WDHTMU | CHAPTER 32

Chapter 32

“Oh my, miss—you’ve got quite the eye!”

Just as the last of Claudio’s measurements were taken, the shopkeeper approached Marsha with a sparkle in her eyes.

“This dress is my best design this season!”

She glanced rapidly between Marsha and the mannequin, visibly excited.

It had been made to fit the mannequin’s frame. 

“Oh my, oh my! It’s your size exactly! This is fate, I’m telling you—fate! You have to try it on!”

Clasping her hands together, the shopkeeper beamed at her.

Marsha shrank back, clearly uncomfortable.

“Ah, no… It’s okay. I was just looking.”

“Oh, don’t be shy! And if you do decide to buy it, I’ll give you a huge discount!”

“Really, I’m fine.”

Marsha shook her head, trying to end the conversation politely.

“I could give it to you for a great price, really. But if you still feel awkward about it…”

The shopkeeper leaned in with a playful glint in her eyes and whispered in Marsha’s ear.

“Just ask your boyfriend to buy it for you!”

“…Boyfriend?”

What was this woman talking about?

Marsha furrowed her brows and turned her head slightly.

The shopkeeper tilted her head, looking a bit puzzled.

“Oh! Was it not your boyfriend? Husband, then?”

“What are you even talking about…?”

The shopkeeper quietly pointed at something.

Marsha’s gaze followed her finger without thinking—and there he was.

Claudio, adjusting his makeshift robe, rewraps the cloth around his body.

“No! No, he’s not—!”

Marsha blurted it out far too loudly, her cheeks blazing red.

Claudio, startled by her sudden outburst, turned his gaze toward her.

Their eyes met.

And just like a guilty child caught sneaking a snack, Marsha flinched and quickly looked away.

“A-anyway! I’ll pay for the clothes now—just tell me when I can come pick them up!”

“Oh! Uh, yes, of course…”

The shopkeeper, now drenched in nervous sweat from Marsha’s flustered yelling, scrambled to regain composure.

Claudio, meanwhile, couldn’t take his eyes off Marsha.

What on earth did the shopkeeper say to make her face turn that red? She’s acting like a cat with its tail stepped on.

A faint smile played on his lips.

Strangely enough, just watching her was enough to make him want to laugh.

He didn’t know why.

Even after leaving the shop and finishing her errands at the market, Marsha couldn’t calm down.

I shouldn’t have looked at that stupid dress…!

But… it really had been pretty. 

Light and airy, the skirt-like soft petals caught in the wind. 

If tailoring just a shirt and a pair of pants costs that much, a custom dress like that had to be outrageous. 

She didn’t even dare ask for the price.

If I knew I couldn’t afford it, I should’ve never even looked!

Boyfriend? Husband?! Seriously?

How could anyone possibly pair her with a man who was constantly getting on her nerves?

Of course, the shopkeeper hadn’t known what kind of man Claudiy was…

Still! He was wrapped head to toe in some big, tattered cloth—he looked like a bandit!

How could anyone look at that and think we’re a couple?!

Marsha was missing the point entirely.

The shopkeeper hadn’t seen Claudio’s face clearly, no. 

But even in dim lighting, she had noticed the piercing clarity of his eyes—eyes that seemed to glow in the dark—and the kind of sculpted physique that most artists couldn’t even dream of capturing.

There’s no way a man like that could be mistaken for a mere thug.

Seriously… nothing but trouble since I met him.

“You know, that was quite the interesting experience,” came a smooth voice laced with amusement.

Startled, Marsha spun around.

There was Claudio, leaning down just enough to meet her eyes, that same relaxed smirk on his stupidly handsome face.

She’d only walked a short distance, but already sweat had begun to dot her forehead—meanwhile, not a single drop marred Claudio’s perfectly composed expression.

He looked like a portrait.

One that made her want to rip the canvas.

“What was so interesting?” she snapped.

Claudio shrugged, unfazed.

“First time haggling in a marketplace. It was intense.”

“What are you talking about? I did all the haggling.”

“When your companion haggles, it’s the same as doing it yourself.”

“What kind of twisted logic is that?”

Marsha gripped the basket of light vegetables in her hands a little too tightly.

“Why are you holding it like that? Is it heavy? Want me to carry it?”

“This? It’s not heavy at all. “Besides,” she added pointedly, “you’re the one who’s supposed to be recovering. Should you really be carrying things?”

Claudio glanced at the heavy sack in his hand and answered casually.

“This? Doesn’t weigh a thing.”

“Don’t lie. That sack’s holding at least ten kilos of vegetables.”

When Marsha had gone shopping, she’d planned to carry everything herself.

He must’ve already struggled enough just bringing back those herbs.

She didn’t want Claudio to overexert himself.

But now he was giving her a look like she’d just insulted his ancestors.

“You expect me to stand by and let you carry everything? That’s an insult I won’t suffer.”

Chivalry or knightly pride… whatever it is, she thought bitterly, it’s all just fragile ego.

Why was his pride worth so much that even as a recovering patient, he’d insist on hauling heavy sacks around? 

Marsha couldn’t understand it—nor did she want to.

All he managed to take was this one lightweight bag.

And even this had some weight to it—there was no way the heavy sack packed with goods wasn’t straining him.

“Seriously, want to split it now?”

“I’d rather die.”

“Oh, for—if your wound reopens, you might just get your wish.”

“If I were that fragile, I wouldn’t have survived this long.”

God, the way he fired back—so calm, so cheeky. 

It drove her crazy.

Marsha frowned deeply. 

She probably thought she looked intimidating, but Claudio didn’t seem the least bit fazed.

“Do you ever lose? Even once?”

“Who, me?”

“Who else would I be talking about?!”

“You’re here too.”

“Would I be yelling at myself like this? And besides, I always lose to you!”

If she actually won an argument once in a while, maybe it wouldn’t be so frustrating.

But no—Claudio always managed to twist things and come out on top.

“I’ve lost before,” he said simply. “You’re still sleeping on the sofa, aren’t you?”

“That’s not losing.”

“It is. Do you know how much that wounded my pride?”

Claudio opened his eyes slightly, lifting a brow in mock arrogance.

“One day, I will sleep there.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You’ll be gone long before that ever happens.”

At that, Claudio’s footsteps stopped.

Marsha didn’t notice.

She kept walking slowly, repeating her own words in her head.

… Yeah. He’ll leave.

How much longer would this back-and-forth even last? 

Next time she came to the market… maybe she’d be alone.

Huh?

A strange ache pulsed in her chest. 

She blinked rapidly.

What is this?

It should be normal. 

Entirely ordinary. 

Just the way things are.

And yet… why did her heart feel so tight all of a sudden?

Has she grown used to all this chaos?

That’s when Claudio spoke.

“I…”

Why was his voice behind her?

Startled, she turned to look.

He met her eyes and finished the thought.

“Do you want me to leave soon?”

Just then, the wind blew, brushing her hair across her face—right in front of those clear green eyes, suddenly wide with surprise.

“…That would be for the best.”

Marsha tucked her hair behind her ear, her expression now composed, and spoke. 

Claudio frowned.

“What do you mean by that? Are you saying you want me to leave?”

“If you recover quickly, you’ll leave quickly… won’t you?”

“…”

Claudio’s eyes widened.

So what Masha really meant wasn’t that she wanted him gone, but that she was hoping for his recovery?

…She has such a roundabout way of saying things.

But unlike her complicated words, those green eyes of hers were far too honest—

and filled with nothing but concern for him.

To think that someone like her was haggling so fiercely just moments ago…

She was someone whose nature didn’t fit the harsh world around her.

“…Ha.”

Claudio lowered his head and let out a quiet laugh, covering his face with one hand.

“W-Why are you laughing?”

“Sometimes… you really do seem like a noble lady.”

“…”

For a moment, Marsha drew in a sharp breath. 

Her eyes widened, frozen in place, and her face drained of all colour.

“What’s wrong?”

Noticing something was off, Claudio knit his brows.

“Are you feeling unwell—?”

Just as he reached out to her, Marsha suddenly took a step back—as if afraid his hand might touch her.

His hand hung awkwardly in the air, empty.

She shrank into herself, and after a beat, her lips parted.

“Y-you just startled me with that strange comment, that’s all.”

“…”

“Anyway, let’s keep moving. The sun’s going to set at this rate.”

With that, she turned and hurried ahead.

…

Claudio stood there, silent, turning her words and reactions over in his mind.

By the time he looked up again, she had already put some distance between them.

She was walking so fast it almost looked like she was running away.

I could lose her if I remain here any longer.

Taking long strides, Claudio started after her.

He didn’t want to let her go.