IBACM Chapter 138

Chapter 138

One day, I suddenly felt worried and called Novembris.

“Ah, Bris. Can I move around freely now…?”

“You don’t need the wardrobe anymore to travel anywhere. You don’t even have to sleep inside it,” he said.

“Can I still move between wardrobes?”

“That’s still possible. They’re like one body.”

“Not only am I healed, but I even got new abilities!”

I was so happy that I jumped around, and everyone gathered here looked at me with warm smiles.

“Congratulations, Marilyn!”

“Now we have to act quickly. You need to officially join the noble family.”

“We’ve already picked a fine knight to protect you.”

Three people spoke eagerly, and I hugged each of them one by one.

“Thank you, everyone.”

Milos’ face turned red as he awkwardly smiled and shouted loudly:

“Then, we need to prepare for the engagement right away!”

“Engagement?”

Dedrick calmly said, pulling me gently aside.

“We should think about marriage first.”

“That’s still difficult. From today, your formal training as the heir starts, so you’ll have a lot to do… Even if you go on a honeymoon, it might be just for a few days before you come back.”

Pavle’s words made Dedrick frown in dissatisfaction. Pavle smoothly changed the subject.

“Shall we make an appointment with Count and Countess Aleai first?”

“As soon as possible. Even if the marriage isn’t yet, I want the engagement ceremony to be quick.”

“Quick?”

“So no one tries to steal you.”

“Who would try to steal me? I have no connections.”

“You have to debut in high society.”

“Me?”

“…Hmm, if you don’t want to, it’s okay. I’m your husband, you’re my wife. That’s enough.”

“Then, shall we do that?”

“You must!” Pavle shouted.

I was surprised and nodded awkwardly.

Having lived as a wardrobe monster for so long, I thought I didn’t have to do those things.

“Y-yes, I should. To be a proper duchess.”

I raised my chin seriously, and Dedrick kissed my forehead repeatedly, looking cute.

It happened so often that they no longer cared.

But Novembris turned his head sharply away.

“When the talks end successfully, we will prepare the engagement ceremony immediately.”

“Get a carriage ready. We’ll go pick out dresses and rings.”

“Oh no, that’s too fast! Let’s have the engagement after the social debut.”

“…….”

Dedrick’s lips puckered so slightly that only I could tell.

Ah, Didi’s sulking.

***

These days, I’ve been learning noble etiquette for my social debut, and it made my head spin.

I wondered if smoke would come out of my head.

“What if I make a mistake during my debut? More importantly, did Didi finish talking with Count Aleai well?”

I muttered worriedly, and Milos comforted me.

“Don’t worry too much. Marilyn, you’re cute, so it’ll be fine.”

I had met Count Aleai and his wife recently. They were a kind elderly couple and had treated me well, so the dinner ended smoothly.

After that, I heard some discussions but no news yet, which made me nervous.

“Right?”

“Of course!”

“…About what kind of talk, though.”

Novembris clicked his tongue, but Milos and I just laughed.

I pressed my head down hard.

‘The horns fit well. I mustn’t let them suddenly pop out at the party.’

Thanks to being fully healed, the fairy dust kept coming out steadily.

If I practiced a little more, soon I could keep Dedrick attached to me and live together for a long time.

‘Of course, I should ask Didi first.’

But somehow, I had a strong feeling that Dedrick would want to live with me for a long time.

As I kept smiling foolishly, Novembris looked at me quietly and spoke.

“You look happy. You said you’re going to be engaged soon, then married, right?”

We promised to have the engagement ceremony next spring and get married once Dedrick’s position was stable.

But before that, I had to make sure I left a strong impression at the party hosted by the emperor, which was my first social debut.

‘To match Didi properly.’

I didn’t want Blackwood’s reputation to drop because of me.

I wanted to be worthy of the duchess position without any objections from the house heads.

‘I may not be excellent, but I want to be at least enough.’

As I thought this, Novembris’ voice turned gloomy.

“I think… I should return to the sanctuary now.”

“Huh? Suddenly?”

“Going back?”

Milos was surprised and asked.

Novembris answered seriously.

“…Since you will now live a perfect life, I guess I’m no longer needed.”

Milos quietly closed his mouth and stepped back.

At first, I didn’t understand, but after seeing Novembris’ dark expression, I got it.

“What do you mean? At first, I needed you to recover my health, but over time, that didn’t seem so important.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means that your closeness and your presence here don’t depend on ‘need’.”

“…I don’t understand.”

“Bris, it’s simple. If you want to stay here, you can. I welcome it.”

Novembris probably grew fond of this place. Even though he came to watch me recover, he couldn’t avoid feeling attached after living with humans.

His softened face and surprisingly good friendship with Milos supported that.

“Did Yggdrasil tell you to come as soon as I’m fully healed?”

“No, it didn’t.”

“Then what’s the problem? Just rest here and come when I die.”

“…Your lifespan is at least 500 years.”

“Hehe.”

I laughed playfully, and Novembris finally chuckled.

“That’s not enough?”

“…Wouldn’t it be a bother? Staying here without doing anything.”

“It’s fine. I only want to do that.”

“Pfft.”

Milos and Novembris couldn’t hold back laughter.

Then Novembris fixed his golden eyes on me, his expression serious.

“…But if you don’t want me to just stay?”

“What do you mean?”

“I… want you…”

Knock knock.

At that moment, someone knocked.

“We should continue this later.”

“No, it was nothing.”

The conversation was cut off, and the door opened.

Dedrick approached me with a gentle smile.

“Congratulations, Marilyn.”

“What’s that all of a sudden?”

Pavle pulled out a paper and showed it to me.

It was the family registry of the Aleai count family, with my name clearly on it.

“My name…!”

“Until we marry formally, your name will be Marilyn Aleai from now on.”

“That’s settled!”

“The Count and Countess Aleai really liked you. Especially the Countess said she’d be your guide for your social debut.”

“…Really? I didn’t expect that far…”

I was thankful enough just to join the Count family, and now they cared about this too!

“I should send them a thank-you gift and letter!”

Good things kept happening, and my smile hurt my cheeks.

***

Rumors that the Blackwood and Aleai families would soon become one spread fast in high society.

There were talks that Dedrick and his fiancée had been promised to each other since childhood, and that his fiancée was a close friend of the emperor.

Some rumors were deliberately spread by Blackwood.

The gossip grew uncontrollable, and everyone was curious about the mysterious fiancée of Blackwood.

Then, finally, the big day arrived.

At the grand party hosted by the emperor, people got to meet the rumored fiancée.

The party smelled faintly of roses, which was said to be specially prepared because the Aleai countess loved roses.

The chandeliers were decorated with full, beautiful roses.

A lively tune flowed, lifting the mood of all the nobles.

Everyone excitedly discussed the rumors.

The most talked-about topic was Ebony Sirius.

“I heard they were promised since childhood.”

“Then, was the scandal with Miss Ebony fake?”

“We’ll know when the involved people come. If it’s true…”