~Chapter 27~
It didn’t take long to get from the mansion to the city.
We arrived near the entrance of the huge shopping district, but perhaps because it was still early, there weren’t many people yet.
However, I hesitated, knowing that if we walked just a bit further into the district, it would become crowded.
‘Is it really okay for us to go like this?’
While I was worrying, Damien’s voice woke me from my thoughts.
“You’re wearing the clothes I bought for you.”
“Ah, yes. I am. The colour is so pretty…”
“I see. It suits you well.”
His purple eyes, like amethysts, gazed quietly at me.
Unlike my busy mind, his eyes looked clear and calm.
“Thank you.”
“No need. I’m glad I chose that colour. I always thought red velvet shades suited you.”
‘Always thought so…’
‘Has he been looking at me more often than I realised?’
Come to think of it, it had already been over a month since we got married.
In that time, maybe he had seen me more than others did.
“But Damien.”
“Yes.”
“Are you really okay with this?”
We were only a few blocks away from the main shopping area now, and I asked carefully out of worry.
“Going out in public… without your mask on?”
His sculpted face, which I had only ever seen under the mansion’s dim lights or moonlight, was now under the bright sun.
His silver hair sparkled in many colours, and his purple eyes shone with different hues at every angle, possessing an unearthly beauty.
“…Is it that strange?”
Damien awkwardly touched his face.
“No, it’s not that.”
Worried he might misunderstand again, I waved my hands quickly.
“I just thought… you didn’t want to show your bare face to others yet. I was worried you were pushing yourself.”
I had assumed he would wear his mask today.
He always hesitated to take it off in front of outsiders who would be horrified by his appearance when the curse ran rampant.
That’s why, when he showed up without a mask today, I was so shocked I couldn’t speak.
“Yes, well, to be honest, I’m a little uneasy…”
Damien clenched his right hand tightly and looked up at the sky.
“But as the family head, I thought I couldn’t hide behind a mask forever.”
Then, turning his head, he looked straight at me and added,
“And now… I have someone I need to protect.”
His gaze looked steadfast and strong.
It was very different from the pained, tired eyes he had when we first met.
‘Something small has changed in his heart.’
“Actually, I really like it. I always thought it was a waste for you to hide that face.”
“…Is that so.”
Damien looked away shyly and covered his mouth slightly with his hand.
“You’re probably the only one who would say that to me.”
That wasn’t true.
‘Anyone would praise his looks…’
But that wasn’t the point right now, so I let it pass.
“Still, if it’s too hard, you don’t have to force yourself.”
There was no need to do everything at once.
We could take things slow, one step at a time.
“You could start with ten minutes today, then add five more tomorrow. There’s no need to push yourself from the beginning.”
Damien, listening intently, nodded.
“You’re right. Thank you for worrying about me.”
“No problem.”
“Then… can I ask you for one favour?”
Hearing that, I chuckled and covered my mouth.
“You don’t have to ask every time. We’re married, aren’t we? Of course I’ll help.”
Damien looked down at me quietly.
Then—
He gently took my hand without a sound.
“Then… please keep holding my hand.”
Huh?
“If I’m in contact with you, the chance of my curse running rampant is lower.”
That was true.
And like I said, we were married, so holding hands in public wasn’t strange at all.
“…O-okay!”
But why was I so flustered?
“Even if you get embarrassed… don’t let go.”
“…What?”
Damien swiftly pulled my hand along.
“The signing event is at five, so we have plenty of time. Let’s go to the art supply store first.”
“The art store? You never mentioned that.”
“White paint.”
At those words, I froze.
“We ran out, didn’t we?”
Seeing Damien looking back at me, my mind went blank.
“…How did you know that?”
Damien smiled softly.
“Because I’m your husband.”
Under the breaking sunlight, he smiled gently as he said he was my husband.
“Let’s go.”
Whether it was because of his words, or the warmth of our joined hands, or simply the nervousness of this rare outing—
I tried to hide my pounding heartbeat as I walked forward, holding onto Damien’s hand.
“Damien, you really didn’t have to do this.”
However, Damien, calmly cutting his steak, said something else.
“This place is delicious. Maybe because you found it for us.”
“Ah, right? The curses told me that this place is popular among young people these days… wait, no!”
I slammed both hands on the table and shouted towards Damien.
“No, you only needed to buy white paint! Not the entire store’s stock!”
Earlier, when Damien asked if we were out of white paint, instead of taking me to the small art shop I usually visited, he led me to a high-end store that sold only the finest supplies.
And there, he bought not just the white paint, but every product the store carried.
“Did the curses really tell you this place was good? They usually just yell at me. You must have excellent information-gathering skills.”
“Stop changing the subject.”
I pouted and sighed.
“All that stuff together costs over 200 million won. It’s too expensive.”
“But the Maledictus family is wealthy.”
“That’s not money for the family’s management expenses, though.”
“Anything spent on the Duchess of Maledictus can be considered an expense for the family.”
I glared at Damien, who refuted every single word I said without even twitching an eyebrow.
I realised for the first time how difficult it was to win against Damien in an argument when he set his mind.
“Still, expensive gifts like that weren’t part of our contract conditions.”
“If it’s predetermined, it can’t be called a gift. Gifts are called gifts because they’re unexpected.”
Damien put down his steak knife and fixed his gaze on me.
“Ruby, I’m giving these gifts because I want to. So you don’t have to think, ‘Do I really deserve this?’”
“…But honestly, that’s not easy for me.”
His amethyst-like eyes glowed softly.
“They say husbands usually buy many gifts for their wives.”
That was true, so I couldn’t argue back.
“I’m just one of those husbands who wants to buy his wife anything.”
Anything.
‘Why does he do so much for me?’
Was it because he felt guilty about our contract marriage?
‘But I… ever since marrying him, I’ve become happier.’
“If you really feel bad, just keep holding my hand.”
“Ah.”
That’s right.
I realised there was something I could do for Damien right now.
“You’re right. After we finish eating, let’s hold hands again when we go out.”
“Yes.”
Damien smiled faintly.
At that moment, ding, the restaurant door opened and a servant walked in.
“Excuse me, my lord. Just a moment…”
Seeing his urgency, I nodded towards Damien, telling him to go quickly.
“It’s okay. Go ahead.”
“I’m sorry. I’ll be back soon.”
Damien left with the servant.
Now, I was alone at the table.
That’s when it happened.
“Oh my, Lady Blin. How nice to see you. Lily, it’s been so long.”
“Oh, Lady Aristia! I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Indeed. Oh my, Reina is here too?”
A woman greeted everyone in the restaurant warmly.
The problem was – her silhouette was painfully familiar.
“Rubiana?”
That chillingly familiar voice.
Slowly, I lifted my head, unwilling to greet her, and saw those green eyes I’d grown sick of.
“Oh my, it’s been so long.”
Cecilia covered her mouth with her hand, smiling softly in her sweet voice.
As always, her so-called maids surrounded her like an entourage.
‘If only there hadn’t been any reservations left, I wouldn’t have had to eat in the hall…’
If I had eaten in a private room, I wouldn’t have run into Cecilia.
“Rubiana, I was so sad I couldn’t see you at the wedding! But finally, here you are.”
“Well, now that I’m married, you’re not even human anymore, Aristia.”
“Still, we’re sisters.”
Cecilia let out a gentle laugh with her angelic smile.
“I was so worried about you. You’re always timid and clueless. I feared you’d be treated harshly in such a noble family.”
“Thank you for worrying.”
I answered dryly and looked up at Cecilia’s beaming face.
“But shouldn’t you worry about your own marriage before mine?”
“Oh, you haven’t heard?”
Cecilia lifted her right hand to show me.
A sparkling gold ring adorned her finger.
“I’m engaged. To someone from House Montes.”
I had heard of Montes.
‘Their power has weakened recently, but they’re still an old, prestigious family.’
So that’s why Cecilia looked so triumphant.
“I see. Congratulations.”
“But why are you alone? Where’s your husband?”
“He just stepped out–”
Before I could finish, one of her maids cut in.
“Oh my, Lady Cecilia. Why ask that? How could she bring that monster husband of hers outside?”
Immediately, the other maids giggled.
“Right, I heard he never comes out because his face is too hideous.”
“Though who knows…”
The excited maid spoke loudly, not even bothering to hide it from me.
“Lady Rubiana is… how should I say it, quite… unique, isn’t she?”
Laughter full of ridicule.
“Maybe the Grand Duke has already abandoned her.”
“Oh dear, how pitiful.”
“Rubiana, is that true?”
Cecilia put on a shocked face, then bent down towards me with a worried look.
“I’m so worried. Why would His Grace treat you like that?”
She even grabbed my hand.
It was the same gesture she used at official events to show off her sisterly affection.
“So strange. My fiancé tells me he loves me every day, that he wants to see me every day, and he even buys me expensive gifts…”
“Oh yes, Viscount Montes really loves Lady Cecilia.”
Her maids quickly chimed in.
“Right? Didn’t he buy you that dress too?”
“Oh my, isn’t that from Aileen Stewart?”
The maids pointed at Cecilia’s emerald dress and whispered.
On the hem was an embroidered A.S., hidden among rose vines.
“Oh, how embarrassing. But yes, my fiancé had it custom-made for me. Even though their waitlist is so long, he insisted on getting it for me.”
“The reservation fee alone is enormous. He must really love you!”
Cecilia basked in their attention for a moment, then looked back at me with feigned pity.
“If only my little sister could get a pretty dress like this instead of wearing such drab colours…”
Such drab colours.
The red velvet Damien said suited me so well.
The colour he said matched my eyes beautifully.
‘That colour isn’t something to be dismissed as drab.’
“…Cecilia.”
I didn’t need to endure anymore.
I wasn’t Aristia’s daughter now. I was of Maledictus, with a strong husband and wealth of my own.
“Yes, what is it, little sister? Do you have something to say?”
“Does your fiancé know about this?”
“About what?”
Looking genuinely confused, Cecilia tilted her head.
Clutching the glass of deep red wine in my hand, I spoke.
“That you’re wearing a fake and using his name for your lies.”
Cecilia’s expression froze instantly.
“You, what are you–”
SPLASH.
“KYAAAAAAA!!”
At the same time, I poured the bright red wine all over Cecilia’s dress.
