Chapter 40

After the princess and nobles left, Cynthia was left alone and looked around the garden while munching on gingerbread cookies.

“She and Brigadier General Vicente didn’t particularly look like a close couple.”

“They’re just pretending to get along.”

‘What does a perfect couple even look like?’

Under a white parasol, a man and woman were smiling brightly as they chatted.

And behind them, another couple walked happily through the garden, carrying what looked like a five-year-old child.

They weren’t doing anything particularly special, but one could tell they were in love.

Compared to them, she and Massera were bound only by mutual interests—love, the most important part of becoming a family, was missing.

No matter how positive Cynthia was, she didn’t think Massera would naturally come to love her.

‘Everything takes effort, after all.’

Simply thinking that “the female lead and male lead will fall in love anyway” was too optimistic a judgment.

‘Above all, what a commoner like him would’ve wanted most was an actual noble of royal blood. Someone like Princess Charlotte.’

[“It was because I was greedy and obsessed with our bloodline that I forced my son into a marriage he didn’t want…”]

Just then, she heard the lamenting voice of an older woman.

Perhaps because it sounded similar to her situation with Massera, Cynthia found herself listening intently.

[“Madam Friedebach, please don’t blame yourself too much.”]

She could hear the voices of other women comforting her.

[“Back then, I believed our bloodline was more important than love. Even when my son gave up everything and left for love, dying in the bombing of the duchy.”]

Cynthia turned her head slightly to look at the woman.

With black hair and teal eyes, she seemed to be a high-ranking noble.

[“I found out I had a grandson only when I received my son’s obituary. If he were alive, he would’ve been around eight now. But because of my selfishness, I lost even the grandson I never got to meet. Now I live in a hell where I have no one left to love.”]

The sobbing woman eventually covered her face with both hands, her shoulders trembling.

[“They say what saves people from their inherent loneliness isn’t wealth or power, but love. Having committed the sin of greed, I will never be saved.”]

Listening to the woman’s story, Cynthia looked down at her reflection in the black tea.

The woman, having lost her family and now living in loneliness, struck her as pitiful.

‘But I’m no different—living in a place without family or anyone I love.’

And on top of that, I have no money or power!

Just when she was about to feel disheartened, she noticed Princess Charlotte, surrounded by people and smiling—so different from her who was all alone.

The princess spotted someone, smiled sweetly, and walked toward them.

That person was Massera.

Watching them, Cynthia remembered what Carlos had said—that Massera planned to benefit from their marriage, divorce her, and then remarry the grand duchy’s princess.

The thought that it could actually happen made her shoulders tremble.

‘Wait, isn’t that the classic set-up for a dark novel? This isn’t healing, but more like dealing damage, no?’

She briefly closed her eyes against the glare of light, and when she opened her eyes, a tall man stood before her.

It was Massera, dressed in his officer’s uniform.

“What are you doing all alone, looking so miserable?”

His tone was blunt and indifferent, but she could tell he had come over out of consideration for her being alone.

‘I guess I’m not alone. At least not right now.’

She had kept telling herself she just needed to get a hefty divorce settlement and start a new life, but thinking about actually going through with it left a bitter taste. After all, she’d be alone again.

‘Can’t I be accepted as family too, like the people at the residence?’

It was a shameless wish from someone who had been lying.

“Some people tried talking to me first, but I don’t speak Medeian, so I became a voluntary loner.”

‘They probably weren’t saying anything nice. She must’ve just been smiling cluelessly.’

Massera sighed as he thought to himself.

“You should start learning. Watching you sit there all alone, not fitting in—it’s not a good look.”

Even though he understood her situation, Massera deliberately spoke coldly.

But Cynthia just smiled brightly.

“I’m not alone though. I’m with my husband.”

At the word “husband,” Massera’s brow twitched.

It bothered Massera how Cynthia took everything he said and did as kindness or goodwill.

Just as he thought about leaving and was about to step away—

“I was just watching that happy family over there. Isn’t it nice? The baby is so cute too.”

Following where Cynthia pointed, a young couple holding a child could be seen as they looked at winter berries.

“Since long ago, I’ve dreamed of having a family like that.”

‘It may be a natural life for some, but for me, it’s an unattainable dream.’

Thinking of her harsh past life, Cynthia gave a bitter smile.

Massera looked back and forth between the child laughing in its father’s arms and Cynthia, a hint of confusion creeping into his eyes.

“Are you saying… you want a child?”

Seeing Cynthia’s red eyes widen in surprise, Massera added with a warning tone.

“Our relationship is strictly a business deal. Even if we have a child, that doesn’t change anything between us.”

“I know.”

Cynthia lowered her gaze and fiddled with the cookie in her hands.

“But I didn’t necessarily mean I wanted to build a happy family with you, General…”

“Then are you saying you plan to do that with another man? As long as we’re legally married, I will not tolerate infidelity.”

Cynthia’s expression changed to one of bewilderment as she saw him grow increasingly furious.

“Huh? What exactly do you want from me? You’re really such a grumpy kitten.”

“...A kitten?”

“Yes, and not just any kitten, but a feisty and ungrateful cheese cat that slaps away treats you offer it.”

“A cheese cat? Says the one who looks just like the wild rabbit that used to ruthlessly beat up soldiers in the snowfields.”

The strange tension between them began drawing the attention of the people around them.

Noticing the stares, Massera shoved a mouthful of cookie into Cynthia’s mouth. Then, with a faint smile, he whispered—

“Aren’t I giving you everything you asked for, Lucky Princess? I’m sure I told you not to expect anything more from me.”

“Oomph! Mmph!”

Frustratingly, she couldn’t argue back because of the cookie in her mouth.

Just then, someone who had noticed the tension between them stepped forward and raised their voice.

“You two seem so close.”

It was one of the nobles who had earlier mocked them for “pretending to get along.”

“Everyone, your attention please! Isn’t today’s banquet also meant to celebrate the marriage of our two honored guests visiting the palace? Let us raise our glasses in a toast to their joyful and beautiful married life ahead.”

At the noble’s words, everyone raised their champagne glasses and looked toward the two.

Cynthia quickly rinsed her mouth with black tea and picked up her glass.

The noble who started the congratulatory speech then said something that was sure to make things uncomfortable.

“Why don’t you show your love for the lovely princess with a kiss, General?”

“Yes! You must express your love as much as you feel it!”

If they seriously refused here, it would not only ruin the mood, but surely give rise to many suspicions.

Even the party’s orchestra began to play the romantic piece “Dreams of Love.”

And just like that, they were cornered into a situation where they had to kiss each other in front of everyone.

Feeling distressed, Cynthia looked around.

At the wedding, she had the veil to hide behind and could fake it to some extent, but that was not possible here.

‘Why’d you have to get all worked up for no reason?’

Cynthia shot a blaming look at Massera.

‘And why did you have to go and say unnecessary things?’

Massera shot back, not backing down.

“Hahaha, you have to do it properly!”

“I’m so envious! What a beautiful couple you two make!”

Mischievous jokes directed at the newlyweds echoed around them.

Massera looked down at Cynthia’s lips—or rather, at the cookie crumbs clinging at the corners of her mouth.

Upon seeing her sulky expression, an inexplicable sense of defiance rose in him.

“You should relax that face.”

“Wha—”

“Because I’m really going to do it.”

The words she tried to utter in protest, along with her breath, were soon swallowed up by his lips.

His arm wrapped around her waist felt firmer than ever.

‘He’s really doing this?’

Cynthia’s mind went blank in confusion.

Ding—

In the distance, the bell tower could be heard ringing the hour.

Their lips that had been locked together, sharing each other’s heat, slowly drew apart.

He lazily opened his eyes, licking the cookie crumbs from the corners of her lips. His gaze reminded her of the sun rising over the horizon.

The cheers and applause around them blurred into the sound of waves, fading into the distance beyond the sea.

‘My first kiss was…’

It was her second life, but her very first time.