Chapter 22: 22

Time flew by as we conversed and helped each other get ready. We immediately boarded the carriage and headed to Marquis Morgana.

My parents welcomed us in their usual manner and attire. However, they were still uncomfortable around Aedis, since they weren’t sure about him being human or not.

Due to the peculiar feeling of intense pressure trickling out of Aedis, their complexion was stiff. Even so, they tried their best not to let it show and guided us to the dining room.

We ate in silence. All I could hear was the faint sound of us eating carefully so that our utensils don’t clank against each other, as taught according to aristocratic etiquette.

With how things are going, I’ll end up having indigestion.

When I looked at Aedis, who was sitting next to me, he smiled.

“Wife, you can’t be a picky eater if you want to live long.”

This bastard, why are you feeding me sweet potatoes?

“Why don’t you try this too?”

If you feed me onions we’ll be sleeping in different rooms from today on. I coldly glared at him and mouthed my warning.

Maybe it was because Aedis started the conversation, but my father started speaking too.

“Will you be leaving on the weekend?”

“Yes, father.”

When I nodded my head, my mother immediately spoke.

“The Elaine family’s daughter has been looking for you.”

If my mother, who has no interest in my personal relationships, spoke about this, it meant that Monica probably rampaged through the marquis’ estate while I was at the grand duke’s estate.

I replied while secretly stacking all the sweet potatoes and onions Aedis gave me at the end of my plate.

“I’ll try to calm her down.”

“Be nice to her. She seems to like you a lot.”

“……Why do I not believe that?”

In the novel, Monica Elaine was the one who Gilbert Kallakis had an affair with. She also frequently attacked Maevia’s self-esteem.

Of course, I’m not the Maevia Morgana in the novel, but I’ve always felt uneasy around her.

Monica wouldn’t have believed it either.

While I pondered over Monica, time went by and our meal ended safely.

As we were about to return, my father told Aedis,

“Your Excellency the Grand Duke, please take good care of Maevia. We decided to trust her decisions and not dwell on the odd rumours about Your Excellency. I also trust that Your Excellency will cherish our daughter for all the years that she’ll live so that her life won’t be colourless.”

Aedis thought about the meaning of those words for a moment before replying, excluding a certain part,

“I won’t disappoint Eve.”

It was a bit surprising. You won’t disappoint me rather than my parents.

Back in the carriage, I rested my chin on my hand and closely observed Aedis.

Even if he wasn’t my husband, Aedis was still a very handsome man.

My gaze lowered to his desirable nose bridge.

[t/n: wtf author]

“Aedis.”

When I called him warmly, he replied with an expression that seemed to be stifling a laugh.

“Yes, wife?”

“Why haven’t you married before?”

Aedis lived a long time. It wasn’t clearly stated in the novel, but I believe he’s over five hundred years old. Aedis said that he’s met the first head of the Kallakis family after all.

It was also around that time that the Kallakis’ built the title of Grand Duke. However, the notion that he’s never married before and doesn’t have biological children made me tilt my head.

His appearance didn’t resemble Gilbert’s.

Objectively speaking, isn’t my husband also quite nice?

Wouldn’t it be normal for him to be popular?

A smile formed on his face as if he knew what I was thinking about.

“I was planning on getting married.”

“At least pretend to say the truth.”

I forced a laugh as I fiddled with the braid Aedis made. Though it was too thick, it was pretty enough for my parents not to think about how much Sarah suffered for this. Of course, this isn’t the type of result you get if you only practice once or twice.

Following my actions, he let out a low laugh. Even though we haven’t been together for long, I felt close to him because I was able to see him laugh a lot.

He never laughed in the novel.

Right, there was never a description of him laughing.

All of a sudden, my mood fell.

In 〈Esmeralda’s Crescent Moon〉, Grand Duke Kallakis was expressionless at all times. Now and then, he’d only feel traces of negative emotions such as pity or displeasure.

Why is that?

Why did Aedis shut himself in his room throughout the entirety of the novel, not smiling or enjoying anything at all?

My mouth opened on its own,

“Aedis, is this your original personality?”

“Huh?”

Aedis Kallakis’ eyes clearly displayed his sentiments.

He still had a small smile.

“The you who is thoughtful, kind, laughs a lot and who is currently smiling.”

He raised an eyebrow but still answered in an honoured tone,

“You’re the only one who thinks of me this highly.”

Look at this.

He’s so expressive, unlike the him in the novel.

What the hell is the reason behind this?

“I’m always generous with praise.”

“My enthusiasm is burning up all of a sudden. Can you let me know about your feelings more? From now on, do it every day.”

I felt my chest become stuffy. Ignoring the stream of awkwardness, I focused on Aedis.

“I like the way you laugh. So, I hope you continue to laugh.”

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“…….”

He didn’t answer me.

I thought he took it as a joke, so I repeated myself,

“I’m not forcing you to laugh. I’ll make things fun for you, so laugh as much as you’d like.”

I should take care of my husband.

When the carriage stopped just right in front of the grand duke’s mansion, Sarah rushed out to find me.

“Your Excellency!”

I stared at her with an expression that seemed to say ‘you’re just in time.’

“Sarah, when did you teach Aedis how to braid?”

“Ack.”

She unconsciously took a step back.

Aedis, who got off of the carriage first, escorted me with a smile.

Hmmm.

I told him my goodbyes as I went off to take a bath, change my clothes and question Sarah.

Anyhow, he noticed Sarah got kidnapped when we were back in the cafe yet he pretended not to know for the sake of her physical and mental wellbeing.

As the two of us entered the powder room and were left alone, I asked her,

“Sarah, weren’t you scared?”

Even the nobles weren’t able to keep a straight gaze on Aedis, Sarah couldn’t be okay.

Even so, she urgently denied it.

“H-Hey, I, wasn’t, s-scared, at, all!”

“…..Sarah?”, I called out to her gently.

Despite her sniffling, she helped me remove my clothes and confessed,

“Truthfully, I was a bit s-scared…… But the knights continued to cheer me on and told me it was okay, his excellency the grand duke didn’t come near me either. He watched me from another corner…… I just demonstrated with a wig. I was quite far away, so I don’t know if he saw it well.”

I had a rough idea of what the situation was like.

Anyway, after seeing so much of Gilbert’s bullshit while being next to me, her bravery was increasing little by little.

“You were successful in the end.”

Sarah smiled as she straightened out the dress I took off.

“Ehehe, I dropped my comb many times because of my trembling hands yet he turned a blind eye to that. And, I…… He asked me to keep it a secret for a bit, so I couldn’t tell you. I’m really sorry, Your Excellency.”

I had to take a bath, but my hair was too nice so it’d be regrettable to undo it.

“There’s no need for you to be sorry, when did you teach him?”

“This morning.”

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That was during the time I was having sweet dreams. Wait, this is when he learned how to braid? Isn’t this just a scam?

“Oh yeah, Your Excellency, I have something to tell you.”

“Yes?”

Sarah’s shoulders stiffened.

“Well, the young master’s state is a bit strange.”

“Gilbert?”

“You should see it for yourself.”

Her eyes were dull as if she couldn’t even stomach explaining it.

Looks like it was because of Gilbert, who was in a hurry to run out earlier.

My bath was put on hold and I wore an inside dress.

When I visited him, Gilbert was obediently eating his ginger. Both the tray and dishes were unscathed.

What’s with this sudden change of heart?

“Have you given up your dream of committing sins?”

He didn’t even look at me as he munched his ginger. He half-heartedly pushed the ginger dishes into his mouth without any formalities. It was only after he finished swallowing that he answered me in a tone that sounded like he lost all sense of rationality.

“I guess.”

“……”

Oh my god.

Who is this man?

This is not the Gilbert Kallakis that I know.

I turned away with a bitter expression. There was only one reason for him to act like this.

Because of what happened last night.

Kallen called me a ‘bitch’, Aedis heard it, Gilbert was present. Yepp, it’s pretty obvious.

After taking the bath I postponed, I entered the bedroom and Aedis raised his head happily.

I interrupted his opportunity to speak.

“Aedis, our oldest troublemaker son is in a bad condition.”

Aedis looked at me with a surprised expression, as if there were many things to point out about my sentence.

“Is that so?”

“What did you say to make him regain consciousness?”

I looked into his eyes, asking him if he tore Gilbert and Kallen to shreds.

Aedis chuckled.

“I simply advised him to take a look at reality.”

“Hmm.”

“That’s really what we spoke about. Well, what I told Gilbert. I’m not the type of person to lie to my wife. So, why do you just trust me and focus on something more important now?”

“Whatever, not a big deal.”

The corner of Aedis’ lips rose.

“Will you really be using a different room?”

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