"Ouch! What just happened …?"
A woman winced in pain.
Her eyes, which had been closed from the reflex of being hit by something, slowly began to open.
"…."
The woman went silent.
Her pink-colored eyes, matching the color of her hair, widened in surprise.
Her sharp, beautiful eyes reflected the image of someone who had just bumped into her and was now pinning her down.
"… Sir Bashilian?" she murmured in confusion, feeling her cheeks heat up with a deep blush.
The woman who had always teased and played pranks on the awkward knight, finding it amusing when the tough-looking man acted so bashful, was now feeling that same emotion herself.
"Eh, huh? V-Villicia?"
Indeed.
The woman, Villicia, the Head Maid, froze as she stared at the man above her, who was now looking back at her with a flushed face.
She never imagined that seeing Sir Bashilian from such a close distance would feel so completely different!
"M-my apologies!"
Sir Bashilian quickly moved away.
"Are you okay? Oh no! O-of course, you're not okay, right?"
Not only that, but with an embarrassed flurry of movements, Sir Bashilian extended his hand to help Villicia up.
However, since Villicia was lost in thought and didn't reach for his hand, he was forced to lift her up by grabbing both of her arms.
"Villi! Villi?!"
Why was Villicia still standing there, silent?
Had she hit her head? Could it be that she was hurt from being knocked into so roughly?
Clearly, in his concern over the new situation, Sir Bashilian had even forgotten why he had been trying to escape earlier.
"I think I bumped into you too hard."
The man concluded on his own and made a decision.
SRUKK!
"Ehhh?!"
Only when Sir Bashilian took action, lifting and cradling the Head Maid against his chest—his shirt patterned with squares—did Villicia snap out of her reverie.
Her face turned bright red, far more than the pink of her eyes and hair.
"W-what are you doing?!"
"I need to check on you. It's my fault for making you hurt."
"I'm not hurt! P-put me down!"
"Not until I check on you!"
"Bashill!!!"
It was pointless for her to whine and try to shake the tall knight's body.
Because, as Villicia, who had known him since childhood, knew well—Sir Bashilian was stubborn.
Once he made a decision, he would stick to it no matter what.
In the end, ….
"Ughh!"
… Sir Bashilian triumphantly carried her, whose face was completely covered by her deep blush, to the doctor.
***
Day by Day, Week by Week
As time stretched on, Escar's thoughts lingered endlessly.
When, he wondered, would their first night finally happen?
Shirley had said it could take months.
It had only been two months since their wedding.
If he had to wait even longer, could he endure it?
["Huh? The Marchioness went to attend a tea party? At whose house?"]
"Baron Fantana's residence," Sir Bashilian replied curtly.
["That's quite far, isn't it? Will she be alright?"]
Unlike Sir Bashilian, who answered only as much as necessary, Villicia chimed in to ease Escar's concerns.
"She'll be fine. Ginger is always with her. Besides, isn't it a good thing? The Marchioness is no longer drowning in despair. She's slowly becoming her old self again—a proper lady who loves socializing."
["You're right, I suppose, …."]
Villicia's words hit the mark.
What kind of husband was he, expecting his wife to satisfy only his desires?
Marriage wasn't just about producing heirs. It was about love and communication.
["Alright."]
No! Escar had to be wiser, more mature!
["If anything happens, let me know right away."]
"Understood."
"Gladly~"
•••
"Huff! Ginger, do I look alright?"
"Why ask? You look stunning as always, Madam!"
Though Ginger said exactly what Shirley wanted to hear, the young Marchioness couldn't shake her nerves.
Today, she had decided to re-enter the battlefield of high society—a world she'd fallen from after the disgrace of her family and her noble status.
"Let's go, Madam. The other guests have all arrived."
"Help me down."
Ginger was right.
Starting small and showing up early would be best.
After all, the last person to enter an event often deemed themselves the most important—like royalty or high-ranking nobility.
As soon as Shirley descended from the carriage, murmurs and stares surrounded her.
"Oh my, look! Who is that?"
"Isn't that…?"
"Shh!"
But, it's just this? This was nothing.
Shirley could handle it.
"Well, well, who do we have here?"
A woman with a striking presence approached.
From her intent gaze, Shirley could guess she was the hostess of the party.
"I sent the invitation on a whim," Baroness Fantana said, snapping her fan open with a sly grin. "I didn't expect you to actually come."
The tone in her voice, the sidelong glances—it reeked of condescension.
Shirley disliked her instantly.
"It's been two months since you've been seen in public, hasn't it? And … oh!"
Her mocking eyes scanned Shirley from head to toe, and then the barb came.
"You're not … pregnant yet?"
CRASH!
Just as she arrived, it seemed like the hostess was trying to gently push her out, using a dirty tactic to humiliate her in front of others, didn't it?
Because that question had shocked Shirley as if struck by lightning in the middle of a storm.
THUK!
"Don't be angry, Your Excellency," the woman, as dangerous as a snake, retorted, folding and unfolding her fan repeatedly. "I'm just worried about you."
"Pffft!"
"Khkhk!"
"You know, right? The main duty of a wife after marriage?"
Shirley was still healthy.
"We are used as childbearers."
She could still hear clearly the people around her, staring at her as the center of attention, trying to stifle their laughter while enjoying the spectacle of her being humiliated by Baroness Fantana.
"So, what will our husbands do if we can't produce children for them?"
GRRT!
That's why, the Marchioness Aschenford, who had initially thought that attending this invitation would restore her reputation, now felt so angry that she clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms.
"That's right, we'll be cast aside."
These irritating people!
Shirley was furious!
"If you don't want to be cast aside, then you should be willing to see your husband bring a new wife to his bed."
Having children? What's so impressive about such a small thing, huh?!
If Shirley wanted to, she could have children anytime!
"Just occupying the position of a wife? You can be replaced at any time. However, if you have children, …."
Yes, Shirley was really angry.
So angry.
"… Our position will become stronger."
However, ….
"Not only will we have the status of a wife, but we'll also have the status of a mother of the heir."
… What the Baroness had just implied wasn't necessarily wrong.
"Marchioness, you're not angry, right? I'm just giving you advice~"
"Ginger, let's go."
"Huh! Marchioness!"
So, for that reason … it would be wise for Shirley to start strengthening her status and securing her position even more!
Let's make use of what she has, which is … Escar!
•••
"For this matter, it would be best if we … blablabla."
"I object, Sir. In my opinion, it would be better if we … blablabla."
At that moment, Escar was visited by two of his subordinates.
One was an administrative officer, and the other was a regional supervisor.
There was a lot of work to be done today.
Even with the help of Sir Bashilian, the paperwork still piled up.
As Escar was busy discussing with his guests, suddenly, a familiar voice interrupted his focus.
The man with the gentle face shifted his gaze from his emerald-green eyes, as beautiful as emerald gems, to the door, which was being guarded outside by Sir Bashilian.
"Please come back later. His Excellency is currently receiving guests."
"Just for a moment! I want to see him for a moment!"
There was no mistaking it, that was Shirley's voice.
"That's not possible, Madam."
"Aish, I said just for a moment, didn't I?!"
As Escar began to rise from his seat, intending to go greet Shirley outside, suddenly, the door was opened.
BRAKK!
Ah, more accurately, it was opened with force.
"Madam!"
In came Shirley, swiftly walking toward Escar's desk, followed by Sir Bashilian, who was flustered because he couldn't stop the ruckus, causing chaos once again.
More precisely, preventing the source of the chaos from making even more chaos.
SRAKK!
"…?!"
Just like now, when Shirley swept away the pile of reports, important documents, and other paperwork, causing them to scatter across the floor.
"MA'AM!"
Unlike Sir Bashilian, who was so frustrated that he raised his voice, the other two guests and Escar himself could only remain silent.
THUD!
Shirley's actions were becoming more and more outrageous.
The girl no longer cared about how many times she had angered Escar's personal knight by provoking him, and make him raising his voice when calling her emotionally.
With a thick face, she sat down at the empty desk, the surface of which she had just cleared.
"…."
"…."
Shirley's fiery red eyes locked with Escar's beautiful gaze.
They both found themselves in an uncomfortable situation, the awkwardness of the silence stretching on for a moment.
Until, ….
GRAB!
… Suddenly, Shirley shocked her husband.
She grabbed the collar of Escar's clothes, pulling the tall, silver-haired man's ideal body forward, then, …!
CHUUP!!!
… She performed an action that stunned all the men in the room.
Starting with the two guests, who covered their gaping mouths in surprise.
Sir Bashilian, who froze several steps behind Shirley, as he tried to chase after her.
And Escar himself, ….
"…?!"
… Who widened his eyes in disbelief.
Shirley kissed him!
She kissed him first!
And not just that, ….
"Uhmph?! Uhmm! Uhhm, …!"
Escar was overwhelmed, letting out muffled groans as Shirley kissed him with a ferocity, urgency, and impatience that felt as if she wanted to devour his lips whole.
"Ehmm! Uhmp!"
Sensing that Escar might try to resist, her grip on his collar shifted.
Now, her hands framed his nape and sharp jawline, locking him in place.
On the other hand, the change in Shirley's hold made Escar feel utterly weak.
His face burned, his heart pounded wildly, and his pupils lost focus.
He felt like he was floating.
He was breathing so rapidly that it left him struggling for air.
His hands clutched at Shirley's dress, trying to grasp her shoulders, but his strength was drained by the sudden assault.
Until, ….
"Haa, … haa, …."
… Shirley finally ended the kiss on her own.