Chapter 248: A Date in the Capital (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 248: A Date in the Capital (2)
“A selfish person?”
“Someone who only knows themselves, who cherishes themselves above all else, and who considers their own needs more important than anyone else’s.”
“Do you really want your wife to be such a strange person, Loik?”
I gave him a sidelong glance, pretending not to understand his meaning, and a faint, wistful smile played on Loik’s lips.
“I mean that I want Annette to think of herself more.”
“I know.”
As I looked into his eyes, which were brimming with affection, a smile naturally spread across my face.
“But I have you to cherish me, Loik.”
In the square, the small fountain echoed with the gentle, rhythmic bubbling of water. Tiny droplets drifted on the breeze, pleasantly misting my face.
Loik’s dark eyes widened slightly in surprise before settling into a steady, lingering gaze. The love reflected in his eyes was so unmistakable that it made my heart feel soft and full.
“Because you love me more than anyone else, my heart is always overflowing. That’s why I have enough to share with others.”
Loik replied, his voice slightly thick with emotion.
“Annette, you have been like sunshine ever since you first came to Blenheim.”
“Back then…”
I thought back to when I first arrived in the North—back when I had persistently followed him around, making a nuisance of myself.
“I did that because I was desperate for warmth.”
His deep, dark pupils wavered ever so slightly.
“I wasn’t like sunshine. My heart was so cold and lonely then that I approached you simply because I wanted to find some warmth.”
The words flowing from my lips served as a reminder to myself. Looking back, the way I had busied myself by getting involved in everyone’s business was nothing more than a struggle to keep from sinking deeper into that freezing void.
And Loik gave me that warmth.
Thanks to his infinitely deep and tender heart, I had truly come to possess a warmth that felt as though I were bathed in sunlight.
Loik’s gaze deepened. His large hand reached out and carefully enveloped mine.
“I’m sorry.”
“What are you sorry for?”
“For turning away from you when you first came to Blenheim…”
His low voice trembled slightly at the end of the sentence.
“You couldn’t help it back then, Loik.”
“…Was it very hard for you during that time?”
He was likely asking about my years growing up in the Marquis’s estate. However, my mind drifted further back, to the life I had lived before I inhabited this body.
Was it hard?
I had always lived desperately, yet I had never once felt like I truly belonged. Not with my family, and not at my job. No matter how hard I worked, no one ever truly acknowledged me. Even when I gave my absolute all, the only things I received in return were cold sneers and indifference.
I should have said no, as I usually did. But the answer wouldn’t come, as if someone were tightening a grip around my throat.
“…It’s alright. I have you now, Loik.”
When I finally managed to force the words out, Loik’s face crumpled with emotion. His trembling fingers reached out to gently brush the corners of my eyes. Only then did I realize I was crying.
“I will always be here,” Loik whispered into my ear, over and over, as if making a solemn vow. “From now on, I will always be by your side.”
That is all you need to remember, Annette.
“In the future, do whatever it is you wish to do.”
Loik pressed his warm lips gently against my eyelids.
“I will give you a lifetime of love—so much that it will never run dry, no matter how much you give away to others.”
I was happy. His low, warm voice was so sweet that I reached out and threw my arms around his waist. His strong arms wrapped around me in response, pulling me into a tight, seamless embrace.
“You can’t forget that promise, okay?”
“I will never forget.”
As he spoke, Loik held out his pinky finger. When I hooked mine into his, he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to the back of my hand. I toyed with his long fingers and made a small confession.
“And Loik, you might not realize this, but do you know just how selfish I actually am?”
“You?”
I shrugged at his skeptical tone.
“I’m keeping you all to myself. I have absolutely no intention of sharing you with anyone else for the rest of my life. Not even a little bit.”
When I teased him about how selfish people would think I was for that, Loik bit his lip to suppress a smile. His sharp eyes curved downward, unable to hide his amusement.
“I’m glad to hear it. I shall work hard so that you may continue to be greedy for me.”
With that, he asked softly if there was anywhere else I wanted to go. I had considered buying gifts for the staff at the Management Office, but I decided I could just order those later.
A place I want to go.
If I set everyone else aside and thought only of where I wanted to visit… one place came to mind.
* * *
“Noble lady! Come try some of this freshly baked bread!”
“Take a look at these dishes! These are authentic plates used by the nobility!”
Loik carefully shielded Annette’s small shoulders, worried that passersby might bump into her. When he had asked where she wanted to go, she had thought about it for a long while before mentioning the market.
— “I just want to look around.”
Loik, who usually only frequented high-end boutiques, had racked his brain until he finally remembered this small market. It was a place tucked away in the back alleys of the busy district, filled with stalls used by commoners.
“Loik, look at that man! He’s making carvings right on the spot. That’s amazing.”
“Loik, do you see that? Look at the pile of skewers those people ate! How much did they have to eat to stack them that high?”
Her blue eyes sparkled with curiosity, far more than they had earlier.
“Wow, Loik! Look over there. Those snacks look delicious, don’t they? They look like they’re covered in powdered sugar.”
“Would you like to try some?” Loik asked, forcing a smile.
The snacks at the stall smelled sweet, but their hygiene was clearly abysmal. If someone with a delicate constitution like Annette ate them, she would surely fall ill.
“No. Just looking is enough.”
Loik breathed a sigh of relief. He didn’t want to spoil the mood when Annette had finally thought of something she wanted to do for herself.
“Is there a particular reason you wanted to see the market?”
“I just like the energy.”
Just as she said, merchants everywhere were shouting at the top of their lungs to attract customers. In the North, no one hawked their wares like this.
Though things have changed a bit since the lakeside shopping district opened.
So, Annette liked this kind of atmosphere.
Come to think of it, she is originally from the capital.
Annette always said she loved the winter, but perhaps she only said that to comfort him. She was someone with a frail body who loved flowers. If given the choice, she might actually prefer living in the capital.
The thought made his mind grow heavy with complicated feelings. Even if she didn’t feel that way now, she might grow to love this place more than the North if she stayed here long enough.
If that happens, should I move our entire base of operations to the capital?
“Beautiful lady! Please, try a pie from our shop! I’ll give it to you for free!”
“My lady! Take this! It’s a gift!”
While he was lost in thought, the solicitations grew more persistent.
What the—!
When he snapped back to reality, he saw men practically drooling as they hovered around Annette. Most flinched when he glared at them from behind her, but a few persistent ones continued to reach out while eyeing him warily.
These capital bastards have no fear.
He was about to pull Annette closer to his side when she suddenly showed interest in one of the stalls.
“My lady! Look at this! It’s a hand-knitted scarf!”
A young clerk, who still looked like a green youth, held up a scarf with both hands. For something sold at such a small stall, the colors were quite beautiful.
“It’s pretty.”
At Annette’s words, the clerk began to chatter excitedly.
“Feel it for yourself! It’s knitted from sheep’s wool, so if you wrap it around your neck, not even the midwinter wind can get through!”
The clerk boasted that even noble ladies sought out these items. Noblewomen didn’t use wool scarves to begin with.
The kid is all talk.
However, Annette seemed genuinely interested. She stroked the scarf as the clerk suggested and smiled, saying it was soft.
“R-right?”
The clerk’s face turned bright red at the sight of her smile.
“Would you like to try it on? No, I’ll put it on for—!”
Even if he was just a kid, there were lines that shouldn’t be crossed. Loik snatched the scarf away from the clerk just as he was about to reach for Annette.
“I’ll do it.”
At his words, Annette obediently tilted her head back and looked up at him.
So this was what it felt like. Seeing her offer her neck so completely made his throat go dry. Loik carefully wrapped the scarf around Annette’s white neck.
If I wrap it twice like this…
She looked incredibly beautiful, but at this rate, these men would never stop staring at her with lustful eyes.
If I wrap it one more time to cover her chin… no, she’s still too pretty. Maybe if I cover her lips… no, that just emphasizes her beautiful eyes and makes her look even more stunning. Maybe I should just cover her entire face—!
“Loik, I can’t breathe.”
At her muffled voice, Loik hurriedly loosened the scarf.