Chapter Twenty: My Husband’s Request

At first, I was too busy being flustered by our close proximity, but now I couldn’t help but enjoy the scenery of the forest, which I could see from a much higher vantage point than usual. The refreshing scent of greeneries caressed my cheeks, accompanied by the soothing sound of hooves.

Just as my husband said, the forest was managed, as could be seen by the well-maintained footpaths, allowing small carriages and horses to traverse by.

Since it shook quite a bit, I couldn’t speak in fear of biting my tongue. Besides, I was satisfied with merely watching the scenery.

My husband’s prized horse, Sir Gust, was black and tremendous in size. When I rode Sir Gust along with my husband, it didn’t even flinch. It vigorously galloped through the forest as its luxuriant and well-groomed mane swayed.

I want to touch it, but I wonder if it’ll let me?

“Liliana, we’re going to head off the main ro

Then, my husband changed course to a much narrower animal trail, leaving the path we’d been following up until now.

Despite slowing down, Sir Gust proceeded regardless of bumpy roads and thick tree roots.

The inside of the forest was cooler than the lakeside. Sunlight filtered through the foliage, accompanied by the chirping of birds and cicadas.

“We’ll be there soon… Oh, Liliana, why don’t you close your eyes? I want to surprise you.”

My husband spoke, frolicking like a child. What’s his secret to not biting his tongue? As I pondered that, I obediently closed my eyes. Even after my view became pitch-black, I could still faintly register the sunlight. Deprived of my sight, I felt like I could hear more sounds than before.

“I see it. We’re almost there.”

I could tell from the glare that the space in front of me had opened.

My husband pulled the reins and shouted at Sir Gust. Then, the shaking abruptly stopped.

“My husband?”

“Liliana, I’ll get off first, so hold on tight. Don’t open your eyes yet.”

“Alright.”

As my husband descended, the warmth on my back disappeared. Since I was sitting sideways on Sir Gust, I was a bit worried that I might fall, but my husband immediately took me in his arms and helped me down. Although, while I had left Sir Gust’s back, I was still in my husband’s arms.

“…Uh, my husband?”

“Give me ten seconds!”

My husband started walking.

Instead of the usual sideway carry, he hoisted me with one arm like he would Cedric. To not fall off, I clung to his head.

“E-excuse me…”

“No problem at all! Rather, I much prefer it this way! Stay as it is!”

When I scrambled to let go, my husband caught my arm, preventing me from leaving. After he insisted that I didn’t let go again, I let instincts took over and held on to him as it was. It was difficult to maintain one’s balance with eyes closed.

“Aren’t I heavy?”

“Don’t worry about it, it’s an honor. Besides, it’s fluffy.”

“…Fluffy?”

“Never mind. We’ve arrived. This is unfortunate, but I’ll have to let you down.”

I wasn’t sure, but I was glad that something good happened. My husband bent down and gently lowered me to the ground.

Is there grass growing under my feet? It’s kind of fluffy… Was my husband perhaps referring to this?

I somehow understood that my husband was standing beside me, grasping my right hand.

“Liliana, you may open your eyes.”

I did as he said.

—In the next moment, I found myself gasping at the sight that unfolded in front of me.

“…!”

A lovely flower garden filled my sight.

Red, pink, white, yellow, blue, green… Surrounded by the forest, were flowers of various colors and shapes. They fully blossomed in the wide opening. There was a small spring in the middle, with a lone tree beside it.

A group of colorful butterflies flew around, basking under the dazzling sunlight.

“…What, do you think?”

“It’s like a scene out of a dream!”

As I turned to look at my husband, my immense joy took the form of a smile.

“I’ve never been to such a breathtaking place! Thank you, my husband!”

“I-I see. If it makes you happy, then I’m glad.”

Suddenly, he let go of my hand to cover his face as he faced towards the sky.

“My husband…?”

“I’m okay, it’s, y’know, the usual.”

If that’s the case, then it means he’s okay. I patted my chest in relief.

When he was with me, it often happened. In fact, it was so frequent, I thought of making him see Dr. Morgan. However, Elsa explained it to me. “Whenever the master exudes such behaviors, it means that he’s trying to suppress his overwhelming emotion, excitement, and impulse. He’s very sensitive, after all. Please be assured that there’s nothing for Milady to worry about.”

Therefore, I was sure that my husband was simply overcome with emotions when he saw the flower field. Not like I couldn’t relate.

I kneeled to admire the flowers. Since I was going to a picnic, Elsa made me wear a soft corset and a thin dress for easy movement.

I examined the pale pink flowers that were blooming at my feet. I’d never seen most of these flowers before. Grandpa Jamal could probably name all of them. Thus, I memorized their shapes and colors, planning to learn about them once I returned to the house of the marquis.

When I was immersed in admiring them, something fell on my head.

As I reached up, my fingers were greeted by the sensation of flowers. Surprised, I turned around and saw my husband laughing like a child who’d successfully pulled a prank.

“The wreath suits you well. You’re as gorgeous as the moon goddess, but you might go as the flower goddess by day.”

What adorned my head was a pretty flower crown, woven exquisitely.

“My husband, did you make this?”

“That’s right. I wanted to make it for you, so I practiced in secret.”

My husband proudly stuck out his chest, before taking the flower crown from my hand and placing it on top of my head. Today, my hair was half-up, while the top was braided, so the flower crown suited me nicely.

“…Thank you.”

The inside of my chest was a mixture of warmth and fluffiness, as if the spring had arrived, and I felt like crying simply because the man I loved made it for me.

“—And, here.”

He presented me with a white, long box adorned with a silver ribbon.

This situation feels similar…

The night we had dinner together for the first time, my husband gave me a dress. At that time, he also presented me with a cute box.

I looked up at my husband, I was probably more shocked than when I was asked out on a date.

My husband gently untied the ribbon and lifted the lid to take out the contents.

Inside the narrow velvet box was a thin, silver necklace encrusted with a drop-shaped jewel bearing the same color as my husband’s eyes, with a small diamond on top.

The blue jewel was around the size of my middle finger, but had a complicated cut similar to the diamond above. It reflected the sun ray, emanating a mesmerizing brilliance.

As I tensed up, my husband carefully took the necklace, slid the box in his breast pocket, before putting it around my neck.

“It really suits you, and I’m sure luxurious jewelry will, too. You look so beautiful that you effortlessly enhance even the simplest accessory.”

“M-my husband… I can’t accept something so expensive… I have no reason to—”

—I reached behind my neck, trying to unclasp the necklace, only to be stopped by my husband.

“Why should a husband need a reason to give his wife a gift?” He asked, dumbfounded. “Besides, there’s a reason for this gift.”

My husband explained, fishing something from his pocket, which turned out to be a blue handkerchief. For a moment, I almost tilted my head, but then I saw the embroidery of the marquis family’s crest, and realized it was the one I’d given to my husband about five months ago.

“W-why, wasn’t it thrown away…?”

Although Elsa said he appreciated the gift, she was bad at lying. I concluded that my husband refused the gift, and perhaps even threw it away.

Why does he have it?

“Five months ago, I didn’t even look at the content… and threw it away. However, Frederick took it for safekeeping. I was informed of it two weeks ago.”

I couldn’t bear to look at his face.

A completely different fear than when I faced my father and sister, along with anxiety, threatened to crush my heart.

What should I do?

Neither Elsa nor Cedric was here to support me.

“I know this will sound very selfish, but I was truly happy.”

I lifted my face at the unexpected words.

True to his words, my husband was smiling happily with his eyes narrowed. My gaze returned to the handkerchief. My husband traced the embroidery with utmost care.

“Thank you, Liliana. Forgive me for the lateness. I’ll treasure it.”

I wanted to laugh, but I couldn’t. Against my will, tears rolled down my cheeks, one after another. I felt like if I opened my mouth, only a series of ugly sobs would come out. So, I bit my lips and looked down, pressing my hands against my mouth. As I did so, the shining blue jewel on my chest stared back at me.

“Li-Liliana? I’m sorry, how selfish I am… I’m sorry for always hurting you, I’m truly a scum…”

I frankly shook my head to deny my husband’s words. With my tears interfering, my throat clogging up, and my voice not working properly, that was the only thing I could do.

Returning the handkerchief to his pocket, my husband meandered by, before hesitantly pulling me into a soft embrace.

Unable to refuse, I fell into his arms. As usual, I nestled my face in his chest as I clutched his clothes.

I’m happy—I truly am.

However, the stronger those feelings became, the sharper the pain in my heart.

Please, don’t remember, please…! Stay the way you are, I know, it’s unforgivable…

I apologized to my husband over and over again. At the same time, my feelings towards him threatened to overflow, and I felt like I was going crazy.

The refreshing scent of perfume, which usually calmed me down, only served to bring tears to my eyes.

“Are you alright, Liliana?”

As I sat under the shade of the tree by the spring, my husband handed me a damp handkerchief. It was a light blue handkerchief, and not the one I had embroidered. I gratefully received it and wiped my eyes, which stung with tears.

“I’m sorry, my husband… I was so happy that I couldn’t stop crying.”

“I told you before that it’s okay to cry, didn’t I? I know you have a habit of suppressing your emotions. You can cry as much as you like in front of me.”

“…Thank, you.”

I tried my best to thank him with a smile, and in turn, my husband laughed while nodding.

“Let’s go back after resting for a bit longer.”

“Alri—my husband…!?”

All of the sudden, my husband took me in his arms, lifted me, before placing me on top of his knees.

“Nice.”

“I-I don’t think it’s nice in any way!?”

Seeing my husband nodding with satisfaction, I rushed to plead with him.

“If you think about it, I made you sit on the ground, even though it was on the grass. Feel free to think of me as a cushion.”

“No way… My husband is my husband…”

A sense of embarrassment began to take hold of me. I struggled to escape, but my husband only smiled without showing signs of letting me go. He seemed to be having fun.

I wanted to hide my flushed face, but he caught both of my wrists, and I could only lower my face. The handkerchief he’d just given me fell off.

“Why are you hiding from me?”

His arm, which was around my back, drew me closer to him—to his handsome face. With a somewhat mean smile, my husband peered into my face. In the meantime, his other hand caressed my cheek.

“…It’s bright red, like a rose.”

—Now that it had come to this, I didn’t care if it was my husband’s hand! I tried to conceal my expression by burying my face into his large palm. My husband purred, before laughing in amusement. Out of nowhere, his thumb stroked my lips.

“M-my husband…”

I called him, only to be surprised by how meek I sounded. Bright blue eyes reflected my crimson face, before narrowing softly, and that alone had me reeling.

Shying away from his gaze, I pursed my lips and my vision gradually blurred.

“I-I’m sorry, I overdid it.”

In a panic, my husband released my hand and gently hugged me. I could now hide my pitifully flustered face behind his sturdy arms. My husband’s large palm soothed my back as if I was a child.

“…Liliana.”

After a while, my husband spoke.

“…Yes?”

I was barely able to reply.

“Can we stay like this for a while?”

I nodded, before snuggling up against his neck. I could feel his grip tightening around me.

Awash in my husband’s scent and warmth, my heart was about to burst. On one side, I was torn about whether or not I should stay. On the other side, there was a pathetic part of me who wished that he’d hug me a little tighter.

The sound of leaves rustling in the wind and the faint chirping of small birds could be heard in silence. Above all, the breathing and heartbeat of my husband, who was beside me, reverberated inside my ears, pounding my heart. I felt even more restless at the thought that he might hear it.

“…Liliana.”

“…Yes?”

He brought his large palm to my cheek, prompting me to look up. I slowly lifted my face and stared into my husband’s blue eyes, suppressing the urge to run away out of shame.

“Do you know my name?”

The sudden question made me ponder.

“Of course. It’s William Ignatius de Rutherford, Marquis of Springfield.”

My husband smiled and patted me.

“Correct. Then, please call me by name.”

“…By name?”

I grew even more confused at the unexpected offer.

What happened to my husband?

For some reason, he turned away, as if sulking.

“…You call Al, Frederick, and Arthur by name, while I, your husband… How do I say this, I think that’s unfair.”

“But Arthur and Frederick don’t have a surname, so I have no choice but to call them that…”

“It’s unfair.”

Apparently, my husband was keen on being referred to by his name, so much that he refused to reply, or even turn around until I did.

I secretly took a deep breath to calm myself down, but it barely helped. However, since it was my husband’s wish, I had to fulfill it.

“…L-Lord William?”

It took a while, but I did it.

My husband gleefully turned around.

“Again.”

“Uh, Lord William?”

For some reason, he asked me for a repeat.

What happened to my husband?

“Once more!”

“L-Lord William.”

“Sorry, but once again!”

“Lord, William…”

“Just a bit more, again!”

“Lord William!”

Before I could relish the sense of accomplishment and joy, my heart—once subdued by embarrassment—started beating wildly at the sight of his zestful smile.

“Starting today, I won’t reply if you refer to me by my title.So, you have to call my name.”

“O-okay.”

“Alright, good girl.”

Suddenly, my husband squeezed my cheeks. I often saw him praising Cedric in the same way. Perhaps, too often, to the point he mistook me for my brother. Either way, I was probably making a weird face.

“No, please stop, it’s embarrassing.”

“It’s alright. Liliana is cute regardless of what kind of expression she makes.”

After hearing those words, heat returned to my face with full force. My husband didn’t know that a simple word from him was enough to throw my heart into disarray.

“M-my husband!”

“I’m William. I don’t know who this ‘husband’ you speak of.”

My husband refused to listen, deflecting my protest with childish quibble, and I began to pinch his cheeks.

Even when squeezed, he was as fine-looking as always.

“Lord William, this is my payback.”

My husband blinked, before grasping my hands and leaning closer towards me. As his face approached, his cheerful smile was in full view. I shut my eyes, and in the next second, my forehead was met with a soft sensation. When I pondered what it was, he tightly embraced me.

“Liliana, Liliana, my Liliana—!”

Passionately, he uttered my name over and over again, but I was too stunned to reply.

In my dazed state, I could finally muster a reply, which coincided with my husband’s question.

“Would you like to go to the theater next time? Of course, we’ll discuss this with Cedric, but…”

“To the theater…?”

“That’s right. I made an order to the seamstress for that occasion. Why don’t you pick my attire for me? We can wear matching colors or embroidery. Arthur told me that my parents often went to theaters and evening parties in matching clothes.”

“Father-in-law and mother-in-law?”

My husband nodded chirpily.

“Apparently, my parents get along so well, they’re embarrassing to watch. Anyway, it’s time for us to return. Ceddie must’ve grown impatient.”

My husband stood up with me still in his arms.

“My husband, I can walk on my own.”

“…”

He didn’t reply. Instead, he stared expectantly at me.

For a moment, I wondered if something was wrong, but soon realized it.

“Lord William… I can walk by myself.”

“Correct, it’s me, William! You’re so clever, Liliana! As a reward, I’ll carry you!”

“Lord William—!”

In any case, Lord William didn’t seem to want to let me down.

“Gust, let’s go home!”

When William summoned Sir Gust, who was grazing nearby, he looked up and approached us.

Thus, together with William, I rode on Sir Gust’s back. I removed the wreath he’d given me, and held it against my chest so that it wouldn’t fall off.

“Liliana, let’s visit this place again. Next time, we’ll take our time here.”

“…Of course.”

When I nodded with a smile, William also smiled.

Then, at William’s command, Sir Gust took us to the lakeside, where Elsa and the others were waiting, leaving the secret flower garden behind.

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***T/N: Sorry for the wait, ladies and gents, but our comfort couple is back.

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