My Dear Husband, Let's Keep It Business-Like! ~Countess Anastasia, Raised in The Downtown, Won't Give Up Her Way~ - Episode 61

What was that just now?

I feel like I’ve been told something utterly outrageous that I can’t just ignore.

At the very least, it is not something the Crown Prince, who is engaged, should say to his subordinate’s new wife.

By the way, the Crown Prince’s fiancée is the princess of the neighboring country, Austburg.

It is the country where Alexander, your brother-in-law, was studying abroad until just recently, and it is also the country where your husband’s grandparents are currently resting.

Yes, Austburg is a great power with a level of national strength that is incomparable to the Fairfanville Kingdom in many respects.

Even though I am engaged to the princess of such a great nation, what an imprudent remark…

I had a vague feeling from the unfortunate state of the leading duke’s family, but could it be that the Fairfanville royal family is also unfortunate?

Huh? Isn’t that not okay?

“Ana! Are you okay? Did they do anything to you!?”

My husband returned in a rather flustered state, perhaps because he was extremely worried about me being with the Crown Prince.

I want to tell you about what happened earlier, but… it’s a bit difficult here.

It’s not the kind of thing that should be overheard by others, and there’s a possibility that my husband might get upset.

“Sir, please lower your voice. I’m fine.”

“Ah, ah. Sorry.”

“Is there somewhere we can talk calmly?”

The husband answers while nodding.

“There is a private room open for breaks. Let’s go there.”

It was when I placed my hand on my husband’s arm and was about to leave the venue.

“Sister-in-lawーーー!”

I heard the voice of my cute little sister-in-law, Christina, in full-on mode from behind.

When I look back, Christina is running towards me with a speed that perfectly balances elegance and playfulness, her steps making a light patter.

Cute, just plain cute. That’s what’s scary.

And, in his hand, a bottle of red wine, no less.

Is that kid going to die if they don’t pour some liquid on me?

My husband tried to stand in front of me to protect me from Christina, but then he noticed something and instead took a step back. Nice judgment, husband.

“Oh my, Christina! It’s dangerous to run!”

When she smiles sweetly, she switches to her kind sister-in-law mode and draws attention with her slightly louder voice.

Ah, Christina’s dress is lovely too.

Now that I understand how much time, effort, and people’s feelings go into making a dress, it pains my heart to think about the disaster that is about to happen.

…but we must brush off the sparks that fall upon us.

“Eek!”

At that very moment, I heard a cute scream, and wine came pouring towards me—

『『『Dodge!!』』』

I heard the reassuring voices of the spirits on both sides and above me, and a localized gust of wind blew through.

Splashhhh!!

“………..?”

What was there was not my figure, cruelly doused in wine… but rather, the shocking sight of Christina with wine splashed on her face.

“Wh-what, what, what…”

Anger or shame, or perhaps both.

Christina trembled and glared at me fiercely.

“Why me!? Ah,… no, um…”

“That’s terrible, my sister-in-law!”

No, no, no, no, that’s just impossible.

You probably want to make it seem like I spilled the wine, but everyone saw Christina come running towards me with the wine, you know?

“Oh my, how pitiful. What a predicament, Christina. I’m sorry I can’t help you, dear sister. I’m such a bad sister.”

“!!”

I pretended to be overly troubled, as if I were comforting a toddler who had dropped their ice cream and was crying out, “My ice cream fell!!” even though they had dropped it themselves. Some of the nobles burst out laughing.

Instead of Christina’s usual “devoted younger sister who adores her kind older sister and the older sister who is a bit mean,” I’ve changed it to “the younger sister who acts like a spoiled child and the older sister who gets dragged around by her.”

Christina is turning bright red and trembling, but is it okay for her to leave early?

I don’t think this is a sight I can show to others…

For some reason, a few of the attendants who had only been observing the situation finally rushed out here.

The attendants were trying to take Christina to the waiting room, but Christina,

“It’s not me!”

And, shout.

No, no, it’s obviously you who needs to leave, right? I thought so, but for some reason, one of the servants who said that turned to face me.

“Since the wine might spill on your dress, please come this way.”

No, it doesn’t look like a single drop got on it.

“Thank you for your concern. However, as you can see, not a single drop of wine has touched me.”

“No, just to be safe, let’s check in the waiting room…”

“That’s quite enough.”

“But, just in case…”

Something is coming on really strong.

Or rather, could it be that this whole thing wasn’t just about ruining the dress, but that it was a complete plan to take me to the dressing room as well…?

As expected, it sent shivers down my spine.

“Are you saying you don’t need a wife?”

My husband intervened between me and the waiter, pulling me closer. It was quite a close embrace, but strangely, it gave me a bit of comfort at that moment.

Ah, it’s a bit reassuring… which is frustrating. It’s reassuringly frustrating…

The unfamiliar night party and the continuous battles with the young ladies, and on top of that, realizing that I had been exposed to dangers beyond my imagination, made me feel quite exhausted. For now, I decided to leave this situation to my husband.

Somehow, when I just stick close to my husband, I can feel the tension in my shoulders easing. It seems I had been holding a lot of tension in my body without even realizing it.

As we were doing this, perhaps having heard the commotion, Alexander, my brother-in-law, appeared, parting the crowd.

Looking at his real sister, who was dripping wine from her bangs, and his sister-in-law, who was snuggled up to his husband, what on earth did he think?

“What on earth happened here, Count Hamilton?”

Given the situation, it seems best to ask my husband. Alexander, my brother-in-law, will ask him.

“The Duchess of Fairfanville spoke to my wife, but she seemed a bit flustered and spilled her own wine. Right now, the staff is taking her to the waiting room.”

Given that there were so many onlookers, there was probably nothing more that could be done. Seeing Christina nod obediently, Alexander, her brother-in-law, entrusted her to the servant.

“…What about Anastasia?”

“The waiter was concerned about whether my wife’s dress was dirty, but it seems he was a bit too overzealous. Even though I declined, he tried to take my wife out, which made me feel a bit uneasy.”

Alexander, my brother-in-law, looks at the servant with a somewhat menacing gaze.

“Sorry for overstepping!!”

Seeing the deeply bowing servant, Alexander, my brother-in-law, let out a light sigh and, signaling with his hand for the servant to leave, turned to face me.

“It’s been a while, Anastasia. You look a bit tired, and there’s so much to talk about. Would you like to have a little chat in my dressing room with Count Hamilton as well?”

Th-this is! This is exactly the chance I’ve been wishing for!!

“Yes! Absolutely!”

I took a deep breath and answered like that, then smiled sweetly at my brother-in-law, Alexander.