Chapter 1 Part 4 – Marriage Life 

“Marquis Grit has returned.”

“Oh, really?”

Ruby, Eve, and Emily stood up following Marie.

“I’m back.”

“Welcome back my dear son.”

Eli embraced Marie lightly.

“Brother!!”

Eve and Emily also hugged him joyfully.

“It seems like you’ve gotten heavier.”

“Don’t say that!”

When Eve patted Eli’s shoulder, he laughed heartily.

The cold demeanor he had displayed at the party was nowhere to be found. Eli was a completely different person when dealing with his family. He smiled, made eye contact, and listened to their stories.

When she first met his family after their marriage, she was surprised and thought he was a family-oriented person. She had also expected to receive his affectionate gaze, hoping that she, too, would be part of his family.

“I’m back.”

After all the greetings were done, Eli’s gaze finally fell on Ruby.

“Welcome back.”

Ruby greeted him, trying to contain her excitement in her voice.

There was one reason why she endured this difficult marriage: she loved Eli Grit. Just his small smile and the way he looked at her made her believe that the marriage was worth it.

But the time given to Ruby was very brief.

“Brother, where’s our present?”

Eli turned his attention to Emily, who was reaching out to him for a gift.

“It’s been a while. Dowager Marchioness, Marchiones, and young ladies.”

Eli’s secretary, Leton, approached and greeted them. Behind him, the servants were taking gifts out of the carriage.

“Please, come to the drawing room.”

“Of course.”

Holding Eli’s hand, Emily excitedly led him towards the drawing room. Ruby followed closely, her eyes fixed on the gradually receding figure of Eli, her love.

***

“Try this dish.”

Marie pointed to a dish, and Eli took a bite. The gentle smile on the face of the Dowager Marchioness, looking content as she watched him eat, was a sight only seen when Eli returned.

“It’s really nice to have a meal together after a long time, don’t you think?”

Marie turned to Ruby, sitting beside Eli, and asked with a kind smile that was unusual for her.

“Of course.”

Meals with Eli were always enjoyable. Being able to see his face and the fact that no one in the Girt estate criticized her manners was what she liked most.

“I assume brother will pick out the new dress for us?”

Eli’s gaze briefly lingered on Ruby, but upon Eve’s request, it quickly shifted.

“Yes.”

Unlike Eli’s face with an affectionate smile, Ruby’s expression became slightly gloomy.

“I’m going to learn horseback riding. brother, you’ll teach me, right? Right?”

Emily looked up at him, and Eli pinched her cheek lightly and replied, “Of course.”

“Looks like the sister Ruby will be left out.”

“Why?”

“She said she won’t choose a new dress this time.”

When Eli’s gaze fell on her, Ruby flinched.

“Well, I have plenty of dresses that I got fitted recently.”

Even as she replied, Ruby wished she could take back her words. If he knew that he could choose dresses with her when he returned to the estate…

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Have a safe trip.”

Even though she knew it was unavoidable, she couldn’t help feeling a sense of disappointment. It seemed that this time as well, Eli wouldn’t have time with her.

He would be accompanying the three girls to choose dresses and jewelry, and exploring the estate with them.

***
The room was filled with hot, stifling air. Ruby liked this time. It was the only time when they could be alone, undisturbed, and just look at each other. She gently caressed his face, and he slightly furrowed his brows.

Then, Eli dropped his head onto her shoulder and embraced her tightly. Their bare skin radiated each other’s warmth, and their breaths grew heavy.

However, this moment was short-lived. Eli suddenly got up, not savoring the afterglow.

“Just stay a bit longer…”

“I have a lot to do tomorrow.”

Even after sharing love moments just now, his face showed no emotion, no hint of what they had just shared. He looked at her with cold eyes.

Ruby covered herself with the blanket, feeling a sense of shame whenever she had to confront his cold gaze. Especially when she wanted to hold onto him and be closer.

It made her feel like a woman who shouldn’t be expecting more from their relationship beyond its physical aspect.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Eli, now wearing a robe, left the room. The cold air quickly reached Ruby, whose skin he had barely covered.

A loveless marriage and a bed for the sake of the succession. Apart from those duties, he had no further interest in her. It was only natural to him.

As she wiped his traces away, she reminded herself of these facts.

***

The morning in the Grit estate was unusually noisy. 

“Come on, let’s go!”

Excited, Emily wasted no time, not even allowing Eli a moment to finish his meal.

“Are you ready to try on dresses?”

“I’m just going to take a walk with my brother.”

Before Marie could say anything more, Emily gestured to Eli for help.

“We’ll be back on time.”

“Only one round.”

“Okay!”

With that, Eli left the room with Emily. She was always excited to see which dress she would choose. 

“Now, why don’t we have a little chat in the parlor, just the two of us?” Marie suggested, and Ruby followed her.

Shortly afterward, tea was served on the table. It was pineapple tea, made from a kind of fruit with a delightful fragrance. Marie usually enjoyed this tea when she was alone with Ruby.

“I think I need to add one more invitation,” Marie said as she handed a blank invitation card to Ruby. 

Marie pushed an empty invitation towards Ruby. The Grit Manor was hosting a party, and Ruby, as the current hostess, was in charge of sending out the invitations.

She had already sent out the invitations to the people they intended to invite, but Marie often asked for additional invitations for any nobles who might unexpectedly pass by the estate. These were usually nobles who could be beneficial to the Grit Estate.

“Who should I send it to?”

“It seems that Duke Miles’s daughter will be visiting.”

Ruby held the pen, but when Marie mentioned the guest, she froze.

“Lady Miles?”

When the pen was in her hand, Ruby halted.

“It’s lucky that she happens to be visiting the estate when Eli’s here. What a fortunate coincidence.”

Marie looked content as she gazed at Ruby. 

“…Yes,” Ruby replied, trying to force a smile, though her lips were trembling.

“As you know, Eli suddenly inherited the title, and yet, despite his young age, he’s been working closely with the Emperor. It’s remarkable, especially considering that Duke Miles’s daughter has been helping him a lot. They are a good match, I must say.”

Marie’s eyes said it all. She meant that Duke Miles’s daughter would have been a good support for Eli. 

Not wanting to acknowledge the accusing stare, Ruby reluctantly wrote Duke Miles’s daughter’s name on the invitation card.

“I’ll deliver the invitation for you, so just write and leave it in my room. While you’re fitting the dress, you can also prepare for the party. You can handle that much on your own now, right?”

“Yes…”

Ruby continued to write the invitation card as if she didn’t notice Mari’s critical gaze. 

After Marie left, she finally let out a sigh and put down the pen. Eli and Emily were visible through the window, returning to the mansion from their horseback ride. Emily was helping Eli get off the horse and laughing, and Eli was happily chatting with her as they came inside. 

Ruby watched them as they came closer to the mansion.

***

“Oh my, Lord Grit!”

“It’s been a while.”

The designer who had been working on Eli’s clothes greeted him with a warm smile. 

“Will Lord Grit be joining the party this time?”

“That’s the plan.”

“It should be an exciting party. But what about Lady Grit…?”

The designer looked at the three ladies who had already started inspecting dresses.

“She said she won’t be getting a dress this time.”

Eli, who was seeing off the carriage, remembered Ruby’s somewhat dejected expression.

In the meantime, Marie exchanged meaningful glances with the designer. 

“Oh… She’s doing it again.”

“Again?” Eli asked

“I think she wasn’t empress with my talent, unlike the designer in the capital? In fact, she hasn’t had many dresses made, even though she’s been here for three years.”

“I see. Then I must apologize for my earlier assumption.”

Before Eli could ask further, Marie quickly changed her tone and reassured the designer.

“She’s very picky when she’s here, and she’s used to the seamstresses in the capital, so she’s even more demanding.”

Marie exchanged a glance with Eli and then briefly cast a meaningful look at him. He was deep in thought.

“This time, Eli is here too. You can show off your skills proudly as the exclusive designer for the Grit Manor, can’t you?”

“I’ll do my best. I’ve been living on the pride of being the exclusive designer for Lord Grit.”

Marie and the designer laughed and then moved to another part of the room. As they left, Marie subtly nodded as if acknowledging that Ruby did not do well.

Although Ruby had been the mistress of the Grit Manor for three years, she still hadn’t won Marie’s approval, and the fact that the Grit Manor was still officially represented by Marie was publicly known.

Even the designers, who were influenced by them, were no exception. No matter how much she knew why Ruby didn’t want to wear dresses, it didn’t change the fact that she couldn’t compete with Marie, the Marchioness Girth, in their eyes.

“Would you like to see the new pattern that’s come out this time?”

The designer smiled at Marie and asked if she would like to see it.