Strategic Marriage with the Mad Villain - Chapter 34

“Thanks to you, I got a fancy cake…”

“You must know that it was Dwin who picked and brought it up.”

That’s right… I could tell at a glance that Dwin had prepared it…

“Yes, Dwin… chose the cake well, haha…”

Seeing that he didn’t hide his displeasure at all, it seemed like this answer was also far from what he wanted to hear.

What kind of answer does Reus want?

‘He wouldn’t have personally called me just to say that he would give me a birthday present.’

… As soon as I thought that, Reus got to the point.

“I’m asking you to tell me what you want to receive as a gift.”

I calmly observed Reus’ face.

But, to my surprise, there seemed to be no other intention, and it appeared that Reus was literally saying that he would give me a birthday present.

“Are you saying that you will give me a birthday present…?”

Even though I asked that, the doubt in my mind didn’t go away, but Reus slowly nodded his head once.

So… why?

I contemplated dozens of times whether to just ask the reason for doing this. However, seeing Reus’ unpleasant expression, I decided to hold back.

By the way, something I need…

‘I can’t think of anything.’

Thanks to the servants who were eager to take care of anything and Shanette who sent everything good to the Grand Duchy, I was enjoying an abundance of luxury.

“I don’t need anything…”

I just spoke my honest feelings, but as soon as he heard my words, Reus’ eyebrows furrowed.

Why… again, what…

“Even if it’s not something you absolutely need… there must be something you wanted to have, right?”

Somehow, I had a feeling that this conversation wouldn’t end until I said something.

So this time, I thought about it a bit more seriously.

What I needed was a room that wasn’t cold, good quality food, and a place where I could spend time peacefully alone, and I had all of that after coming to the Grand Duchy.

‘Hmm… then something I wanted to have…’

A new identity and a ticket to Beliata.

‘Other than that, I don’t have any… Ah! There’s one thing.’

Something that I really needed and was also suitable as a gift.

“If it’s something I wanted to have… there is one thing.”

“What is it?”

“A bag.”

“A bag?”

Reus’ expression softened a lot after hearing my answer.

I guess saying something was the right answer after all.

“Yes, a bag. I realized that I don’t have a bag to pack my belongings when I leave this place. Ah…! I don’t mean that I’ll take things from here. I’ll have to take a boat when I leave, and it will take quite a long time, so I need to pack various things…”

Up until a moment ago, he seemed to be in a not-so-bad mood.

“The bags here… can’t be taken…”

As I continued speaking, the atmosphere became increasingly grim, so I trailed off and eventually completely shut my mouth.

‘I didn’t particularly want something expensive though…’

When a woman travels alone, carrying expensive things often makes her a target for thieves. So I was going to say that a cheap cloth luggage bag sold at the market would be enough.

‘Let’s not say it. If I open my mouth, I feel like something big will happen in this atmosphere.’

Quietly lowering my head to the floor, Reus soon let out a barely audible sigh. Then he spoke in a slightly deflated voice.

“Luggage, bag… Yes, a bag… Alright. And?”

…And?

I only raised my eyes, but a resolute tone was heard as if to preemptively reject the question in my mind.

“And.”

“A-and…”

I tried to say something more somehow, but things I hadn’t even thought about couldn’t suddenly come to mind.

“Then… two bags?”

I thought it was a not-so-bad answer.

“Haa…”

Reus pressed the tip of his eyebrow bone with his index and middle fingers, then let out a deep sigh as if the ground would collapse.

* * *

[“The bags… Right, two. I understand. I’ll prepare two travel bags, so give me a proper answer next time.”]

With those words, I ended up being kicked out of Reus’ room.

What could be the reason for Reus doing something he doesn’t usually do?

In any case, regardless of the reason, it will definitely not be a gift without a price.

‘Then does that mean there’s something he wants to ask for?’

I kept pondering about it for days after that day, but I couldn’t find an answer.

After struggling alone in confusion for a few days, I finally decided to confide in Dwin about what happened with Reus.

“His Highness?”

“Yes…”

“Huh…? A birthday present, why…? He’s someone who can’t even remember his own birthday well.”

We put our heads together and shared various opinions. However, it was a useless thing to do.

In the end, the number of people worrying just increased to two.

“Could it be that I’ve incurred his displeasure again?”

“What? There’s nothing Lady Roel could do wrong! Absolutely not!”

“Well…”

There was one thing that was bothering me.

No, unless Reus had already gone crazy, this must be it.

“Actually, when Grand Duke just returned…”

“When he returned… No way!”

“I stubbornly insisted on treating his wound…”

Dwin’s brows furrowed deeply as if he had heard something quite troubling.

“What should I do, Dwin?”

“For now… I’ll look into it, Lady Roel. Please don’t worry too much!”

If only I had done nothing as Dwin advised, this wouldn’t have happened.

My heart was very troubled.

* * *

Dwin made up his mind to speak frankly to Reus today.

But for some reason, his master looked very displeased again today, and at the end of that gaze was, again! Again, Lady Roel.

It was enough to drive one crazy.

No matter how much Lady Roel made a mistake, it wasn’t with bad intentions, and her only fault was having a personality that couldn’t ignore a sick person.

Considering that she, who never complained about hardship, confided directly in him, her heart must have been very troubled.

But his thoughtless master didn’t know Lady Roel’s feelings and still had a displeased expression.

‘What on earth did Lady Roel do so wrong…!’

As Dwin was building up his dissatisfaction with his master, Reus was.

‘What is she dangerously doing over there?’

Reus’ mind was completely focused on worrying that Roel, who had come out for a walk, might get hurt by the large scissors the gardener was holding.

“Your Highness.”

“…”

“Your Highness…?”

At the second call, Reus reluctantly turned his head. He frowned, in a bad mood from being disturbed while watching Roel.

Despite flinching at the chilly gaze, Dwin successfully opened his mouth and casually brought up the topic of Roel.

“Do you have any suspicions about Lady Roel?”

He asked with the intention of resolving any doubts, but Reus’ expression only distorted openly as if asking what nonsense that was.

Dwin hastily corrected his words in embarrassment.

“O-of course, I absolutely don’t think of Lady Roel that way. Absolutely not! I asked because Your Highness has been carefully observing Lady Roel lately.”

But Reus’ reaction was strange.

He looked very… confused.

As if, until being pointed out, he had no awareness that he had been behaving that way.

Have I been observing Roel Ibelre that closely?

To the extent that my clueless aide is speaking frankly?

“If there is such a thing, please tell me. I will thoroughly look into it.”

It would have been better if there was such a thing.

For Reus, it was nothing short of an ordeal. How could he explain to his aide that when he comes to his senses, his thoughts and eyes are all following only Roel?

Having no suitable excuse, Reus decided to just kick Dwin out.

“Isn’t it time for you to go to Roel’s office? Hurry up and go.”

“…Yes, Your Highness.”

Dwin, who was kicked out before he could properly bring up the subject, left dejected.

In the quieted office, only the occasional sound of leaves swaying in the wind could be heard.

‘I’ve been… constantly watching Roel Ibelre.’

He acknowledged that she was a remarkable woman, that she was a woman born with a strong will that he himself didn’t possess, and even that he was observing her without realizing it.

If he had acknowledged that much, he should have been able to notice his own changes, but unfortunately, Reus stopped at just acknowledging.

Soon, the aide he had just kicked out appeared outside the window. And at that moment, Roel saw Dwin and smiled very brightly.

In contrast to always being tense and glancing at him in front of Reus, forcing the corners of her mouth to rise, it was a smile that anyone could see was comfortable and pleasant.

Recalling that fact made his chest strangely stuffy.

Thinking that unbuttoning his shirt might relieve some of this discomfort, he tried pulling at it, but it was a futile act.

* * *

Looking at the clock, it was already well past 11 PM.

“Dwin, good work today. See you tomorrow.”

“Lady Roel, you worked really hard today as well.”

Even though I thought about letting Dwin go home early every day for his sake, it wasn’t as easy as it sounded. There was still a lot to learn, and the work that had gained momentum was too much fun.

Also… considering Reus, who had recently become more sensitive, my feet didn’t easily move towards the bedroom.

‘Still, I should really let him go home early tomorrow.’

How frustrated must he be, having to do unplanned work because of me and only working overtime? But I was grateful to Dwin for always having a bright face while working.

With untimely self-reflection, I headed to the bedroom.

As I carefully opened the bedroom door, the room was so quiet that you could hear the sound of dust settling. However, the relief was short-lived, as soon as I stepped inside, there was a rustling sound of the blanket.

Reus is not sleeping again today.

Originally, there were many days when he didn’t come back to the bedroom because he was working, and even if he came in, he would come in much later than me and leave before I opened my eyes, which was a daily routine.

But these days, Reus always came in before me, whether he had more free time at work or not, and he didn’t leave the bedroom even after I woke up.

Soon, Reus slightly turned his head to look at me, causing my body to automatically stiffen.

“You’re not asleep yet…?”