“No. I said I hate handkerchiefs, honey.”

There was something amazingly useful at times like this. Precisely ‘the whining of an immature and young wife.’

Dahlia glanced at Brian and Bellisa’s expressions from the corner of her eye. Fortunately, it wasn’t a strange or suspicious look. Rather, they seemed somewhat surprised by the newlywed atmosphere of the sister couple.

“I’m sorry. Since brother and his wife are here.”

James put away the handkerchief and wiped his wife’s mouth corner with his thumb. Then he casually licked the stew that had slightly gotten on his finger.

“W-we’re fine.”

“Newlyweds are indeed different.”

The couple’s faces had turned bright red. Bellisa even fanned herself with her hand to drive away the hot atmosphere. At the two’s reaction as expected, Dahlia exhaled deeply in relief. Even after three years, the newlywed strategy still works, how fortunate.

“Then take good care of yourself and rest well. I’m relieved since your brother-in-law is here.”

“Get well quickly, Miss.”

It felt like they were hastily leaving to avoid seeing more affectionate acts. When the two returned like that, James and Dahlia sighed in relief. Dahlia looked at James’s face, which seemed somewhat red, and thought it was because of her excessive impromptu acting.

“Somehow it feels like we’re only getting out of crises.”

“I’ll make sure there are no mistakes next time.”

Originally, suspicion starts from trivial things. Their families and other people thought James and Dahlia had a love marriage because they loved each other so much, but that wasn’t the reality. Dahlia, who had stepped down from her position as a spy due to an unexpected accident, had an arranged marriage with James according to her adoptive father’s will.

Dahlia, her father, and James thoroughly hid the fact of the arranged marriage. The three knew well that there was demand in high society for a ‘lovely and immature youngest daughter.’ Moreover, since the Corellin family was showing the model of a prestigious noble family, they were confident that everyone would definitely love the youngest daughter who grew up receiving affection in a harmonious large family. Besides, S11 couldn’t carelessly dispose of the star of high society that everyone was interested in and watching.

The three’s strategy worked perfectly. Dahlia and James’s first meeting was arranged at the department store where she was working undercover, and the marriage news reported by her father was nicely arranged as a romantic proposal at Taylor University, James’s alma mater.

“Stop and rest. You must be tired from receiving guests.”

The couple, once the envy of high society, had been nervously sweating since Sunday morning while deceiving Dahlia’s siblings. James could have gone in to rest, since he was tired, but instead, he sat in the chair where Bellisa had been, even though being alone would have been enough. Despite the fact that Dahlia saw him open a book, she deliberately asked him a question.

“What about you, director?”

“I’m going to read. ……Why? Does it bother you?”

It was a careful question as if he was worried that she was concerned about him. Dahlia was confused about whether James really cared about her or not. Even if he cared, she wondered if it was just the heart of a superior thinking about a subordinate, or if it was more than that.

“No. It’s fine. You can just stay.”

But regardless of his feelings, this situation was pleasing to her. Enough to make her want to be a little greedy. Because only she could be alone with him in the bedroom while he read a book in comfortable clothes and glasses. Dahlia closed her eyes comfortably. Her stomach was warm and full, so she felt like she could sleep soon.

⁕⁕⁕

Time passed quickly and it became the day of the year-end charity fundraising event. Dahlia wore a blue dress, and James wore a matching navy suit. Since it was the first time in months that all the family members would gather, Dahlia tried harder to immerse herself in acting. Since it was an event, there would be many watching eyes.

“Are you all ready?”

Lucy checked one last time whether the updo was well secured. The hair naturally tied up as if flowing down suited Dahlia well. She looked at James, who had entered the room, through the mirror.

“Yes, honey. I just need to put on gloves now.”

Dahlia wrapped herself in a white mink shawl that contrasted with the blue dress. Then she put on gloves the same color as the shawl. James strode over to his wife’s side. He naturally kissed the back of Dahlia’s hand.

“You’re especially beautiful today, wife.”

“Are you flattering me?”

“I’m hurt that you’d take my sincerity that way.”

Dahlia looked at James and smiled brightly. Lucy listened to their conversation happily and quietly went outside. After confirming she had left, Dahlia gradually hardened her expression.

“You seem like you’ll be very uncomfortable today too?”

James didn’t answer anything, but his expression wasn’t good. He was uncomfortable with Dahlia’s mother ‘Selini Corellin.’ More specifically, he was uncomfortable with all the women of the Corellin family. There was no room for argument that he was externally the top son-in-law material. However, to the family who cherished Dahlia, if you removed the person ‘James Luperton,’ he was no different from a thief who had taken away their precious daughter who was eight years younger.

Also, Selini had severely opposed their marriage for a while. Dahlia was endlessly grateful to the mother who loved adopted her the same as her biological daughter. However, thanks to that devoted love, James had to endure an unsuitable life with his in-laws. Thinking that if it hadn’t been for the arranged marriage with her, James wouldn’t have had to receive such treatment made her feel very sorry.

“I’ll stay by your side the whole time, director. I don’t have anywhere else to go anyway. Don’t worry too much.”

“Who said I was worried…… Just take care of yourself.”

James extended his arm to Dahlia in an escorting posture.

“I’m fine now.”

“Anyway.”

Dahlia looked quietly at James, who spoke somewhat firmly.

“Right. Anyway. I’ll stay by your side.”

“……Do you want to hear me say thank you?”

At those words, Dahlia smiled slightly.

“Now you’re finally joking.”

“Let’s go. We’ll be late.”

The two went to the ‘Karl-Merian Building’ in Robenty’s downtown area. This building was built by businessman Karl Pioni and was also owned by Bellisa’s family, who had made tomato stew yesterday. The Karl-Merian Building had many large halls, making it very suitable for large-scale events.

The Pioni family, who ran a trading business, liked the affectionate Brian as son-in-law material. When the creative and flexible Brian said he would run an opera theater, they supported him even more than the main Corellin family. Bellisa successfully managed ‘Belle Restaurant’ while helping her husband’s business. The tomato stew Dahlia liked was also the most popular menu at Belle Restaurant.

“You came early, Miss.”

Dahlia and James met Brian and Bellisa at the building entrance.

“You both came early too.”

“Since it’s my family’s business, I was concerned. By the way, you both look so wonderful today.”

“You’re so pretty too. A red dress with emerald earrings and necklace—it’s totally giving year-end vibes!”

On the other hand, Dahlia glanced at Brian, who was neatly dressed, and shook her head.

“……What’s that? What about me?”

At his sister’s mischievous prank, Brian persistently asked, but she never answered him in the end.

“You look wonderful, brother.”

Although James was two years older than Brian, since there was a clear hierarchy within the family, James called him brother. Brian smiled, slightly embarrassed by James’s awkward compliment. Dahlia and Bellisa also laughed along.

“Ah, thanks. You look good today too.”

Since they arrived earlier than the event start time, there weren’t many people at the building entrance and Ruby Hall. The Dahlia couple first greeted the Pioni couple, who were the event organizers and Bellisa’s parents. After briefly exchanging greetings, Dahlia sat down with Bellisa.

“How is Oliver doing these days? It feels like it’s been quite a while since I’ve seen him.”

“He’s been crazy busy preparing for boarding school admission. I would have liked him to see your face today, but since it’s a charity fundraising event, I couldn’t bring him.”

In the case of events that went on late into the night, children usually didn’t attend. Dahlia had no choice but to put aside her disappointment. Although she loved all her niblings equally despite their different personalities and temperaments, Oliver in particular got along exceptionally well with Dahlia.

“I’m starving to death.”

“Honey, don’t say such things.”

When Dahlia turned around at the familiar voice, her youngest brother Dale and his wife Dorothy were entering the hall. Dale’s outfit was decent, but his hairstyle was somewhat messy. It seemed he had come straight from work. He even started quickly devouring the finger foods prepared on one side of the event hall while saying he was hungry.

“Hello, sister-in-law.”

Bellisa and Dahlia welcomed the two warmly. Dale’s appearance with frizzy hair and dark circles was clearly someone who had worked hard before coming.

“This guy finished work, just changed clothes and came straight here. I’m sorry, sister.”

At Dorothy’s apology, Bellisa smiled warmly.

“It’s good when the law firm is busy. This is all because he works so hard.”

“That’s right, sister-in-law. I finished a consultation and came in such a hurry that I wasn’t thinking straight at all.”

Dale desperately looked for someone to be on his side. Dahlia’s gaze looking at him was already unkind. At times like this, blood relatives weren’t helpful. Then a long arm came up on Dale’s shoulder.

“Grow up a bit, Dale.”