I’m In Trouble Because My Husband Is So Cute - Chapter 52
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Chapter 52
‘…As expected, I shouldn’t have invited the knights.’
Zachary managed to control the boiling inside.
All the people of the Duke Castle were invited to this tea party. That said, all the knights were invited. Excluding the knights dispatched to various places in the wide duchy, the number was almost fifty.
As always, Iellie was popular in the Duke’s Castle.
Especially to the young knights of the Duke’s castle, she was almost like a lady in a fantasy.
‘Of course, I can understand. However…’
The kindness the knights showed to her was, in fact, a feeling of respect for the Young Master’s wife rather than a feeling about the opposite sex. Nevertheless, while he could do most things smoothly, he wasn’t as well with Iellie. For that reason, he was sitting next to her right now, with his ax eyes open.
“Lady, the Small Duke’s coming-of-age ceremony was really wonderful.”
“Realy? Thank you, I’m so glad you said that.”
Iellie smiled brightly. But then, Zachary, who had hawk eyes, suddenly intervened.
“Sirs, don’t talk to Len.”
“You’re really disgraceful!”
“If you are dissatisfied, the Sirs should get married.”
To the knights who complained, Zachary then replied confidently. Blue eyes shine with confidence.
“Because Len is my wife.”
“….”
The knights were all speechless.
Meanwhile, Iellie just gave up on stopping him and opted to just drink the tea. It had been a long time since she had gotten used to Zachary acting like that, anyway…
‘It’s not the first time he’s done that.’
Nonetheless, Zachary stuck to her side as if he had become a dog protecting his owner.
“Are you going to let her live with shame?”
“Won’t she be the Mistress of the Duchy in the future? So, we…”
“No, don’t talk.”
Zachary cut off the knights’ approach like an iron castle. As Iellie looked at this scene unfolding before her eyes, she became vague as to whether she should laugh or not.
He continued firmly.
“Just get married quickly and be nice to the wives of the Sirs.”
“Don’t do it too much, it’s just a compliment.”
In the end, Iellie, unable to see it any longer, opened her mouth. Although Zachary only shook his head toward her knights.
“Still, not to Len.”
“…Yes, I see. I wonder if someone is as pathetic, really.”
Shaking their heads, the knights began militantly devouring the turkey-stuffed sandwiches.
Embarrassed, she stared at Zachary, though he was just calm.
“Why are you looking at me like that, Len?”
“No, nothing.”
No matter how much she wrestled with this question, there was no answer. Iellie shook her head, fluttering.
So, the twilight descended.
The atmosphere of the people who ate their tea and food was full of a homely and relaxed atmosphere, and it was already time to wrap up the tea party.
Iellie clapped and grabbed people’s attention.
“I don’t know if everyone had a good day today.”
At her words, the people smiled brightly and nodded their heads. Anyway, this tea party seemed to have been a success, and she let out a sigh of relief inside. In fact, her business was different.
“Actually, I’m thinking of paying you guys a bonus.”
“Is it performance pay?”
“It’s enough with the tea party right now…”
It was not enough to hold a tea party, so she was paying a separate bonus… The people made surprised faces.
“No. I know how hard you all went through.”
Iellie, who smiled brightly, glanced around at the people. After that, she explained the rest of the rewards she had prepared.
“And, I’m giving everyone three days of paid leave. You can use your vacation whenever you want.”
Surprised by the unconventional treatment, people looked at Zachary and the Duke. Nevertheless, the two men merely nodded their heads slightly at her words. She made eye contact with the people and calmly opened her mouth.
“The butler will share the details.”
At that, people were stunned by the sudden reward.
Iellie got up from her seat and bowed her head.
“I really enjoyed spending time with you guys today.”
She was the lady who was later promised to become the Duchess. That such a person bows her head directly in front of them? Unbelievable, people looked into each other’s eyes.
She smiled brightly.
“Please continue to take good care of us in the future.”
The people of the Duke’s Castle have been serving the Duke’s family for a long time, though they have never heard of such a thing. This was despite the fact that the Duke’s family treated their subordinates very well compared to other families.
‘Are my ears strange?’
‘The Miss told us… it was a pleasure to spend time together.’
However, the girl in front of them was completely different. The Young Miss who had changed the always cold atmosphere of the Duke’s castle into a warm one was now treating the employees without discrimination.
Iellie left a last friendly greeting.
“Then, I will go back first. You all enjoy yourself, and when you are comfortable, please organize your seats.”
Having said that, she took the father-and-son and left the place. Those left behind were stunned.
“…Oh, my gosh.”
“What is this…”
When the Head’s family left, the rest of them stared at each other. This was the first time they have been treated like this. It was not just about being happy with performance pay and paid vacation. The employees had a common idea.
‘The Miss is treating us humanely.’
It felt like their heart was warming up somehow. The employees smiled happily.
So, the day was over.
The Duke went back to the room first. Zachary saw the Duke return to his room with a heavy face. His face, looking at the Duke, seemed a little complicated. The Duke whose physical condition was not very good. In fact, staying at the tea party for such a long time was the best in itself.
“Hey, Zachary.”
While walking side by side in the hallway, Iellie suddenly opened her mouth.
“How was your day? It was fun?”
“Yes, it was fun. but…”
In response, Zachary suddenly rolled his eyes. It was because he recalled something he didn’t like.
“But, I didn’t want to see those children trying to talk to you.”
He answered while showing a straight face. Perhaps the ‘children’ are the knights of Hessenweitz.
‘Well, to me, it just seemed like a sign of respect for the next mistress…’
Apparently, it looked different to Zachary.
Thinking so, Iellie shrugged her shoulders lightly and asked back, “Are you going to just say you don’t like me no matter what I say?”
“Of course.”
Zachary had a grumpy face. There was no point in wrestling when he was stubborn like that, anyway. For a comfortable life of knights, she thought it would be better not to speak more.
“By the way.”
He then suddenly turned to her. Through her window, Iellie’s cheeks reddened in the twilight light.
“Our Len is hugely popular with the people of the Duke’s Castle.”
“Yes? What do you mean?”
Confused, she asked Zachary. He slowly reached out and touched her cheek. At the touch that was slightly ticklish, she frowned slightly and smiled.
He eventually mumbled a little, mixing a sigh.
“You will become a more loved person in the future.”
“I don’t know what kind of nonsense it was all of a sudden.”
“I’m just telling the truth.”
Because she had already become an irreplaceable person here. To him, to his father, and to everyone in the Duke’s Castle. Thinking about that, Zachary smiled as he made eye contact with her.
“It’s good that you are loved by other people, still…”
“Yes?”
“Just.”
He didn’t know if he should explain his own feelings.
It was good that she was loved… Nonetheless, he hated that she was looking elsewhere because of that love. His desire to monopolize her bloomed.
“Um, Zachary.”
At that moment, bright green eyes that were as soft as buds stared into Zachary’s eyes. She later spoke adamantly.
“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but you’re still my favorite person in the Duke’s Castle.”
“….”
“So, don’t think about useless things.”
Iellie gave strength to her clasped hands. Hearing her words, Zachary’s loving, light green gaze gently curved.
“Sometimes, you need to slow down your thoughts.”
“…Okay.”
He lowered his head.
Behind the ears are red. It always seemed like she was looking into his heart. How she chose the words he wanted to hear like that was just amazing now…
“Hey, do you do mind-reading by any chance?”
“Is that a joke? It’s not fun at all.”
Frowning her brow, she glanced at him. As he burst into laughter, Iellie let out a sigh.
“Well, I’ll forgive you for being this boring.”
“Really?”
“Yes. You are one of my favorite people.”
His heart pounded at the stern words. Gazing at her, Zachary gave her a happy smile.
And, his prophecy came true. The affection for Iellie in the Duke’s castle grew endlessly, and now people used to put on their happy faces whenever they encountered her. However, she did not notice it at all.
‘In other areas, she is quick-witted, but only insensitive to herself.’
Zachary thought so with half dissatisfaction and half cuteness.
If she had used only a fraction of her sense, she would have known Zachary’s mind as well as the people of the Duke’s castle.
“Zachary, the kitchen baked cookies earlier and sent them to me. Would you like to eat too?”
Iellie, who was examining the documents, glanced up at him while chewing a crunchy cookie. Zachary laughed.
“No, it’s okay.”
“Try one, it’s delicious.”
Muttered a little, she then looked down at the paperwork again.
Zachary shrugged his shoulders. It was natural for it to suit her taste because that cookie was baked to thoroughly satisfy her taste.
‘Well, if it’s our Len, of course, she deserves to be treated like that.’
At that time, Iellie, who had looked at all the papers, arranged the papers and piled them up on the desk. And she carefully opens her mouth.
“I don’t know why, but everyone has been very nice to me these days.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I don’t even know where to put myself.”
Having said that, she narrowed her brow. With her body buried in the chair, she asked a question, “So, is there anything else I can do…?”
Zachary smiled softly.
As he gently stroked the pink crown, the soft touch came over.
“You just have to stay the way you are.”
“But, right now, I’m just doing what I have to do.”
Iellie, who felt Zachary’s touch, gently closed her eyes like a cat and muttered softly.
“I think I need to do something more.”
“It’s okay.”
He said with strength.
Perhaps, she didn’t seem to realize that she was special in the way she treated the people of the Duke’s castle herself. She had a swollen face and leaned her cheek against his hand.
“Well, if it’s you, you’ll say so…”
She always treated everyone fairly. She never lost the minimal respect for the other person… Such kindness was a virtue rarely seen in noble families, or even almost nonexistent.
“Because it is.”
“Right.”
“Do you believe me?”
Now, he was fiddling with her cheek openly. Seeing that, she laughed softly and replied playfully.
“Well, of course. Who else would I trust if not you?”
His heart sank at that single word. Maybe she didn’t know at all…
Zachary thought so as he gazed at Iellie’s figure, who was reclining in the chair.
It was a nice afternoon with the sun shining brightly.
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