Chapter 78

The aftermath of openly kissing in front of the butler of the Valencia Duchy and Dorothy, who is more loyal than anyone, was more significant than expected.

“Head Maid! Have you heard the news?”

“Dorothy, haven’t you already talked about it more than four times?”

“Isn’t that just how shocking the news is?”

“…That’s true.”

Dorothy, who seems to love the mansion more than anyone living in the Valencia Duchy Mansion, perhaps even more than Duke Valencia himself, has been spreading this joyful news to everyone.

“Butler, is that really true?”

“Yes, Your Grace. I witnessed it together with Dorothy, the maid.”

“Oh my, has it already progressed that far?”

“It seems so.”

“Indeed, the marriage…”

“…Please restrain yourself a bit, Madam.”

The butler, who seemed quiet, delivered the news to the Duke and Duchess as if it were his role.

“…What are we going to do now?”

And, of course, Rebecca’s reaction upon hearing this news that spread like wildfire was to blame me.

Why did you have to kiss so openly? Now everyone in the Duke’s Mansion knows about our relationship.

Of course, her reaction of blaming me was more about avoiding responsibility than genuinely resenting the fact that we kissed.

Anyway, it was true that my fiancée was blaming me with her face bright red from embarrassment.

“So, did you not like it?”

My response wasn’t exactly about taking responsibility either.

You liked it too, didn’t you? If you didn’t like it, you should have clearly told me not to when I declared I would do it. That kind of response.

It was a statement that, if heard without understanding the situation, could easily make me seem like a criminal.

“…No.”

“Then why are you saying all this?”

Unfortunately, for my fiancée, who finds the fact that we kissed more important than others noticing our relationship, it didn’t sound strange.

Thus, I narrowly avoided becoming a criminal.

“…We should at least explain the situation.”

Rebecca looked at me, suggesting that we should handle the aftermath of what happened.

It was a reasonable point.

If time passes without incident, the news will quickly spread to everyone related to us.

Dorothy’s eloquence and connections are beyond imagination, and once it reaches the Duke and Duchess, it’s only natural that our parents will hear about it too.

Rebecca’s suggestion to quickly explain before people misunderstand was clearly reasonable.

“What exactly should we explain?”

It’s just that I couldn’t find a reason why people shouldn’t misunderstand.

“…”

Rebecca looked at me with a blank expression, as if she had lost her words due to the sudden, absurd statement that came out of my mouth.

“The rumor that Dorothy is spreading.”

“Stupid me doesn’t know what fact Dorothy, the maid who is more loyal to the Princess than anyone, is spreading. Could the smart Princess tell me directly?”

“…Are you still holding onto that?”

“Where is there someone like me who doesn’t care about the past and still holds onto it?”

“…”

This time, Rebecca’s face twisted as if she had heard the most nonsensical thing in the world.

As always, my fiancée’s very expressive face was charming.

“You really do know, don’t you?”

“No, I really don’t.”

“Don’t lie.”

“To accuse me, who always speaks the truth, of lying. You’re making baseless accusations.”

“…Ugh.”

Rebecca’s body trembled as if she was about to die from frustration.

If the onomatopoeia ‘trembling’ were to be visualized in reality, it would probably look like that.

No matter how much I think about it, there seems to be no more fitting image.

“Do we really have to explain?”

“Is that even a question…”

“The fact that the Princess and I love each other is not a lie, so why should I explain?”

I was skeptical from the start about Rebecca’s opinion that we should explain this fact.

It’s not that I don’t understand Rebecca’s concern about the gazes that will pour upon us when we admit the fact in front of others.

But, it’s not a lie. What could possibly be the problem?

I love my fiancée. I kissed my fiancée.

What does anyone else’s opinion matter?

“…”

Rebecca’s cheeks turned bright red again at the sudden confession of love.

Even though she was trembling with frustration just moments ago, hearing the simple word ‘love’ made her melt, which was incredibly cute.

But just because it was cute didn’t mean I could let go of this perfect opportunity to tease my fiancée.

So, I continued to press Rebecca.

“Since you keep insisting on explaining, it seems my fiancée doesn’t love me as much as I do.”

“…”

“I thought we confirmed our feelings on the day I put the ring on your finger, but I guess that was my misunderstanding.”

“…That’s not it.”

“I don’t understand what you mean by ‘that’s not it,’ my foolish fiancée.”

Although she looked like she didn’t know what to do, Rebecca must have known.

That all the words coming out of my mouth were lies meant to tease her.

That the barrage of hurtful words were all just to see her flustered reaction.

As I’ve said many times before, my fiancée is a genius, but she’s definitely not someone to be called a fool.

“Isn’t that so?”

“…Ugh.”

Yet, Rebecca didn’t say much because, before loving me, she was inherently a kind person.

Even though she knew in her head that it was all a lie, seeing me pretending to be upset made it hard for her to just let it go.

Even though outside, Rebecca is called the ‘cold and rational Princess.’

I, as her fiancé, know better than anyone that this nickname is the most nonsensical in the world.

…Of course, recalling Rebecca’s behavior when she first saw me, it’s not entirely a lie.

Anyway, at least the person in front of me now, who keeps her lips tightly shut when we kiss, is indeed kind.

“…”

“…Why are you staring at me like that?”

As I stared at her while lost in thought, what came out was an unnecessary complaint.

It’s a characteristic that comes out when my fiancée has nothing proper to say.

A sentence that might hurt someone depending on who hears it.

“Do you dislike me looking at you?”

“You know that’s not what I mean.”

“I don’t know.”

“…”

For someone who already understands Rebecca’s true feelings, it’s not a blow but rather an opportunity to tease.

“…Stop joking. I’m serious now.”

Rebecca declared as if she wouldn’t tolerate any more jokes.

Since the atmosphere had changed significantly from before, and I felt I had teased my fiancée enough.

“Alright.”

I slightly erased the smile from my lips and tried to listen to Rebecca’s words.

“To summarize the current situation, Dorothy and the butler witnessed you and I doing… that.”

“I don’t know what ‘that’ is, but let’s assume so.”

“…And Dorothy and the butler told everyone in this mansion about it.”

“Yes.”

“By now, even the plants growing in the mansion’s garden probably know.”

“Yes.”

“What should we do in this situation?”

“Yes.”

“…You’re not really listening, are you?”

“Yes.”

“…”

“…Ah.”

Although I tried.

I answered without thinking and got caught in a leading question.

As a result, I earned the sharp gaze and scolding of my beloved fiancée.

“I clearly said I’m serious now…”

“As I said before, I really don’t understand why my fiancée is worried.”

“…What?”

“Is there a reason why the news of the Princess and I kissing shouldn’t spread…”

“Don’t say it so loudly…!”

Thud-

As my voice rose with sudden frustration, Rebecca covered my mouth with both hands.

“…”

“Why are you saying such things so loudly?”

Rebecca’s cheeks turned red with worry, and her red eyes trembled slightly.

Seeing Rebecca like that, having my speaking mouth blocked, and the sudden ugly desire that arose.

“Ugh…?”

“Princess, won’t you give me a chance to speak?”

I stretched Rebecca’s reddened cheeks with my idle hands.

“Ugh, what are you doing!”

“Uh… what do you mean by that?”

“Ugh!”

“Since the Princess isn’t giving me a chance to speak, I have to create an opportunity like this, don’t I?”

“…”

Rebecca glared at me with intense killing intent.

The killing intent from having her pride trampled seemed even worse than when Estelle came to visit me when I was sick.

But the fact that she didn’t shake off my hands pulling her cheeks became the basis for me to keep holding my fiancée’s cheeks.

If Rebecca, who is several times stronger than me, really disliked this situation, she would have already shaken me off.

“Is it a problem that I kissed the Princess?”

“Ugh.”

“Then is there a reason why the fact that the Princess and I kissed shouldn’t be known to others?”

“…Ugh.”

“If that’s not the problem, then what exactly is the problem that you keep saying we need to explain?”

“…”

“Are you embarrassed to reveal to others that you love me?”

“Ugh!”

Rebecca shook her head vigorously even with her cheeks pulled, denying that it was absolutely not the case.

She probably remembered the inferiority complex and feelings of inadequacy she confessed when I had a severe cold.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t deny so vehemently.

Having received a clear answer, there was no need to keep holding my poor Rebecca’s cheeks.

“…”

As soon as my hands left her cheeks, a sharp gaze pierced through.

Along with that sharp gaze came a moment of silence.

After a brief, uncomfortable silence, Rebecca was the first to speak.

“…I was embarrassed.”

“Huh?”

“I’m not used to expressing these feelings, so I was embarrassed.”

“…”

“It’s not that I’m embarrassed because of you.”

“…”

“…So, don’t misunderstand like last time.”

It’s absolutely not that I dislike you.

Although the sentence didn’t continue to the end, it was a sentence that could make one feel as if they heard the rest.

Rebecca’s cheeks were very red, perhaps because they had been pulled by my hands.

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