I’m In Trouble Because My Husband Is So Cute - Chapter 61

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

Chapter 61

[ ‘My heart is already pounding because of the expectation that I will be able to see the Young Duke.’ ]

‘Who do you think you are, your heart pounding in anticipation of meeting Zachary…?’

Iellie, without realizing it, was furious.

[ ‘Oh, I heard that you are participating in a jousting competition this time. I’m worried that the Young Duke might get hurt. The Young Duke will surely get the Asha branch. Whom are you planning to dedicate the flowers to? If I could receive the Young Duke’s flower branches, I would faint from joy.’ ]

…No, why would she take Zachary’s branch? Iellie stared at the letter with an astonished look.

[ ‘In the future, I hope that I will be able to call you ‘oppa’ instead of ‘Duke.’ We’re cousins, so the name ‘oppa’ isn’t very awkward, right? Then, I’ll shorten the letter. See you again soon.’ ]
[ T/N: Whilst ‘oppa’ is mostly used in families, they’re used in people in a close romantic relationship or wanting to be close to someone ]

Elysee Lauren. The signature was decorated as beautifully as possible.

…Oppa.

Zachary has the title of Duke, so why would she call him ‘oppa’? Her stomach was boiling as Iellie bit her lip.

“….”

Then, she glanced at Zachary.

Was he being ignorant? Or, was he pretending not to know…? She wanted to ask him that. In the Empire, cousins ​​were allowed to marry, and Elysee was a girl of the same age as her. And, the girls, including Iellie, were usually…

‘…Wouldn’t do such a nuisance to someone whom they don’t care about!’

From the looks of it, Elysee had a feeling for Zachary. Of course, she was cleverly hiding that crush, but she didn’t completely hide it. However, Zachary, who was in front of her…

‘He was sensitive to everything about me but insensitive to the kindness that came to him.’

Thinking that, she swallowed a sigh. He really didn’t know how people felt. But then, Zachary suddenly smiled brightly.

“Is Len jealous?”

“No way…!”

Iellie, who raised her voice reflexively, stopped for a moment. Her eyes widened wide at his words.

‘Is it…? Am I jealous right now?’

If that was the case… She couldn’t help but swallow her breath.

Zachary said in a sweet voice, “Of course, I would be very happy if you were jealous.”

“It’s, it’s not like that!”

“It’s not?”

Perhaps, he was expecting it from the bottom of his heart, Zachary gazed at her, disappointed. Noticing that, Iellie bit the flesh in her mouth. To be honest, she thought it was right to be jealous. Then, she glanced at him.

“Anyway, Zachary, are you going to reply to that letter?”

“No, do I really need to? We will meet on the eve of the jousting match.”

“….”

Somehow, she felt worse. Did she have to meet Elysee again on the eve? Iellie hardened her heart, saying Elysee h and Zachary should not be bear.

Eventually, she firmly opened her mouth.

“Give me that letter.”

“Yes? Why…?”

“I will burn it.”

“…Burn it?”

Even though Zachary stared at Iellie with a puzzled face, she took the letter from his hand. Without even leaving a greeting, her back as she hurriedly moved her steps looked gloomy.

“Ah, really.”

Glancing at her back, he smiled softly before mumbling softly in a voice full of affection.

“Len. You are so cute.”

Although she said she was not jealous, since he brought the letter, she had a pouty face. It was even more cute to be coy when saying she was going to burn it.

Zachary covered his face with his hand.

A few days after the incident at the Fortuna Opera House. Today was the day before the jousting match where Zachary announced that he would compete. The day before the jousting event, the Emperor held a ball in the name of the eve festival.

‘I worked hard all day for this ball.’

Iellie thought so as she gazed into the mirror as she looked into her adorned figure. A dress with a subtle color that starts with the sea color and goes into indigo blue suits her quite well. The gemstone was sapphire.

‘I purposely matched it with Zachary’s eye color, but I’m glad it suits me well.’

Zachary also chose a cravat decoration made of emeralds. It was one of the old customs in the social world for lovers or couples to dress up in this way. They wanted to emphasize that the two of them were a couple, so they chose an explicit method.

It was a kind of expression to the Emperor, not to bother them.

‘Well… I wish Zachary would think I was pretty, even a little bit.’

Iellie, who naturally thought of Zachary, looked shy. It was because he kept looking like a man these days, so she was in big trouble. How could a little boy like her little brother grow up to be this well…?

‘Oh, I should bring the handkerchief.’

After carefully examining herself in front of her mirror, she finally took the handkerchief.

…A white handkerchief embroidered with the crest of the Duchy of Hessenweitz crookedly. Could she really give him this? Her mind became complicated.

“Ha.”

She let out a long sigh. However, a knock was heard. In her astonishment, she exclaimed.

“Come in!”

Click.

The door opened. Zachary takes one step towards the room. At that moment, Iellie became dazed.

“….”

Handsome… That was the thought that came to mind as soon as she saw Zachary.

He was dressed in a navy blue suit that clung to his body with his white-silver hair neatly arranged. It was perfect, as if straight out of a catalog of a men’s fashion magazine. If he was usually a large dog, now, he was like a graceful leopard.

“Len, you are so pretty today.”

Zachary’s words turned her face red. Usually, she would pass it on casually, but she just couldn’t. His every move was making her conscious and difficult to bear.

Iellie swallowed a sigh.

“That, thank you.”

As she stuttered, saying that, Zachary lowered his head and stared at her. He smiles slyly, “It’s strange. Normally, you would have said, ‘Of course I’m pretty’?”

“That—”

‘No, my foolish heart. Why are you beating like that? It’s been several years since we lived as a couple, but to do this here!’

Calm down, heart. Calm down…!

Iellie’s eyes, which had been rolling around without knowing what to do, in an instant, moved to Zachary’s cravat.

‘Well, I knew it. I knew this.’

She narrowed her brow. The shape of the cravat was the same as before and now. That meant the shape was messed up. On top of the matted cravat, the emerald decorations that matched the color of her eyes shone brilliantly.

“By the way, the cravat.”

“Why? Did it have a strange shape?”

“Yes. When are you going to learn how to properly tie a cravat?”

At Iellie’s complaint, Zachary only smirked. With her skillful movements, she removed the emerald decorations and arranged the shape of the cravat. Then, she shrugged her shoulders before taking a step back.

“Now, it’s worth taking a look.”

“Is it just ‘worth taking a look’?”

“What?”

At his question, she looked bewildered. Meanwhile, Zachary continued his words with a voice mixed with laughter, “Today, I tried very hard to look as handsome to you as possible.”

“Uh, um…”

‘It was against the law to rush in like that…!’

Iellie did not know what to do and rolled her eyes. At that time.

“Are you okay?”

Zachary lowered his head and gazed at her. After hesitating, her lips flapped a little.

“…No.”

“Yes?”

“You’re, you’re handsome.”

Oh, she stuttered her words. Embarrassing… her face lit up. The burning sensation was embarrassing.

“Len, do you know what?”

“What?”

“You are always the prettiest person in the world.”

Zachary, who was staring at her quietly, opened his mouth. What did he mean…?

Thinking that, Iellie glanced at him with a squint. His dark blue eyes were full of warm affection and slightly deeper emotion.

“So, in order to become the person who suits you, the prettiest person in the world…”

His voice sank low. This shouldn’t be the case. It seemed that the dense obsession he had been trying to hide would be revealed.

“…I will try my best.”

“Zachary?”

“It’s just that.”

Quickly returned to a light expression again, he changed the topic casually. Zachary put out his hand and spoke.

“Shall we go then, Lady?”

“Yes.”

In response, Iellie placed her hand on his. As she moved as she was escorted by him, she thought of the handkerchief she had placed in her small handbag on her arm. Her heart quickly became heavy.

‘…Can I really give this handkerchief to Zachary?’

Seeing him in his perfect figure, she grew less and less confident. It was a burden in itself to have her handkerchief in the open.

In the end, she got into the carriage, half crying.

Although it was not a new fact, the splendor of the Imperial Family overwhelmed people. A place that has been decorated to greet people like this was even more special. Iellie straightened her back and thought with a proud expression.

‘I think I did my best to dress up today.’

A bit of overdressing shone here. In particular, faithfully following the old-fashioned customs of the social world, it was true that the two couples chose the color of their jewels and dresses to match each other’s eye color.

“Oh my, it’s a bit old-fashioned to dress up like that.”

“To the extent of faithfully following such customs…”

The nobles widened their eyes. The reaction, which seemed a little startling, quickly turned into a favorable reaction.

“The Hessenweitz Young Ducal couple seem to have a very good relationship.”

“I know. A good couple, doesn’t it please even those who see them?”

“Right. A harmonious family is one of the most valuable things.”

…Because she wanted this kind of reaction. It was far better for them to appear as a somewhat fussy couple than to receive unnecessary attention from the Emperor. If this is enough, even the Emperor will be able to clearly understand their intentions.

‘Hmm, is this enough?’

Now, it was time for each of them to socialize.

Iellie let go of his clasped hand and smiled before opening her mouth, “Well then, Zachary. See you later.”

However, Zachary looked sullen. He asked earnestly as he grabbed Iellie’s hand as she walked away again.

“…Can’t we be together?”

“No, you have to follow the minimum courtesy.”

Iellie shook her head. Spending the longest time with her partner at the ball wasn’t an excuse. But, before that, it was necessary to spend time greeting each other with other noble ladies or lords.

“It’s better not to do things that will make other people gossip.”

“Still… What if the Emperor bothers you?”

As he lowered his voice and said to her, Iellie narrowed her eyes and gazed at him.

‘If that’s the case, can you watch out for Elysee?’

Nonetheless, she had already said she wasn’t jealous, so she couldn’t afford to shoot like that.

“You should come first before the Emperor comes to me.”

“….”

Zachary still looked dissatisfied. Iellie took a deep breath and handed him a carrot.*
[ T/N: From the idiom carrot and the whip. ]

“Instead, let’s stay together when the greeting is over. Let’s dance the first dance together. Okay?”

“…Really?”

“Of course.”

When she smiled brightly, he seemed to be ready to do his greetings, even a little.

“Okay, then.”

“Let’s meet again soon, okay?”

Iellie tapped Zachary on the back and moved her steps. He then looked at her and turned his body. As at the previous coronation, countless curious glances were pouring in this direction.

‘Well then, who should I say hello to first…’

It would have been easier if there was the Princess, though the imperial family, including the Emperor, had yet to come to the ballroom.

‘It’s a bit ambiguous because the lower ones usually greet the upper ones first.’

__

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