The Incompetent Noblewoman Marries the 'Devil of the Far East' as a Substitute Bride—Told by Her Parents to 'Die in Place of Your Sister,' She Left the House, but Her New Family Turned Out to Be Wonderful and She's Happy - Episode 2.1

After finishing shoveling the snow around the mansion and in front of the neighbors’ houses, I came back.

“Rei!”

I turn my face towards the direction of the voice.
Standing with the sunrise behind him is a tall, very handsome man.

“Master Satoru!”

Ichijo Satoru-sama.
The head of the Ichijo family, and my husband.
And a very important person.

With pure white hair and eyes as beautiful as rubies.
Even though his build is slender, he is muscular and about 180 centimeters tall.

Unknowingly, I was running towards Satoru-sama.
They must have returned from their night patrol.
I was moving not so much because I had to greet him as a wife, but simply because I wanted to talk to him.

Satoru-sama rushed over with incredible speed and hugged me tightly from the front.
At that moment, I am enveloped in a warm feeling.

Just being hugged by someone I love makes me feel so easily happy.

“Rei! I was worried about you!? When I came home, you weren’t in your bedroom…”
“Ah! I-I apologize!”

It seems I’ve made you worry.

“Just in case, I left a note.”
“Oh, is that so? Sorry, I couldn’t think of anything just because you weren’t here…”

You care about me that much?

“I’m happy.”

Before, I was afraid to express my feelings. I thought that someone like me, an incompetent young lady, shouldn’t casually speak to the head of the Eastern nobility.

But now it’s different.
I like Satoru-sama. Satoru-sama also loves me.
Moreover, he is very kind.

So, right now, I’m trying to express my thoughts exactly as they are.

Because, if I do that, Satoru-sama will be very happy.
When Satoru-sama is happy, I am happy too.

“Rei, what have you been doing since early morning?”
“I was shoveling snow. With the power of my Tōtetsu ability, swoosh!”

Satoru-sama bowed to me.

“I’m sorry. I made you suffer in the cold. I made you do such harsh work under this freezing sky! I’m sorry!”

Harsh, labor?

“Just shoveling snow, isn’t it? It’s not harsh at all. And cold weather? This is practically warm!”

“The winters in Geita-Niga, where I used to live, are nothing like this in terms of snowfall. Moreover, during severe cold spells, even eyelashes can freeze.”

“Ah, I see… it’s even colder.”

“Compared to shoveling snow early in the morning on such days, this isn’t hard at all! We can use snow shoveling tools, and besides, we can dress warmly like this. Oh, Satoru-sama! May I borrow your coat… wait, what’s wrong?”

Satoru-sama looked at me with eyes that seemed to see something pitiful.

“Rei… Were you, by any chance, forced to shovel snow when you were at Geita Niga?”

“Yes. Because the servants won’t do it.”

“And you didn’t have any snow shoveling tools, and they didn’t lend you a coat either?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

I wonder what that means…

“Oh, Rei… poor thing… it must have been tough for you.”

Satoru-sama tightly hugs me, “Gyuuu.”
I wonder what happened?

I don’t understand it, but when I’m hugged tightly, it feels so good, I can’t get enough.
The fact that it was a public place completely slipped my mind.

“Rei. From now on, you don’t have to shovel snow by yourself, okay? If you want, you can leave everything to the black-suited staff.”

“Thank you for your thoughtfulness. However, I’m fine. I can handle this much on my own.”

Moreover, I don’t want to make everyone do something difficult from early in the morning.
Because they usually treat me kindly.
I want to repay that kindness.

“Understood. Just make sure to let someone know before you go out. By the way, what happened to Sojiro?”

Today’s bodyguard is Sojiro-kun.

It seems like you’re completely sleepy.

Sojiro-kun is still a child.
It seems that staying up late is not their strong suit.
By now, they are sound asleep. I felt it would be rude to wake them, so I came out alone.

“Rei is a kind and considerate woman. Moreover, she also takes care of her duties as the head of the household. She is a very good wife. The term ‘good wife, wise mother’ truly describes you.”

“Sa, Satoru-sama… y-you’re overpraising me…”

My lips curl up into a smile.
It must be because Lord Satoru praised me. Even though it was freezing cold this morning, my heart felt warm.

“Ray, when you’re shy, you’re cuter than anyone else in this world. When you make that face, I just want to kiss you.”

“Uh, uh, um… mmm”

If he desires it, I wouldn’t hesitate to offer my body.
I close my eyes and lean in closer.

Then his cold hand enveloped my cheek, and with a gentle touch, his finger was placed on my lips.

“Just kidding.”

“Joke…?”

A little, no, quite disappointing.
I wanted to kiss Satoru-sama.

“Is that so, Rei? I’m fine with it, but are you okay with doing this in front of everyone?”

“Huh!?”

On the fence of the Ichijo family, there were people in black suits.
Since everyone here has special abilities, it’s as easy as climbing on top of the fence.

Those guys in black suits were grinning and staring at me!
I can feel my face getting hot…

“Um, well, here is a bit…”

“I’m fine, you know? Didn’t you look very eager just a moment ago, Rei? Huh?”

“S-Satoru-sama… y-you’re being mean.”

“Haha. Sorry, Rei. You’re just so cute that I can’t help but want to tease you a little.”

It’s an emotion I can’t understand, but it seems like people want to play pranks on the ones they like.

“I like that cute Rei. What about you?”

“Th-that’s embarrassing…”

“What’s wrong, do you hate me?”

“Geez”

“Hahaha,” Satoru-sama laughed happily.
Even if he teases me, I don’t mind at all. I can tell that he does it because he likes me.

“Are you not going to continue?”

And, everyone in black suits. Seriously.

“I won’t do it! There’s no way I could do it with everyone watching!”

“What’s going on?”

Everyone looks disappointed.

“Rei-chan!”

A small boy comes out of the gate.
Hyakumonki Sojiro-kun.

A clan of demons that has served the Ichijo family for generations, and my bodyguards.

“Wow! Your face is all red! It was so cold, right? Sorry about that!”

It seems that Sojiro-kun thinks I made him work in the cold.
A kind child.

But my face isn’t red just because it’s cold outside.

“Rei’s face is red, but it’s not because it’s cold.”

“Huh? So, does Satoru-niichan have some other reason besides being cold? Your face is all red.”

I was so embarrassed that I couldn’t look at Satoru-sama face.
But upon closer inspection, Satoru-sama ears were also bright red.

“Aren’t you a bit embarrassed yourself, already?”

“Haha. Alright, let’s have breakfast. But first, thank you, Rei, for shoveling the snow. It really helps.”

When Satoru-sama says that, the black-clad people also say the same.

“Thank you, Miss!” “Shoveling snow is tough, isn’t it?” “It must have been cold, right? I’ve made you a warm meal!”

“I’ll give you a massage in the bath later!”

To my kind husband and family.
I love them.

I once again thanked God for being able to come to this mansion.