My Dear Husband, Let's Keep It Business-Like! ~Countess Anastasia, Raised in The Downtown, Won't Give Up Her Way~ - Episode 21

“Ah, my dear madam, you must be tired from your long journey. Welcome.”

When I arrived at the count’s mansion in the territory, Marcus was already waiting for me at the entrance, perhaps having received a heads-up.

“Long time no see, Marcus. Thank you for welcoming me. I’m sorry for the sudden visit, but I’ll be staying for a while.”

Hastily pulling out the lady mode from within and smiling gracefully.

The carefree girls’ talk in the carriage was so much fun that I felt like I was back in my commoner days. I need to pull myself together.

“Not at all. Please take your time and enjoy.”

While Marcus and I were exchanging greetings, Marie and Dahlia, who had received their luggage from the coachman, lined up behind me.

Both of them have returned to the composed faces of professional maids.

As expected.

“Well then, let me guide you inside the mansion right away.”

When Marcus turned around and started walking away, he noticed that Dahlia’s gaze was sharply piercing his back.

As expected, this doesn’t seem to be a coincidence or a misunderstanding.

The room for the lady of the house that Marcus showed me was splendidly luxurious, and as an ordinary person, I felt completely out of place.

For now, as she quietly sat on the sofa and rested her body, Marie…

“I will brew some delicious chamomile tea to help soothe your wife’s fatigue!”

Saying that, they energetically left the room.

Dahlia is efficiently putting away the dress she brought into the closet.

Both of you are such hard workers.

I was absentmindedly watching Dahlia move around briskly, but I couldn’t shake off the nagging feeling about Marcus and Dahlia ‘s earlier interaction.

“Hey, Dahlia. Do you have a moment?”

“Yes. How may I assist you, ma’am?”

Having already finished putting away the dress and starting to organize the accessories, Dahlia stops and looks at me.

“Um, I’m sorry if I’m just imagining things, but… could it be that Dahlia and Marcus know each other not just professionally but personally?”

When I boldly asked, Dahlia answered with a slightly surprised expression.

“With Mr. Marcus, you say? Did you perhaps hear something from someone…?”

“Oh! It’s not like that. When I was introduced to Marcus in the royal capital and just now when I was shown around. It feels like Dahlia’s way of looking at Marcus is a bit different from others.”

“Oh, is that so? If your face shows your feelings so clearly, you are not fit to be a noble.”

Seeing Dahlia smile with a hint of self-deprecation, I hurriedly try to follow up. It’s just that I’ve become overly sensitive to people’s expressions; Dahlia is by no means the type to wear her feelings on her face.

Marie’s feelings show on her face right away, you know. But that’s what I like about her.

“Does that mean I really have some connection with Marcus beyond just work?”

When I nervously asked, Dahlia hesitated for a moment before starting to speak as if she had resigned herself to it.

“Well… it might be a bit of a long story, but is that alright with you?”

I nod repeatedly and then encourage Dahlia to sit on the sofa as well.

“Since it would be troublesome if you heard it in a strange way, I want to tell you in advance, but the truth is, I came to the count’s house to learn manners because my father wished for a connection between the count and me.”

“Eh!? Is that so?”

Then, wouldn’t that make you think even less of me…?

“Oh! Please don’t misunderstand! I never had such feelings at all. I have never been infatuated with you, my lord, even once!!”

“Oh, no, you don’t have to worry about that. I’m not like that either. It’s purely a political marriage, and I have zero interest in it in a romantic sense!”

“If the count hears this, he’ll be in tears, both of you…”

Before I knew it, Marie was standing there with a cup of chamomile tea, looking at something with a disappointed expression.

I also urged Marie with my eyes to “sit down, sit down,” and continued listening to Dahlia ‘s story.

“We are a viscount family, but we also own a trading company, and our income from the company is greater than the taxes from our territory, so we have a merchant-like lineage. We have strong business ties with the Hamilton Count family, and we had a particularly close relationship with their steward, Marcus. So, my father approached Marcus and asked if he could take me in as a pupil in etiquette at the Count’s household.”

While drinking the chamomile tea that Marie promptly made for me, I nod and encourage her to continue.

“However, as I mentioned earlier, I had no romantic feelings for the Count, and it seemed the Count wasn’t very interested in such matters either. My father kept urging me to be more aggressive, which was quite troublesome for me…”

Dahlia let out a sigh, perhaps recalling those days.

“I truly think that the Earl is a beautiful and wonderful person, but how should I put it… personally, it’s just not enough for me…”

Ah, I can understand that. It’s lacking, right? Like being reliable and all. While I was nodding in agreement, it seemed Marie was dissatisfied.

“Eh? What do you mean!? I think the count is cool, though.”

Tilting their head.

“Age and… meat and…”

Hmm-hmm… wait, huh!?

“Well… you could say it gains depth over the years…”

While we were talking, Dahlia’s eyes became moist, and she seemed to be getting a bit dreamy…

“The composure that comes from having tasted both the sweet and the sour… the melancholy that lingers in one’s back… the subtle allure that differs from the flashy young ones… it’s that kind of mature flavor that is overwhelmingly lacking!!”

This is… no way…

“Dahlia-san… are you into withered types?”

Mariiiyyy!!

This kid can casually say things that I could never even dream of saying!

“When I didn’t know what to do and was at a loss, it was Marcus who reached out to me!”

Oh, good, they didn’t hear me.

Dahlia is speaking so passionately that she can’t even hear Marie’s slip of the tongue.

“While all this was happening, a marriage proposal came from the Fairfanville Duke family, and the Count got engaged. Even my father finally gave up. So, I am quite grateful to the lady. They did tell me to return to the Viscount family, but I didn’t want to leave because I enjoy my work at the Count family and the pay is good. So, I’ve been sticking around and continuing to work.”

“I see… so that means, the relationship with Marcus is…”

“I’m aiming for it.”

“How can you be so brazen!?”

“I’m betting everything on this stay in the territory.”

“Too honest!!”

I was so surprised that I leaned back, and Marie was squealing.

For some reason, Dahlia, who was supposed to be the main party involved, was the calmest of them all.

As expected, a woman who has made up her mind is different.

And so, the night deepened.

The servants introduced before dinner all seemed like nice people, and as I looked out the window, I felt that my stay at the count’s estate was going to be an enjoyable one.

Marie was promptly explaining to the cook Baker about the chewy bread, a local specialty of the baronial estate, which she had discussed with him in the carriage.

Baker was also really excited, saying, “That looks delicious!” so it seems like we’ll be able to actually eat it soon.

“Hehe, I’m looking forward to it.”

When I open the window, the smell of greenery and wind, unlike the capital, is pleasant.

In the sky, there are far more stars shining than in the royal capital.

So many stars…

“Annaaaaaaa!!”

No! These are the spirits!!

A massive number of spirits, enough to obscure my vision, came crashing through the window into the room.

“Whhhaaatttttttttttttt”

“Wait a minute! Don’t talk all at once!”

I’ve never seen so many spirits all at once before. As I was taken aback by the suddenness of it, the spirits, with bright smiles and giggles, all said in unison.

Cookies!!!

Thus, the next day, I found myself baking a large batch of cookies next to the baker who was struggling with Marie’s recipe from the morning.