THNW 04

To My Husband’s New Wife Chapter : 04

At first, she intended to return the book she’d borrowed from the boy through a messenger.

Since she didn’t even know when she would meet him again, and because the thought of seeing the boy again suddenly frightened her.

Anita’s home and the Edenbahir ducal residence were about four hours apart by carriage, so if she sent a servant directly, there was no worry the book would be damaged.

So on the day before it was due, she even spent the whole day going back and forth through the busy streets, racking her brain.
‘What would be a good gift in return?’
What kind of thing would be treated as a proper present for the son of such a great ducal house?

After much deliberation, the gift she chose was a set of dainty butter cookies her nurse had baked.

No matter how she thought about it, there was no gift like cookies that didn’t invite people to weigh its value, and there was nothing she could be prouder to offer anywhere than her nurse’s cooking.

The butter cookies she wrapped up so carefully as a token of thanks ended up looking quite decent, too.

Except for the fact that Anita would be delivering them herself.
“You can spend a night there, so pack everything the child needs.”
“Yes, sir.”
The father and daughter visited the Edenbahir ducal residence once again.

She couldn’t know the adults’ circumstances.

She only knew that Father had struggled for days and days for the sake of today.
‘It must be something important.’
Just thinking that she would have to meet those children again made her head throb, and a long sigh escaped her.

I’ll never come out of my room.

Her father discovered the book Anita had been secretly keeping and asked,
“What is that book?”
“I borrowed it from Edenbahir’s study last time.”
“What?”
Her father flipped through the book this way and that, then scolded her with a stern face.
“You must always get permission before borrowing something like this, Anita.

Understood?

Never take things carelessly again.”
But I did get permission….

Still, she was afraid that if she revealed the boy’s name, he would go and question him in person.

Anita decided to keep what had happened with Lancelot a secret.
“Yes.

I’m sorry.”
The carriage ran another four hours.

Because they set out as soon as the sun rose, they were able to arrive at the Edenbahir ducal residence a little before noon.
“Pay your respects, Anita.

This is His Grace the Duke of Edenbahir.”
A gentleman as tall and well-built as her father bent his knees and sat down to meet Anita’s gaze.

The same blue eyes as Lancelot’s, the same blond hair as Lancelot’s.

Anita recalled the words her nurse had impressed upon her just before leaving the house.
[His Grace the Duke of Edenbahir is the nephew of the late former king, Shubehlrik II, and the cousin of His Majesty the current king.

He is a man of extremely high standing, so mind your manners properly.]
A cousin who shared blood with the king.

Tensing at that dizzying status, Anita greeted him in a trembling voice.
“H-hello, Your Grace.

I’m Anita Beulroeniya.”
A large hand reached out and clasped Anita’s hand.

A hand with warmth as gentle as her father’s.

At that, Anita looked up at the duke with puzzled eyes.

She had thought the boy’s father would be as cold as the boy.
“Your eyes are just like your father’s, Anita.

It’s good to meet you.

Have a good time at Edenbahir.”
After the first greetings, carrying the heavy book and the cookie box, she swept her gaze across the first floor of the ducal residence, now a little more familiar.

Something felt odd, and the mansion was so quiet it felt awkwardly still.
“Father.

I don’t see my friends.”
Her father, following behind the Duke of Edenbahir up the stairs, whispered to her.
“Yes.

Today, there probably won’t be anyone your age here except the young duke of Edenbahir.

Father will be busy, so go look around the garden or something.”
Those children aren’t here!
“Yes!”
Anita nodded with an excited face.

Then she searched every nook and cranny of the ducal residence to find Lancelot.

And when she finally found Lancelot sitting in a chair, absorbed in reading….

A strange blond girl was with him, too.
‘…Who is she?’
With their eyes meeting as she stood there blankly, the memory of that day flashed through Anita’s mind like lightning.
‘Could she be one of those children from then?’
Anita’s complexion turned pale.

Without even being able to meet the girl’s eyes, she hurried toward them as if running and set the book and the cookie box on the table.

Planning to return them quickly and leave.
“Th-this is the book I borrowed last time….”
“Who are you?”
But even that was delayed by the girl’s sudden presence as she leaned in.

Blond hair even paler than Lancelot’s, and mischievous green eyes.

A round face like a stuffed doll, with small, closely gathered features.

Not as much as Lancelot, but pretty enough to be compared to him.
“You’re really pretty.”
That wasn’t Anita’s admiration.

The unknown girl continued, eyes sparkling.
“Really pretty.

You’re the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen.”
“…Me?”
Not you?
“Yeah.

You.

What’s your name?”
I’m….

Her mouth wouldn’t open.

At some point, Anita had grown afraid to reveal her own name.

More precisely, ever since she experienced that incident a week ago.

What if rumors have spread that I’m not a noble, and that you shouldn’t mingle with me?

What if this girl calls me a mongrel too?

What if, like then, I can’t say anything and my body freezes up like an idiot?
“Hurry!”
“Ah, Anita Beulroeniya.”
At the petulant urging, she answered before she could help it.

The girl laughed, thrusting out her chest with a confident face.
“Yeah?

I’m Claudnia House.

I’m Uncle Edenbahir’s niece.”
“Uncle Edenbahir’s… niece?”
Then what does that make her?
“It means she’s my cousin.”
It was Lancelot.

Tsk.

Clicking his tongue lightly, he lifted only his head without changing his posture in the chair.
“Don’t hang out with that idiot.

You’re already slow as it is—you’ll get even stupider.”
Who are you calling slow?
‘Don’t tell me… me?’
Anita was inwardly deeply shocked.

It was the first time in her life she’d been told she was slow.

Did that mean her nurse’s praise—always saying that if she taught her one thing, she knew two—had all been empty lies?

Belatedly coming to her senses, she cleared her throat.
“Hello, Lancelot Edenbahir.”
The boy glanced at her face and then returned his gaze to the book he’d been reading.
“The book.”
“I brought it.

And this….”
Hoo.

Letting out a long breath she’d held in from tension, she held out the box she’d brought to Lancelot.
“Thank you for lending me the book.”
“Put it there and go.”
Ah, he’s not going to try it?

Of course he doesn’t have to try it right away, but… with a disappointed heart, she set the box down.
“So he can talk?

I thought he was mute.”
Claudnia leaned in again and badmouthed Lancelot in a voice loud enough for him to hear.

When Anita’s face turned flustered and she couldn’t do anything, Claudnia grinned and lightly bumped her shoulder.
“I’m kidding.

I mean he barely ever opens his mouth.

He ignores nine out of ten things I say.

Isn’t he awful?”
“Stop making noise in my bedroom and get the hell out.”
As if he’d been waiting for it, Lancelot complained, and Anita lifted her head slightly to look around the room.
‘So it was the room attached to Lancelot’s bedroom.’
It was a warm, cozy space like her own room, and even though it was the heir of the ducal house’s room, there was nothing particularly special about it.
“Look at that.

The only things he can say are ‘Get out,’ ‘Fuck off,’ and ‘You’re noisy,’ I swear!”
“Hin alow.”
“What did you just say?”
“It means ‘fuck off.’

Fuck off.”
“Speak in your mother tongue!

Are you calling me stupid right now?”
“You’re pretty good at being objective about yourself.”
While they bickered noisily, Claudnia took Anita’s hand and pulled her down onto the sofa on her side.

As if she’d gained a useful ally, she linked her arm through Anita’s with eyes full of confidence.
“It’s okay, Anita.

Don’t take what he says to heart.

We can be ignorant.

Grandmother said pretty girls can be ignorant.”
It was the first time she’d met a peer who linked arms with her right away, and her upper body stiffened hard with tension.
“She said you’ll be happy even if you’re ignorant, as long as you have a good heart and get along with people.

Lancelot’s got a rotten heart and no friends, so he’ll be unhappy.”
Can you say that about a relative?

Contrary to her worry, Lancelot looked like he wasn’t listening in the slightest.
“Anita, you just look pretty and kind, so you must have lots of friends.

Right?”
Friends.
[Your father is a mongrel with no dignity, no sense of his place, and no roots.

And the daughter a mongrel bears is surely a mongrel too, so it’s right to stay far away so we won’t be tainted.

Do you understand now?]
Why had that voice come to mind just then?

Anita’s eyes began to stain red.
“Huh?”
Claudnia, who had been staring blankly, fussed and sprang to her feet.
“D-d-d-did I do something wrong?”
There’s no way.

She hasn’t done anything wrong.

What do I do.

Her mouth wouldn’t open, so she mustered all her strength to swallow the tears and shook her head.
“I-I’m really, really sorry!

I won’t do it again!”
No.

I can’t let her apologize.