After that, the invitations to the man who “lit up the reception hall like a chandelier” had dramatically decreased.

But! How could he be expected to watch hordes of strange men kissing his wife’s hand until it swelled, lining up to dance with the bride, and ultimately standing face to face with her, bodies brushing against each other?

It was fortunate that Carlisle wasn’t fond of parties. Apparently, they had been quite frequent during Perta’s time as lord.

‘But Rarien enjoyed them…’

The children were still young enough that they only danced at small family gatherings, but the thought of his daughter suffering at the hands of all sorts of unworthy men offering their hands to her already worried him immensely.

“Then I’ll just make a brief appearance……”

“That’s right. Everyone would be disappointed if you came all this way and didn’t show up.”

Raham, who had been lost in his own concerns, turned around in horror.

“Are we going?”

“Yes. Let’s just make a brief appearance.”

He made a strangled sound.

Willa found it fascinating that Raham didn’t argue despite his obvious dislike. Of course, Carlie wasn’t an easy opponent, but he wasn’t being obedient because he was henpecked.

When ladies gathered and chatted, “Sir Raham Desit,” Carlie’s husband, was always a topic of conversation. His face, status, personality, and all the little episodes that spread through word of mouth.

Initially, there had been gossip that his face was so handsome he had snagged Carlie despite being a slave, that he had killed his former master and ended up in Carlie’s interrogation room only to survive by sheer luck, or that she was so jealous she wouldn’t allow another husband. But at some point, the stories changed to those of a devoted husband who lived for his wife and children.

It was a natural progression, as most of the stories coming from relatives and acquaintances in the central region were of that nature.

For ladies of marriageable age or younger, such a man was more interesting than anything. Even for married women who had entered middle age, it was no different.

Episodes of his rudeness as a dance partner—which would have earned him dozens of stepped-on feet had he not been the groom—were wrapped up as charming romance.

Having gotten what she wanted, Willa excitedly wrote letters to her acquainted ladies and handed them to the servant she had brought along. The news that Lady Carlie and Sir Desit would be attending the party spread rapidly.

“How is Perta doing?”

“Mom’s the same as always. She’s doing well.”

Carlie engaged in Willa’s chatter while sitting and creating elixirs worth thousands of gold coins, displaying them one by one on the desk. Raham quickly reached out and took the medicine.

“Why do you keep taking them? Just leave them there.”

“These are for emergencies.”

“I made ten, and you’ve taken five for emergencies. What am I supposed to use?”

“Make more.”

Willa, who was sealing the last letter and handing it to her servant, looked puzzled.

“Does Lady Carlie need recovery elixirs?”

“That’s what I’m wondering too.”

Raham replied as he took a sixth bottle. Carlie made a disgruntled face.

⁕⁕⁕

Carlie and Raham arrived at the Penia family mansion when the party was in full swing. Though it had started as a light daytime gathering, the mansion was still bustling. This was likely because people were still waiting for the guests who hadn’t arrived yet.

“Sigh……”

Raham exhaled deeply. Then, as he had been doing all day, he looked at Carlie’s attire with a worried face.

A rose-red dress that boldly revealed her shoulders and wrapped around her from chest to waist, hips, and thighs. The slightly slit skirt revealed her white calves with every movement, and pointed black shoes peeked out from between the abundant red frills at the hem.

They were shoes that would naturally worry anyone about their insteps, but that wasn’t Raham’s concern. His mind was filled only with the thought that all sorts of random men would be captivated by the sight of his beautiful wife.

He couldn’t go around telling everyone to look away wherever they went…

“Do you hate it that much? Should we go back?”

Carlie asked with a smirk. Raham clicked his tongue.

“No.”

Carlie giggled and linked her arm with his.

“I guarantee, husband, more people will be looking at you than at me.”

Saying this, she gazed at her husband appreciatively.

He was wearing formal attire that Willa had arranged. It had been made by every tailor in Riba, who had gathered to create clothes that would fit his much larger than average build in time.

A well-fitted dark gray tailcoat resembling a uniform and a heavy navy robe. Instead of an elegant cravat, they had finished it with a clean neckline, and decorations were limited to contrasting colors on the sleeves and collar, along with dark buttons rimmed with silver. A gold badge that Willa had urgently procured added the finishing touch.

In many ways, it felt closer to a uniform than typical formal wear, but that refined feeling combined with the man’s wild charm created a very attractive impression.

Initially, the tailors had prepared conventional formal wear, but after one fitting and much discussion, they had created this outfit. Although the basic tailcoat that fit him perfectly had also looked impressive, this attire seemed more suitable even to Carlie’s eyes.

This was a man who had attracted all the village women just by being dressed casually. Taking him to the reception hall like this would cause several young ladies to faint.

She raised the corner of her mouth.

“Mmm— you look good.”

The nape of Raham’s neck reddened. He couldn’t tell much difference between this outfit and his knight uniform, but if Carlie liked it, it must be good.

Ahem, he cleared his throat and offered his arm. Though still worried about his too-pretty wife, he figured it didn’t matter how many unattractive men lost their minds over her as long as he looked the most impressive in Carlie’s eyes.

“Lady Carlie and Sir Desit has arrived!”

A servant waiting at the entrance promptly announced. All eyes turned to them at once. Admiration spread across their faces.

Among the people who couldn’t even approach them and just stood staring, Willa appeared. She wore a white dress that revealed her ankles and had decorated her hair lavishly with fresh flowers. She ran over with a delighted expression.

“Lady Carlie! Sir Desit!”

With her leading the way, people who had regained their senses flocked around them. The couple was instantly surrounded. Greetings poured in from all directions.

“It’s been so long, Lady Carlie!”

“Sir Desit, it’s been ages!”

Carlie received the greetings pleasantly.

While she dealt with the people, Raham used his height, which towered above others, to scan the surroundings. Usually, he was a head taller than sturdy knights and a head and a half taller than others, but now he was about two heads taller. This was because everyone surrounding the couple was a lady.

Most men couldn’t approach readily and stood at a distance. The only man who had come to the front was Willa’s father, who had come to greet Carlie. Raham was satisfied seeing the middle-aged man’s half-bald head.

The elegant middle-aged woman standing beside him greeted them.

“Welcome, Lady Carlie. Sir Desit. We are grateful for your visit.”

After receiving the host’s greeting, Carlie tapped her husband’s arm, which was linked with hers. Raham, who had been looking around and sending warning glances here and there, belatedly came to his senses and acknowledged the greeting.

“Ahem. Pleased to meet you.”

Mrs. Penia smiled pleasantly and guided them to the seats of honor. Walking in step with Carlie, the clicking of her heels mingled with the heavy thumping of his footsteps.

Raham looked down at his shoes and grumbled quietly.

“I don’t like these shoes.”

Though he occasionally wore military boots, the stiff, newly fitted formal shoes felt awkward. Carlie grinned.

“They’ll protect your instep.”

Raham responded with a slight lift of his chin.

“I won’t get stepped on.”

His dancing skills had improved greatly since ten years ago. Not because he had become a better dancer, but because his reaction speed had increased through knight training, allowing him to respond immediately to Carlie’s movements. In other words, his dancing skills hadn’t improved, just his evasion abilities.

Carlie snorted. When she had taught him to dance during wedding preparations, she had stepped on his feet so many times because he couldn’t move at the right moment. At least Raham had been careful not to move recklessly for fear of stepping on her, so Carlie’s feet had remained unharmed.

“Let’s see about that.”

Raham was just as eager to dance as she was. During the wedding, propriety had required him to let guests dance with Carlie and to dance with female guests himself, but today that wouldn’t happen. He planned to use all his stamina to keep Carlie from being passed to anyone else until the end of the dance.

Even after being seated in their designated places, Raham was busy sending cautious and warning glances to any men he deemed somewhat handsome.

While he was doing this, Carlie gave a brief greeting to the gathering, received formal greetings from local dignitaries and young ladies her age, and even accepted greetings from gentlemen who were clearly very uncomfortable.

Men’s barely-there kisses landed on Carlie’s thick gloves, which Raham had strongly insisted upon.

“……”

“……”

Due to the intense staring from beside her, the kisses eventually became so light they were almost gestures rather than actual contact.

Carlie, unable to contain her laughter, half-sobbed as she accepted a champagne glass from a servant. After handing one to Raham as well, she wiped tears from the corners of her eyes.

“Want something to eat, husband? The Penia family’s chef is also skilled.”

“I’m not hungry.”