“What do you think looks good, Annecy?”
“Well…”
“If you’re choosing a cravat that suits the Marquis, may I leave the recommendation to me? I can already see the perfect one.”
What’s the point of picking something that suits me when it’s not even mine?
Annecy thought this to himself, but he didn’t correct Bremen’s words outwardly. Goyo, too, found it awkward to say she was buying a gift for another man while her husband was beside her, so she didn’t correct the baron either.
Still, Goyo’s face remained calm without a trace of discomfort, leaving Annecy feeling frustrated.
His noble wife rarely revealed her inner thoughts, making it difficult for him to guess what she was thinking, even though he was usually quick to notice.
He thought her expressions had become a bit more varied recently, but today, perhaps because they were in front of others, she seemed more reserved than usual.
“This violet cravat is made of the finest silk from Felzeris. As you can see, it’s not ordinarily flamboyant.
I wouldn’t recommend it to just anyone, as most people’s appearance would be overshadowed by this small piece of cloth. However, if it’s for the Marquis, I can recommend it without hesitation. Would you like to try it on?”
“Would you like to do that?”
“I will.”
Annecy nodded awkwardly, unsure of what significance it had for him to try it on. Since he was already wearing a shirt, tying the cravat wasn’t difficult.
Annecy reached out to receive the cravat from Baron Bremen. However, the one who took it wasn’t him but his wife.
“My lady…?”
“Just a moment, Annecy.”
The violet silk wrapped around his neck. Annecy Bethelgius, who had spent a long time on the battlefield, didn’t like anyone touching his body, especially his neck, without permission, but this time, it sent chills down his spine for a different reason.
He thought he had gotten used to being near his wife by now, but having her hands brush his neck while tying a cravat was something he had never experienced.
The sensation of every hair on his body standing on end was vivid.
Annecy could do nothing but stand stiffly, defenseless, waiting for Goyo to finish tying the cravat.
Finally, the violet cloth adorned his neck in a rather impressive fashion.
As Baron Bremen had promised, the cravat was no ordinary flamboyant item, but once it hung around Annecy’s neck, it only served as a small accessory to highlight his appearance.
To put it bluntly, it suited him. Very well, in fact.
A faint smile appeared on Goyo’s lips. Baron Bremen, too, couldn’t hide his admiration as he held up a hand mirror in front of Annecy.
“As expected of the Marquis. It suits you unbelievably well.”
“Thank you.”
“What do you think, Annecy?”
Annecy believed Goyo’s question omitted the phrase, “for Count Eliom.”
Looking in the mirror, the cravat indeed suited Annecy himself quite well. But assuming that it wasn’t Annecy Bethelgius standing here, but Iel Eliom, he could easily predict the result without even trying it on.
With his overall low saturation and pale complexion, if Iel were to wear a cravat with such bold colors, it would look like the cravat was floating in mid-air by itself.
Annecy once again realized how low Goyo’s fashion sense was.
Smiling gently, Annecy answered Goyo, who was pressing for a response.
“It will suit him well.”
Whether the cravat suited Iel or not was actually of no concern to him.
“Shall we go with this one, then?”
“Yes, and I’ll purchase all the other items the baron recommended as well. Could you send them to the Bethelgius estate?”
“Of course, my lady. I’ll have someone deliver them before the day is over.”
“Thank you.”
Was it really necessary to buy all those things for Iel Eliom’s gift?
Annecy wanted to say that, but an unexpected sense of conscience kept his mouth shut. At the very least, Annecy Bethelgius had no right to speak on matters of extravagance.
Even after leaving Bremen’s boutique, Goyo’s outing wasn’t over.
Initially, her only plan had been to stop by Bremen’s boutique, but after seeing Annecy with the cravat on, her mind changed.
For the first time, Goyo found interest in something she had never been excited about—not even at seven years old: playing dress-up. In fact, Annecy was more aesthetically pleasing than the dolls she had as a child.
Following that, Goyo visited Erbetta’s boutique, Kummel’s boutique, and Flita’s boutique, purchasing ties, hats, and shoes one after the other.
Though Goyo’s wealth was certainly not insignificant, she knew she wouldn’t even get to spend half of it, so it didn’t bother her in the least.
On the other hand, Annecy, for the first time in his life, felt that indulgence wasn’t necessarily a good thing. Had the recipient of the gifts not been Iel Eliom, it would have been a rare experience he might never have had.
After buying the shoes, the two returned to the Bethelgius estate.
Having spent so much time slowly wandering around, the sunset was already spreading across the sky. By the time they had washed up, it would be time for dinner, and the Bethelgius couple agreed to meet again in the dining room.
‘I can’t believe he still hasn’t realized.’
As she watched Annecy head towards his room, Goyo shook her head.
Even though the number of gifts they had purchased was far too many for a simple present to the master of a house they were merely visiting, Annecy, without a hint of doubt, seemed to believe they were all for Iel.
Goyo thought to herself that her husband’s sense of money was definitely off as she headed to the bathroom.
* * *
After dinner, she checked to find that everything from the boutiques had been delivered.
Lucullui informed her, and Goyo nodded. Unlike his somewhat oblivious master, the household butler seemed to have a clear understanding of who the real recipient of the gifts was. The amusement was evident in his eyes, which curved with a knowing look.
By then, the sky had already turned pitch black.
It was somewhat embarrassing to bring it up first, so Goyo hoped Annecy would figure it out on his own. But by now, it seemed like that hope was too much.
It was her own mistake, underestimating just how skewed her husband’s sense of money was. Sighing, Goyo knocked on the door to the study.
“Come in.” The indifferent voice came from inside, and when she opened the door, Annecy looked at her with a surprised expression.
“Do you have a moment, Annecy?”
“If I don’t have time for my wife, I might as well be a corpse.”
Annecy put down his quill and approached Goyo. “What brings you here?” he asked with a gentle smile. Goyo hesitated a bit before opening her mouth softly.
“I have something prepared for you.”
“Prepared? What do you mean?”
“For your birthday.”
“Birthday… Ah.”
“I was half-expecting it, but you really didn’t know.”
“I remembered until not long ago, but I’ve been so busy lately that it slipped my mind. Ah, then earlier…?”
“Why would I put something meant for Count Eliom on you? They’re all your gifts. Gifts that only you didn’t know were yours.”
As Annecy’s shocked face registered the realization, Goyo couldn’t help but smile. Her voice melted into laughter as she whispered to her husband.
“Happy birthday, Annecy.”
“…So this is what it feels like, the way you must have felt back then.”
“You would’ve felt something like this. It’s not a bad feeling.”
“Wife, may I hug you?”
“When have you ever asked for permission?”
The moment the words left her mouth, Annecy pulled Goyo into his arms.
The movement was rougher than she had expected, and Goyo felt a moment of surprise. However, the arms wrapped around her were as gentle as ever, and her brief confusion quickly faded.
The warmth that enveloped her was so cozy and comforting that it made her feel like she could cry. Pretending not to notice the unfamiliar emotion creeping in, Goyo spoke words contrary to what she felt inside.
“Actually, what I said earlier was a bit premature. I haven’t given you anything yet.”
“What do you mean? Didn’t you just buy everything earlier for me?”
“But it’s almost as if I left the choice up to you. You haven’t even received them yet. When you suggested we go together earlier, I thought it was for the best. At least this way, I wouldn’t give you a disappointing gift.”
“Thinking that far ahead, it’s an undeserved honor.”
“Ah, just a moment.”
In the midst of their conversation, Goyo glanced out the window and gently pushed Annecy away. Annecy stepped back willingly, though his arms still seemed reluctant to let go.
“I’ve prepared something else. Like I mentioned earlier.”
“I’m afraid my heart might burst if I receive anything more, but what is it, my lady?”
“Not here. I need a dark place without any light, like the rose garden—”
“I know a better place.”
Annecy didn’t let her finish her sentence before taking her hand and using magic. Teleportation.
In an instant, Goyo found herself surrounded by a pitch-black forest. Tall trees loomed amidst thick undergrowth, the faint sound of insects buzzing in the distance, and before them, a shimmering lake of light.
Realizing where they were, Goyo’s eyes widened in disbelief as Annecy confirmed her suspicions.
“The Ramona Forest.”
“Oh my goodness, this place is under a royal prohibition…!”
“Don’t worry. No one will find out.”
“You know, and I know.”
“A secret between the two of us—how romantic.”
His casual words were so absurd that she couldn’t help but laugh.
Annecy laughed along with her as he pulled out a handkerchief from his coat. He spread it over a flat rock by the lakeside and gestured for Goyo to sit.
Having walked around all day, Goyo’s legs were still tired, so she gladly accepted the seat on the handkerchief.
“Come to think of it, you never seem to use the handkerchief I gave you.”
She commented offhandedly, though her words carried a hint of unintentional disappointment, surprising even herself. But Annecy didn’t seem the least bit flustered.
“How could I possibly use it recklessly? It’s precious to me. Hmm… I suppose if I only say that, you might think it’s an empty compliment, so I’ll show you.”
“What?”
Annecy reached into his coat again. This time, with noticeably more care, he pulled out the light purple handkerchief Goyo had given him. It was in perfect condition, unchanged from when she first handed it to him.
“Why are you carrying around two handkerchiefs?”
“The one you gave me carries luck. Ever since I’ve had your handkerchief with me, good things keep happening, so I can’t bear to be without it. The other one is just for everyday use.”
“Don’t treat the handkerchief like a totem.”
“I’m treating it as a sacred relic, a gift from the goddess of luck herself, so it’s not quite a totem.”
Goyo burst out laughing at his words, but her laughter slowly faded.
The lake seemed to glow even more radiantly at night. Watching the moon’s reflection ripple across the blue water, Goyo’s hand twitched slightly.
Her confidence, which wasn’t abundant to begin with, gradually waned.
“I’m embarrassed that you brought me all the way here when it’s not that impressive.”
“Don’t worry. Whatever you show me, I’m already prepared to be the happiest man in the world.”
“Don’t put pressure on me.”
“I’ll do my best.”
He’s not listening at all.
Goyo let out a long sigh. But with midnight approaching, there wasn’t much time left to hesitate.
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