Newlywed Life Begins with a Mistake - Chapter 22
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 22
“There’s no shadow on our master’s face.”
“That’s right. She looks happy.”
The woman who used to hold crystal glasses while wearing expensive jewels around her neck under splendid chandeliers was now holding fruit in simple attire without a single accessory, her eye and hair color changed.
Of course, she had also bought things from boutiques favored by nobles while concealing her identity.
But considering her usual spending habits, this didn’t even reach the level of her toes.
Normally, she would send about five four-wheeled carriages in a row, loaded with goods, but now she was sightseeing the streets with only one public carriage sent.
That’s why it was strange. She didn’t seem like the Evelyn they knew.
“Something’s odd, isn’t it?”
“Right. This isn’t behavior she’d normally do. She wouldn’t even look at food sold at street stalls, saying the hygiene was poor.”
“But she left the code.”
She would leave traces at 4 out of 3,000 shops.
She had definitely sent that signal.
Evelyn went around 4 places, starting with the dress shop.
Taking out a gold coin pouch meant she couldn’t shake off those around her, so they should go to the next location in advance.
So when the Valhalla knights mentioned numbers on receipts, they eavesdropped and moved to the next location ahead of time.
Sometimes as the owner.
“Welcome, this is Purukan, dealing only in the finest precious metals.”
Sometimes as staff.
“Would you like to try it on?”
In the process, they felt guilty about fainting several people, but to complete their mission, they thoroughly disguised themselves and made contact.
As expected, Evelyn appeared.
But.
“That’s 5.49 million gold and 17 silver, please confirm.”
“I’ll give you 3 million gold, so give me 48 silver in change.”
Evelyn left nothing behind.
She only indicated the next location.
“Oh my, I haven’t seen you before. What should I call you?”
“Ahem, I’m He—”
“Please call her Lady!”
“Doesn’t she look exactly like a Lady?”
“Hmm, that’s true. I’ll call you Lady.”
Thinking it might be a situation where she couldn’t speak carelessly, even when they tried to initiate conversation first, the maids from House of Count Heteus interfered.
Evelyn even obediently went along with what the maids said.
Normally, she would have noticed their presence in advance and left a code, but the Evelyn they actually encountered left nothing behind.
“That means…”
“Don’t interfere. That’s what it means.”
They had promised that if there were no codes despite visiting the designated locations consecutively, it would be interpreted as “Don’t interfere with my business.”
Therefore, they all gazed at one place with complex and subtle eyes.
“Does our master not need us anymore?”
“I don’t know. But this is the first time I’ve seen such a bright smile.”
“What if she’s lost her memory?”
The surroundings became quiet at the sudden question.
Though they hadn’t voiced it, everyone had been secretly speculating whether Evelyn might have lost her memory.
To somehow take her away, they gave extra money to street vendors to divert the attention of the Valhalla knights.
So now was the right time.
Though there were two guards by her side, they could easily subdue them. They possessed skills that rivaled the Valhalla Knight Order.
Even if the maids joined the fight, they had the numerical advantage, making it a favorable situation.
It was clearly a moment when they could take her and leave immediately…
“Wouldn’t it be alright to leave her as she is for a while?”
Evelyn’s expression was so bright that they couldn’t bring themselves to approach her.
Recalling the life of being chased in the North, it seemed okay to leave her like this for now.
Of course, she would have to return to the Heteus Barony eventually.
“Let’s withdraw for today.”
“What if, just what if… our master says she won’t return?”
At the suggestion to withdraw, one of the colleagues suddenly expressed anxiety, as if swept by strange emotions.
The woman who was the leader of the group hesitated for a moment, then answered quietly.
“Even if it means being disloyal, we’ll have to restore things to how they were.”
Anyway, she had reasons why she had no choice but to return.
Knowing this, they finally got up and left.
Though it was regrettable to let Evelyn go like this, opportunities would come again.
“Master, we’ll come again.”
“You must stay healthy until then.”
“Don’t be too happy, master.”
* * *
“Mmm! I’m so happy!”
An exclamation burst out naturally as I entered the tea house.
The interior decorated in colorful pastel tones was impressive, but it was because we were assigned terrace seats with a great view.
The open outdoor scenery came into view at a glance.
“Please feel free to call if you need anything.”
As the staff member who had set down the menu withdrew, I immediately examined the menu.
“Hmm. What should I eat?”
True to its reputation as a place famous for desserts, the dazzling array of treats captured my attention.
From cheesecake that looked like it would melt the moment it touched my tongue to soufflé that seemed as fluffy as clouds!
Everything looked so delicious that I couldn’t decide what to eat.
In the end, since there were so many things I wanted to try, I ordered plenty under the pretext of sharing with the maids and guards who came with me.
Of course, they waved their hands frantically, asking how they could possibly dine together with me.
“I’ll serve the tea first.”
Hibiscus tea was served in a glass filled with cool ice.
“Ugh, I can’t tell what this is supposed to taste like.”
I had chosen a tea that would supposedly help with weight loss out of guilt, but it had no flavor at all.
I should have just ordered coffee.
With my appetite suddenly diminished, I stirred the tea with a straw while admiring the street scenery.
But then I heard an unexpected conversation from the table next to me.
“Who do you think will host this year’s House of Count Heteus banquet?”
My ears perked up automatically.
“Wait, a ducal house banquet?”
There was a banquet I didn’t know about?
“Oh my, Madam~ This looks so delicious!”
“Should we have some scones while we’re here? We can pack up the leftovers!”
“Shh. Be quiet!”
When I brought my index finger to my lips and widened my eyes, the maids quickly shut their mouths.
Fortunately, the ladies sitting nearby were so absorbed in their own conversation that they kept talking without pause.
“Well, I’m not sure who it will be, but probably an unmarried noble lady will take charge again this year, don’t you think?”
“Unless the Grand Duchess returns, that’s likely.”
“Oh, that’s right! Because the Grand Duchess left the duchy, there was a sudden vacancy, and for three years now new ladies have been hosting the banquet, right?”
“That’s right. The banquet that Lady Daisy hosted last year was quite nice too. I wonder how it will turn out this year.”
What? My mother-in-law left the duchy so other women have been leading the banquets?
What on earth is this about!
And who is this Daisy!
Don’t tell me she’s Casian’s ex-girlfriend?
“Then what am I!”
A loveless political marriage?
A choice to forget the woman he loved?
Is that why he’s been avoiding our wedding night all this time?
“Huh, Mary! Madam just bent a fork with one hand.”
“Rose, quickly write it down on parchment! Madam snapped a fork with one hand!”
“Um, d-didn’t Madam tell us to be quiet?”
“Shh. You’re being too loud, Sir Knight~”
“We have quiet voices so we’re fine, but Sir Knight has such a booming voice that it irritates Madam!”
You’re more irritating, so could you please be quiet?
I wanted to say that, but the conversation from the next table made me even more on edge.
“Come to think of it, Lady Natalie, who went abroad to study, returned a few days ago, didn’t she?”
“Lady Reina also came back after finishing her vacation, so it looks like it’ll be a three-way competition this year!”
Natalie? Reina?
Just how many women are there!
“More importantly, why am I not being mentioned there?”
If they’re southern nobles, they couldn’t possibly not know that I’m the wife of Count Heteus, right?
Don’t tell me it’s because I’m married, not single?
But strictly speaking, as the wife of Count Heteus, I should be the one hosting the Heteus banquet!
Bang! Without realizing it, I slammed the table with the hand holding the fork.
“Huh? Rose! I sense some kind of solemn energy from Madam!”
“Hmm? She hit the table with the hand holding the fork and blue flames came out.”
“Gasp! Is that an aura?”
“Why does Madam have an aura!”
Aura or whatever, does it make sense to entrust the Heteus banquet to another woman?
“Here are the desserts you ordered.”
Just then, treats with sweet aromas wafting from them were placed on the table.
But no matter how many sweet treats were piled up before my eyes, I couldn’t bring myself to touch them.
In the end, I stood up abruptly from my seat.
“Excuse me. Please pack all of this to go! Except for the hibiscus tea.”
I didn’t forget to restore the fork that had been bent like a question mark back to its original shape either.
* * *
“Your Grace, a letter has arrived.”
“Put it over there.”
When Hans, the aide who entered the study, held out the letter, Casian checked the sender and gestured for him to place it on the messy pile of documents.
Hans smiled awkwardly and tried to persuade him.
“Still, shouldn’t you read it? It’s from the Grand Duchess herself, no less.”
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————