Chapter 10

My husband leisurely glanced at me, his eyes curving in a smile. It seemed awkward, as if he was trying to persuade me forcefully, which was unlike him.

“Once you go inside, I’m sure you’ll like it. It’s rare to find a property that comes fully furnished like this mansion.”

“……”

“And those lamb you see over there are also ours.”

“What? The lamb too…?”

I looked in the direction my husband pointed. The dozens of lamb grazing in the field were the same ones I had seen on our way here.

“You can’t be serious…”

“I was just as surprised as you are. The previous owner was so generous. He gave them to us as a token of gratitude for buying the house.”

“……”

Is that really something to praise?

He just threw them in as a bonus for the sucker who would live with ghosts.

For all I knew, those lamb might be haunted too.

Dizziness swept over me again.

Unaware of my distress, my husband continued.

“Tomorrow, when the sun is up, I’ll catch one and roast it for you.”

“…Who will?”

“Who else but me?”

“What?”

For a moment, I was so shocked I forgot all about my fear of ghosts.

“You? You’ll do it yourself?”

“Yes.”

“Alec, you can’t even kill an ant!”

It wasn’t just because he was unskilled with weapons. He avoided killing anything with a heartbeat. Though he ate meat, he couldn’t bring himself to kill the animals.

“…Ah.”

He looked as if he hadn’t considered that.

Then, stroking his chin thoughtfully, he spoke earnestly.

“There’s no point in killing ants; you can’t eat them.”

…What?

* * *

My husband is acting strange.

I felt like I had been shot as I walked past the entrance.

My husband, who couldn’t harm a living creature, now said he would roast a lamb? Because ants aren’t worth killing for food?

It didn’t sound like something my husband would ever say.

Could a person change this much?

My head buzzed with confusion.

But I quickly gathered my thoughts.

‘…Yes. My husband did something commendable for the first time since we got married.’

This deserves a gold star, maybe ten.

If it weren’t for him, we’d be on the streets, thrown out even from an inn.

Though his behavior had suddenly become strange, I had to be grateful…

I calmed myself and stepped through the open door.

I was nervous and uneasy.

It wasn’t just because of the ghosts.

I was curious about the interior.

As a lamb farm, I expected the inside to be simple and made of dark wood.

Given the age of the house, there would be many worn-out parts.

I couldn’t expect luxurious chandeliers or artworks, but it was a place where people lived until yesterday, so it shouldn’t be too dusty or cobwebbed.

“……”

Swallowing hard, I looked around the house as if seeing the world for the first time.

The first thing that caught my eye was the mysterious and elegant nacreous sheen.

Squinting against the dazzling light, I looked for its source.

To my surprise, the floors and stairs leading to the second floor were all inlaid with mother-of-pearl-like marble.

The interior was filled with a splendor unimaginable from the exterior.

“What is all this…”

Was the previous owner a millionaire?

As I moved to the center of the lobby, I looked around.

A crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, reflecting the pink glow of the sunset, and the candlesticks and door knobs were silver.

Though it couldn’t compare to the duke’s mansion where we used to live, this place exuded a quaint wealth of its own.

“Oh my, it’s so beautiful…”

Having lost everything and been driven out, to find a new home like this was a miracle.

I couldn’t deny the overwhelming impression and admiration filling my heart.

The house, with its lamb grazing and perfect scenery, was truly lovely.

‘Maybe there’s a way to live peacefully with the ghosts…’

As I clasped my hands to my chest, lost in dreamy thoughts, my husband spoke.

“I knew you’d all like it.”

I turned to look at him, dazed.

Seeing him, I nearly closed my eyes.

He was radiating a brilliance unlike anything before.

He had always been handsome, but now he was literally glowing with an unprecedented light.

“Alec, you…”

“……”

“Thank you. I really didn’t think you’d actually find us a house. And such a splendid one at that…”

I managed to move my lips, almost on the verge of tears. He looked at me awkwardly, then gave a slightly uneasy smile.

An indescribable feeling welled up in my chest. Not only did my sister-in-law and mother-in-law not believe in him, but honestly, I didn’t fully believe in him either. Yet he had found us this magnificent house.

I had been resentful, thinking he was abandoning me in this hopeless situation. But seeing him provide us with a new home melted away my disappointment and sorrow.

Creak…

As I looked at him with teary eyes, I heard the front door carefully open. My heart nearly skipped a beat, wondering who it could be. Peeking through the door was my sister-in-law’s face.

…Ah, she came back.

Before I could even fully relax, my mother-in-law yelled.

“Eloise!”

“…Ahem!”

My sister-in-law, looking embarrassed, cleared her throat and walked in, avoiding eye contact. Her cheeks bore traces of dried tears, as if she had been crying somewhere.

‘She returned sooner than I thought.’

I had been secretly worried she might really run away this time, but thankfully she was back.

She glanced around the interior nonchalantly, then her eyes gradually widened.

“What is this place…?”

Then she jumped as if shocked.

“It’s amazing!”

* * *

‘Now, let’s take a look around the house. There are plenty of rooms, so pick one you like.’

‘I will, Alec. But before that, everyone must be hungry. Should I prepare a simple meal first?’

‘…Yes, please. Thank you.’

“……”

Fortunately, the family seemed to be in good spirits. Alec felt relieved that they liked the house. They had almost ended up on the streets, but he had found them a place to stay.

Even though these people were not closely related to him, he couldn’t ignore his fragile family.

‘It’s only a matter of time before they realize I’m not really Alec.’

As he headed to the bathroom, such thoughts crossed my mind.

He had almost been discovered twice already. Speaking normally had made them suspicious of his eloquence, and simply offering to catch a lamb had shocked Louise. Each time, he had managed to deflect their suspicion, but he had no idea what might raise their doubts next.

At this rate, they would soon discover he wasn’t truly Alec.

‘It’s impossible to keep this hidden.’

If he knew what kind of person Alec was, He could at least try to imitate him, but he didn’t have that luxury.

With a heavy sigh, he entered the bathroom and began undressing.

Thud, thud.

His shirt and pants fell to the floor behind him.

The bathroom felt like a “19th-century bath experience” corner in a museum, and he was grateful it wasn’t any more outdated.

He turned on the faucet of the bathtub and approached the mirror.

Even in the slightly hazy mirror, Alec’s sculpted features were clearly reflected. He still marveled at how similar they appearances were.

He turned my body slowly from side to side, examining himself closely.

He noticed the differences upon closer inspection. Alec’s pale skin, almost untouched by sunlight, and his smooth, unblemished body, as if he had grown up in a greenhouse. It was a stark contrast to his own, which was darker and more muscular.

‘They said he was a duke, but he really looks like a pampered nobleman.’

Judging by his wife’s and family’s reactions, it seemed he could barely speak properly.

He didn’t hunt, he couldn’t kill living things, so what was he actually capable of?

He sighed inwardly and lowered himself into the half-filled tub. The bathtub was so small compared to his height that he had to fold his legs considerably.