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Published at 4th of December 2022 08:19:09 PM


Chapter 7

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Chapter 7

“The cravat is a little crooked. Did you tie it yourself?”

“Yes…”

Zachary nodded. Iellie, with her eyes narrowed, reached out her hand towards him. As soon as her slim finger touched the corner of his neck, the boy swallowed dry saliva. She explained slowly.

“It’s not like this, you should do it like this…”

Reminiscent of her mother tying her father’s cravats, she rearranged them.

“Okay, it’s all done.”

“…Thanks.”

He muttered in a shy voice. Iellie took a step back in a satisfactory expression. Hmm, she knew a little even though she was still young. Learning the importance of clothing for her husband is a good thing.

“Then, let’s go.”

She walked one step ahead. Seeing Zachary followed her at a slow pace, she glanced behind.

“Is it all right to walk? Would you like me to help you?”

She naturally crossed the arms of her young husband. The moment she touched him, Zachary stiffened.

“I’m sure this would help you walk better. I’ll be back, Mary.”

However, Iellie, who had no idea that the boy next to her was incredibly tense, left with greetings to Mary.

“See you soon, lady, as well as the little master.”

“Yes, see you later.”

“…”

The cheerful greeting was replied by Iellie. Zachary just simply nodded.

The two headed straight to the dining room together. Looking at the boy and girl like a pair of dolls, Mary seemed delighted.

‘Oh my god, this is great.’

She knew the two were close to each other, but the tough little master actually came to pick her up! Mary headed out right away, wanting to tell her friends about this amazing fact.

The two walked through the corridor side by side. Zachary’s subdued atmosphere, standing next to her, made Iellie puzzled. ‘No, why did you suddenly feel down?’ It’s strange, just a little while ago, he looked pretty good. Then, he suddenly asked a question.

“Since when did you become so friendly with the maid?”

“Huh? If I have to think about it, then… recently?”

Iellie, who rolled her eyes, suddenly peered back at Zachary. ‘Oh, no way?’ She laughed a little.

“What, Zachary. Are you jealous?”

“…”

Of course, she thought he would say no right away, but Zachary still had a pouty face. Huh? What’s this reaction?

“…Zachary?”

“…”

“Hey, can you answer me?”

However, he persistently kept his silence. He wished the person closest to her was himself. Unable to say that, he could only bite his lips gently. The cravat on his neck was strangely stuffy.

‘I think he’s jealous. My husband is so cute, isn’t he?’

Iellie couldn’t believe it herself, but she was so happy like this. Isn’t he like a puppy? She barely suppressed her laugh that was about to burst out. Thinking about teasing the sulky Zachary a little, she just decided to give a change of topic.

“Is it okay to walk? Would you like me to help you?”

“No, I can walk alone because I have crutches. But…”

He hesitated for a moment. Apart from the maid’s problem, the room in which she was staying just now was also bothering him.

“…Until now, have you been staying in the guest room?”

Zachary’s voice sank low for the first time. Iellie was his only wife, so she naturally had to live in the main house where his family stayed. The treatment now was an attitude of undeniably disregarding her.

‘I never knew. Could she have been treated like this because of me?’

Worried, he gently bit his lips. He didn’t know because he hadn’t come to her room as he was feeling under the weather until now. However, it wasn’t something that Iellie told him first, so it wasn’t a matter that he should have been concerned about.

She just shrugged lightly. “Well, the Duke doesn’t welcome me so much. What can I do?”

“That’s…”

His chest rattled down. Iellie, who was watching his face, sighed.

“Again, your face is getting dark.”

“Iellie.”

“It’s not your fault, I came to marry you instead of the princess.”

Zachary’s mentality was fragile as Zachary himself, so if she is not being too careful, he might crumble down. After a moment, she opened her mouth again.

“Rather than that, I told you, right? You’re the most handsome with a smiling face.”

“…”

“So, what kind of face should you be making here?”

Instead of answering, he smiled awkwardly. This boy, he’s so obedient. Whose good husband is this? She tapped on his back in order to cheer him up. The dining room was getting closer.

As soon as they entered the dining room, her breath was choked. At the end of a long table, the duke sat on a chair and faced them with a lazy face. The deep blue eyes glanced at the two of them before he pointed to the chair with his chin.

“Everyone, sit down.”

He didn’t even say a formal greeting. Iellie swallowed her dry saliva. As she sat in her seat, she peered at the boy.

He had an expressionless face, without a comfortable expression just before.

“Zachary. Your expression isn’t that good.”

“I know father is offended whenever he sees me.”

The duke narrowed his eyebrows slightly. He was a son who doesn’t usually just speak this and that. It was almost the first time he spoke his mind.

Zachary sat on the chair and continued with his back straight.

“So, how can I be happy alone as a child?”

“Really?”

A cool smile stood at the duke’s mouth. The duke uttered, looking at his son with cold eyes.

“By saying that, it seems like you had a lot of fun these days.”

“…”

“I know you’ve gotten pretty close to the kid you got from the Imperial Family, isn’t it?”

Zachary did not answer. The duke hates him. That’s why he couldn’t blindly affirm the words of the duke. Iellie was the first precious person he met. He hated the thought of her getting hurt rather than him dying himself.

“You don’t answer?”

“It’s just like what father sees.”

He replied calmly to his father’s words. Upon hearing the answer, the duke narrowed his eyes. “Does that mean that I can think of it as I please?”

“No.”

The servant approached and pulled out Zachary’s chair. He shook his head and sat down neatly with his waist erect.

Expressionless gazes that resemble each other’s look while glaring at the other person were as if they were going to devour each other. The boy laughed.

“No matter what I answer, father will think what he wants.”

“…”

“…”

There was a short silence. The Duke slightly raised his eyebrows. Fortunately, the servant came in and delivered the soups.

“Everyone, eat.”

The duke said lightly, but no one actually started eating.

The duke stared at his son without touching the tableware, and Zachary also did not avoid his father’s gaze. The hot soup with a savory smell cooled lukewarmly. Iellie put down a spoonful of food.

‘This… it’s an atmosphere that makes you feel like drinking just water.’

Even she felt uncomfortable, so how would Zachary feel?

After a while, the untouched soup bowls were removed.

The main dish arrived. Since it was morning, it was prepared as a light meal and the main dish was fish. The dish with a creamy sauce on top of the softly stewed sea bass looked very delicious.

‘…Is Zachary okay?’

Lifting her fork, she anxiously glanced at her husband. Under the silver eyelashes, his dark blue eyes were quiet and silent. His hands that were holding the tableware were not shaking. She swallowed her sigh.

‘He…he’s still not fully healed yet.’

Honestly, he wasn’t fully recovered enough to come out for dinner. Even though he is pretending to be alright on the outside, it must have been certainly difficult to sit like that.

Iellie knew well because it was her, who healed his wounds by his side. Looking at his eyes, she finally decided to speak, closing her eyes tightly.

“Your Grace.”

After hearing her words, the Duke gaped at Iellie with a cool gaze. ‘Wow, it seems like his eyes alone could kill a person.’ Even so, she decided to abandon the nervousness and score her points with Zachary.

“The Heir Apparent is still uncomfortable to sit through breakfast, so…”

“So?”

“Please be generous to the Heir Apparent and allow him to sit comfortably.”

‘Do whatever you want, at least I’ve died once already’ Iellie kept her lips shut after finishing her sentence. Still, the duke only tilts his head at an angle.

Like the winter sky, his blue eyes narrowed, and he responded slowly.

“I accepted that monster as a successor to the family, so I think he should be able to endure that much.”

Yet again, the monster joke came out of his mouth. It came out again. At an instant, angered, Iellie groaned. She gazed back at Zachary. The word ‘monster’ couldn’t be good to hear, but the boy was just putting up with it.

The duke suddenly said, “I don’t like that monster.”

‘So what?’ Though she was thinking that, Iellie tried to maintain her polite look as much as possible and faced him.

“But you are thinking about getting along with the child?”

His father’s words made Zachary raise his head in a flash. His desperate eyes stare tenaciously at her face. ‘…No, don’t tell me. I don’t want to hear’

If she answers ‘no’, what should he do? Zachary bites his lips tightly from his anxiety. Iellie was the only warmth and miracle for him. He hated the world made out of ice now.

“Even though you may live with my hatred?”

As if testing her, the duke smirked. At that moment, the light green eyes suddenly lit up. She replied. “The duke’s actions are disrespectful.”

Her voice was pretty harsh, answering his question, but Iellie was upset. ‘What is this behavior?’

“The duke is the Lord of the North and the only Duke of the Empire.”

…If she continued to talk to him like this, she really thought the safety of her neck would be in jeopardy. Thinking so, she tried to calm her mind as much as possible before opening her mouth again. Of course, it was a momentary effort. Well, what can she do when she’s angry.

“The authority should be built up with such generosity and kindness. Only then can the people below believe and follow you. However, the duke has no such thing, but only authority.”

Iellie definitely looked at the Duke. As if surprised, he stared at her silently.

“Now, the Duke has thrown his only son into dangerous battles countless times, and he is calling him a monster. Where is the responsibility to his son, the treasure he should have been to his father?”

Was Zachary born because he wanted to be born? You gave birth to him. If so, wouldn’t the duke have to have the least sense of responsibility? He’s Zachary’s father, but he’s taking the lead on abusing his child, is this something a person should really do?

“Also, the duke asked me, your son’s wife.”

The untouched sea bass dish went cold. Iellie took her breath and spoke calmly. “While I might hate the duke, I’m thinking of getting along with your son.”

At that instant, Zachary’s gaze passed through her face desperately. She glanced at him with her sad eyes. That feeling…she understands. Just because he is used to being abandoned doesn’t mean it’s not painful.’

‘Don’t worry, Zachary. Because I never intend to abandon you.’

Iellie straightened her waist and made eye contact with the duke.

“The duke’s question is like forcing me not to get along with your son.”

“So? are you dissatisfied?”

“Yes, I’m dissatisfied. I intend to cherish and respect my husband, so I don’t want to hear such threats.”

… Am I going to be broken up now? After pouring out all her words, she was a little worried. Iellie swallowed her dry saliva.

‘I think I’ve just spat out everything that was on my mind too quickly…’ That moment, the duke burst into laughter.




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