As I lay on the bench, Tunic fanned me with a fan, pouting her lips.
"Hmm? So... mutual love?"
"No, it's not like that!"
I shouted. I bumped my face with the fan as I sat up, but I had to assert myself more than that.
"I know, Cyrus-sama is just trying to ease my tension, but it's counterproductive! After all, it's just a political marriage."
"Hmm? Still on that?"
Tunic narrowed her blue eyes, smirked with the corner of her mouth, and suddenly poked my side with her finger.
I screamed and fled into the bathtub.
"What are you doing!?"
"Well, Marie-sama, don't you think it's a bit strange? There's no need to be so sweet to a decorative wife, right?"
"That... I thought he's just that kind of person. I heard that in society, flattery, hugs, and cheek kisses are just daily greetings."
"No, no, no, my husband is actually bad at that and had trouble finding a bride."
"But, he must have decided to change, right? He must be trying too hard."
"Does he look like he's trying too hard?"
"Well, he does come close and touches my hair and shoulders..."
"But...?"
Ugh, so persistent! What should I do with such a troublesome person!?
I was almost in a panic. Once I started talking, I had to finish, and I felt I had to answer her questions. But this was a new feeling for me, and I had never verbalized it before.
What would be the appropriate words to describe this feeling, this emotion?
I had an idea, but it felt wrong. But I couldn't think of anything else, so I beckoned Tunic and had her bend down by the bathtub. I whispered in her ear.
"...He doesn't invite me to the bedroom... I think he sees me as cute, like a child or a pet... Not as a woman..."
Tunic lowered her eyes and chuckled sarcastically. Then, she stood up silently, crossed the bathroom, opened the door, and stepped out barefoot, shouting loudly,
"Master! Master! Marie-sama wants you to take out right now!"
"Uwaaaah!"
I jumped out naked, grabbed Tunic, and returned to the bathroom, closing the door. Sitting on the floor, Tunic shrugged.
"Did I do something wrong?"
"You did! I never said or thought I wanted that kind of thing!?"
I screamed at the top of my lungs. Tunic tilted her head, and I explained earnestly.
"Cyrus-sama always cares for me, but he has never asked me for anything. I think this means he doesn't expect anything from me..."
"Hmm. I see?"
"If, if he really liked me... I wish he would tell me what he wants. After all, we are engaged..."
"Ah, I see, that's what you mean."
Good, she seemed to understand. I felt relieved.
While talking, I started to feel hot again. I had been in the bath for quite a while, so I decided to get out... Just as I stepped out, Tunic opened the bathroom door and shouted.
"Master! Marie-sama will do anything you like!"
"I didn't say that!?"
I was about to jump at her again but stopped and fled to the wall with unprecedented agility, pulling out a bathrobe from a basket. I couldn't wrap it around me, so I just covered my front and pressed my back against the wall.
Then, Cyrus-sama appeared, bending his tall frame.
"What is it, Tunic? What did Marie say?"
He had no fault in being called. He had been waiting nearby. He must have thought I had already finished after being called twice. He glanced around the bathroom, looking for me, but there was no ill intent.
Our eyes met for a moment. He became serious. Then, without a word, he turned his back and walked away calmly.
---
On a normal day, after a bath, I would return to my room, drink tea served by a maid, chat a little, rinse my mouth, and get into bed, where a blanket would be placed over me and the lights turned off.
Today, there were no maids. No maid trainee, no old butler. Only the caretaker, Lord Cyrus Granado, was there, but he had been silent the whole time.
He quickly and elegantly made tea. No emotion could be read from his beautiful profile.
While I was drinking, he did not join me. He just stood quietly, like a real maid. When I finished, he immediately drew the bath and gestured for me to go to bed with a subtle movement.
Tentatively... I lay down on the bed.
Cyrus-sama's hands opened and gently covered me with a blanket.
"Good night, Marie. See you tomorrow."
"Ah... um..."
Burying my nose in the blanket, I managed to turn my gaze towards him. His eyes, looking down at me, were gently narrowed.
...It was the usual Cyrus-sama.
I felt a bit awkward, but maybe it was just me being too self-conscious. I pulled my face out from under the blanket.
"Will you continue being my caretaker tomorrow?"
"…If you wish. But it doesn't seem like you do, so I'll stop."
...If I wish...
"…It's fine. You don't have to go to so much trouble."
"No, I started this thinking it might help us become closer. …But if it makes you uncomfortable, it's meaningless."
"I'm not scared."
"I made you feel bad. I should have maintained a proper distance as a man."
"It's fine. Do as you please."
The conversation felt a bit off. Cyrus-sama seemed to feel the same way, as he furrowed his brow in confusion.
"I'm still doing what I want, what I desire."
...Making me live a luxurious life, ensuring my well-being, and taking care of me?
"Marie, you promised to be my wife. I don't need anything more than that. I just want you to live a peaceful life."
"…Is that all?"
"Yes. The gifts and hospitality are things I enjoy. If you have any desires, I want you to accept them without hesitation or discomfort."
"Is that all? Really, that's all?"
I asked. He answered.
"…That's all."
"…I see…"
I understood. I let out a long breath, feeling a calm resignation, almost like a drunken calm.
Cyrus-sama whispered "good night" and turned off the lights. In the darkness, he left, his back turned to my bed. I called out to him one last time.
"If there's anything you want me to do, please tell me. Anything.
I want to make you happy, too."
His steps stopped.
"…I'll think about it."
A low, almost muttered response. The door closed, and I was left alone on the bed, closing my eyes.
---
Naive as I am, I knew that "I'll think about it" was a polite way of saying no.
As if to confirm this, Cyrus-sama kept his distance from me the next day. He left my care to the maid trainee and the butler, never touched my hair or body, and didn't even follow me to the library.
Even when we ate together, the conversation didn't flow. Cyrus-sama ate in silence, staring at his empty plate with a bowed head.
I tried to talk to him a few times, but he seemed distracted, frowning and looking troubled.
...This must be his usual distance. I realized I had been too dreamy and self-conscious.
I spent the days quietly, with nothing to be nervous about, just looking down.
Three days passed. It was the fourth morning since Mio left.
Cyrus-sama came to my room.
"Marie! I want to go on a date with you!!"
"…Huh?"
I stood there, brush in hand, looking bewildered.
He seemed to realize something was wrong.
"I made a mistake. Let's start over."
He left and closed the door. After a moment, the door opened again.
"Good morning, Marie. This morning, a letter arrived for both of us. It's from my old friend, Louis. He introduced us to Hanna and Ilza, and he wants to apologize for his maids' rudeness to you."
"Huh? Yes, okay."
What was that just now? I was very curious, but Cyrus-sama continued as if nothing had happened. Was it just a hallucination?
"He has prepared a grand gift and wants us to come to the capital. He's not a particularly generous man, so don't expect much, but you haven't been outside for nearly two months since you came to this castle. How about we go for a change of pace? Just the two of us."
"…Yes. Let's go. It sounds fun."
I nodded, and he smiled.
"Sure. I'm looking forward to it."
His smile looked genuinely happy, not just out of consideration.