Chapter 41
“Still, it’s better to refuse clearly. Giving vague hope only makes you a worse person.”
So the refusal Podion made in the greenhouse garden was the right thing to do.
Olentia felt time passing quickly as she chatted with Podion, who somehow seemed friendly. Before she knew it, the sun had set and evening had come, but Dimidius, busy as he was, did not join her for dinner. Even at the Geranium estate, it seemed he always ate dinner rather casually.
Sitting alone in the banquet hall with no guest to entertain, Olentia spoke to Bobby:
“Eating alone in a place this big feels so strange. Next time, it’s better if I eat in my room.”
Bobby nodded.
“Yes. I’ll do that. Even at the Duke’s estate, you only had breakfast together anyway.”
Olentia stood at the door to say goodbye to Podion. He had been guarding her all day, but now he said another knight would take over. They moved in shifts, it seemed.
But Podion asked her with a curious tone:
“By the way, why do you sleep separately from His Grace the Duke? Is something wrong?”
Olentia froze for a moment at his question. It was reasonable to be curious, but no one at the Duke’s estate had asked, so she had been unprepared.
What should I say?
She thought for a moment, then said with as casual a tone as possible:
“His Grace has a terrible sleep habit. There will be nights when we sleep together, too.”
Feeling self-conscious, she didn’t look directly at Podion. Besides, the part about sleeping together on some nights wasn’t something she had agreed on with Dimidius.
After a moment, Podion’s voice came from above her head:
“I see. Perhaps I asked unnecessarily. I’ll be on my way then.”
Olentia watched him leave and returned to her cozy room. She liked that it wasn’t next to Dimidius’ room this time. She wondered if the servants would find it strange if they continued to sleep separately. Was it okay to leave things like this? She decided she’d discuss it with Dimidius later.
Lying down on her bed, she wondered:
If we slept in the same room, would I be able to see his bare face?
She was very curious whether Dimidius wore his mask even while sleeping. She remembered vividly how beautifully his face had shimmered in her prophetic dream.
Roses floated in the massive bathtub. Opaque steam filled the bathroom, and the ornate tiles engraved with flowers and trees exuded presence.
Dimidius stepped into the warm water and let out a deep sigh.
“Ha… the day’s almost over.”
He had been too busy to see Olentia properly today, aside from breakfast. Even at the Duke’s estate, it was hard to know what she ate or how she lived. But he didn’t want to ask a servant to find out—that would be an invasion of her privacy.
Enjoying a half-body soak, he scooped up a handful of red rose petals. He used so many because he didn’t even want to see his reflection in the water.
He looked almost exactly like his father, James Belial.
He didn’t want to see that face.
James Belial had locked young Dimidius in a closet for a single mistake during sword training—a twisted hobby of his.
“Don’t make mistakes again! Got it? If you make a mistake, this is what happens.”
Young Dimidius screamed and cried to be let out. Days passed where he cried himself into unconsciousness. With Lilith gone, there was no one to save him.
Because of this, there were days when even staying in a room felt suffocating. Being trapped like in a closet made him feel dizzy and claustrophobic.
Dimidius closed his eyes and shook his head, trying to push away the memories. Even while bathing, he felt an urgent desire to put his mask back on.
After a while, he left the bathroom and returned to his room, lying on the bed. He removed his mask only when bathing and sleeping—it was cumbersome otherwise, and it would fall off with movement.
He touched his smooth face and sighed.
If only it weren’t for this face, maybe I could share a room with Olentia.
He felt a pang of regret at not being able to sleep in the same room.
“Disgusting.”
Dimidius felt absurd and repulsed at his own dark thoughts, despite this being a contractual marriage. He clearly had some mental issues.
He closed his eyes and tried to sleep. He didn’t think he would get much rest tonight, but there was nothing to be done.
The next morning, Olentia, washed and dressed, followed Bobby to the dining hall. Dimidius was sitting there, reading the newspaper, just as at the Duke’s estate.
As soon as she sat down, Olentia spoke:
“If we keep sleeping separately, people might think it’s strange, Your Grace.”
Dimidius visibly raised his shoulders in surprise.
“What are you talking about? Who would think it’s strange?”
Olentia tilted her head slightly, looking puzzled.
“If we sleep separately, everyone watching will probably think we aren’t on good terms.”
“Why would Lady worry about that? Even not calling you ‘my wife’ and using ‘Lady’ would seem odd to others, but they will all keep quiet. They’re my people.”
Dimidius seemed to trust the Duke’s estate servants strongly.
Olentia nodded slowly.
“True. So I don’t need to worry?”
As she picked up some fresh fruit, Dimidius didn’t answer immediately. He looked away as if lost in thought, then lifted his head stiffly.
“Well… if you don’t want rumors, it’s fine to sleep in the same room a few times.”
Startled by his sudden change in attitude, Olentia pouted slightly. Sleeping together would be uncomfortable. She did want to see his face, but there was no guarantee she could.
‘Well, if I could see it, maybe I’d sleep together…?’
That seemed dangerous.
“I’d rather not.”
She clearly refused.
Olentia looked very pale and beautiful at breakfast. Her eyebrows were neat and rounded, and her lips slightly full, looking pleasant. Watching her lips move freely while eating made one feel satisfied without eating anything.
Dimidius silently observed her for a while, then composed himself and ate.
He felt he’d been making mistakes lately. If he openly showed his feelings for her, it would be troublesome. He had to restrain himself.
After Olentia finished breakfast and left the dining hall, Killian approached Dimidius with a flushed expression.
“Your Grace! Do you know what festival is happening in the estate?”
Dimidius stood, narrowing his eyes.
“What festival? What do you mean?”
“Since Your Grace returned from the wedding, it seems the people of the estate are happy, so they are holding a mask festival.”
“Wedding? What wedding?”
“To the villagers, it must feel more stable, I suppose.”
“Anyway, we’re divorcing in five months.”
“Don’t worry about that—why not at least see the festival?”
Dimidius couldn’t understand what Killian was thinking. Encouraging him like this would only give him more work.
He finally let out a hollow laugh.
“I don’t have time to sightsee. I’m not a child.”
Killian nudged Dimidius’ back.
“Lady guided you in Odor’s territory, right? Now it’s your turn, Your Grace.”
Killian made a valid point. Moreover, at a mask festival, he could blend into the crowd without revealing he was the Duke. Such an opportunity was rare.
Dimidius pondered seriously for a moment and headed to Olentia’s room.
“What are we going to see?”
Olentia asked at the door. She couldn’t imagine the usually busy Dimidius saying something like this.
Dimidius spoke without blinking:
“Watching the mask festival will make a special memory. Staying inside the Duke’s castle for five months straight doesn’t seem right.”
Olentia was curious about the Belial estate, too. Staying idle in the castle would surely be tiring.
After hesitating, she nodded carefully.
“Alright. I had nothing to do and was bored anyway.”
Olentia chose a dress in her room after arranging the meeting with Dimidius. She thought about what dress would suit the festival. Podion, her guard, smiled as he saw her humming.
“You seem in a good mood, which makes me happy too.”
Olentia cleared her throat and looked sharply at Podion.
“I’m not in a good mood.”
She felt embarrassed that she was actually happy to go to the festival with Dimidius.
But Podion said firmly, as if out of place:
“You are in a good mood.”
“Don’t misunderstand, it’s not like that.”
Olentia averted her gaze and looked at her dress again. Though it was afternoon, there was still time. The thought of going out didn’t make her feel bored.
‘Right. Just the right amount of not-bored!’
Time passed, and finally the appointed moment with Dimidius arrived. The weather was hot, so Olentia wore a cool off-shoulder dress and went down to the first-floor hall.
Dimidius stood there in a dress shirt and black pants. He had worn a jacket in the morning but seemed to feel the heat now. If the Belial estate was this hot, Geranium must be even hotter.
Olentia followed him out of the Duke’s castle to the carriage.
Dimidius pointed to a normal carriage that the servants usually used.
“No need to announce the Duke’s presence to everyone. Let’s move in this one.”
Olentia didn’t mind and got into the carriage with his escort. Dimidius opened the window and let the wind blow in. Seeing his carefree side made her heart feel freer.
I wish he would take off the mask…
But she couldn’t force him. She had no right, and he had his reasons for wearing it.
Hearing the wheels rolling, she asked him:
“I have to wear a mask when we arrive too, right? What kind should I wear?”
