I Had No Complaints About This Marriage - Chapter 29
She had pretended not to care, but Herman had seen the way her eyelashes trembled. The way her composed expression cracked, her face flushing—though in truth, that had been from her excitement over the diamond necklace, not the insults. Herman, of course, had no way of knowing that.
The memory worsened his mood.
This had been happening often lately.
‘She acts all tough…’
Remembering how Esina had squared her shoulders and confidently declared she could play the wicked wife, another hollow laugh escaped Herman’s lips.
For all her bravado, she couldn’t hide her hurt when he wounded her or when others spoke ill of her. She should have fought back against them just as boldly as she had confronted him.
The thought reminded him that Esina had never learned how to counter attacks in high society. He had taught her a few things, but practice and real battles were entirely different.
‘Roger, that damn bastard.’
In Herman’s mind, Roger was gradually being downgraded—from a close friend to just a frequent acquaintance, and from a frequent acquaintance to merely someone he knew.
No matter how determined he was to sell off his own sister, he should have at least taught her these basic things before sending her off.
For a moment, Herman considered stepping in himself to silence those women, but in the long run, that wouldn’t help Esina. If word got out that her husband had interfered in women’s gossip, the insults would only multiply tenfold.
‘Right. There’s nothing to be done about it.’
Even as he rationalized it, his foul mood showed no signs of improving. Every time Esina was insulted, it stung worse than if the slurs had been directed at him.
So that day, Herman casually slipped an order to the manager who had come to report on the department store’s prospects.
“The guest list from today’s soft opening—who was invited?”
“Yes, sir. Among the key customers were Lady Marcellan, Lady Seya, Lady—”
“The ones in the green dress and mint-green hat. And the blue chiffon dress.”
“Ah, those would likely be Lady Marcellan and Lady Azelan…”
“Ban them from entering after the official opening. Preferably, extend it to their entire families.”
“Pardon? But—”
The manager’s protests about them being “big spenders” or “loyal customers” fell on deaf ears.
No matter how wealthy or high-born they were, they paled in comparison to the Telloien name. And if they dared insult the mistress of the establishment, they deserved nothing less. Especially as invited guests who had disrespected their host.
Ironically, such rumors and judgments about Esina were originally part of the plan—yet here Herman was, cracking down on gossipers as if personally offended. Without even realizing it himself.
“Just get it done.”
“…Understood.”
After firmly issuing the ban to the flustered manager, Herman added one more thing.
“And send everything my wife looked at today to the estate. All of it.”
“…But those items were meant to be displayed for customers after the official opening. Even the diamond necklace you purchased earlier—”
“Surely you’re not implying my department store can’t procure one extra item if needed.”
After all the effort he’d poured—and was still pouring—into building his business to avoid being at the mercy of the main family and the Duke.
Only then did the manager snap to attention, nodding briskly as if realizing his mistake. Herman’s mood eased slightly after that.
He hadn’t dared order more purchases on the spot, worried it would only fuel more “extravagant wife” gossip. But in the end, he figured it didn’t matter—as long as he was the one showering her with gifts.
After finishing their lengthy business discussion and standing up, Herman heard that Esina was in the greenhouse. He had sent her off to browse, but of all places, she chose the greenhouse. What could possibly be interesting in that small space?
‘Just earlier, she was admiring the merchandise with such delight…’
Truly, she was an enigma of a woman. Bold one moment, timid the next; lively before suddenly turning quiet…
With these thoughts, Herman stepped into the greenhouse—and the moment he spotted Esina sitting in the distance, he found himself momentarily speechless.
“……”
Sunlight streamed through the glass, casting a stained-glass array of colors over her. The crimson flowers blooming along the vines harmonized with the rich hues of her hair, while the verdant leaves shimmered like fragments of light in her eyes.
The scene was so unreal that Herman’s gaze remained fixed on her.
