Chapter 2 Part 6 – A changed Honeymoon

“Eli, just a moment.”

“If you left something behind, I’ll send someone later.”

Simply exchanging greetings and leaving was quite impolite. Moreover, Eli had influence in social circles, and it could easily be misunderstood. Such behavior could have a negative impact on Sorvan, who sought recognition in social circles.

“It’s not just the greeting…”

“Ruby.”

Sorvan’s voice suddenly reached their ears as he lightly nodded towards Eli, who was still with Ruby. The rush to catch up had slightly skewed his attire.

“Lord Sorvan.”

“I didn’t hear your answer, so I thought I should know the address to send a letter…”

He was referring to the position of etiquette teacher he had proposed.

“I’ll send the letter late……..”

“Send it to the house of Marquis of Grit”

Eli responded with seriousness, causing Sorvan to raise an eyebrow as if to ask what it meant.

“If you have something to ask to my wife” Eli continued

His confusion quickly turned into astonishment.

“And normally a person of good manners would not address the Marchioness by her first name. Be prepared for that next time.”

Before Ruby could add anything, Eli swiftly closed the carriage door and departed.

Ruby was the Marchioness of Grit?

Sorvan, now aware of this astonishing fact, stood in place for a moment in a daze.
***

“It was very rude.”

Ruby, riding in the carriage, said while looking at Sorvan’s figure outside the window.

“At least I didn’t use my fist on a man who was flirting with your wife.”

“What do you mean, flirting?”

Ruby let out a small sigh at Eli’s expression.

“How did you two meet?”

Ruby tilted her head in confusion.

“That guy…… that Viscount. You said you met him in the capital.”

Eli carefully refined his words, and his genuine curiosity was a rare occurrence, especially when it came to something Ruby had done.

“And why did you meet at a dessert shop?”

“I went there because they had delicious desserts and tea, but the owner wouldn’t let him in.”

“So, the two of you…”

“His younger sister was with him too. She really wanted to eat, so I said I was part of their group, and we sat together.”

Ruby tried to clarify to prevent any misunderstandings.

“And then, we happened to meet again at Lynn’s wedding.”

“Out of all the people, you happened to meet him again at that wedding? Do you believe that?”

Ruby gave up explaining, as it was impossible for someone to spot her among the crowd, considering the place was full of people.

“Anyway, today’s party was important to him.”

“It’s not your concern.”

“….It is.”

There was no point in arguing with him now that the party had been ruined, they were going to get divorced anyway.

“When are you going to the royal palace tomorrow?”

“Why would I go to the royal palace?”

He looked at her with a puzzled expression, as if he didn’t understand.

“…Did you receive my letter?”

“What letter?”

“I sent a letter proposing a divorce.”

“What did you send?”

He asked with an expression of disbelief, as if he had never heard of it before.

“If you just tell His Majesty, it will be done quickly…”

“No.”

“…What?”

Ruby questioned her own hearing, surprised.

At that moment, Eli got closer to her.

Looking at him, he seemed like a stranger in some way.

“Ruby, I have no intention of getting a divorce.”

Eli said with a voice and a face that she had never heard before.

Only then did Ruby snap out of it.

“What… What are you saying?”

“I mean it. I’m saying we’re going to stay married.”

The two of them stared at each other as if in a standoff.

“I’ll go first.”

It was Eli who left the carriage first, as if he couldn’t bear to meet her gaze.

“Good evening, my lady……”

Damon couldn’t finish his sentence because Ruby suddenly jumped out of the carriage and caught up with Eli, panting slightly to keep up with his fast pace.

“Why all of a sudden?”

He didn’t expect Eli to reject the divorce.

“All of a sudden?”

“It’s not a big deal if we get divorced.”

In the past, he had clearly said that. So he should say the same thing this time.

“It is a big deal. That’s why I’m refusing it. Now, let’s stop talking about this.”

Eli muttered that there was no point.

“Then tell me the reason why it can’t be.”

Ruby ran up to Eli and blocked his path again. In that moment, Eli grabbed her by the arm when her dress stumbled.

“What if I tell you? Will you try to eliminate that reason?”

From such a close distance, he knew what Ruby’s answer would be.

Faced with this piercing question, Ruby closed her mouth and sent a determined look to him, saying nothing but making it clear that she wouldn’t give up.

“Give it up. It won’t make any difference anyway.”

Watching Eli enter the mansion first, Ruby made a frustrated expression.

* * *

Ruby, who couldn’t sleep, got up and looked for Eli as soon as she woke up.

“I’ll be the first to tell His Majesty.”

“What?”

Eli was just getting up from the bed. His tired eyes suggested that he had spent the entire night in the study, and he had only gone to bed in the early morning.

“Our divorce.”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

“His Majesty will like it. You, the chief aide, marrying someone like me must have been unpleasant for him.”

“Who said that?”

Eli ran a hand through his disheveled hair, showing some irritation in his gesture.

Come to think of it, he looked almost different when he had just woken up, and this was the first time she had seen him like this. Even when they had lived together, they had separate rooms, and they hadn’t shared the same bed during their marriage.

Ruby had never seen him in the morning like this before. Furthermore, while she had waited for him to wake up in the dining room or the reception room, it was the first time she had so abruptly burst into his room.

“If there’s another reason, if it’s something you can’t talk about, I’ll make up an excuse.”

Still in bed, as if weary, Eli finally raised himself up, propping his head against the bedhead.

“What reason? Are you going to see another man?”

“Would that be enough?”

Ruby, who had no qualms about the idea, asked indifferently.

“Try it, then.”

“What…?”

With Ruby’s affirmative response, hope seemed to shine in her eyes.

“That man will disappear without a trace.”

Eli grabbed Ruby’s wrist and pulled her towards him before Ruby could fall into his arms. She stretched out her hand just before she stumbled. What was significant was that her hand touched his chest, exposed through the parted gown.

“What… do you mean? Are you suggesting you’d kill him or something?”

Startled, Ruby quickly withdrew her hand, trying to move away, but Eli held her wrist tightly, making it difficult to distance herself from him.

“If you’re curious about what I mean, why don’t you give it a try?”

For a moment, Eli’s gaze turned fierce, a look as if he would truly commit the act. The Eli before her was truly a stranger. The Eli she knew had never expressed such emotions, especially when it came to Ruby. He had always been dismissive, saying “that’s enough” regardless of the situation.

“…Let’s talk about this later.”

At any rate, she couldn’t achieve the desired outcome right now. Ruby thought about momentarily giving up and seeking another way.

The moment she attempted to get up, Eli tugged her back by her hip.

“Planning to leave like this? You woke up a sleeping person; you should take responsibility.”

“…Shall we have a meal here?”

Ruby made a funny suggestion, and Eli laughed as if he had heard an amusing remark. Meanwhile, Ruby was trying to move away from the sensation of bare skin under her hand.

Nevertheless, Eli wrapped his hand around her waist and pulled her a little closer. Ruby settled firmly on his muscular frame.

“Ruby, don’t you know what a married couple should do when they’re alone in a room?”

“…I don’t, so let go.”

Her mind was filled with exposed flesh, but Ruby made an effort to maintain an indifferent expression. Her ears were already burning.

Eli, who had been silently gazing down at her, lowered his head and pressed his lips to Ruby’s cheek, which she turned away from him.

“What are you doing?”

Ruby reacted a bit slowly as Eli’s lips gently pressed against her cheek.

“It’s a morning greeting.”

Ruby looked at him with a slight blush, and Eli didn’t take his eyes off her while he gently touched her red ear.

“What were you thinking that made you react like that?”

He spoke as if he had never had any such thoughts.

“I wasn’t thinking anything.”

Now Ruby’s face turned even redder.

“In that case, let’s keep it just between us.”

Eli, who had already lowered his eyelids as if he were falling asleep, inhaled slowly, and his breath became steady as if he had actually fallen asleep. In that moment of peace, Ruby tried to slip away, but he held her firmly.

Ruby looked at Eli, who had fallen asleep like this.

She had never seen his sleeping face so defenseless before.

His long, perfectly groomed eyelashes were closed. His well-arranged eyebrows and a nose slightly taller than usual, and even lips tinged with red, all added up to create his handsome appearance.

For three years of marriage, Ruby was convinced that she was the only one to see her husband’s sleeping face.

“What in the world… are you thinking?”

Ruby mumbled as she watched him.

She kept looking at him until she fell asleep herself.

***

“Master.”

“Go to the reception room.”

Eli opened the door and said quietly to Damon.

Damon handed over a letter from the Emperor, and the newspaper. The newspaper featured a headline related to the couple.

“Sponsorship or Cinderella’s betrayal?”

The article was clearly targeting someone, and it was evident from the title.

The article mentioned the lavish ball hosted by Viscount Sorvan Del the previous day, where Ruby Grit had appeared. It suggested that the revelation of the mastermind behind this sudden event was likely due to the unexpected appearance of Marquis Grit’s wife.

The article raised speculations that Ruby Grit, believed to have lived quietly on her domain after her marriage, had actually been involved with many men as a sponsor.

The first love of Eli Grit, a romanticist who said he fell in love at first sight, was actually a lie.

The article mentioned that, according to the evidence, Marquis always appeared with Lady Mile, the most beautiful lady of the capital, at the dance.

At first glance, it seemed very plausible. If one only read the article, Ruby appeared to be an ungrateful, dissolute wife, and Eli seemed to be a one-sided lover who didn’t know anything else.

Damon stopped reading the article, and Eli picked it up.

“A lot of people must have already seen the newspaper in the morning.”

“Are we just going to let it continue like this?” Eli’s cold remark immediately made Daemon bow his head.

“I apologize. I’ll take care of it.”

“Keep Ruby oblivious about it.”

“Yes.”

Only then did Eli hand the newspaper to Damon and opened Leton’s letter again. The contents were minimal. The letter simply stated that Leton would grant Eli’s requested vacation if he attended the necessary event. Eli made a gesture indicating that Damon should go, and Damon quietly left the reception room.

He carefully entered the room where Ruby was sleeping. Eli was once again lying next to her. It was the first time he had seen her asleep.

Just like Ruby did earlier, Eli gazed at her defenseless face. He watched her sleep for a while and then embraced her tightly. Ruby entered his arms naturally.