Episode 157. Side Story. Your Love Makes Me Happy (2)
Arriving at a deserted spot, Tanya, overcome with emotion, slumped against the fountain railing.
“You bastard...!”
“You’re not talking to me, are you?”
Startled by a familiar voice, she raised her head. And then, without realizing it, she screamed.
“The Duke of Crichton!”
Zimmer stood before her. Tanya couldn’t understand why she felt so happy to see him, his black hair fluttering in the late summer breeze.
No, perhaps her heart pounding wasn’t solely due to joy.
“If you’re not at the banquet hall, how come you’re here...”
She quickly stood up,
“I was just taking a walk.”
Zimmer held out a handkerchief.
“I think you’ll need this more than that.”
Tanya, embarrassed at being caught crying, quickly wiped her tears away with her finger.
“It’s okay.”
“No, not there, here...”
Zimmer pointed, surprisingly, to Tanya’s lips.
“Yes?”
She looked at him quizzically, and he spoke with difficulty, embarrassed.
“It... has chocolate on it..."
“...!”
Tanya then remembered that she had just been eating chocolate cake.
Oh my god! So that meant she had appeared in front of Kaiel and her friends with lips blackened with chocolate?
The thought of trying so hard to look so arrogant made her want to hide in a hole. It was also incredibly humiliating to have made such a fool of herself in front of that kid and his friends again.
“Pfft!”
Tanya glared at him resentfully when she heard Zimmer’s laughter.
“What’s so funny?”
Zimmer quickly covered his face and cleared his throat.
“Ah, ah, sorry. But it’s surprising to see dozens of expressions flash across your face in an instant. I didn’t realize Tanya had such a wide range of expressions.”
Even though it was Zimmer, Tanya, who was upset, she blurted out a sharp comment.
“Duke Crichton, it seems you have a bad taste in enjoying other people’s misfortunes.”
Zimmer tilted his head and stared straight at Tanya.
“Why is it unfortunate that there’s cake on your lips?”
“Huh...?”
Tanya hesitated, unable to find the words to quickly reply.
“Well... because I showed Count Kaiel a weakness.”
“Did you want to be the perfect woman for Count Kaiel?”
“Of course. He’s the one I'm going to marry.”
Tanya, who was wiping her lips with the handkerchief Zimmer handed her, paused. There was nothing on the handkerchief.
“Are you kidding me?”
Tanya fumed and clutched the handkerchief tightly. Zimmer barely managed to suppress a laugh.
“Ah, ahem, sorry. I’m a little grumpy.”
“Grumpy, what do you mean...?”
“Because Miss Tanya wants to get married first, even though I haven’t even found a partner yet. I feel betrayed, shall we say?”
Tanya felt strange hearing those words. Depending on how you interpreted it, it could mean he had feelings for her.
Of course, that couldn’t be true.
“It’s not that you haven’t found a partner, but rather that you’re not looking for one? Earlier, I saw that the ladies at the banquet hall seemed desperate to catch the Duke’s eye, but the Duke himself seemed uninterested.”
“Were you looking at me?”
Tanya felt a sting and quickly made an excuse.
“It’s a banquet hosted by my adoptive father, so I have to keep an eye on the guests.”
“I thought you were completely infatuated with Count Kaiel, but I guess that’s not the case.”
“Infatuated. It’s just a political relationship.”
“You were whispering and seemed very close.”
Tanya asked in surprise.
“Were you looking at me?”
Zimmer quickly replied as if making an excuse.
“Living in a war zone, I have a habit of watching people’s smallest movements. Well, that’s just how it is.”
“Oh, was it just a habit?”
“I was just taking a walk.”
Zimmer held out a handkerchief.
“I think you’ll need this more than that.”
Tanya, embarrassed at being caught crying, quickly wiped her tears away with her finger.
“It’s okay.”
“No, not there, here...”
Zimmer pointed, surprisingly, to Tanya’s lips.
“Yes?”
She looked at him quizzically, and he spoke with difficulty, embarrassed.
“It... has chocolate on it..."
“...!”
Tanya then remembered that she had just been eating chocolate cake.
Oh my god! So that meant she had appeared in front of Kaiel and her friends with lips blackened with chocolate?
The thought of trying so hard to look so arrogant made her want to hide in a hole. It was also incredibly humiliating to have made such a fool of herself in front of that kid and his friends again.
“Pfft!”
Tanya glared at him resentfully when she heard Zimmer’s laughter.
“What’s so funny?”
Zimmer quickly covered his face and cleared his throat.
“Ah, ah, sorry. But it’s surprising to see dozens of expressions flash across your face in an instant. I didn’t realize Tanya had such a wide range of expressions.”
Even though it was Zimmer, Tanya, who was upset, she blurted out a sharp comment.
“Duke Crichton, it seems you have a bad taste in enjoying other people’s misfortunes.”
Zimmer tilted his head and stared straight at Tanya.
“Why is it unfortunate that there’s cake on your lips?”
“Huh...?”
Tanya hesitated, unable to find the words to quickly reply.
“Well... because I showed Count Kaiel a weakness.”
“Did you want to be the perfect woman for Count Kaiel?”
“Of course. He’s the one I'm going to marry.”
Tanya, who was wiping her lips with the handkerchief Zimmer handed her, paused. There was nothing on the handkerchief.
“Are you kidding me?”
Tanya fumed and clutched the handkerchief tightly. Zimmer barely managed to suppress a laugh.
“Ah, ahem, sorry. I’m a little grumpy.”
“Grumpy, what do you mean...?”
“Because Miss Tanya wants to get married first, even though I haven’t even found a partner yet. I feel betrayed, shall we say?”
Tanya felt strange hearing those words. Depending on how you interpreted it, it could mean he had feelings for her.
Of course, that couldn’t be true.
“It’s not that you haven’t found a partner, but rather that you’re not looking for one? Earlier, I saw that the ladies at the banquet hall seemed desperate to catch the Duke’s eye, but the Duke himself seemed uninterested.”
“Were you looking at me?”
Tanya felt a sting and quickly made an excuse.
“It’s a banquet hosted by my adoptive father, so I have to keep an eye on the guests.”
“I thought you were completely infatuated with Count Kaiel, but I guess that’s not the case.”
“Infatuated. It’s just a political relationship.”
“You were whispering and seemed very close.”
Tanya asked in surprise.
“Were you looking at me?”
Zimmer quickly replied as if making an excuse.
“Living in a war zone, I have a habit of watching people’s smallest movements. Well, that’s just how it is.”
“Oh, was it just a habit?”
“Why are you looking at me with such distrust?”
“No, nothing.”
Tanya quickly shook her head and sat back down on the fountain railing. But her heart felt strangely ticklish. It sounded like Zimmer wasn’t completely uninterested in her.
“Are you really going to marry Count Kaiel?”
Zimmer asked, sitting down on the fountain railing next to Tanya. His voice was a little heavier and more serious than before.
“Then... should I not?”
Tanya immediately regretted the words that blurted out without realizing it.
'You're crazy. Why are you asking him that?'
"If I told you to, wouldn't you?"
But the unexpected answer sent a pounding through her heart. She had to admit it. He had been in her heart for a very long time. No one else could fill that void. Not even Kaiel.
'Tanya, wake up. He's not someone you can covet.'
Even as her mind raced with thought, her heart poured out.
"That could be true. If it's the Duke of Crichton's order, no one else's."
Zimmer let out a deflated laugh.
"Even a Duke like me shouldn't give such orders."
"So, what's your advice as a friend?"
Friend.
Yes, even if they weren't lovers, a friend would have been fine.
If only she could be something for Zimmer.
But Tanya quickly faced reality and apologized.
"I'm sorry. I was being presumptuous by saying 'friend.'"
“No. If Miss Tanya can be my friend, I’d be happy.”
Zimmer, lost in thought for a moment, continued in a serious voice.
“And as a friend, if I may offer advice, Miss Tanya, I urge you to reconsider marrying someone who makes you cry. There are plenty of men in the world.”
Tanya smiled bitterly.
“Of course. Half the world is made up of men. But I’m not in a position to choose men. I’m almost thirty, and I can’t continue to live with my adoptive parents. When they adopted me, a former maid and an old woman, they probably calculated that I would be a help to the family through marriage. Besides, someone like Count Kaiel would be more than enough for me.”
“Miss Tanya,”
Zimmer called in a deep, resonant voice.
When Tanya looked at him, his brown eyes filled with her gaze, he continued.
“...Marriage is about being happy. Marriage for someone else, or to please someone else, is wrong.”
“But all the other nobles do the same.”
“You don’t have to be like other nobles. I think Her Majesty the Empress arranged for you to be adopted into the Mervin family because she didn’t want Miss Tanya to be unhappy because of your status. Don’t you think so?”
“That’s right. I think Her Majesty the Empress would have said the same thing.”
“So, marry the person who will make Miss Tanya the happiest.”
“If that’s you.”
Tanya’s eyes, concealing her true feelings, looked hazy as she looked at Zimmer.
Unaware of his thoughts, Zimmer added,
“If you think that’s Count Kaiel, then just marry him.”
Tanya quickly shook her head.
“No. I don’t think I liked the Count. After hearing him gossip about me, I was completely disgusted.”
“Ha, I see. Haha!”
Zimmer suddenly burst into laughter, and Tanya immediately felt at ease.
“Well, you know, they say my hands are like tree bark.”
Then she flinched and quickly covered her mouth with both hands, but it was no use.
That mouth!
Tanya felt ashamed of herself, as if she had dug her own grave, even though she was trying too hard to be pretty.
“My hands are worse.”
Zimmer showed his hand.
Tanya was astonished to see him. Zimmer was so handsome and elegant. Honestly, Tanya couldn’t even imagine how he would have fought on the battlefield. With his love of flowers and his perpetually smiling face, Zimmer seemed incapable of even swinging a sword at someone.
But his hands were larger than she’d expected and covered in scars.
“Your hands... can I touch them?”
“You’d be surprised, wouldn’t you?”
“No, nothing.”
Tanya quickly shook her head and sat back down on the fountain railing. But her heart felt strangely ticklish. It sounded like Zimmer wasn’t completely uninterested in her.
“Are you really going to marry Count Kaiel?”
Zimmer asked, sitting down on the fountain railing next to Tanya. His voice was a little heavier and more serious than before.
“Then... should I not?”
Tanya immediately regretted the words that blurted out without realizing it.
'You're crazy. Why are you asking him that?'
"If I told you to, wouldn't you?"
But the unexpected answer sent a pounding through her heart. She had to admit it. He had been in her heart for a very long time. No one else could fill that void. Not even Kaiel.
'Tanya, wake up. He's not someone you can covet.'
Even as her mind raced with thought, her heart poured out.
"That could be true. If it's the Duke of Crichton's order, no one else's."
Zimmer let out a deflated laugh.
"Even a Duke like me shouldn't give such orders."
"So, what's your advice as a friend?"
Friend.
Yes, even if they weren't lovers, a friend would have been fine.
If only she could be something for Zimmer.
But Tanya quickly faced reality and apologized.
"I'm sorry. I was being presumptuous by saying 'friend.'"
“No. If Miss Tanya can be my friend, I’d be happy.”
Zimmer, lost in thought for a moment, continued in a serious voice.
“And as a friend, if I may offer advice, Miss Tanya, I urge you to reconsider marrying someone who makes you cry. There are plenty of men in the world.”
Tanya smiled bitterly.
“Of course. Half the world is made up of men. But I’m not in a position to choose men. I’m almost thirty, and I can’t continue to live with my adoptive parents. When they adopted me, a former maid and an old woman, they probably calculated that I would be a help to the family through marriage. Besides, someone like Count Kaiel would be more than enough for me.”
“Miss Tanya,”
Zimmer called in a deep, resonant voice.
When Tanya looked at him, his brown eyes filled with her gaze, he continued.
“...Marriage is about being happy. Marriage for someone else, or to please someone else, is wrong.”
“But all the other nobles do the same.”
“You don’t have to be like other nobles. I think Her Majesty the Empress arranged for you to be adopted into the Mervin family because she didn’t want Miss Tanya to be unhappy because of your status. Don’t you think so?”
“That’s right. I think Her Majesty the Empress would have said the same thing.”
“So, marry the person who will make Miss Tanya the happiest.”
“If that’s you.”
Tanya’s eyes, concealing her true feelings, looked hazy as she looked at Zimmer.
Unaware of his thoughts, Zimmer added,
“If you think that’s Count Kaiel, then just marry him.”
Tanya quickly shook her head.
“No. I don’t think I liked the Count. After hearing him gossip about me, I was completely disgusted.”
“Ha, I see. Haha!”
Zimmer suddenly burst into laughter, and Tanya immediately felt at ease.
“Well, you know, they say my hands are like tree bark.”
Then she flinched and quickly covered her mouth with both hands, but it was no use.
That mouth!
Tanya felt ashamed of herself, as if she had dug her own grave, even though she was trying too hard to be pretty.
“My hands are worse.”
Zimmer showed his hand.
Tanya was astonished to see him. Zimmer was so handsome and elegant. Honestly, Tanya couldn’t even imagine how he would have fought on the battlefield. With his love of flowers and his perpetually smiling face, Zimmer seemed incapable of even swinging a sword at someone.
But his hands were larger than she’d expected and covered in scars.
“Your hands... can I touch them?”
“You’d be surprised, wouldn’t you?”
“Don’t be surprised, Your Excellency. A woman’s hand is like tree bark.”
“Haha, that’s not possible.”
Tanya carefully pulled his hand toward her and slowly stroked it.
His hands were much stronger and harder than they had appeared. Calluses covered every thick knuckle, and the backs and palms were covered in scars.
For some reason, tears welled up in Tanya’s eyes. Because every single trace of his life and death must have been a matter of life and death. She was awed by the hardships of a warrior who had survived countless battles, risking his life.
Kaiel's smooth hands couldn't even compare.
"These are the hands of a true man. They're wonderful."
"Tanya's hands are beautiful, too."
"You don't have to give me compliments that aren't in your heart."
"It's true. These are the hands of someone who has lived more fiercely than anyone else. These are incredible hands that a spoiled noblewoman could never have."
Tanya's lips curled up involuntarily in a delighted mood.
Even the darkness of the day, the bright moon, and the cool late summer breeze made her so happy.
“Being here, it feels like I’ve gone back to when we lived together in Her Majesty’s mansion. It was so difficult to deal with the Duke back then.”
“Why?”
“Why? You’re the Duke. Is that all? The Emperor’s right-hand man, the second-in-command of the Empire, the Captain of the Guard... You’re so high up in the hierarchy that I couldn’t even dare look at you.”
“It was actually harder for me, Miss Tanya.”
“Yes? Me?”
“You became Her Majesty’s chief maid. That’s why it’s hard to talk to you, and is that all? You quickly turn away when you see me, so I wonder if I did something wrong...”
“Nonsense. You did something wrong. Since you’re the Captain of the Guard, I thought it would start a bad rumor if you talked to someone like me.”
In truth, she couldn’t say she did it because she was afraid her feelings would be revealed.
“Someone like me? What do you mean, Miss Tanya?”
“I'm from humble, lowly births.”
“If you’re going to be that precise, I was also from a humble military background.”
“Haha, that’s not possible.”
Tanya carefully pulled his hand toward her and slowly stroked it.
His hands were much stronger and harder than they had appeared. Calluses covered every thick knuckle, and the backs and palms were covered in scars.
For some reason, tears welled up in Tanya’s eyes. Because every single trace of his life and death must have been a matter of life and death. She was awed by the hardships of a warrior who had survived countless battles, risking his life.
Kaiel's smooth hands couldn't even compare.
"These are the hands of a true man. They're wonderful."
"Tanya's hands are beautiful, too."
"You don't have to give me compliments that aren't in your heart."
"It's true. These are the hands of someone who has lived more fiercely than anyone else. These are incredible hands that a spoiled noblewoman could never have."
Tanya's lips curled up involuntarily in a delighted mood.
Even the darkness of the day, the bright moon, and the cool late summer breeze made her so happy.
“Being here, it feels like I’ve gone back to when we lived together in Her Majesty’s mansion. It was so difficult to deal with the Duke back then.”
“Why?”
“Why? You’re the Duke. Is that all? The Emperor’s right-hand man, the second-in-command of the Empire, the Captain of the Guard... You’re so high up in the hierarchy that I couldn’t even dare look at you.”
“It was actually harder for me, Miss Tanya.”
“Yes? Me?”
“You became Her Majesty’s chief maid. That’s why it’s hard to talk to you, and is that all? You quickly turn away when you see me, so I wonder if I did something wrong...”
“Nonsense. You did something wrong. Since you’re the Captain of the Guard, I thought it would start a bad rumor if you talked to someone like me.”
In truth, she couldn’t say she did it because she was afraid her feelings would be revealed.
“Someone like me? What do you mean, Miss Tanya?”
“I'm from humble, lowly births.”
“If you’re going to be that precise, I was also from a humble military background.”
“But you were a noble to begin with.”
“Half a noble. And abandoned by my noble father.”
His expression was still gentle, but his eyes held sadness.
“Zimmer...”
That’s when.
Whaaa!
Suddenly, a stream of water gushed out from the fountain, which had been quiet until then.
“Whoa!”
The two jumped up in surprise, and Zimmer quickly pulled Tanya into his arms and blocked the water.
Thump, thump.
She couldn’t tell if the sound of her heartbeat was Tanya’s or Zimmer’s. Was it because of the sound? Tanya felt dizzy. So she stayed in Zimmer’s arms for a while.
“Shall we dance?”
Zimmer’s words startled Tanya, and she pulled away from him.
“Huh?”
“Everyone’s enjoying the ball, so it would feel like a loss if we stayed still, right?”
“Hey, here?”
“Is it weird?”
Tanya quickly shook her head as she saw Zimmer scratching his head in embarrassment.
“No! It’s not weird. It’s just that I’m not a good dancer.”
“That’s good. I’m not a good dancer either.”
Then, even though no one was listening, Zimmer lowered his head and whispered in Tanya’s ear.
“That’s why I stay away from ladies. I’m afraid they’ll find out I’m not good at dancing.”
“Ah...”
Tanya nodded in understanding, and he winked.
“Then we shouldn’t badmouth each other.”
“Of course!”
Zimmer quickly plucked a red dahlia from the fountain and offered it to Tanya.
“Then will you dance with me, lady?”
“Half a noble. And abandoned by my noble father.”
His expression was still gentle, but his eyes held sadness.
“Zimmer...”
That’s when.
Whaaa!
Suddenly, a stream of water gushed out from the fountain, which had been quiet until then.
“Whoa!”
The two jumped up in surprise, and Zimmer quickly pulled Tanya into his arms and blocked the water.
Thump, thump.
She couldn’t tell if the sound of her heartbeat was Tanya’s or Zimmer’s. Was it because of the sound? Tanya felt dizzy. So she stayed in Zimmer’s arms for a while.
“Shall we dance?”
Zimmer’s words startled Tanya, and she pulled away from him.
“Huh?”
“Everyone’s enjoying the ball, so it would feel like a loss if we stayed still, right?”
“Hey, here?”
“Is it weird?”
Tanya quickly shook her head as she saw Zimmer scratching his head in embarrassment.
“No! It’s not weird. It’s just that I’m not a good dancer.”
“That’s good. I’m not a good dancer either.”
Then, even though no one was listening, Zimmer lowered his head and whispered in Tanya’s ear.
“That’s why I stay away from ladies. I’m afraid they’ll find out I’m not good at dancing.”
“Ah...”
Tanya nodded in understanding, and he winked.
“Then we shouldn’t badmouth each other.”
“Of course!”
Zimmer quickly plucked a red dahlia from the fountain and offered it to Tanya.
“Then will you dance with me, lady?”
Comments
Post a Comment