I Married the Mad Duke Who Killed My Husband - Chapter 78
“……”
“…Ahem.”
“……”
“…Ah! There’s a weapon shop! Let’s go in there!”
Oh God, I’m saved.
“Why a weapon shop?”
“I’ve always thought I should buy at least one dagger, but I keep forgetting. You can choose a good one for me. We’ll buy a sword and then go eat cake.”
It was a mistake to suggest we walk around and sightsee for a while.
Of course, I expected we’d receive a lot of attention as the main figures who brought about the Empress’s guilty verdict in the recent imperial trial.
But what I didn’t anticipate was… our changed tension.
Ding-a-ling-
“…Uh… thank you.”
“…It’s nothing.”
Without realizing it, I avoided Cassion, who stretched out his arm from behind to open the door, and entered.
Because of that, I ended up entering in a ridiculous manner, shrinking my body excessively, and my fists clenched involuntarily from embarrassment.
Why am I acting like this over something as simple as opening a shop door?
How many times have I been on dates-that-weren’t-dates with Cassion in the capital’s streets, and now I’m suddenly feeling this way!
“Oh my, welcome! How may I assist you?”
“We’d like to see some daggers suitable for a woman to carry. Could you recommend a few?”
“Of course! Please have a seat, and I’ll bring them out!”
Perhaps because it was still early, the owner, who had been lazily polishing weapons, recognized us and jumped up.
Trying to break the awkward atmosphere with Cassion, I answered more cheerfully, but the nervous shopkeeper hurriedly cleared a table and seated us in front of it.
In the end, I found myself sitting shoulder to shoulder with Cassion again.
The fabric of our shoulders brushed slightly, and while that small area of contact bothered me, I felt that changing my posture would make it obvious that I was conscious of it, so I just mumbled and turned my head slightly. Then my eyes met Cassion’s.
“Why do you keep looking at me? Is there something strange about me today?”
“No. You’re beautiful.”
“……”
“It seems like you keep looking at me as much as I look at you.”
“Ah, how can I not notice when you’re staring so blatantly?”
“Are you looking because my gaze bothers you? Or is it because you find me beautiful too?”
If you’re going to flirt, at least maintain your smoothness till the end. The lines are quite good, but his earlobes are bright red, and I can see his fingers fidgeting on the table, which made me feel even more embarrassed. Was dating always this nerve-wracking?
“Here! I’ve brought them! Please take your time looking!”
As I was mumbling, unsure how to respond, the shopkeeper came out with perfect timing. After spreading a thick cloth on the table, he laid out daggers beautifully inlaid with jewels, all of which looked extraordinary at first glance.
“There are many beautiful pieces. It’s more of a feast for the eyes than browsing in a typical jewelry store.”
“Hehe. You have a good eye, my lady. They’re not too heavy and quite practical too. Feel free to pick them up and examine them.”
“Hmm……”
I pretended to look closely at the swords while pulling my body away to create some distance from Cassion. Hoping it wasn’t noticeable, I reached for the dagger at the far end, and Cassion easily picked it up and handed it to me. Our fingertips brushed.
“Wow, I’ve heard rumors about how close the Duke and Duchess are, but seeing it in person, it’s really true! The ruby in the middle matches Your Grace’s eyes perfectly. Isn’t it wonderful?”
“…No, I chose it because the scabbard’s craftsmanship is delicate. But it’s a bit heavy.”
Actually, he’s right. The moment I saw it, the red jewel in the center reminded me of his eyes, which is why I reached for it, but to say that in front of us! Couldn’t he have pretended not to notice!
I deliberately acted nonchalant, slightly unsheathing the dagger I had been examining before putting it down, and pretended to look at other daggers.
“Hmm~.”
“Then how about this one? The craftsmanship is no less impressive. And it’s the lightest of all.”
“No, this one is too light.”
But because of the ruby-studded dagger that had caught my eye at first glance, I couldn’t focus on the other blades. Even without the jewel that matched Cassion’s eyes, that one seemed the most suitable. Not out of personal bias, but objectively, it seemed the best.
“Well… Are there no others?”
“That’s the only dagger with a red jewel, my lady.”
“I’m not specifically looking for one with a red jewel! …Ahem. Let me see that one again.”
As I couldn’t find any of the other daggers satisfactory, I glanced around, and the shopkeeper spoke with his eyebrows furrowed. What a perceptive fellow. If only he could keep his mouth shut as well as he reads the room!
“The practicality of a blade is most important… Now that I hold it again, this weight seems right for a good swing. The size is perfect too.”
I felt like such a fool. Instead of babbling unnecessarily, I could have just casually said it matched his eyes and bought it like I would have in the past, but why did my mouth keep acting up?
“Objectively speaking, isn’t this the best one, Cassion?”
Cassion was still looking at me, not having moved an inch from his initial posture. Feeling the love clearly evident in his gaze, I unconsciously bit my lip.
“Let me see it.”
“Oh my, Your Grace seems to have had eyes only for the Duchess. Hahaha!”
“I couldn’t take my eyes off her to compare with mere blades.”
The shopkeeper laughed heartily, despite his wares being dismissed as ‘mere blades’ not even worth looking at.
Cassion, seemingly unabashed, examined the dagger from all angles as if seeing it for the first time, even as he heard that laughter. Had he really been looking only at me the whole time?
“The weight is appropriate, and the blade is sharp. Not bad. The jewels and craftsmanship aren’t excessive either. You chose well, Asil. As expected of your discerning eye.”
“…Right? I told you it was the best objectively. We’ll take this one.”
“Yes! I’ll wrap it up nicely for you.”
“No, we’ll take it as is.”
I prepared myself in case Cassion might tease me about choosing it because of the jewel matching my eyes, as he had done earlier with his smooth talk. But nothing of the sort happened. Feeling a bit awkward, I quickly tucked the dagger into my bosom as Cassion handed a money pouch to the shopkeeper.
“Oh my, you don’t need to give this much…”
“My wife looks happy, so it’s worth it. We’ll come again.”
“Th-thank you. Please take care on your way back! Your Grace, Duchess!”
Cassion seemed to be in a great mood as he said this. He naturally placed his hand on my back to escort me and opened the door.
“Isn’t it heavy? Shall I carry it?”
“I bought it for my own protection, so I should get used to carrying it. If you thought it was heavy, you should have recommended a different one.”
“While the quality of the blade is important, personal attachment is the most crucial. You seemed to only have eyes for that dagger.”
“…As if you were even looking at the daggers.”
“Instead, I was looking at your eyes.”
Oh, really.
Either be embarrassed or flirt, but pick one! It’s too much to handle! We can’t keep having dates where I’m swept along like this!
“Let’s go get something to drink now! And eat some sweet cake too!”
“Oh, may we join you?”
After clenching my fist once, as if it had become sweaty, I casually grabbed Cassion’s hand. As I led him without even deciding where to go, a couple who had just alighted from a nearby carriage approached us.
“It’s an honor to see you so often, Duchess. Your Grace.”
“Oh… Indeed. It’s nice to see you.”
Familiar faces, it’s the Baron Mayer couple again. This couple seems to go on as many outings as we do.
We run into them so often that I even start to suspect they might be pawns of the Empress or the First Prince, deliberately approaching us. I lean closer to Cassion, slightly on guard. But Mrs. Mayer, unfazed by my cold response, chuckles and nudges her husband’s side.
“Look at that. Isn’t it lovely? I hear the Duke and Duchess went on a honeymoon, and it seems your relationship has deepened even further.”
“Huh? Ah, yes. Aha. Ahaha.”
“Your eyes look different. Oh my, I can’t remember the last time I received such a honey-dripping gaze from this man. I’m simply envious, Duchess.”
“What do you mean only the Duke is giving honey-dripping gazes? The Duchess is also sending such loving glances with her beautiful eyes! My wife always looks at me as if I’m some grown child!”
“Children would be better. Geez.”
In front of the Mayer couple, who suddenly started bickering, Cassion and I looked at each other with tightly sealed lips and flushed faces.
Is it that obvious to others? Unable to hold back the laughter that was about to burst out, I clung to him even more and laughed.
“Let’s stop this, and I’ll introduce you to a place I know this time.”
Thinking that if we went to another sickeningly sweet and terribly unpalatable place recommended by the Mayer couple, our tongues might go numb, I stepped forward.
We’ve already had our lethal dose of sweetness.
