“You’re Jane’s husband?”

As soon as Kain entered Yona’s house, he was surrounded by short elderly people.

And he sat far away from Jane, receiving sharp glares from the elders.

“Yes. I’m Cain Hastings, Jane’s… husband.”

Cain’s last words were barely audible.

Legally, they were a married couple, but since it started as a contract marriage, Cain felt guilty every time he called himself her husband.

He should have fixed that from the beginning.

Before getting caught up in daily life with Jane and Joseph, he should have properly proposed and held a wedding ceremony.

Cain felt truly pathetic about himself.

While Cain was reflecting, a white-haired elder put an empty cup in front of him. Then he poured alcohol generously.

When Cain blinked, the elder said.

“Jane is like a daughter to us.”

It was as if Jane had gained about ten sets of parents. Cain didn’t dislike it; he actually liked it.

It meant there were people who could provide the parental love that he had essentially taken away from Jane.

“About you, ah, I can speak comfortably, right? The noble titles are all gone now.”

The elders were quicker to accept social changes than the young people in the capital.

The scarcity of nobles on the island had a positive effect on accepting the changes.

“That’s fine.”

Cain sat up straight and picked up the glass of alcohol the elder had poured.

“Should I drink it all?”

The elder raised his chin and nodded. Jane, who had been watching from afar, ran over in one breath and grabbed him.

These were the elders who had been pestering Jane to introduce Cain. As much as they adored Jane, they didn’t seem to approve of Cain.

She had been avoiding the dinner gathering for fear they might show their disapproval, but today they were caught.

“Cain, it’s strong alcohol.”

“Jane, where did you go? Come here right now!”

Yona patted the spot in front of her. It was quite far from where Cain was sitting.

Cain smiled as he pushed away Jane’s hand that was gripping his arm.

Cain considered this gathering as an opportunity to get permission for marriage from Jane’s parents.

The glass of alcohol offered by the elder was likely a test to see if he was worthy of taking their daughter.

“It’s alright, Jane.”

“Jane! Come here right now!”

“They’re calling you, Jane. Go quickly. Eat your meal before it gets cold.”

She reluctantly left Cain’s side due to the insistence of those calling for her. As soon as she left, Cain drank the alcohol in one go.

‘Oh.’

Cain was inwardly surprised.

He thought he had encountered quite strong alcohol while wandering here and there, but the alcohol on this island far exceeded his expectations.

With just one glass, the effects quickly went to his head.

“You drink well.”

Perhaps draining the strong alcohol in one go was a plus point, as the elder’s stiff face softened slightly.

“You’ve found a good match. You were looking for someone who could drink like that.”

It seems the elder’s test had some personal interest behind it.

But that was fine.

He wanted to make a good impression on the people who cared for Jane and get along well with them.

If these elders approved of him even a little, it would score points with Jane too.

“Want another glass?”

“Yes, I’d be grateful if you pour me one.”

Cain emptied his glass three times in succession before he was handed the bottle.

“Pour me one too.”

Having finally secured one elder on his side, Cain happily poured the drink.

Then another elder sitting nearby abruptly spoke to Cain.

“Do you have money?”

“How much should I have?”

“Enough for Jane to live without working for the rest of her life. Since she first came here until now, I’ve never seen her take a break.”

“That’s right. If there’s work that pays, she doesn’t turn down even small jobs. It brings tears to my eyes when I think of her as my daughter.”

The elders took turns telling stories of Jane’s hardships. Cain’s expression turned bitter as he listened.

Jane waved her hand high from afar. It was a gesture directly contradicting the elders’ words. However, even after seeing her, to the elders Jane was still their poor daughter who came out to work from dawn just to earn a bit of money.

Jane heaved a deep sigh.

She had told them many times, both then and now, that she wasn’t working for money, but the elders wouldn’t believe her.

“What was she like when she first came?”

Cain asked.

“How was she? She came looking like she was about to die. Something must have happened. Was it something to do with you back then?”

“I made a big mistake.”

The elder who had been happily drinking until just now put down his glass.

The atmosphere around Cain suddenly turned cold, as if cold water had been poured.

“Did you apologize?”

“I’m in the process of doing so. I plan to do it for the rest of my life. So please look upon me favorably.”

Cain smiled good-naturedly. It was unlike someone who had lived his entire life ruling over others.

“What’s there for us to look favorably upon? Jane’s heart is what matters. Isn’t that right?”

A grandmother who seemed quite taken with Cain’s appearance took his side.

“Thank you.”

When Cain smiled brightly, another grandmother chimed in.

“I heard that the island’s prosperity is all thanks to you.”

While it was true that Cain had worked behind the scenes for the island’s benefit, it was difficult to say everything was due to him.

It was because the islanders were diligent, and the scenery was beautiful. Fundamentally, it was an opportunity gained because they were good and kind.

If Jane hadn’t been able to settle here, Cain wouldn’t have even thought of investing in this place.

“You’re too kind.”

“Your modesty isn’t a bad trait.”

The elders began to open up one by one. Cain volunteered to be a conversation partner for the elders sitting nearby.

Anna, bringing out new side dishes, reported this scene to Jane.

“He’s really good with the elders. He must be naturally sociable.”

Jane, who was tearing bread and putting it in her mouth, opened her eyes wide.

One of the words that didn’t match Cain was ‘sociable.’

Because of his unique background, he had lived a life where he didn’t need to be sociable, and those around him didn’t want him to be.

‘That’s why I was surprised when they said he succeeded in business.’

Business often requires one to bow their head, and she wondered how Cain had managed that.

She remembered nodding later when she learned that Nathan had done all the apologizing.

And being good with elders?

To Cain, elders were people of higher status than himself.

During the kingdom era, elders to him were limited to Queen Helena and the princess.

‘He even severely disrespected the princess.’

The world had changed, so Cain’s criteria for ‘elders’ must have changed too, but it was still unexpected.

The sight of him catering to the whims of unfamiliar elderly people.

“He seems to want to make a good impression.”

“On the grandmothers and grandfathers? Why?”

Jane didn’t understand. She took her hands off the bread and rested her elbows on the table. Then, resting her chin on her hands, she openly watched Cain.

It was as Anna said. Cain was happily conversing with the elders.

“I really don’t get it.”

“Why don’t you understand? It’s because of you, Jane.”

“Because of me?”

Jane tilted her head.

“Doesn’t he want to be acknowledged by the people around you?”

But why on earth.

The more Jane talked with Anna, the harder it became to understand Cain’s behavior. Seeing the puzzled expression on her face, Anna shook her head.

The intelligent Jane was oddly clumsy in certain areas, often surprising her, and this was exactly one of those times.

“It’s natural to want to make a good impression on the acquaintances of the person you love. Haven’t you ever felt that way, Jane?”

Jane thought deeply.

Come to think of it, she too had endured the misdeeds of a nasty etiquette teacher to make a good impression on Cain’s aunt.

And she had also done her best to get along well with Vincenzo and Nathan. She had even worked through nights to gain the acknowledgment of the Hastings family retainers.

She wanted to be acknowledged by those surrounding Cain. She wanted their support for the relationship between her and Cain.

Even if it meant lowering herself.

Jane finally understood Cain’s actions and feelings.

His love was deeper and greater than she had thought, making the tip of her nose tingle. Jane quickly drank some alcohol to hide her moistening eyes.

Then she approached Cain, who had just been caught by a grandmother and made to stand up.

“Cain.”

He paused as he was dancing a waltz with the grandmother to the beat the grandfathers were making by tapping on the table.

“The main character has arrived. This old woman should step aside now. It was a pleasure.”

“The pleasure was all mine, madam.”

When Cain bowed gracefully, the grandmother giggled like a young girl before sitting down.

The only people standing in Grandmother Yona’s yard were Cain and Jane.

Others pretended not to look while stealing glances at them.

“Cain, is it tough?”

Cain tilted his head at Jane’s question.

“The grandmothers and grandfathers were being mischievous, weren’t they?”

“Not at all. I’m actually enjoying it, believe it or not. Would I sound too presumptuous if I said I think I understand why you like this neighborhood after staying here for just over a month?”

Jane shook her head with a faint smile. Cain’s heart sank at her wildflower-like smile.

Under the starry sky and soft lighting, Jane was beautiful. Breathtakingly so, to the point where he couldn’t take his eyes off her and it set his heart on fire in an instant.

“Are you trying to make the old folks die of envy? If you’re going to make love, go somewhere else! You rascals!”

Grandmother Yona brandished her cane.

“It looks nice, what’s the problem? When else would we get to see such pretty people in love?”

“Since you’re showing us, why don’t you give her a kiss?”

Laughter erupted at the grandmother’s joke.

“Please stop it, all of you.”

Jane tried to intervene by waving her hands, but these weren’t elders who would listen.

“If you want to go, give her a kiss. Then we’ll let you leave.”

Jane looked at Anna with pleading eyes. But she soon gave up on getting help from her.

Even Anna was looking at them with sparkling, expectant eyes!

While she was at a loss for what to do, Cain turned her body to face him.

“You’re probably still not fully appeased, but can I kiss you? If you want to leave here, that is.”

Jane hesitated for a moment, then grabbed the hem of his jacket and mumbled.

“Joseph will be waiting for us.”

Cain didn’t mention that he had asked for Joseph to be left at a friend’s house.

We’ll do it gradually once we’re out of here.

Cain wanted to be alone with Jane as soon as possible.

So when Jane slightly raised her head, unable to wait any longer, he stole a kiss from her lips.