Fish Don't Know About Water - Chapter 37

— You’re coming to the party, right?

— Hmm, well… Did you get a lot of expensive liquor?

— Yes. I scraped it all up from the village, even paying extra! Oh, and a birthday cake too!

— A cake…? Oh, right, you said it was His Highness’s birthday party.

XX mumbled indifferently, then whispered in a low voice.

— I bet even His Highness forgot that tomorrow is his birthday.

— No way. It’s his birthday.

— Want to bet? If I win, we’ll forget the promise about slapping me twice.

— Deal!

No matter how busy he was with wedding preparations and boarding, there’s no way he forgot his own birthday. I nodded confidently.

— If I win… Hmm… I’ll increase the slaps from two to three.

— Fine. Don’t go back on your word later, Pepe.

As we hooked pinkies to seal the promise, Viett opened the cathedral door and walked in. He raised an eyebrow at the sight of us hooking pinkies, then looked at XX with irritation.

— Are you still here?

— Oh my, don’t treat me like an uninvited guest. I was just invited to the wedding reception.

— Reception…?

Viett looked at me with a puzzled expression.
Oops, the reception is a secret from Viett. Although it’s scheduled to start in 30 minutes… It was supposed to be a secret until then!

— What are you up to now?

— What do you mean?

I awkwardly averted my eyes while Viett held a small velvet box in his left hand. Thinking I needed to change the subject quickly, I reached for the box he was holding.

— What’s that behind you?

— …Never mind.

He lifted the box above his head, easily avoiding my hand. I stared intently at the purple box. XX, also looking up at the box, smirked.

— It’s obviously a wedding present. Why are you being so nosy? Just take it.

— Really? Is it really my present?

It’s the first time I’m getting a gift from him since the box of cookies. Looking up at him with hopeful eyes, Viett avoided my gaze.

— …It’s not yours, so don’t worry about it.

— You really have a way with words.

I squinted my eyes and glared at his stern face.

— Whenever you’re embarrassed, you always speak more harshly.

Viett glanced at me, grumbling, and fiddled with the box. Then he glared at XX with a frustrated expression.

— Are you planning to stay here forever?

— Okay, okay. I’m leaving. The uninvited guest will leave now.

XX left the cathedral as if she had been waiting. When I shouted, “See you later!” she came back and peeked through the door.

— Hurry up. It’s awkward being alone at the party.

Then she slammed the giant cathedral door shut with a bang. (How did a frail girl like XX close that huge door with one hand…?)

— Let’s go home now.

When I tugged on his uniform sleeve, Viett’s eyes turned strange for a moment.

— …Home?

— Your residence. I’m living there now too, right?

— It’s not home.

He shook his head firmly.

— My castle is in the south of Lechen. I haven’t visited much since I was commissioned…

Isn’t the south of Lechen the Duchy of Luck?

— Oh, you’re officially the Duke of Luck too, right? I forgot.

— …It’s natural to forget. I’m rarely called that.

He muttered, looking a bit embarrassed, then cautiously watched my expression as he spoke.

— After the war ends, that will be your home.

— I’m looking forward to it. The weather must be very warm in the south.

— Compared to Count Cochrun’s castle, it’s small and modest. Don’t expect too much.

We chatted as we left the cathedral. Since the residence was quite close, we decided to walk through the night air. The sound of rain quietly seeped into the warm atmosphere we created.
It had started to rain. Fortunately, the raindrops weren’t heavy. Viett silently took off his uniform jacket and draped it over my head.
When I looked up at him with a surprised expression, he avoided my eyes with a sullen face, fixing his gaze on the cloudy night sky.

— Let’s go.

We walked together on the raindrop-covered path as he spoke, frowning slightly. His thick, heavy jacket felt like it was warmly hugging me.
It finally hit me that we were really married. For the first time, that thought crossed my mind.

……

Viett’s men seemed to be good people. They worked hard to transform Viett’s garden while we were away for the ceremony.
They set up tents on the lawn so people could avoid the rain and arranged long tables beneath them, laden with delicious food. The doctor, who had arrived before us, was directing them.
The barrels of ale and various foods were things we had prepared in advance with the dowry, so they weren’t surprising. But the tents were unexpected. It was really strange. I was sure I didn’t prepare any tents! (I didn’t expect it to suddenly start drizzling!)
What was even more surprising than the garden was the inside of the house. The entire first floor of Viett’s officers’ quarters was filled with flowers. Rose vines, orchids, daisies, lilies, cymbidiums, and even some wildflowers I couldn’t name.
The expensive flowers, which were hard to purchase during wartime, filled the reception room, kitchen, and around the living room fireplace. As soon as I stepped into the house, the scent of flowers hit my nose.

— What is all this?

I asked as I touched the lush rose vines draped over the shelf, and Viett, glancing towards one side of the living room, spoke.

— Everyone, out.

The soldiers who had been chatting inside the house saluted him and exited through the front door.
We were the only two left on the flower-filled first floor. From beyond the wide-open terrace windows, the sound of people laughing and sharing food and drinks could be heard.

— My younger sister told me that you once said you wanted to get married buried in a pile of flowers.

Viett explained awkwardly as he sat on the living room sofa. I tilted my head as I sat beside him.

— Did Princess Rose say that?

Had I ever said something like that? I couldn’t remember. It’s common for random thoughts to be recorded in novels. But it was the first time someone remembered and cared about something I had said in passing a long time ago.

— The modest wedding venue kept bothering me.

Viett sighed cautiously and then spoke.

— The previous princess consorts were blessed surrounded by crowds in grand cathedrals…

— I really didn’t mind. It’s rude to decorate a foreign cathedral to our taste.

I tried to comfort him, but he still looked gloomy. He didn’t relax his expression even as he took out a cigar case from the jacket pocket I had returned to him.

— Do you not like the flowers…?

Viett suddenly asked as he cut the end of a cigar with a cutter. His eyes stayed fixed on the cigar.

— I like them. They’re all flowers I love.

— …For something you like, you’re not smiling at all.

He muttered to himself after hesitating for a moment. (He’s really obsessed with me smiling. He was the same when he returned my necklace.)

— I’m just stunned. It’s been hard to see flowers since the war started…

— I had to search the entire village to find flowers that weren’t burned in the bombings.

He continued speaking like a child seeking praise. Understanding his intentions, I smiled brightly.

— Thank you for caring. But how did you find the time to prepare all this while busy with sortie preparations?

— The army is a place where the impossible becomes possible, Miss Pepe.

A voice came from behind the sofa. Turning my head over my shoulder, I saw Viscount XX sitting on the backrest. He took the cigar Viett had cut and put it in his mouth.

— What are you doing?

Ignoring Viett’s angry outburst, the viscount pointed towards the terrace.

— Those guys have been busy since dawn for their commander.

— Consider it a reward for the party! Madam!

The soldiers’ shouts came from beyond the open terrace window. (Were they all eavesdropping on our conversation?)

— Those guys…

Viett glared at them disapprovingly. Then the sound of many footsteps quickly scattering towards the garden could be heard. He sighed and turned to look at me.

— When did you find the time to prepare the reception?

— Preparing a reception isn’t a big deal. Just some cheerful people, loud music, waltz, a bit of food and drink, and that’s it.

I answered as I slyly took the cigar he had picked up again, and from behind the sofa came Captain XX’s sarcastic remark.

— A husband who gathers all the flowers in the vicinity and a wife who buys all the liquor regardless of type? Truly a match made in heaven. It’s a good thing you two got married.