When she sees my face, she always momentarily widens her eyes in surprise. This is probably her habit; she looks down for a moment, then quickly meets my gaze and eventually smiles.
"Good morning, Cyrus-sama."
"Good morning, Marie."
When I respond, her cheeks alone turn red. She’s cute.
She was having breakfast in her room and, upon seeing me, puts down her fork and tries to stand up.
"Don’t worry, continue eating."
When I stop her, she neatly places her hands together and bows. Such an attitude seems a bit too formal, but since she treats the servants the same way, I see it as her habit and personality. She’s cute.
When I sit next to her, she still looks embarrassed. She’s cute.
—Suddenly, I realize that I had already kissed her cheek. She is pressing her cheek and blushing, so I must have done it. Since she’s so cute, I decide to kiss her properly this time, putting my arm around her shoulder…
"Sir, that’s a breach of etiquette. Don’t disturb Marie-sama’s meal."
Mio scolded me in a tone that wasn’t cute at all. Since she’s right, I have no choice but to sit up straight.
Still, something felt off. Mio’s lack of charm is usual, but she seemed even stricter than usual?
The maid frowned slightly as she poured tea for me.
"Thank you for the meal. I’m sorry, but could you please clear the table?"
Marie said this and put down her fork. However, there was a lot of food left on her plate, and some dishes were untouched. It wasn’t as if the portion was too large.
"What’s wrong, Marie? Are you not hungry? Or did you not like the food?"
"…No. Just, somehow…"
"Are you feeling unwell? If so, at least drink some warm tea. Can you eat some sweets?"
She shook her head ambiguously. Even in front of the cookies Mio had served, she didn’t seem to want to eat. Perhaps she really isn’t feeling well.
…Though it’s a conversation I don’t want to have… I have to tell her. I decided to be straightforward and get to the point.
"Baron Shadaran hasn’t arrived yet."
Marie’s expression didn’t change.
"The summons were definitely delivered, but there’s been no response. Yesterday, I sent one of our people with a carriage to bring the baron back."
"…I see…"
"However, I think it’s highly likely that he will continue to refuse or pretend to be out. If that happens, we might have to resort to more forceful measures."
"I understand. I’m sorry for the trouble…"
"It’s not your fault to apologize for."
I said this immediately, but Marie still shook her head.
"I am the daughter of Shadaran. I don’t know what crime my father is being summoned for or why he isn’t coming, but it’s true that my family is causing trouble. …If my father goes into hiding, please punish me in his place. I will accept any punishment."
"What are you saying? I won’t allow that. I said I would protect you, didn’t I?"
"It’s fine. I’m always prepared to be expelled from here."
Despite her words, she looked surprisingly serene, not at all anxious.
I felt a sense of her strong, resolute spirit, but I was troubled by her positive attitude towards a negative situation. Before I could deny it, she stood up and turned to me, who hadn’t even taken a sip of tea.
"Mrs. Liu-Liu and the orchestra are waiting in the salon. I can practice dancing alone, so please take your time, Cyrus-sama."
"No, I’ll go with you right now."
Of course, I stood up as well.
Given what happened the other day, Mio, Liu-Liu, and I were worried that Marie might be putting too much pressure on herself. It’s good to have the pride of a countess, and later a duchess, but overworking herself could damage her mind and body. I couldn’t let her out of my sight, and if she tried to dance until her feet were injured again, I would have to stop her—when I thought this,
Marie was already dancing gracefully to the music. Her tall figure moved fluidly, her white hands gliding through the air. Whether she bent slowly or kicked strongly, Marie didn’t waver at all.
Her steps and choreography were flawless, and her expression was calm and joyful.
When did she become so skilled? Marie’s dancing was now perfect.
"…Perfect. There’s nothing more I can teach you…"
Liu-Liu was speechless, beyond praise. Marie, blushing slightly, didn’t try to be modest.
"Thank you. I worked hard."
She smiled, her cheeks flushed. She must have really worked hard, especially in such a short time, while also following our instructions to avoid injuring herself. Liu-Liu, a former dancer, knew best how difficult that was.
As Liu-Liu left the salon, she patted my shoulder.
"Don’t let her go. She’s too good for you."
"Of course not."
Her mother smiled and left the room.
The orchestra, having finished playing, started packing up early. Marie hadn’t even broken a sweat. I extended my hand.
"Miss, would you do me the honor of dancing one song with me?"
"…I would be delighted, sir."
Marie nodded and smiled.
In the spacious salon where a hundred people could dance, we held hands, embraced at the waist, and danced to the waltz melody. We weren’t lonely, even alone, because Marie looked so happy.
"You’ve really improved."
When I praised her, she looked genuinely pleased.
"Hehe, I practiced a lot."
"Not just dancing. I heard the flowers on the dining table were arranged by you. And the table coordination too."
"Oh, did Johann say that? Or maybe Topo? I’m embarrassed; I told them to keep it a secret from you until I was sure I could do it."
"You did it, you did it. You did a great job."
"Thank you. I heard that in the hospitality among nobles, the lady of the house arranges the table herself."
That’s correct. But it’s not necessary for the bride to do it on the day of the engagement.
For now, I emphasized that she shouldn’t overwork herself. I grabbed her shoulders, which felt a bit more bony than when I held her in the carriage. She twisted her body as if she didn’t like it.
I didn’t let her go.
"Marie, have you lost weight? Are you eating and sleeping properly?"
"…Yes. I’m doing what Mio has assigned me."
"What kind of answer is that? Are you really overworking yourself? Marie, you’re perfect just as you are. We’ll support you in any areas where you feel unsure."
Marie didn’t respond. Instead, she suddenly asked,
"Cyrus-sama, am I difficult to dance with?"
"…No? In fact, you’re the easiest to dance with. Better than anyone in society."
"Our heights match perfectly."
That wasn’t exactly what I meant, but it’s true. Both Marie and I are too tall to match with ordinary partners, but we fit each other perfectly. I felt a sense of destiny, but…
"I’m sorry. I’m not very ladylike."
She bowed her head, looking down. I pulled her closer by the waist.
"I’ve never thought about height in terms of gender."
"But isn’t being smaller cuter?"
"Not necessarily. I think horses are cuter than donkeys."
Hmm, that’s not a very good compliment, is it?
I love everything about her. Of course, her inner qualities, but her appearance is also beautiful.
Her height, which she considers un-ladylike, her large hands, her strong features, and her fiery red hair are all endearing to me.
I pulled her arm and drew her close to my chest, holding her soft, feminine body and whispered,