“Are you concerned?”
Agatha looked up at Enoch quietly.
Should she say yes or no?
Agatha hasn't decided yet. Their mood these days is good enough to make people who got married for love go away, but that's all.
They shared a bedroom, had similar meals, shared fabrics, and there was a subtle tension, but that was really it.
Besides, now was not the right time to be talking about this. Her rational mind was aware of the attention that was being poured on her from those around her.
The Emperor, the Empress, the Crown Prince, and even the major ministers and nobles of each ministry.
It seemed like they were enjoying the ball outside the stairs, but eyes were pouring in.
Agatha smiled as if she had drawn it.
“I told you. I came because I haven’t heard from the person who said he would be out for a while.”
“...”
“Now that things are settled, I’ll be going now.”
Agatha walked gracefully down the stairs, past Enoch. Despite her usual appearance, her mind was deeply troubled.
It was fortunate that she knew he had no feelings for his ex-fiancée.
She thinks she was so shocked by the relationship between him and herself that she came to think about it anew during that process.
It was something Agatha couldn't figure out why.
It's clear that at the beginning, it didn't matter if she was happy alone, and she was actually happy to be living a sweet life.
Just like before, Agatha drove away the nobles who flocked to her with just one look.
As she approached the couch, Madame Iris and her entourage, who had a slightly embarrassed look on their faces, greeted her with smiles.
“Welcome back, Madame Agatha.”
“I’m back. Did everything go well?”
“Yes. As always, it was peaceful here.”
The aides and nobles who had heard the warning contained in the conversation naturally turned their attention away from Agatha and started talking.
The surroundings were cleaned up and the head that had been pounding had cooled down a long time ago.
Unlike a moment ago, Agatha did not pay attention to Enoch.
The gaze that had been focused on that consistent, usual appearance dispersed, but some still remained.
Nobilis' relatives and some unfamiliar gazes.
Agatha, who had been silent, opened her mouth.
“Rumors will spread, right?”
Madame Iris, who was nearby, waved her fan and gave a weak affirmation.
“Still, since the Young Lady has stepped forward, it is not strange for Lady Agatha to step forward. Of course, since it is about Agatha Nobilis, there will be a lot of interest.”
“That’s within the expected range.”
“Yes, of course. And I’m sure Madame Charlotte and I will take care of it.”
Madame Charlotte, who had been called by name along with the Marchioness Iris Domunia, smiled gently.
The social world will be abuzz with the long-awaited gossip, but if there is no response afterward, this too will soon die down.
After a while, a servant came near the curtain and quietly called out to Agatha.
“Marquis Aratus. The Marquis Aratus is looking for you.”
"What brings you here?"
“I think he's had a little too much to drink. He's planning to go home early, so he’d like to ask the Marchioness what you think.”
Only then did Agatha's gaze turn to the royal staircase. Enoch, who had been standing near the podium, was standing up from his seat after greeting His Majesty.
“Prepare the carriage. We will return together.”
“Yes, Marchioness.”
Agatha stood up from her seat with an apologetic smile on her face at those sitting around her.
“I guess I’ll have to go now for today. See you tomorrow at the palace ball.”
“I’m sorry, but I have to send you off. I’m looking forward to seeing you tomorrow.”
“Goodbye, Madame Agatha.”
From the Marchioness Iris Domunia to Duchess Kate Evelyn, Marchioness Vanessa Beatriz, Countess Celia Cameron, and Madame Charlette.
After exchanging brief greetings with their followers, Agatha left Asagrat Hall.
Upon receiving the call, the First Vice-Captain, Sir Leon Takran, and the Knights of Aratus were waiting at the entrance to the hall.
“Are you out, Ma’am?”
“What about my husband?”
“His Grace has already boarded the carriage. I will escort you to the carriage.”
The carriage was parked in front of the palace entrance at the bottom of the stairs. As Agatha went down under the escort of Sir Leon, the coachman opened the carriage door.
She saw Enoch sitting in a carriage illuminated by a faint lamp and moonlight. Leon closed the door as she sat down across from him.
Bang-
“Let’s go.”
The moment the sound disappeared, Enoch opened his mouth.
“Are you angry because of Count Liras’s daughter?”
"No."
It was a little unpleasant, but not because of that young lady.
Agatha's inability to control her emotions was closer to something more fundamental.
She is this man's wife and they are living happily.
'Is this really the end?'
Agatha's mood was stirring as if she wanted something more, something more.
The moment Agatha's gaze lowered, a soft voice echoed inside the carriage.
“I hope you don’t avoid my gaze.”
"Yes...?"
When Agatha raised her head, she saw a man who had been staring at her since she got into the carriage.
“Then I understand that it wasn’t because of Lady Liras. It seems true that it affected your mood a little, but let’s leave that aside for now.”
He was still a man with good sense.
“What are you upset about? I’m confused because I don’t have much to say.”
“...What do you think?”
The man, who had been silent for a moment, added.
“Are you disappointed that I have a past?”
This time it was Agatha's turn to be speechless.
If she looks at it that way, she has six ex-husbands.
Given the nature of the aristocratic world where engagements and marriages take place at a young age, Enoch's past was nothing compared to hers.
Did it seem like she was jealous?
Agatha's ears turned slightly red.
“That’s absolutely not true. It’s just that while dealing with Lady Liras, I had some thoughts...”
“I think it might be something to do with me.”
“...”
He was still a man with quick wits. The moment Agatha averted her gaze, a hand came up silently and gently grabbed her cheek.
“Don’t avoid eye contact.”
Enoch's dark figure was reflected in his blinking purple eyes. He bent his head closer and asked.
“Tell me, Agatha. If it’s not my fiancée or my past, then what is it that troubles you?”
The thick scent of wine and the large body that came close to her devoured the lantern and moonlight.
Agatha opened her mouth without realizing it.
“You have treated me perfectly as a wife so far. You have also kept me safe from danger.”
The red lips that had been swallowing dry saliva for a moment opened again.
“What if I want more than that?”
The moment the man who had been talking opened his mouth, he stopped.
Agatha's wind blew a step ahead.
“I wish you liked me.”
“...!”
“Just like I like you.”
At that moment, Enoch's eyes shook violently. Looking at him without saying anything, Agatha's expression, which had been holding onto some hope, distorted painfully.
“Just like that.”
The carriage stopped. Agatha opened the door herself and went out of the carriage. Butler Allen, Vice-captain Leon, the knights, and the servants who had just approached looked bewildered.
"Lady?"
“I need to wash up.”
Agatha didn't look back. So she didn't see it. The man left alone in the carriage was pressing his forehead with a stern face.
"I wish you liked me."
"I wish Enoch liked me."
The moment when the confession he heard a little while ago overlaps with the voice in his deeply buried memories.
His face was also distorted in pain.
That night, Enoch did not look for Agatha. It was the first time they had been in their own room since their honeymoon.
After the Marquis Aratus and his wife left.
The Asagrat Hall, where the Imperial Ball was held, was heated up by the quietly excited voices of nobles.
“As expected from Agatha Nobilis. She blows away all nonsense in one blow.”
“I don’t know if it would work when the Marquis is alone, but do you think it would work when someone is next to him? Well, that’s probably why Count Liras didn’t do something like that.”
“But that’s unexpected. I thought she would leave that to her husband, but she's taking action herself.”
Just when the gossip was about to take a turn for the worse, a soft voice intervened.
“Since it was not the Count but the young lady who came forward, wouldn’t you have thought that it was only natural for Lady Agatha to respond as well?”
“Oh, Madame Domunia.”
It was Marchioness Iris Domunia, Agatha's closest confidant and friend.
“I think that if the Count had come forward, Lady Agatha would have watched as well.”
“Yes, the Count did use a bit of a petty trick.”
“His Majesty also said something about Count Liras?”
“Yes, yes. Oh, by the way, why did Count Liras do that?”
Agatha's faction, led by Iris Domunia, had infiltrated various places and was changing the atmosphere of the hall.
Of course, some quick-witted people chimed in, noticing that Agatha Nobilis was behaving out of the ordinary.
There is a rumor that Agatha Nobilis was outwardly reprimanding the Liras family for their shameless actions.
While rumors were secretly circulating that there was something unusual between Agatha Nobilis and Enoch Aratus, there were those who reacted sensitively to the news.
They were relatives of the Aratus family.
Agatha looked up at Enoch quietly.
Should she say yes or no?
Agatha hasn't decided yet. Their mood these days is good enough to make people who got married for love go away, but that's all.
They shared a bedroom, had similar meals, shared fabrics, and there was a subtle tension, but that was really it.
Besides, now was not the right time to be talking about this. Her rational mind was aware of the attention that was being poured on her from those around her.
The Emperor, the Empress, the Crown Prince, and even the major ministers and nobles of each ministry.
It seemed like they were enjoying the ball outside the stairs, but eyes were pouring in.
Agatha smiled as if she had drawn it.
“I told you. I came because I haven’t heard from the person who said he would be out for a while.”
“...”
“Now that things are settled, I’ll be going now.”
Agatha walked gracefully down the stairs, past Enoch. Despite her usual appearance, her mind was deeply troubled.
It was fortunate that she knew he had no feelings for his ex-fiancée.
She thinks she was so shocked by the relationship between him and herself that she came to think about it anew during that process.
It was something Agatha couldn't figure out why.
It's clear that at the beginning, it didn't matter if she was happy alone, and she was actually happy to be living a sweet life.
Just like before, Agatha drove away the nobles who flocked to her with just one look.
As she approached the couch, Madame Iris and her entourage, who had a slightly embarrassed look on their faces, greeted her with smiles.
“Welcome back, Madame Agatha.”
“I’m back. Did everything go well?”
“Yes. As always, it was peaceful here.”
The aides and nobles who had heard the warning contained in the conversation naturally turned their attention away from Agatha and started talking.
The surroundings were cleaned up and the head that had been pounding had cooled down a long time ago.
Unlike a moment ago, Agatha did not pay attention to Enoch.
The gaze that had been focused on that consistent, usual appearance dispersed, but some still remained.
Nobilis' relatives and some unfamiliar gazes.
Agatha, who had been silent, opened her mouth.
“Rumors will spread, right?”
Madame Iris, who was nearby, waved her fan and gave a weak affirmation.
“Still, since the Young Lady has stepped forward, it is not strange for Lady Agatha to step forward. Of course, since it is about Agatha Nobilis, there will be a lot of interest.”
“That’s within the expected range.”
“Yes, of course. And I’m sure Madame Charlotte and I will take care of it.”
Madame Charlotte, who had been called by name along with the Marchioness Iris Domunia, smiled gently.
The social world will be abuzz with the long-awaited gossip, but if there is no response afterward, this too will soon die down.
After a while, a servant came near the curtain and quietly called out to Agatha.
“Marquis Aratus. The Marquis Aratus is looking for you.”
"What brings you here?"
“I think he's had a little too much to drink. He's planning to go home early, so he’d like to ask the Marchioness what you think.”
Only then did Agatha's gaze turn to the royal staircase. Enoch, who had been standing near the podium, was standing up from his seat after greeting His Majesty.
“Prepare the carriage. We will return together.”
“Yes, Marchioness.”
Agatha stood up from her seat with an apologetic smile on her face at those sitting around her.
“I guess I’ll have to go now for today. See you tomorrow at the palace ball.”
“I’m sorry, but I have to send you off. I’m looking forward to seeing you tomorrow.”
“Goodbye, Madame Agatha.”
From the Marchioness Iris Domunia to Duchess Kate Evelyn, Marchioness Vanessa Beatriz, Countess Celia Cameron, and Madame Charlette.
After exchanging brief greetings with their followers, Agatha left Asagrat Hall.
Upon receiving the call, the First Vice-Captain, Sir Leon Takran, and the Knights of Aratus were waiting at the entrance to the hall.
“Are you out, Ma’am?”
“What about my husband?”
“His Grace has already boarded the carriage. I will escort you to the carriage.”
The carriage was parked in front of the palace entrance at the bottom of the stairs. As Agatha went down under the escort of Sir Leon, the coachman opened the carriage door.
She saw Enoch sitting in a carriage illuminated by a faint lamp and moonlight. Leon closed the door as she sat down across from him.
Bang-
“Let’s go.”
The moment the sound disappeared, Enoch opened his mouth.
“Are you angry because of Count Liras’s daughter?”
"No."
It was a little unpleasant, but not because of that young lady.
Agatha's inability to control her emotions was closer to something more fundamental.
She is this man's wife and they are living happily.
'Is this really the end?'
Agatha's mood was stirring as if she wanted something more, something more.
The moment Agatha's gaze lowered, a soft voice echoed inside the carriage.
“I hope you don’t avoid my gaze.”
"Yes...?"
When Agatha raised her head, she saw a man who had been staring at her since she got into the carriage.
“Then I understand that it wasn’t because of Lady Liras. It seems true that it affected your mood a little, but let’s leave that aside for now.”
He was still a man with good sense.
“What are you upset about? I’m confused because I don’t have much to say.”
“...What do you think?”
The man, who had been silent for a moment, added.
“Are you disappointed that I have a past?”
This time it was Agatha's turn to be speechless.
If she looks at it that way, she has six ex-husbands.
Given the nature of the aristocratic world where engagements and marriages take place at a young age, Enoch's past was nothing compared to hers.
Did it seem like she was jealous?
Agatha's ears turned slightly red.
“That’s absolutely not true. It’s just that while dealing with Lady Liras, I had some thoughts...”
“I think it might be something to do with me.”
“...”
He was still a man with quick wits. The moment Agatha averted her gaze, a hand came up silently and gently grabbed her cheek.
“Don’t avoid eye contact.”
Enoch's dark figure was reflected in his blinking purple eyes. He bent his head closer and asked.
“Tell me, Agatha. If it’s not my fiancée or my past, then what is it that troubles you?”
The thick scent of wine and the large body that came close to her devoured the lantern and moonlight.
Agatha opened her mouth without realizing it.
“You have treated me perfectly as a wife so far. You have also kept me safe from danger.”
The red lips that had been swallowing dry saliva for a moment opened again.
“What if I want more than that?”
The moment the man who had been talking opened his mouth, he stopped.
Agatha's wind blew a step ahead.
“I wish you liked me.”
“...!”
“Just like I like you.”
At that moment, Enoch's eyes shook violently. Looking at him without saying anything, Agatha's expression, which had been holding onto some hope, distorted painfully.
“Just like that.”
The carriage stopped. Agatha opened the door herself and went out of the carriage. Butler Allen, Vice-captain Leon, the knights, and the servants who had just approached looked bewildered.
"Lady?"
“I need to wash up.”
Agatha didn't look back. So she didn't see it. The man left alone in the carriage was pressing his forehead with a stern face.
"I wish you liked me."
"I wish Enoch liked me."
The moment when the confession he heard a little while ago overlaps with the voice in his deeply buried memories.
His face was also distorted in pain.
That night, Enoch did not look for Agatha. It was the first time they had been in their own room since their honeymoon.
After the Marquis Aratus and his wife left.
The Asagrat Hall, where the Imperial Ball was held, was heated up by the quietly excited voices of nobles.
“As expected from Agatha Nobilis. She blows away all nonsense in one blow.”
“I don’t know if it would work when the Marquis is alone, but do you think it would work when someone is next to him? Well, that’s probably why Count Liras didn’t do something like that.”
“But that’s unexpected. I thought she would leave that to her husband, but she's taking action herself.”
Just when the gossip was about to take a turn for the worse, a soft voice intervened.
“Since it was not the Count but the young lady who came forward, wouldn’t you have thought that it was only natural for Lady Agatha to respond as well?”
“Oh, Madame Domunia.”
It was Marchioness Iris Domunia, Agatha's closest confidant and friend.
“I think that if the Count had come forward, Lady Agatha would have watched as well.”
“Yes, the Count did use a bit of a petty trick.”
“His Majesty also said something about Count Liras?”
“Yes, yes. Oh, by the way, why did Count Liras do that?”
Agatha's faction, led by Iris Domunia, had infiltrated various places and was changing the atmosphere of the hall.
Of course, some quick-witted people chimed in, noticing that Agatha Nobilis was behaving out of the ordinary.
There is a rumor that Agatha Nobilis was outwardly reprimanding the Liras family for their shameless actions.
While rumors were secretly circulating that there was something unusual between Agatha Nobilis and Enoch Aratus, there were those who reacted sensitively to the news.
They were relatives of the Aratus family.
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