Chapter 9: Continued – The Carriage Journey with the Exiled Marquise 2
The moment those words came from Erika Solntsalri’s own mouth, I was enveloped in a sensation akin to euphoria and omnipotence, and then, in an instant, the blood drained from my face.
For her, perhaps it was just a simple confirmation.
But for me, it wasn’t like that at all.
To affirm those words, even if it was merely a role in a nominal farce, required seriousness and resolve.
I realized my face had stiffened slightly.
Seeing that, Erika Solntsalri raised her eyebrows slightly.
“That’s right, I am the man who will be your husband.”
I could feel sweat running down my back, but it wasn’t an unpleasant sensation.
Erika Solntsalri stared intently at my face before offering a smile that bordered on a wry one.
“You can make such a noble-like expression too, can’t you?”
As I wondered what kind of expression she meant, Erika Solntsalri’s eyes took on a nostalgic look.
“If I had known you could make such a face, I would have at least introduced you.”
Introduced me to whom, I wonder?
Since she mentioned ‘noble-like’, perhaps she meant some important person? Not that I’m interested, though.
“So then, what is your objective? Although I have a general idea…”
The sight of her tilting her head slightly, one hand resting on her cheek, almost made me swoon.
“In that case, I don’t understand the reason you are here.”
Hmm? My objective?
After thinking for a moment, I found myself troubled over how to answer.
Surely I couldn’t honestly say, ‘I gladly accepted because I heard I could become husband and wife, even if only nominally, with the person I like.’
Even I understand that much. Certainly, coming from an Impoverished Viscount Household, I had absolutely no experience being popular with women, and honestly, I’m aware I’m not used to dealing with them, but even so, I understand.
I understand just how creepy it would sound to answer like that.
But still, how am I supposed to answer?
How do those popular guys out there answer in situations like this?
She’s aware of my feelings, practically saying, “You were always looking my way, weren’t you?” and now she’s asking why I’m here. How do you answer that, popular guys of the world?!
Ah, damn it, Erika Solntsalri is waiting for an answer. I can’t just stay silent.
I somehow managed to squeeze out the words, praying she wouldn’t find me creepy or anything.
“T-To be nearby, even just a little… that’s all I wished for.”
Is this answer okay? A different, unpleasant sweat, born from nervousness, started to flow.
“Honestly…”
Erika Solntsalri began to speak.
“For someone saying that with such an expression, you certainly choose a roundabout way, don’t you?”
She said it with eyes like she was looking at something troublesome, but her voice held no contempt or disgust; rather, it had an air of concern, as if for an awkward person.
At least, it seemed she didn’t think I was creepy.
Also, what does she mean by ’roundabout’? You’re right here in front of me.
“So then, until when will you stay with me?”
“Eh? Until when?”
When I asked back, she seemed impatient, yet still spoke with the attitude of admonishing a slow younger brother.
“The period you will stay with me. I assume you negotiated that with Father, didn’t you?”
Negotiated with the Prime Minister-dono? What is she talking about?
Perhaps because she’s too smart, Erika Solntsalri had a tendency, even back at the academy, to jump ahead in conversations.
In other words, I couldn’t keep up with how fast her mind worked, but I thought about it.
I have no memory of negotiating with the Prime Minister-dono, but I certainly did meet and talk with him.
The content, I believe, was something along the lines of ‘please take care of my daughter’.
In the first place, what does she mean by ‘period’? No, wait… the period she’ll stay with me?
Ah, I see… What a misunderstanding I’ve been under.
She had no obligation to seriously go along with this farce.
Erika Solntsalri could survive perfectly well even on her own.
In other words, the ‘period’ refers to the time she’ll put up with this farce and allow me to stay nearby.
I felt embarrassed, as if she had seen right through my shallow thought that by accepting the role in the farce, I could be nearby Erika Solntsalri.
Continuing to be nearby Erika Solntsalri couldn’t possibly be such an easy thing.
I stared intently into her eyes.
If I said ‘forever’, would you accept it?
For some reason, Erika Solntsalri looked at me and seemed to flinch slightly.
“One year… won’t you permit me to be nearby you for one year?”