IDLYITL CH 6

Chapter 6

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An Act of Protest

 His expression was mocking, but his eyes were dull and lifeless.

If she hated it that much, she could go out into society or go shopping. How was he supposed to interpret the fact that she kept appearing before his eyes?

Is she trying to protest against me?

He already knew that Psyche hadn't wanted this marriage. A marriage forced upon her because of money. Only the groom had changed, the terms of the marriage offered by the Demiosis family were still the same.

He had no intention of interfering in her life or taking her for himself, but contrary to his intentions, the woman with whom he'd had a brief acquaintance in the past showed a miserable and listless face, looking like someone with a blade pressed against her throat.

Smoking his cigar, Ikali put it out before it was even half-gone. He quickly smoothed over the expression twisted by self-loathing.

“Tell her to spend money lavishly so that miserable look disappears. I don't want it to bother me.”

After that, Ikali stayed cooped up in his office for several more hours. He finally got up from his seat when the twilight had settled.

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“…So, you're saying I can't go down to the vault?”

“Yes. I am terribly sorry, Madam, but that is the case.”

Psyche looked at the butler with a troubled look. She assumed her position as the duchess would be enough to look at the family's heirloom sword. The butler, whose hair was streaked with grey, wiped away the swea.

“Permission to enter the vault is not granted without the duke’s approval. Only the family head has that authority…”

“Oh, dear, I asked for something difficult.”

“My apologies, Madam.”

The butler was even more flustered and apologetic than she was, so Psyche had no choice.

It would also be strange for a new bride, who had only been married for a week, to go directly to her husband and ask him to open a vault full of treasures.

Especially since she had been sold here—it would be awkward if they thought the Dawson Kingdom coveted the ducal family's treasures.

Maybe it's not the right time yet.

The family's heirloom sword had turned back her time.

I thought seeing the sword again will give me answers.

Psyche turned away with disappointment. Just then, a gentleman was walking toward them from a distance. It was Baron Roel Huygens, a vassal of the Demiosis ducal family. Psyche's face brightened.

In her previous life, Psyche had not been a well-trusted mistress by the ducal family's vassals. It was an open secret that Ikali didn't cherish her, they always looked at her unfavourably whenever she tried to take charge of any aspect of the ducal family's business.

But Baron Huygens was different. The young Baron was very gentlemanly to her, even though she had only been married for a short time. He was the one who wrote to her from time to time, telling her what Ikali was going through in the war.

Psyche had confirmed her husband's well-being—whether he was dead or alive, if he was injured or ill—through Huygens' letters.

In this life, too, Viscount Huygens approached her first with a smiling face.

“It's a pleasure to meet you, Madam. Roel Huygens greets the duchess.”

“It's a pleasure to meet you, Sir Huygens.”

“Please call me Baron Huygens.”

His beaming face, made the tension in Psyche's heart loosened a bit. He was a truly welcome sight. Roel Huygens pushed back his wheat-coloured hair, knelt before her, and held out his hand.

“Would you permit a kiss of welcome? It also signifies as a way of asking for your continued support from now on.”

The Baron's playful question made Psyche smile faintly. Roel pretended to kiss the back of her pale hand, then stood up gracefully, still smiling.

“But what were you doing here, Duchess? The wind is cool after the downpour; why aren't you out taking a walk?”

“Oh, well, I had some business with the family's… no, with the manor.” 

Psyche had almost said she came to see the family's heirloom, but quickly changed her words. No matter how welcome Roel was, he was still a vassal of the ducal family and Ikali's eyes. Psyche gave an awkward smile, and sent the butler who was standing behind her away.

“I'm still unfamiliar with the layout of the manor, so I was just walking around inside.”

“I see. Well, the main building is indeed too large. It's probably the size of most small kingdoms' royal palaces.”

“It is.”

“Oh, I wasn't comparing it to Dawson, It’s true!”

“You don't have to force yourself to say that, Viscount.”

As she talked with Roel, Psyche laughed genuinely for the first time in a while. Roel also smiled with satisfaction.

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After parting ways with Roil and taking a walk in the garden, Psyche went up to her room. The jewels that Anna had secretly gone out to sell had turned into some cash. Psyche put the money into the safe that had been prepared for her.

After seeing a welcoming face during the day, Psyche's heart felt much lighter. When she returned, a single invitation had arrived. It was a salon invitation from a marchioness.

“...A salon? Can I really go to a place like this?”

In her previous life, Madam Tilly had taken over high society. Because of the sympathy for the Madam, Psyche couldn't even lift her head at social events.

This was because in imperial high society, Psyche was already branded as a rare wicked woman who had thrown out Madam Tilly after weighing the Demiosis family's adopted son and biological son.

But had a marchioness sent me a salon invitation in my previous life?

Was it perhaps a malicious plan to invite her to a luxurious event and treat her like a ghost?

A marchioness, huh. Is she a good person?

At the bottom of the invitation was the sender's signature.

“Mia Williams…” 

This was someone Psyche had never seen in her previous life.After confirming the invitation, Psyche willingly went to the dining hall to have dinner as she was told.

In her previous life, it was a rare occurrence for her and Ikali to eat together more than once or twice a month. Even then, he was so busy that he would finish his meal without a word and go straight back to his office. So she had expected to eat dinner alone this time, too.

As soon as the door opened, her husband is already seated in the dining hall, Psyche was momentarily speechless. His indifferent, grey-blue eyes turned to her, glinting in the light of the chandelier.

“Sit.”

Having no choice, she went to the table, and Anna pulled out her chair for her. Buttered shrimp, salad, and bite-sized bread were served. Different kinds of food were laid out before her but Psyche only picked up the bread. She couldn't get anything down with Ikali sitting at the same table.

Whether she ate or not, Ikali cut and ate the meat and shrimp in front of him.

“I've handled Madam Tilly. She won't come to the ducal manor anymore.”

Psyche looked at him.

Her request from a few days ago to stop Madam Tilly from visiting had been granted. Psyche nodded and unintentionally asked,

“Then the annex…”

She spoke in a small voice, but then quickly fell silent. Ikali looked at her, his brow furrowed.

“You can't be asking me to be a shameless man who makes his wife live in the annex only a week after our wedding.”

“…”

“No matter how I think about it, it was an absurd request. You'll live in the main building for at least three months, whether you like it or not.”

The request for the annex was not granted. She had hoped for this more than the matter with Madam Tilly.

Three months… Why exactly three months? Because of the war?

Psyche stared at him blankly. Since when did he find out about the war? Was it even before he married her? Will he be silent about the war in this life too, only to inform her of his departure just a week before he leaves?

“You look like you're dying of disgust.”

“That's not it, Your Grace.” 

Psyche quickly pulled herself out of her thoughts and replied in a dry tone. Ikali let out a low sigh. He put down his cutlery and asked,

“I heard you've been in the manor all week. That you haven't gone shopping or to any parties.”

“…”

“If you're not trying to protest against me, then go out and spend some money and go to parties. Don't just stay in the manor with that gloomy face.”

Ikali had heard from Hans that Psyche had been holed up in the manor all week and hadn't spent a single penny of her allowance. If a noblewoman doesn't enjoy shopping or parties, there's not much she can do.

He didn't want Psyche to manage the finances. Unlike other families, the Demiosis family already had many professionals to oversee their accounts.

“What about invitations? How many have you received?”

Since the empire's only duchess had changed, it was clear there would be a stir in the imperial capital's high society.

Whether it was an honourable position or a shameful bed of thorns. Invitations would surely pour in like hotcakes, if only to see the new noblewoman and create gossip. Ikali was making his own assumptions, is Psyche intentionally piling up invitations to protest against him?

Psyche stalled for time, then reluctantly answered.

“I will go to a party sometime this week. I was already planning to go since I received a salon invitation.”

“I asked you how many invitations you received. You never seem to answer my questions properly.”

His tone was gentle, but to an onlooker, it would have seemed as if he were bullying his wife. Only the servants standing at the edge of the dining hall cast wary glances.

“Is the Duke… in a bad mood?”

“How would I know?”

The servants whispered to each other. Psyche, her appetite gone, put her fork down entirely and looked at him.

“I received one today. And I've already replied that I'll go, so don't worry. I will handle myself in a way that won't make you worry, Your Grace…”

“Just one?”

Chapter 5

Chapter List

Chapter 7