Chapter 44

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: A Flawless Performance
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—Rustle.

The sound of rustling fabric.

He could also hear the pull of a measuring tape, and the brush of something against skin.

Diello’s ears were hyper-focused on the sounds coming from directly behind him.

He tried not to be, but his attention was drawn there nonetheless.

He was struggling to compose himself.

‘I thought you were serious.’

Recalling Croire’s surprised voice, he clenched his fists.

But it was.

He’d wanted to say so, but he had no choice but to retreat.

Just by laying her on the bed, just by covering her with his shadow.

She had looked up at him with the startled eyes of a rabbit.

He wondered who was truly the innocent one here.

He pressed a hand to his forehead.

‘Phew.’

The short breath she let out after he backed away, as if in relief, nearly drove him mad.

When Croire was beneath him.

When she looked up at him, her eyes wide.

When she smiled and said she trusted him.

No, even before that.

The moment he’d wrapped his arms around her to take her measurements, when he’d felt her shallow breaths against his ear.

He’d thought he was going to lose his mind then and there.

“We’re finished! You can look now.”

Diello couldn’t bring himself to turn around and face his bride.

If he saw her serene, innocent face, he was afraid the thing he was suppressing within him would run rampant.

“Diello?”

And so, Diello only turned around slowly when she called his name a second time.

This was driving him mad.

He suppressed the turmoil seething within him.

* * *

The hectic dawn passed without incident.

Meaning, they had successfully taken their measurements and created the ceremonial robes.

“I can’t say they’re perfect, but there are few who could craft garments of this quality in such a short time!”

The artisan of forty-seven years spoke with a confidence he hadn’t possessed at the start.

And he was right.

Whatever inspiration had struck him, the ceremonial robe he created for Diello was of a quality unimaginable for a simple fitting.

The same was true for the estate’s tailor, who had been tasked with my own robe.

“He is truly a master of his craft.”

“As are you.”

Sparks flew from the tailors’ eyes as they faced each other, as if a battle of artisans had broken out at dawn.

My own ceremonial robe was just as perfect.

“You look absolutely beautiful!”

“Anyone who sees you will praise you as the Empire’s sweetest couple!”

Their praise wasn’t so over-the-top as to be cringeworthy.

The garments were white, with red embellishments befitting House Argenta.

Diello, dressed in a white uniform splendidly adorned with red embroidery, offered me his hand.

“Shall we?”

I took his hand in response to his smooth-voiced question.

The sensation of the chiffon dress brushing against my legs was distinct.

Though not as distinct as the heat of his hand.

“You look so pretty!”

As we entered the banquet hall, Ellin Cartiel’s voice rang out in admiration.

Having failed to maintain his composure because of her, Siete Cartiel added belatedly.

“You make a fine pair.”

Why did that sound so devoid of sincerity?

“Are they not the most lovely pair? Hahaha!”

Duke Alloje was laughing heartily.

He looked as if he could die from satisfaction. He didn’t forget to give me a meaningful glance either.

For once, it wasn’t a warning, but something akin to a compliment, a ‘well done.’

Not that he was complimenting me for my sake; he just seemed pleased with himself.

The spies who’d infiltrated last night disguised as sewing assistants must have reported that we’d had a passionate night.

Sorry to disappoint, but all we did was treat our wounds.

—Fwoosh!

In that moment, a faint light emanated from Diello’s hand.

As this was an Argenta event, the finale was to be a display of their flame ability.

A flame bloomed from his hand, slowly rising before spreading to the chandeliers on the walls.

The flame burst like a firework, simultaneously lighting all the surrounding chandeliers.

“Ooh!”

Applause erupted, but a quick glance at the crowd revealed they weren’t particularly surprised.

Polite applause, it seemed.

And for good reason. I later heard that the previous Duke Argenta, in his prime, would put on a display of three flying phoenixes.

No wonder they weren’t impressed.

Moreover.

—Flicker.

I felt it, so the others must have as well.

The flame Diello was maintaining wavered for an instant.

It didn’t go out, but its brightness noticeably dimmed before returning to normal.

This was tantamount to a confession of immaturity in one’s control over fire.

“……!”

Diello looked a little flustered.

And his expression was plain for all to see.

The Diello I knew wasn’t someone whose control would waver from a display of this magnitude.

According to the original novel, he could command not just three phoenixes, but an entire flock of them.

Even now, without having awakened his Pero.

It seemed he was doing it on purpose.

At times like this, he didn’t seem like a bad actor at all.

Then again, having pretended to be weak his entire life, this much must have come naturally to him.

The only role he was bad at was, apparently, ‘the sweet newlywed.’

‘…I thought you were serious.’

But the memory of last night made my cheeks flush.

Although… that didn’t seem to be the case anymore.

When did he become so good at acting?

‘Turn around slightly.’

‘Now your shoulder…’

His hands, brushing against me as he took my measurements.

But his touch had been strangely sensual, his warmth making me flush.

It… hadn’t been unpleasant.

I found myself fanning my face.

“This gathering has been a success. Until we meet again in three years, may there be no discord among our three families.”

Diello’s voice rang out.

It was, of course, a scripted line.

No discord? As if. It was an ongoing affair.

In any case, as soon as his words declared the gathering’s end, Siete Cartiel rose to his feet.

“Until we meet again.”

As he passed by us, he whispered in a low, distinct voice.

“It seems you are no longer afraid of flames, Duke Argenta.”

Then he left without waiting for a reply.

Duke Alloje patted my shoulder, a satisfied look on his face.

“I shall look forward to more good news, then.”

With that, the members of House Alloje, who were clearly anticipating news of the lily’s disappearance, also departed.

And when we were finally alone.

I was so dumbfounded I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the exit.

“As if an Argenta would fear fire.”

In other words, he thought you couldn’t handle fire at all but you managed to put up a good fight, right?

No matter how capable and powerful a family head Siete Cartiel was.

That remark was clearly a slight.

In response to my quiet words, Diello replied gently, seemingly unfazed.

“He has reason to say so.”

This soft, fluffy pudding!

When I turned to him, his calm, smiling gaze met mine.

And then, unexpected words left his lips.

“When I was a child, I was afraid of it.”

“What?”

Really? My eyes widened.

Diello nodded as if to confirm it.

This was a detail I’d never encountered in the original novel.

Of course, the novel couldn’t have depicted every detail of this world, but this was truly unexpected.

“It’s a well-known story among the bloodlines of the three families.”

But Croire, the illegitimate daughter, apparently didn’t know. Diello whispered to me as I stared at him with wide eyes.

“I had no abilities at all until I was six.”

“…What?”

Really? The family head who was powerful even without a Pero had no abilities?

“But I was an Argenta, so my father forced me to try and control fire.”

He said he was even placed in the middle of a burning building.

But as a child, he could never properly control the flames.

“How…”

Then he was no different from any other child!

They left a child like that in the middle of a fire? I was at a loss for words.

Diello’s eyes held a gentle smile.

“It’s in the past, so it’s all right.”

Don’t feel too sorry for me, Croire.

His whispering voice was steady.

“It’s not that I feel sorry for you…”

It’s that I’m furious! What kind of human being does that!

The previous Duke and Duchess Argenta were never portrayed as good parents in the novel, but I thought they’d at least have some basic decency.

But from the sound of it, they were the worst kind of trash.

I pressed a hand to my forehead.

* * *

And so the gathering came to an end. A long procession of carriages formed, ready to return to their respective territories.

Until every last person from the other families had departed, we were the very picture of a sweet, doting couple.

“Until we meet again, hopefully on a happier occasion.”

Siete Cartiel gave his farewell and boarded his carriage without a backward glance.

All the while, we remained close, never separating.

“You’re not tired, are you?”

“I’m fine.”

Of course, we didn’t forget to exchange whispered words.

“You went to sleep so late last night.”

True enough. Because of the fitting.

“To speak of such things out here…”

I feigned a troubled expression, covering my face with my fan as if to stop him.

“Ah.”

Playing the part of the flawed husband, he cleared his throat as if realizing he should be more careful with his words.

Duke Alloje, who saw the entire display while pretending not to, left with a satisfied expression.

—Clank!

And with that, the last carriage departed.

When we were truly alone, I finally had to speak.

“Diello.”

“Yes.”

His usual, placid gaze met mine.

I was genuinely impressed.

“Your acting has improved so much, you’re like a different person.”

I whispered this, of course.

Diello, with me practically in his arms, smiled slightly.

“Are you cold?”

He asked, taking off his overcoat and draping it over me. He pressed closer and whispered his reply.

“I told you, I’m not good at acting.”

This is what he calls not being good at it?

The man was so consistently humble. Truly.