For the Lady's Wise Regression - Chapter 60

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 60
The look in her father’s eyes as he smacked his lips was precisely that of a man who had just discovered a promising candidate for his Advisory Office.
“These days the young lack grit and perseverance, so most of them are ground to dust after a few sleepless nights, but you wouldn’t bat an eye at a week of it.”
Ground down without even noticing the wear.
The post of an advisor — buried beneath documents as tall as a man the moment you arrived for work, a position where sleeping nights were never quite enough.
Her father had always hungered for talent, but unfortunately for those who wished to serve in the Imperial Palace, the Advisory Office was the very last place anyone would choose.
Grit. Perseverance.
How many promising candidates for the Advisory Office had been ground to dust by his bone-deep conviction that willpower alone could carry anyone through a month, two months, sleepless nights without flinching?
Some had even collapsed mid-document and been hauled away by carriage.
The palace selected talent purely by merit — nobility or commoner made no difference — and in fact, it was the only place in the Imperial Palace with its doors truly open, though they scarcely welcomed anyone with open arms.
There were no shortage of applicants who made a point of not even stepping on the shadow of its threshold.
They said you could crawl in lying down, but you’d have to crawl out on your hands and knees.
“If we’d met under such circumstances, you wouldn’t have been satisfied, I suspect.”
Ian replied with an unconcerned air, as though he’d fielded such proposals casually, beneath notice.
“Ha. Is that so? But then — I’d like to hear the two of you speak of your affairs.”
Vanessa, who had been standing by as an observer, suddenly found her hair grabbed and herself dragged forward, blinking both eyes in surprise.
Duke Sharoze propped both elbows on the table, clasped his hands beneath his chin, and smiled warmly.
……Something felt wrong.
Whenever her father smiled like that, it was usually because a mischievous question was about to come flying at her.
No, surely not.
Vanessa suppressed her unease and produced an awkward laugh through her teeth.
“Father, really. What’s so remarkable between a married couple? We eat together, go out when our schedules align — that sort of thing.”
She darted a glance at Ian, then sidelong at her father, her eyes dancing.
“That is…… nothing out of the ordinary……”
“What about children?”
Pfft!
Ian, who had been about to raise his water glass to his lips without thinking, sprayed the water clean out.
Seeing this, Vanessa hurried to speak.
“Children……! It’s still too soon, Father. We haven’t even finished enjoying our newlywed days yet.”
“……Ah, children, children are still……”
Damn it!
I should have just kept my mouth shut and nodded……!
Beyond the uncharacteristic rambling, his nervous fidgeting drew the Duke’s eyes into narrow slits.
This is bad.
She had that feeling.
Ian Ruscliffe was going to be thoroughly scolded by her father before this meeting was through.
“Don’t tell me you’re sleeping in separate rooms?”
Under the relentless two-pronged assault, Ian simply stiffened.
“Separate, separate rooms are, that……”
This is done, completely done.
Any excuse I make to Father now won’t land.
Watching Ian stammer, Vanessa mentally smacked her own forehead.
Did he not ask about Father’s temperament before asking about his tastes?
In moments like this, you were supposed to laugh it off lightly.
But flinch like that, and you’ve as good as painted a target on yourself — here, there’s prey.
And Father’s instincts were far too sharp……!
……
“I, hem, have…… many discomforts……”
……Was he calling that an excuse?
Father’s eyes had just died.
The look that moments ago had beheld a competent advisor had transformed into the gaze of a man discovering a wretch incapable of acting like a man.
And that spark of fury landed squarely on her.
“Vanessa. No matter how awkward it feels, you mustn’t keep separate rooms. When bodies grow distant, hearts grow distant with them. A couple especially — you must sleep together. That way, even if you quarrel, the rift heals quickly. Haven’t I taught you this tirelessly since you were a child?”
Yes, yes, I know……
I’ve heard it until I’m sick of it……
But standing beside her father, she couldn’t possibly say: We’re sleeping separately because we’ll divorce in a year?
“To be honest, I worried at first whether marrying for love from the start was the right thing. The gift you sent, Ian, and what His Majesty said — I reasoned you were simply inexperienced at expression.”
“That……”
“Vanessa, as you say, there’s no harm in waiting a little longer to have children, but separate rooms for newlyweds……”
The Duke’s eyes blazed vividly.
“Surely you didn’t marry just to put on a show for your old man, did you? Hmm? My daughter?”
Gulp.
A dry swallow caught in her throat.
Looking at Ian… he was beyond hope of composing himself.
Which meant she’d have to clean up this mess alone.
A weak denial in front of someone already convinced they slept in separate rooms would only backfire spectacularly.
So she had to make him think that yes, they did use separate rooms, but only because of unavoidable circumstances—not for any other reason whatsoever.
‘This is exactly why I hate perceptive people!’
Vanessa grumbled inwardly and softened her eyes.
“How could that be, Father? If that were true, there’d be no reason for him to go out of his way to learn your preferences.”
“Hmm…….”
“He’s just terribly shy, that’s all. Even when I toss and turn beside him, he stays awake the whole night with his eyes open. I know couples shouldn’t sleep in separate rooms, but watching those dark circles deepen day after day…… How could my heart not ache for him?”
“……Is that so?”
“Of course. Look here, see? The circles have faded a bit, but they’re still there.”
Vanessa suddenly pointed to the skin beneath Ian’s eyes with her index finger.
He flinched. The moment she saw his eyelids quiver and his lips part, she fixed him with a sharp smile and wide, threatening eyes.
‘Please, just stay quiet.’
Did her silent prayer work?
His mouth snapped shut, and his throat bobbed lightly.
Sharoze then studied Ian’s motionless face carefully before letting out a small sigh.
“Now that you mention it, that does seem to be the case.”
“I’m only concerned about him. Please don’t be angry, Father. If I didn’t love him, you know I wouldn’t speak up for him like this.”
“True. You’d never go to such lengths for a man you didn’t love.”
By pushing forward without giving him time to think, she got the response she wanted.
As the faint suspicion in his eyes slowly faded, the food arrived at just the right moment.
Perfect timing. She’d leave a generous tip on the way out.
Vanessa exhaled a silent breath of relief and smiled even more brightly.
“Please, eat while it’s hot, Father. You know how you hate tough chicken once it cools. And…….”
She glanced sideways. Ian was still flustered, not quite caught up with the situation yet.
It was a blessing the food came when it did.
Otherwise, that barely-smothered suspicion would flare right back up at the sight of him like this.
At the same moment, her father’s gaze lifted from the food.
“……Darling, eat some more. You didn’t have breakfast because of the regular report, so you must be hungry.”
Ugh…… oh God…….
The moment that term of endearment left her lips—words she’d never imagined directing at Ian—goosebumps prickled across her skin.
After this meal, she’d probably be vomiting everything up; that much was certain.
But at Vanessa’s words, Sharoze’s face lit up with satisfaction and warmth.
If this would put her father’s suspicions to rest… well, she couldn’t manage three times, but two would be doable.
“Yes, yes. Your father-in-law got a bit mischievous there. Be patient with your old man, son-in-law.”
That day, when Ian barely managed to chew and swallow even a single chicken leg, Vanessa had to offer more explanations.
“He has a small appetite by nature. He eats even less than I do. Though he doesn’t usually eat this little. Father, I think he got nervous in front of you… right, darling……?”
Crack.
Vanessa couldn’t quite clench her fists, so she gripped the hem of her skirt tightly instead.
These two being in the same room had to end today. Period.
He’s not a piggy bank that spits out coins if you flick it. How can one person be this easy to read?
This was the first time she’d worked up an appetite from nervousness rather than from eating too much.
After the meal, Vanessa watched Ian, still unable to return to his normal state, and shook her head slightly.
Right. He’s even made plans to become a saint by the time he’s forty.
Shameless enough to lie well? That’s not a saint—that’s a con artist.
Vanessa, shaking her head slightly, gave the still-rigid Ian a light tap.
“Ian, are you going back to the estate?”
“…….”
“Ian?”
“I…… go ahead. I need to see the Crown Prince first.”
“All right, then.”
Only after she’d completely disappeared from sight did Ian exhale the breath he’d been holding.
What on earth just happened?
Ian’s hands, which had been washing his face in a daze, suddenly froze at his mouth.
“……D-darling…….”
Darling…….
A deep breath escaped.
Steam rose in wisps from the crown of her head.
“Ugh….”
It was as though her entire body had caught fire.
A fire that seemed it would never, ever die down.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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