Chapter 78

A lot had changed since I first came to the North.

I enjoyed a luncheon with Nine’s family in the dining room that used to be empty with just me, and I had tea time with Adel, who whined that he was bored without me.

Kate, whom I visited after a long time, still seemed uncomfortable meeting people and didn’t come out of her room, so I handed her a letter as before.

The time spent with my new family passed quickly, and the sun was already setting.

Nine had returned to work immediately after lunch and was still busy, and I was planning to return to estate management and administrative work starting tomorrow.

‘I’ll be busy starting tomorrow, so maybe I should rest first.’

I had such a thought vaguely as I returned to my room, but I felt a sense of incongruity, as if I had forgotten something.

‘But I met Roana, played with Adel, and visited Kate…’

It seemed like I had done everything I intended to do before getting busy.

Since nothing came to mind, I eventually decided to dismiss the feeling of incongruity as just a feeling.

However, I realized the nature of the incongruity soon after.

It was when Annie and Tully came to my room while I was resting, as Nine had instructed them to check my physical condition.

Tully felt my pulse and asked.

“Haven’t you told the Duke yet?”

“Pardon?”

When I briefly asked back at the sudden question, Tully continued.

“He still thinks you are pregnant, doesn’t he?”

“Ah? Oh, ah!”

Annie and I exclaimed in surprise.

‘I completely forgot!’

When we had just left the capital, I completely forgot about it because I was enjoying the trip and our dates, and after that, my attention was focused only on the monster incident, so I didn’t realize that there was still an unresolved matter.

I felt pathetic for having forgotten something so important.

‘Sigh. No, no. Let’s think of it as a good opportunity to talk about it all at once.’

“Are you alright?”

I was muttering to myself when Tully’s voice snapped me out of it.

When I raised my head, Annie and Tully were looking at me with worried eyes.

I felt a little embarrassed for showing such a clumsy side of myself, so I gave a small cough.

“Hmm, hmm. I’m fine. It’s true that not telling him on time was a mistake, but thanks to that, I think I can have a relaxed conversation, so I plan to resolve what I’ve been concerned about as well.”

“What you’ve been concerned about?”

Annie asked, tilting her head.

I looked at her and nodded slightly.

“We didn’t become husband and wife through proper procedure, did we? So, even if not now, there will be a time when this part will bother me.”

Life in the North was peaceful, and everyone in Eclipse Castle was kind, but there was no harm in being careful.

“If someone tries to slander me again and brings this up, it will be a headache.”

“…Are you going to reveal it to others besides the Duke?”

I nodded at Tully, who asked cautiously. Tully’s eyes widened in surprise for a moment.

“I should reveal everything this time.”

At my determination, Tully gave a small smile, agreeing with me. That smile gave me great courage.

Annie, whom I turned to look at, was also clenching her fist as if cheering me on.

“Lady Chacha. Dinner is ready.”

Just then, Van’s voice was heard from outside the door, so I immediately went down to the dining room.

***

Nine, who had arrived at the dining room first, looked exhausted, perhaps because he had a lot of work.

But as soon as he saw me enter, Nine’s face brightened up, and he looked refreshed as if nothing had happened.

“Chacha.”

Although only a few hours had passed, perhaps because we had been together constantly for days, I felt especially glad to see him.

I hurried over and worriedly stroked his face.

“Your face is a mess in just a short time. Do you have a lot of things to handle?”

“Gasp!”

I heard the surrounding servants gasp in surprise as I casually touched Nine’s face and spoke to him informally.

‘The rumor is slow to spread.’

Perhaps those who traveled to the capital with us were already used to us like this and didn’t even think to talk about it.

In any case, the shocked reactions of those around us were a bit amusing. And it seemed I wasn’t the only one who thought so.

“Yes, but I worked hard because I missed you, Chacha.”

He didn’t seem like the type of person to be so playful originally.

Perhaps having learned the playfulness from me, Nine went a step further and rubbed his face against my hand, acting spoiled.

I felt like bursting into laughter at the silent astonishment of those around us.

After fully enjoying his affection, I quietly spoke to Nine.

“I need to talk to you for a moment. Could you ask everyone to leave?”

Without hesitation, Nine instantly sent all the servants away with a gesture.

Once everyone had left and we were alone, I sat next to him instead of across from him.

Then I opened my mouth.

“Nine.”

“Chacha.”

Our voices overlapped as if planned, and I was startled and said.

“Nine, you speak first.”

“No, it’s fine if Chacha speaks first.”

“I’m fine too, so Nine first…”

In the end, we ended up having a small playful argument over who should speak first, and then burst out laughing together.

Finally, Nine, looking at me laughing, gave in with an expression that said, ‘I can’t stop you,’ and spoke first.

“Let’s have our wedding properly again.”

“Huh?”

My eyes widened in surprise, stopping my laughter.

Nine, observing my expression, continued with a slightly bitter look.

“Looking back, I’ve made many mistakes, but the one I regret the most is definitely the wedding.”

“…”

“This time, I want to invite both our parents and close acquaintances, and have a properly blessed wedding for you.”

At Nine’s words, I recalled the events of a few months ago.

The dress I wore that day didn’t suit me at all, and the wedding was held inside the townhouse without a single guest.

Recalling that wedding, which was not just simple but shabby, and brief rather than concise, I understood why Nine brought this up.

Nine seemed to feel guilty about that wedding.

‘If holding the wedding again can ease his guilt, I should do it for him.’

If we held the wedding again, we would look much happier than we did back then.

And if better memories are painted over the bad ones, wouldn’t it be possible to eventually look back on that event as a fond memory, even if the past isn’t completely erased?

I hoped for that.

“Okay. Let’s do it, the wedding.”

When I accepted his suggestion without hesitation, Nine smiled contentedly and lightly pressed his lips to the back of my hand.

“Now it’s Chacha’s turn to speak.”

He released my hand and naturally swapped the plate in front of him with mine.

Looking at the table, neatly sliced steak was placed in front of me.

I smiled with uncontainable happiness again, picked up a slice of steak, and put it in Nine’s mouth.

And naturally, I brought up my business.

“Speaking of the wedding, if you’re okay with it, I want to tell our families and close acquaintances the truth.”

Although I spoke briefly, Nine seemed to immediately realize what truth I wanted to reveal and fell into thought.

Of course, since both Nine and I had made mistakes with the love potion incident and the events that followed, it would be possible to gloss over it if he didn’t want to reveal it.

‘But I should at least tell Roana.’

Because Roana knows about the love potion incident but doesn’t know the truth of the incident.

“Hmm.”

Nine thought for a moment, then handed me the fork in his hand, which I had put down, and said.

“I’m fine. As for my side, I can only think of… my mother, my sister, and maybe Van, who need to know.”

He personally picked up food and fed me small pieces, then soon sighed deeply, looking discouraged.

“Haa, the Count and Countess are going to hate me even more.”

“…Pfft. It will be alright.”

I lightly patted Nine’s slumped shoulder.

Confirming that Nine’s expression had slightly relaxed, I picked up the water glass and wet my throat.

This was the main point.

“Actually, I… have one more thing I want to talk about.”

But at that moment.

“Your Grace!”

The dining room door burst open, and Kroel rushed in.

“I apologize for the interruption during your meal.”

Kroel, who entered with an unusually urgent expression for him, glanced at me, and when Nine nodded, he immediately gave his report.

“We have urgent news that a large group of monsters has been spotted descending from the Kardan Forest.”

The atmosphere instantly became heavy.

A moment later, Nine commanded in a subdued voice.

“Summon the entire Knights’ Order immediately.”