TTMLPTWW ~ Chapter 75

“……You respected me?”

Duke Rukanosa muttered with a blank look.

‘Even my wife doesn’t acknowledge me… and a stranger, not even close to me, says such a thing. And Masera’s wife, at that.’

Having become the head of the Rukanosa Ducal House at a young age, Duke Henry Rukanosa had lived under immense expectations.

In other words, he had lived under the scrutiny of people eager to find even the smallest flaw.

Under strict and conservative standards, the child who only heard, “It’s only natural, given his excellent lineage,” instead of praise, inevitably developed deficiencies.

He had become an adult with strong pride but low self-esteem, thirsty for recognition.

“Why are you suddenly praising me?”

The Duke asked, rubbing his forehead.

“It’s not sudden, and it’s past tense, okay? You were someone who deserved praise. A handsome appearance, wealth, ability, and even status, you lacked nothing. Anyway, I’m disappointed.”

Cynthia put her hands on her hips and made an angry face.

The Duke hesitated at that. Disappointment meant she had expected that much.

“I’m not usually like this. A woman followed me into the room, and….”

Without realizing it, he made excuses that he hadn’t even made to Helene.

He had been dissatisfied with Helene, who was self-righteous and unappreciative, and so he had used this incident as an excuse to return the insult.

Cynthia made a face as if she couldn’t believe it.

“Ugh, you bad person you. I was going to visit you often to ask for advice on matters concerning the International United Foundation.”

“Well, you can come anytime.”

The Duke said urgently, then stopped.

‘Why do I feel regret?’

He couldn’t understand why he had the urge to be recognized by someone like her.

* * *

At dinner, Valeria, still feeling uneasy, apologized to Cynthia, saying she seemed to have misunderstood.

“It’s okay. These days, the play ‘A Sister-in-Law’s Dangerous Seduction’ is popular, right? That just shows how much of a social issue it is. I would have suspected it too.”

Cynthia didn’t seem to mind.

For the record, in the play ‘A Sister-in-Law’s Seduction,’ the sister was obsessed with her brother’s wife, not her brother, which was the twist ending, but Valeria pretended not to know.

Cynthia added, “Besides, I’m so happy to have such a beautiful sister-in-law. Can I come with you on your honeymoon? It would be more fun to hang out with just me, without boring Carlos, right?”

Valeria stared at Cynthia’s sparkling eyes.

‘What is it? It sounds ridiculous, but it’s more appealing?’

Cynthia, with her affable personality, seemed to have something that captivated people.

‘No. Those who act so innocent are usually dark inside. I won’t be easily fooled.’

Valeria tensed up, resisting the sunlight that would strip the traveler of his clothes.

Meanwhile, Helene was quietly eating her meal with a cold expression.

A chilly atmosphere flowed between Helene and the Duke. It was as if they were in the same space but completely disconnected.

The invited Major General Izak and his wife were also not in a good mood.

They had tried to resolve the incident at the villa, but now their own men were about to be arrested.

Whether to lighten the mood or because she didn’t care, Cynthia looked into Masera’s plate and said in a cheerful voice, “Wow, the sauce is in the shape of a heart? I should cast a spell to make it taste better.”

“You’re the one who made it like that. And what is this ‘make it taste better’ spell?” Masera asked.

Cynthia made a heart with both hands and made a solemn face. “Shall we do it together? Moe moe kyun~….”*

“I absolutely will not do that.”

Feeling it was an area he couldn’t handle, he quickly refused.

Duke Rukanosa quietly watched the two of them.

Cynthia chattered non-stop, telling pointless stories like how someone had destroyed the snowman she had worked hard to make, or how she had knitted clothes for the kittens, but the yarn had all come undone, turning it into mesh.

Masera only gave half-hearted responses like, “Yes,” or “Ah,” but his eyes were warm.

“……”

The Duke had once seen Cynthia practicing tennis alone when he had briefly visited the residence.

When he asked why she was practicing so hard even though she hadn’t fully recovered from her cold, she had blushed and replied, “Brigadier General likes tennis. I’m practicing so we can play together.”

Suddenly, he remembered Cynthia’s story about ‘acknowledgment’ in the past. Acknowledging and respecting each other’s differences, and making an effort.

“……”

That was the married life he had wanted for a long time.

In the Duke’s eyes, Masera also seemed to be making an effort.

“I like this. Spicy things.”

“Hmm. It tastes like tear gas.”

Even though he never touched spicy food, he was eating the spiciest pepper pickles.

They say the person who changes you is your destined partner.

The Duke felt a strange jealousy towards Masera.

* * *

Cynthia began her volunteer work in earnest.

The volunteer schedule was set for twice a week, on weekends.

Today’s volunteer location was ‘Raphael Orphanage,’ located on the outskirts of the capital, where children who had lost their parents in the war lived.

In addition to the six official members, there were many who attended to fulfill the volunteer hours required for joining the foundation.

As a result, Carlos, Edford, Major Rodriguez, and others whom Masera disliked gathered in one place.

Masera, who had attended with his unit members, looked uncomfortable.

Carlos had followed his bride-to-be, and Edford seemed to be subtly trying to find a bride, but….

Why had Duke Rukanosa come? And without Princess Helene.

“……Why did you come?”

Masera asked the Duke with a reluctant face.

“I think I have enough qualifications to come. I plan to donate a lot of money to be used for good.”

The Duke answered with a brazen face and approached Cynthia to tell her about the donation he would make. Cynthia clapped and praised him.

“What is this.”

He couldn’t figure out what he was up to.

Then, he felt something soft and warm grab his finger and looked down.

“Papa?”

A blonde child, about three or four years old, was looking up at Masera.

Masera pulled at his platinum blonde forelock.

‘I guess his father was blonde.’

Masera knew that the only hope of the orphans was ‘their parents coming to pick them up.’ Even though they were aware of their parents’ deaths.

He offered the child a chocolate wrapped in gold foil, but the child tightly grasped his hand with both hands and didn’t let go. As if he would never let go again.

“How cute. Brigadier General, he seems to like you.”

A woman approached the child and wrapped a scarf around him.

Masera, knowing it was a pitiful situation that couldn’t just be seen as cute, sighed.

At that moment, Cynthia approached him.

“I think we’re short on cake ingredients. Shall we go buy some together?”

Then, she smiled at the child who was holding Masera’s hand tightly. “You come with us too. You don’t have to hold on so tight now. You won’t get lost.”

As soon as she heard Cynthia’s words, the child let go of his hand with all his might.

During the war, the most common thing children heard from their parents was, ‘Never let go of my hand.’ So, many thought they had been separated from their parents because they had let go.

He wondered how she knew the child’s heart so well. Masera looked at the child, who was now holding his hand more comfortably.

* * *

Cynthia, who had gone to the market with Masera, looked around with a very excited face.

“Look at this, a twirling lollipop.”

She also bought a large lollipop for the child who had come with them.

“What a lovely family. Your daughter is so pretty.”

The market vendors fawned over the child and gave her various things.

Masera, who had been mistaken for the child’s father, looked at Cynthia and the child holding his hand. Soon, he felt his ears getting hot.

He had never even imagined that he could have a normal family.

At that moment, there was a shout of someone roughly scolding someone.

“Don’t act up! Don’t you know I’ll starve if you don’t work even for a day?!”

The man holding the hair of the woman sitting on the floor looked familiar.

As he thought so and was about to step forward.

“Why are you grabbing her hair?!”

Cynthia shouted first.

It was Anita and her delinquent husband, Hans, whom they had met on the ship going to their honeymoon.

Cynthia darted forward.

Thwack-!

The sound of a watermelon breaking echoed.

Cynthia had hit Hans on the head with a large lollipop.

“Agh!”

Masera’s eyes widened at the sight.

“You XX, I’m going to XX you and XXX you, you XX! What kind of commoner behavior is this!”

Cynthia’s harsh curses, which he had never heard before, echoed.

Masera hurriedly covered the child’s ears.

💟 Translator Notes 💟
“모에모에 큐~” (Moe Moe Kyun!)

This is a direct parody of the kind of cutesy magical chant used by maids in Japanese maid cafés, especially the iconic “모에모에~ 큐!” (もえもえキュン!)

It’s usually said while:
-Making a heart with your hands 💖
-Chanting over food (usually with a ketchup heart on omurice) to “make it taste better”
-Performing a “deliciousness magic spell” for the customer’s enjoyment

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