Marriage with a Suspiciously Demure Husband - Chapter 97.1
Chapter 97.1
Mrs. Tene left, and Kairos stood frozen, unable to continue his work. He feigned composure, but inside, turmoil brewed.
He was pleased that Tene, a second mother to him, seemed to adore Hazel. He appreciated her initiative in handing over the key and subtly broaching the subject. But… he understood why Hazel hadn’t accepted the shelter key.
It was because of their one-year contract, the fragile thread he’d managed to weave to keep her by his side. Lately, a flicker of hope had begun to warm him.
Hazel’s coldness seemed to be thawing, replaced by a nascent trust that exhilarated him.
‘Perhaps…’
He’d dared to think.
‘…We can recapture what we once had. Perhaps my sincerity will reach her, and our bond will deepen.’
He believed that with a little more effort, Hazel would open her heart to him again. Yet, each time he encountered this wall between them, a chill ran through him.
Although his mind urged him to persevere, his heart faltered. A burning unease swept through him, leaving him feeling desolate. The fear that she might leave at any moment clung to him, threatening to consume his thoughts.
“Am I being too hasty?”
It had only been a few days. There was only one remedy: to see Hazel’s face. He couldn’t delay any longer.
* * *
“Kairos.”
He’d just finished washing up, preparing to see Hazel, when a welcome voice reached him from nearby.
“Hazel.”
Kairos’s eyes widened in surprise. She had sought him out before he’d even gone to his study.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
A wave of emotion washed over him, but he fought to maintain his composure.
“…I heard you were in your study. I told the others not to disturb you.”
“That explains the quiet. I was taking my time, thinking you’d be late, but they told me you were here.”
“I was just about to go see you. I heard you visited the greenhouse today.”
Kairos naturally fell into step beside her as she walked.
“Ah, you heard? Yes, Mrs. Tene told me about it. I had no idea there was such a large one in the center of the castle.”
“Do you like it?”
Her genuine pleasure shone through as she nodded, a smile gracing her lips.
“It’s a lovely place for tea.”
“Shall we have tea there this weekend?”
“Well, that wouldn’t be so bad…”
He’d casually extended the invitation, and Hazel, who had been responding nonchalantly, now shot him a playful glare.
Kairos answered with a smile.
“We could have dessert too.”
“…Hmm. I’ll think about it.”
“It’s beautiful at night, too.”
“At night?”
Hazel’s eyes lit up. Kairos seized the opportunity.
“How about now? I can tell you about my inspection.”
“Hmm.”
Her lips pursed in thought.
“You’ll like it.”
‘Come on, come on, come on.’
Kairos chanted a silent plea, a prayer he’d never uttered before.
“…Alright.”
“I’ll have them bring us tea.”
‘The gods are on my side.’
Instead of sunlight, the night greenhouse was bathed in a soft glow emanating from the corners of the glass ceiling, revealing the open sky.
Hazel’s smile brightened as they entered. She had assumed the greenhouse would be dark at night, but she was pleasantly surprised. She delighted in the small lamps scattered throughout, remarking that they looked like fireflies from afar.
“You were right.”
“You like it?”
“Yes, very much. I’ve never seen anything like this, not even in the Imperial Palace.”
“I’m glad. Shall we sit?”
Instead of the table and chairs, Kairos steered them toward a sofa where they could sit side-by-side. He wanted to be closer to her.
“Why are we going there?”
“The view is better from here.”
“….”
Hazel eyed him suspiciously.
Unlike the table and chairs, the sofa required them to sit close together. Kairos feigned innocence, a guileless smile on his face, thinking, ‘I should have asked for a smaller sofa, not a two-seater.’
“Trust me. You can see the night sky better from here. Really.”
He coaxed her like one luring a wary cat.
“Just wait and see.”
After a moment of hesitation, Hazel reluctantly joined him on the sofa. She leaned back against the cushions, gazing up at the ceiling, and fell silent.
“See? I told you.”
“…Be quiet.”
A chuckle escaped Kairos’s lips.
The day’s fatigue seemed to melt away. He had an hour before the tea arrived, an hour to savor her company.
“So, how was the inspection?”
“The situation is better than expected. The barrier has been fully inspected.”
“Oh? That’s good to hear.”
“But, as you said, the frequency of monster appearances is much higher than last year’s report. While that means more spoils, it’s not necessarily a good thing.”
“What about the tainted land?”
“For now, it seems manageable with the priests’ purification. I’ve ordered continuous patrols in the area, so they’ll inform us if any further problems arise.”
“Yes… Hmm.”
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