IELNDMH - Chapter44 < A Dinner Just for The Two of Us >
I Ended Up Living Up Next Door With My Ex-Husband
I had just finished taking an evening shower. I was about to head straight to the dressing room when I heard an urgent voice outside the living room door.
"Your Highness! His Highness the Grand Duke..!"
But those words did not last until the end. It was because of Cedric who suddenly burst into the bedroom.
"Cedric?"
"Rebecca!"
Cedric, who found me, walked straight over to me and grabbed me by both of my shoulders. His face was very flushed as if he had traveled a long way.
"I heard the news late. Duke Bold came, right?"
"How did you...."
The voice that continued speaking slowly quieted down. It was because of an ominous premonition that suddenly crossed my mind.
'Could it be that Cedric misunderstood again about my meeting with Duke Bold?'
Otherwise, there's no way he can jump up at night. If I tell the truth, will that man even believe me?
I felt frustrated, not knowing where to start to resolve this misunderstanding.
"Cedric, that is..."
The moment when I furrowed my brow at the difficult situation I unintentionally encountered. Unexpected words poured out of Cedric's mouth one after another.
"Rebecca, are you okay? You weren't hurt?"
I looked at Cedric with a puzzled look as he was hastily examining all over my body. He looked at my face again and muttered softly.
"I was so surprised... Have you lost your strength?"
His tone was filled with deep concern. I could only blink as I looked at him like that.
'What, why are you like this? This person... Are you worried about me?'
Just then, Mina and the other maids, who had cleaned up the bathroom, belatedly entered the bedroom. The look on their faces turned into one of contemplation as soon as they saw Cedric standing there holding me.
".... Your Highness the Grand Duke!"
The maids immediately knelt down and started making excuses as if they had made a promise.
"For daring to assault a noble of the human world without receiving orders from Your Highness.... I was really, really wrong, Your Highness!"
"That's right, Your Highness! But since his memory has been completely erased, there will be no going back!"
"B-But he was threatening Her Highness first!"
The maids made excuses feverishly. Even so, when Cedric's eyes met, everyone had a frightened look on their faces and hurriedly lowered their heads. There was silence for a long time, with fear permeating every corner.
"I'm so disappointed in you guys."
Finally, Cedric's low voice rang out coldly in the surroundings. At the same time, the air In the bedroom was freezing cold, as if a northern east wind had blown in.
That moment when everyone was just swallowing dry saliva.
"Was it really necessary to erase Duke Bold's memories?"
At the sound of his voice, the movements of the maids who had hurriedly knelt down out of habit, as was their habit, stopped.
"... Yes?"
Cedric, who had been staring at the maids with disapproval, opened his mouth again.
"Did I seem to you to be a pathetic person who couldn't even deal with the nonsense that Duke Bold talks about in aristocratic society?"
"Well, that's not it... "
"Then we should have handled it more clearly."
Cedric spoke as if he was trying to scold him, and then he ground his teeth low.
"What happens if you dare treat my wife carelessly...That man should have clearly remembered."
I blinked rapidly and looked up at him standing next to me. This person is now... What is he saying now?
It seemed that the maids were also doubting their own ears. It was then that the confused gaze of everyone in the bedroom finally turned towards Cedric.
"Luman, please distribute the reward money we have prepared."
At his words, Cedric's aide approached the maids holding a thick envelope. He motioned for the maids kneeling on their knees to rise and handed them each an envelope.
"You receive because It is given...."
"Are you really giving us a reward?"
"Why... Is this?"
Each of the maids accepted the envelope with a puzzled expression. The aide just shook his head as if he didn't know the reason. Cedric spoke strongly to his aide as he returned to his side.
"From now on, make sure that Duke Bold's carriage never enters my castle without Rebecca's invitation."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"And you."
Cedric's eyes turned to the maids again.
"If by any chance something like today happens again, never..."
He paused for a moment, and a cool light appeared in his eyes.
"Never erase that person's memories."
"..."
"If you're worried about that person's memories, it might be okay to bury him somewhere. Then the memories will be buried along with the body."
It was a bloody story just to hear. However, Cedric's expression as he told the story was calm, and the maids burst out into cheerful laughter as if they had finally felt relieved.
"Yes, Your Highness! From now on, I will definitely do as you say!"
"That's right! We were already thinking of going straight to Mt. Makal to bury him, but we held back because we were afraid that His Highness the Grand Duke would scold us!"
At those words, Cedric and his aide nodded with satisfied expressions.
'What is this situation... Am I the only one who's weird again?'
It was a time when I was caught in the harsh conversation of mixed-race demons and only laughed awkwardly. Cedric gave a soft command to the employees.
"I think everyone now clearly understands my intentions. Then let's go out now."
Then he looked at me blankly and spoke again.
"Because I have something to share with Rebecca alone."
Finally, an awkward air flowed through the space where only the two of us were left.
Since I'm the kind of person who can't stand that kind of atmosphere, I bit my lip slightly and then immediately opened my mouth.
"Have you ever suddenly found a dark mansion like this before?"
".. Yeah, probably right before we divorced."
"That's right. At that time, I was on my way out after taking a bath..."
My mouth stopped as a memory suddenly came to mind.
'That's right, that day, I was hugged by Cedric with my shower gown half open.'
Coincidentally, I was still wearing a shower gown. Cedric, whose face was slightly flushed, cleared his throat awkwardly. He also seemed to remember the events of that day.
'Ugh, I can't believe I just said this to break up the awkward atmosphere.'
It was a time when I was beating myself up.
"Rebecca."
When I raised my head, my eyes met the eyes that had been looking at me the time.
"...I think you must have been very surprised by what happened ."
"...."
"Should I call my doctor?"
"I'm...There are no injuries."
Cedric's low voice felt sweeter than ever before. I secretly lowered my head slightly at the pleasant awkwardness.
"... You even reward my maids. Thank you very much."
"They've served you well, so it's only to reward them."
It was a conversation like a good married couple have.
' I can't believe you treated kindly only after the divorce.'
In fact, he was relatively friendly when dealing with people other than Rebecca. Is that why?
Whenever this happens, as soon as I become possessed, I feel like it was a good thing I divorced him.
'I realized once again how much Cedric has wanted a divorce from me.'
So I promised again. I decided to maintain my friendship with Cedric until the end of the contract. It's not getting closer or further away, it's just like this. This is the distance where we can show appropriate favor to each other.
I took a sip of tea and spoke again.
"Now, no one will doubt our divorce because of our separation. Because you cooperated so well. Thank you, Cedric."
" ...."
"But you don't have to do this until we're alone. Because it can be a burden to both sides."
To my sincere praise, I even added words to ease his burden. For some reason, Cedric was silent for a while. If it had been before, there would have already been blunt answers like, 'That's a good idea, or 'I'll do it.'
He remained silent for a long time. Finally, Cedric's lips slowly fell.
"Now... Does this behavior of mine burden you?"
I blinked slowly at the unexpected question.
"... No, rather than a burden to me. I'm a burden. We are already divorced, and we are just acting because of the contract."
"..."
"I was saying that since I understand our situation well, there is no need to be overly friendly."
Cedric, who had been looking at me with an absurd expression, let out a shallow sigh.
"Rebecca, you surprisingly don't know much about me."
"Yes?"
"Of course, Vincent, I'm more patient than that idiot, but I definitely have demon blood flowing through my body."
"What is that..."
"It means that I am not that kind of idiot who tolerates unpleasant or annoying behavior."
Cedric slowly got up from his seat, leaving a questionable comment. It was a time when I looked up at him with puzzled eyes.
"In that sense, Rebecca."
" ..."
"I'd like to have dinner with you tomorrow. What do you think?"
Cedric asked, looking down at me with sapphire blue eyes.
'Ah, now that I think about it, it's been a while since the Archduke's family had dinner together.'
I nodded slowly.
"That would be fine. Bianca will love it."
What was Bianca's favorite dish?
It was a time when I was getting up from the sofa, following Cedric, and looking back at my memories.
"That's not it."
Cedric let out a small laugh and slowly walked towards me. Before we knew it, the distance had become closer again. Cedric looked down at me in silence for a while.
"Rebecca, I'm asking for a dinner date just for the two of us."
Just the two of us? Why?
As I looked at him with an expression of not understanding, a mysterious smile appeared on Cedric's lips again.
'Really...'
A person whose true feelings are unknown. Seeing him like that, I took a step back. Then he naturally took two steps closer.
Wow, we actually got closer. It was a time when I unconsciously curled my lip and bit my lip in a situation that wasn't going as I expected.
"Just to be clear, this is not a postponement of our contract."
A charming low tone flowed from his lips again.
"It's an offer I'm making because I want to."
After finishing speaking, a smooth line was drawn at the end of Cedric's lips. When I saw that relaxed smile, I felt a little disgusted and had the urge to reject his offer. But I had no good reason to reject him.
No, my true opinion is that I refuse Cedric's favor for no reason and do not want to return to an awkward relationship with him. Other than that, there can be no particular reason to want to accept his offer.
'I wonder if there will be.'
I pursed my lips in confusion and finally opened my mouth.
"Is it so. Tomorrow I will go to the Mansion of Light."
A smile appeared on Cedric's lips again, as if he was satisfied with my answer.
"Now all we have to do is wait for it to arrive. Tomorrow too, and..."
It was a charming smile that disguised relaxation but inevitably revealed relief.
"Rebecca, you too."
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