I Married the Strongest Magician - Chapter 6

After silently eating the meal I’d made, she simply said, “I’m going to bed,” and went up to her room.

I replied only with, “Good night,” and began clearing her dishes. Honestly… wasn’t this just like gaining another troublesome dependent? One that used to be a pampered noble daughter, no less.

“Marriage”—what a convenient word.

She probably still thinks that even clearing her own dishes is a maid’s duty, and yet, here I am washing her plates. I didn’t even sneak into her room at night.

…Why?

The strong-willed amber eyes with their slightly raised corners—and within them, the frightened look of a wounded girl—it was that gaze that made me hesitate to touch her.

Seriously, I must be…

If they ever painted a portrait of a “good guy,” I’m sure my face would be on it.

With a sigh, I quickly washed the dishes and headed to bed.

Someday…

Will we ever become a real married couple, in every sense?

…Doubtful. 

Not with how she is now. She probably still believes she’s the reincarnation of some queen or something.  There’s no way she’d ever be interested in the vice-captain of the Magician Corps.

It’s rare, but for once—me, who’s always the one doing the rejecting—I felt like I was the one being turned down.

Cherie… huh…and with that thought, I drifted off to sleep.

CRASH!!!

The sound of several plates shattering jolted me awake.

“What the—!?

A burglar!? ”

…But really, who would be stupid enough to break into the home of the vice-captain of the Mage Corps?

I rushed to the kitchen.

There she was—Cherie—cleaning up the broken dishes. Apparently, she’d tried cooking. The carrots were cut in a… very unsightly way.

“Hey, wait. You cut your hand.”

“I’m fine. This is my duty as a wife.”

“Just give me your hand.”

 I gently pulled her closer and cast a healing spell on her injured fingers.

“…That’s right…Anyone can use magic… and yet…”

Her amber eyes trembled ever so slightly.

Wounded pride. A stubborn need to appear strong…

And I—I found myself pulling Cherie into an embrace.