Chapter 75

Nine only then seemed to realize that his clothes were made of high-quality fabric that proclaimed, ‘I am a noble,’ to anyone who saw it.

Moreover, he was wearing a wedding ring studded with a pink diamond and a black magic stone on his hand.

‘There are many artisans in Rom!’

Since they supplied goods to the Imperial family, there would be many master artisans who embroidered on expensive fabrics. It was impossible that they wouldn’t recognize the value of those things.

“Then go change and come out!”

I quickly left the room so Nine could change his clothes.

After waiting a little while, looking out the window at the end of the corridor, Nine soon timidly opened the door and came out.

I turned to look at him, expecting an exciting date, but at that moment, I was speechless.

“Uh, huh?”

I blinked repeatedly and scanned Nine’s appearance again.

‘Did the clothes I gave him look like that?’

They were clearly simple and plain clothes, but when Nine wore them, they exuded an incredibly dangerous aura.

As I stood there, dumbfounded and unable to speak, Nine cautiously approached and watched my expression.

He mumbled hesitantly.

“Does it look very strange? Or did I put it on wrong…?”

“Ah, no! It’s not strange! Not at all!”

I was startled and flapped my hands wildly, denying his words.

It was true. He didn’t put it on wrong, and it wasn’t strange, but it was incredibly…

‘Now I understand why the mistress gave white rice to her servant.’*

[*T/N: Rice was for the rich back then so this means that Chacha understands why a rich woman would reward a servant just because she liked him for his looks.]

The loose and baggy-fit top was fastened by thin strings at the deeply cut chest, and through the small gap that naturally opened even when the strings were tied, a glimpse of incredible chest muscles and collarbones could be seen.

Conversely, the bottoms were tight and clung to him, revealing the curves of his legs entirely, making the sturdy Swordmaster’s thighs look as if they would tear the fabric.

“…I’m glad if it’s not strange.”

But the truly dangerous part was elsewhere.

It was that awkward and timid demeanor.

This was the very factor that further stimulated women’s lust!

“Wife?”

‘Whoops.’

I quickly snapped out of it, cleared my throat, and told him to go out.

I couldn’t let him catch me harboring such lustful thoughts towards him, who had just become my lover. Though it would eventually be revealed once we got closer…

I walked ahead, but I didn’t hear the sound of footsteps following me.

Curious, I turned back, and Nine stammered with a troubled expression.

“The, the skirt…”

“Yes?”

At Nine’s words, I looked down at the hem.

For typical noble clothes, the length was usually just enough to show the shoes slightly, or longer, covering the feet entirely.

However, most commoners’ skirts were knee-length or slightly below. This was because, unlike nobles, practicality was emphasized.

When I raised my head again, Nine’s cheeks were slightly flushed. Moreover, the way he averted his gaze, unable to look at me, was incredibly cute.

Unable to hide my smile, I firmly grabbed his hand and led him outside.

“Let’s hurry!”

***

When we arrived at the night market, as expected, the village girls blushed or coughed awkwardly upon seeing Nine.

‘That’s natural.’

I know. How could they not react like that?

However, I couldn’t help but feel a little uncomfortable, so I held onto his arm tightly.

Nine seemed oblivious to the attention of the surrounding women and instead grasped my hand, looking concerned that I might get hurt in the crowd.

“Be car… Be careful. There are too many people.”

Before reaching the night market, I’d thought that using formal language might be strange, considering our ‘young married couple’ concept.

Since things were this way, I suggested we speak informally, and Nine, though awkwardly, earnestly spoke to me using casual language.

‘So cute!’

I held back the urge to talk to him endlessly and hear his replies, and subtly gestured to him.

I watched Nine lower his body and whispered into his ear.

“We didn’t come out alone, and the other knights are nearby, so stop worrying about me and let’s just enjoy ourselves comfortably.”

“But…”

“It’s our first date. It only means something if we enjoy it together.”

I emphasized the phrase ‘first date’ and coaxed Nine.

‘Everything is great, but if Nine keeps worrying about me like this, it will feel less like a date and more like I came out with a guardian.’

Nine, who couldn’t let go of his worry for me, finally blushed slightly at the word ‘date’ and nodded.

“Nine, is there anything you want to see?”

“I’m not really sure.”

Judging by his reaction, Nine seemed to be out at a night market for the first time.

It was adorable how he looked around, despite not knowing what was there, just to earnestly answer my question.

I, on the other hand, had often traveled here and there in commoners’ attire when I was young, and during my academy years, I had traveled mostly in the south during vacations, so this kind of night market was familiar to me.

‘It’s more fun watching Nine.’

I waited for him to look around completely, wanting to tease him a little.

He diligently scanned the surrounding stalls, even though he couldn’t see all of them, and then looked back at me.

I knew just by the way his lips moved silently.

Nine was having a hard time answering my question about what he wanted to see, as there were many things he had never seen before and he couldn’t quite grasp what was what.

His dilemma was so clearly displayed on his face that I almost burst out laughing aloud.

‘No choice then. It’s up to me, the night market expert, to create the best date.’

I grabbed his hand as he hesitated about what to say and started walking through the street.

I looked back at him, who was obediently following my lead, and spoke honestly.

“Actually, in places like this, you don’t decide on the stalls beforehand; you just drop by any stall that catches your eye as you walk!”

We strolled, observing the items sold at the night market, without letting go of our hands, just like any other couple.

I made sure to stop at every stall his eyes had touched. As we visited each one, I asked him what was interesting, subtly figuring out his tastes.

Even without this underlying agenda, Nine and I were constantly talking and learning more about each other.

“Nine, you haven’t tried this either, have you?”

“…”

Nine nodded and took the skewer I offered him.

He seemed to be contemplating what was skewered, flipping the skewer in his hand several times to examine it.

“Haha. It’s just chicken.”

“Ah.”

The first few times I introduced him to something new, Nine seemed a bit embarrassed, but as it repeated, he grew used to listening to me.

It was truly admirable that a Duke would so readily accept not knowing something.

Thinking that I liked even that aspect of Nine, I took a piece of chicken from my skewer and ate it.

‘This is a problem.’

No matter what I saw, I only saw his good points, and I felt like I was falling in love with him every moment.

As I was munching on the chicken skewer and trying to calm my racing heart, Nine took out a handkerchief and wiped the corner of my mouth.

Thump, thump.

His hand hadn’t even touched me; it was just the handkerchief wiping my mouth, but my heart was pounding.

“Ah, thank you.”

I pretended to be nonchalant and thanked him, and Nine subtly looked around and then approached me.

Muah.

“Eek!”

An odd exclamation escaped me the moment his soft lips touched mine.

‘What was that! What was that!’

I was so surprised, I felt like my heart might have stopped.

It truly felt as if we had become a couple.

‘No, we are a couple, but still.’

I clutched my pounding heart, grabbed his hand, and quickly headed toward the central plaza.

Feeling my face turn red like a beet, I hid my face, unable to look back at him, and heard Nine’s low chuckle.

Rom’s central plaza was quite deserted right now, thanks to its location away from the night market.

Nine and I sat side by side on a bench.

“Did you have fun?”

I asked Nine.

“Yes. It was a new experience.”

He answered and gently took my hand.

I held his hand back and looked up at the night sky, studded with twinkling stars.

“You look familiar with it.”

I gave him a mischievous smile, seeing that he was now speaking informally without awkwardness.

“I used to sneak out in commoners’ clothes and play when I was little. I was quite a mischievous child, wasn’t I? How about you, Nine?”

“Hmm… Unlike Adel, I think I was a quiet child. After my father passed away, I was too busy to play leisurely.”

Nine’s expression as he said this was merely calm, as if it didn’t bother him. That made my heart ache even more.

I leaned my head against his shoulder and said, “Then let’s do a lot of things together from now on.”

“Okay.”

***

A few days later, our carriage, according to my plan, had peacefully toured various places before entering the North.

The first stop after entering the North was Pican, a city in the territory of Viscount Pellona.

Norman vehemently objected as soon as he heard the next destination, but Nine pushed it through.

Thanks to that, Norman had been sullen the entire journey.

‘Well, maybe he just doesn’t want to go home.’

I felt sorry for him inwardly and held Nine’s hand as we descended from the carriage.

Two people were waiting for us at the gate of the manor.

“Welcome, Duke Eclipse, Duchess.”

A noblewoman with light beige hair pulled up high, who clearly resembled Norman—or rather, whom Norman resembled—offered the first greeting. The middle-aged man standing next to her looked somewhat tearful.

‘This must be the Viscount, right?’

As I wondered internally why his expression was like that, the noblewoman immediately introduced herself.

“I am Cornelia Pellona, that idiot’s mother. Ah, and this is Viscount Yulcis Pellona.”

Her smile as she said that was utterly gentle, but when her eyes turned to Norman, they instantly became sharp, as if they wanted to kill him.

I tried not to look and turned my head away.

“Welcome…”

The Viscount, with a frail gesture, dabbed his eyes with a handkerchief and greeted us.

They were truly a unique family.