Chapter 13

After deciding what to do with the servants, Massera returned to his room.

Dahlia approached him with a remorseful expression and bowed her head.

“I’m sorry. There were rumors among the servants that the lady was ordering such punishments, but I judged it to be nonsense and chose not to report it.”

“And what was that judgment based on?”

Massera loosened his tie and turned to look at her.

Dahlia cautiously opened her mouth to answer.

“From what I’ve seen, she doesn’t seem to be someone who acts emotionally.”

Making personal judgments and saying things like “She’s a good person” or “She’s kind-hearted" could come off as empty sentiment.

After all, there are criminals who are often said to be “kind and good” by those around them despite the heinous acts they’ve committed.

“Instead of using violence or getting angry at people to get an apology, she leads them to realize their wrongs and apologize on their own. And it seems she just shuts out the people who can’t do that.”

Hearing that, Massera recalled what Eugene had said.

“I gave her a frog, but she didn’t get mad and just said thank you… so it made me feel weird and I wanted to tell her I was sorry.”

Seeing how quickly she had won over both Dahlia and Eugene, it was clear she was no ordinary person.

Massera turned to his aide Diego, who nodded in agreement, and asked—

“Diego, this isn’t the Age of Exploration. Why are you using a quill pen?”

“It was a gift.”

“From who?”

“Lady Cynthia said she picked up a phoenix feather that symbolizes longevity and made it for me. Of course, I don’t believe it’s real, but it has a sort of vintage charm, so…”

He suddenly felt a sense of crisis, as if even his aide might be taken away.

This was supposed to be a temporary relationship so that he could get what he wanted, but it was troubling now that she was winning people over and taking over the residence.

Massera felt something akin to annoyance.

‘Isn’t putting on a front what nobles do best? But with how soft-hearted everyone is, it’s natural they’d fall for it.’

Suddenly, he remembered the shameless way she lied to her family with an innocent face, saying she had fallen in love with him at first sight.

As if to brainwash himself, he repeated it over and over again that he would never like her.

Not now, not in the future, not ever.

“Your Excellency, Duke Lucanossa and Lady Helene plan to proceed with their wedding without holding an engagement ceremony.”

Hearing Dahlia’s report completely snapped him out of his thoughts.

“Now that her sister has secured a date for their wedding, it’s time you start preparing for your own wedding with the young lady. Before the cold season arrives, of course.”

“Why do you look so excited about this?”

Despite her superior’s displeased gaze, Dahlia quietly laughed to herself.

“Start with the dress then. Tell them we’ll give them a week to make it.”

“Yes, understood.”

***

With the news that Helene had set her wedding date, my own marriage was also quickly put into motion.

However, there wasn’t much for me to do.

Dahlia and Diego took care of everything, and all I had to do was choose.

The designer arrived at the residence with several dresses for the fitting.

As Massera tried to leave, the designer urgently grabbed his arm.

“General, shouldn’t you at least see the bride try on the dresses? You could say some nice things, too.”

“Just pick the most expensive one.”

However, everyone agreed with my point that even if he showed his sincerity through the price of the dress, it meant nothing if it wasn’t reflected in his attitude.

So he reluctantly sat down with a face full of annoyance.

As I walked out in the first dress, I expected to see the classic combo of surprise, admiration, and awe on the groom’s face, like in all those shows and movies… but Massera’s reaction was lukewarm.

“Looks fine. Let’s go with the last one.”

“This is the first one, though?”

Even after I tried on two or three more, he just kept repeating the same line.

“Everything suits you so well that it must be hard to choose. I’m having a hard time too. But if I had to pick, I’d recommend the last one.”

The designer recommended the last dress.

That must be the most expensive one. No wonder it looked the most luxurious and beautiful.

“Seeing how it’s covered in sparkles, I think that one looks the best too.”

Even the pragmatic aide Diego agreed.

With everyone saying that, I said I was fine with it as well and Massera scoffed.

“You ended up choosing the most expensive one anyway. What a waste of time.”

“He means that whatever you choose would look beautiful on you, so it’s a waste of time to even think about it.”

The ever-so-loyal Dahlia swiftly covered for her superior’s critical remark.

Well, doesn’t beauty tend to equal price? He was simply aiming for maximum efficiency.

When I thought about it, it made sense, so I wasn’t too upset.

“Indeed, you have a great eye. That dress was made using handpicked pearls and diamonds from the Mediterranean. Wearing a dress like this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity…”

Like a seasoned salesperson, the designer had already figured out Massera’s impatient nature and quickly jumped into the pitch.

“General, thank you for getting me such a beautiful dress. Now, where do you think we should go for our honeymoon? I’ve always wanted to go—”

After we finished picking out my dress, I walked up to Massera with sparkling eyes.

“We’re not going.”

Judging by his firm tone, he really meant it.

“Why not? Even though it’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing? It’s romantic and a vacation, you know?”

“We don’t have the kind of relationship to be putting meaning into it, and I don’t see the point in going.”

“The point of the honeymoon is to travel to unfamiliar places so you can discover new sides of your partner, learn to rely on each other, and deepen your relation—”

“If you want to build a bond with me, you can enlist.”

“That’s called comradeship.”

He’s as dry as dried squid—completely devoid of romance. Seriously, he’s too much.

I pouted and glared up at him.

“I’ve never gone abroad. I want to see the ocean. I need to see some cute dolphins, I tell you.”

“You’re just like Eugene when it comes to throwing tantrums.”

“I can throw an even bigger tantrum than a child as an adult, you know.”

Massera said nothing, but continued ahead at a brisk pace.

I eagerly followed behind him, chattering on like some kind of honeymoon-parrot, but he seemed to be letting it all go in one ear and out the other.

“I’ll attend your sister’s wedding with you.”

He said it like he was doing me a great favor, then left.

Left all alone, I fumed and vowed revenge.

Later, I’ll go on a trip with everyone from the residence—except him. While we party on the tour bus, he can cook and clean for himself.

***

Before I knew it, it was the day of Helene’s wedding.

Seeing the people from Queensguard again was unpleasant, but the bright side was that I’d get to eat a lot of good food.

The wedding was being held in the duke’s garden.

A garden wedding in this freezing weather—were they out of their minds?

I shivered as I thought to myself.

“You picked a good day. The weather’s as warm as spring.”

Count Queensguard, dressed in light attire, greeted us.

Judging by the Count’s good mood, it seemed he was still unaware of the servant incident.

Massera and I sat side by side at a table with a white parasol.

“General, this is the maple syrup that’s trending these days. It’s sweet and goes well with pancakes.”

I drizzled syrup on the pancakes and offered them to him.

“Say ah~ Let’s show them we get along well.”

When I brought the fork toward him, he leaned back slightly and made a displeased face.

“How long do I have to keep this up?”

“Relationships are something that you have to work on your whole life, whether you like the person or not.”

When I showed no sign of moving the fork until he took a bite, he finally gave in and ate the pancake.

After chewing and savoring the taste, he said—

“I can’t tell if it’s that good, but I don’t really like trying new things.”

“Do you have the tastes of a grandpa then? In that case, try it with rice syrup instead.”

TL/N: Rice syrup is a traditional Korean sweetener made by fermenting cooked rice with barley malt powder. It has a milder sweetness, basically.

“What is that? If anything, pancakes should be eaten with strawberry syrup.”

“Oh, so you have a child’s palate.”

In reality, we were arguing about syrup, but to the wedding guests, we must’ve looked quite affectionate with each other.

Curious glances started gathering our way.

No, something about the way they looked at me was different from before. It was more like they were looking at the person in the spotlight.

Just then, applause and cheers erupted as the bride, Helene, made her entrance.

Seeing Helene’s dress, I widened my eyes in shock.

“Huh?”

She was smiling, wearing the dress I had custom ordered.