RAMHM Chapter 26

My Husband Invited My Ex-Husband to Dinner

I moved my hands while mulling over today with its unusually heavy homework load.

'......You look exactly like the Grand Duchess of Trovika.'

No—what I kept mulling over was actually Rhodness's voice. After taking over Bliea's body, the only people who'd noticed how much this body and I resembled each other were Rhodness, myself, and Novian. But Rhodness was the first to voice that fact aloud. Of course, Novian might have been whispering such things since before marrying Bliea to Count Acacia, but—

Snap—

"Ah, I'll bring you a new one, my lady!"

While organizing the desk cluttered with Ellaconian dictionaries and homework Rhodness had given, Yona saw the quill broken in my hand and went out to find a new one. Ink splattered everywhere. My hands and the paper I'd been writing on—all ruined. I sometimes couldn't control Bliea's healthy body and strength.

"Ha."

What an exhausting day. I'd planned to occasionally show my face in society and—whatever else—spend the debutante season that hadn't passed yet with Novian, looking very similar to Adrienne.

To make him despair, there was the method of catering to him then betraying him later, but simultaneously I could plant the perception in society that I might become his second wife, then reject him to lower his honor.

People's attention was focused more on Novian than Bliea, so the blow would be significant. Either way, whichever method I chose later, I'd need to be with him in society. Those were the only methods I could think of immediately.

Knock knock—

I was wiping the splattered ink roughly with a handkerchief when someone knocked.

"Um, my lady—"

"Count?"

It was Count Acacia. He stood before my desk, shuffling weakly with a body grown even more frail from what seemed like extreme recent stress. The Count—with eyes utterly devoid of strength—scanned what lay scattered on the desk, then swallowed dryly and spoke.

"I'm leaving for the estate starting today."

"Again?"

"Yes, and......"

The estate was distant with frequent incidents, so the Count stayed at this mansion only about a month per year. So this schedule report was nothing unusual. Yet the Count kept watching my reaction.

"The Grand Duke plans to visit the estate today."

"...Why?"

"I invited him to dinner."

"Then will you depart for the estate after the meal?"

When I asked, momentarily confused, the Count bowed his head slightly.

"I'm leaving now."

I stood up without realizing it. This loyal vassal of Novian intended to invite him then slip away himself.

"Was this the Grand Duke's request?"

"No, it wasn't."

"Then?"

"I'm a dying old man, but I have that much sense..."

His face—sweating profusely yet forcing a smile—was quite a sight. Simultaneously pitiable. An old man over seventy doing his utmost for his young lord's romantic endeavors.

Now he's coming here openly?

"The Grand Duchess's funeral hasn't even ended—would it be easy for the Grand Duke to come all the way here? I'll go instead."

A dizzying future painted itself without looking. What on earth would this estate's servants think? Setting aside the rumor that I was already his mistress, what crime had this pitiable Count Acacia committed? If Novian came directly to the Count's estate, the only one made to look foolish was Count Acacia alone.

"That won't do, my lady."

"Why not?"

Count Acacia turned pale, his amber eyes filling with worry.

"Right now in the capital, mysterious disappearances of women are continuing. The Grand Duke is also very worried about you leaving the estate, so please refrain from going out until the culprit is caught if possible."

"Disappearances?"

"Yes, so I've also reduced the number of knights going to the estate by half. If you do go out, please take at least two knights with you......"

"I understand."

Not knowing the truth, he'd be a truly outrageous vassal, but I knew well he was the greatest victim in this sordid affair. I mustn't cause him more trouble.

"Don't worry. I'll take twenty knights around with me."

"Then I'll leave with peace of mind, my lady."

And he placed a bundle of keys on the desk.

"Originally, the Countess manages the keys to the interior of the estate."

"These......"

"I couldn't give them to you before, but lately the old butler and servants who trust you have increased."

"Ah......"

"I know you'll leave someday. But as you can see, I'm old and my strength has waned—it's difficult to manage all the household affairs."

"Then I'll......"

"Yes, I've left the troublesome matters to the old butler, but please take charge of these keys as the lady of the house."

The senile old man. I couldn't bear the Count's gaze containing a bit of trust and took the key bundle.

The fact that servants were gradually starting to follow me better was simply because the previous Bliea had been trash. Yet I felt as if I'd accomplished something great. An emotion surged up unbidden—I bit down hard on the soft flesh inside my mouth and answered.

"Don't worry."

The moment Count Acacia left the estate, Novian's aide Jimskehr arrived as if waiting. He bowed to me then raised his head, immediately showing shock upon seeing my face.

"What is it?"

"Ah, n-nothing, my lady."

Had he not shown Bliea's face even to Jimskehr—his trusted aide? I guessed why he was so shocked but pretended not to know. Jimskehr even pulled out a handkerchief from his breast to wipe his sweat.

"My legs hurt a bit—can you greet the guest in my place?"

"Pardon?"

Before hearing his answer, I headed toward the dining room. Why would I greet Novian from the entrance?

My stomach twisted. Only Yona followed behind me while all other servants stood lined up before the Count's estate's grand entrance.

"The chickpea soup?"

"Yes, the chef says it's nearly finished."

"The steak must be rare."

"I conveyed it without fail!"

Novian absolutely hated chickpeas. And he ate everything thoroughly cooked. Yona seemed excited about witnessing dinner between me and the Grand Duke.

Already rumors had spread in this estate that I was his mistress, and those who babbled that relationships with mistresses were 'true love' overflowed in the capital, so probably this child too would be more interested in romance with the young Grand Duke than with old Count Acacia.

From the commotion toward the entrance, Novian must have arrived. I didn't know how many knights he brought into this palm-sized estate, but the clanking was boisterous.

"Countess."

"You've arrived, Your Grace."

I smiled prettily at him. How tightly I clenched my hands clasped demurely while smiling!

Novian's face—looking displeased at me not coming out to greet him—softened slightly. Marge, who'd followed him in and witnessed the scene, covered her mouth with her hand and whispered endlessly among the servants.

What a handsome man. The moment he enters the estate, one feels overwhelmed. He suits my lady so well. How can his nose bridge be so high and his jaw so magnificently sculpted?

"......Enough."

When the servants' murmuring grated on my ears, I couldn't bear it and spoke. The dining room instantly quieted. I approached him conspicuously and offered to take his coat.

"Now, sit comfortably."

"Such things should be left to attendants."

"I want to do it."

This was sincere. During those painful times, I'd felt envy even toward the maid who received Novian's coat. Though the emotion wasn't the same as then, feeling this body that could do this degree of work as easily as eating cold soup gradually calmed my unstable heart. Novian docilely accepted my service as if not displeased. Marge's nostrils began flaring.

"Marge."

"Y-yes! Countess Acacia, my lady!"

"Make sure not a speck of dust touches His Grace's coat."

"Yes! Yes!"

Excited to the point of not knowing what she was calling me, Marge quickly took the coat and rushed out of the dining room with several maids. As over half the burdensome gazes disappeared, tension finally began easing.

"Please sit, Your Grace."

"I shall."

"I received news of your visit late, so I hastily ordered preparations of things I like—I'm not sure if they'll suit your taste."

"I eat anything well, so don't worry about such things."

He gazed at my face as if seeing something new, then sat.

"This..."

And while I returned to my seat, Novian's voice—speaking thus—cut off abruptly. His expression looking at the bright yellow chickpea soup a maid carried over had turned pale.

"It's soup I eat often since I heard it's good for skin beauty."

"...Is that so?"

Novian—who seemed to hate even looking at it, only frowning at the rising smell—wet his throat with the wine the old butler poured.

"You must be hungry."

"A little."

Soon the steak arrived. His stiffened expression gradually eased. I watched him while gracefully sipping chickpea soup. Novian—who'd been stirring the chickpea soup—cut the steak and put a piece in his mouth. And—

"Ngh."

"What's wrong, Your Grace?"

"......"

His mouth couldn't chew, swallow, or spit it out. Novian just held it still, unable to say the meat was too rare to eat.

"Does it not suit your taste?"

"No, very good."

And as if making a great decision, he swallowed it. Very briefly, his brow filled with contempt and loathing before subsiding. He truly hated uncooked things. In contrast, I found the meal very satisfying. The chickpea soup with coarse salt, pepper, and honey was appropriately sweet and salty, and the slightly underdone beef steak was wonderfully rich with juices.

"Sometimes I'm grateful that I can cut something with my own hands like this, put it in my mouth, chew it, and swallow it."

"......"

You wouldn't know. You who possess a perfectly healthy, strong body yet won't eat simply because it's not to your taste.

I conspicuously cut the meat swiftly, filled my mouth, and chewed thoroughly. Novian seemed unwilling to ruin the meal I'd supposedly taken care to prepare, silently pushing things that didn't suit his taste into his mouth.

"Sir Jimskehr."

"Yes, Your Grace."

"I have something to discuss quietly with the Countess."

"Ah, yes! Understood."

Jimskehr—standing by the door—gave hints to the estate's servants. Novian—who'd left over half his meal—rinsed his mouth with water the old butler brought. It meant the meal was finished. But I didn't stop eating. Only after finishing the last piece did I face him watching me intently.

"You said you had something to discuss?"

I smiled forcedly. Novian placed his clasped hands on the table and tapped. He looked somewhat anxious.

"Previously you said you wanted to become Grand Duchess."

"!"

"But that's difficult."

"......"

"Instead, after some time passes...... I'll let you live at the Grand Ducal Estate."

Since it's such a vast place, even if you came to live there, if you stayed in the annex, the main building servants wouldn't even know.

While Novian rambled uncharacteristically, I couldn't hear a single word. I'd thought I might someday hear him say he wanted me to come to the Grand Ducal Estate. But—this Bliea had said she wanted to become Grand Duchess?