MHWMM 56

Chapter 56

“Let’s depart now, my lady!”

“Well then, I’ll be going.”

“All right, take care.”

Although the carriage had been ready long ago, Maria, who had been watching from the side, released Yulia’s hand at the captain’s shout but then grabbed it again firmly just before Yulia turned around.

“Please take good care of our Kai.”

They say that in a parent’s eyes, their child is always just a child no matter how grown-up they are. Maria seemed less sad about parting and more worried about Cayente. Looking at the bandaged hand of Cayente, Maria frowned but lightly asked how he had gotten hurt, seemingly trying to push it aside, but it was clear she was still worried.

Yulia felt the deep motherly love—full of worry and reluctant to send her child out into the world—and grasped Maria’s hand firmly in return.

“Don’t worry, Lady Maria. I will take good care of him.”

Even if he might complain that she was being too good to him. Yulia wondered what was the point of being kind to a man who wished her unhappiness. Still, she said so.

She wished there was at least one person in the world who hoped this marriage would be a happy one, without any self-interest.

“Let’s go now.”

Since hearing that he wished for unhappiness, Yulia no longer held any hope for this marriage.

At the harbor, the carriage carrying Cayente and Yulia quickly increased its speed from the start. The schedule had become longer than planned. Cayente had made Henry cover his work in his absence, so he was anxious. Even if he took a month off, the company wouldn’t fail, but unexpected variables always made Cayente uneasy.

Unlike Cayente, who was tense, Yulia sat opposite him, resting her hand on the window frame, quietly enjoying the passing scenery. Though she must have seen it on the way here too, her eyes sparkled, and her face beamed with joy as the wind brushed past.

Ah… right. She said she’d never been outside the empire before.

Cayente thought the bruised spot on her right side must hurt when she leaned like that and let out a small sigh so she wouldn’t hear.

—You got hurt, and Yulia got bruised. What on earth happened last night? You… didn’t do anything, did you?

While Yulia was changing clothes, Maria came to see Cayente. She frowned at her son’s hand but worried that the bruises on Yulia’s body might be Cayente’s doing. She sternly warned that Yulia should never be hurt on purpose.

—That’s hurting yourself, Kai.

She repeated her warning that such acts would only make Cayente unhappy. But Cayente thought that since he was already beyond feeling happiness, more unhappiness wouldn’t make much difference. Yet, seeing Yulia smiling like that was something he was used to. When he faced Yulia frowning or tearful, even though he wished it, something built up in his chest.

Whether it was regret or some other feeling, he didn’t know exactly what it was, but it was certainly not pleasant.

Looking at Yulia’s left face shining transparently in the sunlight filtering through the window crack, Cayente felt both an urge to tease her and a desire to let her enjoy her happiness freely. Then he suddenly wondered.

—Did you really get married to taste unhappiness without having that much resolve?

Why didn’t Yulia ask?

Every conversation brought up the word ‘unhappiness,’ which must mean she kept turning those words over in her mind. So why didn’t she ask why Cayente wished for his own unhappiness?

Even if he couldn’t explain it properly if asked, maybe that phrase was an answer to her rude behavior so far. Even if it wasn’t an answer, the situation wouldn’t change, so maybe she just decided to let it go. Yulia, who built walls carefully but could break them down in a moment, was familiar to him, so he was curious.

She said she wouldn’t be unhappy as expected and would accept him as her husband, so how could they be together in that way?

“What did you talk about with mother?”

When he asked suddenly, Yulia turned her head briefly to look at Cayente, then shifted her gaze back out the window.

“Lady Maria asked me to take good care of you.”

“Me?”

“Yes. She didn’t say it out loud, but I think she was worried about your injured hand.”

“So…”

“So?”

Yulia turned her eyes wide and stared at Cayente. Meeting her simple, curious gaze without any attempt to hide anything, Cayente lowered his eyes instinctively. He couldn’t bring himself to meet Yulia’s endlessly pure and clear eyes.

“What did you say back?”

“…You want to know?”

Yulia paused for a while, then gave an incredulous answer. When Cayente slowly lifted his eyes and looked at her, Yulia let out a small sigh and answered.

“I said I would. That I’d do well.”

“Why?”

At the repeated question, Yulia’s eyes slightly trembled. She squinted her left eye a little, like someone in pain, and it seemed a bit like anger.

“Because I hoped there would be at least one person in this world who wishes this marriage to be a happy one.”

“Didn’t you hope for that too?”

“I did, but… I guess not anymore.”

“Why?”

This time, her eyes grew sad and misty. Yulia let out a hollow laugh and sealed her lips. It was an expression that said she wasn’t asking because she didn’t know.

“Why don’t you keep hoping? Maybe someday, I might want your happiness.”

“I’m really not used to you tormenting me like that.”

With a cold reply like a sharp gust of wind, Yulia turned her head back outside. Cayente regretted the conversation ending but suddenly felt embarrassed. He realized he wanted to explain, even if vaguely, why he had to wish for their unhappiness — to justify himself a little.

Looking at Yulia’s side profile as she looked out the window, swallowing her sorrow by force, a weight piled again on Cayente’s heart. Though he had been comforted by Yulia, the fact that he must not comfort her felt unbearably frustrating.

How many tears and sighs from Yulia would it take for his revenge to feel satisfying? Feeling overwhelmed, Cayente slowly spoke. It wasn’t planned, but breaking his own rule and acting a little capriciously wouldn’t ruin things.

“You can keep playing the cello.”

“Really?”

Yulia, who had just been setting up walls seconds ago, melted like snow at those words. She looked at Cayente with a radiant smile like a child who just received the gift she had dreamed of all year on Christmas.

“But I won’t allow you to become a professional musician. It’s just a hobby. You have to ask permission before any performance. And I can’t promise you’ll get much permission.”

Cayente was surprised that someone who should be guarded with him could smile so brightly, and he felt his heavy feelings lighten.

—That’s hurting yourself, Kai.

Maria’s words were probably right. Always right.

Even when Yulia had a fever at the hotel before and was unconscious, that was why he was so flustered. Though he wanted to hurt her, he could never bear to see Yulia in such pain.

“All right. I’ll do that!”

But Maria didn’t know Cayente’s determination, or what burden he was willing to take with this revenge.

Even so… even if a few smiles mixed into Yulia’s many tears wouldn’t make much difference. Baron Ruper knew Cayente’s hatred toward himself extended to Yulia, and just knowing she was by Cayente’s side would keep him awake at night.

“Thank you, brother.”

That was enough. Cayente’s real wish for unhappiness was not for Yulia, but for his father.

On the way back, the carriage hurried along without stopping except to eat lunch and dinner and for the horses to briefly drink. As the sun set and the same road stretched on, Yulia gradually began to fall asleep, her eyes closing relentlessly, her right head bumping softly against the carriage wall.

Though the carriage interior was padded and soft, a large hand suddenly blocked the space between Yulia’s head and the wall.

“You’re completely knocked out.”

With that, warmth came from the empty left side. Cayente must have been watching her head hit the wall and then moved closer.

Putting his hand against the wall to stop Yulia’s head from hitting it, Cayente tilted her head gently toward himself so she could rest against him.

“Still the same—falling asleep without noticing even if you’re carried.”

He sighed heavily, as if complaining, making his body shake a little, but Yulia unconsciously chuckled.

“Do you even dream while sleeping like this?”

His tone was still cold, but at that moment, Cayente felt like his old self, and his heart warmed more than he could say.

As Yulia fell into a deep sleep leaning against Cayente’s arm, she suddenly woke up in his embrace. The carriage had stopped, and Cayente was carrying her out of the carriage.