’t work.”

“Tch.”

As expected, this man doesn’t particularly like me. He’s probably just being silly because I’m pretty.

But he really shouldn’t go to the imperial banquet……

What method should I use?

For a moment, my gaze lingered on the bathroom in the distance. Bathroom, water, ice…… At the thought that flashed through my mind, I smiled broadly.

Why wouldn’t there be a method? There is—my specialty.

* * *

Time passed and passed until the day of the imperial banquet. I decided to conspire with Lilith and lie down in bed.

For some reason, I felt a little nervous that Rubellian might notice, so I hesitated, but honestly—didn’t we all fake being sick to get out of school early at least once during our student days?

As evening approached, I placed a warm, damp towel on my forehead to gently raise my body temperature and lay down in bed. With a calm, patient expression, I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and remained still.

Soon after, at Lilith’s call, Rubellian entered the room.

“Eve, are you alright?”

He practically ran to my bed with worried eyes. Since he had to attend the party, he was dressed in deep wine-colored formal wear, and at the sight of him, I forgot about acting and swallowed hard.

Then, Rubellian pressed my forehead and asked:

“You don’t seem to have a fever……”

Did it cool down in the meantime? What’s with my body temperature?

“I just have a headache.”

“A headache?”

“I’m dizzy, can’t breathe, and just hurt…… huk.”

I pouted while making a pitiful expression.

Staring at my utterly pitiable face, Rubellian let out a long sigh and asked:

“The doctor?”

“Came and went.”

Actually he didn’t come, but since I had already bribed the doctor, lying wasn’t difficult.

As Lilith winked and soon left the room, Rubellian sat on the bed and said:

“Aren’t you hungry?”

“I have no appetite……”

“Still, eat something.”

“I don’t want to.”

I mumbled softly and crawled further inside the blanket. Wrapped in the warmth of the bed, I felt like I might actually fall asleep.

Rubellian was staring at me with a strange expression. Could he be thinking that I’m deliberately preventing him from going to the party? Though it’s actually true, that wouldn’t be good.

Thinking so, I struggled to pull my arm out from inside the blanket and reach toward him.

“Rubellian.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Hold me.”

“……”

“I’m cold.”

Even making nasal sounds, I drooped the corners of my mouth. At that, Rubellian stared at me intently, then bent down and embraced me.

“How about this?”

“I’m not cold anymore.”

“Really?”

I thought I heard a faint laugh, but it must be my imagination, right? No matter what, you don’t laugh when someone says they’re sick. With that thought, and snuggling tightly into his arms, Rubellian asked:

“Is there anything else you need?”

“……”

“Eve?”

Actually, my plan was to wistfully say “It’s okay, you should still go. You don’t need to worry about me. If I die, just don’t marry anyone prettier than me,” stimulating his guilt, but somehow since he asked like this, it seemed like a slight change of plans was needed.

So after pondering a bit, I asked softly:

“The party, can you not go?”

“Hmm……”

“If you absolutely must go, it can’t be helped, but still…… can’t you stay by my side?”

At my soft whisper, Rubellian slowly sat up. Soon, propping himself up on the bed and looking down at me, he smiled while slightly ruffling my hair.

“Would you like me to stay by your side?”

“……Can’t you?”

“Well.”

Rubellian’s face showed a strange smile.

Feeling a bit suspicious, I reached out and gently took hold of his arm.

“Rubellian.”

“……”

“Rubellian—”

“……”

“Huuung.”

“……”

“Don’t go.”

I grabbed his sleeve and shook it. Actually, I’d like to grab his shoulders and shake him vigorously, but…… since I’m in the position of a patient.

Rubellian had an unreadable expression. His eyes seemed to be trembling slightly, and his lips seemed to be twitching slightly, but I continued speaking with appeal in my voice:

“I’ll be bored alone.”

“Bored?”

“Lonely because I’m sick.”

“Lonely?”

“At times like this, it would be nice to have at least a husband by my side……”

As I spoke gloomily, Rubellian let out a deep sigh. He looked once at the sleeve caught in my hand, once at my face, then nodded.

“Alright. I won’t go.”

“Really?”

At the welcome news, I sat up abruptly. But soon I realized what I had done and stopped.

Ah, my voice was too loud.

“Ah, that was just a kind of terminal lucidity phenomenon, so it’s like gaining a bit of energy before dying. Actually, I’m sick. Very, very sick.”

Afraid of being caught, I pressed my forehead again and collapsed dramatically.

At my behavior, Rubellian chuckled, then bent down and touched his forehead to mine.

“Rubellian?”

“Yes, you really do look weak.”

“It’s hard.”

“I see.”

“Will you stay by my side?”

Rubellian smiled gently and nodded.

Ah, indeed humans easily fall for weak creatures. I should use this often, I resolved internally.

But……

‘Why is he smiling like that?’

Watching his back as he went to call Lilith, saying I should eat something, I tilted my head. He even seems to be laughing with his shoulders shaking slightly—is me being sick funny?

At this, I had to fall into thought for a moment.

In the end, after eating soup and lying down again, I fulfilled my duty as someone acting sick—making groaning sounds—then gradually fell asleep.

And I was only able to wake up the next morning.

In the meantime, having changed clothes, Rubellian was sleeping next to me with his eyes closed, and seeing his face, I smiled with satisfaction.

Thank goodness, really thank goodness. I finally twisted one part of the original story!

With this, the female and male protagonists probably built up some emotional narrative yesterday, and I also with Rubellian somewhat…… Ah, this isn’t right. I was startled by the thought that flashed through my mind and shook my head.

What am I with Rubellian? A bit flustered, I took a long breath in and out again.

Only then did I notice Rubellian’s long arm pressing lightly against my body. Staring at his face as he slept while holding me in his arms, I muttered internally:

Ah, he’s such a kind person.

He’s not even heartless enough to leave a sick person alone.

My heart ached unnecessarily for his past, and lying facing him, I stared intently at his face. Soon, I unconsciously reached toward his face.

Wow, so soft.

The sensation on my fingers was so good that I let out a light exclamation. Look at this skin. He doesn’t seem to apply anything special, but goodness.

Feeling mischievous, I touched his forehead. I also touched his nose bridge and poked his lips. Goodness, the sensation is so good. Ah, is this a bit perverted?

That was when it happened.

“Stop it.”

As the lips that had been silent until now spoke, I was startled. Along with that, Rubellian lightly bit my finger.

“Ah……”

At the light touch like a kiss, a sound escaped my lips. Then he leisurely opened his eyes and asked:

“Is your sickness better?”

“Mm, I feel refreshed after sleeping.”

“That’s good then. I was starting to wonder about what I’d do if you’d been sick all this time.”

Seeing his eyes curve slightly, I was tormented by guilt. However, at what followed, I couldn’t help but look puzzled again.

“If you’d been sick all this time, I kept wondering how I could just stand by and watch.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, what could it mean?”

Rubellian, touching his forehead to mine, laughed softly.

Ah, he really likes touching foreheads. When I rubbed my forehead lightly, he suddenly put strength in his arm.

Right, well. If he does this again, I have to be dragged along.

“I’ll let myself be dragged along just for today, but next time, you’re the one getting dragged along.”

I heard a faint laugh from above my head. Clicking my tongue and pouting, Rubellian asked as if something had occurred to him:

“How is the ledger management going?”

“Oh, well…… so-so? Have you ever seen me unable to do something? I’m good at everything.”

At my words, Rubellian chuckled.

“Is there anything difficult?”

Normally at this point I should act mature and composed, saying there’s nothing wrong…… but I smiled brightly and said to him:

“Mm, could you scold that person called Bill?”

He brushed back a strand of my hair that had stuck out. He could have asked what happened when I suddenly asked him to scold Bill, but he just nodded without saying anything.

“Is there anything else?”

“No. But am I really tattling on everything to you? What if you get tired of it?”

“I’m curious about what you do and how you spend your time. I’d like you to report to me a lot if possible.”

“You won’t suddenly say one day ‘Can’t you handle such things alone? I’m sick of it now!’ will you? Just wait for that day to come.”

“What would you do if it came?”

“I’ll let you taste what it feels like to lose favor.”

Don’t only wives lose favor? Husbands can lose it too. Speaking coquettishly, Rubellian smiled brightly and he kissed my cheek while muttering:

“Report to me for life if possible.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Keep chattering by my side like that. If there’s something you dislike, say it; if you have complaints, grumble; if you’re in a bad mood, complain.”

“Will you solve it for me?”

“Of course I have to solve it. I hope I can solve your problems for life.”

I blinked. His words were so sweet that I unconsciously felt ticklish inside. Somehow feeling strange and afraid he might notice, I buried my face inside the blanket.

“……Then I’d be grateful.”

In the end, whether Rubellian really took some measures, Bill treated me with maximum courtesy from the next day onward.

When I asked him “Did Rubellian scold you well?” he sent me a very incredulous look.

‘Did you really tell on me? And why are you so brazen about it?’

What’s wrong with it? I don’t say behind someone’s back what I won’t say to their face.

Anyway, days passed like that and I was gradually getting used to the ducal house when one day Lilith suddenly came with bombshell news.

“Madam, there are rumors circulating in the capital.”

“What kind?”

“Rumors that Madam and His Grace’s marriage was actually a ‘deal.'”