Chapter 85 - That was not me

“Come on.”

Pretend to be happy. Pretend to be happy. I approached him as if I had nothing to hesitate about and held him in his arms.

The familiar scent of musk tickled the tip of my nose and mercilessly stimulated the already vivid sense of reality.

Likewise, the muscled arm hugged me tightly and lifted me up once. He then put me down.

“I think you’ve gained some weight, Duchess. Being newlyweds must be good.”

My brother’s deep blue eyes, as he jokingly added, sparkled with pure welcome and joy, and there was no trace of the expected dark anger.

Looking back at Izek, he had a smiling face that showed humility and courtesy itself.

Rarely, I felt my spine stiffen with more tension than ever when he wore a perfect mask.

Wow, I can’t believe I’m like this already.…. Let’s just get used to it for now. There’s no other way than that in the first place.

“Are you making fun of me, your sister, who you haven’t seen in a while?”

“Ah, my mistake. You’re angry because I teased your husband.”

“It’s not like that”.

As I pretended to flutter my eyes in a coy manner, a low smile burst out among the cardinals who followed him.

They were indeed familiar people and familiar reactions.

“I’m glad you look so happy, Lady Rudbeckia”.

“Long time no see, Secretary Lissario.”

After responding cheerfully to the cardinals who greeted me happily, I turned to Izek, who was silently watching.

Haa, why did he look so good today?

As soon as I tried to calm my pounding heart, he opened his mouth first.

“I almost didn’t recognize you.”

Oh, really?

It’s not that! If you just say I looked pretty, would it hurt?

How can you be so mean all the time?

“You’re so pretty that I couldn’t even recognize you.”

“Is it a compliment?”

“Of course it’s a compliment.”

When I smiled with sarcasm, my mean husband narrowed his eyes suspiciously for a moment. He soon smiled, held my hand, and kissed the back of my hand.

Short and light, respectfully like a knight.

“It’s an honour, princess.”

Look at him. Is that what you’re going to say at the royal banquet hall?

I don’t know how my brother will react when he hears it.

“Thank you for bringing them safely.”

“Oh, if anyone hears you, they’ll think I’m a prisoner of war and my brother-in-law saved me.”

“I don’t see you as a prisoner.”

“Thank you for that. The same goes for the brother-in-law.”

Did he eat a lot of butter today?

I was ridiculous by the two men’s good exchanges.

Snooty Cesare and Destructive Izek’s personality… I couldn’t adapt to the appearance of them being polite like someone else.

It was amazing that Izek led the welcome team himself.….

Suddenly, I felt very strange. What would it have been like if everything had been as it was visible to others?

If so, I would probably have been the happiest woman in the world at this moment.

I must have looked happy to see my beloved brother and beloved husband willingly welcome each other.

But it was just a play, not a truth.

Therefore, as an actor in the role, I smiled brightly while looking at the two men.

As if I was the happiest in the world.

“I’m so happy.”

* * *

“Welcome to Elendale.”

Ellenia, who gracefully showed her example, looked at me once instead of gracefully facing Cesare.

Did she think of how much we didn’t look alike?

“The beauty of the princess is as I heard. Ruby, you must be jealous.”

“You’d be jealous of my husband then.”

“Oh no, I got caught.”

When Cesare clicked his tongue as if he was hesitating, laughter burst out from all sides.

Even the ice siblings smiled lightly.

Ah, how warm was this scene?

When I walked around, greeted people, and introduced people with my brother’s and husband’s arms crossed on both sides, the feeling of ominousness grew.

To be honest, the appearance of Cesare, who had maintained a gentle attitude that deserved an award, was not very surprising.

He was a man who can direct himself anytime, anywhere he wants.

What bothered me was that he was completely hiding his feelings even from me.

And whenever he acted like this, it always led to a mess that caught me off guard.

This was going to be harder than expected.….

“You’re dazzlingly lovely today, Lady Rudbeckia.”

“Oh, thank you, Archbishop.”

I straightened my back to the reappearance of the archbishop, who was in the welcoming group earlier.

Not because of the archbishop, but because of the person with him.

“Lord, this is the daughter of Marquis Furiana.”

“It’s an honour to meet you, cardinal Valentino.”

Ellenia’s best friend, Freya, who showed her courtesy in an impeccable elegant figure, was always perfect.

Similar to Ellenia, her braided hair looked brilliant with amethyst and spinel, and her dark purple dress made her purple eyes look brighter.

Her eyes, slightly looking up at Cesare, sparkled with unexpected curiosity.

Furthermore, she seemed a little surprised.

“Oh, my. Are Elendale’s women always so beautiful? It’s a good thing I left Enzo back.”

“If Enzo had come here and acted as he did in the south, he would have had to take a boat back this evening.”

“That’s true. Aren’t you sad that he’s missing this?”

“Not really. He’ll only cause a commotion if I come here.”

When I added coyly with envy, Cesare stroked my hair that flowed down, making a low laughing sound.

It was then that Freya, who was looking at us alternately with a strange smile, spoke to me.

“I think this side should compliment you. Lord, my lady didn’t tell you that you were such a wonderful person.”

“You look quite close to my sister.”

“Of course, she’s so lovely that anyone would want to be close to her.”

“Is that so? Is it true, Ruby?”

Can’t you two hold hands and go to hell?

This idea itself was like a match made in heaven.

At the question of this experienced chess player, I nodded my head.

“Yes, I like her. So, if you were offended by me the other day, I’d like to take this opportunity to apologize, Lady Furiana.”

The Archbishop, who was smiling and talking to other cardinals, looked this way.

Cesare also looked suspicious.

“What happened?”

“If you know, you’ll get hurt, because it’s between girls. Anyways, are you fine my Lady?

Then Freya raised the corners of her mouth toward me, pretending to be wary.

“My lady, I’d forgotten it a long time ago. You don’t have to say it here…….”

“Frey.”

Ellenia’s cold voice had the effect of making everyone momentarily confused.

Whether I did something wrong or not.

Ellenia looked at Freya, who paused to turn around, and looked at her as if reproaching her.

Freya’s gaze slid to my side and toward Izek.

Oh.

I looked up at Izek, flinching.

But even before I saw his expression, he turned his head first.

“I’m afraid the Lord will misunderstand. My wife is just so kind-hearted, as you know.”

A strangely smiling face. A large gloved hand gently stroked my back.

Cesare, who had been throwing strange looks at his touch, responded with a smile that it was soon understandable.

“That’s a relief. I know that my sister is not a bullied child anywhere, but I was also worried when I sent her to a land without connections. I’m relieved that my brother-in-law is reliable.”

What an amazing twist these two are laughing side by side over my head.

Was there anyone else here who looked as blessed as I was?

“By the way, Ruby, won’t you be your brother’s first dance in the North?””

Cesare, who suddenly turned his words around, put some strength on the hand holding my wrist.

As slow and calm music changed, cheerful waltz songs played.

Deep blue eyes like thin ice had a reflection of my light blue eyes.

“What do you think, brother-in-law? You can yield your first dance at least for today.”

“I don’t see why not.”

My husband, who had a grumpy expression, slightly pushed my hesitating shoulder.

“Go ahead.”

“Oh…”

“I’ll be watching from here.”

Why was my strict husband so polite?

It was a pity that he gave in too soon.

I turned around with a smile.

“There’s nothing we can do about it. But it’s been so long that I might step on your foot.”

“You have stepped on my foot a lot since you first learned it.”

That was not me.

The shell may be the same, but the little girl at that time was a different soul than me.

When I approached the dance floor holding his hand tightly, many men and women were already joining one after another and pairing up.

We also joined the dance floor and began to waltz together.

It was natural that when I and Cesare began to dance, all eyes from all over the place were drawn to this side.

Aside from curiosity, Cesare was a man who was greatly followed anywhere. I had to admit it.

Standing under the colorful lights of the dance floor, he looked like a southern prince boasting dizzying masculinity.

Even so, he was a perverted psycho.

“There’s an unexpectedly cute side to this.”

“Huh?”

“Your husband. He was anxious to have you to himself.”

He stepped back and smiled affectionately while whispering.

My heart pounded furiously.

“What are you talking about? That’s–“

“He dressed you up nicely.”