Episode 31

In the blink of an eye, the Marquis and his wife’s anger subsided, and they walked away smiling.

It seemed like a storm had swept through.

Ezekiel, who was indifferent and awkward in his relationships with people… … .

‘You’re good at this kind of thing, aren’t you?’

Ezekiel seemed to notice me staring at him, and he averted his gaze. I assumed he would.

“……You seemed pretty amazing.”

“It’s nothing special. It’s your first time, so it’s understandable to be flustered. Competing with them for over twenty years is exhausting.”

“I think you’re amazing. How can you be so good at calming people down?”

“I had a lot of trouble making people angry, so I had to work hard to learn how to let it go.”

“Phew.”

I burst out laughing without realizing it. Ezekiel looked at me with his clear eyes.

“……This time, too, I ended up making someone angry and then having to let it go.”

“yes?”

“You mean, Viola?”

My heart fluttered for a moment at the sight of his serious face.

“I have something to explain. Why I went to the slums and why I stopped by the temple.”

He began to explain slowly.

All of those actions were to put into practice what he had realized after seeing me.

“I thought your attitude and way of thinking would be helpful in governing the territory.”

I… …helped broaden Ezekiel’s horizons.

‘I too was a being who could move other people’s hearts.’

Why? Those words somehow eased my sorrowful feelings.

Although he seemed like a mean person, one word from Ezekiel actually made me feel better.

“Thanks to you, I have been able to meet the poor and become more interested in support projects than before.”

“Thanks to me……?”

“You are doing more than you think.”

Ezekiel declared.

“So, if there was any strange misunderstanding, please forgive me.”

This made me feel confident.

It seems like the person Ezekiel recently met wasn’t the original female protagonist.

I don’t know how it happened, but at least the misunderstanding regarding the secret meeting with the original female protagonist has been cleared up.

‘Maybe the heroine hasn’t appeared yet.’

“There’s no misunderstanding, we have so much to do in the remaining eight months.”

Ezekiel suddenly emphasized.

Yeah. 8 months.

Even if we leave out the original heroine, he and I are people with limited time.

I was at a loss as to what to do with my once wavering heart.

Should I just end my marriage with him without any regrets, or should I try to be his lifelong companion again?

I’m not sure anymore.

“Viola, we have 8 months left… is that correct?”

“Yes? That’s right. Of course. We have exactly eight months left.”

When Ezekiel suddenly asked me to confirm, I quickly answered.

“If Viola thinks so…….”

Ezekiel looked out the window.

Silence fell as he fell silent. I pondered his words, lost in a strange sentiment.

And then suddenly, a question occurred to me.

“Ezekiel. The one you mentioned at the last couple’s ball at the palace.”

That day, he said he had someone in mind.

Was it really the original heroine that Ezekiel was referring to, and not me?

I wanted to hear his true feelings. Let’s decide our next steps through this conversation.

Ezekiel, who was recalling his memories, met my eyes and answered slowly.

“Yes. As I said at the ball, she’s more than enough for me. Yes. She was as graceful as a saint. Then and now.”

“That, that person?”

“Yes, that person.”

He stared at me intently and spoke with a stern voice.

ah.

Somehow I regretted checking it.

Whenever I have even the slightest hope, the story of the saint inevitably comes up.

The anticipation that was about to rise has cooled down.

“Ezekiel, the saint… is good.”

“That’s my ideal type. You resemble a saint.”

“I see.”

Ezekiel seemed to respect me because I resembled the saint he liked.

This was even more shocking.

‘I guess we’re really meant to be.’

If you get attached to him, you’ll only regret breaking up later.

I’m worried about the time we’ll have to live face to face in the future.

My hopes were dashed, and I buried my face in my knees.

Is this person and I really never meant to be together?

***

Ezekiel Betra exuded a dark aura without any filter.

On his desk was a book titled “How to Secretly Communicate Your Inner Feelings – 20 Key Points.”

“You said you could be honest.”

“Your Majesty. Just because you’re honest doesn’t mean everyone will open up.”

“Honestly clearing up misunderstandings and discreetly conveying your true feelings. Isn’t that the essence of romance?”

“That’s right, but……!”

Ollie was so upset that he was going crazy.

“Did you misspeak? Did you omit the subject or miscapture the mood?”

“I did the best I could. I compared Viola to a saint, but what better answer could there be?”

“That’s strange. That would work.”

How could Ollie know since he didn’t directly overhear the conversation between the Duke and Duchess?

But I was sure of this one thing.

“No matter how hard Your Majesty tries, what can’t be done won’t be. Even if one side can push the cart straight ahead, it’s useless if the other side bounces.”

Ezekiel’s gloom deepened. Ollie, instinctively realizing he’d misspoke, quickly changed his words.

“It won’t take a day or two to mend the wounds of the past! How about continuing to show your kind and dependable side?”

“Just then, the Marquis and his wife showed up and I took care of them.”

“That’s the first step. How wonderful it is to be just and cool.”

Ezekiel groaned with a half-doubtful look in his eyes.

“I asked you earlier. Do we only have eight months left?”

“That’s why.”

“They refused, saying we only had eight months left.”

“……You are so decisive.”

‘Tsk tsk. What should I do with my lord and madam?’

Ollie clicked his tongue in regret.

Since we were both innocent people who had never been in a relationship before, I didn’t know it would be more difficult.

… … In fact, Ollie himself was not in a position to give advice on love.

Moreover, each of them has their own characteristics and wounds.

I’m not good at speaking kindly to people, and Madam closes her heart to avoid being hurt.

‘Hey. This is difficult.’

Ollie prayed silently for Ezekiel, who was feeling anxious.

Lord, please grant that our Duke may become a righteous husband.

Please make your wife fall in love with you after seeing your righteous deeds today. Please make your relationship improve rapidly.

Yes? If you can’t do that, what are you going to do?

Well then, there’s nothing we can do. The two of us have no choice but to suffer.

I’ll just ask for one thing during this time.

Please don’t let the sparks fly to me, a mere aide. Please.

***

People like me so much.

This wasn’t planned.

“We flattened Millini’s nose!”

“How did you come up with that idea?”

A burdensome gaze is cast at me. Suddenly, I’ve become the most popular person in this teahouse.

‘It was like that before, but it’s even more blatant now.’

“Thanks to Dogaresa’s efforts, not only has Betra saved face, but we’ve also secured tourists.”

“I guess we won’t have to worry about having too many supplies this summer. Hehehe.”

These past few days, I’ve been recognized wherever I go.

Thanks to this, some of my unfulfilled desires were fulfilled and I found peace of mind.

‘I guess I like being praised.’

Was my secret taste, which I realized too late, floating?

“The best! Dogaresa is the best!”

I blushed sinisterly.

There were some people who were particularly enthusiastic and friendly towards me, and they were generally the kind of people who would do that.

On the left is the wife of the upper lord of the second upper power of Betra.

On the right is the leader of the 3rd upper power.

“Thanks to you, my boutique will prosper all summer long!”

“Me too!”

The smiles never left their lips. In fact, it was understandable, because I was their benefactor.

The friendly conversation soon turned peacefully to a discussion of hobbies.

“Did you read all of the ‘code of law’ I sent you last time?”

Instead of answering, I blushed and gave a thumbs up.

The ladies gave me two volumes of the law book and whispered to me stories from the capital’s high society.

These were all stories that I couldn’t hear with my mind clear.