34 – 34. Boarding the slowly descending ship
In a small room leading to the meeting room, he quietly held a cup of tea and stared blankly outside.
Ah, crows everywhere, really.
Crows here, crows there.
That big one, is it a big crow or a king crow?
What a size…almost like an eagle.
Frederick said he came here.
Hmm, I should keep thinking of him as my father, but once I started thinking that way, I felt like I had become a puppet, and sometimes I shivered.
Anyway, she is talking to ‘my’ father right now.
I don’t know how the conversation will turn out, but it will probably go positively.
If it were negative, those crows wouldn’t stay quiet.
Creak.
A soft sound of the door opening came from beyond the door.
Hearing the calm footsteps, maybe the conversation went well.
Pouring the last sip directly down my throat, I turned towards the door.
“You…your father is calling for you.”
“No, we haven’t gotten married yet…”
“Not planning to?”
“It’s not that…let me speak. Seriously. Let’s see after we get married.”
“Really?”
Ah, I wasn’t expecting to say that.
I already widen my eyes and exhale sharply.
“But you know what’s really funny… Which side should be prepared? Should it be your side… or mine?”
Click, click.
I’ve felt it many times, but my fingers are so skilled.
Starting from my lips, my fingertips slowly scratch my chin, flow down my neck – after brushing against my collarbone,
“Ugh?!”
Instead of attacking and forcefully sucking my neck like that.
I put strength into my arms, but both of my wrists are already caught.
Honestly, it feels… irritating, like an obsession with being dominant.
By the way, why is this teasing so… ugh, damn it…
Sticking so closely, as if it’s going to suck my skin dry…!
“That, that’s enough… Irene, where did you learn this kind of thing…”
Hmph, hmph.
I exhale rough breaths through my nose and continue to make sticky sounds.
Moreover, as if that comment made her even more excited, she presses her body against mine, burying her head deeper.
She really is brutish. Can’t even move… Seriously. I can’t even twitch my arm.
…After a few minutes, or so, when it became too sticky and white threads started to hang, satisfied, she looks at my neck and takes out a handkerchief from her pocket to gently wipe away the residue.
“hehehe… It looks good. I’ve given you a bright red mark on your neck.”
“If Father finds out, he’ll kill me…”
“Well? I think Father would be impressed with you, don’t you?”
“How would you know – even if we say the same thing, since I’ve already seen those crows… sigh. Fine. I’ll know once we meet.”
“Come, hold my hand.”
“…If you don’t, I’ll crumble you to pieces?”
“Oh child, why would I do that?”
Oh, there it is. That expression. It truly makes my heart race.
A face that threatens me.
Eyes wide open, staring into my eyes with a vacant gaze, while the corners of the mouth curl upward.
How does one do that? It gives me goosebumps down to my spine…
“Stop the idle chatter in your mind and speak. If you keep doing that…”
Thunk, the wall trembles, and our chests meet.
Our noses barely touch, with just a sheet of paper between them.
Our breaths brush against each other’s lips, and that sticky emotion flows in through my eyes.
“Will you devour me?”
When exactly did it change so boldly like this?
Pushing people away so forcefully, pushing them away.
*
“…Father?”
“You -“
I tried to cover my neck with my hand, but it was immediately grabbed and held.
I had no choice but to stand there, fully exposed in front of Frederick.
Look at how wide my eyes are. How am I supposed to accept this?
“…Father.”
“Huh, huh… uh…”
With his mouth agape, the air escaped through his lips.
Though the veins on his hand showed the strength in his grip, it seemed that he couldn’t put any strength into his legs, which were trembling.
Glancing to the side –
Yes, I must look like a bride. I haven’t done anything to deserve it.
My eyes, my mouth… it’s the face of a happy person, anyone can see that.
So… how do I start the conversation in this situation?
“Father, I have brought Ad to you.”
I held his hand and led him to sit next to me, with her fingers interlaced.
Of course, there was no intention of refusing.
I tried to ignore Frederick’s absent-minded gaze, but when she openly laughed and made eye contact with him, I couldn’t help but bow my head.
“…Since when? Like this…”
“Well… after chatting for a while, I realized we have similar interests, and he seems like a good person. Moreover, he’s the Duke’s son, so his background is perfect. I can’t think of any reason not to accept him.
And although I say this myself, I believe Father knows very well how much ‘effort’ I put in to accept such a ‘wonderful’ husband.”
Continuing to stroke the back of our intertwined hands, I smoothly continued the conversation.
“…It would make me happy if you evaluated my son like that… But it seems necessary to understand my son’s intentions.”
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Our clasped hands stiffened slightly. Did the mention of needing my answer make me a little nervous?
But then again, she probably already knew my feelings to some extent.
Of course, I’ve died twice. It’s true that the journey to get here hasn’t been smooth sailing.
In our first meeting, I was stabbed by that suspicious person, Yujin or something, and died.
In our second meeting, I was stabbed by assassins and died again.
But…
It’s strange how I can comfortably accept the fact that I’m still alive.
I almost forgot, but maybe the ability I gained from my encounter with the Duke is helping me endure.
But even aside from that, at the very least, I know that the woman in front of me loves me.
And even though I’ve never been in a relationship with a woman or even been married,
It would be rude to just dismiss people’s feelings as difficult and scary.
So, I suppose it’s time to give a serious answer.
But what’s funny is that I already have a scratch, and there’s even a kiss mark on my neck.
And just a moment ago, I was threatened with mandatory defense.
This dilemma has already reached its end, to the point where it makes my worries seem insignificant.
So, there’s only one response I can give.
In situations where I used to forge my own path with two, three, or four choices,
There is only one choice laid out in front of me now.
Just like the question window asking if I will come back here again changed to ‘yes’,
I only have one option left.
“A better bride, no, perhaps… wife doesn’t exist, Father.”
If the raft has already drifted to where I want to reach, there’s no need for me to paddle.
*
Following Frederick’s request for some personal time with his son, he was allowed to walk through the mansion’s garden under her permission.
The crows hid in the tall grass quietly, and as they took off into the sky –
Although she had placed a condition of following us quietly while holding a cane from a distance.
Of course, it had an oddly-shaped “handle” and a horizontal gap, so it couldn’t exactly be called a cane.
“There seem to be a lot of crows here. Last time… I mean, when I was still a maid, I didn’t see them so often.”
“That’s right. They’re quite tame. And clever too.”
“You always had a fondness for animals. Since you were young. Now you even take an interest in birds.”
“I guess being here makes me that way.”
We pass by a stream. The scent of grass flows in with the wind.
Yes, it’s much lighter and refreshing than that strong, stimulating scent in the bedroom.
“After she inherited the family, many things changed. Do you know that? She’s completely infatuated with you.”
“…I wonder if I’m no longer able to notice.”
“hahahahaha, you, being by her side, probably know better, don’t you?”
Tap, tap, my back is lightly tapped. It’s a really bright expression.
In the choice I made, I sent a desperate letter.
In the choice she made, he now has a bright face.
It’s a good flow.
“…She began to scrutinize me intensely. Our family? The royal family? It’s a completely different path from her father’s.
She sharpens the image I desire, fills in the parts I couldn’t complete.
She quickly scratches the itchy places. Do you understand the meaning?”
…What does it mean? My family’s affairs? The royal family? Why are they here?
“What does that mean?”
“You didn’t know? She completely eradicated the conspiracy her father planned. The remaining remnants have defected.
She will soon be hailed as a hero of the royal family. Her status will rise even further with this opportunity.”
A rebellion? If it’s a rebellion, was it originally the Marquis who caused it? And they suppressed it? Without me knowing?
“She has never mentioned such a thing to me, Father.”
“…Hmm. That may have caused unnecessary worry. Has she ever left your side?”
“…Sometimes, for document approvals.”
“I see. She seems to be more capable than I thought…”
With those words, a moment of silence passed.
“Good. Let’s prepare for the wedding, then. There is nothing else to discuss. However, I think a more detailed explanation of how you’ve been lately is necessary.”
The footsteps stopped with those words. Mine, Frederick’s,
and hers.
“Let’s start by asking about that mark on her neck. What in the world – “
With those words, I stopped my thoughts.