Volume 6 Chapter 12 Duke Girard： Marx Girard
The maids of the Girard family helped me change my clothes.
Even though there shouldn't be any women in Sir Roxas's house, I ended up wearing a cute light pink dress made of sheer lace that had sleeves.
It had been a long time since I was laced into a corset, which pushed up my chest, and the dress was so fitted that I couldn't hide anything underneath. Eir-Eir looked like she was about to cry and whispered, "Pudding..." in shock.
"This dress was made by my mother for when I or my brother get married someday, even though we don't have a bride picked out yet. You saw her earlier, but my mother seems a bit down."
"Down? I didn't really notice that... She seemed nice."
When I came back after changing, Sir Roxas had also changed out of his dirty clothes.
He looked good in the dark brown outfit he wore earlier, but the black one with gold embroidery he had on now was also really nice.
"Really? She gets upset so easily and talks in a strong tone, then cries a lot. The only time she seems happy is when she's making dresses, so I let her do what she wants."
"It seemed like she was worried about not getting along with you."
"My mother really cared for Rail. Now that I'm the only son left, she must be feeling unstable. Plus, a few years ago, I threatened my parents with magic... Now that my brother was saved by Lydia, I don't think I'd do something like that again."
Did Sir Roxas's mother really dislike him?
From what I heard, it didn't seem that way.
But it's true that Sir Roxas was hurt, so there must have been a gap between him and his mother when he was younger.
"Is Sir Roxas still angry at your parents?"
"I'm already 20. I won't keep hating my parents forever. Blaming them for my misfortunes is something only kids do. Besides, I'm not really unhappy. The Girard family is wealthy. I've never had to worry about living."
Eir-Eir was munching on chocolate orange on the table.
Ms. Famine was curled up on my lap, and my dad was lying on the sofa.
It felt comforting to have everyone together again.
Even though we were in the Duke Girard's house, it felt like I was relaxing in Lobelia on the second floor of Robelia.
"...When I see Ciel and Lucian, my worries seem so small. And the same goes for His Highness... Compared to everyone else, I feel like complaining about my situation is like a little kid throwing a tantrum."
"Sir Roxas, you're strong."
"No. It's thanks to you, Lydia. If you hadn't saved my brother, I would have probably been sulking. I saw you working hard while crying, so I thought it was pathetic to keep hating my parents and not appreciate my own strength."
"Sir Roxas praised me..."
"Is that surprising? I feel like I praise you quite a bit."
Sir Roxas crossed his arms and frowned.
Then he muttered quietly, "Maybe I said it wrong..."
"Lydia. I'm going to greet my father now. Even though I have a lot of power in the Girard family, my father's influence is still strong. He's a strict and scary person... If you're going to pretend to be my fiancée, don't leave my side."
"Got it. I'll do my best...!"
I took a deep breath. It was a bit scary, but I had to try hard.
I left Eir-Eir, Ms. Famine, and my dad in Sir Roxas's room and stepped out with him.
I wrapped my arm around his and pressed my body close to him.
Since we're engaged, we should keep a close distance, like we're really close friends. It was embarrassing, but I had to do my best.
"...Sir Roxas, are you okay?"
"I'm fine. No problem."
When I pressed my body close to him, Sir Roxas's right foot and right hand moved forward together.
Sir Roxas walked awkwardly, and I couldn't help but worry about him.
"Did you not like being close?"
"That's not it...!"
"Oh, you're angry..."
"No, I'm not angry. ...Actually, I'm happy."
Sir Roxas mumbled something quietly. Maybe he felt uncomfortable in the Girard house.
But he seemed to be more hesitant than usual.
The Girard house felt too big, and the long, wide hallway was cold.
Outside the window, the garden was spread out, and the trees in the garden were covered in white snow.
I thought about Sir Ciel's warmth, who wasn't with us anymore, feeling a chill not just from the weather but also from his absence.
I wondered if Sir Roxas was okay, hoping he wasn't shivering in a thin outfit somewhere.
"Father, I'm coming in."
Sir Roxas stopped in front of a door at the end of the hallway.
I clung tightly to Sir Roxas's arm, which looked slim but was strong and sturdy.
(We are engaged and love each other. We're close. We have to look happy because we're getting married...)
I like Sir Roxas.
Yes, I keep telling myself that.
Of course, I like him. There are many things I don't understand, and sometimes I feel a bit scared, but Sir Roxas is pretty kind.
He always goes along with me without complaining, and he even goes to dangerous places with me.
I wonder how different my feelings for him and romantic love are.
──I really don't know. It's complicated.
"Roxas. I heard the story. You brought Ms. Lydia from the Rest family, huh? You weren't satisfied with just Francois, so you went after Ms. Lydia too?"
When we entered the room, a man who looked like a romantic gray version of Sir Roxas was sitting in a chair at the desk.
He had slicked-back silver hair, sharp eyes, and a frown on his forehead.
He looked a lot like Sir Roxas. Sir Rail might resemble their mother more.
Sir Roxas brought me into the room and stood confidently in front of the desk without even bowing.
While clinging to Sir Roxas's arm, I tried to curtsy as gracefully as I could by lifting my skirt.
"Ms. Lydia was supposed to be engaged to His Highness Stefan. I've heard about the commotion in the Holy Capital. I heard from His Majesty the King Zeere that His Highness was controlled by a demon, and so was Francois. And it was Ms. Lydia who saved them. ...If that's the case, Ms. Lydia should return to His Highness."
"Even if everything is resolved, it doesn't change the fact that Lydia was hurt. I can't just forget everything and go back to how it was."
Sir Roxas replied to Sir Marx.
The conversation between them felt really tense. I felt uncomfortable as I looked back and forth between Sir Roxas and Sir Marx.
"Are you talking about your relationship?"
"No. I'm saying that Lydia won't return to His Highness."
"Well, I... I like Sir Roxas, so...! Is that, um, not okay...?"
What should I do? I feel so silly.
I think there must be a better way to say this.
I ended up sounding like when I ask if I can keep an Eir-Eir at my house.
"It's not that it's not okay... but wouldn't that be disrespectful to the Bernard family? Marrying the daughter of Feldur... but Ms. Lydia is a saint. It would be such a joy for our family."
"Father, I'm not marrying Lydia just because she's a saint."
"Don't say silly things, Roxas. It's true that Ms. Lydia is a saint. Everyone sees the goddess Alexandria when they look at Ms. Lydia. That's just how it is. And it helps the Girard family grow. It also supports the Bernard royal family."
"I don't care about family or the royal family. I don't dislike His Highness, but I'm not living for the family or the royal family. That's why I could cut off my brother."
"Roxas, you don't understand anything. You will inherit the Duke Girard family. Stop talking like a child."
"Say whatever you want."
This is──this is what a family fight looks like.
Hearing their arguing makes my heart feel uneasy.
Sir Rail was getting better, and Sir Roxas seemed happy in the Holy Capital.
But here, Sir Roxas is always angry. Even Sir Marx──he doesn't seem like a really bad person.
"...Um, um...!"
"What is it, Lydia?"
"Um... Can I make dinner?"
Those words slipped out of my lips.
What am I saying? I came here to pretend to be engaged.
Making dinner isn't something a future Duke's wife should be doing.
But──
"...Of course, that's fine. But why?"
"I thought fighting is bad... If we eat something delicious, maybe we won't fight anymore..."
"Ms. Lydia. I heard you ran away from the Rest priest family and opened a restaurant."
"Yes! I'm good at cooking. Sir Marx... What do you like to eat?"
I was happy to be talked to, so I smiled brightly at Sir Marx.
For some reason, Sir Marx dropped the teacup on his desk.
He stood up in a panic, quickly picked it up before it fell to the floor, and then crossed his arms with a serious face as if nothing happened.
"...Well, I prefer seafood over meat."
"Sir Roxas likes octopus too."
I guess we should make octopus dishes here. Or maybe squid.
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