Chapter 82

Part 5 Festival Fantasy

A row of colourful dresses hanging beside each other appeared like the flags of the festival.

Red, green, purple, cream, sky blue, pink and yellow, delicate embroidery and jewels engraved on all kinds of high-quality cloth such as organdy, lace, erode, chiffon, and more.

(T/N: I swear… this novel teaches me new names, words and behaviours LMAO)

It was a dazzling and colorful landscape.

“What’s your favorite, madam?”

“Well, Ronja, what do you think?”

“I don’t dare to choose which one is the prettiest.”

If I was surprised, Ronja and Lucille were enchanted by all.

When I saw the brilliant ornaments in the jewelry box decorated with bright red roses and bright yellow Rudbeckias, I almost drooled.

Actually, I was kind of like them too. I mean, who wouldn’t be amazed by this?

“I guess the Duke loves his wife a lot.”

Our greedy Lucille expressed her feelings as she couldn’t take her eyes off the five-colored diamonds filled in them.

Oh my god, so expensive! But I had to admit that I was a little touched.

I didn’t know that the jerk would send me these luxurious gifts.

The gladiatorial match season finally started, and the day Cesare would arrive at Elmos Port with the Romagnan pride was also just around the corner.

It couldn’t help but be a gloomy reality, but I felt more hopeful than before.

Let’s cheer up. Let’s not make mistakes and do well. It only takes a few days to endure it.

With such determination, I took a step wearing a Chaplet with various coloured diamonds shining like stars on my head.

(T/N: Not the prayer kind Chaplet obviously, but diadem/crown.)

Even if I didn’t want the gifts, I had to say thanks.

“You’ll get hurt if you run like that!”

As I was going down the winding stairs, I almost tripped over when a stern voice sounded suddenly.

My father-in-law and a butler were standing side by side next to the corridor.

I halted.

“Oh, I’m sorry if I acted rude…”

“What a beautiful Chaplet. Who are you in such a hurry to show it to?”

Are you being sarcastic again? Why is the father so similar to his son?

The butler looked at me, who was hesitating.

“I’m sure the Duke is in the study now. You look good with the diamond chaplet.”

“Oh, really? Does it really look good on me?”

When he smiled broadly and shined his eyes, the experienced butler and my father-in-law exchanged gazes for a while and coughed at the same time.

Why? What?

“Diamonds from the Austrian Robesque are famous for their brilliant colours. I wonder if there’s anyone else who can wear them as well as my lady. Isn’t that right, sir?”

“When did I ever get interested in jewelry? Anyway, hurry up and go ahead. Don’t run.”

Who stopped me on my way?

Anyway, this bipolar disorder must be from the family’s paternal gene.

Saying that this suited me, even if they were empty words, something didn’t feel right.

“……it’s under the jurisdiction of the city guard, and we don’t have anything to care about there.”

“Tell him to re-check whenever he has time.”

“They still want you to be absent. Something about a dream….”

“Why is this kingdom so full of superstitious believers?”

“But is asking them for a favour as simple as a nanny’s work? Seriously.”

“Then, the rest of the delegation will be shared by the members of the Round Table….”

Why did they forget to say that there were guests?

Arriving in front of my husband’s study as gently as possible, I stopped at the scene that seemed awkward.

It was a pretty serious atmosphere, and so I felt like coming back later.

“It’s an entourage from Romagna anyway.… Ruby?”

I suddenly turned my head and made eye contact with Izek, who immediately raised himself from the desk.

As a result, everyone in the study turned to this side at once. I didn’t know what to do.

“Sorry for disturbing you. I thought you were alone..”

“You’re here just in time. I was about to get tired of hearing him. That’s a pretty accessory. Are you here to show him?”

It was a greeting that Ivan, who was sitting on the head of a desk in a rather tired position, stood and gave.

Surprisingly, Izek growled as soon as I tried to naturally face them, hiding my awkwardness at his playful greeting that was no different from usual.

“It’s time to eat. Go eat, you punks.”

“This b*star-”

Thanks to Sir Galar, who was sitting down crushing the new cute yellow couch, we were all able to avoid getting our ears dirty.

Sir Ivan left with his mouth blocked by Sir Galar’s grand grasp.

After that, the feisty Sir Camu lightly bowed to me and followed them.

Next, a Paladin with a blindfold on his smiling face and a Paladin with a mask on…… All of them were the few elites I saw at that time, come to think of it.

I went into the study lightly and closed the door.

My husband, who was staring at me, smirked and raised the corners of his mouth.

“Why are you so excited?”

“It’s because of you. Because of the gifts you sent me.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

“All of them are so pretty that I can’t decide what to wear first. I don’t even know how to repay you.”

“If you wear it around well, that’s my repayment.”

Really? I smiled and tapped the Chaplet on my head.

“Does it look good on me? I feel like I’m a princess after wearing this.”

Izek came up with his arms folded and hugged me by pulling my waist.

Then, he lifted me higher than his eyes, spun me in the air, and placed me on the desk.

“You’re a real princess, that’s why the obese lizard kidnapped you.”

What kind of logic was this? I thought the tip of my nose was stinging, but then a kiss came down.

On my nose, eyelids, cheeks, and lips.

Dealing with something sweeter than a dream.

“Iz.”

“What? Heartless princess.”

“Why am I heartless?”

“So cold-hearted that you break my heart.”

“I didn’t do anything”.

When I protested since this was unfair, he pinched my cheek and pulled it all the way.

No, have you ever seen someone who holds grudges like this?

“You’ll see your family soon, you’ll be very happy to see them.”

“That’s right… you’re going to meet them at Elmos Port?”

“It’s my Brother-in-law, but of course I’ll have to go myself. Why? Do you want to come too? Do you want to meet him as soon as possible?”

Of course, it was never like that. It just felt a little strange that I was left behind and Izek was going on the way to greet the corps led by Cesare.

Because it was the opposite in the original.

Furthermore, it was surprising that Izek voluntarily took charge of welcoming.

What was he thinking? Was it just that he wanted to show courtesy to my brother?

“I’ll bring him in safely, so don’t worry and wait here. You can say hello at the banquet hall. By the time you arrive, we’ll be there.”

That was not what I was worried about, but I nodded calmly.

It was a little disappointing that I’d miss the first time those two met.

In the original, they rarely met each other and treated each other as if they were looking at cows or chickens.….

“Iz, you know.”

Slowly stroking my back, he lifted his eyebrows a little and looked right into my eyes.

Whenever I met the eyes that changed colorfully, asking why, the worries and longing, and all those emotions that I couldn’t know, my heart grew strangely cold.

“… No, it’s nothing. I’ll dress up and wait.”

How I wish everything in the world was as it is in sight.

Actually, I wanted to tell him everything.

I’m not the princess that others think of, I’m scared of you, I’m afraid of you changing, and I want you to stay with me instead of participating in the match.

But it couldn’t be done.

Let’s not be swayed.

I had to play my own game while he fought in the gladiatorial match.

With such determination, I put my arm around his neck and kissed him on the back of his neck.

It didn’t even take a single blink of an eye for the hand that was stroking my back to pull up the hem of my dress.

* * *

“Madam, keep your eyes closed. Give me the brush. Where did you put the henna oil?”

“Are you done heating the tongs?”

“Hurry up and move!”

Oof, preparations for the last day were incomparably hectic.

On the first day of the festival, I was almost overwhelmed by the preparations but today was just horrible.

“What about the alum and kohl powder?”

“Bring me more pearl powder.”

“Madam, leave your hands still like this. Are we done yet?”

“Be careful not to get dirt on your hands!”

There was a lot of noise.

I didn’t think Romagna put so much effort into decoration.

Indeed, it was not easy to act as Omerta Duchess.

Time flew by in the busy and hectic atmosphere.

It was not until the sun rose in the middle of the sky that I finally stood in front of the mirror, catching my breath.

“What do you think, madam?”

What should I say to those sparkling eyes with pride and satisfaction?

I blinked once, thinking it was worth it.

Perhaps thanks to the careful makeup, I looked much more lively and refreshed than usual.

My lips and nails were shiny, a rose-coloured dress decorated with fur and jewels around the chest, shoes, ribbon, and colored diamonds hung around my neck, and jewels on my ears glistened like chandeliers.

My hair was like a golden shawl topped with a colorful corona made of rubies and sapphire-like tiny gems.

(T/N: corona is a crown.)