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chapter 50
Dinner, of course, was like walking on thin ice.
Though they had committed no crime, Noah, Reto, and Clare ate in silence, all the while stealing glances at As.
In the midst of the tense atmosphere, the oven-baked cannelloni drenched in tomato sauce was truly delicious. The filling of spinach mixed with cheese was exquisite.
“Um, As.”
When the meal was over, Noah asked cautiously.
“Shouldn’t we tell Mom and Dad that Brother came home…?”
“Of course.”
As, clearing away the empty dishes, answered curtly. The clattering sound of plates colliding was unusually sharp today.
“And you, brother-in-law.”
“Yes.”
Reto replied like a first-year cadet reporting to his superior.
“Since you’re part of the family now, could you help with the dishes?”
“Understood.”
“I’ll teach you the house rules while we’re at it.”
Meanwhile, Noah picked up the phone and called their parents.
“I want to do it!”
“Wait. If Mom answers, I’ll pass it to you.”
When the call connected, Noah handed the receiver to Clare.
“Hello, Mom?”
Clare wasted no time tattling that her brother had shown up.
“He was hiding in the bathtub! I got so startled I screamed, and then he escaped through the window!”
Only after chattering endlessly did she hand the phone back to Noah.
Noah explained the details Clare had left out.
[And how is As?]
Jenny Velo’s worried voice came through the receiver.
“She’s upset, as you’d expect.”
[Ugh, if I ever catch that bastard…]
“Still, since he came here first, maybe he did want to see As.”
[It’s not just because he’s my son, but I really think Arti is a bit strange.]
“Usually, when people say ‘It’s not just because he’s my son,’ it’s followed by praise.”
[He’d need something to be praised for. Oh, and this morning, Grandma called.]
She would be arriving at the Sharp estate soon.
After asking them to have a family meal once she arrived and to take care of themselves in the meantime, the call ended.
“What did Mom say?”
Clare, who had been waiting beside them the whole time, rubbed against Noah’s leg and asked.
“Haah…”
Noah was exhausted, though she had done nothing.
The house was on the verge of chaos.
As taught Reto the house rules one by one.
“Put the washed dishes here to drain, then wipe them gently with a dry cloth before placing them in the cupboard.”
“Each type of plate has its own spot. Make sure to keep them there.”
“So these big dishes go in the glass cabinet, right?”
“That’s right. Laundry goes in the washroom, sorted by color, and towels kept separately. What about underwear?”
“I’ll wash those myself. I did so as a cadet too.”
“Next, the garbage must be separated for recycling…”
Reto memorized every instruction like a cadet under orders.
‘She really likes housework.’
As’s demeanor had softened compared to earlier, and she seemed to take great pride in running the household.
‘And she has every right to.’
Housework was survival itself. In that sense, As held everyone’s lives in her hands.
“At first…”
As trailed off, inspecting the cleaning supplies. Then, as if deciding to be honest, she confessed:
“I thought Noah was just as hopeless with men as I was.”
“…Sister-in-law.”
Reto dropped the dustpan he was holding and looked at her in shock.
To his knowledge, this was the first time As had ever said Noah’s name. That alone told him how important this conversation was. She was finally going to share her true feelings about Noah’s marriage.
“I have nothing to say to defend myself.”
Reto admitted it plainly.
Their romance had been his fault from start to finish.
“I’m always sorry to Noah.”
“Still, you made an effort.”
Though she didn’t deny his mistake, As at least acknowledged his effort.
“…You heard my story earlier, didn’t you?”
As asked.
Reto hesitated whether to feign ignorance, but then nodded honestly.
“I didn’t hear all the details.”
“There aren’t many details. Just what you heard.”
As recounted her past herself.
“I was dating the young master. Then he dumped me.”
“I heard he took a job the family disapproved of…”
“Honestly, being dumped wasn’t the problem.”
Strictly speaking, As wasn’t a member of the Velo family.
So she didn’t care what job he took. If he had lost feelings or gotten tired of her, she could have accepted that too.
But the reason he gave was unacceptable.
“He claimed it was for my sake.”
That his job, against the family’s wishes, was somehow for her sake. That breaking up was also for her sake.
That bastard never contacted her again after spouting that nonsense.
“Phew…”
With a long, bull-like exhale of fury, As swept her bangs back with both hands.
“Since it came up, I should check the storage.”
Her plain black bangs fell neatly again.
“The master once gifted me an animal tranquilizer to use if the young master ever came back. I should coat the bullets in advance.”
Muttering darkly that one shot would be instant death, she walked out.
“…”
Left alone, Reto thought grimly.
Just how much authority did he have to cover up a murder?
That night.
Reto came to Noah’s room with a pillow.
“Do you think Sister-in-law would really kill someone?”
Lying on the bed, he smoothed out Noah’s side of the sheets, making sure there wasn’t a single crease. He plumped her pillow until it was soft.
“She talks like that, but she won’t.”
Watching him fuss over the bed through the mirror, Noah chuckled.
“If she really meant to, she would’ve done it already.”
So it wasn’t that she couldn’t kill—it was that she chose not to.
Feeling the subtle difference, Reto finished tidying. Now all that was left was Noah herself, and the night would be perfect.
Noah raised her arms to loosen her hair, and the flowing white chemise she wore swayed lightly.
Reto’s crimson eyes trembled as he watched.
“What are you staring at?”
Finally turning around, Noah teased him.
“I thought you were boring holes in my back.”
“Shall I check?”
Pulling her gently into his arms, Reto ran his hand down her back. Noah giggled, ticklish.
“…But you know.”
In the midst of their tender moment, Noah murmured:
“I realized something.”
“What?”
Lifting her head from his chest, she looked into his eyes.
Reto stroked her sleepy eyelids with his thumb.
“That phrase, ‘for your sake’—it’s really selfish.”
When As told her story, Reto hadn’t felt pity first but guilt.
Because he too had once hurt Noah with that same excuse.
“You’re right. You did.”
Recalling the promotion he’d given up, Noah pinched his nose.
“You can’t do that again.”
“For someone else’s sake” was the cruelest lie of all—because it never included that person’s true wishes.
“I reflected. I won’t do it again.”
“You change every day.”
How admirable.
Noah kissed his forehead.
Reto pouted, hoping for her lips instead.
His sulking was so cute that Noah couldn’t help but laugh.
Since they were home, the newlyweds decided to take wedding photos.
Dressed again in their wedding suit and gown, they posed in the garden.
“Look here! Here!”
“Will they turn out well, sister-in-law?”
“With subjects like you, probably not.”
Clare barged into the shoot, claiming the photos would only look good if she joined.
“I want to be in them too!”
“With you in the frame, the pictures really come alive.”
“See? People have to be pretty for good photos.”
She struck dramatic poses while Reto struggled not to burst into laughter.
After the shoot, the four of them did a big summer cleaning.
“Since a big bug got in yesterday, we should clean thoroughly.”
“If Brother runs into As, he’ll be torn limb from limb.”
I can feel it.
Clare foretold her brother’s gruesome fate.
“I’ll definitely change the way this family teaches language.”
Reto declared, aflame with protective duty.
Thus a peaceful day passed, and their honeymoon leave came to an end.
And during that time, her brother never once appeared again.
But then, in the most unexpected place, and by the most unexpected person, he was discovered.
“Welcome back!”
“How was your honeymoon?”
“Gifts! Did you bring us gifts?”
The special unit welcomed the newlyweds back after a week with cheers.
“We brought some.”
Noah handed over a box of luxury cookies from the hotel.
“Let’s share them at the meeting later.”
“We love you, Captain!”
“Who just said they loved her?”
“Ahh, General, wait—it was out of respect, ahhh!”
The unit was as lively as ever.
“General, you’re here?”
Warrant Officer Feast handed Reto a telegram that had just arrived. After reading it, Reto nodded.
“I’ll step out for a moment.”
“And the meeting, General?”
Noah asked. Every Monday morning was their regular team meeting.
“I’ll be back before it starts.”
With Feast, Reto descended the stairs toward the underground.
“Nothing for a whole week?”
“The chaplain thinks the subject might have had training in this area, according to his report.”
“This country really is unsettled these days.”
They walked down a neglected corridor, cobwebs in the corners, lanterns flickering intermittently.
At last they stopped before a door.
As Feast opened it, Reto slipped black leather gloves onto his hands.
