When You Don’t Get Along With Your Husband - Chapter 29

Perhaps she had already met those three people that Gideon was supposed to deal with on her behalf.

But if such a thing had happened, she could have just told him right away. He could have taken care of it right now, even before tomorrow came.

Of course, Gideon also knew that Tatiana wouldn’t let things flow that way.

Could his sister have upset her mood? Should he not have left them alone?

But Gideon didn’t think Scarlet would have committed something rude. It wasn’t that he was taking his blood relative’s side.

The princess often inquired about Tatiana’s recent situation whenever she went somewhere. After repeating this a few times, she seemed to have developed a one-sided sense of closeness to Tatiana.

Tatiana must have surely noticed that the other person had taken a liking to her.

Then what could be the problem? Is entertainment culture really the root of all evil?

Though he knew it was a leap, Gideon couldn’t shake off his personal impression that parties were such useless events.

Husbands who are wary of their wives’ social gatherings are common everywhere. Because if she just goes there, it creates turmoil in the household.

They come back in a bad mood and show their sullenness, or fall into depression alone and make the house atmosphere gloomy.

Among these, the most worrying development is when they complain while comparing their husbands to other husbands.

But in fact, Gideon wasn’t too worried about this part.

‘There shouldn’t be… many men who can compare to me?’

It wasn’t because he was a man with extremely high self-esteem that he had this idea. He simply knew Tatiana’s tendencies better than anyone else.

‘You only get interested in opponents who can match swords with you.’

Bloom’s daughter really doesn’t consider just anyone as husband material. And as far as Gideon could guess, there weren’t many men in this world who could compete with Tatiana in swordsmanship. Even among the royal guard, they could be counted on one hand.

After much deliberation, Gideon finally couldn’t come to a conclusion on his own, and touched Tatiana’s hair. Like a cat wrapping its tail around a person’s leg, he used her hair as a tail, wrapping it around his index finger in circles.

Tatiana, who had been wearing an indifferent expression, glanced behind her and asked,

“What are you doing suddenly?”

“It seems my wife is not in a good mood, so I’m trying to read the situation.”

“……”

“I’m also trying to cheer you up.”

Thinking that he’s unusually smooth-tongued today, Tatiana couldn’t help but laugh momentarily.

This is a kind of signal. When the person who was being all serious suddenly laughs, you can consider the exploration and mind games almost over.

The next step is to pat the arm and say, ‘I’ll listen, so just tell me what’s wrong.’

“What’s the matter?”

Then, like a ripe fruit bursting and spilling its seeds, something should come out…

“Your Highness, I was wondering.”

“Yes?”

“Do you have any firm beliefs about post-marital chastity?”

“…Huh?”

Something too strange came out.

Tatiana originally enjoyed making odd jokes from time to time. But this wasn’t a characteristic of someone who takes everything lightly, but rather more likely a characteristic of someone who takes everything seriously.

They feel that the weight of life and the world they feel is not light, and because they don’t want the people around them to feel that weight fully, they try to refresh their surroundings with light words from time to time.

If there’s someone who fails to grasp this true intention and dismisses it as ‘Eh, childish, frivolous,’ that person is the one lacking in depth.

Gideon knew all of this, and often detected that sighs and cynicism were hidden in her jokes. Nevertheless, he laughed. Because it was often actually funny.

But today, he couldn’t read her intention at all, so he ended up showing a bewildered reaction.

Why is the topic of post-marital chastity suddenly coming up? Where did she hear about this strange concept? Is this also from the party?

Gideon frowned and narrowed his eyes, and Tatiana followed suit, making her eyes narrow as well. And then she whispered in an unnecessarily secretive voice,

“You’re not in a hurry for children, are you?”

“Do you… already want to have a baby?”

The two had been married for less than a month. Of course, the duration wasn’t the most important thing, but Gideon wore an expression that said ‘there’s no way you would’. He quietly examined her knuckles, rough with calluses.

And as Gideon expected, Tatiana couldn’t readily nod to his question. It wasn’t for any other reason but because of the sword.

The prime of swordsmen is short.

Even if the castle takes responsibility for raising the child, it remains unchangeable that the mother must carry the child for ten months.

The weight of those ten months is never light for swordsmen. And it’s unknown what storm the subsequent physical changes might bring.

Of course, contraceptive methods are developing day by day, and the Magic Tower makes medicine for that purpose as well.

However, this was the royal family that valued descendants and bloodlines. It wasn’t a place where Tatiana could boldly request, ‘Shall we enjoy our newlywed life just the two of us for a while?’

If Tatiana had wanted to avoid this situation for certain, she should have rejected the royal marriage in front of Gideon.

If that wasn’t possible, she should have fled beyond the Valter border under the cover of night.

But if you ask if there’s something she absolutely wants to achieve with the sword, if she can achieve it, and what that is… she’s not sure anymore.

She doesn’t remember well why she picked up the sword in the first place, and it’s been too long since she fell into a slump, feeling her limits and thinking this might be as far as she can go.

Yet, like someone oiling a carriage they don’t use, Tatiana couldn’t stop exercising. Her mind is still always full of thoughts about swordsmanship.

Perhaps it’s natural. No matter how long they’ve been separated and how long it’s been since they entered the divorce mediation period, the sword is her ex-husband, how could she not have lingering attachments?

Tatiana wanted to share these worries and plans for the future with Gideon. Not with the noble ladies briefly passing by at the party, but with her husband.

No matter how much you talk and discuss about your future, if your spouse isn’t there, it’s really just empty chatter. A plan made without the participation of the marriage partner is meaningless no matter how many people give advice. Such a plan can only be flawed.

But now that she’s blurted it out honestly, she also thinks,

While still having sticky lingering feelings for her ex-husband, asking her current husband ‘Are you thinking about children?’, is this really okay? Is it perhaps a bit unsettling? How will he answer?

Gideon maintained silence for a while. He was puzzled about what kind of talk she might have picked up at the party to be acting like this.

It was completely incomprehensible, but one thing was certain. When his wife came to discuss such issues, regardless of the answer, his attitude at least had to be sincere.

“Wife, I…”

“Yes.”

“To be honest, I don’t want to create more beings to protect right now. Not until I ascend to the throne.”

Directly translated, it means he wants to postpone having royal children.

Since Tatiana also felt burdened by experiencing another environmental change right now, in that sense, their thoughts could be considered to align. However, she couldn’t hide the somewhat suspicious feeling she had.

Didn’t his words sound like those of someone preparing for a dangerous situation?

“Your Highness, do you think that you… might not become king?”

Tatiana asked carefully, and Gideon answered immediately.

“No.”

“……”

He was indeed Gideon Ainsler.

At his answer, which seemed as if he had never even considered such an outcome, Tatiana’s worried heart cooled off.

However, Gideon added in a low voice,

“But it hasn’t happened yet.”

So let’s make it a bit clearer, he meant. You can safely reach your goal by reducing variables and minimizing uncertainties.

Tatiana could somewhat guess what Gideon was thinking and largely agreed. However, she wore an expression that wasn’t quite satisfied. They had discussed an important issue openly, but there was still something important left for her.

So, are you really a post-marital chastity advocate? Surely couples don’t only share a bed just to have children?

Could it be that he was truly a chaste man? But then why does he look at me like he’s going to devour me every night?

Tatiana had been suffering from such vague doubts even these days when it got dark. But this time too, she couldn’t use a direct approach and only poked around the periphery.

“Your Highness, aren’t you bothered by that rumor… never mind.”

“What rumor?”

“No, I misspoke.”