Strategic Marriage with the Mad Villain - Chapter 47

Before I could even bring up such words, Shanette rarely scolded Reus.

“No matter how busy you are with work, you shouldn’t let Roel eat alone, Reus. How would Roel feel if she has to eat by herself every time?”

“I’m really… fine…”

“From now on, you should also make sure to eat properly in the dining hall at the right time. Don’t just have your meals in the office every day. Got it?”

As we listened to the endless nagging filled with affection, we arrived at the dining hall before we knew it.

Shanette sat at the head of the table, while Reus and I sat side by side.

Sitting like this reminded me of when I first came to the Grand Duchy.

The seats and people were clearly the same as last time, but the atmosphere in the dining hall today was quite different.

“Roel, why are you eating so little? Didn’t you say you didn’t eat much for breakfast either? Would you like to try some of this?”

Shanette……

‘Do you realize you’ve been saying the same thing over ten times now……’

I had been full for a while, but knowing that Shanette was doing this out of genuine concern, I continued to push the food in.

But now I had truly reached my limit. As Shanette seemed to be looking for more food to push towards me, I quickly glanced at Reus.

‘Don’t just watch, help me…!’

There’s no way this quick-witted man couldn’t understand what I was saying with my eyes. But Reus just slyly said, “Please eat a lot,” and turned his head away, pretending not to know.

“Roel. This plate is too far away, so you haven’t eaten much of it, right? Try this one too.”

A smoked salmon steak that was almost as good as new was placed in front of me. Shanette looked at me in a way that made me feel extremely burdened.

I wanted to take at least one bite for Shanette’s sake, but just looking at it made my stomach churn, so I decided to refuse this time.

“I’m… getting quite full now…”

“Then just eat this. Okay? Really, just until this one.”

Is the desire to feed someone hereditary too?

For a moment, Shanette’s appearance overlapped with Reus’s, who had been urging me to take another bite every morning with a dissatisfied expression.

Looking at this man sitting silently beside me……

‘It might really be hereditary.’

Anyway, I really didn’t think I could eat anymore this time.

So I hurriedly lowered my hand under the table. Then I grabbed Reus’s hand with a hint of desperation.

‘Help me……!’

But he didn’t pay any attention at all, so this time I grabbed one of his fingers and shook it. Only then did Reus open his mouth.

“By the way, didn’t you say there was a dessert you really wanted to give Roel?”

“Ah, that’s right. I almost forgot about that.”

But why does it have to lead to more talk about eating of all things?

* * *

After the meal was over, Reus headed straight to his office to work, while Shanette and I went to the garden overlooking the sea to have tea time.

She only mentioned macarons, but……

The fairly large table was packed with all kinds of desserts.

‘She’s not planning to make me eat all of that, right?’

While I was having such thoughts, Shanette spoke to me.

“Is there anything uncomfortable about staying at the Grand Duchy? You had to move your residence so suddenly from Evelle. That’s been worrying me.”

That’s what I liked about it though.

However, not knowing how I truly felt, Shanette continued with a somewhat apologetic expression.

“As you know, Roel, Reus isn’t very attentive when it comes to these things. So if there’s anything inconvenient or anything you need, feel free to tell me.”

“No… There’s really nothing. Everyone is treating me so well… Reus is also… treating me well.”

“I’m relieved that he seems to be trying harder than I worried, but… Seeing him letting you eat alone still makes me think he has a long way to go.”

Reus was accommodating me in every way he could. Eating together was the only thing lacking, but Shanette seemed dissatisfied with that first and foremost.

“But I guess Reus really loves you a lot, Roel. I heard from Rotheo that he opened the library.”

“Ah……”

“It seems Reus was able to go everywhere else just fine, but the library was the only place he couldn’t. After it was closed once, he didn’t allow anyone to access it. Maybe it’s because… it was the place where he spent time with my parents almost every day.”

Perhaps recalling her deceased brother and sister-in-law, a hint of loneliness flickered across Shanette’s face. After a brief silence, Shanette deliberately changed the subject.

“By the way, how is Reus these days? Does he seem to be getting some sleep?”

When we were busy preparing for the wedding, one of the things Shanette told me about was Reus’s insomnia.

After the Grand Duke and Duchess passed away in an accident, he couldn’t fall asleep at some point and often suffered from nightmares.

“Well… He’s not completely unable to sleep like right after we got married, but he doesn’t seem to be sleeping soundly either.”

“I thought there would be some changes since he seems more stable than before… I’m worried.”

Then Shanette’s eyes suddenly sparkled as if she had a good idea.

“How about Roel trying to help a little?”

“Uh… If there’s anything I can do, I’d like to try anything.”

Seeing Shanette’s bright expression, I was a little hopeful that there was a really good method.

“When he was young, if you stroked his hair, he would often fall asleep quickly. So why don’t you try it too, Roel?”

“Str-stroke……”

He’s going to hate it so much.

He slapped my hand away so hard when he didn’t even like me treating his wound, so would he let me touch his head?

“Seeing how he doesn’t respond well to sleep fragrances or medication, it seems the psychological factor is the biggest one.”

I only nodded appropriately to Shanette’s words that Reus seemed to need more peace of mind.

* * *

Unlike my expectation that she would stay for a few days, Shanette left the Grand Duchy soon after dinnertime.

In the past, I might have been a little disappointed.

But after dealing with Shanette, who was desperate to feed me all day, I finally regained my freedom… So at least for today, the parting felt a little welcome.

After finishing seeing Shanette off and arriving at the bedroom, Reus headed straight to the bathroom. Meanwhile, I lay down on the bed in any way I could.

‘I’m still full.’

How can she keep feeding me nonstop without any rest?

This made me compare her to the Evelle family, as they were so different.

Even my father, who didn’t hate me, was somewhat satisfied with the idea of Shanette starving me.

But Shanette and Reus acted as if they didn’t care at all if I gained weight, which was a bit strange to me.

‘By the way, Reus will be out soon.’

I was barely holding on to my senses with the thought that I had to get up and wash before going to bed, but as time passed, I felt like my body and mind were separating.

As I was barely keeping my drowsy eyes open, I heard the sound of the bathroom door opening.

‘I should get up now.’

But my body wouldn’t move as I wanted. The footsteps that seemed to be heading towards the dressing room were getting closer to the bed.

When I opened my eyes, I saw Reus bending one knee to match my eye level.

If it were any other time, I would have been startled and immediately sat up, but now it took quite some time just to recognize what I was seeing.

“Why are you lacking energy again?”

“I’m not lacking energy… I’m just too full. I’m a little sleepy.”

“You just ate a little bit.”

“A little bit… I’ve been eating all day…”

Even as I said that, I could see that it wasn’t just a normal amount of eating, considering how sleepy I was getting. It seemed only Shanette and Reus didn’t know that, which was quite frustrating.

“You should change your clothes before sleeping, shouldn’t you?”

“No, I’m going to wash…”

“How are you going to wash when you can’t even open your eyes properly?”

“Really, just let me lie down for 5 more minutes-”

Suddenly, I felt a floating sensation and stopped speaking. As the swaying slowly brought me back to my senses, and by the time my eyes were fully open, Reus had put me down in the center of the dressing room.

“Just change your clothes and come out.”

“I’m really awake now.”

“Your eyes are still half-dazed.”

“No, I can really go wash…”

“Don’t fall asleep while washing and put me in a difficult position.”

That wouldn’t happen, of course, but for some reason, I was at a loss for words.

“Quickly change your clothes and come to the bedroom.”

* * *

The days passed by very quickly starting from the day after Shanette left.

It was because my outings were all canceled due to what happened at the Viscount Filaren’s estate, and the vassals visited the Grand Duchy one after another.

It was a really unusual decision for Reus to invite outsiders to the Grand Duchy.

I heard that even the quarterly family council meeting had a separate place prepared in the Grand Duchy territory.

But I felt bad that he had to make such a troublesome decision because of me, so I told him there was no need to go this far. However, Reus strangely didn’t budge on his opinion.

Thus, guests arrived at the Grand Duchy today as well.

Today’s guests were the Viscount Gration couple from the capital.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness. I am Michael Gration.”

“Thank you for inviting us, Your Highness. I am Julia Gration.”

After constantly meeting older people, seeing the relatively similar-aged Viscount Gration couple made me feel somehow more delighted.

After spending a more enjoyable luncheon than I thought, I went to my favorite garden with Julia.

As we were having various conversations, losing track of time, I saw Rotheo approaching me from far across the garden.

“Your Highness, just a moment…”

For some reason, he had a slightly troubled look on his face.

“Would it be alright if I stepped away for a bit, Julia?”

“Of course! Don’t mind me, Your Highness, and go take care of your business.”

Leaving behind Julia, who was smiling brightly, I went to a slightly distant place.

“Did something happen?”

“Rather than something happening… You have a visitor.”

“A visitor?”

There was no one else scheduled to visit the Grand Duchy today except for the Gration couple, so who…

Soon, an unexpected answer flowed from Rotheo’s mouth.

“Well, the Countess of Evelle has just arrived at the Grand Duchy.”