Chapter 63

“Phew…”

After a good cry, I felt much lighter. I couldn’t even remember the last time I had cried so openly.

My swollen, red eyes stung a little, but the feeling of relief was so great that I wasn’t in a bad mood at all.

That part was certainly good, but…

“Lady Chacha! The Duke has come to the count’s estate!”

Annie, who rushed in clinging to her skirt hem, exclaimed urgently.

I asked back, startled. “The Duke? Why, all of a sudden?”

“I don’t know that much… Anyway, he’s currently touring the mansion with the butler.”

“I see. Wilhelm, thank you. I’ll go right away.”

“Yes, my Lady.”

I saw that Wilhelm’s shoulder was damp, gave a slightly embarrassed expression, and hurriedly ran back to my room.

‘What’s going on? He said he would return late tonight.’

I had no idea why Nine had suddenly come to the Blueberry count’s estate.

However, I put my worries aside for a moment.

My parents were not the type of people who were good at flattery or putting on a smiling mask, unlike what one might expect from the owners of a grand mercantile company.

Since Nine had come, my parents must have greeted him, and I worried that they might have been awkward and failed to hide their emotions during the conversation with Nine.

‘It’s a relief that the butler is guiding him, though.’

I hurriedly changed my clothes and quickly wiped away the dust with a wet towel. Thanks to Annie tidying my messy hair from behind, I looked neat enough that it wasn’t obvious I’d been covered in dust.

I checked my appearance once more and immediately headed to where Nine would be.

***

“…”

“…”

It was awkward, but after taking over Nine’s guidance from the butler, nothing particularly happened.

By the time I finished showing him around the rest of the mansion, dinner was already prepared.

In the dining room, where early dinner was to be served, four people were seated—Nine, who was a dark, brooding color unbefitting the pastel tones of the mansion, my parents, and myself.

By title, Nine and I, as the Duke and his wife, should have sat at the head of the table, but we didn’t go that far.

Nine had first introduced himself as a ‘son-in-law and guest,’ placing my father, the owner of the estate, at the head of the table.

Thanks to this, my parents were at the head of the table, and Nine and I sat opposite them.

‘Now that I think about it, isn’t there one more guest?’

I belatedly looked towards the door for a moment, wondering if anyone else would enter, then asked the butler.

“Butler. Where is the other guest?”

“Lord Norman was deeply asleep, seemingly fatigued, so we were unable to usher him in.”

“Ah, I see.”

Just as I thought about how tired he must be, the appetizers were served at a good time.

After we each tasted the food a little, my father, seeming to want to break the ice, spoke first.

“Does the food suit your taste?”

“Yes, it’s fine.”

But Nine’s answer felt exactly like just observing proper courtesy.

“Ah. That’s a relief…”

The atmosphere at the table became subtle again.

I glanced at Nine, whose voice somehow felt stiff, and he seemed even more rigid than I usually saw him.

‘Was something uncomfortable in the mansion?’

I briefly recalled our tour, but there was nothing that would have caused it while we were together.

I quickly checked my parents’ awkward expressions and leaned my upper body slightly toward Nine.

As our shoulders lightly touched, his body flinched.

I asked in a small voice that only he could hear. “Are you alright? If anything is bothering you, please feel free to tell me.”

“No. I’m fine.”

His voice was strangely subdued.

I was about to speak again because his mood was different than usual, when my parents asked.

“Duke… you first met Chacha at the academy, didn’t you?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Haha, so it is. Our daughter is very pretty, but we were so surprised to hear that she was suddenly marrying the Duke.”

“…”

My cheeks flushed pink at the boastful, subtly inserted compliment, which was pretending not to be a boast.

My parents, who didn’t know the real reason for my marriage to Nine, naturally thought Nine was fond of me.

Which meant.

“Since she was little, she was so clever. She was always our pride, but still, she must have many shortcomings. I hope she hasn’t caused any trouble in the Duchy?”

‘Please, Father!’

They had started a conversation with Nine about me.

My parents showed curiosity about how I was doing but didn’t forget to boast. And all the while, they were subtly hoping for a reaction from Nine!

“Shortcomings? Not at all.”

“…”

I was startled by Nine’s unexpected answer and looked at him.

Nine, who answered casually, no longer had the subdued voice he had just moments ago.

“On the contrary, I have much to thank my wife for.”

“…”

My mouth dropped open as I watched the conversation between my parents and Nine.

Encouraged by Nine’s positive response, my parents became very excited and began to boast about me more openly.

“Hahaha, that’s such a relief! In fact, even during her successor training, Chacha was always highly praised by her tutors.”

“That’s right. Moreover, she was so mature even at a young age.”

“Indeed.”

But quite unexpectedly, Nine was agreeing with and accepting all those words!

‘Why are you two getting along so perfectly!’

Just a moment ago, Nine seemed to be in a bad mood, but seeing him respond so well, I wondered if it had all been my imagination.

I couldn’t join the three people’s conversation and just picked at my food with a flushed face.

‘Ah, I can’t hear anything. Can’t hear anything!’

I desperately tried to think of other things and pretend not to hear, but my already open ears wouldn’t close.

In the end, under such an embarrassing atmosphere, the three people’s conversation concluded harmoniously without me.

“W-Well, it’s getting late, so I’ll be going now!”

I endured the urge to bury my constantly flushed face in my hands and, as soon as the meal was over, quickly cut off the conversation and headed out to the carriage.

I wanted to escape the endless cycle of compliments as soon as possible.

‘The meal took longer than I thought.’

When I got outside the mansion, the sun had already set, and the lights were shining brightly everywhere.

Two carriages belonging to the Eclipse Duchy were already waiting in front of the mansion.

“I will visit again next time, Count, Countess.”

“Hoho. We will happily look forward to it, Duke. Please come and dine with us again.”

“Yes. I will.”

“Chacha, go back and rest well, and feel free to come home anytime. Understand?”

Perhaps reassured by Nine’s attitude today, my parents’ expressions were bright as they looked at me standing in front of the carriage, unlike before.

“Of course.”

I hugged my parents and then headed for the carriage with Nine.

Nine naturally offered his hand for an escort.

I was about to take his hand thoughtlessly, but I paused for a moment and looked at his face.

Nine asked when our eyes met. “What is it?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

I shook my head internally, took his hand, and got into the carriage.

Nine’s escort, which I was quite used to by now, felt somehow different today.

It was hard to pinpoint what was strange, but his touch and gaze seemed different from before.

I might just be overly sensitive, but I recalled the look on his face during dinner.

‘Was there a problem after all?’

It bothered me because I had already seen his earlier expression, which suggested it might not just be my imagination.

“Have a safe trip, Chacha!”

When I opened the carriage window, my parents were waving from the mansion entrance.

I waved back at my parents, who were getting smaller and smaller, until I couldn’t see them anymore. Then I lowered my arm and looked at Nine again.

“…”

I was about to ask what was wrong, but I closed my mouth after seeing his face. I waited for a moment to find the right timing, but soon gave that up too.

Nine’s expression was the darkest I had ever seen it.

‘It must be a serious worry.’

I had seen Nine get angry and annoyed before, but this was the first time I had seen him with such a dark face, staring endlessly into the void.

I quietly looked at his profile for a while, then turned my gaze out the window as well.

It seemed best to stay quiet so Nine could sort out his thoughts.

‘We’re not at the point of sharing such worries yet, are we?’

Just as I have stories I haven’t told Nine yet, he must have his own.

A bitter feeling welled up, even though it was an obvious fact.

Until we arrived at the townhouse, only silence reigned in the quiet carriage.