Chapter 63
As soon as Cecilia answered, Yuri’s thick eyebrows furrowed in displeasure.
“Why not? Come on, think a little harder.”
Really… he never imagined he’d have to make such an embarrassing request.
But even enduring a moment of losing face was worth it—Cecilia’s words had left him feeling slightly hurt.
Watching him speak as if throwing a tantrum, his wife responded in a gentle tone.
“Of course, I’d be grateful if you helped, but you’re busy, aren’t you?”
“…….”
If he answered that way, there would be nothing more to say.
It was true he was busy, but taking a little time to help his wife wasn’t difficult at all.
Ignoring the small voice inside him that questioned whether this plan was too much, he eventually allowed his pride to take over.
“Helping for a little while is fine.”
Yuri, with a sulky face, crossed his arms. It was a defensive gesture stemming from the lie he had just told.
And the remaining two were able to guess the truth without difficulty.
Unable to hold back, Noah let out a loud scoff and turned his head sharply. Yuri glared at him as if ready to devour him.
“Really, it’s fine. You don’t have to overexert yourself. I just spend a lot of time at the manor, so I can handle things here and there.”
Cecilia tried to soothe him with her words, but they didn’t satisfy him either.
He simply disliked that his wife was planning something without including him.
It was true he was busy, and also true that he didn’t have the energy to pay attention to anything beyond that. So even if he was acting a bit recklessly now out of pride,
‘…she didn’t say she planned it with Noah either.’
Then what could possibly stop him?
‘I wish she asked for my opinion a bit more.’
Though he didn’t have any particularly good ideas to offer, he just wanted his wife to care about him a little more.
It was an immature thought, too embarrassing to ever voice.
While Yuri sulked, silently demanding a task from him, Cecilia exchanged a troubled glance with Noah and let out a short sigh.
Really, he didn’t want his husband to overexert himself, but
‘…it still feels nice.’
Even small displays of jealousy or secretly caring about her attention were surprisingly satisfying.
He even looked a little cute in the process.
The faint pink mist he glimpsed also looked pleasant. Just knowing he was starting to feel emotions similar to hers made him giddy.
Feeling encouraged, Cecilia pondered briefly and finally said,
“Then, may I ask for your opinion when decorating the banquet hall?”
“I don’t mind. Do you think it’ll be okay with my taste?”
“What do you mean, your taste? Everything you chose during our wedding preparations was wonderful.”
Her eyes narrowed playfully as she spoke the last part.
“I was a little annoyed that you didn’t ask for my opinion,”
“Ah!”
Thinking back to that time, he really had no response.
The fact that he didn’t invite her family, that he ignored all of her opinions…
‘…I was too sharp back then.’
Worried about outsiders entering the manor and the events that might follow, he had left a bitter taste in his mouth from the needless power struggle.
Muttering softly, avoiding his wife’s gaze, he said,
“If you liked it, that’s enough… This time, I’ll listen properly to your opinion.”
He realized that was his way of apologizing. Compared to before, he had improved a lot.
Cecilia, chuckling, nodded brightly.
“Good. Then when decorating the banquet hall, let’s discuss it together.”
Hearing Cecilia say “together,” Yuri’s lips curled into a faint smile.
Together. Together… Just this word made his heart flutter unexpectedly.
Just as he was about to respond in a softer tone,
“Alright, that’s enough. I don’t think you can see me properly anyway, so I’ll take my leave.”
Unable to stand it any longer, Noah sprang up.
His expression twisted as if utterly horrified. Before anyone could even comment on his behavior, he rushed out of the room, thumping down the hallway.
Occasionally, faint gagging sounds could be heard, though one couldn’t be sure.
At the very least, his reaction had left Yuri feeling slightly embarrassed.
Blushing faintly, he clenched his fist, covering his mouth, avoiding anyone’s gaze.
Clearing his throat loudly, Yuri changed the topic.
“Well, in any case, if you need my opinion, feel free to come to me anytime.”
“Even in the middle of the night?”
“Even in the middle of the night.”
Despite her teasing question, he gave a sincere reply.
Cecilia, briefly making a curious expression at his answer, smiled softly.
“Good. Thank you.”
Since he seemed busy with matters concerning the border, it might be best not to expect too much. Still, she was grateful just for the words. It gave her a sense of reassurance.
After finishing the pleasant conversation, Cecilia left Yuri’s office, saying she would head back for now, unaware of what was running through his mind.
After Cecilia left,
Yuri stared at his half-empty teacup and sighed.
He pretended everything was fine in front of Cecilia, but…
‘This is a bit dangerous.’
Changes in the borderlands had already become noticeable.
Specifically, since a mid-level monster had attacked his wife in the forest.
‘The frequency of mid-level monster appearances is too high.’
Moreover, the interval between the gates opening had significantly shortened compared to before.
He felt that simply receiving reports about the borderlands wasn’t enough, so he often found himself heading there.
This was the reason he had recently been frequently absent from the manor.
To hunt the mid-level monsters appearing at the border and to check the gates.
Thanks to that, there hadn’t been any major problems yet, but he couldn’t hide this from his wife forever.
However…
Yuri sighed deeply and ran a hand over his face.
‘…At least for now, I can’t tell her.’
He didn’t want to make his wife anxious.
He also worried that the apprentices who had come might run away.
He didn’t want the vitality and hope brought by them to vanish.
Until now, Rotreben had remained a land of terror because of that curse and the monsters, and of all times, this had to happen just as an outsider visited.
It was a trivial worry compared to the actual events, but imagining his wife upset made him want to prevent such a future at all costs.
Fortunately, the defense forces were able to quietly handle things. Not too many came at once beyond their capacity.
Maybe it was just the whim of the gods, a brief surge of chaos that would eventually return to relative peace.
He would have to observe a bit longer to be sure.
Yuri looked down at the paper Cecilia had left behind, his gaze heavy.
The neat, slightly playful handwriting made him smile despite himself.
Seeing her expectations so carefully written, he resolved not to disappoint her.
Tracing Cecilia’s writing with his fingertip, he soon stood with a determined expression.
There was no time to waste. To preserve the daily life his wife anticipated, he had to move busily.
Donning his cloak again, he quietly mounted his horse and rode toward the borderlands.
Behind him, his shadow stretched long.
Twilight had already fallen.
