TFLMLD 37

Chapter 37

The Appearance of ‘That Woman’ in the Original (2)
2021.01.09

I had noticed Macaron subtly receiving flirtatious glances, but this was the first time someone had openly spoken to him like this. And today, everyone could clearly see us as a married couple… Could she really be speaking without knowing? Sitting at the table in that arrangement isn’t something siblings would do… Or did she mistake us for siblings? But what siblings would come all the way to a tourist spot and eat together so peacefully? Besides, I had never heard anyone say that Macaron and I looked alike. The feeling twisted something inside me, but the more uncomfortable I felt, the more confidently I smiled.

“I see. But… what should we do?”

“…….”

“Because he’s my husband.”

Normally, in this kind of situation, someone would apologize and leave first or feel embarrassed. Yet, the woman still looked at me casually, scanning me as if nothing had happened. I didn’t meet her gaze directly, but I could feel her persistent stare from the side. When I turned my head, I saw her eyes fixed on my fingers.

“Ah, I didn’t see a ring, so I assumed he wasn’t your husband.”

“…….”

At that moment, a voice calling the woman came from outside.

“Miss! Miss Evelyn!”

For a moment, a strange sense of déjà vu swept through my mind.

‘Evelyn…?’

In the original story, after Macaron killed Calypse, he took in a new wife. Her name was Evelyn. She was the protagonist mentioned in that one line, living happily ever after… I knew that Macaron would eventually meet her, but I didn’t know when, how, or where. I certainly didn’t expect the meeting to come so quickly.

‘Is this… the beginning of their meeting?’

Evelyn was the daughter of a much higher-ranking duke compared to Calypse. I couldn’t recall the exact family name, but her family wielded significant military power, and Kai later received help from Evelyn’s family. I hadn’t known that Evelyn liked Macaron first… Though it was better than Macaron falling for her first, it still unsettled me. If she had just been another woman teasing Macaron, I would have shrugged it off as a woman marrying a handsome man. But since she was Macaron’s future second wife in the original story, I couldn’t help but feel uneasy. And the story said they lived happily ever after. But who says things have to follow the original story?

‘I’m not Calypse from the original, and I’ve already grown fond of Macaron, and Macaron… of me…’

Yet, my mind was more complicated than my thoughts suggested.

• When Evelyn left, my legs gave way, and I collapsed. I don’t know how long I sat there, but by the time I went outside, Evelyn had already disappeared from the restaurant. Macaron, as if waiting for me, had turned to look this way. I didn’t want to tell Macaron about Evelyn, so I tried to maintain a calm expression… but once again, he saw right through me.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

“No. It’s not that…”

“……?”

“Did that woman say anything to Your Highness just now?”

“That woman…?”

As soon as I spoke, I regretted it. Macaron tilted his head for a moment and then laughed.

“Are you talking about an unwelcome guest?”

So Evelyn’s nickname had already become “unwelcome guest.” Looking into Macaron’s sincere eyes, it seemed nothing had happened, which was a relief.

“No, it’s nothing.”

Macaron seemed curious about why I asked, but I didn’t want to discuss it any further.

“Shall we go?”

I didn’t want to stay there any longer with Evelyn’s lingering image in my mind. Macaron seemed to notice, too, and didn’t bring up the unwelcome guest again. We went outside. Since we had to wait for the children, we didn’t go far and just strolled nearby, chatting about this and that. Most of the conversation was about Kai and Coral.

“You won’t have to worry about Coral.”

“Why’s that?”

“Kai ensures that other wolves won’t come near her.”

Kai consistently kept a watchful eye over Coral. Knowing he was there was reassuring. As we talked about the children, Evelyn slowly faded from my mind, and night quietly settled in. That’s when Sir Momont returned with the children. On the way to the villa, the children excitedly recounted today’s adventures on the ship.

Eventually, the carriage passed through a long forest path and stopped in front of a quaint brick building. Before Macaron arrived, I had often bragged about the beautiful scenery, and though it was dark, the stars above the building twinkled as if to spill from the sky. The children gazed upward and gasped in awe. At that moment, someone came out of the mansion to greet us.

“You’ve arrived, Your Highness.”

An elderly lady with snow-white hair had a kindly face lined with wrinkles of age. She turned her gaze to me.

“I am Orlin.”

Orlin, who had looked at me with a warm expression, then looked at Macaron.

“You should have attended Your Highness’s wedding…”

Her face was full of regret. She repeatedly expressed disappointment that she couldn’t attend the wedding. She seemed to view the start of Macaron and me as a real marriage, not just a contract. Macaron tried to downplay it as a modest ceremony, but being close, he looked apologetic, and Orlin regretted missing it. After exchanging greetings, Orlin began to guide us.

“Please follow me.”

Orlin’s gaze toward Macaron was exactly like that of a mother looking at her son. As we followed her down the corridor, Macaron explained.

“She is the nanny who raised me.”

I’d heard that royal children often spent more time with their nanny than their mother when they were young. Seeing their bond, I realized it was true. Watching Macaron’s fond and joyful expression warmed my heart as well. Orlin’s warmth became evident after just a few exchanges. She took care of the children with remarkable skill and quickly bonded with them. Even Kai and Coral, who rarely trusted others, clung to Orlin like chicks following their mother. Seeing this made Macaron visibly happy. When Kai and Coral grew tired, Orlin quickly guided them to their respective rooms. She returned shortly and smiled meaningfully at Macaron and me. Then, leaving us with a “follow me,” she led the way.

Passing down a corridor, a pristine white door opened, and Orlin showed us inside.

“You two will sleep here.”

“Two…?” I had expected it while walking down the corridor, but I couldn’t help feeling flustered. But there was no avoiding it; Orlin obviously knew our relationship. It’s natural for a married couple to share a bedroom, and I didn’t want to disappoint her.

‘Alright. Let’s go in and think later.’

Even as she left, Orlin subtly pressured me.

“I’ve placed a wonderful fragrance oil here. If you apply it… you’ll sleep all night. Hehe.”

What…? Watching Orlin leave with her pleased expression, I entered the room in a daze. Instantly, I was overwhelmed. The newlywed bed, apparently prepared for us, was covered in a heart-shaped lace duvet with bright red rose petals forming a heart pattern. Further inside, low lighting and soft candlelight set the mood, and premium liquor was arranged on display. Now I understood Orlin’s pleased expression.

As I tried to open the door to check if Orlin had left, Macaron blocked me.

“Where are you going?”

“I wanted to see if she’s gone…”

“And if she is?”

Why ask such an obvious question? Was he really suggesting we sleep together? It would have been better if we could stay in Kai’s or Coral’s room… The beds we had seen earlier were not meant for adults. As Macaron slowly approached, the scent of wood brushed my nose.

“Isn’t there another room?”

“There isn’t.”

Though I smiled innocently, it was a knowing smile. Macaron seemed to find the situation very amusing. I was caught between a rock and a hard place: the wall behind me, Macaron in front. But as the saying goes, every problem has a solution.

“Let’s have a drink first.”

In my previous life, I could handle alcohol extremely well. I could drink all night and be fine the next day, and few could keep up with me. So today’s plan… was to take down Macaron. Honestly, I thought of teasing him like before to make him back off. But today, Macaron looked far too serious for that. The gentle, hand-holding man of the past was gone. As the saying goes, environment shapes a person. Being in this room, a peculiar feeling gradually crept over me.

I sipped the wine, sweet and flowing down my throat.

‘As expected, Orlin knows what she’s doing!’

The sweet taste relaxed me. Having abstained for quite some time, I kept reaching for more. Macaron seemed a bit surprised at how well I handled it but joined in drinking. Yes… drink it down, Macaron. Keep going… wait, this isn’t right. My stomach churned, my mind whirled, and Macaron’s figure slowly blurred. The night was supposed to just be starting…

‘Calypse, you human! Were you an alcohol junkie?’

• Macaron’s red eyes darted as she stared. She was already flushed after just a few sips, her face alluring as she gazed at him. She knew that alcohol was excellent for setting the mood, but Macaron refused to rely on it. He felt it would be wrong to lean on alcohol with his wife. He didn’t want the first night to begin that way. But since the wife suggested it first, things had changed. Seeing Calypse staggering amused and unsettled him at once. Her delicate neckline, the slip she had kicked off because it was hot, the soft white skin visible in the dim light… Her parted lips and languid, seductive gaze—she teased him at the edge of cute and sexy. Calypse, unfazed by his burning desire, prowled the space like a playful puppy. To anyone else, it might just look like a dog, but to Macaron, it seemed like a mischievous little puppy, punishing him for his own naughty thoughts. Calypse inched closer, then moved away, then suddenly leapt forward and grabbed his face.

“Macaron! You!”

She had repeatedly called him Macaron, but he had long since given up correcting her. If she liked it, Macaron didn’t care what name she used. Still, her persistent use of “Macaron” irritated him slightly. They say people’s true feelings come out when drunk… Who was this Macaron that she was twisting her tongue but still clearly calling by name? Macaron felt the urge to crush whoever this “Macaron” was. But her provocation didn’t end there.

“Macaron~.”

Every time she called him that while locking her gaze on him, Macaron felt his heart might explode. If she kept calling him that sweetly, would he have to legally change his name to Macaron?

“Why do you look so pretty? I just want to eat you up.”

Macaron didn’t consider himself rude enough to act on his drunken wife, but instinct and reason often acted separately.