Chapter 218
The provocation of “Sir, three wives,” and the counterattack of “Sir, soon getting married.” Just the slightest touch between us felt like a critical blow, leaving behind nothing but silence filled with wounds.
Even if I teased about having three wives, the Second Manager was bound to acquire a wife before I do. And if I joked about him soon getting married, I might just end up marrying several times.
In the end, the miraculous formula suggests that to strike a blow at the opponent, one must also endure a strike themselves. I naturally came to realize that this was just a war of words where only the losers remain.
– Shall we call it a day?
“Yeah.”
The one to break the sorrowful silence was the Second Manager’s proposal for a truce. It seemed like he imagined the Judicial Minister attending the wedding as a guest, and his expression was heavily clouded with worry.
It was satisfying to see the instigator take such a downturn, but knowing my own expression likely mirrored his, my mood soured once more.
What on earth were we even fighting about?
“Hey, but isn’t Lady Cristina too good for you? Don’t think too negatively about it.”
I hesitated for a moment before cautiously speaking up.
No matter what, it’s tricky to let the soon-to-be groom feel that low. I don’t know the exact timing of the wedding, but considering the Judicial Minister’s personality, it’d likely be early next year at the latest.
A bizarre situation where I was licking my own wounds. But still, I had to offer at least some consolation.
“There’s nothing better than a marriage for a new noble to integrate into society. Besides, didn’t you end up dating her because you liked her?”
The Baron family, the Second Manager’s lineage, was newly minted nobility. Unfortunately, nobles aren’t really keen on newcomers, so entering a high society filled with entrenched elites can be tricky.
But now that this newcomer is connected to the current Minister of Finance? Nobles will lose their minds and swarm over the Baron family like flies.
Yet despite my valuable advice, the Second Manager’s expression remained glum.
– I’m already quite popular. Lady Cristina probably knows everyone in the academy.
“That’s bragging, you fool.”
I regretted my attempt to comfort him. There’s nothing more useless than worrying about the Minister and the Second Manager; how I forgot that!
‘…Why did you allow that?’
Listening to the Second Manager left me puzzled. As he said, he boasted a dazzling dating history. The Minister wouldn’t be unaware of this, so why would he connect someone like that with his niece?
Of course, their connections were born from free will rather than the Minister’s influence, but the marriage was indeed the Minister’s doing. If I were in his shoes and learned that this guy was dating my relative, I’d have told him to break up immediately.
There are two possibilities. Either the Minister really hates his niece, or his niece is just head over heels for the Second Manager.
Naturally, since the lovesick Minister wouldn’t neglect his niece, the latter must be the case.
– Why do you think so?
“Ah, nothing.”
I settled my gaze on the Second Manager and came to a conclusion.
‘Unique taste, huh?’
It seemed his fiancée just had an unusual preference.
Well, it makes sense. Coming from a great family, he still chose to date a non-traditional graduate student. He’s definitely not an average person.
“Have a beautiful love story.”
A remarkable groom and a remarkable bride. And let’s not forget the exceptional guests. This is one of the truest fated pairings out there.
– You too, Executive Manager. If there are many women involved, balancing them is tough.
“Is that from experience?”
– Experience.
As those words ended, the Second Manager and I both nodded in unison.
I made a mental note of that remark to pass on to either the Minister or his niece.
Though I finished my call, I hadn’t even washed up yet, fiddling only with the communication device. The bombshell dropped by the Second Manager lingered in my mind.
– Speaking of which, the Lady must also be going through a tough time. Are you going on any dates?
“Uh?”
– By your reaction, it seems that thought never crossed your mind.
The sight of the Second Manager shaking his head in disappointment almost made me snap, but considering it was about Marghetta, I held my tongue.
– No one’s as troubled as the Lady. With more women having to share their husband, who would remain calm?
The weight of his words hit me. I had definitely been so consumed in my own thoughts that I hadn’t considered it.
Yeah, there’s no way she feels at ease. Even if polygamy is a norm here, human emotions are a separate matter. The fact that Golden Duke skillfully manages those feelings makes him a little insane.
Of course, since the Iron-Blood Duke has multiple wives, Marghetta would be accustomed to the idea of polygamy. Louise and Irina also got approval from Marghetta.
However, Marcilio’s confession was independent of Marghetta’s permission. This was something that pushed her beyond her own resolve, so it would surely leave her bewildered.
– If the main wife becomes jealous, it’ll lead to swordplay instantly. Don’t let your guard down thinking you’ve captured the fish.
Though the wording was harsh, I couldn’t deny that it wasn’t wrong.
“Your advice carries an unsettling weight.”
– Hey, unlike anyone else, I’ve never been caught!
If only he hadn’t said that. Damn it.
Anyway, the Second Manager’s advice muddled my thoughts. After this confession fiasco, Marghetta would be just as confused as I am. Yet she hasn’t expressed any complaints about it.
Maybe, just as the Second Manager mentioned, I too foolishly thought I had secured Marghetta. “She’d understand; it’s okay if I don’t treat her like a priority,” I naive mused.
I can’t even fight back against such vitriol. If she’s so precious, I should treat her better instead of taking her for granted.
‘Well, it’s a fitting time.’
I casually checked the calendar on the table. November was fast approaching.
And, Marghetta’s birthday is also at the end of November. Whatever a jerk I may be, even I remember that.
‘…What should I do?’
Remembering her birthday is just a basic courtesy. The real question is what to do on her special day.
Neither Marghetta nor I have the freedom to roam much outside the academy. But in a way, that limitation would likely make her happy enough to explore the city surrounding the academy.
The dilemma lies in the gift.
‘No idea whatsoever.’
I kept racking my brain, but nothing came to mind. Unfortunately, I’ve neither given nor received gifts for birthdays.
Before my reincarnation, I wasn’t even aware of my own birthday and simply commemorated the day I was abandoned in front of the orphanage as my birth date.
There weren’t any actual celebration days, and with the orphanage not being well-to-do, I have no recollection of ever receiving a gift, nor could I give one.
‘Things haven’t changed much since then.’
The meaninglessness of birthdays remained the same post-reincarnation. This body’s birthday is not my own.
So whenever someone offered me something, I’d vaguely reject it or toss it into storage. Honestly, I can’t even remember what I received up to this point.
‘My first gift, huh?’
Despite my cloudy mind, a small laugh escaped my lips. Giving a gift on someone’s birthday for the first time is a new experience. I never imagined that my first would be for Marghetta.
Yeah, it’s the first time. So I should think seriously about it. If I’m in a bind, I could always ask someone else for help.
‘Someone else.’
A gift a noble lady in Marghetta’s age group would like. It would be easy to ask Louise for advice─
“Oppa. Could you hold your breath for about three minutes? Five would be even better.”
Imagining Louise’s stern expression made me dismiss that idea immediately. Asking the newly engaged lady what gift to give to another lady? Even a saintly person like Louise would be upset about that. Irina was off the list for the same reason.
If I let go of gender and focus on my same-age peers, then there’s Erich. Plus, unlike me, Erich is fairly well-acquainted with high society and likely has plenty of gift-giving experience.
“Bro, are you insane?”
Of course, asking Erich wouldn’t exactly be sane either. Going to him for dating advice when he’s likely visualizing a punch coming right at him? I’d be in hot water over the heirship as it stands.
In the end, for this and several reasons I couldn’t even seek proper council. My circle of acquaintances is astonishingly limited─
“Oh.”
Suddenly, a decent idea flashed in my head.
*
I kept dabbing at my eyes with the handkerchief that Laura had given me.
“Stop crying. You’re going to faint.”
Laura’s eyes were red, making her the last person to judge me about crying.
When I stared intently at her in silence, she awkwardly turned her gaze away. She’d been crying too.
Of course, it was completely understandable; emotions were running high. I just hoped that she would also understand mine.
‘Carl…’
I gently wiped the tears that were still lingering at the corners of my eyes. This morning, the startling news felt like the sky was crumbling down.
– Lady, I thought you should know, so I contacted you.
A regular contact from the Countess, someone with whom I maintained a close relationship.
Her anxious demeanor piqued my curiosity, but I told her to speak comfortably since she wasn’t one to leave me hanging. Furthermore, she stayed back while I rushed to bring crucial news.
– The Executive Manager…
But in reality, I wasn’t at ease listening.
“Really? Is that true?”
– It seems hard to believe, but it appears to be the case.
Her hesitant yet confident words made me feel dizzy. If someone with the status of a Countess is willing to say, “It seems to be true,” then it meant that in high society, word of this had already become gospel.
My head went blank. I couldn’t fathom the impossible situation—feeling a potential heart-wrenching reality coming to light.
The news that Carl had fallen asleep at the National Cemetery. Not just any, but in the same place where past comrades were buried, and he had slumbered there, drunk.
– I’m sorry to break such news to you. Still, I thought you needed to know.
“…Thank you, Countess.”
I nodded slowly to the panicking Countess, who felt like she was to blame.
Yes, it’s a sad revelation, yet it’s a sorrowful message that needed to be heard. I had to at least acknowledge the pain and anguish associated with such an event.
So I managed to keep a composed expression, at least until the call ended. But as soon as I hung up, my eyes poured like a broken dam.
“Why not reach out to him?”
Laura, hesitantly suggesting, made me shake my head.
“Can he… even take the call?”
After saying that, Laura fell silent.
Carl had always been the type to refrain from showing weakness. Even as an adult, he maintained an icy demeanor.
Here was a young man who had yielded to alcohol and surrendered everything, falling asleep at a grave. Would contacting him now help? Would it simply provoke him further?
“Let’s wait, for now.”
Eventually, that was all I could say.
I loathed this version of myself. If I were a proper mother, I would’ve had the courage to reach out immediately.
No, there’s a chance that Carl may have already shown me his feelings.
‘Still a ways to go.’
I was happy that my relationship with Carl was slowly mending, but it was still far from being okay.
The communication device lit up.
– Ah, Mother.
As soon as I recognized that the call was from Carl, I barely held back my tears from bursting forth again─
– Sorry for the unsolicited question, but what would be a good gift for a lady?
That inquiry swallowed my tears whole.
I spotted Laura standing behind me, glancing at me subtly. Her enthusiastic nod made my heart race.
‘Dating advice.’
My heart, which moments ago felt like it may tear, began to flutter at Carl’s words.
I really am fickle. Just thinking that my son is leaning on me lifted my spirits so easily.
“A gift for a noble lady?”
– …Yes.
But looking at Carl’s somewhat awkward nod made me smile unconsciously.
So it seems like the distance between us wasn’t as far as I had feared after all.
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