Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: My One and Only Bride
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"What do you think you're doing?"
"D-D-Duke...?"
Theodor.
It was him. Lara's savior, appearing at the moment she least wanted to be seen.
The shop owner immediately realized that the man blocking the little girl's path was the ruler of Aren. That extraordinary appearance, towering height, black hair, and red eyes—no mistaking it, it was Duke Theodor Diarc of Aren.
The owner couldn't fathom why the duke, who despised crowds, would show himself on a festival day like this, let alone in his humble little shop. But the sheer pressure from the duke was already suffocating him.
He concluded that he had to respond to the nobleman. The shop owner began stammering excuses.
"W-Well, you see... Your Grace, on a fine day like today, some kids were touching the shop's goods. It happens now and then. A-Anyway, I'm sorry, Your Grace. We didn't know you were here and caused a scene..."
"...Touching the shop's goods?"
Theodor tilted his head slightly and let out a hollow chuckle.
At that moment, Lara's heart plummeted.
'I... didn't touch anything.'
She needed to say it wasn't true, that she hadn't done it—but strangely, no words came out.
Lara froze completely. She'd been caught by Theodor in the one scene she never wanted him to see. She felt pathetic for not being able to defend herself at the most crucial moment, but even attempting any action terrified her.
"Hey, mister! Are you calling us thieves right now? Master, she absolutely didn't! That guy came at the lady first..."
The shop owner, who had been glancing around nervously, snapped to attention at Rin's words.
'Lady? Master?'
Did that mean the girl with the strange eyes was from the duke's household, even if she didn't know it herself?
Now fully grasping the situation, the shop owner dropped into a posture as if he might prostrate himself at any second. He finally understood why the duke had graced his shop with a visit.
"Oh no, Your Grace! I-I made a mistake... I truly had no idea these ladies were from your household. Please forgive me, Your Grace!"
He looked ready to clasp his hands and beg if left alone. Theodor ignored him and turned to Lara.
Meeting Lara's trembling gaze, Theodor asked,
"Are you all right?"
"......"
"Are you all right?"
Lara, who had been staring silently at Theodor, finally nodded. Theodor glanced down at the chocolate and candy resting on Lara's hand.
"Is it tasty?"
"......?"
Lara had no idea how to respond to Theodor's unexpected question. She couldn't even grasp his intent. He let out a light sigh.
"Is it tasty? Have you tried it?"
"Ah... Yes."
It had been tasty. The one piece of chocolate she'd tasted by accident was genuinely delicious, regardless of the shop owner's attitude.
Theodor nodded at her answer and turned to the owner.
"How much for everything?"
"Pardon, Your Grace...?"
"I asked how much for everything in the shop."
"O-Oh, you mean everything made today?"
"...It's tiresome repeating myself."
"Ah, yes, yes! W-Well, let's see..."
The shop owner fumbled with his calculator in bewilderment but worked diligently. Theodor waited with surprising patience. Moments later, the owner announced the total.
"It's Saint Kucheanis's Day today, so we prepared a lot of desserts... It's quite a sum, Your Grace."
"My lady likes it. I'll buy it all. Have the goods sent to the Aren estate."
The shop owner's face drained of color even further at Theodor's words.
'My lady'? Had he heard that right?
Even a lowly merchant like him knew who ruled Aren. A man as brilliant and ruthless as he was capable. And now, that man was calling this girl 'my lady.'
This was a disaster. Every harsh word he'd flung at the girl replayed in his mind as he frantically packed the chocolates, his whole body trembling.
Theodor surveyed the shop before addressing him.
"Taman's Chocolate Shop... So you must be Taman."
"Yes, Your Grace. That's me..."
"Then, Taman. Before preparing the goods, you should apologize to her first. She's gracious enough to buy chocolate from your shop, but as a member of the Diarc Family, she won't overlook your rudeness."
Theodor's tone wasn't particularly threatening, but Taman felt a chill crawl up his spine all the same.
He quickly realized this was the duke's warning—and his last chance.
He hurried in front of Lara and bowed deeply from the waist.
"L-Lady... I'm sorry. I-I didn't recognize you and was so rude... Please forget what happened earlier. Forgive my foolish words."
When Lara's expression remained stiff, Taman pleaded even more desperately.
"Lady, if you just forgive this lowly baker..."
"That's enough."
"Pardon? But..."
"I said it's fine... Stop."
Lara didn't think the shop owner was a good person. He'd tried to frame her and Rin as thieves. But she didn't want insincere apologies like this.
Lara knew people didn't change so easily.
Theodor, who had been watching Lara silently, extended his hand to her.
"I've kept you waiting too long. Shall we go, my lady?"
His demeanor and voice were impeccably polite. Lara looked at Theodor and took his hand.
"......Yes."
Theodor didn't release Lara's hand even after leaving the shop.
After walking some distance, Lara stopped. Theodor turned to her. Lara's head was bowed low. Their hands were still linked, but the distance between them had grown.
Theodor spoke to her.
"Are you angry?"
Lara shook her head.
"Then why?"
"I'm... sorry to you, Theo."
Lara didn't want her actions to cause trouble for Theodor. She wasn't the old Lara anymore—now, Diarc was attached to her name.
And what had just happened was deeply embarrassing to her.
She shouldn't have even looked at the shop. No matter how sparkling and cute the decorations, if she'd kept her eyes forward, this might not have happened.
She'd ended up bothering Theodor.
She'd put him in an awkward spot over nothing.
"What are you sorry for?"
But Theodor merely asked as if he genuinely didn't understand. After gazing at Lara's still-downcast head for a moment, he said,
"Lara, look at me."
Lara finally lifted her head. Avoiding his gaze still, she watched as Theodor continued slowly.
"It's strange. No matter how I think about it, I can't see what my lady did wrong."
"...I troubled you, and..."
"And?"
"Embarrassed you."
As she spoke, the tips of Lara's ears flushed pink. She still couldn't meet Theodor's eyes directly.
"No embarrassment."
"......"
"No trouble either. Because you're here."
Even in that crowded little shop, Theodor hadn't felt his usual suffocating discomfort. It was all thanks to Lara—though she seemed completely oblivious to it.
Lara was the one who breathed life into him.
His bride, now finally meeting his eyes, seemed utterly clueless about that side of things.
Theodor chuckled lightly and brushed aside the long strand of hair draping over Lara's face. Now her eyes were fully visible, red-rimmed as if holding back tears.
When he'd overheard the shop owner's words about Lara's eyes, the only reason he hadn't killed the man was because Lara wouldn't want that.
"Exercising restraint is incredibly difficult."
Theodor murmured.
Truly, so very difficult. Suppressing his beastkin instincts. Holding back the desire to protect what was his to a 'normal' level.
For Theodor, who had lived so abnormally for far too long, it was an immense challenge.
"You're the Diarc Family's one and only lady..."
"......"
"My one and only bride."
The bells of the Pantheon Temple began tolling behind Lara. They signaled the start of Saint Kucheanis's Day festival.
"Don't forget that."
The bustling streets emptied as people hurried off, leaving only Lara and Theodor seemingly trapped in a frozen moment of time.
Lara repeated Theodor's words in her mind.
'I'm Theo's bride...'
Was she truly worthy of that?
Lara had come to Aren because of Theodor. And become his bride.
Everyone here respected Theodor—the estate staff, the butler, the doctor, the citizens tipping their hats on the streets.
But not Lara.
She knew nothing, had experienced little, couldn't speak sharply, couldn't protect others, couldn't even defend herself or buy chocolate for Theodor on her own. She was ashamed of that.
Lara, who could do nothing. A gloomy, frail girl with unsettling eyes. A bringer of misfortune.
Dong—dong—dong—
The bells echoed far and wide. Before her stood Theodor, watching her quietly.
'It was me who asked to stay here.'
Lara thought, listening to the Pantheon bells.
'It was me who asked to stay by Theo's side.'
She didn't want to leave the side of the man who took the form of a massive wolf. Not until he pushed her away—she wanted to stay with him.
This was Lara's greed. It was a first for her, feeling this way.
'But what am I doing right now?'
Lara let go of Theodor's hand. Her grip slackened.
She was ashamed. She wanted to hide somewhere, anywhere.
Perhaps her wish was presumptuous folly from the start.
Was she truly worthy to stand by Theodor? Did she even have the right to be greedy?
"Lost in useless thoughts again?"
Lifting her head at Theodor's voice, she found those red eyes staring straight down at her.
The same as always.