LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 132
Madrenne thought Dale was shocked by the bitter taste of coffee, and Dale stared at Madrenne’s face without even thinking about wiping the coffee sticking out of his nostrils.
Is she really seeing another man? Maybe that guy from the last time?
Dale naturally recalled the insincere-looking man with Madrenne on the second-floor terrace two weeks ago.
“Oh my gosh. Why do you look like this? Did you drink coffee through your nose?”
Madrenne smiled as she folded a napkin and stuffed it into Dale’s nostrils. “Now it’s done!”
Arianne clicked her tongue when she saw Dale staring at Madrenne with a blank face, let alone angry at Madrenne’s mischievous words. “Sir Dale, you can be angry at times like this.”
“I-I’m fine. But Miss Madrenne, were you seeing someone else? You promised to get married?”
“It’s not a promise. It’s just that we met a few times.”
Ha. Thank god.
Startle.
It was only for a moment, but Dale, who was surprised and thought it was fortunate to hear that Madrenne hadn’t promised to marry someone, soon became confused.
“Ah. Since I’ve seen you, I would like to apologize. I’ve been rude to Sir Dale, haven’t I? I’m sorry. I made a big mistake without even knowing Sir Dale’s feelings.”
“My… feelings?”
Did she know how I felt, even though I had no idea about it? Then why would she try to date another man if she knew it?
Dale became more confused.
“I understand everything, Sir Dale. A man doesn’t necessarily have to only like women. Sir Dale is a good man, so I’m sure you will meet a good man.”
?
???
?????
Dale’s thoughts stopped.
What? I think I just heard something amazing.
Arianne’s eyes twinkled at the exciting development.
In a situation where one person froze like a stone, and the other twinkled her eyes like a star.
Slurp.
There was only one person, Madrenne, the cause-giver, was sipping her coffee in peace.
“…”
Dale managed to come to his senses and asked for understanding from Arianne, who clearly showed her expectations as if watching a crazy opera.
“Countess, I’m sorry, but could you please leave for a moment.”
“Ah. But I don’t want to. I think it’s going to be fun from now on.”
Dale bowed to Arianne, who looked genuinely unwilling to move away, and asked for it. “Please.”
Really? You want me to give up this fun sightseeing?
Arianne was about to pretend not to hear it, but she took one look at Madrenne and changed her mind.
Of course, Sir Dale is much better than the baron’s second son, who only cares about money.
Though she didn’t know which would be better for Sir Dale.
Arianne rose gently from her seat. “Well, I’ll go first, so take your time to talk. Sir Dale and Madrenne.”
After Arianne left her seat, Madrenne, who had been watching Dale sitting in silence for a while, called out to him. “Hey, Sir Dale. I made a mistake again, right? I shouldn’t have brought it up in front of others.”
Not in front of anyone else, but in front of Arianne. It was a clear mistake.
“You seem to have greatly misunderstood something, Miss Madrenne.”
“Misunderstood?”
Wasn’t he angry that I revealed his sexual orientation in front of the Countess? Then what’s wrong with him?
“I don’t like people of the same sex. It’s just…”
Madrenne shouted, setting down the teacup to the point where it broke. “Wait! What then? You didn’t like men?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
Dale corrected the misunderstanding. He didn’t know why she had such a misunderstanding.
Master Navier! That person is really!
Madrenne jumped up from her seat as if she were going to find Navier right away. But when she thought about it, the words that Dale liked men didn’t come out of Navier’s mouth. However, she just overlooked it that way. Maybe she secretly hoped that was the reason.
Really. I must have had a hard time.
Madrenne slumped into the chair.
Dale wanted to resolve this misunderstanding somehow. He didn’t know until he came here today. Where his heart is heading.
“Why don’t you just say you like men?”
“…Pardon?”
Dale couldn’t hide his bewilderment and stared at Madrenne. Madrenne picked up the teacup and tried to hide her bitter expression.
“I know I’m neither pretty nor attractive. I’m not an obedient type either.”
“What are you saying…”
Madrenne’s self-help words made Dale pale.
“I knew Sir Dale didn’t like me. Even though I know, I keep pushing ahead.”
She’s that kind of person. Still,
If only I had been prettier or of higher status…
Would he have accepted her?
Madrenne looked at his pale face and made a fake smile. “No, why are you looking serious? I’m Madrenne. Did you think I would cry and complain just because I was dumped by a man?”
Right. She would cry endlessly when she got home today.
“What do you mean you’re dumped…”
“Of course, Sir Dale is kind that you never kick a woman. So it was just a little bit late.”
“Hey, Madrenne—”
“I’m okay. While you’re here, would you like to sample our new menu? Please wait.
Sigh.
Why aren’t they coming?”
It was quite accidental that Dale grabbed Madrenne’s wrist as she stood up, saying she would call an employee who hadn’t yet arrived. Her eyes widened, and she looked down at his hand that was holding her wrist.
“Please sit down for a moment.”
Madrenne sat quietly, drawn by Dale’s power.
This power. It’s been a while.
Two years ago, when she sneaked into Bornes County to find Viscount Girol. She remembered the moment she fell in love with this man at a glance and smiled.
“It’s not that I don’t like you. But.”
Madrenne just listened quietly.
Why does he keep trying to comfort me when I tell him I’m okay? This man didn’t seem to know it was hurting people even more. Well, I liked him more because he was an innocent man who didn’t know anything.
“I just had no intention of getting married because my job made it difficult to put my family first.”
“?”
“My lord’s life comes before my own, and a knight must run out whenever his lord orders you to do so. If you have me as your husband, you will definitely… be unhappy.”
What on earth is he talking about?
Madrenne blinked at his words, not knowing whether Dale was confessing or complaining.
“So, I should let you go, but my heart aches when I see you with another man. And when I hear that you’re marrying a man other than me, my heart hurts as if it were being crushed.”
Oh my, what are you saying now!
Her heart, which she didn’t even know existed or not, was pounding and beating wildly. In addition, her eye blinking speed increased significantly.
“But.”
Dale’s hand, which held Madrenne’s wrist, fell weakly. “As expected, a man like me can’t make you happy.”
Madrenne’s heart, which had been inflated with anticipation, wondering if this was the marriage proposal she had only heard about, sank like a deflated balloon.
Right.
Madrenne wasn’t disappointed even by Dale’s words that didn’t meet her expectations.
Ah. Really. This guy is driving me crazy. How can he be this cute?
Madrenne tried hard to hold back her laughter and asked with a straight face. “Why is Sir Dale responsible for my happiness?”
Dale closed his eyes tightly at a sharp voice.
As expected, it’s not working.
What woman would like a man who puts his job first?
At one point, he thought about what it would be like to marry Madrenne and start a family. However, suppose he looked at his fellow knights. In that case, there have been too many cases where after starting a family, their work got in trouble, or their marriage broke up because they were neglectful to their family. In order to live as a knight who had sworn to sacrifice his life to his lord, he naturally had to give up on raising a family.
“I take care of my own happiness. So, Sir Dale, just do whatever you want.”
It’s over.
“I’ll live the way I want to.”
Dale felt pain as if his heart, which had been crushed, was being torn apart again.
At that moment, Madrenne, who took Dale’s hand, which had fallen weakly down, pulled it up, smiled, placed it on her cheek, and said, “Who told you to be faithful to me? After all, I’m not just going to be faithful to Sir Dale, right? I’m a busy person. I can’t stand waiting for my husband at home all day.”
Dale lifted his head and looked at Madrenne with a blank face.
“I just like you. I like what you do, and I like that you’re so clueless. I won’t tell you to live your whole life only looking at me.”
Madrenne smiled. “Will you stop bouncing around and marry me now?”
* * *
“Is this really going to work?” Dale asked with an anxious look.
“How many times do I have to say it’s done?”
Madrenne, with an angry expression, told Dale to stop asking persistently, warning that she wouldn’t stay quiet if he asked again.
“But…” Dale was at a loss.
Not long ago, the knights who swarmed around him at the news of his marriage shook Dale’s spirit because of their scary words disguised as brilliant advice.
“
Sir Dale, the dining hall must be large. Especially more than your wife’s friend! Keep it in mind that it has to be big.”
Dale was relieved that Madrenne had no friends, but suddenly remembered the wedding of Countess Proud, the only same-sex person around her, and became depressed.
“Sir Dale, the house must be in the capital’s center! If it’s more than a 20-minute walk from the main street, you might just call off the wedding.”
Dale was thinking of setting up a newlywed life in his own house, which was outskirt of the capital, so he was at a loss.
“Sir Dale, you need to give at least two sets of jewels! Diamonds are a must.”
Two sets of jewelry that he had never bought, even for his mother… Dale suddenly became depressed at the feeling of being an unfilial son.