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Chapter 8
I was startled by my husband’s earlier-than-expected return.
He’s here already?
Why didn’t he come tomorrow like planned?
Before Martin could open the mansion door, I hurried downstairs.
I was afraid he might walk in and see the busy preparations for the party — the decorations, the kitchen work — before I could explain.
Better to face him after I had a chance to explain myself.
Finally, the door opened, and Martin stepped in, brushing off his hair.
He looked as if he hadn’t slept for days — his face was dark and tired.
This is bad. Keep it natural.
“You’re… back?”
“What is this?”
He frowned at me leaning casually against the wall, hand on my head in a “welcoming” pose.
I gave an awkward smile — it felt even weirder since I wasn’t used to acting like this.
“Um… did you have a good trip?”
“What are you doing?”
“I felt bad for not seeing you off properly last time. Thought I’d at least greet you this time.”
I thought it was a decent excuse.
“More like you seem very flustered that I came back unexpectedly.”
The accuracy of his remark made my face heat up.
“…Fine. Why are you here so early?”
“It’s just one day early. Is that a problem?”
I lost my words under his sharp tone.
Martin’s eyes scanned the whole hall in one sweep.
“I finished my work early because I didn’t know what kind of trouble you’d cause while I was gone.”
So he already expected I’d do something. And, well… with this party, he wasn’t entirely wrong.
He probably sensed that something felt off. I wasn’t the only one watching him nervously.
If I was going to say it, now was the time.
“I have something to tell you.”
“As you can see, I’m not in the mood to listen right now.”
He gestured to his still-travel-worn clothes as if to say he hadn’t even rested yet.
I understood, but better to get it over with than wait for the blow to land later.
“No. You need to hear it now.”
At my firm tone, Martin glanced at me coldly, silently telling me to move aside. I didn’t.
Instead, I spread my arms and blocked his way.
“Did you actually cause some sort of mess?”
I nodded slowly. Martin ran a hand through his hair.
“I’m sorry I didn’t say it earlier. The truth is—”
Before I could finish, he signaled to Babel. It was clear he wanted to be taken to the scene.
Babel glanced at me, bowed slightly, and then led Martin toward the banquet hall.
Where, unfortunately, all the cheap decorations were hanging in full view.
I couldn’t match the long strides of an adult man, but I tried to follow—
“What on earth is this?!”
His voice boomed, making me freeze in place.
Martin walked around the hall, then came toward me quickly, his steps sharp and uneven — a sign he was very angry.
Understandable, since I’d gone ahead without consulting him.
He pointed toward the hall.
“What exactly is this?”
“You can see for yourself.”
He ran a hand over his face, clearly at a loss.
“Who asked you to do this?”
He looked at me, as if daring me to try and justify myself — though it didn’t seem like any answer would please him.
“For ten years, nothing like this has ever happened. So this was all your doing.”
A bitter smile flickered on his lips before vanishing. I couldn’t tell if it was aimed at me or himself.
“How did you convince the staff? No, more importantly — what were you thinking? Did you forget what tomorrow is?”
“I should be the one asking you that.”
“What?”
His brow furrowed. It might be a day he wanted to avoid entirely — hence his conveniently timed business trip every year.
Always leaving Erica to spend it alone. Did he even know what she felt?
“Tomorrow is your parents’ memorial… but it’s also your sister’s birthday.”
Something complicated flashed in his cold eyes, and for a moment his face twisted.
“And so what? Erica’s accepted that, and so have you.”
“You should know better than anyone — ignoring something doesn’t make it go away.”
“…”
“Have you ever once thought about what it’s like for Erica, to go ten years without a single birthday celebration?”
Because of the letter I’d written, saying “Dear Erica,” her name now came out naturally.
“When you keep everything quiet like this, of course she’ll just go along with it. It’s not acceptance — it’s submission, because the only family she has left wanted it that way.”
“Isn’t honoring our parents the right thing to do?”
“‘The right thing’… That’s well said.”
I finally spoke the thought I’d been holding back.
“Your parents died coming back from buying Erica’s birthday present. What do you think they would want for her? To leave her birthday uncelebrated forever?”
“…”
“I don’t want to go against their wishes. I want to give her what they couldn’t.”
He rubbed his forehead with his rough hand.
“You can honor them afterward. Erica also has the right to be celebrated. I want her to be happy.”
“…Hah. Happiness. Is this just your new way of making my life difficult?”
Martin was still looking for the old Gemma in me.
“Even now, you still think I’m the same Gemma?”
When I stepped toward him, he quickly averted his eyes.
“Let me ask you one last thing. Do you even know Erica likes cake?”
“She hates it. Erica hates cake more than—”
“What do you know?!”
We both turned in surprise — Erica stood there, face streaked with tears.
Had she heard everything?
Martin’s expression also faltered, his hand running over his face.
“Erica…”
“Everything Sister-in-law said is right.”
“…What?”
“Take responsibility. You ruined it. I knew she was preparing something for me — I was pretending not to know. And you ruined it!”
“…!”
She punched his arm hard.
“It’s all your fault, Brother. You hear me?”
Then she broke down crying, letting out everything she’d been holding in.
So that’s why she hadn’t come near me during the preparations.
When had things gone wrong?
“I like cake. You don’t know anything about me.”
Erica stormed upstairs. Martin reached out a hand, but she was already gone.
Seeing a side of his sister he hadn’t known must have hit him hard.
“….”
He rubbed his forehead like he’d been struck, then staggered off toward his room.
I could only watch him walk away.
“Babel… do you think I was wrong?”
Moonlight fell across Martin’s back, making him look desolate. Babel swallowed hard.
Just days ago, his thoughts matched his master’s — but during Martin’s trip, his opinion had changed. Gemma wasn’t the dangerous person Martin thought.
“My lady meant well…”
“Meant well… I see. You can go.”
His voice was drained.
After sending Babel out, Martin sat on the sofa and buried his face in his large, calloused hands.
Gemma wasn’t the kind of person to prepare something like this.
I want her to be happy.
And she wasn’t the kind of person to say that either.
The look in her eyes when she said it — you couldn’t fake that.
Even now, you still think I’m the same Gemma?
No.
He didn’t want to admit it, but he couldn’t deny it. The old Gemma wouldn’t set up a street stall to sell dresses.
And it wasn’t just Gemma claiming she’d changed — her maid Mari, the chef Baba, his right-hand man Babel, even Erica were showing interest in her.
Why is she getting under my skin?
Even for Martin himself.
Back in my room, I finished writing Erica’s letter, tapping the quill in thought.
Mari helped prepare the room for sleep, watching me quietly.
Hours passed, but the heavy atmosphere in the mansion hadn’t lifted.
This isn’t good.
I hadn’t meant to cause a fight between the siblings, and I hadn’t wanted to argue with Martin either.
But I couldn’t forget the look in his eyes, lost and unsettled.
Something had gone wrong.
I can’t just sit here.
I turned to Mari.
“Mari… was I too harsh on my husband earlier?”
“Well… um…”
Her hesitation said enough — yes, I’d been harsh.
It was probably a trauma for him too. Maybe he needed more time… but if I waited, apologizing would get even harder.
“I’m going to go see him.”
Mari didn’t ask questions, just smiled faintly.
I headed for the study. I’d seen him go toward his room earlier, but if he was true to character, he’d end up back in the study for work.
He was always buried in work.
Knocking softly, I opened the door.
In the dim light, Martin was lying on the sofa, asleep.
“…Um.”
I stepped closer and spoke quietly. He didn’t stir — must have been deeply asleep.
Moonlight traced his sharp nose, strong jaw, the firm line of his throat and Adam’s apple — the kind of features that could make a woman’s heart skip.
I caught myself staring and almost coughed to cover it.
Then —
A loud crash came from behind me.
I turned to see boxes spilling from an overstuffed cabinet, tumbling to the floor.
What is all this?
While I stood there wide-eyed, Martin jolted awake and rushed over, grabbing the boxes.
Brightly colored ribbons peeked out as if shouting “Surprise!”
“Th-this is…”
His face flushed bright red.
Given the day, I couldn’t help but suspect they were presents.
If not, why all the big ribbons?
“When did you come in here? Without permission?”
“I… spoke to you earlier…”
“D-don’t look any further.”
Martin tried to shield the various boxes with his body.
So he could stumble over his words.
And in that urgent tone, I caught the faintest trace… of a tsundere.
