What’s Wrong With My Marriage? I Was Bought as a Wife, Yet My Husband Is Madly in Love With Me! - Chapter 10

(Buying a shop is not something you do “on the way.” It just isn’t!)

However, Luce quickly reconsidered.

She was now certain of one thing: Klaus’s behavior was a little—no, significantly—outside the bounds of common sense.

“Of course, I vetted the taste and the character of the staff before buying it. The atmosphere is lovely, and I thought it would be nice to have a cafe like this inside a resort hotel. Plus, being able to buy small treats at a hotel is always a crowd-pleaser.”

He spoke as if it were the most mundane thing in the world, but Luce wondered if it was truly that simple. Without a doubt, an astronomical sum of money—amounts she couldn’t even fathom—was changing hands. Yet, Klaus seemed completely unfazed.

“Money is something you can just earn back once you spend it. But I cannot overlook you being hurt.”

Klaus furrowed his brows, a pained expression crossing his face.

“In this world, most things can be solved with gold. But gold alone cannot protect your heart.”

Klaus asked her to forgive his lack of strength.

(My heart?)

No one had ever said such a thing to her before.

Her parents had always gone around telling everyone that no daughter was as blessed as Luce. They claimed they listened to her every whim, bought her dresses and jewelry, and let her do as she pleased.

And yet, not a single one of Luce’s actual feelings had ever been factored into their actions.

(Does he really think of me that way?)

“I could never forget your face. Being able to walk through the city like this, the two of us, having tea at a café. It feels like a miracle.”

“I wonder… did I make a promise to go out with you when we met long ago?”

“No. It was just a selfish wish of mine to go out with you.”

Because of that, Klaus gazed at Luce with melting eyes, saying his dream had come true. As he offered his hand for a short stroll, Luce squeezed it tight.

(I really hope he hasn’t mistaken me for someone else. …I hope it’s actually me.)

Even after returning to the estate, Luce remained in a bit of a daze.

(That was the first time I’ve ever truly ‘gone out’ with a man.)

Lord Riekel had summoned her to cafes before, but that was a torturous time spent listening to him endlessly criticize her flaws; she refused to count that.

Though it might be presumptuous to compare the two, Klaus never once dropped his gentlemanly demeanor toward her. Recalling the way he had gently held her hand made her heart beat at a frantic pace.

(He’s a little eccentric, but still.)

Just like the previous night, Luce sat on the edge of the bed, waiting for Klaus.

Her suite consisted of five rooms, but there was only one master bedroom for the couple.

(…There’s only one, right? I came to the same room as yesterday, but it’s not like the bedroom changes on a daily rotation, is it?)

Nora had guided her here, so she wanted to believe there was no mistake.

She had been nervous the night before, but tonight she waited for Klaus with a different kind of tension. After a short while, following a reserved knock, Klaus peeked his head in.

(Thank goodness, there really is only one bedroom.)

Seeing Luce’s relieved expression, Klaus’s face suddenly froze in shock.

“Luce, that outfit…!”

Prompted by his reaction, Luce looked down at her nightgown. Yesterday she had worn what was provided, but today she was wearing something she had bought at the shop.

The clerk had insisted that if she were a newlywed, she had to have this, and Luce had bought it on the spot.

(Though the context is a bit different since Klaus bought the whole store.)

It was a lovely design adorned with frills and lace, featuring a prominent ribbon at the chest. Furthermore, from the thighs down to the ankles, it was covered in lace that left her skin quite transparent.

“I-is it strange?”

Luce felt a sudden wave of anxiety, wondering if he would find her immodest.

The clerk had been so adamant that Klaus would “absolutely love this sort of thing” that she had foolishly believed them.

“It’s not strange. It’s… it’s incredibly enchanting.”

Seeing Klaus’s voice grow small with embarrassment, Luce felt the heat rush to her face.

“T-thank you.”

“No, I am the one who should be thanking you, Luce. Is there no painting in the world that could capture your beauty forever? I want to cut out this single moment in time. And yet, the thought of letting a painter see you like this is unforgivable…!”

“Klaus?”

“…I believe a scientist in a neighboring country was researching how to project scenery onto paper. Perhaps if I buy the entire laboratory, I can have them develop it.”

“Klaus, please calm down.”

“How can I be calm, Luce? I am searing your image into my mind, but even that isn’t enough. I want to be able to look back at your current self whenever I want, but the fact that I can’t is…”

Seeing Klaus look so genuinely frustrated, Luce couldn’t help but burst out laughing. She tried to stifle it by covering her mouth with her hand, but she simply couldn’t hold it back.

“Hehe… I’m so… I’m sorry.”

“This is no laughing matter, Luce. I am serious.”

“That’s exactly why, Klaus.”

Klaus rebuked her in a sulky tone as she continued to giggle.

“If you’re going to laugh, you might as well laugh properly.”

“But… giggle…”

“Don’t hide your face with your hands.”

When she refused, Klaus reached out. As she tried to scramble away, she tumbled back onto the bed behind her. Inadvertently, they both rolled onto the mattress, and Luce found herself gathered into Klaus’s arms.

At his touch, her heart began to hammer loudly again. Her chest felt tight, yet strangely restless. And yet, she wanted him to keep touching her.

As her laughter subsided, a silence fell over them.

Gazing into Klaus’s eyes, she could feel his face gradually drawing closer.

(…He has a mole near his eye.)

By the time she realized it, Klaus’s lips were pressed against hers.

A soft sensation. And then, that mysterious scent—sweet yet slightly sharp.

She had noticed it last night too; perhaps it was a perfume Klaus wore? Regardless, she didn’t dislike it.

Klaus’s large hand cupped Luce’s cheek as their lips parted. It wasn’t her imagination that she felt a slight pang of regret. The gaze Klaus fixed on her was endlessly tender.

His beautiful blue eyes were so captivating she felt she could stare into them forever.

(In my life until now, I’ve had almost no experience with men.)

So, Luce didn’t know how she was supposed to behave. She didn’t know when it was okay to let her guard down. She knew nothing at all.

Perhaps he would think she was a terribly “easy” woman.

(…To let my guard down after just one day. I really am hopeless.)

But right now, all she wanted was to stay in Klaus’s arms.

Even if tomorrow he told her it was all a mistake and threw her out.

Luce wanted to accept the warmth of his embrace for as long as she could, enough to make her feel that even such an end would be okay.