Strategic Marriage with the Mad Villain - Chapter 76

“This is too much, Reus…!”

“On average, people spend about this much.”

“But I don’t need this much money…”

“Didn’t you say you wanted to try everything others do?”

“I did say that, but…”

“It seems like my conversation with Dwin won’t end quickly. Wouldn’t it be better for you to spend time in a crowded place instead of waiting here alone? If you look around, you’ll surely find something you want or like…”

“I’ll just wait for you here, Reus…!”

“…”

“I’ll just wait. When you come back, let’s go to the cafeteria together, okay?”

When I said that, Reus seemed to nod his head obediently, but suddenly stopped moving and closed his eyes tightly. And only after becoming frighteningly calm did he open his eyes again.

“Roel.”

But his voice and expression… It felt like he was a little deflated, just like when he was shocked by the bag price in the bedroom earlier.

As expected, his voice that followed was a bit deflated.

“I think I’ll keep worrying if you’re alone.”

“…”

“I said it because I wanted you to try everything others do since we came on a trip… Did I make you feel burdened again?”

“…No, not to that extent…”

“I’ll finish the conversation as quickly as possible and come back. So please wait for a bit on the 1st floor.”

“Hmm…”

At that moment, Reus’ clear gaze fell to the floor.

“Even if you don’t accept what I give you.”

In response to Reus’ reaction that somehow looked bitter, my answer reflexively popped out.

“No, I’ll accept it…!”

Uh, this isn’t it. I felt like I had mistakenly gotten caught in something, but my mouth was already letting out a second positive response.

“Yes, I’ll… I’ll accept it…?”

I tried to hurriedly correct my words, but foolishly only the end of the sentence went up, making me look like someone who affirmed it first without question.

Soon, Reus smiled prettily.

“Really?”

“Uh…”

But seeing him so happy, it wasn’t easy to change my words again. So for now, I said okay.

“Yes, I’ll… accept it.”

I can just say that I looked around but didn’t find anything I liked, so I couldn’t spend all the money. As soon as I thought that, Reus said,

“If you come back without spending it all, I’ll give you twice that amount tomorrow.”

“No, how can you say that…!”

“I guess you had no intention of spending the money I gave you at all.”

At Reus’ voice that sounded sulky again, my conscience twinged.

“I’ll spend it, Reus. I promise for real this time.”

“You promised, Roel.”

“Yes, I promise…”

“Since you promised, if you come back without spending it all, I’ll give you twice that amount.”

“I said I’ll spend it, so why are you still saying the same thing?”

“Well, that’s because you might change your words when you come back.”

…How did he know? When I couldn’t answer, Reus continued.

“If you don’t spend it tomorrow, four times. If you still don’t spend it…”

“I got it…! I’ll spend it all, so please stop it, Reus.”

If someone else had said that, I would have laughed it off, saying they were joking quite amusingly.

But the other person was Reus.

[“Your aunt was anxious, so she asked me. To deliver the letter and… directly confirm Lady Iber’s intentions.”]

Telling lies more plausible than the truth with a nonchalant face.

[“By the way, did you two come together?”
“She’s my guest. It’s also correct to say we came together.”]

Equipped with an unbelievable level of shamelessness.

[“If you dislike me that much, why don’t you stick with me all day and monitor me?”
“Can I really do that?”
“Wouldn’t it be better to hold me and walk around the duke’s castle like last time instead? …Reus!”
“You’re the one who said I could hold you, right?”
“Anyone who hears that would know it means not to do it…!”]

He had a strong tendency to interpret other people’s words the way he wanted to hear them.

Usually, I think he’s so thoughtful that it’s ingrained in his body, adjusting everything for me from one to ten, but when I think about these things, I wonder if he’s really an overly considerate person.

‘Something is strange… but I can’t quite pinpoint what’s strange.’

* * *

The shopping center is directly connected from the hall you enter as soon as you board the cruise.

Here, not only famous stores from the Asilith Empire, but also various renowned stores from many countries such as the Leveren Kingdom and Monzetto Kingdom had opened.

Looking at the long line of stores in front of me, for a very brief moment, I had the illusion that this was the inside of a building, not the inside of a ship.

Millie also exclaimed in wonder, as if it was amazing.

“Wow, it’s amazing… I really never imagined there would be something like this inside a ship.”

‘Did he say this was the first time he brought servants?’

I heard that Reus always takes only his aide Dwin when he has to travel to another country.

But this time, perhaps because I was accompanying him, quite a few servants were brought along to head to the Leveren Kingdom. Because of that, one of the two VIP areas at the very top of the cabins is being used entirely by the Rochester ducal family.

‘How surprised was I at first, thinking Reus had rented the entire VIP area.’

The cabins to be used for a week were all provided by Liam Berdic, the owner of this cruise and the owner of Berdic Shipping Company.

He said it was his way of showing sincerity for business, so I didn’t say a word about that part.

‘Yeah, it’s not an area for me to interfere with work matters.’

I tried to lightly pass it off, thinking it was something that had little to do with me, but as long as I was the duchess, it was virtually impossible.

‘It’s too burdensome…’

Even when I try to enter a store, they all already know who I am from their gazes.

Seeing their faces that looked like they would overwhelm me with service if I just walked in, I had no courage to shop at all.

But going back to the cabin empty-handed…

‘If you don’t spend money, it doubles.’

I couldn’t forget Reus’ threat.

It’s not like he’s doubling the interest if I don’t pay back the money, but doubling the money if I don’t spend it. I really can’t keep up with Reus’ way of thinking.

At that moment, Millie said to me,

“That place over there looks nice too. How about checking it out?”

“Hmm… I don’t know.”

“You… I mean, young lady, you’re not going to just look around like this and go back to the cabin, are you…?”

The reason Millie doesn’t call me ‘Your Highness’ like in the ducal castle is because of the atmosphere inside the cruise.

Berdic Cruise is of course used by many nobles, but the main customers are the middle class.

On top of that, due to the large number of people from many countries using it, all staff on board refer to passengers uniformly as ‘guest’ or ‘customer’ regardless of status or nationality.

I also found it more comfortable to be called by a unified title, and when walking alone, I wanted to move around a little more freely, so I asked Millie to change the way she addresses me for a while.

‘I didn’t expect everyone to know like this…’

But come to think of it, it would be stranger not to care.

Being a high-ranking noble of a powerful country like Asilith, and the only ducal couple in the empire.

Moreover, it made even more sense since Berdic, the marquis of the Leveren Kingdom, originally wanted to maintain a good relationship with Reus.

For now, at Millie’s strong recommendation, I headed to the largest women’s clothing store in the shopping center. The store, which seemed to be quite famous, had two floors and the interior was quite luxurious.

‘It’s a name I’ve never heard of before, but I guess it’s originally a popular place.’

And after looking around inside for a bit, I could immediately understand why people were carrying one shopping bag each from this store.

This clothing store handled a wide variety of outfits, from flashy and heavy dresses to wear at balls, to light dresses for everyday wear, and even women’s suits.

Moreover, not only clothes, but shoes, bags, accessories, and even cosmetics, there was nothing they didn’t have.

I liked those things too, but what I liked most about this store was something a little detached from the design or quality of the items.

‘I’m so glad the staff don’t immediately follow me around.’

The best part was being able to look around comfortably and quietly.

Of course, I still felt the gaze burning into the back of my head. But the staff didn’t try to forcefully approach me.

I looked only at the clothes, desperately avoiding the staff’s eyes as if I didn’t see them.

‘Hmm. If I pick a few here, I should be able to match the amount, right?’

As I was looking around the store a little more comfortably, I found clothes I liked and reached out my hand at that very moment.

Suddenly, a hand shot out from somewhere and snatched the clothes I was trying to grab.

Surprised, I pulled my hand back and hesitated, but the girl with the youthful face glared at me even more sharply.

“You crazy…”

At that moment, Millie, who was standing behind, was startled and rushed out, but the girl turned her body and returned to her owner with quick steps.

But that aside, wasn’t Millie a bit scary just now…?

For a very brief moment, I had the illusion that Millie was coming out in front of me with a club in her hand.

But the Millie I see now has the same puppy eyes as always, no matter how I look at her.

“Young lady…”

“Yes, Millie.”

“That crazy… No, I had a chance to say a word to that wretched child…”

“It’s fine, Millie. Let’s just go.”

“Why, why? Didn’t you like that dress? You should at least try it on! It’s been so long since you found clothes you liked…”

At that moment, the closest staff member showed a movement as if trying to approach us.

I noticed these things uncannily well, so I quickly took Millie and left the store before the staff member could take a step.

‘I just want to look around quietly.’

But as always, my wish to live quietly was not fulfilled.