Chapter 21

We moved into an alleyway, most of the buildings near us looked shabby, since we were far from the capital's center.

"Woah, you know how to use transportation magic?"

Honestly, I was very surprised. I knew both his face and his abilities were outstanding, but I never heard about him knowing how to do this in the novel.

"I learned it because walking is too bothersome."

"So, using magic to get to the north in an instant is possible?"

"Since this is your first time, this'll be a special service. However, long-distance costs extra, customer."

It doesn't look impossible. I was going to call him shameless, but a scream disrupted me.

"You fucking useless insect shitheads!"

It was Kallen's voice.

He seemed to be angry at the soldiers kneeling down in front of the main gate.

Birds of a feather really do flock together. Gilbert's true soulmate.

"I've got no money to give you. You should've just laid down and sworn allegiance to your master like a dog."

As Kallen acted like nobody was watching him unleash this violence, I hid while watching him and whispered to Aedis.

"I think I'm a nice and merciful boss who leads my subordinates the correct way. That's what Sir Vega and Sir Prokeon think too, right?"

The silence following that lasted a bit too long.

"...Well…"

He had to answer, but if he answered honestly, my feelings would be so hurt so he just spoke vaguely instead.

"Ah, I'm feeling a bit dizzy now. Let me down."

Aedis let me down.

As I lightly stepped on the ground, I seemed to have also trampled on some dried leaves. They made a crunching sound.

Without a care, I made my way out of the alleyway as the leaves crunched.

Kallen turned his back.

"Who's there?!"

"The maid you kidnapped."

I answered with a refreshing smile, but Kallen only frowned as if his stomach hurt.

"...Lady Maevia?"

Shouldn't I be the one with an upset stomach?

"I'm a maid. Don't I look like one to your subordinates?"

When I got a closer look, their faces seemed familiar. The ones who drove Sarah into a trashy corner.

Kallen didn't hide his irritation.

"What the hell are you up to..."

You don't wanna have a long conversation? Yeah, me too.

Aedis should be watching us too. I gently relax my hand before getting to my point,

"I was only going to beat you until you die, but... wasn't there supposed to be people scattering rumours? Gilbert's loyal subordinate, Kallen Turner, was beaten to death for abducting and killing a maid of the Morgana family. But, since there are so many witnesses, is there really a need?"

"I don't know what you're talking about. Don't slander me. Bring your nonsense somewhere else..."

Our conversation ended there. I twisted my wrist and punched him.

My physical revenge ended within a flash. Kallen fell back so fast it was actually kind of bland.

As if I hadn't just beaten Kallen an inch from death, I looked back at the soldiers with a lively expression without a drop of sweat. They all looked terrified.

With a bright smile I hadn't used in a while, I said,

"Do you know who I am?"

"You're a maid."

"From top to bottom, you're a maid."

"You're Sarah."

I raised a brow.

"You, forget that name."

"I don't remember anything!"

"Good. Then..."

While I was handling the situation, Aedis, who suddenly appeared, pulled me back.

"Deal with this later, let's check your condition first."

He took me to the alleyway we were first in when we arrived here.

Even in the dark, he observed me with blue eyes that felt like they'll pierce through everything. I felt embarrassed when he started to open my mouth and lift my eyelids.

"Are you playing doctor now? Even if we're married now, I don't remember giving you permission to look at the insides of my eyelids."

Aedis paused and laughed before suddenly put on a straight face to warn me,

"Shh."

"What, you laughed."

You're not gonna pin the blame on me, right?

When I narrowed my eyes, Aedis, who finished his examination, said,

"I'll watch from across the street as everything burns down."

It was only after I strengthened my physical body that I realized the meaning of his words.

Gilbert, who successfully escaped from the grand duke's estate, revealed himself.

...I'm glad my assumption of him having no friends other than Kallen was true. He has nowhere else to go but here.

"Why didn't you follow my instructions?"

Gilbert was too busy questioning Kallen rather than worrying about his bloodied state. Unable to stand up, Kallen gritted his teeth.

"Don't order me around!"

I grinned on the inside at their breakup.

"I did my best to support you. But what did you do? You've been chasing after Maevia Morgana, not caring about your future advancements! You should've just killed that bitch!"

Uh, is that punk talking about me?

As I tilted my head to the side, I heard an exceedingly low and deep voice at the rim of my ears.

"Wife."

"Yes, husband?"

I answered gently and he gave me a kind smile.

"I'll take you back to the mansion, so go to bed first."

I agreed immediately.

How can I possibly refuse when my dear husband will be getting his hands covered in blood tonight?

Due to sleeping soundly, it might've been the reason for my early rise.

Sarah told me something funny had happened while I was enjoying dreamland.

Gilbert, who did his very best to escape, went to meet Kallen. And they had an argument.

But I knew that since I witnessed it with my own eyes.

After that, he became like an obedient lamb and returned to the mansion, to his room, where he was locked up again. Furthermore, he didn't even try to retaliate against Aedis' subordinates who were keeping an eye on him.

My husband's violence is great.

I wanted to anger Gilbert with ginger bibimbap today, but I had an inflexible schedule. Instead, I ordered Sarah to deliver the meal, Vega and Prokeon running after her.

The look on her face told me she wondered how I could give this precious ginger to that bastard, but eventually nodded. The thought of pissing off Gilbert made me a bit excited.

Meanwhile, I met with Vanessa who brought an armful of dresses and suits.

I asked Aedis in advance if we could go see my parents in a couple outfit.

It was for my sake.

"Hey... Heyy..."

But, even though she came all the way to the grand duke's estate, it seemed like she didn't want to meet him.

She looked at me with an expression that hinted she'll jump out of a window if she had to show the clothes to Aedis in person.

"Please check just my dress."

No matter what he wears, Aedis' handsome features will make up for it.

I wasn't looking at this situation with rose-coloured glasses, this is simply just facts.

The problem was that no one had the guts to look at him, so no one knew about his handsomeness.

It seemed like I was the only one who knew of his cute smile where his eyes would slightly slant upwards.

Only then was Vanessa able to put a hand on her chest.

"Thank you. Really, thank you."

Though she refused to meet Aedis, the clothes she brought were magnificent.

I chose a light green dress the colour of unripe apples. Naturally, Aedis' clothes ended up being the point colour associated with summer.

Vanessa placed some pins on the dress that fits perfectly to my body, enthusiastically flattering me before returning. She desperately struggled to not meet Aedis.

I still had some time before the meeting with my parents, so I waited for Aedis to come.

Your legs are so long. My eyes were very pleased since he was like a statue that only I was able to appreciate.

"Aedis."

Hearing my call, he made a wonderful expression, his necktie not present.

"The title is missing."

"I'll only be calling you by your name now. The things you did for me yesterday really upped my impression of you. Honestly, I was touched."

I'm certain that Kallen, who was already treading on the road to death, was sent to the afterlife.

Aedis closed his eyes and smiled listlessly.

"Now that I know my wife was touched, I can die without regrets. So, is there a reward?"

Hey?

"You said you can die without regrets now but still want a reward?"

"Yes."

"What do you want?"

"Hair."

"Uhm?"

"I'll prepare it for you."

Aedis looked at his hands. Why does your enthusiasm make me feel a bit bitter?

"Don't talk as if you're preparing raw fish."

Then, he used another word instead of 'prepare'.

"I'll decorate you."

There's no way you're going to yank off my hair and throw it away, right? Since you're my husband.

Once I calmed myself down, I left my hair in his care. He combed my hair more skillfully than the first time.

Suddenly, the book he was reading came to mind and I let out a laugh.

"Did 〈100 Thing You Must Do For a Happy Marriage〉 tell you to take on the role of a hairdresser?"

"It's just a hobby."

The way he enunciated his words absolutely crushed me. I was torn between giggling at the way he said stuff or concentrating on the way he did my hair. It's not that I'm too lazy to make small talk or anything.

Aedis said while loosely braiding my hair,

"Dear wife, would you also like to read it? The book was quite interesting."

"You must have liked it if it was interesting."

He smiled with his eyes.

"Isn't it admirable that I'm making an effort for my wife?"

"To my regret, you've used up all of your compliments today. Try again next time."

Looking in the mirror, my braided pink hair didn't look so bad.

Huh? What's this?

"Isn't the shape similar to the way Sarah braids my hair?"

Aedis feigned innocence.

"I can't hear you, I don't know what you're talking about."

Was Sarah teaching him without my knowledge? I'll look into that later.