Minor Misunderstanding - Chapter 2 - 【 Misunderstanding 】 (Part 11)
Chapter 2 – 【 Misunderstanding 】 (Part 11)
Just as Yuria decided to seek expert opinion, Cedric returned home early. Although it wasn’t really early since he had stayed up all night at the office.
At the entrance, Cedric received the jewelry box containing the pearl ornament from a servant. Since he had never personally given a gift to a woman before, Cedric already felt a bit awkward.
“Have you had dinner?”
“Not yet.”
He also became somewhat stiff in his responses to Yuria, who had come out to greet him. He could sense Yuria carefully watching him. That displeased him. Maybe it would be better to just hand it over. Cedric hesitantly wrapped his arms around Yuria’s waist.
It seemed a bit better. As his hand on her waist became more suggestive, Yuria quickly grabbed his wrist.
“Everyone’s watching.”
“So what? They all know enough.”
‘Who do you think tidies up your bedroom?’
Whispering in her ear, Yuria’s face turned red again.
“But still… Let’s go in quickly.”
Yuria hastened her steps, practically dragging Cedric along. Blushing at such trivial words, yet so active at times like this. He had planned to give the gift first and then bathe together, but it seemed the Princess would be disappointed if he did that.
Maybe he should show the gift first and then have a quick session before bathing together. While Cedric was revising his plan, Yuria pushed him into the bedroom and firmly closed the door.
Even though they had done it outdoors without any cover before, Yuria still had a minimal sense of shame left.
“Wait, open it again.”
“Why, why? What are you going to do?”
When Cedric reached for the doorknob, Yuria urgently held onto it.
“I’m not going to do anything.”
Of course, they should close it when they do it. Even if they opened it, there were no people clueless enough to peek into the bedroom. Yuria’s mouth was already dry from Cedric’s muttering.
“I need to tell them to prepare a bath.”
“A bath?”
“Yes, for both of us.”
Cedric made the shocking suggestion of bathing together as if it were nothing, causing Yuria’s eyes to widen.
“Haven’t you bathed yet, Princess?”
Cedric lowered his head and sniffed Yuria’s nape. Horrified, Yuria pushed him away. Smelling her? She was so shocked she forgot to breathe.
Just a little joke, how cute.
Cedric let out a small laugh. The Princess’s round eyes suddenly became sharp. While he was clueless about romance, he knew it was the right time to present the gift. He abruptly handed over the gift box he had been hiding behind his back.
“…What’s this?”
Yuria, who was ready to be angry at Cedric for sniffing her, was bewildered by the box thrust in front of her.
“A gift in return for the handkerchief.”
“Ah…”
Cedric had said he would prepare a gift in return for the handkerchief. Yuria had completely forgotten about it.
“The fabrics you sent for the dresses are more than enough as a gift.”
“That’s not a gift. It’s something you should naturally enjoy.”
If a husband imports fabrics, the first person to use and enjoy them should naturally be the wife. He had been careless, thinking that as long as the budget was ample, Yuria would take care of it herself.
“Open it. I’m not sure if you’ll like it.”
He had succeeded in giving the gift, but felt awkward afterward. Yuria, also feeling awkward, hesitantly opened the box. A pearl necklace and earrings. The design was very simple, with no other gemstones.
Though pearls are precious and their simple design is preferred, he wondered if it was too plain. Just then, Yuria let out a delighted scream.
“Is this really my gift?”
Yuria’s face lit up with joy as she gazed at the necklace.
“Do you like it?”
“I love it, I really do.”
“Try it on.”
Her reaction was enthusiastic. Yuria was trembling so much that she couldn’t even think of touching the pearls, only clutching the box with her quivering hands. Even while Cedric asked a maid to bring a mirror, Yuria’s gaze never left the necklace.
“It suits you well, Madam.”
“It truly does.”
Even as she put on the earrings and necklace with the maid’s help, Yuria’s hands trembled slightly. Her sparkling eyes were glued to the mirror. It seemed she couldn’t hear anyone’s compliments.
Cedric let Yuria bask in her joy for a moment. Seeing her smile at her reflection in the mirror, as if she had fallen in love with herself, filled him with pride from deep within.
He used to scorn men who squandered their entire fortunes on women, but now he could understand them. If she loved it that much, he would even go into debt to buy it for her. He had become just as crazy as them.
“I’m glad you like it.”
Cedric subtly wrapped his arm around Yuria’s waist from behind. The pride swelling below his navel even made his member stand proudly. Doing it with her wearing only the necklace would be immensely satisfying for both of them.
Yuria, delighted with the necklace she loved, and he, simply feeling good. Thinking it was mutually beneficial, he slyly started to loosen the dress laces, but the gentle expression in Yuria’s eyes in the mirror suddenly turned fierce.
“No!”
Yuria’s hand slapped Cedric’s arm.
“Do you know how delicate pearls are? You can’t let sweat touch them.”
Cedric looked a bit bewildered. She felt bad towards the one who had gifted her, but the pearls were too precious to allow what was to follow. Even in the Kingdom of Leusen and other neighboring kingdoms, pearls were rare.
Pearls were imported from an island nation across the sea, but even there, pearls were not common. Good quality pearls were more valuable than diamonds.
“It seems the necklace pleases you more than I do, Princess.”
“It’s not like that, but…”
“Judging by how you trailed off, it does seem to be the case.”
“No, it’s not. But these pearls are truly precious. Even my mother doesn’t have anything like this.”
Each pearl was about the size of a thumbnail, and there were not just one, but two rows! Flawlessly smooth with a faint pink glow. Yuria had a pearl necklace before, but it had only a single tiny pearl, barely the size of a fingernail. That was all that remained after making necklaces for the Crown Princess and Lady Cristal.
She had been thrilled even with that meager necklace, but now she was to have this. The pearls on the earrings were even larger than the one she had received before. Overwhelmed with emotion, Yuria turned and embraced Cedric. She seemed to have completely forgotten her previous rejection of his touch.
“Thank you, Cedric.”
Cedric, seeming a bit flustered, soon wrapped his arms around Yuria’s waist.
“If you’re thankful, you’ll have to grant me a favor.”
“Just say it.”
“You must attend the birthday celebration this time.”
At the mention of the birthday celebration, Yuria’s body stiffened. She didn’t want to go. He understood. Here, far from the capital, she could forget reality, but the moment she entered the capital, she would just be a Princess sold off to a bastard.
He had heard that the woman who was Yuria’s maid had married a Count and become a Countess. Facing that woman, now a countess too, must be daunting for Yuria. But this time, he had to persuade her to go. Somehow, he had to convince her to come with him.
It pained him. No matter how much he showered her with precious gems or built her a palace-like home, he would never be a husband she could be proud of. He would forever be a blemish in her life.
“Have the invitations arrived?”
Still nestled in his arms, Yuria asked in a small voice.
“A few days ago.”
So this necklace was a bribe to take me to the birthday celebration?”
Cedric couldn’t deny it and answered softly. It had been three full years since she last went to the capital. Before, she had disliked Cedric, and even her own family who had married her off to him. That’s why she had holed up in Ritano.
Her excuses of being unwell had come up more than once. If she refused to go this time as well, all sorts of rumors would spread. Yuria herself could ignore what others said, shutting her eyes and ears. But for Cedric, who conducted business under the Crown Prince’s patronage, it would be problematic.
She continued to ponder in his embrace. If they planned the trip tightly, they would only need to stay in the capital for a week. She could endure a week. As long as she didn’t divorce Cedric, his prosperous business would also benefit her.
And,
“I like this bribe so much that I don’t want to return it.”
“You don’t have to return it…”
“I’ll go to the birthday celebration this year.”
I won’t go next year.
Yuria grumbled and snuggled back into his chest. His breath on the top of her head felt pleasantly warm.
Translator
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Aphoditie
“It pained him. No matter how much he showered her in precious gems or built her a palace-like home, he would never be a husband she could be proud of. He would forever be a blemish in her life.” IM SOBBING WHAT BROOOO STOPPPP