With a friendly smile, Thomas stood before Avril and Dylan—no, ‘Viscount Brough and his wife.’

“You’re the first couple I’ve seen on this ship. Did you board at Myrtle Port?”

“Indeed. We are on our honeymoon. What a wonderful city it was.”

Dylan responded, feigning a smile, while Avril only smiled.

I think it would be better if I just smile without talking…!

After all, speaking whatever was on her mind was one of her bad habits. At that point, it would be best to keep her head down and stay silent.

“My name is Moreau, and I’m a merchant. I’m on board this ship to do business.”

“I’m Brough. I’m sure you will find many business opportunities on a passenger ship such as this!”

‘Moreau’… It seems that Mr. Thomas Edgar is also using a pseudonym.

Instead of just smiling, Avril absentmindedly browsed the noble directory in her head. However, she couldn’t recall any family with such a name. In other words, just like them, he was also using an alias.

—Therefore, Thomas must be up to something.

He must never find out that Avril was his chess opponent that day.

Thomas turned to Avril, who was busy chanting in her heart, ‘I’m an innocent wife, an innocent wife, an innocent wife,’ trying to keep her mouth shut.

“Where is your wife from?”

“Uh—”

“—My wife grew up sheltered. As a result, she isn’t accustomed to talking with other men.”

“!”

When Avril was about to say, ‘I hail from a baron family with a mansion in the capital,’ Dylan held her tight and answered in her stead.

Despite her relief, she found it difficult to breathe. The situation was too extreme for Avril, who had never expected Dylan to be that close to her.

U-uhm! For us to be so close, isn’t this just i-i-i-i-impossible…!?

On second thought, maybe that was just the setting? If she was meant to be a sheltered girl unaccustomed to men, it’d no surprise if she barely spoke. Avril was impressed by Dylan’s quick wit, but Thomas was relentless in his advance.

“Are you enjoying the cruise?”

“…Yes.”

To conceal her true voice, she exhaled as much as possible so that her voice became slow and hoarse.

I think I’m doing fine, but how can I get out of this situation?

Surely, Mr. Thomas approached us because he recognized me. If that’s the case, I must avoid acting like a bad girl!

When it came to being a sheltered girl, the opposite of a bad girl, Corinna was also suitable for some reason. Naturally, that was because Corinna had been playing freely outside using Avril’s name.

In fact, Avril was the sheltered one.

What does being sheltered mean? A maid who is good at cleaning?

…No, no matter how I think about it, that’s probably not the case.

I’m an innocent wife, and a sheltered one, at that! Because I’m sheltered, I’m unaccustomed to men, so I’d probably talk quietly… Maybe I should behave in a way the exact opposite of Lady Alexandra!

Alexandra dismissed her husband, Lawrence, as a ‘troublesome guy.’ She also took her time to teach Avril things she didn’t know. She was a talented woman who could crush apples.

—In other words, I have to rely on Lord Dylan as much as possible, and if there’s something I don’t know, I have to shyly ask him about it. Also, if I have apples, I have to hand them out…

Avril looked up and immediately grabbed the sleeve of Dylan’s coat.

Do I look dependent enough?

Incidentally, there weren’t any apples on any of the tables in the standing room venue…

In that case, she should simply play up the ‘I rely on you’ part! She would pretend to be anxious and ask Dylan for help.

After coming up with the solution rather easily, Avril stood on her tiptoes, covered her mouth with her free hand, and pressed her lips to Dylan’s ear.

It’s just an act.

Thomas couldn’t hear her, so she could say anything. But what? Should she show off the knowledge she learned about ships yesterday?

That’s right. I’m going to have a private conversation with Lord Dylan at this wonderful party.

Avril, upon taking in Dylan’s profile from up close, withdrew her knowledge regarding ships just in time.

“Thank you for saying that I was cute earlier.”

“!?”

“I thought it very sweet of you to take me on a honeymoon, Dear.”

She almost called him by name, but on the off-chance Thomas could hear her, she changed it to ‘Dear.’ Wouldn’t that make her look like an innocent wife?

Dylan immediately understood Avril’s intentions. She wanted to play the role of an innocent wife so as to give a completely different impression than ‘the evil woman Thomas met at the masquerade ball of the Ashfield family in the royal capital.’

However, for some reason, Dylan seemed upset. She didn’t understand. Avril, who wanted to talk a bit more, didn’t stop there and added a little something.

“—I love you, my husband.”

She wasn’t making fun of Dylan, nor was she was pulling some innocent wife-like words from a book she read.

Instead, her words came naturally from the heart.

After saying that, Avril suddenly froze.

Wait? What did I just say…!?

---

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***T/N: Now scram, Moreau-what’s-your-name

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