Chapter 76

Mari skillfully greeted and moved away from the scene. Normally, someone had to assist Altair with his bath, but he disliked being touched and preferred to do everything himself. He would rather do everything with his own hands than wait leisurely while being attended to by others.

"You said you were scared of being in a strange place..."

She entered the bathroom as if it were her own home, washed off the dust from riding, and even found a robe to wear. Recalling how she had boldly lied in front of her uncle, she couldn't help but laugh.

"What's so funny?"

Altair, drying his wet hair with a towel, asked. Whether he really didn't know the reason or was pretending to be unaware, it was hard to tell. Narrowing her eyes, she noticed Altair subtly avoiding her gaze.

'So he does know the reason.'

Sighing, she extended her hand to Altair. Without asking for anything specifically, he seemed to understand her intention and naturally handed her the towel, sitting beside her. As she began to dry Altair's hair with the towel, he bent his waist to make it easier for her.

"I knew it wasn't the room I used to stay in, right?"

"It would be strange if you didn't."

"It's Melissa's room."

"I knew that too. I could smell the perfume she uses as soon as I entered."

Was that so? Given that she hadn't noticed it at all, it seemed only Altair, with his sensitive sense of smell, had picked up on it.

"There was a time when I used it..."

But the room had already been changed to suit Melissa's taste, and there was no trace of her past use. In fact, this wasn't the only thing that had changed. After her uncle took control of the Bain family, the entire atmosphere of the mansion changed. This was the result of his belief that erasing the traces of the incompetent previous generation was necessary for the family's future development.

"By the way, I plan to sell the jewelry and convert it into money."

"You don't need to tell me about that. It's yours, after all."

"But it's thanks to Altair that I got it..."

"In that case, I should give you the mithril mines."

"That's different!"

"How is it different? It's also thanks to you that I got it."

Altair, who was drying his hair, caught her hand and looked up. Their eyes met, and he said firmly,

"You're not planning to make me look like a petty man who meddles with his wife's dowry, are you? Everything we get here is yours."

This wasn't a typical case of a wife's dowry. But with Altair's firm words, she felt it was acceptable.

'It's like being in a position where you can stretch out your legs.'

Knowing that Altair really didn't mind, she could nod willingly.

"Thank you."

She was even happier to have something she thought she couldn't get back. She felt so grateful and excited that her face flushed slightly. Seeing her like this, Altair chuckled and lightly tapped her forehead with his finger.

"If this is your reaction, what will you do in the future?"

"In the future?"

"Whatever... You'll see."

Altair's vague attitude reminded her of a past event. The day Altair secretly planned to deal with Falhail without telling her.

"Are you making another plan without telling me?"

"..."

Emphasizing the word 'again,' she asked, and Altair tightly closed his mouth. He seemed to have immediately understood which past plan she was referring to. The smile that had been on his face a moment ago was gone.

"...It's not certain yet."

Altair sighed and slightly furrowed his brow, his perplexed feelings clearly visible.

"I can't make a big deal out of just my suspicions, so I need you to wait a bit longer."

Seeing Altair's effort to explain the situation without holding back, she felt reassured.

'Besides, I can understand how Altair feels.'

She was also investigating the death of his parents without telling him. She didn't want to see him worry and struggle before she had concrete evidence. If Altair felt the same way, she could understand.

"Okay, I'll wait."

Smiling and nodding, she saw a look of relief on Altair's face, which had seemed tense. He didn't stop there but reached out and hugged her. Surprised by the sudden contact, she shuddered, and he chuckled.

"How long are you going to be startled like that?"

"I just can't get used to it..."

No matter how close they became, facing Altair always made her nervous. She wasn't trembling in fear like before, but her heart raced and she felt tense, making it hard to act naturally. She wondered if she would ever get used to it, but it seemed impossible to treat him as casually as she did Mari or Anna. Lost in these thoughts, she stared at Altair for a long time, and his expression became subtle. Realizing she had been staring too intently, she tried to look away, but Altair's face came closer first. 'Oh!' she was flustered, and Altair's lips lightly touched hers and then pulled away. She stared at him with wide eyes, as if protesting, and he cleared his throat and turned his head.

"Doesn't staring at me like that mean you're okay with it?"

"I don't do that when you look at me..."

"If you think it's unfair, do the same to me from now on."

Altair suggested boldly. It sounded like a very fair solution, but she couldn't shake the feeling that she was at a disadvantage.

'But what does it matter.'

In a husband and wife relationship, it didn't always have to be fair, and there was no need to fear being at a disadvantage.

'But I don't want to be at a disadvantage all the time, so someday I will!'

Was she being petty for wanting to do something that would make Altair fume? How did he know her thoughts? Altair narrowed his eyes and leaned in close.

"Are you having strange thoughts?"

"No, I'm not."

"It's not. Your face is giving it away."

She touched her face, wondering if it was true, and Altair chuckled and messed up her hair.

"Anyway, don't worry too much and do what you want. There's no set schedule except for the audience with the emperor, so enjoy your time in the capital."

"Enjoy my time in the capital..."

"Right. Since it's been a while, don't you want to go shopping and meet your friends?"

The image of her excitedly shopping and happily chatting with friends over tea floated in her mind, but it felt awkward.

'Come to think of it, Altair doesn't know that I lived in extreme seclusion.'

After moving to the Eilsford family, she had actively tried to prove her worth to Altair, so he couldn't imagine her living in seclusion here. Hesitating to answer, she fidgeted, and Altair tilted his head.

"Why? Do you have other plans?"

"No! I will, shopping! And meeting friends!"

She clenched her fists and jumped up from her seat. She didn't want Altair to see her as someone who only stayed in the room and lived timidly. She had worked hard to create the image of a 'helpful wife,' and if her old self was revealed, that image would be ruined.

'But I don't have any friends.'

She didn't even have anyone she could call an acquaintance.

'So what I can do right now is...'

Shopping! She quickly made up her mind and declared to Altair.

"I'll go shopping tomorrow!"

***

Thus, the next day. She took a deep breath and got out of the carriage. The overwhelming energy of the capital's busiest street threatened to melt her timidity like a candle. But seeing Anna excitedly looking around, she couldn't show her nervousness. She tried to steady her trembling legs under her skirt and started walking.

'I've done thorough preparation.'

She had memorized the locations of the main shops by looking at the map multiple times, so she wouldn't look like a complete beginner.

'Besides, this isn't just shopping. It's an important mission to understand the capital's trends.'

She planned to create various jewelry using mithril, so market research was essential.

'And I'll buy a lot of things under the name of the Eilsford baroness.'

Rumors usually start with street vendors. The easiest way to gain a reputation in the capital was to win them over, so buying a lot of things from shops would quickly make her famous.

'Of course, this is a method only those with the financial means can afford.'

Fortunately, the Eilsford family had plenty of funds.

'Where should I start?'

The more impractical the items she bought, the faster the reputation would spread...

'In that case, art pieces would be perfect.'

She looked around the street with wide eyes and headed towards an art shop. But before she reached her destination, another shop caught her eye. It was a store selling intricately crafted clocks. She was drawn to it and walked over. From large wall clocks to small pocket watches, various items were displayed, and her attention was caught by the pocket watches.

'Such watches are luxury items for men.'

Unlike noblewomen, who could adorn themselves with many accessories, gentlemen had limited options, so they often focused on pocket watches. They would take out their pocket watches at important events to check the time, subtly showing off their wealth. Altair would soon attend a palace party to meet the emperor, and to avoid being overlooked among many noble gentlemen, he would need a fine watch. As she carefully examined the pocket watches, a clerk quickly approached and sized her up.

"Are you looking for a pocket watch? This way, please. We have more items inside."

The skilled clerk quickly made a judgment and led her inside with a broad smile. It seemed he had judged her to be a wealthy customer based on her elegant attire and the presence of a maid.

"Is it a gift for a lover?"

"Um... I'm thinking of giving it to my husband."

Saying 'husband' made her face flush, but it wasn't a lie.

"Oh, you're a noblewoman. You look so young, I didn't realize you were married."

The clerk laughed and took out a few pocket watches, adding sweet words to please the customer.

"These are the watches that many gentlemen are looking for these days."

They were indeed more luxurious and intricate than the ones displayed outside, but none of them seemed quite right. Noticing her lack of enthusiasm, the clerk, who had been enthusiastically explaining the watches, subtly asked,

"Perhaps you could tell me what style your husband prefers? I can recommend something that would suit him."

"Um... my husband..."

She easily pictured Altair in her mind, but describing his style in words was difficult. Altair Eilsford was a complex person, hard to describe in just a few words, at least by her standards. While she was struggling to find the right words, someone behind her gave a clear answer.

"The baron is a practical and rational person. He is clean and uncluttered but also meticulous and thorough."

Surprised by the familiar voice, she turned her head to see Prince Orca smiling and waving at her.

"Is that not correct, Baroness?"

***