ITMWG 46

Chapter 46…

All of a sudden?

If Altair had made up his mind, resistance would be out of the question. Nadia gave up trying to escape and stayed still in Altair’s arms as they moved to the bedroom.

Let’s just think that I’m in a carriage.

Nadia tried to put her mind at ease in that way, but she couldn’t stop her face from turning red due to the stares from people pouring in her direction every place they walked by.

The number of servants has increased now…

Unlike before, she wondered if it was okay to create such an embarrassing situation when there were so many people watching, but Altair didn’t seem to care. But again, it was not really something new. Had this indifferent man ever paid much mind to anyone in his life?

Meanwhile, I’m always embarrassed.

As Aylesford Castle’s repairs had been completed to some extent and the space available had increased, it had become difficult to maintain the castle with the same small number of people as before. Hence, Nadia, upon discussing with Pavel, hired the necessary people and was now managing the castle in a fairly efficient manner. Maids in charge of cleaning were of course hired, as well as footmen to greet guests, kitchen assistants, and gardeners to maintain the neglected garden that was overgrown with bushes. Taking it from the Marquis of Vine, a prestigious family that owned a mansion in the capital, manpower was never a matter that could be overlooked.

Now, even if guests suddenly showed up, they would be able to serve them without embarrassment. As they arrived at the bedroom after passing so many gazes, Nadia let out a sigh of relief at the thought that she had arrived at her own, no, their own space. Altair frowned as he laid her down on the bed, wondering what the small action meant.

“Are you sick? Should I call the doctor?”

“No! I’m okay!”

As he was about to call for Leon, Nadia quickly grabbed Altair’s sleeve and stopped him. Although it didn’t take much effort, Altair halted obediently. Altair’s unique eyes persisted on her. It was then that she knew what was in those eyes was worry. Before, she shivered just at his shadow, she couldn’t believe she was now able to see things this way. Wasn’t this a huge improvement? When Nadia unknowingly let out a small laugh, feeling somewhat funny at herself, Altair’s brows furrowed again.

“What’s so funny?”

“I am. I can confidently make eye contact with Altair now.”

“Ah. It certainly is.”

Altair nodded slightly in agreement and narrowed his eyes.

“When we first got married, I saw more of the top of my wife’s head than her face, because you always kept your head down.”

“T-the top of my head?!”

“P-please tell me there is plenty of hair up there…”

“Did I say you have little hair?”

“Well no but… it bothers me. It wouldn’t look good if the very top of my head is bare.”

Every time Marie or Anna brushed her hair, so much hair would fall to the floor that she sometimes worried that all of her hair would disappear. They said that when one’s stressed out a lot, their hair would fall out. Thus, people like her, who were timid and vulnerable to stress, were prone to hair loss. As Nadia turned solemn and fumbled with her hair while looking in the mirror, Altair let out a small chuckle.

“It’s not empty. It’s very thick. It’s your own hair but you don’t know that?”

“You can’t see the top of your head on your own.”

Nadia lowered her head and tried to look at the top of her head in the mirror, but it wasn’t easy because her hair kept blocking her view. Seeing her struggling, Altair reached out his hand and started ruffling her hair.

“There’s nothing to worry about. It’s fairly thick.”

She couldn’t see it clearly, but Nadia didn’t think Altair would lie.

“Altair too. I think you’ll probably still have a lot of hair even when you become a  grandpa.”

“It’s an important issue. Well, I can’t imagine a bald Altair.”

As she said that, Nadia tried to picture Altair without any hair. Perhaps because his face was gorgeous, but he seemed surprisingly cool even without any hair.

Hmm. Then, even if Altair doesn’t have hair, it won’t be a big problem…

As expected, it was the face that completed everything else. She blinked, blankly gazing at his amazing face that could make anything seem okay. Altair must have felt burdened by that gaze and touched his face.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I was just thinking that you are handsome.”

“…what?”

Altair frowned and asked back. It was a reaction unbecoming of someone who had received a compliment.

“There is no need to flatter me with empty words.”

He seemed to think she was saying sweet words to flatter him. At that, Nadia jumped and waved her hands vigorously to erase his suspicion.

“These are not empty words. There is no need for me to flatter Altair.”

“Is that so…”

“Stop looking. It’s embarrassing.”

“You’re embarrassed? Altair can feel that way too?”

This time Nadia’s eyes widened in surprise. He was embarrassed. Altair was usually so indifferent that she thought he never felt any of that.

He seemed to know no shame when he carried me across the hallway a little while ago though.

Nadia even admired him, wondering how he could be so unbothered. Yet, he felt embarrassed when people told him that he had a good-looking face. She found it somewhat funny, and when she burst out laughing, Altair started looking around, averting her eyes, while his ears turned slightly red. It seemed like he was looking for something to change the subject. And fortunately for him, there was a topic to talk about.

“You received a lot of letters while you were away.”

Altair brought Nadia the letters piled on a silver tray on the nightstand. All letters sent to Altair were delivered to his office, so the recipient of all letters here was her.

So many letters.

When she first became Baroness Aylesford, there wasn’t even a usual congratulatory letter, let alone tea party or dance invitations. However, Aylesford’s status had risen significantly, and at some point, she started receiving a load of letters and invitations.

They must know that if they send it to Altair, it will be rejected unconditionally.

They probably decided that it would be easier to target the new baroness rather than the cold and scary baron.

Besides, socialising is definitely the mistress’ job.

That said, she could not reject it blindly, so she must filter it appropriately and show up to some of them.

Altair didn’t request anything like that in particular, but…

Nadia glanced at Altair as she fiddled with the stacked envelopes. Although he did not say much, he probably wanted her to be active in the social world. That’s the role that noblemen usually wanted for their wives.

Well, I somehow survived the Eastern Noble gathering, so I think I can do it.

The problem was whether she could overcome it well…With that in mind, Nadia unconsciously flipped through through the envelopes, but her hand stopped when she came across a familiar crest. Altair, upon noticing this, took the envelope and frowned slightly.

“It’s a letter from the Marquis of Vine.”

“…yes.”

The letter was stamped with the crest of the Marquis ‘Vine’, which was once her name. It wasn’t even one. There were three more envelopes sealed with the same crest. Nadia had a feeling that this was not something ordinary. In response to her hesitation, Altair lightly shook the envelope.

“No. It’s a letter for me. I should read it.”

Nadia spoke as calmly as she could, but she could feel her own mouth going dry.

“Let’s read it together.”

Altair said, handing back the envelope. Feeling reassured that he was reading along with her, Nadia carefully opened the seal. Nadia couldn’t guess what on earth her uncle wanted to send her that required so many as four letters.

Huh?

However, contrary to Nadia’s guess, the sender was not her uncle.

It’s a letter from Melissa.

Although she was her cousin and had lived in the same house as her for a long time, she and Melissa were never close enough to exchange letters. Rather, Nadia was treated with contempt. However, Melissa’s tone in her letter was so friendly and sweet that it made her wonder if all of their past bad relationship was a mere illusion. If someone who had no idea about their relationship had read this letter, they would have believed it to be a letter written by her closest cousin.

“As expected, the news about Aylesford must have reached the Marquis house.”

“Yes.”

In the letter, Melissa asked whether the rumour about Aylesford’s recent fortunes circulating in the capital was true and, if so, would she be able to visit Aylesford. The contents of the other three letters were similar. However, perhaps she misunderstood the fact that Nadia was away due to the gathering of Eastern nobles and was unable to send a reply for some other reason, the subsequent letters contained an urging to send a reply as soon as possible.

And in the last letter she sent…

She said that she was very worried that she had not received a reply and so she would visit Aylesford as soon as possible.

Sh-she’s coming to Aylesford?!

Nadia was so shocked that she quickly got off the bed. She re-read the letter several times, but her eyes were not at fault. Melissa was the kind of girl who would do whatever she pleased. Clearly, those were not just empty words. It could be evident from the fact that no more letters came after the notice that she would be coming to Aylesford. It was extremely rude to visit another nobleman’s mansion without permission, but Melissa was someone ready to commit any disrespect when it came to Nadia.

“Me-Melissa is coming!”

“So, Melissa is my…”

“I know. She’s your cousin.”

She was about to quickly add an explanation, but Altair responded nonchalantly.

“How do you know that? I never mentioned Melissa…”

The moment Nadia asked with her eyes wide in surprise, she heard Pavel’s somewhat urgent voice coming from outside.

“My lord! There’s a big problem! A guest has arrived!”

If the calm Pavel had come running to them in such a hurry, it meant that it was an unexpected guest.

Is Melissa already here?!

When Nadia was still at a loss for what to do, Altair opened the bedroom door with a calm expression and let Pavel in.

“Is it a guest from the Marquis of Vine?”

In response to Altair’s question, Pavel blinked blankly as if asking what he meant.

“No. By Marquis Vine, you mean guests coming from the madame’s house?”

Then who is it?

As she blinked in confusion, Pavel sighed and opened his mouth.

“A member of the royal family is here! I repeat, someone of the royal family!!”

“The royal family?”

“Yes. His Highness the Third Prince has arrived!”