[Awkward Couples Find Love Difficult]

Entering the clothing store that looked luxurious at first glance, Belita’s eyes widened at the colorful and splendid clothes hanging everywhere. Though she was nobility, she hadn’t been from a particularly wealthy family or high nobility, so this was her first time seeing such splendid and luxurious dresses in her life.

Even after marriage, she was a Grand Duchess in name only. She wasn’t the type to enjoy luxury, and since there had been no affection in their marriage, she had never even thought of buying clothes or jewelry with Rian’s money. How could she use his money when she had been bought with money? Above all, knowing how much money went into the Grand Duchy, she had completely given up on adorning herself.

Part of it was also because her mother’s teaching that ‘clean and neat is best’ had firmly taken root in her mind.

“Welcome. Your Grace the Grand Duke, Grand Duchess. It is an honor to have you grace our humble establishment in person.”

A woman in splendid attire approached and greeted them with formal courtesy. Belita glanced at Rian, who merely nodded slightly, and bowed her head a little more deeply in response to the woman’s greeting.

“Is everything prepared?”

“Yes, Your Grace. Please follow me.”

“Shall we go, wife?”

Who was this now? She stared at the man who politely extended his hand. His actions and speech pattern were that of His Grace, but his expression was unmistakably Crazy Rian. She worried for a moment that the two personalities might start conversing. Still, she tried to believe they wouldn’t, given what they had been through. Belita took his hand and followed the madame’s lead while whispering quietly.

“Rian…?”

“Yes?”

“Isn’t this place too expensive?”

“Why worry about such things?”

“But… the money that should go into the Grand Duchy—,”

“Don’t worry about unnecessary things, just buy whatever you like.”

“Why bother with clothes when I don’t go out much.”

“Then would you prefer to be n*ked all the time? I’d like that better, actually.”

This man!

She quickly tugged at Rian’s sleeve while glancing at the madam walking ahead. Seeing the madam’s shoulders trembling slightly, she had definitely heard. With her face turning red, Belita decided to stop talking and firmly closed her mouth.

“Please sit here. This is a sofa specially prepared for the Grand Duchess. It’s designed not to strain your belly, so you’ll be comfortable.”

She wondered when he had made the reservation to have such things prepared in advance. She glanced at Rian with surprised eyes, and he shrugged his shoulders.

“Thank you. With the madam’s thoughtful consideration, I think today’s shopping will be very enjoyable.”

“It is more of an honor for me that the Grand Duchess will wear clothes I’ve made.”

Perhaps it was because of her profession dealing with people, but the madam had a talent for melting people’s hearts like candy in the mouth.

“No matter how comfortable it is, could it be as comfortable as my embrace? Let’s buy quickly and go home to rest, so bring what you’ve prepared.”

“Y-Your Grace!”

“Hoho, understood. Please remain seated for a moment.”

Watching the madam leave with a good-natured laugh despite Rian’s unnecessary comment, Belita glared at Rian and demanded.

“Why do you keep doing that?”

“Doing what?”

“Why do you keep saying such embarrassing things.”

“What’s embarrassing? Besides, your belly being this swollen is proof that you’ve received my c*ck countless times in my arms, isn’t that embarrassing?”

“Rian!”

“No one cares. So stop being self-conscious and worrying about others. And when a couple mixes bodies, it’s natural for a child to be conceived, so why are you so embarrassed?”

“Still, there’s no need to flaunt it in front of others! As if it’s something to brag about.”

Whether due to different values, talking with him made her feel like they were from completely different worlds. Incompatible and unable to align. Of course, it could be due to their different upbringings and personalities, but Rian seemed to live with thoughts completely different from the common mindset of ordinary people. Perhaps that was also due to his split personality.

“It is something to brag about. Do you think there’s another man in the Empire who looks like me?”

“What did you say?”

“And do you think there’s another man with a c*ck as big as mine?”

“Ha!”

“And yet, this guy only serves his wife. How admirable is that?”

“!”

“So you should be proud. My body belongs to you.”

Belita was at a loss for words at the shameless remarks from both personalities. Well, nothing they said was wrong. That’s why she had nothing to say. Above all, what was more ridiculous was how naturally His Grace continued Crazy Rian’s words. He seemed completely influenced.

“Are you enjoying the view?”

The couple’s gaze turned forward at the sudden chilly voice that felt cold enough to freeze. Belita’s expression hardened at the sight of Lovia, who had dressed even more splendidly than usual, making it hard to tell if this was a banquet hall or a clothing store. Lovia’s face overflowed with composure as she faced the unresponsive couple alone. To Belita’s eyes, Lovia seemed quite remarkable in a way.

“I see you’ve come to buy a dress for the banquet. But seeing you bicker, you look like a real couple? Ah, I mean you look like a couple who gets along well.”

Belita’s eyebrows twitched at Lovia’s behavior, saying whatever she wanted without even greeting them. It seemed her warning had no effect at all. Well, it’s hard to imagine that woman being afraid of anyone. Suddenly, she lost all interest in shopping. Meeting a woman who liked her husband made her lose her appetite, even though she hadn’t had one to begin with.

But strangely, the man who had been chattering away was now silent, just staring at Lovia. Belita’s heart started racing with an odd feeling.

Why isn’t he saying anything…?

The corner of Rian’s mouth curled up as he looked at Lovia with an inscrutable expression. It was a clear sneer with one corner of his mouth raised and cold eyes. But did she think his sneer was just a smile? Seeing Lovia respond to Rian’s smile with an even brighter one, Belita’s heart swirled with indescribable emotions.

Lovia’s smile, always confident and unhindered, remained beautiful. Having lived receiving only love and wanting for nothing, she never wavered anywhere. Belita felt increasingly intimidated by that confidence. She felt that no matter how hard she struggled, someone like her, who had lived a completely different life from birth, could never beat Lovia.

That’s why she felt anxious. Because you never know people’s hearts. What if someday Rian realized Lovia’s sincerity and understood that she was the one he truly needed? Wouldn’t he waver then?

The fact that she was now another man’s wife, and Rian was another woman’s husband, would be no problem at all if they decided to change it. They were people who had the power to change their circumstances whenever they wanted.

A woman with nothing. She thought that perhaps Lovia really was a better match for Rian than herself, a bundle of inferiority complexes bought with money. Her self-esteem, once it started to fall, hit rock bottom. It was just a sneer, but the fact that Rian showed even that expression to another woman made her heart flutter. She felt suffocated by the inexplicable anxiety and hurt.

At that moment, she felt a warm, large hand. Looking down, she saw the man sitting with his legs crossed arrogantly had firmly grasped her hand. The sneering expression was now filled with concern, and the cold eyes were nothing but affectionate. In an instant, it felt like a ray of light was seeping into her heart that had been falling into an endless dark abyss.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

“Ah, no. I’m fine.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t intend to have an uninvited guest intrude on our date. It seems we need to change clothing stores. This is unacceptable service.”

“Ah, I’m really—”

“I just came to greet you. I felt I didn’t properly greet the Grand Duchess last time, knowing she has good news.”

Though still smiling, Lovia’s thorny voice and cold expression indicated her mood had soured. Above all, her venomous gaze was directed at their clasped hands. Rian deliberately raised their interlocked hands and placed them on his thigh. Lovia’s cold smile deepened even more.

“You two look like you get along well. I’m envious.”

“That’s right. I wonder why someone is standing there without any sense, intruding on a couple on a date? Huh, Countess?”

“……”

At Rian’s taunting words, Lovia’s fist clenched her skirt tightly. It was impressive how she maintained her smile even as the corners of her mouth trembled.

And Rian also appeared different. The person speaking to Lovia now was His Grace. Not Crazy Rian. It was unbelievable yet heartwarming to see the man who had always been a passive observer whenever she was confronted by Lovia now holding her hand firmly and facing Lovia. The tip of her nose tingled, feeling that his promise to protect her had been sincere.

Judging by Lovia’s expression, it looked as if she had caught her husband having an affair with another woman. While Belita found Lovia’s jealous gaze absurd, she still felt uncomfortable with an inexplicable anxiety. She just wanted to avoid this situation. Though she had already turned her back on nobility, there was no benefit in making more enemies among the aristocrats, and after all, Lovia was a genuine high noblewoman and a countess.

“Rian.”

“Yes, wife?”

“Let’s go home. I’m tired.”

“There’s no need for that. I, the uninvited guest, will leave.”