Hansel’s Enchanted Fairytale: Fill Me Up With Magic! - Chapter 101
As Hansel’s mind spun, trying to make sense of Dante’s strange behavior, Gretel burst into laughter behind her.
“Oh my, Brother-in-law is seriously adorable. Sister, where on earth did you pick up a guy like this?”
Watching Gretel double over, clutching her stomach in laughter, Hansel felt her nerves snap. She sharply turned her head to glare at Dante.
“Dante, what on earth is wrong with you?”
Dante blinked slowly, giving her a quiet, blank stare. It was as though she could see the gears in his head turning, trying to figure out why she was upset this time.
“What?”
“You’ve been ignoring me and sticking to Gretel all the time! When I ask what you’re talking about, all you say is it’s a secret. I came back from getting my dress fitted today, and you didn’t even ask about it! You barely come to the room, and yesterday I ate dinner… by myself…”
To be precise, she had eaten with her mother, but the point still stood. Even then, Dante and Gretel had conveniently disappeared together.
The more she thought about it, the more irritation and hurt welled up inside her. Hansel clenched her fists tightly and turned her head away from Dante.
“Dante, you don’t even care about the wedding, do you? You just said you loved me and wanted to get married, but you don’t actually mean it, do you?”
“No.”
Dante’s red eyes wavered as though an earthquake had struck. He leaned down slightly, tilting his head to meet Hansel’s eyes, but she quickly turned her face the other way.
“I do want to get married.”
“Then why are you acting like this? You avoid touching me now. Do you hate touching me or something?”
“No, I don’t.”
Dante reached out, cupping Hansel’s cheek with his warm, large hand. His touch, meant to comfort her, only made her feel even more emotional.
“See? You’re only touching me now because I’m mad. What is going on with you, Dante?”
“My… it keeps getting hard.”
“…What?”
Oh. Gretel, who had been gleefully watching the scene unfold, quickly slapped her hands over her mouth to stifle her laughter. Hansel, utterly taken aback, stared at Dante with wide eyes, her gaze flickering between him and Gretel.
“What… no, why… suddenly?”
“Even just being near you makes me want to—”
“Ahhh! Stop! I get it!”
“Wow. Brother-in-law is seriously something else.”
Hansel quickly clapped her hands over Dante’s mouth, cutting him off. No matter what, they couldn’t have this conversation in front of her sister!
Dante obediently nodded with her hands still on his mouth. Gretel, still snickering, made her exit, whistling as she went.
In an instant, the scenery shifted.
They were now in Hansel’s bedroom.
***
Dante sat quietly on Hansel’s bed, confessing his thoughts. Hansel stood before him, hands firmly on her hips. As usual, Dante was clutching her pillow in his arms.
“It smells like you,” he said.
That thought only made Hansel feel more exasperated. He clung to the pillow so obsessively, fiddling with its edges, yet he hadn’t touched her in days.
And the reason for all this?
“Your mother said not to… until we’re married.”
“……”
“That’s apparently how it’s supposed to be.”
Hansel pressed her palm to her forehead. Of course, Margaret had no idea they had already crossed that line. From her perspective, it made sense to lay down that kind of rule.
Sure, running wild in her mother’s house was a bit inappropriate, but it still didn’t sit well with her.
“Why are you so good at listening to her? Dante, you always—”
She stopped herself. She almost blurted out, “You always put me first.”
Realizing how childish it would sound, Hansel swallowed the words. Dante spoke again, his tone calm and measured.
“Your mother’s been married before.”
“……”
“I haven’t.”
He sounded sincere, as though trying to learn and do what was right.
While Hansel and Margaret had battled fiercely over wedding dresses, hairstyles, accessories, and venue decor, Dante had been a bit lost.
Hansel would look beautiful in anything. The decor should be whatever Hansel liked.
As for clothing, Dante did know she liked angora and suede fabrics. But with spring approaching, those materials would be too warm. He had even tried to pick out a few options he thought would suit her but never got the chance to speak up.
Margaret and Hansel argued with such ferocity it was like watching a dragon and a tiger clash. For Dante, a slow talker, interrupting their heated discussions was simply impossible. At most, he could help by stepping in to calm things down when they became too intense.
He had thought marriage was simply about living forever with the person you love. Clearly, there was much more to learn.
Eventually, Dante concluded there was only one person he could ask, the experienced Margaret Arsinoe.
Hansel, listening to him explain, pursed her lips.
“You could’ve just told me that. You’re usually good at saying things—why make it seem like a secret this time?”
