Chapter 32

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Chapter 32

McCain opened the carriage door and made eye contact with me for a moment, then saw me in Bleon’s arms and bowed his head in haste. I tried to get up to get away from Bleon with a shy expression on my face. But Bleon hugged me tighter.

“Duke?”

When I called him, Bleon relaxed and we got off the carriage and stood in front of a building.

“Is this it?”

I looked at McCain and asked.

“…Yes. One of the oldest pubs in the capital.”

“A pub?”

“This place is famous for selling some of the best wines in the capital. And the dishes that go best with that wine are also excellent.”

“Really?”

As I listened to McCain’s explanation, my anticipation suddenly surged.

“Let’s hurry and go inside.”

I took the lead with a light step in the thought of eating something delicious. But faster than I was, two men passed me in an instant and opened the door at the same time.

“Come in, Wife.”

“Come in.”

The two men met gazes. Looking at the situation before and now, I thought that separating the two would be the best option, however, it was also very dangerous to be alone in a crowded place without an escort. And to be honest, I can really tell McCain was just doing his job, in my opinion.

However, Bleon was being too conscious of him. I sighed inwardly then passed between them to go inside. Perhaps McCain was not lying because the bar was full of people even though it was still before lunch.

‘Wow.’

The smell of sweet and fragrant wine and delicious and savory food filled the hall. And many people gathered in three or five and laughed and chatted with their people. When I came to a place full of people, my heart was somehow overwhelmed. I wanted to feel the atmosphere more deeply, so I closed my eyes and took a deep breath and exhaled.

‘How nice.’

After standing still for quite some time, Bleon wrapped his arms around my shoulders and called me in a curious voice.

“Wife?”

“I think it’s nice here.”

I can see why this place is the most famous and popular place in Hares.

“Right?”

McCain answered from behind and walked over to me.

“I like it very much. I want to order the best-selling drinks and food here.”

We took a seat at an empty table. Bleon and I were seated at one table, and McCain and the other knight who accompanied us were seated at the table next to it. McCain might really have come here often because he finished ordering in an instant, and soon the table was filled with delicious looking food and alcohol.

“What is this?”

The first thing that caught my eye was the food with the vegetables rolled inside the meat. I used a fork and knife to cut them into bite-size pieces. Then I put the meat on a fork and brought it to Bleon’s mouth.

“Try it.”

Bleon opened his mouth straight away and I put the meat in his mouth. And then I put the meat right in my mouth.

“Wow, that’s delicious. right?”

For a moment, I unconsciously looked at McCain to thank McCain for ordering this delicious meal, but I refrained myself right then.

“Yes. It’s delicious.”

The food eaten at every meal in the Duchy was excellent, but the food bought from outside had a stimulating taste, so my appetite kept growing and I wanted to keep eating it. Next, I took a glass of wine. And after taking a whiff, I tasted it right away. It was a wonderful flavor that didn’t disappoint—its sourness and sweetness went well together.

‘I’ll have to ask about another restaurant with delicious food next time.’

The food was so delicious that my personal opinion of McCain was rising rapidly within me.

After a delicious meal, we left the pub. It was a very satisfying moment because my stomach was full and I was in a good mood.

We got on a carriage and went to the next destination, but when I realized that the distance was short, I decided that we should just walk there. McCain led us while Bleon and I followed. Bleon took my hand warmly. I looked up at him once, smiled slightly, then looked around again.

“Look at that, Duke.”

As I walked, if I saw something strange, I called Bleon and made him see the same thing. Somehow, I wanted him to see what I had seen. But it was a time when I was busy watching with my eyes shining.

“Astell?”

Someone nearby called me and I turned to where the voice was coming from. And in the place where I turned my head, as opposed to having bright, deep red hair, the atmosphere was cool and cold, and a beautiful woman was standing looking at me.

I quickly searched through Astell’s memory. Knowing Astell, it was clear that Astell knew her as well. The woman was coming closer. And by the time she got almost right in front of her, I barely remembered that she was the third child of the fallen Heines family. She was the older sister who bullied Astell the most.

In the memories, the woman had a much younger appearance—this was the first reunion after eight years. After Astell married Bleon at the age of twenty-three, the sisters did not meet each other for two years. Astell would not have wanted to go to that strange alley house, and Heines never looked for her.

Then, on that day, the very beginning of it all, she reunited with her family at an imperial banquet, where she was ridiculed and despised, after which Astell lived like that for another eight years in Kren.

“You’re Astell right?”

As the woman drew closer and closer, her expression slowly revealed. She was looking at me haughtily.

Seeing this, I felt strangely anxious and nervous. I just wanted to get away from this place.

‘What’s wrong with me?’

This person is Astell’s family, but to me, it was the first time I had ever seen her.

‘Is it Astell’s feelings?’

Astell’s feelings seemed to be felt just with one look at the woman, just how complicated her heart felt as I looked at Bleon.

Fear, avoidance, anxiety, nervousness, and all the bad emotions that a person can feel came rushing in like a flood and seemed to eat me in an instant.

‘I can’t believe it’s this bad.’

How terrible were Astell’s feelings for her family. If I was the real Astell, I would have been doomed. I would probably sit down and cry before I even got out of this place, or not even be able to do that, so horrified and plagued by it.

If she was family, how could this be? For her family, how could there be such feelings? How much bullying and cruelty had they done to Astell that she felt this way for those in her family?

As the humiliation she had endured until now flashed before my eyes, I was filled with anger and shock, and I tried to hide the feeling of fear. In order for me to come to my senses, I clenched and opened my fist that was not holding Bleon.

‘Let’s not back down.’

There was absolutely no need for me to be intimidated by this person. So don’t be discouraged and keep your back straight. I curtsied towards her as I mentally chanted the same mantra repeatedly.

“Long time no see, Sister Julia.”

Julia’s pretty face contorted slightly as I greeted her with the brightest voice I could muster. It was clear that she didn’t like Astell’s dignified figure as the younger woman was always dazed in front of her. She looked me up and down with an annoyed expression and then immediately turned her gaze to the side. And I could see her big eyes growing bigger and bigger in amazement.

“This person must be Duke Einer…?”

With Julia’s expression full of interest, she called him. For some reason, her eyes seemed to slink over Bleon, and I felt horrible in an instant. However, I hid that feeling inside and introduced Bleon to Julia with a bright smile.

“That’s right. This is my husband. Duke, she is my older sister.”

“I am Bleon Einer.”

“I am Julia Heines. It’s been a long time since I last saw the Duke when you were still a child, but really… You grew up well.”

There was an admiration in her voice, a tone of disbelief.

Wait, but Heines? Even before I married Bleon, she must have already married another nobleman, but her last name was still Heines… I looked at Julia with a puzzled look for a moment. Then she immediately acknowledged the look in my eyes, so she explained.

“Ah, Astell, you didn’t know. I got divorced a few years ago. So I came back to the household.”

Saying that, she smiled in a way that made her beauty stand out to the fullest.

“I see. Then we’re busy—”

Since I had nothing to talk to her about and had no reason to do, I led Bleon out of the place.

“Hey! You still don’t have manners like thi—! Oh God, I apologize, Your Grace.”

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