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Chapter 43
“I Have No Intention of Divorcing!”
Cedar’s eyes widened at my retort.
For a moment, as if bewildered, his lips twitched, then he ruffled the hair I had just hastily fixed.
“What kind of nonsense is this? Are you seriously trying to drive me crazy?”
“That’s just how it sounds! If not that, then what reason would I have to urge you for a decision?”
“Urge? What urge? I’ve already told you my feelings clearly! I said I don’t want a divorce! Logically, if there’s urging, it should be urging you to decide to stay by my side, right?”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why do you want me to stay by your side? You could have a perfectly fine woman instead of me. One that wouldn’t make Lady Briar feel uneasy.”
“It has to be you.”
“So why?”
“….”
Cedar’s silver-gray eyes flickered back and forth.
Perhaps he hadn’t expected me to ask, because he hesitated for a moment and then answered uncharacteristically awkwardly:
“B-because I don’t think I could find a wife better than you.”
So he was just planning to feed only grass to a good wife, huh? I crossed my arms and muttered irritably.
“Always so angry.”
“I’m not angry. You just need to understand how much you can bewilder others. If the roles were reversed, you’d raise your voice too, right?”
“So you could just contract with a clever, compliant woman again. Why maintain a marriage with a troublesome person?”
The more sharply I pressed, the redder Cedar’s face became.
His neck flushed scarlet as he spun around and shouted loudly:
“I-I don’t know either! Anyway, my wife is only you! Got it?”
“Pff.”
If you’ve turned your back, at least walk away somewhere.
But he just turned his back and pretended not to notice. I looked at his firm, broad back and pouted.
‘Does he even know what he’s saying right now?’
“My wife is only me.” Saying that so casually—it sounded almost like a love confession.
‘If it were anyone else, they’d misinterpret it for sure.’
‘My wife… only me. How easy it is to misunderstand that.’
Does he always scatter such unwittingly seductive words? Tall, handsome, high-ranking men saying things like that would usually leave a favorable impression.
‘But not me. I know Cedar isn’t interested in romance or love! And I’m not particularly interested either!’
Still, don’t scatter such words so thoughtlessly.
I murmured inwardly, wary that Cedar might start lecturing me if I spoke my mind. But, like a ghost, he suddenly turned to me.
“Why are you glaring at me?”
Does he have eyes on his back too? How else would he know I was staring?
I pouted and mumbled:
“Because I think you’re a very guilty person.”
“Me? Guilty of what?”
“You don’t need to know.”
Cedar tilted his head. Seeing him puzzled made me giggle silently.
‘Guess it’s hard for him to guess my thoughts too.’
After a moment, Cedar suddenly grabbed my hand tightly. His hand was so large my own disappeared in it.
“So… your answer?”
Startled, I quickly lowered my head, caught in the pleading, tender gaze.
‘This is exactly why such gestures cause misunderstandings!’
Why hold the hand of a grown lady like this? And why is it so warm?
Feeling awkward, I wriggled my hand in his. Then, in a serious tone, he promised:
“Don’t worry about my mother. I will protect you, no matter what.”
I didn’t have the courage to look at his earnest face. I deliberately pouted and replied in a sulky tone:
“You came home late that day.”
“Th-that day! I was too engrossed in digging with a pickaxe! I admit that was my fault. I will never let my guard down, even in my own house. No, I will never leave your side. I swear it on my name.”
The way this big, lazy-looking man with a leopard-like expression seemed helpless at my words made me laugh.
As I giggled, my own feelings became clear, like seeing through crystal-clear water. I didn’t particularly want to leave him, even if it meant breaking our contract marriage.
“You don’t need to swear so dramatically. I believe you.”
“So that means you won’t divorce me?”
Cedar’s face brightened at my words. I shrugged.
“After all, the Swordmaster planted the herbs herself. I need to see how they grow. I’ll stay by your side until you no longer need a wife.”
Since I had answered, I could finally pull my hand away. I removed my hand from Cedar’s palm and slowly walked toward my room, saying:
“You’re really impatient. You said you’d give me three days to think.”
“Right, I’m impatient. I’m the youngest in everything, after all.”
“Now that the discussion is over, I’ll rest.”
“See you at meal time.”
Ugh… how much grass is he planning to pile on me this time?
I grabbed the stair railing and frowned. Cedar looked at me and snickered.
He usually wore a frown of reluctance or mild displeasure, so seeing this rare bright smile was unusual.
After greeting me, he turned toward the kitchen. I watched him go and sighed through my nose.
‘I eat really slowly.’
Our meals always went like this. Cedar would finish and watch me silently, resting his chin on his hand.
I chewed carefully, sometimes counting each bite, sometimes pushing away some vegetables—he observed it all with meticulous eyes.
‘…He’s dangerous without even realizing it.’
I shook my head, my face flushing and heart pounding.
Of course, it’s just because there are too many stairs.
Diana discreetly followed Grisha, careful not to be noticed, and reported her findings.
“The mage has settled at a hotel in the city.”
“Did you find the room number?”
“Yes.”
Diana nodded with satisfaction. She had asked someone to find out which black-haired, blue-eyed mage had come to the academy.
‘Even if they aren’t from a noble family, being a mage is valuable. But who knows? Maybe they are from a surprisingly prestigious family.’
The mage was attractive and had a rare profession. Diana had already mentally earmarked Grisha as a potential spouse.
‘If they were poor, I wouldn’t even look back. Judging from the hotel, they’re not from a poor family.’
The hotel’s first floor had a café and bar frequented by nobles, making it easy to bump into them under the guise of coincidence.
‘Once I learn about their family, I’ll make contact immediately.’
Diana asked her informant more details:
“Did they go straight to their accommodation?”
“No, they stopped by a rundown mansion near the Azure Dragon Knights before going to the hotel.”
“A rundown mansion?”
“Yes. A two-story mansion with only five rooms. I heard it’s an annex of the Azure Dragon Knights.”
“Why would a mage go there?”
It wasn’t odd for a mage to go somewhere related to magic, but the Azure Dragon Knights had no connection. Diana frowned.
“They met a man and a woman there.”
“A woman? What did she look like?”
“It was too far to see clearly. She was so tiny she was completely hidden behind the mage. I wouldn’t have noticed her if not for her voice.”
‘Tiny…’ Normally one would assume family or a lover, but Diana immediately thought of Grisha’s conversation:
[Has our sister awakened?]
Grisha replied curtly:
[I don’t know. I want to know too.]
Though usually expressionless, Grisha’s face was twisted in pain when he said that.
Diana rested her chin on her hand and hummed.
‘That doesn’t seem like a lie.’
A mage searching for their sister, going to the Azure Dragon Knights commanded by Cedar Grenite? And there was a tiny woman there? Could it all be a coincidence?
‘Still, the academy mage who diagnosed that my sister could never awaken had no reason to lie, so that was probably true too.’
Despite unease, Diana still believed her sister couldn’t have awakened. She commanded:
“Keep watching that mansion. Someone will come out eventually.”
Once she sees what the tiny woman looks like, the answer will reveal itself.
The day after Cedar and I agreed to maintain our contract marriage:
I had already used up all my conversation for three days’ worth of social interactions, so I didn’t want to meet any guests.
But someone came to the mansion whom I couldn’t refuse—Jacques, coming to receive treatment from Grisha.
‘Our Grisha is really diligent.’
Since it was his first time coming to the capital in a while, he could have taken a rest and met me later.
He wanted to see the elf right away and asked me to arrange a meeting immediately. Feeling his frustration, I couldn’t refuse.
‘I can’t delay someone’s hope just because I’m tired. Hmm.’
Still, I was tired.
I sluggishly went out to meet Jacques and Grisha, like limp seaweed.
