I’m In Trouble Because My Husband Is So Cute - Chapter 51

────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

Chapter 51

“Len.”

At that time, there was a hand that lightly embraced Iellie’s shoulder. Turning her head, she asked Zachary.

“Zachary, you’re here? The Duke?”

“He’s coming after me.”

Saying that, Zachary smiled softly. He put his lips to her ear and whispered softly, “You promised to give me the seat next to you today. Yes?”

“Don’t worry, I remember you well.”

Iellie, who dyed her face red, pushed him slightly. If he comes in without notice like that, she gets a little excited. Besides, today, Zachary was strangely paying attention to his clothes.

“Why did you dress up like that?”

“It’s just to look good to you.”

“Oh, right.”

She narrowed her eyes and looked at him. Today, he was wearing a semi-suit that was attached to his slim body. In addition to that, he had a perfect gentleman’s appearance, even the way he brushed his white-silver hair thoroughly.

‘Other women would seem to be very excited.’

Iellie, who was somehow grumpy, turned her gaze away. However, she did not let go of the hand she was still holding.

‘Why doesn’t Len believe me at all?’

On the other hand, Zachary looked at her side face and was immersed in a brief thought. He really did prepare him in the morning to show off to her. Although every time she heard his candid confession, she didn’t believe him.

“Hey, I really prepared it to show you.”

“Okay. I will believe you.”

Saying so, she waved her hand indifferently.

Zachary looked sulky. It was true, he was always speaking the truth. As he looked at Iellie with resentment, she gently patted him on the shoulder.

‘…Why doesn’t the Little Master know why she’s really like that?’

Meanwhile, the employees who were watching the scene exchanged glances with each other so as not to be seen. The people of the Duke’s Castle knew that Zachary always spoke his true feelings to Iellie. However…

‘The Little Master… is a living example of how honesty can be poisonous if you overdo it.’

Mary clicked her tongue inside. He should be able to see it so clearly, why doesn’t he know? It was Zachary who had no idea that his honesty that he had liked her for so long had diminished his integrity.

‘But, I’m glad that the two of you seem to like each other that much.’

Just then, they saw the Duke approaching this way. Iellie greeted him with a bright smile.

“Duke, you’re here?”

“Yes.”

The Duke tilted his head slightly.

The employees inwardly admired her skill. The Duke mostly refused to do troublesome tasks. Nevertheless, the fact that he was attending this tea party was…

‘As expected of the Miss.’

‘The only thing that can put the Duke and the Small Duke together in the same place is the Miss.’

‘Besides, the two of them don’t even clash with each other as long as the Miss is there.’

In faithfully reciprocating the expectations of the employees, the Duke only looked at each other, though he didn’t raise his voice.

“I prepared herbal tea that is said to warm the body for the Duke.”

“Yes, I’m looking forward to it.”

When Iellie spoke kindly to the Duke, the Duke smiled. She then guided him to the top seat, and sat Zachary next to her.

His expression, which had seemed somewhat sulky, softened at that moment.

“Everyone, please sit down.”

At the gentle words of the top, the Duke, all the servants took their seats. It was the beginning of the tea party.

The tea party was conducted in a soft atmosphere throughout. Although it was a gathering of the Duke’s family, the three showed a modest appearance rather than asserting authority. Even the employees, who seemed a little nervous at first, were relaxing little by little with the calm attitude of the three people.

Then, the Duke spoke to her.

“Why don’t you say something?”

The Duke chuckled at Iellie and smiled. At that, she became surprised and looked back at him.

“Me?”

“Yes. Aren’t you the mistress of this tea party?”

She was the mistress of the tea party…

At his words, she blushed. When the Duke said that, she was somewhat embarrassed and happy. Well, for the boss to congratulate them and speak for a long time… She already knew that the subordinates wouldn’t like it.

‘Well, I think I need to say something.’

The Duke was smiling happily. Besides, not only Zachary sitting next to her, but everyone in their seat was gazing at her with twinkling eyes. She felt a sense of duty to say something.

“Well then, as short as possible…”

Iellie, who cleared her throat by coughing heavily, looked around. Afterward, she carefully opened her mouth.

“I am well aware of all the hardships of all of you at Zachary’s coming-of-age ceremony.”

Hey, is this a good start?

As she greeted them abruptly, her chest tightened at the tension and she continued, “Thanks to all of you, we are able to safely hold Zachary’s coming-of-age ceremony.”

Hearing that, the people of the Duke Castle looked up at Iellie with twinkling eyes.

“So, for once, we got together like this to have a conversation with you all.”

She then smiled broadly. The people of the Duke’s Castle gathered in the seat and felt their noses twitch. Iellie not only respected the employees, but she also wanted to treat them on an equal footing with her.

“It must have been very difficult this time… Thank you so much for all the hard work without any complaints.”

Even the butler, who would normally say that the Duke’s family shouldn’t be with them, was still listening to her. She blushed furiously and bowed her head.

Zachary patted her on the shoulder.

“Len, good job.”

“Yes…”

Although he would praise her with ‘good job’ if she were just hanging out in her seat, still, she was happy that Zachary said so.

Iellie gently made a gaze with him and smiled at him.

“It was a heartfelt thank you.”

‘Ugh, even the Duke?’

She could feel her cheeks burning hot once more. Why is everyone doing this to me? When she thought about it.

“It was very moving, Miss.”

“Yes. Why do you care so much about us, who are only employees…”

…Somehow, it seemed that the people of the Duke’s castle were also engulfed in a wave of emotion. Especially, Mary with passionate eyes. She was staring at Iellie. Did she do something great that she didn’t know about?

“That, anyway. I hope you have a nice tea time.”

Having said that, Iellie bowed her red-stained face and sat down on her chair again.

The surroundings quickly began to become noisy. Tables with all kinds of desserts, tea utensils, and even vases were colorful.

‘I didn’t mean to create such a huge space.’

For some reason, the table set up now seemed to be more sincere than the tea time she had with the Princess.

“Come on, Len.”

Moments later, Zachary suddenly presented a plate to Iellie. And then, he asked her as if it was natural.

“You like this roll cake, right?”

“Yes. I like it, but…”

She accepted the plate he was offering with a bewildered face. Strawberry roll cake stuffed with snow-white whipped cream. It seemed to melt softly just by putting it in her mouth. She rolled her eyes.

“How did you know I like Café Laurent’s roll cakes?”

“That’s because I saw it when I went to Café Laurent before.”

“….”

They went to that cafe at least five years ago, right? Iellie looked at Zachary with a smirk. However, he was still smiling softly before adding his words as if he just remembered.

“And, I know that when you drink milk tea, you add at least six pieces of sugar each.”

“Well… It is like that.”

To be honest, it felt good to know that Zachary remembered each and everything about her. She smiled brightly, and Zachary looked at her with warm eyes.

Meanwhile, Zachary tilted his head.

“Still, it would be better to cut down on sweets a little. It’s bad for your health.”

“…Then, why do you keep pulling the cake plate in front of me with that?” The amazed Iellie asked Zachary, who looked down at the table with a blank expression.

“That’s because I keep seeing your favorite foods…”

“Well, your words and your actions don’t match at all.”

With a smirk, she then took her fork and cut the strawberry roll cake into large pieces to taste.

“Tasty.”

At her words, Zachary made a happy face.

Then, as she was trying to attack the roll cake in earnest…

“Ellie, would you rather try this sandwich than that?”

“Yes?”

The Duke pushed the plate of sandwiches in front of Iellie. It was a thick sandwich with plenty of bacon, lettuce, tomatoes and eggs. The Duke had a very worried face, he said to her.

“Because cakes are not suitable as a meal replacement either.”

“…Yes?”

“You have to eat well.”

No, is that what someone who skips meals and says that he sometimes has no appetite would say to her? But, for thinking about her, it was a happy feeling. Iellie quietly chose to take a bite of the sandwich rather than refute.

And, right then.

“Miss!”

The chef presented the dessert plate to her in a passionate voice, and he proudly gave the explanation.

“These are banana pancakes baked with my special recipe.”

“It tastes much better with fresh cream.”

The chef and the kitchen maids turned their eyes and spoke. With plenty of meringue, the thickly baked banana pancakes looked fluffy like clouds. Light brown syrup flows down elegantly.

“…Could it be that you made this yourself?”

“Of course. We even asked the patissier at Cafe Laurent for the recipe.”

Iellie widened her eyes in embarrassment. Their passionate gaze followed as if to eat quickly. Is that why they bake pancakes like this on purpose? She was thankful, though…

“Well, this time I didn’t want the kitchen people to work, so I purposely ordered it from a cafe…”

The problem was this. Even though she wasn’t going to make them work, she increased their work and had them make dessert…!

“How can you say that!”

“It’s our pleasure to make desserts for the Miss.”

“We can do anything as long as the Miss eats it deliciously!”

The people in the kitchen trembled as if they had lost their pleasure. At that, Iellie was perplexed.

“Is that so?”

“It is!”

“It is!”

Seeing people shouting in unison, her heart was touched. Everyone that cherished her… She was grateful with all her heart.

With a wide smile, she looked at the food laid out in front of her.

‘No, I can’t eat all of this, anyway.’

It looked like all the desserts around had gathered in front of her, she carefully opened her mouth.

“Thank you, everyone. But… there’s too much food.”

“You just have to eat as much as you can, it’s okay.”

“Yes, you can eat whatever suits your taste.”

‘No, your words and actions don’t match…’

She swallowed a gulp. Contrary to them saying, ‘You can eat as much as you want,’ everyone was paying close attention to what she was eating.

‘Let’s eat as hard as we can.’

In the end, Iellie firmly ate her heart out. She started eating the dessert with a determined expression on her face.

“The lady ate our pancakes.”

“Is the sandwich more palatable?”

“No, that roll cake is Cafe Laurent’s!”

‘Hey, even if you whisper, I can hear you well…’

After having a fair bite of the roll cakes, sandwiches, and pancakes in equal measure, Iellie quickly became exhausted. She didn’t know what kind of tea party was so difficult.

────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────