Chapter 1 Part 6 – Marriage Life
“The weather is so nice.”
It was a sunny day, and Marie appeared to be in good spirits. Perhaps it was due to the recent purchase of the jewelry. Eli may not understand Marie’s taste, but he makes an effort to respect it.
Marie, too, was the same way. Occasionally, when they shopped for accessories or clothing together, she made an effort to accommodate different tastes. Therefore, even when they shopped together, they never argued.
The attendants quickly prepared for the outing, and the lakeside now appeared to be a sophisticated tea-time spot. The lake in the Shuban, the region where Grit estate was located was known for its clear water and attracted many visitors.
“Oh my, what a coincidence.”
“Oh, it’s been a while.”
Marie greeted people in a friendly manner, and there was an air of intimacy about her. The person who greeted Marie warmly was Lady Arlen Miles, the daughter of Duke Mile.
“Eli, aren’t you going to say hello to Lady Miles, who we haven’t seen in a while?”
Ignoring Marie’s taunts, Eli remained silent.
“It’s been a while, Lord Eli.”
Lady Miles, who was not at all concerned with the taunts, greeted Eli with an elegant smile.
“I was just about to head out for a picnic, would you like to join?”
“Oh my, is that alright?”
“Of course.”
Somehow, as if by magic, extra chairs were quickly set up as if they had been prepared for this moment.
“What about the Marchioness?”
“It seems she’s busy with preparations for the upcoming party.”
“Oh, I see.”
Her expression said she knew well enough. It was a place frequented by many, so it was only natural that she would encounter people she knew. Marie had left the two alone and had gone off to talk with others. Eve and Emily were no different.
In the end, only Eli and Lady Mile were left in their seats.
Eli was convinced this was also part of Marie’s plan.
“By the way, when do the two of you plan to have heirs?”
“I don’t think it’s your business to meddle in our affairs.”
“The Dowager is always worried about it, that’s why.”
Lady Mile shrugged her shoulders. He had not shown such courtesy just a while ago.
“I thought you were going to look for another woman if things don’t work out,” Lady Mile said,
Eli sighed quietly, sensing what she meant.
“Mind your own business. Besides, stopping by here in my estate.”
“Curious about how long I’ll keep this up?”
“It’s becoming your hobby.”
“And the Dowager seems to love it too.”
No matter how many times Eli said it, Lady Mile didn’t seem to understand what the problem was.
“Sleep somewhere else.”
“You have plenty of rooms.”
“No.”
“Does it make sense that there’s not a single room in that vast manor?”
Eli expressed his thoughts with a gaze instead of words.
Arlen, who received his cold stare, understood it, but reluctantly replied with a slightly crestfallen face.
Eli knew she wasn’t the least bit hurt by the look.
While he was sipping his tea, Lady Mile gazed off somewhere.
“What’s wrong?”
“Just… it’s crowded. I thought it was someone I knew.”
***
“…Just take us back to the estate.”
At Ruby’s command, the coachman turned the carriage around near the lake. They were on a mission to gather ingredients. Fortunately, after visiting several locations, it seemed they would be able to acquire the necessary amount for now. Additional supplies would be brought in within a few days, so they could make another purchase before the party. With the completion of the decorations, they could be relieved of the matter until the response from Count Vance arrived.
Having finished up their business, Ruby decided to make a detour to the lake for a brief visit. However, even with the intention of visiting the lake, Ruby had to turn back when she spotted Eli.
“… I didn’t see anything.”
Contrary to her words, Ruby had to work hard to erase the image of the two people that kept popping into her mind.
***
“Are you busy?”
It was late at night, and Ruby had visited Eli’s study.
Eli was working, which was a rare sight. He didn’t usually work while staying in the estate, preferring to focus on his duties outside and spend time with his family during the day.
“Isn’t it busy enough for you already? You couldn’t attend the outing.”
Ruby hesitated, her mind scattered due to the sudden change in plans caused by Marie’s capriciousness. But she forced a wry smile instead of mentioning the chaos.
“…Yes, it is.”
It was an empty answer. She couldn’t speak of how much she’d wanted to be present at the outing, but she had no intention of skipping the precious time she had with Eli.
She had been waiting in the bedroom for him, but when he didn’t return until late, she decided to search for him.
Eli had been unexpectedly engrossed in his work. At this late hour, he didn’t have the intention to stop.
Ruby’s silence lingered, and Eli looked up at her.
“…I guess people liked seeing you.”
Eli mused with a momentary gaze. He knew she had wanted to inquire about how Lady Miles enjoyed the outing and what interesting conversations had taken place. But instead of asking these questions, Ruby remained silent.
Eli had heard something about the outing, either through rumors or from Marie. He was aware that Ruby hadn’t been looking forward to it.
Ruby couldn’t find words to express her thoughts or feelings. She didn’t want to talk about how her silence had been the result of keeping her frustration and insecurity bottled up.
“…Yes, it was…”
Eli responded briefly. Then, he returned to reviewing his documents.
“The lake had many people, didn’t it?”
“Yes… it was crowded.”
“I suppose you met a lot of people too, right?”
Eli’s piercing gaze didn’t waver as he continued working. However, she couldn’t help but be curious about what he had said or done during the outing. Ruby had been there to witness the event, but his silence prevented Ruby from knowing what really happened.
Ruby wanted to ask about Lady Mile if she had been aware of Ruby’s absence and if she had inquired about it. But she held back her words because she was afraid that Eli might consider it an intrusion of his personal space.
Ruby’s silence lingered, making Eli look up from his work once again.
“Did you choose the jewelry wisely this time? Did you see any new and beautiful ones? What color did you choose this time? Blue, again? Won’t it clash with your clothes?”
Ruby tried to keep the conversation light and casual, hoping it would lead to the topics she truly wanted to discuss, but she realized that there were other things she wanted to say. However, she couldn’t find the right words to express her feelings, especially regarding Lady Miles and the outing.
“I chose well.”
Eli’s response was terse and uninterested.
But Ruby’s questions weren’t just about jewelry or color choices. They were a way to connect and engage with him, to find common ground and strengthen their bond.
After a brief silence, Ruby tried once more.
“Are you going to be okay with how busy you are tomorrow?”
But Eli was already engrossed in his work once more, not paying much attention to Ruby’s presence.
Ruby’s attempt to engage with him had not been particularly successful. Feeling both frustrated and somewhat hurt, she turned and left the study.
She had wished for a quiet and meaningful time with Eli, especially since they had been spending very little time together. However, it seemed he was too busy with his responsibilities to give her the attention she craved.
As Ruby headed towards the door, she looked back at Eli one last time. He was engrossed in his paperwork, and he showed no intention of engaging in a meaningful conversation with her.
“…Then I’ll go to bed first.”
With a touch of sadness and disappointment, Ruby closed the door behind her.
***
“Which necklace ornament should we use?”
“Sapphire would be lovely.”
It was the day of the party, and Marie was in charge of selecting Ruby’s jewelry. The one color that absolutely didn’t suit Ruby’s red eyes was blue. Ruby nodded her agreement with the maid, indicating that they should go with sapphires, just as Marie had suggested. Ruby was wearing a dress that didn’t quite fit her style. From head to toe, there was nothing that seemed to suit her in her eyes.
She was aware of how odd she looked but decided not to fuss over her own attire too much. The main concern was not to disturb Marie’s choice of attire. In reality, what was more important to Ruby than the clothes was not interfering with Marie’s interests. Ruby noticed the arrival of the Luberan Blue flowers that Count Vance had assisted with the previous afternoon. To decorate both the entrance to the mansion and the spacious party hall, they would need extra hands.
Ruby and the servants worked late into the night to prepare the decorations. At the same time, Marie was in the middle of the flower arrangements.
“Seems like you did your part in the preparations.”
Ruby was suddenly nervous when she heard his voice. However, Marie was too busy adjusting her attire in front of a full-length mirror to pay attention to Ruby.
“Good job.”
Ruby was slightly taken aback by the rare compliment. It was almost as if she wanted to emphasize the words ‘good job,’ and Ruby felt that it might be because of what Eli had gone through. She nodded her understanding.
Marie, who was lost in the mirror, turned to Ruby.
“When your husband goes out to work, we have our responsibilities, too. As much as your husband excels in his work outside, we shouldn’t be in the way, and we must take care of our home, be meticulous, and not waste a thing. Do you understand?”
Marie spoke specifically with emphasis on the phrase “as much as he excels.” The reason for this emphasis was that Eli had been working extremely hard, even though he had only been working outside the estate for a short while. Ruby, who was a constant companion of his, was well aware of his hardships.
“Because of your efforts today, they will acknowledge us appropriately. This is also a reflection of the reputation of the Grit family.”
Ruby was relieved to know that Eli had not found fault with her. Ruby thought that hiding her injury beneath her lace gloves had not been in vain.
“Yes, it was successful.”
There was a tinge of laughter in her voice. It was a laugh tinged with irony. Ruby felt she could at least be satisfied with the preparation process.
Today, Ruby was the host, receiving guests with Eli for the first time since they had moved to the estate. She held his arm, not allowing herself to falter. While she was nervous, Eli’s actions were effortless.
“Wow, the decorations have changed!”
The first person to recognize the change in decoration was Lady Zemer.
“Our daughter is so talented!”
Marie beamed with pride. The gazes of the people around her naturally turned to Ruby.
“The atmosphere has changed for the better, hasn’t it?”
Ruby was unsure of the expressions on people’s faces because she was feeling somewhat awkward, but she smiled, following Marie’s lead. Even though Marie had an unaccustomed cheerfulness, Ruby tried not to give herself away. For that reason, she couldn’t see the expressions of the people around her, and Eli was looking at her briefly.
“It’s new and fun.”
Marie, who met Ruby’s eyes, smiled brilliantly. Ruby smiled back, awkwardly trying to match Marie’s mood. It was hard for Ruby to tell if this was a compliment or not. However, the atmosphere Marie created disappeared.
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Usurpadora
ELE SABIA, O DESGRAÇADO SABIA QUE ELA ESTAVA ANSIOSA SOBRE O ENCONTRO COM A filha do duque e mesmo assim, mesmo assim, não fez questão de deixar ela menos nervosa sobre isso. Ele sabe claramente das intenções da mãe, e fingi não ver, se a mãe já desrespeita a esposa assim longe, imagina perto, aposto que ele só finge não ver a mãe tratando ela mal, vagabundo, quero ver se eu vou perdoar😡😡😡