Chapter 40: The Best Gift

“I can’t wait any longer. How much longer do you expect me to wait?”

“There’s nothing good in moving right now. Since we messed with Viscount Jimilta’s maid recently, it’s better to stay quiet for a while.”

“But…sigh. I’ve been waiting all this time. You said Bliss would surely be cast out. But what is this?”

When the shadow’s rough breathing flowed out, the other person’s voice wasn’t heard. As the rough breathing settled, the shadow flickered.

“We need to find a way to separate Bliss from him. I should call that child right away.”

The shadow recalled the maid they had planted in the Marquis’s household.

***

“It’s been a while. How long has it been since we had such a leisurely meal?”

Bliss, who had been rolling her wine glass, looked up. After pondering Caelan’s words, she spoke with a faint smile.

“I’ve been spending a lot of time at the palace lately.”

“That’s a bit disappointing now.”

“Pardon?”

“That smile, it’s disappointing.”

When he suddenly pointed out her smile, Bliss looked at Caelan strangely before finishing her wine. She smiled with satisfaction at the clean taste of the wine as she set down her glass. The wine she was drinking now was the one Caelan had introduced before.

Though at first she had forced herself to drink wine with Caelan due to nervousness, feeling like it might come back up, she wondered when she had gotten used to it. Sometimes she tried other wines, but none pleased her as much as this one.

While tracing circles with her wine glass, Bliss added an explanation to Caelan.

“I’ve been with the Imperial Princess for long, but I won’t be entering the palace for a while.”

It meant she could see Caelan more often. Bliss briefly observed Caelan’s expression as she began speaking.

“It’s almost Etienne’s Day.”

Seeing Caelan’s gaze turn to the butler, it seemed he either didn’t know the day was coming or wasn’t interested. Well, he didn’t seem like someone who would look forward to such a day anyway.

“Imperial Princess Jasmin will spend it with her family.”

After answering that much, Bliss drank some water. Even after putting down the water glass, she fiddled with the cup for a moment before raising her head as if gathering courage.

“Shall we spend that day together?”

After checking Caelan’s expression, Bliss picked up her wine glass.

“You’re my family, after all.”

Bliss smiled awkwardly. Since this was her first time making such a proposal, she couldn’t immediately think of how to continue. After considering various ways to speak, Bliss let out a small sigh.

“I should think of something sweet to say, but nothing comes to mind. I can only say let’s spend it together.”

Unable to think of excuses, Bliss tormented the innocent wine. If she drank it all, it wouldn’t release its fragrant aroma again. Though she might get drunk instead. While fiddling with the wine glass and thinking of other things, Caelan, who had been watching Bliss continuously, answered.

“It’s not bad that you asked to be together first. Alright.”

Hearing the answer she wanted, Bliss smiled brightly. She had worried about being rejected when asking him. Thinking about spending that day together made her feel good.

“There’s that smile again.”

“What? Why do you keep mentioning my smile…”

“Because it’s pretty.”

Bliss frowned. Not because she was displeased, but because Caelan seemed strange.

“Were you always someone who spoke like this?”

He hadn’t been until now. To be honest, Caelan had been a very indifferent husband to Bliss. They hadn’t married for love, and Bliss knew she wasn’t someone who met Caelan’s standards. That’s why they had avoided each other, but from some point, Caelan started treating Bliss kindly.

When had that been?

‘The party.’

The ball where Bliss should have died wearing the poisoned necklace. From then on, Caelan showed behavior that bewildered Bliss.

“Have you thought about how to spend it?”

At Caelan’s question, Bliss, who had been lost in thought, let out an “Ah…”

Bliss held out her empty wine glass. As Caelan saw it and poured wine, the red liquid flowed down the walls of the transparent glass.

“You can look forward to it.”

***

Before Bliss could stretch after waking up, Jackie entered. She greeted Bliss good morning while drawing the curtains. As each curtain was drawn and the room brightened, Bliss looked at the space beside her. With no trace of anyone having slept there, smooth and untouched, she knew Caelan hadn’t come.

Bliss raised her knees and rested her arms on them.

Had he worked all night? Would it be tiring for someone like that to spend the whole day together? Then what about the things she had planned for today?

While Bliss was sighing, Jackie, who had drawn the curtains, approached. As always, while putting up Bliss’s hair, she started talking.

“I’m so excited I can hardly sleep, knowing that the Marquis and Madam will spend Etienne’s Day together.”

“Is that so?”

Come to think of it, it hadn’t been a year since she married Caelan. So this would be their first Etienne’s Day. Bliss felt Jackie’s gentle touch as she gathered her hair.

“What kind of day do you have planned?”

“Well… First, I’ll take him straight to the salon. Then have lunch at a nearby restaurant and go to a party with elegant music playing. I got an invitation. And for dinner…”

Jackie blinked with an excited face as she listened to Bliss’s planned day.

“That sounds wonderful. Even I’m getting excited.”

“Really? Would you like to spend it that way too?”

“What? But I…”

Bliss turned around to look up at Jackie.

“Call the butler, Mint, and the other maids.”

“Now?”

Bliss nodded slightly as she got up from the bed. Thanks to Jackie putting up her hair, it was easier to change clothes by herself.

When Bliss told her to hurry back, Jackie hesitated briefly before leaving the room. Watching Jackie’s retreating figure, Bliss smiled with something like a sigh.

“She’s still afraid of me.”

Though better than before, Jackie still feared her. She had clearly said she hadn’t been hit, but…

“Maybe that’s why she’s more afraid of me.”

Because the anticipation is often scarier.

“I don’t know if I should be glad or keep watching her anxiety.”

She had thought it fortunate that she hadn’t hit that young child, but seeing Jackie still wary of her made her heart ache.

Sighing, Bliss turned to change clothes. For a wonderful day.

By the time Bliss had changed and returned, the butler and maids lined up in the room couldn’t hide their tense expressions.

“What’s wrong? Afraid I might say something strange?”

“No, not at all.”

“But you’re curious about what I might say, right?”

The butler nodded.

“It’s Etienne’s Day today. So I want to give you gifts.”

Everyone was surprised at the mention of gifts.

“I thought about what would be the best gift to give. But no matter how much I thought…”

Bliss crossed her legs and turned her head. After briefly being lost in thought while looking out the window, she looked at Jackie.

“I think it might be time.”

“Time, you say?”

At the butler’s question, Bliss nodded.

“Everyone should spend time with their families today. I’m not just talking about the employees who directly serve me. Send everyone home except for the minimum necessary staff.”

“But…”

“Everyone has loving families, right? And give them this.”

Bliss held out a box she had prepared in advance. Even at a glance, it was clearly a jewelry box. When the butler opened the lid as representative, it was indeed packed with precious accessories.

“I don’t have enough money to give to everyone. So I thought to give this instead, would that be alright?”

“But isn’t this Madam’s property?”

“Because it’s mine, I can give it freely. Please take care of the rest.”

As Bliss just looked on as if she had said all she needed to say, the butler looked at the jewelry box for a moment before carefully picking it up.

“Thank you.”

“The sun is rising now, but time is short if you want to be with your family. So please send them quickly.”

“Understood.”

When the butler bowed his head, the maids who had been watching in bewilderment all bent their waists too. Those who had only been doing laundry until recently had unbelieving faces.

Looking at them, Bliss said, “The free time is a gift I’m giving as the Marchioness, and those jewels are an apology for before.”

Learning it was because of them, the maids exchanged glances with each other. Then Mint stepped forward and waved her hands awkwardly.

“If it’s because of us, it’s fine. Really.”

Mint took the jewelry box from the butler and put it back down. Seeing Mint’s rejection as if they shouldn’t accept it, Bliss smiled faintly and said.

“You’ve handled these more than I have, so you’re even more qualified to take them.”

Bliss touched Mint’s hand that had put down the jewelry box.

“And I feel sorry too.”

Bliss sent Mint a look saying not to refuse. Feeling her hand trembling, Bliss sent them out, asking the butler to handle it quickly.

“Then what about Madam…”

“I need to go out too. Where is Caelan?”

Bliss stood up with a refreshed face. Now only time with Caelan remained. As they watched Bliss leave the room first, the butler reached out a hand that wouldn’t reach her.

“Going out in that attire…”

The butler’s words were cut off by the sound of the door closing as Bliss left.