Chapter 41

I feel like I had a good sleep.

When I moved my body and got up, I gently parted the tent.

I felt a slight heaviness in my head, but I put on the indoor slippers placed next to the bed and stood up.

The curtains were also closed, and I thought it was only natural that it was dark. I gently opened the curtains and was startled.

What!?

It's pitch black outside!?

I thought I had only slept a little, but it seemed I had fallen into a deep sleep.

I thought my head was heavy from oversleeping and looked for the bell that was always placed by the bed.

Not finding it, I remembered that this wasn't the mansion and opened the door connecting this room to the study.

Bright light streamed into the dark room, and my eyes, accustomed to the darkness, were blinded.

"Are you awake? You slept too much for a nap."

Is that a dig?

"What time is it now?"

I couldn't muster a retort and asked the master, who was alone in the study, for the time.

"It's well past dinner time."

"... I apologize."

Feeling somewhat uncomfortable, I entered the room and was prompted to sit on the sofa by the master.

Ugh, awkward.

If this were home, I would have immediately fled to my room!

"Are you hungry?"

He said it was well past dinner time, but I wasn't that hungry.

When I said I was fine, he replied briefly, "I see."

At that moment, I said to the master,

"By the way, I don't eat three meals a day, so I don't think it's a breach of contract."

Frankly, I would rather not be woken up and told to eat.

Well, considering the time, it would have been inevitable to be woken up.

The master nodded and accepted my words.

"By the way, when are you coming home?"

"I'm staying here tonight. Various things happened while you were sleeping, and it took me this long to handle them. I thought about waking you to go home, but it would be quite late now. It's a bit dangerous at night."

"Um... then, can I use a guest room?"

"Wouldn't that make us seem estranged, given that we are married?"

"Then, I'll sleep on the sofa..."

"We can use the same bed. I won't do anything."

I slightly raised the corners of my mouth.

You see, after all the things you've done to me, I can't take your words at face value.

Do you understand how much your credibility is worth, Master?

"Do you, by any chance, prefer someone like Michelle?"

"Huh?"

Caught off guard by the sudden change in topic, I looked at the master suspiciously.

"Would you prefer someone like her if you were to get married?"

"What do you mean by that..."

Generally, since we are already married, hypothetical scenarios seem meaningless...

But since the master asked with a very serious face, I answered seriously.

"To be honest, since my romantic interest is in men, I don't think I could reciprocate Michelle's feelings even if she confessed."

At this answer, the master furrowed his brow as if to say, "What are you talking about?"

"Are you—perhaps you don't know? Or haven't noticed?"

What?

"Michelle is a man."

"......What?"

"Indeed, her official records state she is a woman, but her gender is male. A real man."

I didn't know that!

What is this!? Is this common knowledge? Master, you're talking as if everyone should know this, but is it a tacit understanding in high society!?

"You can see right through me. Given that it's a matter of the Andret family's honor, very few people know. I didn't know until the person told me."

"Then, there's no way I would know!"

"I thought you were helping her because you knew she was a man."

"That's not true! Why would you think that!"

I am not that promiscuous!

"Because you were so honest about attending the royal tea party."

"That's... because I thought we could become friends... and I felt a bit guilty."

"You were easily swayed."

Shut up!

Everything I said isn't a lie.

At least the part about the factions is true, but I realized today that I'm not in a weak position.

"I tried to set things straight before the royal tea party... but it was useless for a silly woman."

"By the way, I'm still very curious, why did you protect me this time?"

"You always seem to think I'm up to something."

"I'll be blunt, that's exactly what I think. I thought today's events were definitely your doing. You twist people's words, and so does Ragnar."

I said things I usually wouldn't, without hiding anything.

Normally, I would be teased and it would end there, but today the master listened to me seriously.

"This is the first large-scale social event after our marriage. Even though it's during the day, as my husband, I have a duty to protect you to some extent. Besides, if someone who dislikes social events shows some enthusiasm and I don't support them, they won't do it again."

"Is that all?"

Somehow, I felt there was more to it.

You put a stop to the Empress and the Princess because you didn't want them to bother me.

Why?

"I would be troubled if you became even more averse to social events... Well, in the end, today didn't go as planned, but at least you made some close acquaintances, didn't you?"

The master's mouth softened slightly.

I blinked at his words, and at that moment, I felt I understood why the master was so keen on getting me involved in social events.

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