Chapter 56: Lovers’ Bicker and Marital Strife

The party ended peacefully, and the nobles began leaving in their carriages one by one. Most of the higher-ranking nobles stayed for a brief after-party, but they didn't linger long and soon left as well.

Before long, the large courtyard was empty, with all the nobles returning to their homes.

The party ended earlier than usual because Marquis Edmond was hosting another event the following day, and everyone wanted to get enough rest beforehand.

Normally, hosting an event just a day after another noble's event was considered an insult, but Marquis Cedric wasn't offended. He knew that Lord Edmond had been planning his party long before God Vritra decided to visit Gladius City, which is what led Cedric to throw the welcome party in the first place.

━ ━ ━ ━

In the halls of Bluesteel Manor, Vritra and Princess Luciana walked toward the accommodations prepared for them.

They had been apart for most of the night, and the princess had grown to miss being close to her dark prince.

"Husband, it's almost as if you didn't miss me..."

"Well, you didn't go anywhere, did you?"

"Hmph! Try and play along sometimes!"

"Sigh~ alright, I missed you so much. Are you happy now? Or do I say more cheesy stuff?"

Luciana shot Vritra an unhappy side-eye, folding her arms with a dramatic flair before looking away. She made it clear she wasn't pleased with him. With a pout, she shut her eyes tightly.

Luciana shot Vritra an unhappy side-eye, then crossed her arms with a huff before turning away from him in an exaggerated manner.

She wanted to make sure he knew she wasn't pleased.

... Hrmmm!

A moment later, she pouted and squeezed her eyes shut in frustration.

"Hmph! I don't know what 'cheesy' means, but if it's coming from you, it's surely nothing good... If you're not going to show me the deep love you show Esmeralda, I might as well keep my body to myself tonight!"

She crossed her arms even tighter.

Vritra glanced at her, visibly tired.

"Are you really going to do this?"

... Hmph!

Luciana refused to respond, her nose up in defiance.

Vritra let out a heavy sigh, rubbing the bridge of his nose in frustration as an impatient groan escaped him.

"We're not even officially married by Asura standards, and I already feel like an old man... and I'm immortal."

Luciana rolled her eyes, clearly showing that she was irritated and hoping he would notice.

"Oh, so now you're calling me an old woman? Well, for your information, Esmeralda's no spring chicken either─she's pushing forty you know!"

"Yeah... that's what makes her hot."

"HEY──!"

Luciana immediately bristled when Vritra called Esmeralda hot, and her anger only grew as she followed him.

Meanwhile, Vritra remained aloof, whistling innocently as if all was well with the world, while the princess steamed behind him like a pot of boiling water.

『She's quite the character...』

Vritra chuckled to himself as he pictured the baby-face Luciana must be making right now.

『I think I've had enough fun with her for the night...』

Not wanting to linger in the hallway any longer, he extended his arm in a gentlemanly way and kept walking.

"You can keep sulking back there like a baby elephant, or you can come with me to check out the room the Marquis set up for us. It's up to you, my love..."

When Luciana saw his gesture and heard his words, her anger quickly faded. Her red face relaxed into a giggle, and she quickly moved to his side to avoid tripping over her high heels.

... Tee-hee-hee!

He looked angry and betrayed.

Katherine stood by the window, her posture rigid and her eyes fixed on the floor. Her once-elegant dress was now rumpled from the events of the evening.

"Cedric, please..."

She clutched her hands tightly, showing her anxiety while trying to stay determined.

『It still hurts...』

The red marks on her wrist, where Cedric had gripped her earlier, were a painful reminder of his roughness.

Cedric spun around to face her. His face was very red.

"How could you, Katherine? How could you allow him to kiss you like that? In front of everyone!"

Katherine flinched at the volume of his voice but did not move from her spot.

"I-, I did not intend for any of this to happen, Cedric. I was trying to be polite and respectful, given who he is."

"Respectful? Do you have any idea how humiliating it was to watch you—my wife—allow that god to treat you with such... such indecency? What were you thinking?"

"I was thinking of preserving our dignity... you know as well as I do that offending him could have caused even greater trouble for us. I was trying to avoid a worse scandal."

Even though he was shouting, Katherine didn't think about raising her voice.

For one, she knew her place. For another, this wasn't unusual; she was used to Cedric shouting at her, usually because she was talking to or greeting a man.

Despite this, he had never truly believed she was unfaithful.

... GRRR──!!

Cedric's anger seemed to reach a boiling point. He stepped closer, his face mere inches from Katherine's.

"You think a scandal would be worse than the one you've already caused? You think allowing him to make you his plaything is a way to preserve our dignity?"

There was fire burning in his eyes. His hand clenched into a fist, and it looked as if he might strike her.

Katherine braced herself with pounding heart.

She could see why he was so angry, but she stayed firm and refused to show any fear.

"Go on... if you feel the need to strike me, then do it. But know that I won't beg or plead. I'll accept whatever consequences there are for my actions."

Cedric hesitated.

It was too hard for him to hit the beautiful face of this woman. What made it even harder was that she was so willing to accept his abuse. If she showed some resistance, he'd at least feel less guilty about wanting to hit her.

"Gah!"

Finally, he lowered his hand.

"You think you're so noble, so high and mighty. You accept this situation with such grace, as if you're not affected by it at all."

Katherine looked up at him with teary eyes.

"I accept the consequences of my actions because I must. But I am not without feelings. I'm human, Cedric... I am deeply pained by this, and by how you are treating me."

Cedric sighed heavily as he ran a hand through his hair.

The realization of how he had acted... how he had nearly struck his wife.

It began to sink in.

His anger had clouded his judgment, and now he had to face the painful truth: he had not only damaged her dignity but also strained their relationship.

"I don't know what to say..."

The nobleman muttered and walked away.

Katherine stood there in silence, tears streaming down her pretty face. She clutched the skirt of her dress tightly and bit her lower lip, trying to hold back her sobs.

『I'm sorry, Cedric, but God Vritra knows something about me that could ruin everything we have in our marriage. That's why I need to meet with him tonight.』