How to Win My Husband Over

Chapter 6

What strategy will work the best on an abstinent holy knight with a wretched personality? That is the question. He’s a knight, so if I act pitiful, he won’t hit me even if he’s mad, right? The white marble steps glittered in the summer sunlight. I had imagined a temple in the North would be a somber labyrinth, like in fantasy games, but to my surprise, it was grand and beautiful with strikingly odd lines. It was an architectural style I hadn’t seen in Romana.

Of course, I wasn’t there to explore the building. At the moment, I was hiding behind a marble pillar, peeking at the training ground. Though I hadn’t meant to sneak around like a spy, I ended up doing it all the same. I didn’t like it, but I had no other choice.

Tall, sturdy paladins in black armor stood in small groups and wielded their glowing bluish swords. They were truly knights from a medieval fantasy story. They were much rougher and more aggressive than the knights in Romana, probably because they actually dealt with monsters all the time. Their equipment also looked heavier and thicker. I couldn’t believe they could move so lightly under that much weight.

“Are you looking for someone?” someone asked gently.

With a start, I turned to see a paladin that had shown up behind me without a sound and was now looking down at me. He had a beautiful face and a soft, delicate smile. His curly hair at the sides of his face was a pretty shade of beige.

Feigning hesitancy, I didn’t immediately answer.

The man slowly blinked twice, his light green eyes glinting mysteriously. “You are Lady Rudbeckia, correct?”

“Oh.”

“Oh, it’s okay. I was one of the guards who escorted you from Port Elmos.”

“I see. I’m sorry, how rude of me.”

“No, of course you didn’t recognize me. But why are you here? Have you come to look around the temple?”

“No. Um, I was told my husband is here,” I said with a shy smile.

The man was silent for a while. His eyes widened, and a mystified, shocked expression crossed his face. Then he looked at the basket in my hands. “Please wait here.” He flashed me another smile, then strode over to the training ground. I was about to take another peek when the man shouted, “Iske! Your wife is here! Iske! Hey! Hey, you dumbass! Didn’t you hear me? Your wife has come to see you! Oh, sh*t. You boys, shut the hell up!”

I couldn’t believe it was his fine mouth that was speaking.

What is wrong with people in this world? Seeking refuge behind the pillar, I blankly stared at the bronze statue attached to the wall facing me: Saint Agnes with a lamb. Suddenly, I wanted to throw up again. That’s strange. I vomited before I got here…

“What are you doing here?” a cold, low voice demanded.

I looked up with wide eyes. Iske was glaring at me, leaning against the pillar with one arm. Drops of sweat dripped from his matted silver hair. I’d pay to see a staring contest between him and Cezar.

“I, um, about this morning…”

“What?”

“It appeared I offended you, so I was worried…” I trailed off and stole a fearful glance at him. Iske scowled as if he found that ridiculous.

“I’m fine, so go away,” he said, turning away.

“Um, wait!” I tried to hold him back, but he shook my hand off immediately. I staggered back and dropped the picnic basket, and its contents spilled out onto the floor.

Oh, no. Elenia said these are rare in this region. I crouched down to pick up the valuable fruits.

I thought Iske would walk away, but to my surprise, he stood still and watched. His ruby eyes glinted. “What are you doing?” he demanded, aghast.

What does it look like I’m doing? I’m picking up fruits, you grouchy knight!

“I-I’m sorry. I brought these for you.”

“That’s not what I asked. Why are you picking them up again?”

“I’m sorry.”

Tears, it’s showtime. I stood up weakly. As I did, tears streamed down my cheeks. I thought it was an act worthy of an Academy Award. I had trained myself to do that in my old life, and it was more of an instinct now. Crying was one of the few things I could do to save myself. Of course, it didn’t always work. Both of my eldest brothers—from my old life and my new one—were immune to my tears. I wonder how he’ll react.

“I’m sorry if I bothered you. I thought you might have misunderstood me, so I just wanted to…”

The North’s mightiest knight was still steadily glowering at me.

Not easily impressed, huh? If you keep doing that, your eyeballs might pop out.

“What kind of misunderstanding are you talking about?”

“I-I know you think I’m already looking for an excuse to end our marriage…” I paused, playing up my tearful act and trying to gauge his reaction. “O-of course, I know you have good reason to think so. I also know you hate me. Anyone would in your situation. But I…”

“Who said that? Who told you I hate you?”

I sniffled, and my eyes grew wide. As he came closer, a sneer appeared on his lips. A chill ran down my spine. My tears weren’t softening him up—I had to guess he despised crybabies.

“I don’t remember telling anyone that I hate you.”

“I-I meant…”

“No, I don’t hate you.”

So that’s how you’re going to play this, huh?

“R-really?”

“Really.”

“Really, really?”

I held my hands together and smiled eagerly, my eyes sparkling with hope. A short silence followed. He gazed at me, and then his smile slowly melted. He stared at my face for a long while without a word. For a second, I thought he was going to hit me, but he never did.

He blinked, and then the cold fire in his eyes dimmed. “Sh*t, what am I doing here?” His voice was full of bewilderment. No, was that self-mockery? He turned and angrily pushed back his hair in exasperation.

I see. That’s it. I’d made a move, prepared to get hurt, but I got lucky. It worked.

“Are you okay?” I asked innocently, meaning to sound him out a little more.

He glared at me for a moment, then picked up a piece of fruit by his feet. He threw it into the basket, then thrust it toward me.

Always so manly. Got it.

“Don’t do anything useless like this ever again.”

“But…”

“For your information, I wouldn’t mind if this farce ended today. I’m not going to play any mind games either, so just give up. Write to your family and ask them to bring you home, little Southern princess.”

You won’t play mind games, huh? I was becoming more and more sure. I knew he wasn’t a naive, stoic kind of man. Pretending to be smart or different from others wasn’t going to get me anywhere. And yet, I couldn’t win him over with tears, which was all the more reason I had to remember how he had shown his true colors a moment ago.

He must have decided I wasn’t worth getting mad at. Arguing with me or playing games only made him look foolish in his mind. He thought what I did and why I did it were so obvious and insignificant that they weren’t worthy of his suspicion…

But wait, you’re only four years older than me, and you’re calling me little? You may be tall, but you’re not so mature!

“I don’t want to,” I announced plainly.

“Why? Have you already made yourself at home in this sh*thole?”

Sh*thole? So that’s what you believe I think of this land? Well, thanks for letting me know.

“I… I have a crush on you,” I stammered.

After that, all I could hear was the wind blowing between the pillars. I hung my head to hide my blushing cheeks, silently complimenting my acting skills.

“What?”

“I know you hear that a lot, and I also know there’s no way you like me back. But you are the first person to ever save me like you did last night. I will try my best to improve my flaws, and I won’t demand anything from you… Can’t you let me be of help, at least a little? You just said you don’t hate me.”

Yup, that’s me. A fangirl. I belong to the most predictable and unimpressive bunch to men like you. If you keep considering me as just a fan, then I have hope.

“Boo!” a previously silent onlooker jeered.

With that as my background music, I looked up and put on another innocently exasperating smile. It seemed Iske was pretending he hadn’t heard me, or he concluded there was nothing for him to gain by talking with me further. He turned sharply and left without a word.

As he went away, I declared, “I won’t annoy you, I swear.”

He didn’t say anything, of course.

A man of few words. Well, fine by me.