After the Grand Princess and the nobles left, Cynthia, left alone, munched on gingerbread cookies while looking around the garden.
“Brigadier General Vicente and his wife didn’t really look like a couple.”
“They’re just pretending to get along on the surface.”
‘What would a perfect couple actually look like?’
Under a white parasol, a man and a woman were chatting brightly with smiles on their faces.
And behind them, a couple carrying a child about five years old could be seen strolling amicably through the garden.
Even though they weren’t doing anything special, it was obvious that they were in love.
Compared to them, Masera and she were just a relationship of mutual interest, lacking the love that was most important in becoming a family.
No matter how positive a person Cynthia was, she didn’t think Masera would naturally come to love her.
‘Everything requires effort.’
Thinking simply that ‘the female and male leads will fall in love anyway’ seemed too optimistic a judgment.
‘Above all, what he wanted most as a commoner was probably noble royal blood. Like Grand Ducal Princess Charlotte.’
[“It was because of my obsession with bloodline and greed. Because I forced my son into an unwanted marriage…”]
Just then, the lamenting voice of an elderly lady was heard.
Perhaps because it seemed similar to her situation with Masera, Cynthia found herself listening intently without realizing it.
[“Madam Pritvatche, don’t blame yourself too much.”]
The voices of other women comforting her could be heard.
[“At that time, I thought bloodline was more important than love. Even until my son, who left everything behind for love, died in the bombing that occurred in the duchy.”]
Cynthia turned her head slightly to look at the lady.
Seeing her black hair and blue-green eyes, she seemed to be a high-ranking noble.
[“I learned that I had a grandson along with the news of my son’s death. If he were alive, he’d be about eight years old now. Because of my greed, I lost even the grandson I never got to see. As punishment for that sin, I’m living in a hell without a single loved one.”]
The sobbing lady finally covered her face with both hands and her shoulders shook.
[“They say that what saves humans from innate loneliness is not wealth or power, but love. I, who committed the sin of greed, will never be saved.”]
Cynthia, who had been listening to the lady’s story, looked down at her own face reflected in the tea.
She felt sorry for the lady living in solitude after losing her family.
‘But living in a place without family or loved ones is the same for me too.’
And on top of that, I’m a pauper without money or power!
Just as she was about to feel disheartened, her eyes fell on Grand Ducal Princess Charlotte, who, unlike herself who was alone, was laughing surrounded by people.
The Grand Ducal Princess spotted someone and smiled brightly before approaching them.
That person was Masera.
Watching this, Cynthia recalled Carlos’s words about ‘Masera is planning to divorce you after he gets what he wants from this marriage and remarry the Grand Princess.’
Thinking that it might actually be possible, her shoulders trembled slightly.
‘But isn’t that the plot of a tragedy? That’s not healing, it’s dealing!’
Suddenly, as she closed and opened her eyes due to the reflected light, she saw a tall man standing in front of her.
It was Masera in his officer’s uniform.
“What are you doing sitting by yourself so miserably?”
Though his tone was indifferent, she could tell he had approached her out of consideration for her being alone.
‘I’m not alone. At least not right now.’
Although she kept telling herself internally that she could just leave with a hefty alimony and start a new life, she felt it would actually be quite bitter if it came to that. Because she would be alone again.
‘Can’t I be included as family, like the people at the official residence?’
It was a shameless wish for a liar like her.
“Other people tried to talk to me first, but I can’t speak Medeian. So I became a voluntary loner.”
‘They probably didn’t say anything nice, but she must have smiled innocently without understanding.’
Masera, thinking this to himself, let out a sigh.
“You should learn it from now on. It doesn’t look good to be alone and unable to mingle.”
Masera deliberately spoke coldly despite knowing her circumstances.
But Cynthia just smiled brightly.
“I’m not alone though? I’m with my husband.”
Masera’s eyebrows twitched at the word ‘husband‘.
Masera felt displeased with Cynthia, who seemed to accept everything he did with goodwill and kindness.
Just as he was about to move away to leave,
“I was looking at that harmonious family over there. Isn’t it nice to see? The baby is cute too.”
In the direction Cynthia pointed, a young couple carrying a child and looking at winter berries could be seen.
“For a very long time, I’ve had a dream of having a family like that.”
‘Even if it might be a normal life for someone else, it was an impossible dream for me.’
Cynthia gave a bitter smile as she recalled her harsh previous life.
Masera’s eyes filled with bewilderment as he looked back and forth between the child laughing in its father’s arms and Cynthia.
“Are you saying… you want a child now?”
Seeing Cynthia’s red eyes widen, Masera added warningly.
“You realize we’re in a relationship of convenience? Nothing will change even if we have a child between us.”
“I understand.”
Cynthia lowered her gaze and fiddled with her cookie.
“But I didn’t mean I wanted to have a happy family with you, Brigadier General…”
“Then do you mean you’re thinking of doing that with another man? Now that we’re married on paper, I absolutely won’t tolerate infidelity.”
Seeing his even more angered face, Cynthia’s expression turned incredulous.
“Huh? What are you saying? You’re like a grumpy kitten.”
“…A kitten?”
“A feisty, ungrateful cheese cat that swats away treats with its front paws when you give them.”
“A cheese cat? You look exactly like a wild rabbit that mercilessly beats up soldiers in the snow fields.”
The unusual atmosphere between the two drew the attention of people around them.
Noticing this, Masera shoved a mouthful of cookies into Cynthia’s mouth. Then, with a faint smile, he whispered:
“I’m giving you everything you want, lucky princess. I thought I made it clear not to expect any more from me.”
“Mmph! Mmm!”
Unfairly, she couldn’t retort because of the cookies in her mouth.
Just then, someone who noticed the conflict between the two approached and raised their voice.
“You two look like you’re getting along so well.”
It was one of the nobles who had been mocking the two earlier for ‘pretending to get along‘.
“Everyone, please pay attention! Isn’t today’s banquet also meant to celebrate the marriage of these two who are visiting the royal palace? Please raise a glass of blessing for their happy and beautiful married life.”
At the noble’s words, everyone looked at the two while raising their champagne glasses.
Cynthia hurriedly rinsed her mouth with tea and raised her glass.
The noble who started the toast brought up something that would make the two uncomfortable.
“You should show your affection for the lovely princess with a kiss, Brigadier General.”
“That’s right! You should express your love as much as you feel it!”
If they refused here with a serious face, it would not only ruin the atmosphere but also raise various suspicions.
Even the party’s band started playing a romantic classical piece called “Liebestraum“.
Somehow, they ended up in a situation where they had to kiss in front of everyone.
Cynthia looked around with a troubled expression.
At the wedding, they could pretend adequately because of the veil, but now that wasn’t the case.
‘Why did you have to get irritated for no reason?’
Cynthia shot a reproachful look at Masera.
‘Why did you have to bring up unnecessary talk?’
Masera shot back, not backing down.
“Haha, you have to do it properly!”
“I’m so envious! What a handsome couple!”
They could hear people’s mischievous jokes aimed at the newlyweds.
Masera looked down at Cynthia’s lips. More precisely, he was looking at the cookie crumbs on the corner of her mouth.
Then, seeing her pouty expression, Masera felt an inexplicable sense of competitiveness.
“You’d better change that expression.”
“What…”
“Because I’m really going to do it.”
Her attempt to protest was soon swallowed by his lips.
His arm around her waist felt firmer than usual.
‘He’s really doing it?’
Cynthia’s mind went blank with surprise.
Dong-
The sound of the clock tower bell announcing the hour could be heard in the distance.
The lips that had been pressed together, holding heat, slowly parted.
His eyes opened languidly after licking the cookie crumbs from the corner of her mouth with his tongue. It reminded her of the sun rising over the horizon.
The cheers and applause from around them seemed to turn into the sound of waves, fading distantly across the sea.
‘My first kiss…’
It was her first experience in her second life.
