As I came out of the bathroom after showering, the mouthwatering smell of food wafted past my nose.
I looked over at the table and saw that it was filled with freshly baked bread, well-made soup, and other items.
Kishian, who was sitting at the table, immediately called me.
"It's getting cold. Let's sit down instead of just standing there."
"Have you been waiting?"
"...Wait a minute. I was thinking about something else for a moment, and then my wife came out."
"Hmm. Yes. I understand. You said you weren't waiting."
He added a long excuse, as if he didn't want anyone to misunderstand that he was waiting to eat with me.
It seemed like it was something I didn't really need to hear, so I cut him off and sat down at the table.
Today, I didn't feel like eating heavy food, so I reached for the salad first.
At that moment, Kishian's gaze sharpened.
"Will you gain strength by eating only grass?"
"I can't eat bread or meat."
“You still have to eat. I overdid it yesterday.”
It wasn't the first time we had sex yesterday, but when I heard him say, "I overdid it," I felt embarrassed again.
I never expected him to speak so openly about what happened yesterday.
I thought you'd act like nothing happened.
"Could you be more careful when talking about such personal things? It's okay right now since it's just the two of us."
"Personal stuff? Is that how you say something after rolling around all night?"
"...Kishian"
I glared at him as he referred to the act with such unsophisticated language as 'rolled around' as if he were taking medicine.
He, who usually only laughed sarcastically, burst into an unadorned laugh for some reason.
"What's the big deal between a married couple?"
"slStill..."
"Yes, I'll be careful what I say in front of people, so eat quickly."
As I reached my fork out toward the salad again, his gaze sharpened again.
Before, he had the maids watch over me, but now it seemed he was going to watch over my meals himself.
Anyway, I didn't want to be criticized again, so I kneaded some of the bread that looked like it had been baked this morning and put it in my mouth.
The soft, fluffy pieces of bread melted quickly in my mouth.
He held out some jam and butter to me as I was picking the bread.
Since the bread was already feeling a little bland, I spread some jam on it and put it in my mouth again.
Only then did Kishian look away from me and begin his meal.
It was a quiet and peaceful mealtime, yet somehow uneasy.
***
It was late in the afternoon when I came out of the bedroom.
It was because I heard that Letie was looking for me on urgent business.
At that, Kishian openly expressed his annoyance.
He muttered, “Do you have to go just because he calls you?”
Perhaps he wanted to get more entangled since he hadn't been able to do it for a while.
Otherwise, there would be no reason for him to hold on to me.
However, since I had already been overworked the night before and had no confidence in facing him again, I hurried down to the garden, delighted at Letie's call.
As I heard, Letie was enjoying tea time in the garden.
When I saw that sight, for a moment, I felt as if I had entered the palace garden.
It was because the sight of Letie ordering the maids around was so natural.
Letie opened her mouth as naturally as if she were ordering her maid around in her own garden.
"I think the tea has cooled down."
"Yes, Your Highness."
After hearing the order, Anne hurriedly ran into the kitchen holding the teapot.
For some reason, my direct maid, Anne, was attending to Letie.
I sat down across from Letie, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.
"Where do you put your maid to take care of that child?"
"You mean Liesel? She looks tired, so I'm going to let her rest today.
'Liesel' was Letie's beloved maid.
It seemed that she had brought Liesel here to take care of her while she was staying here, but I was not happy about having Anne as her maid.
"Anne will be tired too. More tired than Liesel. She didn't have time to rest during the wedding because she was busy dressing me up. Let's send her back for now."
"Mmmm..."
Letie, who heard what I said, made her characteristically glum expression.
It was the expression she used to make whenever something didn't go her way.
'She used to make that exact expression and run to my father and throw a tantrum.'
Then I have no choice but to grant Letie's request, and Letie gets what she wants...
It always went that way.
Is it because it has been like that for such a long time?
I almost told Anne to just keep on doing what she wants, but something Kishian said to me stopped me.
"Being my wife means becoming the most noble woman in the world."
I have become the most noble woman. So act accordingly.
Thinking back to Kishian's words, I emphasized to Letie again.
"From now on, when you call my maid or use my things, please let me know first."
"...Why are you saying that so sadly? Even so, my sister?"
"Now that I'm married."
I stopped Letie's complaints, which were about to pour out, with those firm words.
I then reminded Letie of something she must never forget.
"Now that I'm married and have become the Grand Duchess, you can't treat me like you used to. That would be disrespectful to the Grand Duke."
Now that I was the Grand Duchess, there was no need to turn a blind eye to her reckless behavior, and it couldn't be done that way.
The insults I received would soon become insults directed at Kishian.
So let's speak firmly. Let's look at Letie's expression, which seems to have become even more determined than before.
Meanwhile, Anne had just gotten a new tea, so I handed her a teapot.
Of course, I didn't forget to tell her to go back and rest.
Letie muttered in a subdued voice as she silently poured tea into the empty cup.
"Sadly, you've changed so much, but you're still my older sister."
"I can't help it even if it's disappointing. I can't stay by your side and take care of you forever."
Letie, who heard what I said, nodded obediently for some reason.
Did you really understand?
If that were the case, our relationship could have been better than before.
I wondered if I could escape from that relationship where air just unilaterally made demands and unilaterally gave.
It was a time when I was harboring somewhat hopeful thoughts.
"There's someone I want to introduce to you, my sister."
I was about to point out Letie's attitude of calling me "sister" again, but I stopped myself.
It was because I was tired of pointing it out now.
I just have to be careful when there are people around, I asked Letie with resignation.
"Introduction? Who?"
"I don't really know who it is. My father sent him. He just told me to arrange for him to meet my sister. Then he said my sister would take care of everything."
No one could guess.
Who the hell are you talking about?
Letie nodded, not knowing much about it.
“Where is he?”
"You are staying in the room on the first floor of the building I am staying in. He come with me and stay in the room as my servant."
Judging from the fact that he was brought in as a servant, he didn't seem to be a nobleman.
I was about to ask about its appearance to get more information.
"Oh, here you are. I called you a long time ago, and you're only coming out now."
When I heard that an unknown person had appeared, I turned my head to the direction where Letie's body was facing.
A man with shoulder-length blond hair fluttering in the wind appeared to be approaching.
Skin as white as sand, as if it had never seen sunlight, and unique purple eyes.
Unfortunately, he was someone I knew well.
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