I Was Tricked Into A Fraudulent Marriage By The Obsessive Villain - Chapter 5.2 - Banquet

Now, she found herself in the unexpected role of a lady. Iona was dragged by the maids towards the dressing room.

“This dress resembles the color of Your Highness’s eyes! This soft purple is indeed the most suitable dress for Your Highness.”

“No, that’s not right. Don’t you know that this season’s new color is light pink? Look at these finely made-frills! This dress is perfect to bring out her Highness’s lovely atmosphere!”

“Enough, everyone be quiet. Your Highness. You like this mermaid line dress the most, right? It’s perfect for accentuating Your Highness’s slim waist!”

“What are you saying? Can’t you see her Highness’s expression? She doesn’t like it at all!”

“Your Highness! No, you prefer this one, right?”

“Your Highness! Your Highness!”

…Life is so tiring.

Iona watched the maids with eyes as lifeless as a dead fish.

“Hey… I just wear anything.”

“Anything?!”

“Your Highness! Neglecting such beautiful looks is a sin!”

“Ah, yes, yes.”

Stop. I surrender.

Iona raised her hands in surrender after receiving a sharp response to her casual remark.

“So, it’s this dress then!”

“No, how about this? If we add a beautiful corsage here, there won’t be a single lady in the capital who can match Your Highness’s beauty!”

“Isn’t that always the case!”

“That’s true.”

“Ha, hahaha…”

Iona let out a weak laugh. It’s not that it was scary.

She resented the man who had laughed and whispered.

After struggling for a long time, Iona finally managed to escape after wearing a deep blue dress and a bright pastel pink ribbon headband.

Your Highness, I am the head maid Valery. Please command me whenever you need anything.”

The headmaid approached Iona as she sat in the chair in the office.

“Yes, I see. But I don’t think you’re the same person I was introduced to last time?”

Iona’s eyes narrowed as she stared at the head maid.

The head maid in front of her was a different person from the head maid she was introduced to last time.

“Yes, Your Highness. I was a subordinate chamberlain in charge of the archives. I have now become the chamberlain overseeing all the maids.”

It was clear from the situation that the assassins from last night were definitely the ones who caused the commotion this morning.

Despite hiding as maids, the head maid seemed to have been dismissed for not knowing properly.

“Here are the servant records and the mansion inventory ledger. And other things that Your Highness needs to confirm.”

The butler, Meyer, placed thick books of documents on Iona’s desk.

“Thank you.”

Iona replied briefly and started flipping through the top book. It seemed that this book was related to the territory.

“From this part onwards, it includes areas incorporated into the duchy after the last famine. Also……”

Whenever Iona encountered a blockage, Meyer would be by her side, laying out explanations.

With Meyer’s help, Iona continued her work, overcoming each obstacle one page at a time.

Fortunately, Iona had not only experience in managing a guild but also in handling her family’s internal budget.

From the time her parents passed away until just before she ran away, it was Iona who managed the Hardin family’s internal budget.

Johanna, who had just become a duke, was too busy running around here and there, so Iona had started to help out.

“Why is this like this?”

“Oh. This part is because the imperial palace issued a decree…”

With Meyer’s help, Iona quickly adapted to the work. Thus, Iona continued to immerse herself in work for several days.

The size of the mansion and the territory was larger than expected, taking a lot of time to get a grasp on it.

Knock, knock.

While busily scanning documents, a knock was heard.

“Come in.”

Iona responded without taking her eyes off the documents.

As she read, she took a bite of the crisp strawberry croissant the maids had prepared for her.

The sweet strawberry aroma filled her mouth. The crispy texture of the bread pleased her tongue.

So engrossed in the documents, she had forgotten that she let someone into her office.

“Are you very busy?”

Suddenly, a man’s voice was heard.

The man had somehow approached and was sitting on one side of Iona’s desk.

“Huh? When did… No, I’m not too busy.”

At Iona’s response, the man tilted his head and scanned the desk cluttered with documents.

“It’s appreciated that you work so hard, but it’s problematic if you ignore me like this.”

“Oh, ignoring?”

“How endless the nights spent alone without my wife seem. I can’t even describe it.”

Carvain whispered, half-closing his eyes. He brought his thumb, which had stolen a kiss from the corner of Aiona’s mouth to his lips. A hint of red briefly touched his thumb before disappearing.

Iona watched the act that would have even mesmerized the devil, then opened her mouth.

“We each have our own rooms.”

“…….”

A crack appeared momentarily on the man’s white forehead. Iona was taken aback by the sudden coldness.

She hadn’t expected her jab to hit home, let alone strike right at the heart of the matter.

Stung to the core, Carvain froze for a moment before silently staring at Iona.

Soon, as if he had never been flustered, his red eyes dismissed the moment with a laugh.

“I was thinking this might be a good opportunity for us to come together.”

“You really don’t let any comment slide, do you?”

At Iona’s words, Carvain lifted his lips in a smile.

“But isn’t it work time now?”

Is it okay to leave the workplace like this?

Someone has been rotting away in the office for days because of you!

It felt like seeing a boss who leaves work to the employees and goes out to play.

“I came to see my wife because I have a little time. And I have something to tell you.”

“Something to tell me?”

“In a little while, there will be a banquet at the palace.”

“A banquet?”

“Yes.”

Carvain replied as he fiddled with the ribbon on Iona’s sleeve.

Today, Iona was wearing a dress in a pale light green color, reminiscent of freshly sprouted buds, accented with dark green and white.

Especially noticeable were the pretty ribbons hanging along the sleeves.

Carvain incessantly fiddled with the ribbons sewn along the sleeve’s seam with his thick fingertips.

“Would you like me to take one off for you?”

“No, it’s okay.”

She wondered if he was coveting the ribbons, so she generously offered, but he said it was okay.

Carvain chuckled for a moment, as if he found something amusing, then met Iona’s gaze.

“Originally, the banquet was supposed to be held right after the coronation.”

“Hm? But you’ve already been coronated. And the banquet is only now?”

“Yes. I postponed the party.”

“…Is it okay to postpone it like that?”

Isn’t that the kind of genre where you shouldn’t push through like a bulldozer…?

“It’s fine. I’ve made sure that no one says anything untoward about it to my wife. “

“Ah, I see.”

Right. He must have handled it well.

I didn’t want to know how he managed to keep everyone quiet.

I don’t want to know…

“So, what I mean is. Would you accompany me?”

Carvain, who had been twirling the ribbon around his fingertip, asked.

At Carvain’s words, Iona showed a puzzled look on her face.

Shouldn’t she have to go with him? It was customary for couples to attend banquets together.

“Do I get to choose this time too?”

Asking half in disbelief, he smiles and nods his head.

Iona captured in her eyes the man smiling innocently, like the most harmless thing in the world.

He’s making it sound like she has a choice in the matter.

What’s the real intention here?

Is this just an attempt to seem kind? Or is it a ploy to deceive me?