How to Win My Husband Over

Chapter 8

Even I was surprised by this unexpected move. Hushed murmurs broke the silence, but Iske didn’t care. He clutched my shoulder even harder and spun me around to face him. Held by his broad hand, I felt like a chick in a vulture’s claws.

Are you going to hit me? Well, I guess it doesn’t matter, as long as you don’t kill me…

“Say that again. You’re going to do what?”

“I’m going to keep hidden and watch from a distance so you won’t notice I’m following you.”

“Do you have a death wish?”

What a strange-sounding threat. But my whole aim was not to die, so I quickly shook my head.

“Then why would you do such a thing?” he demanded.

“B-because… I want to see you without bothering you…”

Like a fangirl. I’m just a powerless woman. Do you think I would ever try to kill you? You know what they say, you’d need to have a death wish to try to assassinate a paladin. You’re just being absurd. I tried to put on my best sad, pleading gaze.

My husband glared into my eyes, then groaned and massaged his temples. At the same time, Sir Ivan, who had been watching us blankly, cleared his throat.

“Lady Rudbeckia, that would be incredibly dangerous.”

“Excuse me?”

“I don’t mean he’s stupid enough to take you for an assassin, it’s just that… As you must know, the North has many dangers. We are different from the knights born and trained in the South. That would be fine at the temple’s training ground or at the castle, but if you’re anywhere near us when we summon our maximum sword energy and divine power to track demonic auras, we might mistake you for a demonic monster and kill you.”

Sure. As if I didn’t know that you go crazy when you enter a state of hyperactivity. I wasn’t going to follow him around unless it was safe to do so, of course. Still, judging from their reaction, they really think I’m just an obsessive fangirl. Thank you, you big-headed bunch of men.

“Oh. I didn’t know that. I’m sorry, I’m just a foolish girl from the South…”

“Please don’t talk like that. Of course, you didn’t know that. Right, Iske? Hey, say something.”

Iske was silent, which was so characteristic of him. Probably aggravated by how bothersome I was, he just bit his lip and glared at me.

I tried to look dejected and ashamed as I said, “Um, you don’t have to worry. I swear I’ll never—”

“You should’ve let us know that your schedule changed,” a cold voice said. Elenia now stood next to us with that uniquely impassive look on her face.

“Ellen is right. You could’ve stopped by. Really, you should’ve been grateful that such beautiful ladies were waiting for you.”

Iske was still busy glowering at me, but Freya playfully slapped his arm with her fan to lighten the mood. She did it so naturally, it probably happened all the time. Any other man would have said something funny like Beautiful ladies? Where? But not Iske. He didn’t budge, icing over the atmosphere again. Oh, and his thick hand was still firmly grasping my shoulder.

You’re so petty. Even so, this is interesting. I thought you would ignore me and leave again, but now you’re actually reacting to me…

He finally started to say something. “You—”

But then a mighty horn blew.

“His Royal Majesty the King has arrived!”

Perfect timing, I thought to myself.

***

King Feanol gave his speech with such a benevolent, serene expression. In a tone that was warm but formal enough, the King of the North said, “You must be tired after the long journey. Thank you for coming, all the same, Lady Rudbeckia.”

“Thank you for your welcome, Your Highness.”

“My nephew rarely comes to one of my banquets on time, but apparently, getting married does make a man grow up. Right, Sir Iske?”

It seemed the king’s troublesome nephew had given him more than enough headaches. But Iske was also mad at his uncle for forcing him to marry me, which was demonstrated by his reply to the king’s pointed joke: “As they say, Your Majesty, like father, like son.”

The king’s kind smile twisted ever so slightly. But he wasn’t enraged, he looked oddly bitter. “Haven’t you been trying to prove that wrong all these years?”

“Well, who can I blame? I brought this upon myself, so I should take it humbly.”

Unlike when he had been talking to me only a moment ago, his voice was glacial enough to send a collective shudder through the crowd. I studied him carefully. He shot me a glare, scowled as if he didn’t like what he saw, and stormed off. He was as stubborn and arrogant as Cezar.

I heard muffled snickers. Sure, laugh all you want. My husband just left me here, and I’m still smiling like an idiot.

“If only he weren’t Isis’s son…”

“Your Majesty, please calm down. No need to startle the new bride.”

The king started to complain out loud, but the queen calmed him down and gave me a kind smile. She had lush auburn hair, lemon-yellow eyes, a mole under one of them, and highly conspicuous light coffee-colored skin. Just as I remembered, she used to be a slave in the East.

“Princess, it’s rude to stare like that. You need to address her with proper manners.”

The princess appeared to be about seven or eight. She stared at me with her wide turquoise eyes, then turned to her mother when she lightly pushed her. Her long, braided auburn hair swished lightly.

“Welcome to Angurban Royal Palace, Lady Rudbeckia.”

“Thank you, Princess Arianne.” I gave her a wide smile.

The girl quickly hid behind the queen and peeked out sheepishly, like a skittish kitten. I could see why the princess had barely been mentioned in the original story. King Feanol had fallen deeply in love with a slave dancer from a pagan nation and had made her his queen, and their daughter resembled her mother too much for high society’s taste. She could not be like any other princess, no matter how hard the king tried. Plus, as long as she had Iske and Elenia as her cousins, Arianne was always going to be an outsider among Britanya’s nobles. In my situation, I couldn’t afford to pity anyone, but I still felt bad for the little girl.

This world is no different from my old one. Both are wrong. At any rate, the banquet commenced after that exchange. Musicians played, and people talked. Soon the large banquet hall was filled with laughter, the clinking of glasses, and the jingling of jewelry.

“Your dress’s sleeves are interesting. Is that a trend in the South?”

“Haha, I’m still waiting for my new dresses.”

“So you already ordered new ones?”

“And how do you find our food? I once went to Romana, but the local cuisine wasn’t to my taste.”

I sat down at a table with Elenia, and people asked me all kinds of questions. I’d just been greatly humiliated, but I was grinning like I didn’t even realize. They all glanced at me with pity and mockery, just as I’d expected.

Yes, that’s it! Think of me as a fool who couldn’t even conceive of hurting anyone.

“Oh, Ellen.”

“Frey? Where have you been?”

Freya, who had been gone for a while, showed up again and joined us at the table. Her cheeks were lovely and flushed as if she had gone horseback riding.

Freya sat on Elenia’s right and said to me, “I’m sorry, my lady. I tried to bring him back, but he wouldn’t listen to me. He seriously needs to repeat his chivalry lessons.”

“You shouldn’t have wasted your time. You know Iske never listens to us.”

“Maybe. Ha. Lady Rudbeckia, do you like horseback riding? Ellen and I host equestrian gatherings every summer.”

“I’m not very good, but I do like it.”

“Don’t worry, as long as you enjoy riding, you will be welcomed.”

I was lying. In my previous life, I had excelled at horseback riding, but I had never enjoyed the sport itself. Come to think of it, I just hated riding clubs. But horses were pretty much the only means of transportation available in this world, so I didn’t have a choice.

Then a lady smiled and said, “Ladies Freya and Elenia are the best riders among us. It’s only natural, Sir Iske taught them himself. Why don’t you ask him to tutor you too?” Her gray eyes glinted maliciously.

She’s taunting me.

Before I could say anything, Freya said, “That was back when we were all little, Lady Consolación. Plus, I’ve had the talent in me since birth, remember?”

“Of course. Please don’t take it the wrong way, Lady Freya.” Lady Consolación apologized of her own accord and exchanged glances with their friends. She was really enjoying herself.

Why does there have to be a bully wherever I go?

“Thank you for your consideration, but Sir Iske is already busy. I would never bother him with such a trivial matter,” I said with a smile.

A short silence followed. Lady Consolación stared at me in disbelief, then cleared her throat and smiled awkwardly.

It’s not so funny anymore, is it? Haha.

“Anyway, summer is reaching its end. I heard this year’s Gladiatorial Tournament will be held earlier than the last one.”

“Will Sir Iske participate?”

“Hmm, I hope he does, but then he’ll win so easily. That won’t be any fun.”

“Who knows? Maybe it will be different this year. I’m more curious about who will become this year’s Flower of Glory.”

Just like that, they quickly moved on to another topic, but the mention of the Gladiatorial Tournament made my stomach churn.

Cezar will be coming for it. The Gladiatorial Tournament, which took place in Erendille every three years, was the oldest event on the continent and tended to draw visitors and challengers from other nations.