Chapter 17

When lunch ended without any problems, Corinna gave the other attendants simple greetings. After that, Ariel took her to take a bath. Probably because it was to Frigga's taste, but the Heres house' baths had a citrus fragrance to them, and this wonderful scent relaxed Corinna's mind.

That was the first day of all this chaos. Even though she had only visited her parents just this morning, it felt as if it was already a thing of the past. That's right, she'll have to let her family know from today onwards how grateful she is to the Heres house. When she faintly thought, Should I inform my friends from when I was in school as well?, her whole body heated up, and Corinna hastily left the bathtub.

The sleeping garments prepared for her were quite adorable so although Corinna felt embarrassed, she still wore them.

And like that, she looked from one end to another of the room given to her in the estate she'll now be living in from now on. As expected of high nobles, even the furnishings prepared were high class. Corinna thought, Although I feel shameful, this is my room, as she opened drawers and shelves, confirming one by one the things that were prepared for her. When she saw a jewel-like thing, she softly closed the drawer.

She didn't want to think when they had that made.

She briefly looked around, and even when the day was about to end, Albert still hadn't come home. So that she'll always know when he'll be home, a door had been erected connecting into the neighboring room. There's also a door on the opposite side, it being Albert's room.

Corinna, who had come to live in the Heres house after many twists and turns, was mentally fatigued but she can't sleep until Albert comes home. Also, she wanted to see his face. If she doesn't see his face, it felt like she wouldn't be able to fully accept that she now lives here.

Of course, for Corinna who'll start living here so suddenly from now on, the Heres estate's people were all very kind. Rather, even during the time when she first met his parents, they had been pretending to be angry, saying, "It's all so sudden!" but she felt that the people of the estate were slightly more eager for Corinna to quickly join the family than Albert. Their faces looked completely overjoyed rather than troubled. Albert, who had no intention of marrying, suddenly became interested in it, so with such vigor, wanting to keep his partner in the meantime and not caring who it was, Corinna felt she couldn't get cold feet anymore.

With their difference in status, Corinna herself couldn't be acknowledged by others to be a splendid lady. And yet, from the Heres family's point of view, there was nothing to be dissatisfied about– she was once a noble, moreover coming from a reliable family that had no malicious rumors, her appearance was normal, and above all, she was young.

After the day they first met, Corinna was worried about Duran and Ariel who wished for children, but that's to be expected for nobles.

This is what Corinna's current problem she most worried about.

She wondered whether she could even have children with Albert. Or rather, if Albert plans on doing so.

It may just be a feeling, but she thinks that Albert has no interest in children. It seemed he didn't have plans of doing it until needed, but it also didn't look like he willingly wanted to do it. Because his parents' enthusiasm was troublesome, and above all, he was a person who only thought of work. Even marrying Corinna was all for his work efficiency. The smart brain of his doesn't contain any thoughts about his own life.

Moreover, Albert married Corinna because of her hands, so it doesn't mean he feels any sort of attraction towards Corinna as a woman. She was happy, being told, "I do hold a favorable impression of people like you," but she wondered if he was interested in doing such a thing with her.

At her wits' end, Corinna sat on her bedroom's sofa to the side while unconsciously looking at the mirror hanging on the wall.

She didn't think she was that unshapely.

Her pale brown hair that was always tightly put up while at work spilled down to her chest. Although the quality of Nikolaos's blonde hair he inherited from their father was silky, Corinna had brown hair. Corinna had been slightly jealous since a long time ago, thinking, If I had hair like Nikolaos's, I could boast about my hair alone.

Her hair and eyes were the same color. There was nothing specially weird about her facial features, but it's not that it was extremely nice. Even when looking down at her body, it was just a normal one. Her breasts weren't that big. She wasn't fragile nor delicate either. It seems that the Heres family, who had strength to that of officers, disliked delicate women, and the people of the estate breathed a sigh of relief in their minds that Corinna was a healthy, normal woman, but she wasn't aware of that.

Corinna became insecure, thinking, Is it really alright for Lord Albert to actually choose such a normal woman like me so suddenly? She knew that even if it did come to a divorce, returning to the Balleli would be inexcusable so when that happens, she could only live on her own. She wanted to continue her job as a court lady, but working at the same place as Albert would, by all means, feel awkward. Though if that did happen, she had no choice but to work somewhere else, Corinna thought, and it happened as she was already thinking in case a divorce were to happen.

She heard a low voice and footsteps in the room next to hers. When she contemplated on what to do, the door to her bedroom opened.

"Ah, welcome home!"

When she called out to him, Albert, who came home late at night, looked at Corinna, blinking his eyes as if he was slightly surprised. She was worried, thinking he might have forgotten that Corinna was to live in his house, but it doesn't seem to be the case when Albert said, "I made you wait all this time, huh. My bad."

Already wearing nightclothes so he could sleep, Albert came closer to Corinna, looking worn-out, pulled on her waist, and briskly went towards the bed with no hesitation.

"Sorry, let's go sleep now."

Like so, he forcibly collapsed onto the bed along with Corinna. Having fallen atop Albert and the bed, Corinna hastily got up.

"I'll be using my hands until you fall asleep, Lord Albert, so—"

"What're you talking about? If you do that, it'll affect your body. Let's just sleep together."

Albert moved about, correcting his hold on Corinna, and quietly settled with his face buried in her chest as if he was satisfied.

He's quite tired, I see, Corinna timidly put her hand on his head. Just as she thought, she could feel a warm numbness on the palm of her hand. Albert too was tired today just like how Corinna was tired the whole day. Moreover, he had been working up till now.

When Corinna caressed his head, the half-asleep Albert further let out a satisfied sigh. When she looked down, she could only see a bit but his sleeping face buried in her chest looked peaceful.

I could finally witness Albert peacefully sleeping on top of a wide bed, Corinna thought, smiling. She also felt satisfied. Just as she was told, Albert came home even though it was already late, and he even said he wanted to sleep together with Corinna. He may be a busy, serious person, but a tender feeling of euphoria filled her heart seeing him happily sleeping on her chest.

Albert may be a civil officer but his physique was firm. It may have been because his family trained him in order to be an officer. Hugging such a manly body, Corinna couldn't calm down. She felt hot, embarrassed at how their whole bodies were touching. Hugging the opposite sex in such a way was also a first for Corinna. And yet, Albert happily dreamt, unaware.

Although it was their first night, which had a significance to it, Albert could only think of sleeping. Well, Corinna understood why so she was fine with it, and besides, her heart wasn't yet prepared to perform such an act so she was relieved, but she couldn't help but feel slightly hateful of him.

But it's fine. If this person can peacefully get some rest.

Corinna slowly brushed the head of an older man while watching over his appearance with a tender look in her eyes.

Corinna, who thought, I won't be able to sleep, seems to have peacefully fallen asleep before long while hugging the body of a warm man. She was awoken by the sound of a knock on the door.

"Please do excuse me."

After knocking, Ariel entered the bedroom, so Corinna raised her head with her body still on her side. She couldn't get up because Albert was still hugging her as he slept. Being attentive of Albert, Corinna lowered her voice, and returned her greeting.

"…Oh my, this is quite unusual. May I ask if he's still sleeping?"

Upon Ariel's surprise, Corinna looked down at Albert once more. Albert had a calm, sleeping face in between Corinna's chest, completely sound asleep.

"Is it so unusual?"

"It's because Lord Albert is a light sleeper. It seems he would always awake when the people of the estate start moving about, and it's because he would have already been awake even before we enter the estate."

At Ariel's words, Corinna looked at Albert once more. She let out a smile, knowing that he's fast asleep, different from how it's been so far. But that doesn't mean she could allow him to sleep forever. It was time for him to go to the Royal Palace.

Despite feeling reluctant, Corinna slowly caressed Albert's shoulder.

"Lord Albert, it's already morning. You have to wake up…"

When Corinna whispered, Albert's eyebrows twitched, and then slowly opened his eyes, blinking several times. When Corinna got up, he also got up together like he was lured to her, and put his hand on his forehead, looking downward.

"It haven't slept this much since I was a kid… I feel uncomfortable from sleeping too much."

Corinna thought that if Albert came home at the time he did last night, by no means would he oversleep but sleep for a short time instead, but hearing that his head felt uncomfortable, she began to worry.

"Are you alright…? Does your head hurt?"

When she reached out her hand to touch his head, Albert stared at Corinna, with some sleep still in his eyes, and after doing so, buried his face on Corinna's shoulder, still sitting on the bed. He wrapped his arms around her waist.

"No, my body is in top shape. I want to sleep with you for a few more days. I wish we had gotten married earlier…"

She heard a soft, satisfied voice from her shoulder. His actions that were like a spoiled child made Corinna tremble, but noticing Ariel's gaze, she turned bright red. Ariel looked at both of them with half a smile, saying, "My, oh my."

Corinna wanted to say, You're wrong! He's just satisfied with the amount of sleep he's gotten! but they're a married couple no matter how hasty it was so denying it would seem weird, and Corinna could only look downwards with her red face.

To be expected, she felt a little hateful of Albert.

"You've really been in tiptop shape after marrying, huh, Albert."

Henry called out to Albert with wonder in his voice, and Albert smiled refreshingly, saying, "Is that so?" with documents in his hand. His complexion was good, his expression was also lively. It's not as if I particularly thought he was unwell till now, but when seeing Albert looking like this, it makes me think that he might have been extremely tired till now, Henry finally realized after so long. It felt like when he was working, he would have on a hard look on his face, and even his tone would be slightly deeper, and careless. The impression wasn't different from what you'd call a calm man, but after marrying, Albert was always in a good, and lively mood. Above all, his mind worked much faster than before, and he spoke more clearly. He knew that he was an excellent man, but Henry had confidence he could silence Albert with his status as the Crown Prince and his own abilities. But on the contrary, he felt that the current Albert would be able to beat him, and he was flustered deep down.

Most of all, rather than calling him calm, Albert's attitude until now was as if to say "…If Your Highness says so, I have no other choice but to do it, huh…" with surprise on his face whenever Henry gave him unreasonable demands. But now, recently, Albert would show a composure, showing a smile as if to say, "No matter how unreasonable, I shall happily do so!" Henry was slightly bewildered of the change in him. Does one change so much when marrying?

"Marriage is an amazing thing, huh…"

When Henry unconsciously muttered, Albert smiled.

"I would really like to give my thanks to you, Your Highness. For advising me to marry. I'm happy from the bottom of my heart to have married."

The people within the room all had various, complicated expressions on their faces in surprise at Vice Minister Heres's boldness as if he was talking about a loved one. Among the married people, there were people that nodded in agreement, people who knitted their brows in opposition, thinking, I got married as well but I never thought it was that good, and then the unmarried people, they made faces of envy.

"So wonderful. I would like to marry soon as well…"

The one who was looking really envious was the person who stood beside Henry, Brock. Brock– the imperial knight and noble who caught the Crown Prince's eye, with his black hair, black eyes, tall, and good-looking– was also an excellent specimen from a woman's point of view, just like Albert, but on the contrary for someone whose desire to marry was strong, there was no indication that he had a lover.

"The reason why you can't even marry is because you view love like too much like a fantasy. You should just go for an arranged marriage."

When Henry said so, Brock very seriously replied back, "I shall marry for love."

"Impossible, just go find a suitable partner in your family."

"But Lord Albert actually found her on his own, moreover, you can't deny that he's also this happy about it."

"That's cause Albert got lucky."

"Well, come to think of it, I truly did."

When Albert agreed, Henry shrugged his shoulders.

"I never really thought of seeing Albert spend his married life like this. I thought that your family won't wait anymore with you not marrying until you're old and wrinkly, so they'll willfully choose a partner for you, marrying a woman you don't even like. And then with you almost never going home anymore, you'd think that there's no helping it so you'd have one or two kids, and when those kids have grown up, your wife would cheat on you with another man, your relationship as husband and wife would cool down, turning into a couple that just go through the motions."

"What's with that? Please stop it. Coming up with detailed delusions as you please."

Moreover, it's awfully realistic. If he hadn't met Corinna, he would have been greeted by a completely different future.

When Albert made a surprised expression, Henry smiled, saying, "That's because you being in a good marriage is very unexpected."

"You'll eventually find a good partner as well, Brock."

When Albert consoled him with a calm demeanor, Brock gave a fleeting, sidelong glance at the prince, and then smiled wryly. He understood what Brock wanted to say. The number one reason why Brock couldn't find a lover was the same reason that Albert used to have– he was too busy. Especially considering from Brock's point of view of wanting to marry for love, meeting women or time for cultivating love– everything would be brushed aside by Henry.

"What if Your Highness also married? I believe it would be a wonderful thing."

If Henry also marries, he might settle down a bit. When that happens, naturally, Brock's work hours would lessen as well. When Albert called out to him with such expectations, Henry rested his chin in his hand.

"The woman who'll become my wife will be the future queen. Makes it really difficult to choose."

"That's quite true."

Although Henry has no interest in marriage as well, he knows quite well that he's in a position where he has to marry. But because of his excellent, discerning eye, it seems it's difficult of him to decide on a suitable woman who has the ability to become queen. He has yet to meet a woman that would make him say, "It's her!"

Henry had very grand expectations. But looking for his ideals in a person who'll become the queen isn't quite so bad for the country's sake. Henry's father, the current King, and his mother, the Queen, were too soft on their son, so there's the possibility that his current situation may continue on for several more years.

When Albert looked at Brock with sympathy in his eyes, Brock let out a wry smile, putting his hand on the sword at his waist. Those knightly actions of his was a declaration of intent, that he was going to put aside his own love to serve and protect Henry.

Albert let out a bitter smile, thinking that Henry was surrounded by excellent people with extremely unwavering loyalty.

Though it was mortifying to say he was also aware how he himself was also first on that list of people.

"Well then, let's end this chitchat here. Your Highness, please look through these drafts, and choose."

When Albert thrust out the documents he had on hand, Henry lowered his head, and said with a bitter smile, "So cold of you, huh, Albert."