Chapter 3

Demian was silently staring, while Delilah was smiling with composure.

The desks were arranged in a rectangle with two people sitting across from each other.

“Shouldn’t you report this?”

“I’m planning to.”

I answered Saturn’s concerned question. Then Delilah looked at me with a bright smile and said:

“You fell down the stairs last week too. Are you okay?”

“No, I’m not okay.”

As I stared directly at Delilah, Demian wrapped his arm tightly around her shoulder and said:

“Let’s just continue with the class.”

Demian said that while looking at the overturned cards placed in front for the lesson. He picked one up and said:

“What would be good for implementing welfare in places that were used as battlefields?”

When Demian spoke indifferently, Delilah’s eyes lit up as she said:

“Since Merbenia has become a vassal state now, couldn’t we just dump everything on them?”

“Hahaha.”

I wondered if these words really came from the genius Delilah of the original story, but she seemed satisfied with Demian looking at her adoringly.

“That sounds good too. But since they’ve become a vassal state, they can’t do anything without the Cropus Empire’s consent.”

Saturn said that without any malice.

“I don’t think it’s right to pass that task to Merbenia, which has become a vassal state. Instead, we should demand war reparations and then rebuild the destroyed castles. During war, castle walls are burned and houses are demolished.”

“Oh.”

“Rather, we should give them autonomy but have people from the Cropus Empire handle the approval of necessary matters. However, since corruption is easy for those who go as administrators of vassal states, we should separately assign someone to monitor them.”

I said that because I had read about it in a book before. Saturn wrote down what I said under the card.

“He said we need to submit it.”

“Ah, I see. Thank you, Saturn.”

I expressed my gratitude since Saturn took the initiative to write it down. Demian’s expression hardened as he said:

“Bri still likes to show off.”

“…Demian.”

“You still always try to teach people. Being so smart, I wonder how you ended up marrying someone like me.”

His words left me speechless, and I tightly closed my mouth.

“But Bri has a broad understanding. She even understands us.”

Delilah said that while leaning against Demian’s arm as if hugging it. Her body was centered around his arm.

They were so close that she almost looked like she was hanging from his arm.

“By the way, if Demian has found a lover, Bri, you could get one too, right?”

“…Huh?”

When Saturn said that, I found myself looking toward him.

“Sh-should I introduce you to someone nice?”

“Bri is not allowed yet.”

“Why is Demian deciding that?”

“You want to find a lover when you haven’t even had a child yet? Think about it after having about three children.”

“Children sound wonderful. I want to have children too, Demi.”

Delilah said that to Demian as if making a request. Demian smiled brightly and said:

“I’ll do that for you soon. After Bri gets pregnant first.”

“Yes.”

“You can understand that much, right, Dili?”

“Yes, of course. Just being by your side is already too much for me. Having your child would be even more so.”

I bit my lip unconsciously as nausea rose up. I realized I was clenching my fist tightly because my arm hurt too much. My arms and legs were covered in bruises from rolling down the stairs.

“So after having three children, will you take a mistress?”

Saturn seemed to be a person without tact. He couldn’t read the tense atmosphere.

Perhaps that’s why words slipped out of my mouth without thinking:

“I could take one starting now.”

At those words, Demian looked at me with a hardened expression.

“Watch your words. There are many ears listening.”

“You should be careful too, Demian. There are many ears listening, yet you continue with disappointing words and actions.”

After that, he seemed upset and only glared without participating in other questions.

Saturn tried to change the atmosphere.

Delilah continued to say foolish things as if trying to appear cute to Demian.

I waited, slowly giving answers so Saturn could write them down.

What was strange was that after hearing my answers, Saturn didn’t look at Demian’s side at all and diligently wrote down what I said.

When I thought that he might really be trying to introduce me to a good person, I felt a bit tired.

People themselves were tiring.

I tried to keep focusing on the class, thinking that if I had known we wouldn’t have a proper lesson today, I would have stayed in the infirmary longer. I didn’t want to realize that I had pushed myself to attend a useless class.

But the excited atmosphere around those who had returned from the battlefield didn’t allow much studying.

⁕⁕⁕

That night, there was a celebration at the imperial palace.

It was because there had been a victory ceremony the day after I rolled down the stairs and couldn’t get up. During the week of the victory ceremony, a ball was held.

The imperial family held a victory ball as a gesture of gratitude.

The protagonists of this ball were the nobles and knights who had gone to war.

Demian, who had commanded as the Commander-in-Chief, naturally had to go, and I had to attend as his wife out of obligation.

So I had to move busily after returning from the academy.

My whole body hurt, but I had no time to be in pain, and rest was a luxury.

“Ella, please get me low heels.”

This was the dressing room, next to my room.

“How about loafers instead? No one will notice under your skirt.”

“I think that would be too informal.”

If I were thinking of Demian, I would have wanted to go barefoot, but since we were going to see the Emperor and Empress, that wouldn’t do.

Not to mention the imperial princes and princesses—they were not people to be taken lightly.

I had to be careful not to give them any reason to criticize me.

“Thank you for saying that, Ella. I only have you.”

“Not at all, my lady.”

When Ella made a sad face, I felt strangely relieved.

“I’m really fortunate to have you, Ella.”

“I’m also so fortunate to be your maid. But at times like this… I wish I could be in pain instead. I’m sturdy and strong… It upsets me to see you injured.”

“I would be upset if you were hurt. So let’s call it even.”

“Oh my! Our lady always says the nicest things!”

Even as Ella said that, she was looking at the bruises on my body with reddened eyes, clearly upset.

Despite not feeling well, I was able to find composure.

—The door burst open.

I was in the dressing room with Ella and other maids, choosing clothes and shoes. It was routine to select them here before going to get my makeup done.

“Demian?”

“Bri, I’m borrowing some clothes.”

“…Why do you need my clothes?”

“Dili has nothing to wear.”

He suddenly snatched the dress Ella was holding and said:

“I’ll borrow this.”

“That won’t fit Miss Delilah.”

“If you don’t want to lend it, just say so. Don’t be petty about clothes.”

After saying that, he took the shoes Ella was holding in her other hand and said:

“Where is the jewelry box?”

“Why don’t you lend her jewelry from the Grand Duke’s household instead?”

“That’s a good idea. I should give her some heirloom jewelry so people can recognize Dili’s true value.”

I was so dumbfounded by his words that I didn’t respond. The Grand Duke’s jewelry had been worn by the Grand Duchesses for generations. Yet he wanted to lend it to a mistress.

“Are you really the Demian I know?”

As he turned to leave, he looked back at me.

“Yes. But the situation has changed, so I’m less interested in used goods like you.”

“…Demian. How can you say such harsh things……”

“If you’re used goods, act like used goods and be easy. Being rigid makes you unattractive. Wi. Fe.”

He said that and left.

It felt like I was hearing all the insults of my life from him, and I was so stunned that my teeth chattered.

“Really… that’s too much. How could he say such filthy things……”

Ella started sobbing and then began to cry, turning her back and hiccupping as she tried not to cry, which brought me back to my senses.

“Let’s choose another dress, Ella.”

“…Hic… Yes.”

I would divorce Demian.

I couldn’t live with someone who kept a mistress. Moreover, seeing him now, he didn’t seem like the Demian I had loved.

Yet because of the memories of loving him for so long.

‘I will definitely make you happy, Bri.’

The promise he made in the past still echoed in my ears. Foolishly.

⁕⁕⁕

In the end, I had to travel to the imperial ball with Demian.

Since Demian and I were a couple, we traveled in one carriage, and Delilah was supposed to go as a partner with Sir Baron, Demian’s close associate.

In the carriage, I didn’t say a word to Demian.

Demian kept glaring at me and huffing as if he had complaints.

After arriving at the grand banquet hall, we had to move with our arms linked.

“His Highness the Grand Duke of Mays!”

“Her Highness the Grand Duchess!”

“Welcome!”

Since Demian, who had defeated Merbenia, was the protagonist of this party.

Everyone rushed to him, wanting to make an impression.

The commotion didn’t last long.

When the Emperor appeared on the interior balcony of the second floor, everyone looked up and became quiet.

“I thank all the guests who have come here today. The fact that we are gathered here today is largely due to the merit of the Grand Duke of Mays.”

The Emperor smiled proudly as he acknowledged Demian.

“Also, the protagonists of this gathering are those who led the war……”

—The door creaked open.

Through the door that opened arbitrarily, the Emperor’s aide rushed in with urgent news:

“Your Majesty! His Highness the Crown Prince has annihilated the Biaten Empire and is returning after achieving a great victory!”

The Crown Prince’s name was Callisten Ethan Cropus. He was my childhood friend and Delilah’s secondary male lead.