Episode 30

“I told her that since she was only a wife in name, she should not receive any actual training as a successor or get involved in the affairs of the dukedom.”

“It restricted my actions.”

“No. I said that because I was worried Viola might feel burdened. Just being a thorn in the Emperor’s side must weigh heavily on her.”

“You slipped your arm out of the palace? The groom told me about it.”

“Because I’m embarrassed.”

Ollie blinked his eyes.

“yes?”

“Because I was embarrassed. I did it because it tickled and embarrassed me when my wife touched me.”

“You are innocent, which doesn’t match your impression.”

“Let’s move on.”

Ollie suddenly had a headache.

“You were upset that I told you not to sing a serenade at your wedding?”

“I didn’t want anyone to look at my wife with a harassing gaze. Especially since it was the early days of our contractual marriage, and I had to consider her remarriage.”

“I’m afraid that if I show too much of an unconventional side, it will be difficult for Madam to remarry?”

“That’s it.”

“One last thing.”

Ollie asked a question that he had been very curious about but had been holding back.

“What’s that table over two meters tall? It’s in the dining room.”

“It’s literally a dining table.”

“I want to ask why it is 2 meters.”

“I think so.”

“Huh? I didn’t hear you correctly.”

“……I think I’ll lose.”

“What are you saying….”

“If I look at you closely, my heart will burst!”

“Your Majesty, by any chance?!”

He put the documents down on the floor, looking at Ezekiel Betra’s face, which was as red as a tomato.

And then he quietly covered his face and fell down.

“Are you laughing?”

“I’m not laughing.”

“Take your hands off me.”

“I, uh, uh, uh, laugh.”

There was a huge commotion.

A few minutes later.

“lowering.”

“I know. Stop it.”

“It’s not like I really hate you and want to break up with you. Why did you say that?”

“I just said it with all my heart.”

“I put my heart into it, but if that’s the result, isn’t something wrong?”

Meanwhile, Ezekiel, who had checked Ollie’s reaction, wiped his face.

It leaves me speechless.

The conclusion was clear.

“Because Your Majesty chose to make remarks that could easily be misunderstood, Madam, who was already living with a sense of responsibility at her parents’ house, became even more intimidated, and eventually, Your Majesty became a disciple of her.”

“Please stop the violence.”

“It’s true.”

It was Ezekiel’s mistake.

It was because I hurt my wife by setting up the relationship wrong in the beginning, and because I used the wrong way of speaking.

“I’ve done many things that could have been misunderstood. Don’t forget.”

“Thanks for pointing that out.”

Ezekiel’s eyes dizzied at the thought of ruin.

Ollie, who was watching him from the side, asked cautiously.

“Since when have you been like that? Your Majesty, your feelings for the Madam.”

Ezekiel Betra recalled the day he first saw his wife, Viola. He closed his eyes tightly and muttered.

“……From the beginning.”

“Sigh.”

“You’re laughing again. You might as well get out.”

“Oh, oh, how harsh! Please consider the situation of someone who is hearing for the first time that Your Highness is in love and babbling.”

“I don’t want to talk any more because of you.”

“Oh my god!”

Ezekiel glanced at his aide. The corners of his mouth were twitching up to his ears in amusement.

“I thought Your Majesty, you wouldn’t be affected if you read the divorce law.”

“A leader can’t show signs of wavering. I heard it from you and took it calmly.”

“Your Majesty. Please, be swayed by your actions. Sometimes, even being helplessly swayed is a sign of affection.”

Ezekiel, who would have opened his eyes and said something to him normally, sagged like a stuffed doll.

“……I should have done that.”

“Oh, my. It seems Your Majesty is truly shocked to hear what I say without making a sound.”

Ollie’s smile faded slightly. He seemed to finally sense the gravity of the situation.

“Still, hold on tight, Your Majesty. It’s not too late.”

Ollie clicked his tongue as he looked at Ezekiel’s pale face.

“Aren’t there any helping hands left for us?”

“……Are you sure you’re talking about that kid?”

Ezekiel gritted his teeth, though he was disgusted. There was nothing wrong with what Ollie said.

“This is crazy.”

dripping.

At that moment, someone came into the office knocking.

It was Anna, Viola’s maid.

“What’s going on?”

“Your Majesty. A guest has arrived at the Duke of Vetra’s residence.”

“A guest? No one invited me.”

“Just now, the Marquis and Marquis of Millini arrived unexpectedly! They came to complain about the dress incident!”

Their expressions became distant.

what?

***

“This is unacceptable!”

“Absolutely not. Absolutely not! There’s no morality in that!”

I’m out of breath. Help me!

“If we want to have a fair competition, one party can’t monopolize the dresses.”

“Why is your city stealing all the fabrics that my wife worked so hard to import?”

The Marquis and his wife looked at me with anger, holding hands tightly. With each word, it seemed as if they drew courage from the warmth of our clasped hands.

I feel so sick.

“Stealing… It was legitimate advertising.”

“No! What did you say? A lavender glittering dress imbued with the essence of Vetra can only be purchased at Vetra?”

“Thanks to you, the number of tourists this year has been cut in half compared to previous years. We should be aiming for a synergistic effect. It’s not right to promote this with the intention of killing us!”

The Marquis banged on the table.

Because of that ominous atmosphere, even the Duke’s servants were hesitant to approach.

Anna’s courageous successors, the maids of honor, stood behind me and supported me, but even they flinched at the Marquis and his wife’s stubbornness.

The Marquis of Millini looked at me and said:

“I guess our Duchess doesn’t know because she’s from a lower-class noble family, but there are lines that must be kept between the upper-class nobles.”

The maids frowned in frustration, but I pretended to be calm. If I lose to Jinsang, I’ll lose.

When I didn’t respond, the Marquis and Marquis raised their voices again.

“So, the one who crossed the line should pay compensation! Pay compensation!”

“We, Millini, have been pushed back by you and are having trouble attracting guests to our resort. Please take responsibility for it somehow!”

My head hurts. I’m speechless, as the older noblemen and women are showing their malice towards me.

The fear I had experienced at the author’s house came back to me and my shoulders hunched.

That was when.

“If I had known you two were coming, I would have prepared some coffee.”

A sigh of relief escaped me without me realizing it at the familiar voice.

I never thought that someone I usually avoided would be this happy to see.

Ezekiel came into the reception room and raised the corners of his mouth at them.

At first glance, it sounded like a mockery, but surprisingly, the Marquis and his wife’s anger subsided.

“Oh, oh. You’re here.”

“I also wanted to talk to His Excellency Duke Ezekiel.”

The Duke’s arrival softened the Marquis and his wife’s demeanor. Fury welled up in me at the swift change in their stance.

“I heard the circumstances before and after coming in.”

Ezekiel opened his mouth.

“I was honestly surprised. No wonder the artisans of Milini are so fond of the Marquis and his wife. They’re more passionate about commerce than anyone else.”

“Hmm?”

The Marquis, who was preparing to get angry, hesitated at the Duke’s sweet talk.

“This time, we tried our best to beat the craftsmen of Millini, and we were relieved to see such a positive response from the public. Honestly, isn’t success or failure something that no one can predict?”

“That’s right.”

“Actually, we almost lost to Millini last time.”

“That’s right. Back then, we were targeting the Duke’s weak point! Hahaha!”

The corners of the Marquis and his wife’s lips twitched as they recalled fond memories of that time.

Ezekiel listened to their success stories and then turned to me.

Wink. It was filled with confidence that everything would be okay.

Then he continued his speech as if honey had spread on his tongue.

“I remember it vividly, too. This time, we were pushed back, so we had a hard time keeping up with the Marquis’s promotion.”

“How is it? Thanks to us, has the Duke’s competitive spirit increased and seen any results?”

“Yes. I gritted my teeth and decided to win this year’s dress promotion, and it was worth it. It was all thanks to my wife’s innovative ideas.”

Ezekiel gently took my hand and lifted it up. It seemed as if he was trying to imprint my presence clearly on this spot.

“We won this year with great difficulty, but we look forward to a wonderful promotional performance by the Marquis and Marchioness in the next item.”

“Haha! To be honest, I’m so sick to my stomach because the two of you did such a great job promoting each other this time!”

“Actually, Duke Vetra and his wife are young, so they should have more sense than my husband.”

“We must also work hard so as not to lose to the Marquis, who still has a keen sense of humor.”

Wow. I’m speechless.

What is this guy?