How to Win My Husband Over

Chapter 7

After visiting the temple’s training ground to see Iske, I spent a relatively peaceful four days. Elenia introduced me to the house’s dressmaker, and I ordered new dresses. After that, I wrote to my family back in Romana and got ready for the banquet. Iske never showed himself. According to Elenia, summer was the busiest season for him because he had preparations to make.

Anyway, my debut appearance in Erendille’s society came. I chose a silk jade dress I had worn for my Sacrament of the Eucharist, which was the simplest one I had. My accessories were also understated: cream leather shoes with pearls, a pair of summer gloves, and a pair of aquamarine earrings. I wore nothing on my head and had my hair braided down. My unfriendly maids looked quite surprised by my unexpected choice of such a simple look, but they asked no questions.

“Ruby.”

Elenia was still as cold as ice, but she always called me by my nickname, something I greatly appreciated. Standing at the foot of the staircase in a red dress with wide sleeves, she looked like a mythical goddess.

I shudder to think she almost married Enzo. That just shouldn’t happen, ever. Who’s the girl next to her?

“Ruby, this is Freya van Furiana. She’s an old family friend.”

“Hello, Lady Rudbeckia. Pleased to meet you.” She smiled widely, flashing her white teeth. It was the kind of unique smile those who were loved by everyone wore, and it warmed my heart—she was beautiful.

I could see anyone would instantly take a liking to her, regardless of age or gender. Her smiling eyes were the same shade of violet as the dress that wrapped around her tall, slender figure. The lines of her face were soft, and her lustrous blond hair shone brilliantly. While my blond hair was flaxen in color, hers was paler, colder. Platinum gold.

So you’re the childhood friend. Of course, she also looked like a fashion model.

Why is everyone so pretty around here? I had been surrounded by attractive people in my old life, but they were nothing compared to the beauties of this world. At any rate, the friend was treated nothing like me, the foreign bride. Even the maids, who were always unhappy with me, were smiling at her. I didn’t like it.

Yet I smiled and responded, “Pleased to meet you too, Lady Freya.”

Freya’s eyes widened, but she quickly recovered her joyful smile and turned to Elenia. “Ellen, you didn’t tell me she’s this lovely.”

“Don’t say that, she’ll think I described her as a witch with a crooked nose.” Elenia’s poker face was as flawless as ever. She closed her fan with a sharp flick of the wrist and studied me with a trace of a grimace.

Is something wrong with my dress?

“Iske said he might be running a little late, he hopes you’ll understand. It happens all the time, but…”

Oh, so that’s what it is. I knew Iske would not have really asked for my understanding. Still, I hoped he would at least show up. I needed to see him more often to improve his impression of me. Once again, I lamented my stressful life.

***

The carriage, decorated with splendid drapes, ran through the walled-in city. I was taking a luxurious ride on my way to a party. In that sense, it wasn’t that different from my old life, even though I was now in a different era and world. I rather wished there had been more differences.

“His Majesty will be outraged if Iz skips another formal occasion.”

“I know, but what can we do? He’s always like that.”

According to my memory, Freya’s mother and the Omerta siblings’ mother had been friends long before their pregnancies, and their children grew up together. As the two girls conversed, I observed the strong bond between them, something that had to be built on years of trust.

“I’m concerned Britanya’s banquet might seem quite plain to you. As you must know, our kingdom is humbler than Romana.”

“I don’t think that will be the case. Plus, I find Erendille much more interesting.”

Being a social girl, Freya often talked to me, and I replied as politely as I could. As always, it was a banal conversation. Her kindness toward me came from her gentle, curious nature, but she was feeling me and my tactics out at the same time. Freya was an old friend of Iske and Elenia’s. Of course, she was worried that one of her friends was now married to a woman of bad reputation.

Elenia was looking out for me too, but I knew it wasn’t exactly because she had grown fond of me. I had to be steadfast. Apart from my husband, the two girls were the ones I needed to convince the most.

Ha. I have to save myself from my own husband. Poor me. When we arrived at Angurban Royal Palace, I saw the Moon Tower, the soaring pride of Britanya, and all the nobles who had arrived before us. Women wore light dresses with long sleeves, and men wore tailcoats. Some knights, mostly paladins, had come and were dressed in armor.

The kingdom’s monster infestation afforded paladins great respect on par with priests. Apparently, they could wear armor at the palace. And since the mightiest of them was Elenia’s brother, she was the crown jewel of high society, their most prized diamond. She was also an Omerta and the king’s niece. On top of that, she was incredibly beautiful and flawlessly elegant. Everyone admired her and minded their manners in her presence. And Freya, the Omerta’s friend and the daughter of Marquess Furiana, was also admired and envied.

Even though the essential details were wildly different, it all somehow reminded me of my position with my family in Romanian high society. Back there, everyone had been nice to me and Lady Julia, my father’s mistress, to get to him and my brothers. Despite all the rumors and gossip, Cezar had many followers, both men and women. Enzo did too, although his followers were of a different kind. Everyone looked up to me and wanted to be me, but they didn’t know what my life was like. Again, it was the same with my old life.

I wondered what they would think if they learned how miserable my existence really was. They would crush me, of course, but how? As ridiculous as it was, sometimes it was my biggest fear. Anyway, I felt like a little girl again, standing between the two women gorgeous enough to be fashion models. Why must I be so damn short in this life, too?

“Oh, so she’s…”

“Yes, she must be…”

“Hello.”

As they came to talk to Elenia and Freya, they cast inquisitive glances in my direction. I said hello with a smile. They were curious, intrigued. They envied me, hated me, despised me. It was almost suffocating, but I was used to it.

My facial muscles were strained. Whenever a priest saw me, he came over and made a fuss of asking me how my father, the pope, and Cezar were doing. They wanted to know if His Holiness was healthy and when Cardinal Valentino would be coming to Erendille.

Surrounded by people like that, we reached the splendid domed banquet hall.

“That thick-headed fool,” Elenia muttered under her breath.

I turned to follow her gaze, surprised to hear her speak like that.

“Oh, Iz?” Freya called, startled.

Indeed. By the small stage, in the ranks of the paladins in black-plated armor talking among themselves, was my vicious husband who was going to come late, if he ever showed up at all. What is he doing here? If he’s come up with a plan to openly humiliate me, I’m impressed. But he’s not the kind of person to put in so much effort, is he?

“Iz!” called Freya happily.

Iske stopped talking to one of his fellow knights, glanced at us, flinched at the sight of me between his sister and friend, glared at me, and looked away.

Always the same. But I’m not offended.

“How exasperating. Lady Rudbeckia, why don’t we go over and give your husband a piece of our minds?” suggested Freya.

“Why bother? He won’t listen,” chided Elenia with a groan.

Nevertheless, I bravely set out toward my husband.

“Ruby?”

The sea of people parted, every one of them intrigued. I knew they were hoping to watch a spectacle, but I wasn’t going to give them what they wanted. Of course, they knew that I spent my nights alone and that Iske was avoiding me—they all thought it was only natural, so there was nothing I could do there to humiliate him. If anything, I was the one who would be embarrassed. I approached the stern, intimidating paladins, who all looked at me with perplexed expressions.

What, you’re worried I might slap him? He’s too tall, I couldn’t even if I wanted to.

“Oh, Lady Rudbeckia?”

Oh, he’s the pretty but foul-mouthed knight who spoke to me at the training ground.

I gave him a smile, then shyly turned to my husband, who was standing behind him, and said, “I’m so glad to see you again. You look handsome as always.”

Deadly quiet overtook the chatter of conversation. Iske looked down at me, his face impassive. I looked up at him, beaming as if I were overjoyed. My neck began to ache.

Why does he have to be so tall?

Soon he looked away and said curtly, “You lack both intelligence and pride. As you must see, I’m in the middle of a conversation.”

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but I had to…”

“I thought you were going to try not to be annoying.”

“You remember. So you were listening to me?”

“What?”

“Thank you. And I’m sorry, I won’t bother you ever again. I’ll just keep myself hidden and watch from a distance.”

Now to make my exit. With a baffled look on his face, Iske stared at me as I turned to flee—but then he grabbed me firmly by the shoulder and held me back.