Three days passed quickly, and the day for Iel Eliom to inherit the countship arrived.
Since the transition was prompted by the previous count’s disappearance, something rather unusual, the succession ceremony was somewhat simplified.
Only a select few, those with strong ties to the Eliom family, were invited. As a result, the ceremony almost resembled a small gathering or party.
Goyo thought that this style of ceremony suited the Eliom family well and approached Iel.
Iel, who had noticed the Bethelgius couple, lifted his head.
“Thank you both for coming.”
Seeing that Iel was busy greeting guests, the Bethelgius couple offered a few polite words and then stepped back. During that time, Goyo’s eyes met Rajin’s, who was engaged in conversation with others.
Although they were far apart and Rajin couldn’t excuse herself from the situation, they exchanged a brief nod as a greeting.
With most of the invited guests having arrived, the ceremony commenced. Since the former count was absent, one of the elders of the Eliom family handed over the symbols of the countship to Iel.
Rajin Eliom watched her sibling with tearful eyes. Even from her distance, Goyo could sense the flood of emotion welling up inside Rajin.
After Iel Eliom’s brief speech as the newly appointed Count, the short ceremony concluded.
Some guests left, as they had busy schedules, while the remaining guests mingled, sipping champagne in the various areas set up for conversation.
It was the first time Goyo had attended a public event with so few people. Nearly all those invited were like-minded individuals close to Eliom, and there was no one bothering the Bethelgius couple. This gave Goyo a sense of peace.
She and Annecy strolled through the garden of the count’s estate before heading up to the second-floor terrace. The terrace at the back of the estate, which overlooked the garden, offered a clear and picturesque view. Perhaps it was the pleasant weather adding to the charm.
Goyo leaned on the railing, hands gripping it as she bent slightly forward to feel the breeze. Annecy leaned beside her, enjoying the fresh scent of the garden carried by the cool wind. Suddenly, he broke the silence.
“Is he really that handsome?”
Goyo tilted her head at the out-of-context question but soon realized he was referring to Iel.
“Yes. He looked particularly striking today in his formal attire.”
“No matter how much I look, I don’t see it.”
“Didn’t you hear some of the ladies whispering earlier?”
“I heard a bit. But they seemed to be talking about Rajin Eliom rather than the Count.”
“True. There were more comments about Rajin than the Count.”
Goyo nodded in agreement, but a small question flitted through her mind.
Why is he bringing this up? Even if Annecy didn’t find Iel attractive, it wasn’t something that should bother him.
Ah, could it be…
‘Is this a hint of rivalry?’
Amused by the thought, a playful glimmer appeared in Goyo’s brown eyes. Imitating her husband’s usual demeanor, she tilted her head and spoke with feigned innocence.
“Maybe you and I just have different tastes. Perhaps my preference is what’s off.”
“Your preference?”
“Yes. As hard as it is to believe, there’s someone here today who’s even more handsome than Count Eliom.”
Annecy’s eyes rolled toward the back, as though scanning the party hall, even though the view was blocked by the terrace wall.
Goyo almost burst into laughter, but then a thought crossed her mind—Annecy might actually be looking. For someone like her husband, using clairvoyant magic would hardly be a challenge.
“Where are you looking?”
She lightly tugged on the hem of his jacket. Annecy, startled by the pull, bent down slightly, allowing their faces to draw closer.
Seeing his face so near, Goyo lowered her voice.
“Right here.”
“Pardon?”
“I’m talking about you.”
The soft whisper by his ear left Annecy momentarily flustered, and his emotions quickly shifted from surprise to delight. His eyes narrowed playfully.
“You say that, but why would you think your taste is wrong?”
“Are you serious?”
“Look closely, my lady. At this face.”
Annecy leaned in even closer. Goyo was a bit startled, but by now, she was used to her husband’s antics and didn’t back away.
The distance between them closed, their breaths nearly mingling. His elegantly upturned eyes gently lowered, and shadows danced in his glass-like pupils.
Even against the backdrop of midday, with his hair illuminated by a brighter light than anyone else’s, he was still a man who felt like the night. That is, until he opened his mouth.
“Do you see even a single flaw?”
“Sorry…?”
“Beauty in its extreme surpasses personal preference. Your taste is perfectly normal.”
“I’m sorry to say, but I’ve found a flaw.”
Goyo pressed her index finger against Annecy’s chest. As if pierced by a sword, Annecy flinched, his shoulders jerking back, and he took a couple of steps away.
At times like this, he seemed rather innocent. Imitating her husband’s usual manner, Goyo narrowed her eyes playfully.
“Your conscience is the flaw.”
“Oh my…”
Annecy blinked his widened eyes a few times but quickly regained his composure. Lately, he’d been finding himself flustered more often, but his ability to recover had improved accordingly.
Swiftly swallowing his surprise, Annecy, as he often did, shook his head with an exaggerated theatrical flair, like an actor.
“You caught me. Mental magic has always been my weak point.”
“What?”
“But I can still do quite a bit. I only say I’m not skilled because the magic consumes a lot of energy and has side effects.”
“That’s not what we’re talking about. And Annecy, didn’t you say you couldn’t even use healing magic?”
“…If I’d known I’d be attacked today, I wouldn’t have shared that. How unfortunate.”
“You lack the foresight to predict future problems too, it seems.”
Feigning a pitiful expression, Annecy lowered his eyes, which made Goyo burst into laughter.
After watching her for a moment, Annecy, who had been faking sadness, allowed his eyes to gently lift as he joined her in the laughter. He looked rather pleased.
“So, to conclude—are you saying that my appearance suits your taste more than that of Count Eliom?”
“That’s quite an abrupt conclusion. Do we need conclusions for wordplay?”
“Wordplay… Hmm, Goyo.”
Suddenly, his tone shifted, becoming more serious. His expression followed suit, and his voice dropped an octave.
Already deep, his voice sank even lower, as if it were about to settle deep within her ears.
“Do you think everything I say or do is just a joke?”
“Oh…”
‘If so, then he doesn’t realize what’s about to happen.’
‘Because this is no joke.’
Memories from not so long ago surfaced naturally in her mind.
The same gaze. The same tone. Goyo felt a brief flicker of unease but quickly steadied herself, her heart’s calm rhythm giving her strength. She swallowed and shook her head.
“But that was just a joke, wasn’t it?”
“You’re not falling for it.”
“Don’t try to act all serious in strange moments.”
“If you acknowledge that my desire to be your preference is genuine, then I won’t.”
His fox-like smile was so mischievous that Goyo decided to turn the tables.
“Then, what about my appearance?”
“Pardon?”
“My appearance. How do I look to you?”
“My lady. Do you know who the second most beautiful person on this continent is?”
“What? Second?”
“It’s me.”
The Bethelgius madam’s expression turned cold, but Annecy, unfazed, continued.
“And the one more beautiful than me is standing right here.”
“Do you even know what embarrassment means?”
“I know it’s a word that doesn’t apply to me.”
“I think you’ll need it starting today. Please, try to remember that.”
“In that case, I’ll remember it. Though I doubt the day will come when I actually feel that emotion.”
Trying to challenge this man had been a pointless effort. Goyo let out a long sigh.
“At least you only say such things when it’s just the two of us. I suppose I can be thankful for that.”
“If you wish, I can say it in front of the whole world.”
“I don’t want that. No, I really, genuinely don’t. Absolutely not.”
Her words were packed with feeling, almost desperate, as she spoke. Seeing the earnest expression on her face, Annecy chuckled, his shoulders shaking with laughter.
Not pleased with how he laughed so heartily, his face turning red all the way up to his neck, Goyo glared at him.
“You live for teasing me, don’t you?”
“That’s correct.”
“Excuse me?”
“The joy of teasing you, the joy of finding you adorable, the joy of laughing together, and living together. Things like that.”
Annecy, messing up his neatly styled bangs, leaned forward and planted a kiss on her exposed forehead. The sensation of his lips against her skin felt sweeter than usual, making Goyo instinctively grip the railing tighter.
Annecy smiled softly.
“I mean it, Goyo. Ever since I married you, my life has become more colorful than ever.”
Goyo parted her lips, unsure of what to say, but just then, the sound of footsteps behind them interrupted the moment. It was one of the maids from the Eliom estate.
“Dinner is being prepared, and you are requested to come down.”
“Tell them we’ll be down shortly.”
Goyo, secretly relieved that the moment had been broken, straightened up from where she’d been leaning against the railing. As she was about to start walking, she felt a light tug on her dress.
“Hm?” She turned her head toward Annecy, only to see his large hands brush past her face.
“Your ribbon has come undone.”
“…Oh.”
‘For a second, I thought he was going to hug me.’
Annecy’s hands moved behind her, gently retying the ribbon around her neck. As his fingers worked, the fabric of the ribbon brushed together, making soft, almost musical sounds.
The ribbon, loosely tied around her neck, shifted under Annecy’s touch, the fabric gliding against her skin. And just beside her neck, his breath hovered.
The situation felt oddly unsettling, and Goyo unconsciously held her breath.
Whether Annecy noticed or not, he remained focused, his eyes lowered and his attention fixed on the back of her neck.
After a few moments of fidgeting with her hands and waiting, Annecy finished tying the ribbon with deliberate care.
Once he stepped back, Goyo exhaled the breath she had been holding. Determined not to reveal her earlier unease, she deliberately met Annecy’s gaze with a smile.
“Thank you.”
“Think nothing of it.”
Annecy smiled back, his expression just as calm and polished as hers. It was annoyingly flawless.
“Come to think of it, I forgot to ask, Goyo.”
“What about?”
“Did I win the bet?”
At his question, Goyo glanced down at her dress, remembering what they’d been discussing.
Due to the tight schedule, the dress Annecy had chosen for her was only fitted briefly, with final adjustments made quickly. The first time she’d actually worn the completed gown was that day.
Since the succession ceremony had been scheduled quite early, Goyo had barely finished putting on the dress before being ushered into the carriage. Because of the rush, she hadn’t had much time to properly assess its appearance.
Of course, both Annecy and numerous maids and servants had made sure there were no issues with her outfit, but Goyo herself hadn’t given it much thought until now.
Finally able to take her time, Goyo’s eyes slowly roamed over the dress.
The crimson gown, even redder than Annecy’s hair, was neither simple nor modest. It was extravagant, both in color and design.
While it didn’t reveal much skin, it was adorned with decorations that drew attention to every inch, even in the most subtle places. The embellishments were bold, designed to catch every eye in the room.
‘Did he win the bet?’
Anyone who saw the gown would think it was stunning, and even Goyo had to admit it now looked quite beautiful to her as well.
There was no denying it. With a resigned smile, Goyo replied, “Yes, unfortunately, I’ve lost the bet.”
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