Chapter 1 Part 7 – Marriage Life

Despite having only one more person than usual, the atmosphere was different at the party. It had become a livelier social gathering, and it seemed that Eli was effectively leading the atmosphere, which was quite different from his usual demeanor.

Eli, who was at the center of the party hall, was like an insurmountable castle in a city. There was no sign of him in the crowd.

“It’s been a while, Marquis.”

“It’s good to see you again after such a long time. Please visit the estate more often instead of working all the time.”

Someone spoke up, and Ruby secretly agreed, glancing at Eli.

“But you can’t just do as you please. His Imperial Majesty needs Eli very much.”

Marie stated confidently. Everyone present showed their respect to Eli instead of arguing. His popularity among the people of the Laverne Empire was widely known.

Suddenly, the chief maid rushed over to Marie and whispered something in her ear.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

Marie, who blushed at the news, left without giving Ruby or Eli any special attention.

A moment later, she returned with Lady Mile. Marie approached Eli and Ruby, chattering joyfully and introducing them to others she met along the way. The level of familiarity between the two appeared to be that of close friends. In contrast, there had been no such intimacy between her and Ruby, who was her daughter-in-law

Marie and Lady Miles quickly approached Eli and Ruby. Ruby was curious to see how Eli would react when the two of them were together, although she didn’t want to see it.

“It’s been a while.”

Lady Miles greeted Eli and Ruby. Marie, the host, replied on behalf of Ruby as Ruby was the one who invited her

“We are always happy to have you here.”

Ruby, as the host, thanked them in her husband’s stead.

“We are always grateful to have you warmly welcome us.”

Lady Miles, who continued speaking in a humble manner, glanced at Marie.

“You always make me feel welcome, which makes me even more grateful.”

“That’s very humble of you. It shows how much we care for you, right Eli?”

Marie looked touched.

“It’s not humility. Your estate is beautiful, and it gets better every time I visit. Oh,
I also love your the lake”

Ruby smiled politely while hearing that her favorite sightseeing spot was a lovely place.

“It was a shame that Lady Grit couldn’t join us yesterday. She is often absent from such occasions.”

Lady Marie made her point without mentioning Ruby’s absence.

“We were busy with the party preparations. I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed it.”

Ruby tried to keep her voice steady.

“The weather was nice yesterday, and even the birds were playing. Right, Marquis?”

Eli, giving a prompt nod as if to confirm, answered, 

“I remember. It was beautiful.”

Marie, sensing Ruby’s discomfort, skillfully intervened in the conversation.

“Lady Miles, we met yesterday, didn’t we?”

“I’m honored you remember.”

Lady Miles recognized the well-timed interruption, and she smiled
.
“How could I forget, you were the one who saved me from nearly stepping in the mud yesterday”

“More precisely, it was Lord Grit who saved you. He caught you as you were about to fall.”

“Goodness, My Lady, you don’t need to remember such an embarrassing past in such detail, please.”

When Lady Miles jokingly replied to her, the surrounding people burst into laughter.

Gradually, more people gathered around her.

Ruby’s demeanor as the hostess differed greatly from her interactions with Lady Mile and her family. Not being able to attend the outing yesterday, Ruby felt out of place in the midst of the lively party.

She couldn’t join in the conversations, but she managed to maintain a smile. She would nod in acknowledgment when someone made eye contact or tried to engage her in conversation.

Among the various gazes she received, the most significant one came from Lady Miles.

Lady Miles seemed to be subtly watching Ruby, a guest who was silently standing apart from the crowd. Although she couldn’t actively engage in conversation, Ruby continued to smile politely, responding to others who tried to include her.

“By the way, Lady Grit, thank you so much for the Laburan Blue.”

When Lady Mile, while conversing with others, addressed Ruby with apparent concern, the eyes of the attendees were drawn to her.

Ruby couldn’t comprehend the purpose of her words and asked, “What…?”

However, what bothered her more than Lady Miles sympathetic look was the content of her statement.

“My eye color matches the name given to me by Marquis Grit. Laburan Blue. Of course, it was just a nickname when I was young, but even now, occasionally in private, they call me that.”

She added playfully that it was when Eli wanted to embarrass her, smiling subtly at her.

“Goodness. You’ve been close to Marquis Grit since you were young?.”

“Eli…… Oh, no. I used to hang out with the Marquess of Grit all the time when I was a kid.

Lady Mile switched from calling him by his name to his title

“Perhaps… I was being conceited?”

As Lady Miles’s cheeks turned pink to the extent that everyone could see, her ears blushed a deep red.

Ruby smiled politely but was speechless, unsure how to respond. The nickname Lady Mile mentioned was new to her.

In the end, Ruby hadn’t been able to fully enjoy the time she spent with her husband, having seen him only a few months prior for the sake of welcoming her. She had also missed the outing and couldn’t engage in conversations. On top of it all, she still had visible injuries on her hands.

The once-prideful scars that she thought of as a mark of honor became insignificant in an instant. Unable to get the answer she desired from Ruby, Lady Miles turned his gaze to Eli, who stood beside her.

“Luberan Blue is not just a symbol of the Luberan Empire, but it carries the meaning of gratitude for your annual participation,” Eli explained on Ruby’s behalf.

“I see. Thank you, my lord,” Lady Miles replied, still fanning herself lightly as if trying to cool her reddened cheeks.

Ruby was more surprised by the fact that Lady Miles had been attending Lord Grit’s parties every year. A sense of betrayal welled up within her for reasons she couldn’t fathom. She abruptly distanced herself from Eli, as she couldn’t bear to remain in this place with a smiling face any longer.

“Excuse me,” she said, quickly turning away.

“Oh my!”

She collided with someone, and the person’s glass of red wine spilled onto Ruby’s dress.

“My lady, are you alright?”

“You may need to change your dress, my lady.”

As she stood there, her white dress stained with spilt red wine, Ruby seemed dazed. Concerned ladies surrounding her began taking action, offering their support.

“I’ll go and get a new one.”

Even Eli, under the circumstances, had to say, “You should.”

Ruby left the scene in a rush.

She entered her room on the second floor and closed the door behind her. The moment she shut the door, the noise from the first floor disappeared, and silence enveloped her.

As Ruby sat down on a chair, she started feeling the throbbing headache she had ignored amidst the frantic preparations for the party and guest reception. Even when she squeezed her eyes shut, the dizziness persisted, and Ruby leaned against the chair’s backrest, feeling like her body was crying out for rest.

Though she had only sat down for a brief moment, Ruby’s body clung to the chair as if demanding rest.

“Let’s sit for a little while before leaving.”

The oppressive heat made her feel like she had just taken a long, hot bath. Ruby took a moment to breathe and leaned back, her head against the chair.

At that moment, the image of Eli and Lady Mile together came to mind like an indelible mark.

***

Ruby decided to get a different dress. The room was left as it was, without the lights on. Her current dress was still drenched in red wine. The muffled sounds of the party made their way up to her. Ruby knew that the event was continuing, even without her presence. 

Thankfully, it seemed no one was looking for her. 

With some effort, Ruby managed to stand up, her body feeling sluggish. She took her time to make her way back downstairs. 

As she descended, Ruby considered that there was a wide selection of dresses similar to the one Marie had chosen. Picking one that looked less conspicuous, she made her way back down to the first floor. 

Ruby was relieved that it appeared Marie had not noticed her absence, at least not yet. She had been concerned that Marie might realize something was amiss, but for now, she had been spared from that experience. 

Or so she thought. 

The first thing that caught her eye when she returned was that Lady Miles was still standing by Marie’s side. Eli was with them as well. The three of them stuck together, like a well-matched trio. 

While Marie briefly engaged in a conversation with someone else, Lady Miles leaned closer to Elijah, whispering something to him. Eli remained still, listening carefully to what she had to say. 

They kept conversing, and Ruby noticed that the two of them seemed more at ease together than they ever did with her present. 

It was hard for Ruby to accept that the interactions between the two people were more natural and unforced in her absence. They continued to converse at a steady pace. 

Marie returned to them when she was finished with her previous conversation, and all three greeted her as if they hadn’t been having a private discussion just moments earlier. 

Marie showed no signs of displeasure. She appeared genuinely delighted, the happiest Ruby had seen her all night.

Ruby could barely hide her envy. In her presence, she would never have felt comfortable doing something as daring as engaging in a private conversation with Eli. Instead, she would have remained on edge, stealing occasional glances to ensure nothing disturbed Marie. If she saw any untoward action, Ruby would have interjected with a polite and supportive statement. 

However, Marie never displayed any signs of displeasure. She had the most genuine smile on her face that Ruby had ever seen. 

Had she been in that position, Ruby could have never dared to interact with Eli and Lady Mile the way Marie did. 

Marie’s cheerful expression was by far the happiest Ruby had seen that night. 

Ruby felt a pang of sadness. 

She couldn’t help but wonder what Marie knew about the three of them: Arlen, Eli, and herself. Her presence appeared unnecessary. 

Lady Mile’s visit to Grits Estate was public knowledge. But could Marie know about Ruby’s absence, especially with the party still going on? Her absence meant that nobody had come to look for her, and the unspoken truth was that she was such an insignificant presence. 

What was her purpose in all of this?

Leaving one step to the staircase, Ruby retreated back up the stairs, her heart heavy with an unsettling feeling.