Chapter 42 …
“Feel my misfortune in my place. I will bear that burden for you. They say a small thorn in your own toe always seems bigger than someone else’s wound, don’t they? If your misfortune is sold to me, it would amount to nothing more than a mere chunk of meat on this plate. My misfortune would be the same, wouldn’t it?”
Elena raised the tone of her voice slightly. Maxim’s deep green eyes trembled, and she could see it clearly. A faint smile curved her lips.
“So… sell it to me.”
Really, truly…
What a strange woman. Maxim let out a hollow laugh. The moisture in it dried up toward the end, as if it had been bathed in sunlight.
With the marriage confirmed, he had an obligation to inform his friends. Maxim attended a gathering he hadn’t been to in a long time—a club composed entirely of gentlemen.
“After such a long absence, showing up, Maxim. I hear rumors these days that you’ve been hiding a honey pot at home.”
Cales pulled Maxim by the arm and seated him beside himself. The gentlemen welcomed Maxim. It was clear they had some idea why he had appeared today.
A marriage announcement in the newspapers.
They were people sensitive to the latest trends; they couldn’t have missed it.
“A honey pot? A woman? Is she… beautiful?”
“A woman? Beautiful?”
Maxim let out a faint smile. Friends who never changed, even with age. Moreover, they had wealth and therefore little greed—they were content if they could just keep what they had.
Perhaps that’s why such shallow, trifling friendships could continue.
Anyway, is she beautiful?
Maxim blinked slowly.
Hair shining with clear light, eyes as blue and clear as if the sea had been captured within them. A cute, garlic-shaped nose, lips shaped like a pink heart.
On top of that, fair, translucent skin and a constantly smiling expression.
Surely more suited to a wife compared to what people would call a cunning “fox” wife, rather than a gentle, rabbit-like one.
“She is.”
“Whoa! So it wasn’t a honey pot, but a woman!”
“Mrs. Hazel brought a woman up from Lebunto, and it’s true! Oh, it was destiny for her to come to Lebunto! You said you were getting married, and it’s true!”
The gentlemen erupted in wild cheers. Maxim pulled his wallet from his pocket and plopped it onto the table.
“Drinks are on me tonight. Drink as much as you like.”
“Oh… this is…”
“Is the newspaper article really true? You’re getting married, Maxim?”
Cales, with a skeptical look, hit the mark. Maxim shrugged.
“Is there a reason I shouldn’t?”
After the Rosaline incident, Maxim had hated being close to women. And yet now—marriage! Cales’s expression turned serious. Other beasts cheered once more.
They were thrilled to have an excuse to drink in celebration of Maxim finally moving on from the past, more than congratulating him on the marriage.
But Cales was thinking about something else.
“Are you… truly okay?”
Cales asked with a serious expression.
“Is it okay for you to be with that lady?”
“Strangely enough… it is.”
Maxim answered succinctly. In truth, Elena carried a unique scent—not perfume, but a natural scent of her skin. She was different from other women. Perhaps it was no different from the things romantic idealists would say about “true love” and “marrying for love.”
Maxim chose to remain silent rather than make such comments.
He didn’t want to throw Elena to them as mere gossip.
“…Have you even thought about marriage?”
Maxim looked up at Cales.
“What do you want me to say?”
“Whether… that matter still bothers you.”
Maxim stared blankly at Cales. He knew Cales was more careful and reliable than most friends. This was a question Cales could rightfully ask.
Maxim nodded slightly.
In fact, he had chosen marriage to escape that hell, but the important point was that this marriage’s purpose was for the stability of others. He could have easily lied.
“Yes. I’m in a state where I even want to get married.”
“…That’s a relief.”
Cales swallowed the rest of his words. He had wanted to ask about Camellia, but Maxim had never once given Camellia a chance. It was Camellia who had stubbornly clung to a forced connection.
There was no need to mention her to a friend sharing happy news.
Cales decided to remain silent, at least for today.
Maxim stepped out of the carriage, holding an empty wallet. The driver steadied his unsteady steps.
“Your Grace, returning home after drinking so much will not please your wife.”
“The fortunate thing is… I am not yet drunk.”
The driver sighed, but Maxim, as if emerging from a barrel of liquor, didn’t notice.
“Yes, much better than those lying in the salon who haven’t even come out yet.”
“True. Some of them might be thrown out tomorrow. I doubt they can make it home tonight.”
Maxim spoke leisurely, smiling. The driver laughed at his absurdity.
“But I returned home. That’s all that matters.”
It was clear he was drunk. Mrs. Greta, Elena, and Mrs. Hazel came downstairs—they hadn’t slept due to the late hour.
“Oh my.”
Hazel rubbed her forehead.
“You act like a newly-grown ruffian.”
“Excuse me?”
“The first night Frederick and Maxim became adults, they drank until they were like this.”
Mrs. Hazel sighed.
“Let’s lay him in bed. Greta, have a servant look after Maxim. Tsk tsk, the smell of alcohol fills the mansion. If I stay here, I might get drunk too, so I’ll go upstairs first.”
Hazel left first. Elena lingered awkwardly. Seeing him so relaxed compared to usual, she couldn’t help smiling.
“Wait. I have something for you.”
Maxim squinted at Elena. She tilted her head in confusion as he offered something he had treasured like a lifeline.
“My wallet…?”
Elena asked, perplexed. Maxim laughed.
“Keep my wallet safe, Elena.”
He cupped her hand and patted the back of it. In a voice full of laughter, he said:
“It almost got completely plundered. The unmarried men are fierce. You must hide it.”
Elena blinked. Maxim staggered and hugged her lightly. Whispering into her startled ears, he said:
“Be most careful of Cales. He’s the most dangerous. He might even take my trousers. But I won—I took off his shoes. He’s probably rolling on the club floor right now!”
“…So that was the shoe on the carriage floor. I’ll keep it for him when he comes tomorrow.”
The driver muttered. Elena could barely react before Maxim moved away. He lightly placed his palm on her head, an indifferent yet natural gesture.
He ruffled her hair roughly.
“Hide quickly, Elena. Before they chase us here.”
The driver and a servant lifted and pushed Maxim from behind. Laughing, he finally went upstairs, leaving Elena with only a tousled head of hair and an empty wallet that didn’t need guarding.
Elena let out a hollow laugh.
“What is this?”
It was the first time she had seen Maxim in such disarray. She glanced at the wall clock: 1 a.m. The date had already changed.
Elena went upstairs to sleep. She met the driver coming back after laying Maxim down.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“Not at all. He’s much better than those collapsed at the club. Some may even be thrown out tomorrow.”
“Oh my.”
“Some of your friends are married with children.”
Elena smiled. Well, then it made sense they might be thrown out.
“No matter what, Your Grace mustn’t be thrown out.”
“Excuse me?”
“After marriage. You often come home this late.”
“Ah. Perhaps our married life will need some rules.”
