Chapter 2 – Part 8

“Let’s do that, then.”

“Understood.”

Having completed the task of conveying the Emperor’s intentions, Eli turned his gaze to where Ruby was supposed to be. However, to his surprise, she was not there. He looked around the hall, but Ruby was nowhere to be seen.

“The Marquis is taking a vacation. Is there a reason for it?”

“After all that work, it’s time for a break.”

He responded without lifting his gaze from the search for Ruby.

“Are you telling me the Marquis of Grit is being held captive?”

“By whom?”

“By your wife.”

Only when Ruby was mentioned did Eli’s gaze finally turn back.

“They said she was sponsoring some nobleman. I heard about a party she hosted not too long ago, and it seems the nobleman was young and wealthy.”

“… “

“Considering you, I thought your wife would be loyal to you, but I guess that’s not the case then. So it’s no wonder women might be upset. She might have come here too.”

“I invited her,” he said with an amused look, as if expecting to see something interesting.

“Marquis.”

“Yes?”

“No, Marquis Remade.”

The Marquis Remade was taken aback by the unusual title, which he usually used in polite conversation.

“Let’s save that joke for someone else. It seems you haven’t heard the news that I had that article in the newspaper removed.”

“Is that so?”

“You’re quite slow in catching up with the news.”

Eli patted Marquis Remade’s shoulder and then turned to leave the hall.

His shirt felt tight, so he unbuttoned one button and hurriedly searched for a place where Ruby might be.

As he walked, he eventually spotted Sorvan coming out of the lounge. Eli instinctively sensed that Ruby might be where he had just come from but hesitated to follow Sorvan. Instead, he quickened his pace and headed for the lounge.

***

“May I have a copy of the latest newspaper here at the Marquis’s? I’ll be in the lounge.”

Ruby made a request.

Sorvan, who went to make the request as instructed, handed the newspaper to Ruby through a maid. It seemed he intentionally didn’t come himself. She appreciated his consideration.

As she skimmed through the newspaper, she found the content the ladies had been talking about. Since it was prominently featured on the front page, she didn’t need to search for it. The article portrayed her in a disrespectful manner, depicting her relationship with Lord Grit as unseemly and describing Eli, a known romantic of the century, as a pitiful man. The intention behind the content was quite evident.

Her initial emotion upon reading it was confusion. Looking at how they could describe her and Viscount Del’s relationship as disgraceful to Eli, she felt angry. She couldn’t understand why the article portrayed Eli partnering with the Lady of Miles at every social ball in the capital as if it were perfectly fine.

So, after reading the article for the first time, she had to fan herself to cool her heated head. She closed her eyes and tried to calm down. Otherwise, she felt like she might burst into tears out of frustration.

As the feverish heat that had risen rapidly subsided and she became calmer, the door to the lounge opened.

It was Eli.

“Are you feeling unwell?” He seemed to have come looking for her, thinking she had disappeared.

“Are you okay?” His eyes were filled with concern.

Concern? Could there be a word that didn’t suit him so well?

Approaching the silent Ruby, he looked at the newspaper on the table and stopped in his tracks. His eyebrows were slightly furrowed, as was his usual habit when he saw something he didn’t like.

“You knew about it?” Ruby finally broke the silence. “People have been talking about the article. I didn’t even know it was about me.”

“The article wasn’t worth looking at.” Eli crumpled the newspaper in irritation and then threw it away.

“I think it’s time to call it a night and go home.”

Eli called for the carriage to wait.

“When I think about it, it doesn’t seem so bad.”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you remember what I said to you? I told you I would even raise a scandal for you.”

“So, are you really trying to start a scandal?”

Eli draped a jacket over Ruby’s bare shoulders, enveloping her with it.

“We already have.” Ruby’s voice sounded excited, as if she’d made a great discovery. He then boarded the carriage that had just arrived with Ruby for their departure from the palace.

Ruby broke the silence that hung between them as they moved away from the palace. Her words were about something he didn’t want to discuss.

“Wouldn’t it be better to divorce at this point?”

“That’s ridiculous.”

Eli cut her off, as he had been doing for the past few days, not wanting to talk about it.

“I don’t need to create a scandal or find any reason. Misunderstandings are already occurring. This might be a better opportunity than anything.”

She was angry at the article that was so eager to discredit her, but she would take it if she could get a divorce. The moment she divorced him, speculation would follow anyway.

“It’s not an opportunity, Ruby. It’s called a crisis.”

Eli turned his head away as if signaling he didn’t want to respond anymore. The carriage soon arrived at the mansion, and Ruby remained silent until they reached the front door.

“Rest.”

“Do you remember why we decided to get married? I told you that I would not cling to you and not be a nuisance.”

She hoped Eli would agree, but he only watched.

“You just needed a woman who wouldn’t bother you. So, if it’s not me, you can meet another woman, and maybe that person would be more beneficial to you than me.

“…”

“So, think it over carefully.”

“Think it over and meet another woman?”

He asked, summarizing Ruby’s words as if he were trying to clarify them.

After that, he used a somewhat irritated gesture to brush his hair back. Surprisingly, Ruby felt a slight sense of anticipation in his reaction. Since he disliked inconvenience, repeating herself like a parrot might eventually lead to him being unable to stand it and doing what she wanted.

With that faint sense of anticipation, she stood still when their gazes met. But she felt as if she had fallen into a trap set by a predator. After a brief pause in his gaze, Eli took Ruby’s hand and gently pulled her closer.

When their noses were nearly touching, they stopped at such close quarters. It was as if they were exchanging breaths.

Then, Eli subtly bit his upper lip, indicating that he could stop at any time if Ruby didn’t want to continue.

With his warm breath, Ruby slowly closed her eyes, and the short period of time seemed to extend as they kissed repeatedly. They would break away, then meet their eyes and tilt their heads, only to have their lips meet again.

He held Ruby’s wrist and made her lean into him, and with one hand around her waist and the other around her head, their gentle kiss had turned passionate.

Eli seemed as though he wanted to savor both Ruby’s breath and saliva. Later, when her breath had become slightly ragged, his grip tightened slightly on Ruby’s hand that was holding his neck, and his eyebrows furrowed.

Eli, who had noticed the small change, finally released Ruby from his grasp.

The air was filled with their heated breath.

Ruby looked at him with a perplexed gaze. This wasn’t their first kiss. It was just that it hadn’t been like this before. It wasn’t a kiss filled with affection; it was just a signal for their marital relationship, and it hadn’t progressed beyond that level.

Eli, who had no intention of letting go of her, felt unfamiliar.

“Who are you? Why did you suddenly…”

Eli reached out, cupping her cheek with his palm, and pulled her closer. This brought them closer again.

“My Lady, the tea for…”

The voices of approaching servants suddenly filled the air, snapping them out of their daze.

“Let me go.”

Ruby squirmed slightly to break free from Eli’s embrace, but his firm grip didn’t waver.

“Eli.”

As Ruby called his name, Eli embraced her tightly. They were headed to his room. After closing the door and entering the room, he gently laid Ruby on the bed.

As soon as Ruby was placed on the bed, he tossed her outer garment, which barely clung to her shoulders, to the floor.

“If you really want to stop, just say it. Because I won’t.”

Eli spoke as if he had already lost his reason, with a passionate look in his eyes.

Then, before Ruby could answer, he kissed her again.

Ruby, gasping for breath, was about to answer, but she was silenced by his kiss.

As she was silenced, Eli said, “Maybe you’ll change your mind about that damn divorce if we have kids.”

He murmured, kissing her neck and collarbone. His hand reached inside her dress and touched her thigh.

Upon hearing his words, Ruby tensed and pushed him away.

He must have sensed her intention because he was easily pushed back. In the meantime, Ruby half-raised her upper body and grasped the flowing hem of her dress.

“There won’t be a child.”

At Ruby’s words, Eli looked dazed for a moment. Then he put on a slight, ironic smile.

“You never know.”

“No, there won’t be.”

“Ruby.”

“Now, there’s even more reason for a divorce. Not being able to have an heir is a significant flaw.”

Eli wore a hurt expression at her resolute words.

“So, there’s no need to force it.”

In the past, their marriage had never been a genuine, voluntary relationship. It was merely a ritual they repeated, devoid of meaning.

Ruby had stopped her movements, still clutching her dress as Eli got up. But he no longer tried to hold her. It was just when he was about to turn the doorknob.

“If you don’t want to, then don’t.”

Eli wrapped his arms around Ruby from behind. Then she felt his warm breath against her neck, and before she realized it, his lips deeply touched his neck.

“What’s this?”

Ruby asked, surprised.

“A seal. A rumor about a happy marriage is expected to spread.”

As if he found the trace of himself left on her pale neck appealing, he kissed the same spot lightly one more time.