Chapter 88

“Princess Arien?”

The little girl who walked in grabbed my hand and looked up.

Her reddish brown hair tied in pigtails shook, blue-green eyes shining.

“My lady, you really look like a fairy today.”

“Thank you. The princess looks very beautiful, too. Is this a new dress?”

“Yes, my father gave me a new present. You’re wearing a crown like me too.”

I smiled and looked at the little tiara that decorated Arien’s head. You’re cute, too.

“Are you wearing a crown because you’re a princess?”

“Ahahaha, no. This is just an ornament.”

“But Leah said that you are a princess...”

“Now, princess, don’t make the Duchess uncomfortable.”

That wasn’t what I said.

I bowed my head at the sight of a woman approaching behind Arien.

“Your Highness.”

“You don’t have to be polite to me. With how much the princess talked about you, I wanted to thank you sooner, but I’m sorry to only have greeted you now.”

Come to think of it, this was the second time I saw her.

My first impression of her was just an exotic queen, but when I saw her this close, she was like an elegant cat.

She was wearing a purple silk dress with half-bare shoulders, appearing more like a nymph in a tale than a queen of a country.

Will the Princess be like that when she grows up? I think I knew how King Feanol became such a romanticist.

“You don’t know how grateful I am for you to play with the princess often.”

“No, rather, the princess is keeping me company.”

When I answered a little awkwardly, the mother and daughter burst into laughter side by side.

Their smiling faces were very similar.

Ah, a mother and a daughter who look alike? It looked good, but I felt a bit jealous and unfamiliar at the same time.

“I’m glad you seem to be adapting well. In fact, I tried to send invitations several times, but I hesitated because I thought I would cause trouble.”

Considering the queen’s position in Britannia’s aristocratic society, it was not unreasonable.

In a way, she was similar to me, but we were in different situations.

“No such thing. If Your Highness invites me, I’ll be honored.”

“You’re as sweet as you are lovely.”

Her lemon-colored eyes gave off a sharp glow and slightly curved.

I felt strangely possessed and stared blankly without realizing it.

“I was wondering why you were so late.””

My whole body, which had been loosened for a while, became taut again.

Oh, I’m screwed.

“Cardinal Valentino.”

“Your Highness.”

Cesare responded briefly and coldly to the greeting queen.

He didn’t even give a glance at Arien, who was hiding behind her mother.

This level of disrespect was different from others, but the queen didn’t seem to care much.

“See you again, Duchess. Let’s go, princess.”

I felt Arien looking back on me, but it would not have been good to talk to her in front of Cesare.

He was not the kind of person who refrained from being bad in front of a child.

I smiled brightly.

“I was going to come in quickly, but you couldn’t wait and came to find me?”

“Yes. I thought your husband was sulking so I went to meet him. When I said I had to go, he reluctantly gave way. He’s a cute guy.”

I didn’t know what about the monster he found cute, but he was the one who’d exterminate our family.

He was slowly losing his luck.

I’m going to die at this rate. Are these two going to grow closer?

Cesare carelessly touched my forehead and suddenly came close to the balcony railing.

Did he suddenly want to see the scenery?

“There’s nothing much to see here. I was looking forward to it because the Moon Tower of Angvan Palace was so famous, but it was just a rustic clock tower.”

That’s right. You arrogant b*stard.

“It’s very different from the South. Is it not fun? I thought you were having a lot of fun.”

“Of course it’s fun, I’m very happy to see you. However, the banquet here is not that great. I think it’s better to go around the city.”

He used to do that often in Romagna.

When the Easter or Christmas festival approached, Cesare always took me around the festival streets.

Outdoor plays, processions, competitions, grand fireworks, and huge bonfires burning throughout the streets at Santa Maria Square...

I didn’t know how hard it was to pretend to be excited.

Often, I wondered what he really wanted from me.

In so many ways, he was similar to my older brother in my previous life.

“I want to look around the temple. What do you think?”

“I’ve never been around downtown Elendale, so I don’t know if I can guide you properly.”

“Why would I ask you to take charge of the guidance? You don’t seem to like going out much. Is it because of your husband?”

His gentle smile and gaze at me was like that of a viper.

The warning light blinked in my head, but I smiled calmly.

“Yes, surprisingly, he nags a lot.”

“Nagging or jealous?”

“Maybe, both? But if you say so, there’s nothing he can do. Isn’t that right?”

“You don’t know your husband well yet.”

The man who muttered this approached me again and put his hand on my back.

He patted it a little bit. Chills ran down at his slightly pushing touch.

“Go and talk to him.”

* * *

Each passing person greeted me one by one.

While walking quickly, Ellenia, who was surrounded by a group of people, and Freya, who was touching Lorenzo’s cheek and talking about something, stood out.

It had been a while since I saw him.

I wondered how it would be if he sang that song in front of Cesare, but he was not doing anything at all.

“Lady Rudbeckia...”

“Duchess, for a while...”

“My lady...”

I was on my way, but I was distracted by people who kept trying to hold on and talk to me.

Trying to move on while minding my manners and rushing to avoid conversations was almost reminiscent of a banquet in Romagna.

Yes, yes, both my brother and husband are celebrities. So why don’t you go and flirt with those scary guys in person?

“Ruby.”

As soon as I was worried that I might get stepped on without even realizing it like last time, someone approaching me through the crowd wrapped my arms around my shoulders and pulled me into my arms as if hitting a barrier.

Oh, so strong. It was only then that I could breathe a little.

“Wow, you split the Red Sea.”

“.......”

As expected, my sense of humour must have been rotten from the beginning.

I pretended to drop my head out of embarrassment while my husband stared at me with a stark look, grasping my cheek with his large palm.

“You took quite the time. Where were you?”

“I met Princess Arien after getting some fresh. What were you doing?”

“I was looking for my cheating wife.”

A confident answer.

Why do you always make me have an affair?

“Then you cheated on me with my brother.”

“What?”

Izek’s eyes almost split wide open.

I almost bit my tongue.

What was I talking about?

“Hehe, I’m so happy that you two seem to be close already.”

“Do my ears have water in them? Why does that sound sarcastic?”

He soon smiled and pinched my cheek slightly. Would you look at this bipolar man?

“It’s natural to be polite, he’s your brother. Do you hate that?”

Were you someone who cared about that? You’re never polite to anyone.

I shook my head and fiddled with his hand for no reason.

I felt his gaze on my face.

“No, of course not. I’m just thankful.”

“There’s a lot to be thankful for. Come here. Why don’t you eat first?”

The area around the dinner table was still quiet.

I sat on a chair covered with white deer leather, drank juice and had some seafood dishes.

The small shrimp and grilled oysters sprinkled with lemon juice were quite delicious.

“Is it good?”

“Yes, why don’t you eat?”

“I don’t have much appetite.”

You don’t?

It was an unreliable answer, but my husband just sipped a glass and watched me, as if he really had no appetite.

What dessert should I have?

“If you don’t have an appetite, you don’t have to force yourself to eat.”

What was this?

Shouldn’t you have said that during lunchtime when you tortured me? Are you testing me?

“I’m not forcing myself to eat. Ah, I had something to ask.”

“What is it?”

“My brother wants to go to a festival with me later. What do you think?”

I pushed away the empty seafood dish and took a large bite of the cake sprinkled with chocolate powder.

I wanted to check his expression, but I couldn’t.

I’m not lying, but what is this dirty feeling as if I’m lying?

“Looking around the festival streets? I didn’t know he enjoyed such a simple hobby.”

“He’s surprisingly a little easygoing. He’s been like that since I was young.”

“Is that so? I’ll leave the guidance to the temple. If you want to guide, you can.”

Oh, my. I stopped and lifted my eyes.

Izek was just sipping his drink with that indifferent look on his face.

I was nervous, but I couldn’t believe it was this easy.

Did he fall for our brother-sister acting perfectly?

That’s a relief, but why do I feel so uncomfortable?

“If you’re fine with it...”

“Do you want me to write it down?”

“That’s not it...”

“Siblings seem to want to spend some time together, why would I not allow it?”

That’s common sense and an exemplary remark. Since when did you become such an understanding human being?

“It’s not necessarily... I just felt a little sorry to leave you alone.”

“You’re just making that up.”

Sure enough, as soon as I made a guilty face, my husband, who was acting sneaky, spoke up as if he had waited.

I’d never seen such a jerk.

“I’m serious.”

“It’s not your first time having an affair, I’m used to it now. Where is he?”

“What?”

“Your brother. Where is he now?”

(T/N: He’s using the affair thing to tease her, from the dragon escapade time xD)

* * *

(T/N: Sorry for the late release people, I’m having exams atm but will update more once it ends! So around November 1st. I hope to finish this novel in Nov xD)