I’m In Trouble Because My Husband Is So Cute - Chapter 65
Chapter 65
Zachary gently caressed her cheek. But Iellie couldn’t hide her worried eyes.
“Besides, I’ve already received a handkerchief promising victory, right?”
“….”
The dark blue eyes narrowed neatly.
Iellie decided to just keep her silence. The handkerchief was wrapped around Zachary’s wrist in the shape of a butterfly. It looked shabby compared to other knights’ handkerchiefs.
“If only I had more time… I could have made it a lot prettier.”
At her words, he grinned as Iellie pouted her lips. He opened his mouth tenderly towards her.
“This is enough.”
“It is not good enough.”
Iellie glanced around with a dissatisfied face. The ladies and the knights were passing handkerchiefs to each other. The handkerchief, much more beautiful than the one she had made herself, greatly discouraged her.
“If you hadn’t told me you were going to the jousting contest…”
“In that case, your handkerchief would have been by the Emperor.”
It was also true, so Iellie couldn’t do anything but shut her mouth with dissatisfaction. Zachary soon switched the topic.
“Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Count Laurent couple the whole time.”
“Ah, you’re right.”
Iellie blinked her eyes. Since Zachary’s coming-of-age ceremony, Count Laurent couple had been secretly avoiding them. However, their daughter, Elysee, did not understand the situation and touched her temper…
“Young Duke.”
Then, a voice was heard. The tiger would appear when spoken about, and the main character of the voice was Elysee.
“As your cousin, I have come to offer my handkerchief to wish the Young Duke victory.”
“….”
Zachary glanced at Elysee with eyes that could not be understood. Still, she smiled and held out her handkerchief. Today, Elysee worked tirelessly on her decoration. Considering that it was a jousting event, she was a bit overdressed.
‘She still hasn’t given up on trying to look good to Zachary…’
That child was so tenacious. Iellie thought, narrowing her eyes. Meanwhile, Zachary opened his mouth expressionlessly.
“Lady Laurent. Are you trying to make fun of me now?”
“Yes?”
For a moment, Elysee, bewildered, stared at Zachary. Pure blue eyes without warmth stared at Elysee.
“Didn’t I already say enough?”
“What do you mean…”
“I’m not going to take another lady’s handkerchief to be faithful to my wife.”
Zachary tilted his head obliquely. Seeing Elysee pull her lips, he asked again, “I refused even the Princess’ handkerchief. Are you saying that I will receive the Lady’s handkerchief?”
“But, but we are cousins… I just wanted to give you with a pure heart.”
“It’s true that we’re cousins, although we’ve never had that kind of closeness.”
At that, he smiled grimly. Elysee’s face went pale as there wasn’t even the slightest favor as he continued.
“I still remember vividly how your family treated me like a monster.”
Zachary was blatantly sarcastic.
County Laurent took the Imperial Family’s side, treating him like a monster. They were different from other noble families who recognized him as the next monarch and gave him allegiance, although fearful at least.
“Then, will you please leave? Before the jousting contest, I have to spend time with my wife.”
“….”
Elysee, whose face almost looked like she was about to cry, hurriedly turned her body and disappeared. Of course, he didn’t care at all. Zachary, who turned back to Iellie, asked his wife a question with a face waiting for praise.
“Can I refuse to this extent?”
“…Ugh, good job.”
It was a clear, bright voice.
Iellie nodded her head awkwardly. She wondered if it was because of her that he acted so coldly?
“Oh, I’ll have to go soon.”
Zachary, who received the satisfactory praise, gently lifted his head. The knights participating in the contest were moving toward the inside of the arena and the waiting room. Slowly, it was time to prepare for the jousting contest.
“See you later.”
“I will be rooting for you.”
She answered with twinkling eyes. Zachary smiled and soon turned his body. Iellie stared at his back for a long, long time. She didn’t know when he grew up so dignified.
Her heart fluttered again.
* * *
Zachary moved to the waiting room, where the knights for the jousting contest were gathered. The knights’ eyes were focused on Young Duke Hessenweitz, who suddenly decided to participate. Their gazes turned to the handkerchief on his wrist.
‘What about that handkerchief…? Did a child make it for practice?’
The knights thought the same thing. The embroidery on the handkerchief wrapped around the Young Duke’s wrist looked much more clumsy than what the Ladies made for practice.
Eventually, a knight who couldn’t bear to see it asked him carefully.
“The handkerchief wrapped around your wrist…”
“My wife made it for me.”
Zachary answered that very proudly. Then, he looked down at the handkerchief with affectionate eyes and said.
“Isn’t it really pretty?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Hearing the voice full of pride, the knights abruptly nodded their heads. Rumors that the Young Duke was devoted to his wife seem to be true. Anyway, there was no problem as the Young Duke looked happy.
Meanwhile, Iellie, who sent him, moved to the grandstand of the stadium. The seat, which was given to Iellie, was the top seat with the best view of the jousting arena, that was, the place where the imperial family and the highest nobles gathered.
‘Still, I don’t think this seat will be very comfortable.’
She grunted a little. Being near the emperor means that the probability of troublesome things happening increases.
“Lady Hessenweitz.”
Suddenly, there was a voice calling her, Iellie looked behind. The owner of the voice was the Princess.
“Your Highness Princess.”
Iellie had a frown on her face. She remembered yesterday the Princess blushing with the handkerchief. Although she knew it was what the Emperor had ordered, it was also true that she could not see it positively.
“I sincerely apologize that my brother made me be rude to the Young Duke couple.”
The next moment, the Princess bowed her head deeply. Astonished by that, Iellie waved her hand quickly.
“Oh, my gosh. Princess, please raise your head.”
“To be honest… I couldn’t break my brother’s stubbornness.”
The Princess, who stubbornly bowed her head, murmured a little. There was a deep sense of shame permeating her voice.
“Though whatever the circumstances, I know that the Lady and the Young Duke must have been offended.”
“…Princess.”
“I know this is shameless, but will you forgive me?”
After being silent for a while, she nodded her head. In fact, it was not that she did not understand the Princess’ position. Iellie knew that she didn’t have any other intentions like Elysee, just by looking at her expression yesterday.
“It’s okay. Please, raise your head, Your Highness.”
“However…”
“Because Zachary and I weren’t offended.”
After hearing her words, the princess carefully raised her head. The Princess opens her mouth with determined eyes, “…And, I’m saying this in case the Lady might be misunderstood.”
“Yes?”
“I have no interest in the Young Duke.”
The Princess’ voice was as firm as a sword. Her eyes were sincere, perhaps to clear up the misunderstanding.
“The handkerchief was not made by me. I just left it to the seamstress.”
“Princess.”
“I don’t want to get married like I am being sold for an arranged marriage…”
Saying that, she pulled her lips and bit them. The many emotions seemed to flood her eyes, and the corners of her eyes rose red.
“…I don’t even want to meddle in a good relationship.”
“….”
Knowing that she was sincere, Iellie couldn’t put her words out. The Princess sighed and added, “First of all, if I push the Lady out and intervene, the Young Duke will try to kill me.”
“Um, that’s…”
“Honestly, you can’t deny it, can you?”
Perhaps, it was to shake off the heavy mood, the Princess asked playfully. Seeing that, Iellie smiled awkwardly.
“Honestly, I…I have no idea what His Majesty is thinking.”
…Nonetheless, one thing was certain. The Emperor has an interest in Lady Hessenweitz.
‘Right now, the Lady and Young Duke are coping well, but just in case.’
She didn’t know why the Emperor was so obsessed with Iellie, though he seemed to be whole-hearted in his obsession.
“This was something that would offend the Lady. I’m really sorry. However…”
The Princess stopped her words for a moment, then caught her breath. She didn’t know how to say that she was sincere.
“Please, believe in one thing. All I want is for you two to live happily ever after.”
Saying so, the Princess pulled back her high-necked dress. Iellie, who was looking at her without realizing it, found a faint bruise left on her neck.
“….”
Even though she skillfully covered it with makeup, it was nonetheless visible upon closer inspection. Losing her words, Iellie bit her lip.
‘There is no one other than the Emperor who can wield violence against the Princess.’
Even so, it was simple why she dared not speak of that fact. It was to protect her pride as the Princess. She was a princess, the most noble woman in the empire… How would it be if her secrets were discovered?
“Don’t worry. We do not misunderstand the Princess’ sincerity.”
“Then, I am very grateful.”
At that, the Princess smiled brightly. For some reason, Iellie felt pity for her and slightly turned her gaze away.
“Greetings, Princess and Lady Hessenweitz.”
The next moment, a greeting was heard. The two looked back. The person who greeted them was Lady Marquis Rondo.
“Ah, Lady Rondo.”
The Princess greeted Lady Rondo with a rare bright face. Noticing that, Iellie widened her eyes.
‘…The Princess used to keep her distance from most of the ladies.’
The two chatted. Watching them, she opened her mouth without realizing it.
“Come to think of it, the Princess and Lady Rondo seem to have a close relationship.”
“Is that so? It is a great honor to be seen that way.”
Lady Rondo smiled brightly. Shaking her head, the Princess answered with a sincere voice, “No, rather, I am grateful to be able to have a conversation like this with Lady.”
While the Princess looked at Lady Rondo with a happy expression, Lady Rondo nodded her head lightly.
“It’s not easy to find a friend you can talk to.”
“For reference, we are not a very popular combination among ladies.”
Lady Rondo added mischievously.
When Iellie looked bewildered, the princess added, “Because Lady Rondo and I are known as the weird ones in the social world.”
“If we have different interests from most ladies, wouldn’t the distance also increase?”
“I feel that the social world is not that different.”
After talking back and forth, the two of them smiled with similar expressions. Apparently, the two had been friends for a long time. After a while, Lady Rondo, who was having a conversation, opened her mouth in surprise.
“Ah, the time has come. My parents will be waiting for me.”
“Hurry up and go back now.”
“Really, it is very difficult to be the beloved daughter.”
Lady Rondo, who shrugged her shoulders playfully, stepped back. She then turned to Iellie, “Then, Lady Hessenweitz. I wish Young Duke Hessenweitz the best of luck.”
“Thank you.”
Finally, Lady Rondo, who smiled brightly, quickly disappeared and Iellie smiled brightly.
‘The Princess and Lady Rondo…’
It felt as if she had met ladies with whom she seemed to match well.
As she looked at the arena, the horn rang out long, announcing the start of the jousting contest. In the midst of the scattering flower pollen, the riders, with their spears engraved with the patterns of each family, sat high on their horses.
