Side Story Part 3
He hadn’t always disliked talk of his father this much, but it had become like this after our marriage.
The reason was that Eizelle wasn’t particularly warm toward me.
“Rosiel, that doesn’t seem like… a good idea.”
“Actually, I want to go. We haven’t properly visited since our wedding.”
“That was for your health. Don’t worry about it. Besides, the doctor said to avoid stressful situations.”
Brushing back his hair with troubled eyes, Hyle still seemed to lack faith in his father.
It was perhaps natural that the daughter of an enemy family wouldn’t cease to be an enemy just because she married his son.
As Hyle feared, there was no guarantee that Eizelle wouldn’t say something unpleasant when meeting me.
However, Eizelle had never once said anything unkind to me. He had only been distant.
Seeing that… perhaps Eizelle didn’t dislike me. I couldn’t be certain, but…
“Anyway, I need to see him. It’s been over three years since we married, and I can barely remember my father-in-law’s face…!”
What daughter-in-law in the world doesn’t know her father-in-law’s face? I might forget it completely at this rate!
“But Rosiel, you don’t need to see my father…”
“This is also for Heilo. After all, grandfathers have special love for their granddaughters.”
Lightly ignoring Hyle’s restraining hand, I stood firm in my opinion. I couldn’t back down this time!
Moreover, it was problematic that the father-son relationship had grown distant because of me.
I appreciate his consideration for me, but that’s a separate issue.
In the end, unable to overcome my stubbornness, Hyle consoled me by suggesting we rest at the villa for a few more days before departing for the east where Eizelle was.
Honestly, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t worried, but no matter how much Eizelle might dislike me, he surely wouldn’t extend that dislike to Heilo.
Let’s just push forward with this…!
“…Ugh.”
A weak groan escaped through my teeth as soon as I opened my eyes to the morning birdsong. After spending the night at Hyle’s mercy, my entire body felt drained of strength.
Why do I feel so constricted? I wondered, when I realized that his firm arms were holding me tightly against him.
No wonder my vision was completely dark. This is why it feels so suffocating!
“Hyle…”
Sadly, I couldn’t extract my crumpled body from his embrace on my own.
It was because Hyle was holding me tightly, as if I were a candy he didn’t want to lose.
“Hyle!”
Despite my calls, Hyle’s eyes remained firmly closed. The tips of his neat black eyelashes revealed just how sweetly he was sleeping.
I was exhausted all night because of someone, and barely managed to wake up…! We spent the night together, so why am I the only one in this state?!
In a sudden surge of frustration, I bit down hard on his forearm right in front of me. You fool! Wake up right now!
“…Ouch.”
After a considerable delay, Hyle’s eyes slowly showed a gap. Then he let out an extremely artificial groan.
…Excuse me, but your reaction seems a bit too slow.
“It hurts, Rosiel.”
To make matters worse, Hyle complained while looking at his right arm, not the left one I had bitten. This man, really…
“That’s not the one.”
“…Hmm.”
At my cold words, Hyle blinked his eyes as if waking up, then embraced me again.
“Rosiel, it’s still early morning, we should sleep a little more…”
“That’s why we need to get up. Today’s the day we leave for the east.”
Lightly brushing off Hyle’s drowsy protests, I finally managed to escape from his arms after much more struggling.
“…Do we really have to visit my father?”
“Yes, we agreed on that.”
“Rosiel…”
Rising from the bed after me, Hyle exhaled a long breath with troubled eyes. Soon he approached and buried his head against me.
“Rosiel, I’m afraid my father might say something hurtful to you.”
“…”
Though I had known this without him saying it, hearing it directly from his lips gave me a strange feeling.
The heavy emotion Hyle had been carrying inside was conveyed to me intact.
“My father hates Laté. No matter how different it is now, the meaning Laté holds for him hasn’t changed.”
“I know, Hyle. But it’s okay. You’ll be with me.”
“…Haha, Rosiel, you really…”
Looking up at me, Hyle smiled gently and slowly stood up. The preparations for departure were already complete.
“I love that about you. But if my father treats you rudely, we’re leaving immediately.”
“Hmm, I don’t think he’ll do that…”
Hyle turned his back, pretending not to hear my subtle disagreement.
Since we needed to stop by the mansion to pick up Heilo, we moved a bit more diligently.
* * *
“Mommyyy!”
As soon as we returned home, Heilo, who had been waiting after receiving word of our arrival, came running toward us with a bright smile.
In a light blue dress with a large red ribbon in her hair, Heilo was absolutely adorable.
“Heilo…? Did you gain a little weight?”
“Well, look at our princess—even cuter now!”
Hyle skillfully picked up the chubby Heilo and spun her around. The sound of her giggles seemed to melt away all my fatigue.
“Rosiel, your face is glowing—you must have rested really well?”
“Indeed. Your complexion has brightened in just that short time.”
Celi and Tia approached, carefully examining my condition while joking around.
“Thanks for your help. I appreciate it. Though rather than resting… I’d say I was tormented.”
“Oho… since a second daughter would only make the Marquis extremely happy, I hope the next one is a son.”
“Mmm. If it’s a son who takes after the Marquis, the future of high society will be bright.”
I merely mentioned being tormented, and Celi and Tia immediately began to let their imaginations run wild.
How is it that my husband and friends think exactly the same way…
“Fortunately, there are no plans for a second child yet.”
“Anyone listening would think the first one was planned too.”
“I always find it cute when Rosiel speaks so shamelessly.”
Whenever I opened my mouth, Celi and Tia immediately countered. In a somewhat… mischievous way.
“My, it seems I’m always the only one making plans.”
Just then, Hyle approached and gently wrapped his arm around my shoulder, looking at me with affectionate eyes.
The problem was that his words weren’t as affectionate as his gaze.
“I heard you’re visiting the family home. Honestly, as Rosiel’s friend, I’m extremely worried… but I trust the Marquis.”
Celi, who seemed to have a lot to say, simply told us to have a safe trip, accepting that my stubbornness couldn’t be swayed.
Tia also refrained from adding anything further. Thanks to this, I could clearly tell that everyone except me was of the same mind.
If Mattio hated Feros, Eizelle refused to associate with Laté. He had gone so far as to ignore their very existence, beyond mere dislike.
“I appreciate everyone’s concern, but I’ve never once received harsh words from Eizelle, you know? So there’s no need to worry so much.”
By this point, I was starting to wonder if I’d unconsciously been scolded by Eizelle without realizing it.
Anyway, everyone’s worry seemed excessive.
“I suppose. They say a father-in-law’s love for his daughter-in-law is special.”
“…Celi, how do you know such things when you’re not even married?”
“Tsk tsk. Hertiana, try hosting a few social parties. You’ll learn things you never wanted to know.”
Celi stared off into the distance with a somewhat weary look. Tia and I naturally fell silent.
We knew all too well that Celi had been under tremendous stress from hosting large-scale parties, semi-forced by her father who sought personal gain.
“Anyway, Rosiel, have a good trip. You’ll be loved wherever you go.”
“That’s right. Even the famous Eizelle Feros would melt like cotton candy with just one of your smiles.”
“Exactly! They say like father, like son. The Marquis still falls head over heels for your smile.”
