◊ Chapter 9 ◊
Rough Thoughts, Anxious Eyes, and Me Watching Them
It was only natural that Kai disliked me.
His first love had become his sister,
and he probably thought I was the one who caused it.
Kai would never accept this marriage so easily.
If he could give up his love for Coral that easily,
he wouldn’t be the male lead.
Macaron probably thought it was nothing more than a son struggling with his new stepmother.
It was unlikely,
but just in case he tried too hard to change Kai’s mind,
I added one more thing.
“You don’t have to push yourself too much. I expected this to happen.”
Even after I finished speaking and turned around,
he stood there with a blank expression.
Like someone who had just been scammed.
After Calypse left,
Macaron fell into deep thought.
The cube in his hands was as twisted as his own thoughts,
unable to return to its proper shape.
Even if she was only his contract wife,
Macaron already knew everything about Calypse.
A woman whose mother died the day she was born,
and who was raised by her stepmother.
The rumors that called her a “villainess” throughout high society.
Her foolish ex-husband,
who spent his time cheating and gambling.
…
The past where she raised and abused a daughter who wasn’t even her own.
From the very first meeting,
Calypse had seemed strange to Macaron.
‘She’s bringing a child who isn’t even her daughter? Why?’
The day he first saw Coral playing in the garden,
Calypse had been beside her.
‘Is she acting just so I’ll see it?’
The garden could be seen clearly from his office.
If she planned it,
it was entirely possible.
‘How much practice did she give that child to smile so naturally?’
He wasn’t especially fond of children,
yet his eyes kept returning to Coral.
After that,
Macaron noticed more strange things about Calypse.
The mountain of old documents became perfectly organized reports and account books after passing through her hands.
With just a little proper training,
she could easily work as the Empire’s best Imperial secretary.
The business proposals and financial plans for House Crade’s territory even included ideas he himself had overlooked.
Now,
he had actually started looking forward to whatever document she would write next.
She worked far harder than necessary.
That alone made him suspicious.
‘She’s getting involved in personnel matters and the territory… Is she planning to steal something important?’
Then today,
she had surprised him again.
‘She wants Kai to learn swordsmanship?’
The fact that she specifically mentioned swordsmanship showed she had thought about it carefully.
After all,
he himself had spent a long time deciding whether Kai should learn it,
knowing how important the timing was.
Yet everything she said today had struck right at the heart of the issue.
He couldn’t argue against a single word.
The truth was,
Macaron hadn’t left Kai untrained because he disliked swordsmanship.
He simply didn’t want to force his son to do something he hated.
‘And yet… she says she’ll convince Kai herself?’
She boldly volunteered to do what even Macaron,
his own father,
had failed to do.
Macaron let out a quiet laugh.
But the moment he caught his own reflection in the mirror,
his face became serious again.
‘No matter what she tries… she’ll fail to convince Kai.’
He still clearly remembered Kai coming to him not long ago,
begging him not to marry Calypse.
Right now,
it was impossible for her,
someone Kai openly opposed,
to persuade him.
‘Why is she trying so hard?’
‘She’s only going to leave after one year.’
Early the next morning,
a familiar figure appeared outside the East Annex.
Just as I thought…
It was Macaron.
He looked exhausted,
as though he hadn’t slept at all.
The moment he saw me,
he walked over.
His tall figure quickly covered me with a large shadow,
making me flinch for a moment.
He didn’t seem to notice.
Instead,
he spoke bluntly.
“Let’s have breakfast together this morning.”
“…Just the two of us?”
He let out a small laugh,
as if wondering what I was talking about.
“No.”
“I meant a family breakfast.”
Honestly,
I hadn’t expected that.
“Did Kai agree to it?”
“Kai suggested it first.”
Did he somehow convince Kai overnight?
‘Kai changed his mind already?’
His tired eyes looked suspicious,
but there was no reason for me to worry about it.
“I’m glad Kai suggested it.”
“I’ll bring Coral with me.”
“Then we’ll be waiting.”
Since it was our first family meal,
I returned to my room and happily got ready.
Even in my previous life,
I had never experienced what it meant to have a family.
Just the thought of eating together as one made me excited.
It would probably still be awkward…
But at least,
it was a beginning.
After putting on slightly softer makeup than usual,
I took Coral with me to the dining room.
Kai was already there.
When he noticed me,
he awkwardly lowered his head in greeting.
Today,
his shining black hair and bright black eyes looked even more dazzling than usual.
As expected of the male lead.
He was handsome enough to marry our Coral.
‘Once he grows up, he’ll become as handsome as Macaron.’
At least,
he didn’t look pale like before.
But…
Coral seemed strangely awkward around Kai.
The two of them didn’t exchange a single word.
‘Are they still having their little lovers’ quarrel? How cute.’
While I was lost in thought,
Macaron entered the dining room.
Soon,
the table was filled with delicious-looking dishes.
Looking closely,
everyone had slightly different food.
Coral,
who disliked mushrooms,
received corn soup.
I received cream soup.
Even the meals had been carefully prepared according to each person’s tastes.
‘Did Macaron pay attention to something this detailed? No wonder he looked so…
His personality was naturally thoughtful,
but this level of care was impossible without genuine consideration.
“Please, eat.”
Watching Kai happily enjoy his meal,
I also took a spoonful of soup.
The rich,
smooth flavor filled my mouth,
bringing a warm feeling of happiness.
When I looked to the side,
I saw Macaron quietly watching Coral with a gentle smile.
‘I thought he only knew how to keep a serious face.’
“Eat plenty, Coral.”
“I prepared a few things you might like.”
“I hope they suit your taste.”
A table overflowing with food…
and he called it “a few things.”
That was so like Macaron.
But strangely,
Coral hesitated.
“Um…”
“Speak freely.”
Macaron tried to sound gentle,
but to my ears,
his deep voice still echoed like it came from inside a cave.
“Can we… switch soups?”
Coral’s eyes were fixed on Macaron’s soup.
But his soup contained king oyster mushrooms,
which she hated.
“Coral,
this is mushroom soup.”
“Are you sure?”
Even Macaron tilted his head in confusion.
Coral nodded.
“Yes.”
“I like mushrooms now.”
Children often changed their tastes as they grew up.
But I never expected it to happen within just a few months.
Besides,
Coral wasn’t the type to ask to exchange food,
no matter how delicious someone else’s looked.
Even so,
I silently cheered for her.
More than anything,
she had finally started expressing what she wanted.
‘Has our Coral finally stopped worrying so much about other people’s feelings?’
Macaron gladly exchanged their soups.
But…
Coral didn’t take a single spoonful.
Only after she noticed everyone looking at her
did she finally begin eating.
Like a child carefully watching everyone’s reactions.
“Does it taste good?”
Coral immediately forced a smile.
“Yes.”
“It’s really delicious.”
For some reason,
her voice sounded unusually high,
as though she were flustered.
It was only a tiny difference,
but I had spent every day with Coral.
There was no way I wouldn’t notice.
‘Why does even her smile look forced?’
A strange feeling of anxiety washed over me.
Still…
she kept eating spoon after spoon.
Maybe she truly liked it.
‘Am I just worrying for nothing?’
Macaron must have reached the same conclusion,
because he finally began eating his own soup.
But Coral wasn’t the only strange one.
‘Kai… what’s wrong with him now?’
He had completely stopped eating,
staring blankly at Coral.
His face was so pale
it almost looked transparent.
I even wondered if he was sick.
“Kai,
are you alright?”
Perhaps hearing me call his name startled him.
He flinched,
lowered his head,
and quietly answered,
“…Yes?”
“Yes.”
After that,
Kai focused only on eating,
keeping his eyes fixed on his plate.
‘Maybe I’m just being too sensitive because it’s our first family meal.’
Silence filled the room.
Only the sound of silverware touching plates echoed through the dining room.
As time passed,
the tension slowly faded away.
The delicious smell filled the air,
and the sizzling steak melted softly in my mouth.
This was my first real family meal.
I had never experienced one in my previous life.
Nor in this life.
Even if these family meals would only last for one year,
I wanted to remember this moment for a long time.
After finishing my steak,
dessert was served.
I took a spoonful of ice cream.
The sweet flavor melted gently in my mouth.
Then—
Coral’s sharp voice suddenly echoed across the room.
“Stop eating so loudly.”
For the first time,
I saw Coral glaring sharply at Kai.
“Are you a baby, Oppa? You’re so annoying.”
Kai hadn’t been eating loudly at all.
Did he do something wrong?
No…
Kai would never do anything that Coral disliked.
More importantly…
Our Coral wasn’t this kind of child.
She would never act so rudely during a family meal.
Kai slowly looked up.
He looked like he was about to cry.
But Coral didn’t stop.
“And what’s wrong with your bangs?”
“Do you think you’re some cool older brother or something?”
“…?”
“I’m embarrassed that you’re my Oppa.”
“…!”
Kai’s face became even paler than before.
Should I comfort Kai?
Stop Coral?
Or…
My mind went completely blank.
I was so shocked that I looked toward Macaron.
He also seemed surprised.
He was already looking at me.
I silently begged him for help with my eyes.
Perhaps he understood,
because he gently held my arm.
Even in this emergency,
his calm expression somehow eased my racing heart.
‘But… why is he looking at me like that?’
It wasn’t just calm.
There was something strangely captivating in his eyes.
If it were anyone else,
they would have been completely mesmerized.
He looked at me as though he wanted to swallow me whole.
As though he could see straight through me.
The moment I swallowed nervously,
he tightened his grip on my hand
and gently pulled me closer.
His fingers lightly brushed against my palm.
Then,
in a teasing whisper beside my ear,
he said,
“I can’t keep my eyes open, my wife.”
“…What?”
‘At a time like this… what’s gotten into him?’
‘Was asking everyone to eat together a mistake?’
‘Did something happen to Coral’s soup?’
‘Does she have a mushroom allergy?’
Countless thoughts rushed through my mind.
Worried,
I carefully looked around Macaron’s eyes.
“Do your eyes hurt?”
At that moment,
Macaron lowered his head,
and our eyes met.
He didn’t look away.
Instead,
he whispered once more,
his voice softer than before…
