Rather Than The Son, I’ll Take The Father

He pointed that out.

I thought about the liquid I’d brought out of my jewelry box to deal with Gilbert.

I bit back my answer with a smile, but I couldn’t help but wonder intently.

One drink from the smallest of bottles was all I’d had. That was because of Sarah’s woes, and I figured that there was no need to endure such side effects because of some guy like Gilbert.

In fact, the drink’s effects had almost worn off.

My husband had very good intuition.

When I chose to answer him with silence, he ceased asking me any more questions. Though, he did look at me with those purple eyes of his that resembled daybreak and asked me a bold question.

“Are you not afraid of me?”

“I’m not afraid of handsome people.”

Aedis looked dumbfounded. I straightened my posture and stretched.

Raven had already seen all kinds of erratic behaviour from me, so it wouldn’t even be strange if Raven were to see me glowing when I woke up one day.

However, Aedis’ reaction was surprising.

“Do you want me to leave? Did you want to sleep more?”

His voice sounded considerably gentle.

First of all, you didn’t leave earlier… and now you’re acting nice all of a sudden?

I checked my watch. Umm, even if I fall asleep right now, I won’t be able to wake up at the right time. Everything is going wrong today.

Shaking my head, I sighed,

“I would love to but thanks to a certain person being my partner yesterday, I have the feeling many guests will come over.”

I swallowed down my yawn and opened the window. I was hoping that I would be able to get rid of the unique scent on me if I ventilated the room, but Raven flew in instead.

The small bird cawed as if asking me why I didn’t let it in earlier.

“All right all right, good morning.”

I calmed Raven down whilst feeding it cherries. Aedis replied in a laid back manner,

“If you don’t wish to see those guests, I can always provide you with shelter.”

What’s up with you? Aedis Kallakis can’t be this kind and thoughtful.

“If it’s the grand duke’s residence, I’d rather not for today. I don’t want to accidentally bump into my husband’s eldest son.”

“Do you want me to kill him?”

…..Just now, did I hear him right?

I looked at him with a blank stare. My hearing mustn’t have gone bad, since even Raven dropped the cherry it was holding because its beak was opened wide.

The weather must be quite bad if he’s talking about killing his son like this; it honestly didn’t even feel real.

So I answered, my tone insinuating that today’s weather was indeed crappy.

“I don’t need you to commit such sins.”

“……”

“Not yet… sir.”

Since a while ago, he continuously stared at me without blinking or moving.

His eyes persistently traced over every detail of my face. I felt like he even saw behind the back of my eyes.

Well, being kind, considerate and hospitable is a good thing. It doesn’t matter if you’re cruel to Gilbert.

Being lost in my thoughts for a while was tiresome so I directed my attention over to the documents.

“It seems like our conversation has sidetracked for a bit, but if you accept my conditions, I’ll sign the contract.”

“Do it. Sign it.”

Aedis nodded softly.

I picked up my quill pen.

My husband was a person whose age and birth details were unknown. Adding to that, it was impossible to figure out his identity before he became the head of the Kallakis family.

Nevertheless, thanks to the novel, I was aware that the reason why he wasn’t not old or dead right now was related to magic.

And he was the only one who tried to help Maevia Morgana, even if he was too late.

“What are you thinking about?”

“I don’t think Mr. Aedis is really lacking in any departments when it comes to being my husband.”

The potion I used to further improve my physical abilities was obtained from that beast.

First, I signed the ancient contract written by my ancestors.

Every time the tip of my quill pen grazed the paper with its ink, sparks flew.

Small sparks akin to a grain of sand bounced off the contract and strutted as they wished before fading away, indicating my signature was completed.

The impulsive feeling of wanting to crush and throw away the magic contract surged in me as I said,

“How did that bas……, no, were they even a person? The one who created this contract.”

Feeling like I’d commit a grave sin in front of Aedis, I couldn’t bring myself to spit out the word ‘ancestor’.

“There’s no need to be scared.”

“It’s a shame the culture of ancestral rites has died out. I’m sure you’ll treat me in a very devoted manner, though.”

Understanding my sarcasm, the corners of his mouth raised.

“Give me the location of the tomb and I’ll sprinkle poison over it.”

Can you really obtain poison? There’s also the fact I’ve already signed a formal marriage contract with the emperor’s seal on it.

Maevia Kallakis. The new name I’d be carrying from now on.

But no matter how much work I’d be doing as the Grand Duchess, it seemed like I’d gained this position a bit too easily…… not. Aedis’ expression looked quite villainous.

“……When will we be travelling back to your territory?”

“Whenever my wife wants.”

“You’ll even go if I say I want to right now?”

“It’s not like I can go against you. However, I believe there are still a few people who don’t wish to see you depart yet.”

It was oddly different from his usual personality. As I wondered if he had been replaced by someone else while on his way to the capital, Sarah knocked on the door.

“Miss, the Elaine family’s lady has sent you a letter. She hurried me to present it to you.”

There seemed to be someone else who also awakened at the crack of dawn. Or, possibly, Monica might’ve just not slept well.

Aedis willingly advised me with a smile.

“Read it.”

I called Sarah in and opened the letter.

I wonder if there was really a need to open it ‘ASAP’.

〈Dear Maevia,

I was a bit rude last night. However, I believe that I, Monica Elaine, who risked my life to defend you, deserve an explanation concerning what happened. I’m delivering you this letter by hand, so I wish to know when would be a good time to visit? Of course, Maevia will attend my birthday party no matter what kind of disaster occurs, am I right?〉

“Do you have the ability to see through things?”

“I wish I did.”

Even though she had her eyes obviously closed, Monica seemed to be curious about what went down.

I’m far more interested in the Grand Duke than Gilbert. I actually dislike Gilbert to the point where I refer to him as ‘that bastard.’

When I put down the letter, Raven climbed onto me, leaving marks with his footprints.

Less than thirty minutes later, Sarah brought in yet even more letters. I had expected this situation and had prepared myself to endure it, but all the letters were about yesterday.

Unable to endure the stress and lack of sleep, I declared a strike.

“I have to leave before a certain impatient person comes.”

I expected Monica Elaine to be the first to barge over.

Ugh, I need to wake up. I’m going to run away. But rubbing my eyes and stretching wasn’t enough to make me leave.

“Sarah, bring water into the bedroom. Very cold water. Coupled with ice.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Even after Sarah left, the man who was to be my husband seemed to have no intention of leaving.

I walked to the door before turning back to him.

The light was cast from behind him for a short moment. The man sitting with his back to the window had the sunlight shining down on him and looked like an honourable deity that belonged in a painting.

…Right, it wouldn’t be hard to take one step at a time with my husband.

“Mr. Aedis, do you like coffee?”

“I don’t like nor dislike it.”

“I like coffee…….”

The discontinued conversation didn’t bother me.

The sharp light subsided and I saw myself by the window and it was quite…… quite weird.

Whilst Aedis ascended the stairs, Sarah brushed my light pink hair at an insane speed, although she was still able to do it gently. However, my clothes were the actual problem.

Somehow, it felt like my dress fluttered way too much when I walked and there were also little ribbons dangling at the bottom.

There was also a large pink ribbon placed on my chest and white flower-like frills surrounding the round buttons and swaying around.

But I couldn’t throw it away because my mother – of all people – bought it for me……

My victory might’ve been a problem. Maybe this disaster happened because I kept flaming the fires without stopping her.

It was too late to regret it anyway.

“I’ll get ready to go out.”

Inside the sealed room, two people were surveilling Gilbert Kallakis.

The man with auburn hair took a sip of his tea and settled the mood. He told the story of last night to the boy looking at him with enthusiastic eyes.

“Never have I seen such a beautiful woman in my whole life. She looked like a flower that was born under an angel’s hand. She was an awe-inspiring lady who was able to change the mood around her, even when the young master charged right at her.”

Gilbert’s expression immediately distorted, but neither did the guard man and boy care.

“Hoo. Is that so?”

“That’s all.”

Because of his high expectations, Prokeon complained when Vega finished his telling of the story.

“Uwek, don’t end it in the middle! That’s supposed to be the most exciting part!”

“Some things come and some things go. This will be the limit of what I’ll tell you about that shameless man.”

“Ah, really.”

Prokeon scrunched his nose and rummaged through his pockets.

He brought out a mere six silvers and dusted them off.

Prokeon sourly forced himself to place those six coins into Vega’s hand.

“So what happened to her excellency? There’s no way she revoked her proposal because she hated the young master as well as the grand duke, right? And did the lord run out this morning to hold onto her excellency?”

“You should write a novel.”

Vega’s eyes looked cloudy.

The way they already called Maevia Morgana ‘her excellency’ shocked Gilbert.

“Then what happened?! Tell me, quickly!”

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