Chapter 35 - Volume 2 (2/2)
「Suzette.」
「Yes?」
Temporarily stopping his chewing, the young man looks at me with his deep blue eyes.
「So you’re an aristocrat.」
If you weren’t, they wouldn’t let you come in here. If you were a maid working here, you would be wearing your uniform from the palace. There aren’t many people who can come so close to the Black Lotus Court in a plain dress.
I’m told all that as if he’s making sure, and I feel my smile freeze. I’m at a loss for words. I have no reply to give him. It’s exactly as he says.
I had only given my fake first name to Celves. To him, I was probably just a commoner. I didn’t mean to deceive him, but I can’t deny that it’s turned out like that in the end.
「Yes, I have my name entered in the smallest aristocrats, more or less. I’m sorry for……」
「No, it’s alright. I knew it. Everyone can tell from your behavior that you’re from a good family.」
Reaching out for his third sandwich, Celves says that with an expression as if it’s an old topic now. Really, he’s eating like he greatly enjoys them.
「……Is that so?」
「Yes.」
———That reminds me.
That reminds me, did I forget that this man is also one of the grand aristocrat families? Celves’s surname is Ronein, which he hasn’t told me about. One of the grandest aristocrat families among the grand aristocrats, next only to the Valentine family. By all rights, he’s a person I wouldn’t even be able to talk to, just like Lunamerie.
It must’ve been easy for him to tell my social position from my behavior. But despite that, he didn’t say anything for me. Both of us hadn’t questioned the other about social status. But, even so.
「Sir Celves.」
「What?」
「Thank you.」
He furrows his brows as if to ask, ‘what for?’ Smiling at him, I too bring the sandwich to my mouth again.
In the end, most of the sandwiches end up in Celves’s stomach. Just like that, we part in the arbor. I don’t feel like going back to the library so I return to the estate that is my home. I make dinner, more fired up than usual, and then wait for that man to come home like usual.
He returns home unusually early, at a time that’s considered the proper 『dinnertime』 by the world’s standards.
「Welcome home.」
「……I’m home.」
We greet each other with those same old but irreplaceable words, and I look after the black robe he’s taken off. It’s soft and feels pleasant whenever I touch it; I fold it up, being careful not to let any wrinkles form. For some reason, I feel eyes on me from above.
「Edi? Is something wrong?」
Those sunrise-colored eyes stare at me fixedly, wavering at my question. I stare up at him fixedly in return. After ten-odd seconds of locking eyes, holding the silence feels difficult. But the one that opens their mouth first is not me, but him.
「Aren’t you angry?」
「About what?」
I tilt my head in confusion as he doesn’t mention about what. Those sunrise-colored eyes blink, then fill with a bitter light.
「……About what happened at lunch.」
「Oh, about that? No, not really.」
Since it couldn’t be helped, there’s no need to get angry. Thinking that, I smile, and he suddenly furrows his brows. Why is he making that face even though I said I’m not angry? How unreasonable. Wouldn’t it be most satisfactory for him if I wasn’t angry?
Or perhaps, does he want to anger me? I feel angrier at his attitude now than in the day. I look up at that beautiful face, famed as a night fairy, as if challenging him.
「Well then, what would you do if I said I was angry?」
「That’s……」
He’s at a loss for words just like that, not saying anything further. See, didn’t I tell you? What happened in the day just couldn’t be helped. I dare say that’s the best way to deal with it. Because if we look deeper into this, I may have only been bringing him lunch, but it was my fault for intruding without an appointment.
So it’s fine. That’s what I tell to myself. As a wife, I smile at my husband who isn’t saying anything.
「It’s alright, I understand. It can’t be helped.」
『But how long should we continue this thing that ‘can’t be helped’?』
I want to say that, but my mouth just wouldn’t move.