“…Just now, the conversation,”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s not the first time I’ve heard such things.”
“……”
Kainel, who had been looking at her with a bit of bewilderment, frowned at Tatiana’s calm response. It was better than her crying, but her overly straightforward reaction was equally disconcerting. Moreover, it was the first time he’d seen her since bringing her out of the imperial palace.
“I thought you’d stay in bed a bit longer.”
“No. This is enough.”
Sitting at the table with her back straight, there was no trace of that day to be found in Tatiana. Even though she might pretend to be ill from the aftermath, not a single one of her thick eyelashes was disheveled.
“If it’s alright, may I be alone for a moment?”
Even on the day she held his hand and left the palace, her doll-like face had only managed that one sentence. In the end, after bringing her to his residence and leaving her there, that was it, so facing her like this didn’t feel real at all.
“So. Why are you here?”
Rubbing his forehead with a swipe due to his complicated feelings, Kainel looked at Tatiana. He had no idea what kind of conversation to have with a woman like this, his throat felt unnecessarily stiff. If he were to say now that it never happened…
Yeah. With a woman like her, she might just go along with it.
“……”
Tatiana Lauren de Cartien sitting in the mercenary corps’ office.
Over the not-short span of time he’d roamed the world, it was rare to find a combination that suited less than this. But if this woman really intended to give up everything, then who knows.
Whether he’d tell her to do as she pleases, or act like Owen had just moments ago.
“Why are you here, anyway.”
“I have a request.”
“…What?”
Tatiana lightly clasped her hands together. After a brief pause, she opened her mouth before Kainel’s gaze could turn fierce.
“There’s a maid named Anne from the Viscountess’s estate whom I brought with me, I want to bring her here.”
“…That’s all?”
“Yes?”
Tatiana was a little flustered. If it seemed like that man was relieved, was it her imagination? She, who had quietly pressed her lips together, nodded her head before the awkwardness could drag on.
“Yes. I’d like it if you allowed that. She’s someone I personally selected, so I want to take responsibility for her until the end if possible.”
“Do whatever you want with that.”
“……”
Though she’d struggled to speak, the immediate cool permission made Tatiana’s perfect posture waver slightly. On the other hand, a sense of ease appeared on Kainel’s face. His stiff neck felt a bit more natural. Having relaxed for a moment, he stared intently at her, who showed no sign of standing up.
Whether a maid was a hundred or a thousand, if the conversation he could have with Tatiana Cartien was at this level, it was worth trying.
“What else? Did the butler not do his job? I told him to prepare food, clothes, or whatever was needed as necessary.”
“You.”
“……”
No, it wasn’t worth trying.
“That’s your house, Kainel. Why aren’t you coming home?”
“……”
If she’d been watching his mood or acting blatantly shameless, he might have smirked, but facing her face that was nobly dignified as if she were the owner of the place, Kainel was at a loss for words.
Actually, it wasn’t that he’d deliberately avoided her. Having Tatiana in his own home felt awkward, but if it were enough to scare him off, he wouldn’t have gone to the imperial palace a few days ago. Due to the regular training and miscellaneous tasks that were already scheduled, he had to spend more time here for a while.
Kainel summarized all his complicated situations and feelings.
“Why ask about that.”
“Are you shy or something?”
“……”
Now, Kainel truly shut his mouth. As expected, she was a young lady who could make him feel like he’d committed a sin without having done anything wrong.
“…Assuming I’m here. Then what are you going to do?”
“Aren’t we getting married?”
“……”
Kainel regretted chasing Owen out too quickly. Feeling the tension in his shoulders as well as his neck, he brushed back his black hair. Still, Tatiana’s instinctive reaction of twitching the corners of her mouth when their eyes met wasn’t bad.
“Something like that takes time to prepare.”
“Usually, yes.”
Then is our marriage not usual? Kainel almost retorted but stopped himself. Where would he even ask something like that? Even to his eyes, which had no interest in such matters, there was no marriage as ordinary as this one.
No, honestly, it’s insane.
To the point where he didn’t know from where to where it was crazy, cluttering his mind.
“Fine. Just say it. What do you intend to do?”
“I think three days from now would be good.”
“……”
“This Friday, does that time work for you?”
Tatiana slightly bowed her head.
He’s even more tight-lipped than he appears.
However, she didn’t necessarily need his answer. She picked up the portable calendar that was on the table and turned it toward Kainel.
“I don’t want to rush this much either, but this day is the last one.”
“What is?”
“The date when we can receive approval as a proper couple in the Grand Cathedral.”
“…The Grand Cathedral isn’t open only that one day.”
Kainel, who had just tried to keep his mouth shut, couldn’t help but step into Tatiana’s swamp from which he couldn’t escape. No matter how much of an atheist he was, he at least knew that the grand temple was open year-round to everyone.
It’s just that that great grace had never reached him.
“They even decide marriage approvals based on the person?”
“Of course not. The archbishop is the representative of Goddess Irsha, and the god is fair, and before the god, all are equal.”
“……”
“But the problem is that not everyone is equal before my mother.”
Her hand, which had been drawing the sign of the cross while invoking the god, returned to its place as she mentioned the Viscountess.
“I’m thinking five days. For my mother to bribe the archbishop.”
“…You said the god is fair to all.”
“The archbishop is human, after all.”
Her mother bribing people wasn’t a one- or two-day affair. Tatiana once again felt grateful for being the ‘daughter who watched her mother most closely.’ To the point where she could draw the sign of the cross more sincerely than before.
“Even an ordinary person would accept my mother’s offer right away, but someone of the archbishop’s stature would refuse about three times for the sake of face, and in the back-and-forth, it would take at least five days.”
“So, let’s get married on Friday?”
“By now, the dress shops and jewelers are all probably closed. My mother would have rented or bought them out entirely. The same goes for flower shops, liquor stores, and grocery stores.”
Probably, all industries related to weddings would be on hiatus for the time being. During her sister Regina’s time, all industries related to divorce had been like that.
But the important thing is that those who are determined will find a way.
Tatiana firmly pointed at the calendar with her fingertip.
“In my estimation, she’ll invite him to the Cartien family villa in Barsha. The archbishop has back pain, and there’s a famous hot spring there. So, if he goes there, it would take at least a month, and in that case, this Friday seems likely. What do you think?”
“……”
“Why are you doing that again? Is there something on my face?”
Tatiana placed her hand on her cheek following his peculiar gaze. The gaze of the man sitting across from her was strange.
“Just. Now it finally feels real.”
“What?”
“That I’m marrying a Cartien.”
“…Why don’t you just curse instead.”
She, looking at him with puzzlement, retorted primly. It was hard to find anyone to whom an elegant stern expression suited as well as her.
“Anyway, I’m not hoping for a grand marriage. Just fulfilling the formalities enough to receive recognition under the national law… is fine.”
“Then what about you?”
“…What about me?”
As Tatiana raised her eyes, Kainel’s throat let out a long rumble. The futile question of whether the person who had been preparing that grand marriage was okay with this much vanished in that instant.
“Fine. Let’s do it that way. Then.”
“I’m glad. Then I’ll head back. If Friday is burdensome, we can postpone, so please tell me comfortably.”
Tatiana remained polite until the end.
As she stood up and Kainel, who had hesitated, followed suit, a large shadow fell over her from above. In this unconventional marriage, this was the most unconventional part.
“……”
The groom and bride who became awkward whenever there was a chance, the two of them.
“…Um, Kainel?”
It was Tatiana who spoke first. She, who had been twisting her body this way and that as if avoiding his shadow, suddenly looked up at him. It goes without saying that this man was still uncomfortable, but she couldn’t keep doing this forever.
He’s the man who will become my husband, after all.
Having steeled her resolve, she slowly parted her lips. It was a matter she had to address and move past anyway, even if just once.
“I’m sorry.”
“……”
Kainel, who had been standing still without any intention of avoiding or stepping aside, suddenly lowered his gaze. In his eyes, which were far more intimidating than when seated, Tatiana unnecessarily felt a chill in her chest.
What.
Under that red gaze that seemed to ask ‘what,’ she continued with difficulty.
“It’s about three years ago. If it’s about what happened then,”
“Enough.”
“Ah…”
At the short response that cut her off, Tatiana’s cheeks flushed.
‘As expected, it won’t be easy to forgive.’
Now, an excuse like ‘I didn’t know’ won’t change anything. The wounds that formed won’t disappear either. Knowing that, it’s ridiculous that she tried to bring it up again just to ease her own mind.
“…Yes. Because it’s something irreversible.”
“The reason I agreed to marry you is ultimately.”
“I know. You only want my body.”
“……”
“Don’t worry. I haven’t forgotten.”
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