Chapter 19

News of the commotion had undoubtedly reached her friends. When Lyzbel asked for Anne to be called, Felix kissed her cheek before leaving the room. Sitting on the bed and gazing at the sea brought her immense joy. 

Perhaps her energy had been drained from the carriage ride and her time spent in the underground chamber. Normally, she wouldn’t feel sleepy during the day, but now she found herself nodding off.

Then came a knock at the door. When she called for the person to enter, Anne stepped in carrying a tray.

“Miss… no, I should call you Madam now. Perhaps it’s because there wasn’t a wedding ceremony, but you still feel like a young lady to me.”

“I feel the same way. Did you bring the stationery I asked for?”

“Yes, the master asked me to deliver it to you. He also mentioned he had someone to meet for a moment and left.”

Anne placed the tray on Lyzbel’s lap. On the tray were luxurious stationery and envelopes. Stationery of this quality was usually reserved for the Imperial Family. While it wasn’t legally restricted, its high cost meant that most nobles couldn’t afford to use it.

Despite its value, there were several sheets, so Lyzbel didn’t hesitate to begin writing letters to her friends, sister, and brother. Anne sat beside her, keeping her company with conversation.

Even though her arrival had been sudden, the servants of the Mayer Estate had treated Anne well. It was a stark contrast to the Baron Ivelia Household, where she hadn’t made a single friend. It was fortunate that Anne had come along.

Seeing Anne, who was almost like a friend, at ease, Lyzbel also felt more comfortable. Perhaps if she had come alone, she might have felt lonely.

After finishing her letters, she handed the envelopes to Anne.

“Miss… oh, I mean Madam, there’s something else that’s quite fascinating here.”

“What is it that you find so fascinating?”

“There’s a mail courier here, but for far-off places, they use transportation magic to send letters.”

“Really? There must be someone skilled in magic here.”

“Yes, it’s amazing. …But Madam, please don’t overexert yourself and rest a little more.”

“Huh? I’m fine, really.”

“To be honest, you look very tired.”

And she was. After waking up, her time spent with Felix had left her legs completely devoid of strength. Since it wasn’t yet evening, perhaps she should sleep a little longer. When she nodded in agreement, Anne smiled as she picked up the tray with the stationery.

“Shall I close the curtains for you? So you can sleep soundly?”

“No, I think I’ll fall asleep just fine as it is.”

Anne soon left the bedroom. Though the mana lamps were turned off, the room was still bright. Even so, she felt she could fall asleep, so she lay down once more.

As soon as she closed her eyes, she was quickly overtaken by sleep.

She woke up some time later to the sensation of someone gently stroking her cheek. The room was still bright, and it was easy to see who was sitting beside her.

“…Felix?”

“…There’s another place I’d like to show you. Do you think you can get up?”

“Mm, yes.”

Rubbing her eyes, she slowly sat up. Her stiff body had relaxed considerably after being bathed in warm water. Thinking she needed to change her clothes, she was about to call for a maid when Felix stopped her.

“I’ll help you change.”

“What? But won’t it be bothersome for you?”

“Not at all. How could helping my wife dress be bothersome?”

He soon brought out a comfortable dress and began helping her put it on. Lyzbel’s eyes widened as she watched him skillfully assist her, wondering where he had learned to do this. Then, she felt his lips lightly touch her back. Her heart raced at the thought of a repeat of their earlier intimacy.

But he simply tied the ribbons on her dress neatly.

“…It suits you well.”

“Th-thank you.”

Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she fanned herself with her hand to cool down.

Once dressed, Felix combed her hair. The sensation of his fingers running through her soft blonde locks was peculiar. When he was done, a graceful Lyzbel was reflected in the mirror.

“Thank you for your help.”

“Feel free to ask for my help anytime.”

He took her hand, kissed the back of it, and gently bit down, leaving a mark before letting go. Each time he did something like this, Lyzbel screamed internally. Her heart raced like crazy. He truly acted like a devoted husband.

Moments like these made her feel like a real wife, which left her with a strange feeling.

“Shall we go explore now?”

“Yes.”

Taking his outstretched hand, she toured the Mayer Estate with him.

The garden, filled with countless flowers, was breathtaking. There were so many flowers that she couldn’t count them all, many of which couldn’t be seen in the capital. As they wandered, they eventually reached the secluded rear garden.

Throughout their tour, they frequently encountered servants, but this area was conspicuously empty. Still, it was impeccably clean, showing that it hadn’t been neglected. The rear garden featured a large maze with well-maintained flowers and trees, making it a sight to behold.

Everything felt new to her. Having grown up in the capital, the vast estate was a refreshing change.

As they entered the maze, Lyzbel was too engrossed in exploring to notice Felix speaking cautiously beside her.

“Lyzbel, when would you like to visit the beach?”

“I’m fine with going anytime. If you assign someone to accompany me, I can go alone.”

“No, I’d like us to go together. I can make time.”

“Of course. That sounds wonderful.”

Was I dreaming? 

Though theirs wasn’t a love marriage, her husband was everything she had ever wanted in a man—and he was kind on top of that. Perhaps all the hardships she had endured were leading up to meeting this man.

Now that she thought about it, Felix, having just become the Earl, must be incredibly busy, yet he had come into the maze with her.

“I hope I’m not taking up too much of your time. Does it take long to get out of the maze?”

“Spending time with you could never be a waste.”

“…”

Where had he learned to act like this? 

His naturally kind disposition seemed to make Lyzbel decide to simply enjoy the moment.

As she gazed at him, she suddenly leaned into his embrace. Her heart pounded just from that simple act. Felix, momentarily startled, placed his hands on her back. The sensation of his gloved hands was pleasant.

Since their marriage was only for a year, she decided to fully savor the experience.

When she looked up and met his gaze again, his previously stern expression had softened.

“Do people ever get lost in this garden?”

“No one from the Mayer family does. Even the servants are trained to navigate it.”

“Then I should learn quickly since I’m now your wife.”

“…There’s no need for you to learn.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’d like to guide you myself. My mother used to do the same for my father.”

Before her passing, it seemed his parents had shared a loving relationship. As the saying goes, children learn from their parents.

Fortunately, neither she nor her siblings had inherited their parents’ flaws. Her older sister and brother often expressed relief about that.

As their gazes met, Lyzbel smiled. The two of them continued exploring the maze hand in hand.

“This maze seems quite secluded.”

“…I asked the servants not to come here so we could walk alone.”

“Pardon?”

“More importantly, wouldn’t you like to do something fun here?”

Something fun? Did he mean playing hide-and-seek or exploring the maze more thoroughly? 

When she tilted her head in confusion, Felix gently placed his hands on her shoulders. Then, he carefully guided her to stand against the stone wall.

She couldn’t tell what he intended to do. Watching his actions curiously, she suddenly saw him kneel on one knee. Without warning, he carefully lifted her dress and slipped underneath it.

“Fe-Felix!”