~Chapter 11 ~
“My Life Was Mortgaged –
It only made her more annoyed.
“Who said you could touch me?”
“Well, as your husband, I figured I could.”
Oh, really?
So he’s saying he’s signed the papers, huh?
“Not as a creditor, then?”
“You’ve already been settled as payment, Lady Irina. Why would it matter?”
“You just admitted earlier that I was sold off because of debt.”
“Only because that’s what you said.”
Ha.
What’s this now?
Irina narrowed her eyes.
“What are you scheming?”
“What do you mean? I’ve told you everything.”
“You said you’d publicly announce our marriage. I won’t get mad — just tell me the truth.”
“Because you accepted my confession?”
Irina let out a short, dry laugh.
“Ah, I see — so this is your answer to that confession from years ago? Twice, even?”
My goodness.
She deliberately exaggerated her gestures and expression to mock him.
“Now I feel bad. What are you going to do about it?”
“I truly can’t imagine why Lady Irina would be upset.”
“Well—”
Irina started to speak but pressed her lips shut.
Howard sighed lightly.
“There’s someone here from the Ringgaster family.”
“Hm, is that so?”
“They came unexpectedly, so I couldn’t inform you in advance. Please forgive me.”
Then, he took Irina’s hand and kissed the back of it briefly.
His lips were burning hot — not at all like the icy face she expected.
Irina found herself staring into his eyes, which held hers tightly, almost as if they were pulling her in. She quickly turned away before she could get lost in them.
“W-well, fine. Whatever.”
She subtly pulled her hand away.
Howard lowered his hand slowly, looking a little regretful.
“So, what brings you here?”
“Oh.”
Having been too irritated earlier, Irina had nearly forgotten why she’d come in the first place. She sighed.
“You said you greeted all the servants.”
“I did. They’ll be your hands and feet from now on, Lady Irina.”
Only for a year, though.
Yet his voice made it sound as if it would be forever. Irina turned her head away slightly.
The lady who was supposed to introduce her to the capital’s social circles had been delayed by circumstances.
Thanks to that, Irina suddenly had a few days of free time — which improved her mood quite a bit.
“That person didn’t mistreat you, did they?”
Still sitting on the desk, Irina asked suddenly.
“No, not at all.”
“Good. Then I’m done here. I’ll go now.”
“Before that—”
“Hmm?”
Irina hopped down from the desk and looked at him.
Howard stood and gently fixed her slightly tousled hair, tucking a few loose strands behind her ear.
A shiver ran down Irina’s spine from his touch.
“There. That’s better.”
“……You still have that old habit.”
Just like when he was her butler — still fussing over her, even now as a duke and head of a noble house.
“I’m going.”
Without hesitation, Irina turned and left him behind.
Night fell.
Howard walked out of the mansion alone, without an escort, into the unlit forest.
He expected the woods to be thick, but beyond the first few trees lay a long, open clearing.
He crossed it, then followed a narrow path through the trees until he saw a large, faintly visible building — abandoned-looking and far from the main estate.
“……”
He didn’t stop.
At last, he stood before its grand doors.
Though the rest of the land was warm, this place felt strangely cold.
Without a word, Howard looked around, then entered the building.
Borman was a hotter country than Arendor.
And even within Borman, the region of Voltier was hotter still — its current weather felt like midsummer in Arendor.
“I’ll get some air. If Howard comes looking for me, tell him I’m in the garden.”
“Then at least take this shawl, my lady. You’ll catch a cold.”
Casey handed her a thin wrap with a worried face.
“It’s fine. I came from a colder place. This is nothing.”
Still warm from her bath, Irina walked outside wearing only light clothes, her hair damp, a towel in hand.
Unfortunately, tonight there was no breeze at all.
“Can’t believe I’m getting hot like this.”
In Arendor, she’d never sweated a drop.
Leaning back in her chair, towel over her head, she closed her eyes — when suddenly she heard a rustling in the bushes.
“Hm?”
There was no wind, no fountain running — everything had been quiet until now. But the sound continued.
Startled, Irina tensed in alarm.
The sound stopped briefly, then came again — closer, from the left side.
A large figure appeared through the brush, and just as Irina opened her mouth to scream, the garden light illuminated silver-gray hair.
“…Howard?”
She squinted. The pale hair really was his.
“What were you doing in there?”
At her words, Howard looked slightly startled.
He walked toward her.
“I thought it was some wild animal! Why were you wandering off alone without guards?”
“I just went for a walk. It’s still within the estate grounds.”
Irina frowned.
“There’s a whole garden here — why on earth did you go there?”
“…I must have walked too far while thinking.”
He brushed off her question and straightened the strap of her dress that had slipped from her shoulder.
“Then why are you out here alone, Lady Irina?”
“Me? Just needed some air. It’s warmer here than in Arendor. Or maybe the bath was too hot?”
She patted the seat beside her.
“If you’re not heading straight in, sit.”
Howard obediently sat down.
“It’s already been a few days since we arrived.”
“I’m honestly amazed at how quickly you’ve adapted.”
“That sounded like an insult. I didn’t mishear, did I?”
He said nothing.
After a pause, Irina spoke again.
“Howard.”
“Yes?”
“When you fully inherit this place… what do you plan to do then?”
It was a genuine question.
The family had given him the title he’d never had, and a home he could finally call his own — something even she hadn’t given him.
So she wanted to know.
“…I’ll live well.”
“Huh?”
She leaned closer, thinking she’d misheard.
Looking straight at her, Howard said clearly,
“I’ll eat well and live comfortably.”
“Pfft.”
Irina burst out laughing at his blunt answer.
“You’re right. Nothing better than that. This feels just like old times — except you’re not cute anymore.”
His expression twisted slightly at that.
“Sometimes I think you forget that I’m older than you, Lady Irina.”
“Hmm? No, I didn’t forget.”
Well, maybe a little. He was four years older, but it had been so long.
“I’m glad to hear that. Please don’t forget again.”
He looked oddly offended, and Irina cleared her throat awkwardly.
Even without wind, her damp hair had already half-dried.
She brushed it back and stood.
“I should head in. Things might get busy tomorrow.”
Howard stood as well.
Walking beside him, she said,
“Howard, just so you know — I’m never calling you ‘brother.’”
“…That’s good. I wouldn’t want a sister like you anyway.”
His tone was so firm it was almost disgusted, and Irina jabbed him in the side with her elbow.
“Anyway, we’re a married couple now, right?”
Howard didn’t reply — but the tips of his ears flushed red.
The next afternoon.
Howard went to Irina’s room to call her. He knocked.
“Come in—”
Her short answer came, so he entered.
Inside, Irina was sprawled across her bed, the double doors to her chamber wide open.
“What are you doing?”
Howard frowned in disbelief.
“Nothing. I was bored.”
Like a lazy sloth after a big meal, she lay flat on her back, head tilted over the edge of the bed so she could look at him upside down.
Her head and shoulders dangled dangerously close to the floor, her milky hair cascading down like silk.
“Howard, you’re upside down.”
“You’re the one lying that way, my lady.”
“Oh. Right.”
She rolled over and pushed herself halfway upright, rubbing the back of her neck, which had gone stiff.
“So, why are you here? I wasn’t doing anything today — just resting.”
Clearly, she didn’t want her golden rest interrupted.
But Howard seemed intent on disturbing it anyway.
“I thought we might go out together.”
Irina’s eyes flew open.
“Go out?”
