ITMWG 55

Chapter 55…

No one can withstand this.

The day went by so quickly that Nadia didn’t even know how time managed to pass since lunch. There was no way that time, which always flew steadily, could pass faster than usual, and the fact that she felt the day was over so quickly was entirely a matter of her mood. She took a warm bath, changed into her pajamas, and sat down in a chair feeling a little drowsy. Marie shook off the water from her hair and began to comb it gently, while Anna got a candle with a nice scent and lit the room.

They don’t usually set the mood like this…

They must have prepared everything that was planned in advance.

So was the fish on the lunch table.

Seeing that the relationship between Nadia and Altair growing cold, the workers seemed to have come together and built up a strategy.

“You don’t have to go this far though…”

Feeling embarrassed, she looked at Marie and Anna through the mirror as she muttered softly, and the two smiled playfully.

“What did I do? I’m just combing your hair.”

“I’m just making the bedding!”

“By the way, your face seems a little red.”

Marie, who was combing her hair, placed her hand on her forehead as if trying to gauge her temperature. Nadia felt a slight coolness in her hand.

“I’m like this because they serve that kind of dish for lunch.”

“That kind of dish?”

“That…the fish dish that is said to be good for gaining strength and stamina. Didn’t Marie tell them about it because it’s a popular food in the capital?”

“Oh. I know what kind of food it is, but… it wasn’t me who told them that.”

“Huh?”

So how did the eastern chefs know how to make it? The thought of Marie telling them came very naturally to her. But now that it was not the case, she blinked in confusion, and Marie tilted her head as if she was clueless as well.

“Maybe they held a discussion and thought of it in the kitchen? Like what kind of food would the madame like, what kind of food is popular in the capital…It is likely that they prepared it without knowing about ‘that purpose.’”

Nadia’s mouth fell open at the unexpected words. Her heart suddenly became warm as she thought of the faces that had worked hard to study unfamiliar food in the capital just for her. As a small smile was drawn on her lips, Marie, who had just finished brushing her hair, led her to the bed and whispered softly.

“Ma-Marie!”

When Nadia lightly tapped Marie on the back in surprise, she took a step back with a rare giggle.

“We will leave soon so as not to disturb you. If you need anything, please pull the bell.”

It’s probably a message that implied to call her if she wanted to take a bath after ‘it’s done’.

Normally, I’m so tired that I just pass right out and fall asleep, but…

In case that might happen, she nodded and Marie left, taking Anna with her. As the door closed and she was left alone in the room, Nadia became restless due to the silence. She sat on the bed and smoothed the blanket, got up and hovered around the window, but she could not calm down. Meanwhile, time was passing by and the night was getting deeper. Usually, Altair would have finished his schedule by then, but for some reason, there was no sign of him in the hallway. She thought about calling someone and asking where Altair was, but she quickly decided against it.

It would seem like I’m urging too much…

But she was unwilling to just wait idly.

I guess I can go find him.

Satisfied with the answer she had found, Nadia took a coat from the dressing room and put it over her pajamas. Pajamas and a coat. It was a bit of a strange combination, but she couldn’t just walk around the hallway in skimpy pajamas where she might bump into someone. However, the process of putting it on was a bit clunky. Nadia carefully tied the waistband of her coat so that her pajamas were not visible. It looked clumsy in the mirror because she tied it on her own without receiving any help from the maid, but she still eventually managed to get an overall look that wasn’t embarrassing enough. Carefully creaking the door open, Nadia stepped out into the hallway. Even though it was late at night, the hallways were brightly lit with lights everywhere. The floor was covered with a carpet with a simple but carefully woven pattern, and the glass in the window sparkled transparently, clearly showing the scenery outside.

When I first came to Aylesford, it was difficult to even walk down the hallways.

She was so startled when she came into contact with Altair’s body while feeling along the wall to walk down a hallway where she couldn’t see even an inch ahead. Although it was only a few months ago, Nadia couldn’t help but smile at the distant memory, as if it had been years.

I didn’t know at the time. I never thought I would get used to this place.

She, who simply ran away and got married, was devastated by the fact that her groom was the villain Altair, and was trembling in fear due to it. If the Nadia back then had been told that she’s like this now, she probably wouldn’t have believed it. She wouldn’t believe that the once dreary Aylesford Castle had become so bright. She walked towards Altair’s office, thinking that many things had changed. If Altair hadn’t come to the bedroom until now, Nadia thought he was probably taking care of the remaining work. But before she reached his office, she was able to spot Altair outside the window. Unlike the brightly lit hallway, there was only soft lighting in the garden, so it was difficult to clearly distinguish the person’s appearance. But since it was Altair, and not anyone else, she could recognise him with just a glance. Because here in Aylesford, there was no man with a build as large and sturdy as Altair. Also, she didn’t recognise Altair solely because of his physique. She could tell from his straight back and the way he walked with an upright posture. Nadia stayed close to the window and observed Altair. He was moving around in the dark garden.

What is he doing?

No matter how she looked at it, she couldn’t find the right answer. In the end, she decided to hurry out to the garden. It bothered her that she was wearing slippers, but she didn’t think Marie and Anna would blame her for getting her footwear dirty.

When she was at Marquis Vine, no matter what she did, she was reprimanded, and she was also very frightened by that. But here, Nadia had faith that no matter what she did, everyone would be understanding. As she paced fast and reached the entrance to the garden, she could see Altair’s appearance in more detail, which had not been visible through the hallway window. Altair…

He’s planting trees?

The broken and mangled trees had disappeared, instead, healthy trees stood in their places. Altair was working hard in front of a tree, holding a shovel. He was so absorbed in what he was doing that he didn’t even seem to notice that he had gotten dirt on his white shirt.

“I don’t think the branches looked like this…”

Altair stroked his chin while looking at the tree seriously. Upon hearing that, Nadia realised that the newly planted tree looked quite similar to the one she had first carefully chosen.

So he personally went out and restored them? By finding trees that were as similar to the original ones as possible? He could have asked his subordinates to do it. Pavel even said he would take care of it himself. And yet…

Why is the Baron doing this himself?

Meanwhile, there was a lot of other work in Aylesford that must be taken care of. Nadia felt grateful yet sorry. Complex emotions rushed in all at once. While her head was still filled with complicated thoughts, her body had moved on its own will. She quickly crossed the garden and approached Altair, who was still busy with his planting task. Altair, who was engrossed in the work, looked at her in surprise upon noticing her presence.

“Nadia? You aren’t asleep yet?”

He seemed to have thought she would be peacefully asleep.

What kind of wife can sleep peacefully after eating that kind of food for lunch?

Instead of shouting like that, Nadia looked back and forth between Altair’s blemished face and the beautifully placed tree. Altair seemingly sensing her feelings at the silent protest, roughly ran through his hair.

“For some reason, I was in a strangely good condition today, I felt very productive and kept wanting to do something. Thanks to that, I finished work early. And I didn’t overdo it…”

“Why are you spending all that extra time on something like this?”

Altair seemed taken aback by her reaction.

“I thought you might like it if I restored the trees.”

“I’m more upset that Altair is increasing work by doing this than the tree being damaged. You are already busy enough with a lot of work… Why are you doing this…”

Nadia sighed and grabbed Altair’s arm.

“If you finish work early, you should quickly return to the bedroom and rest!”

He got pulled by the arm, and the distance between Altair and Nadia narrowed in an instant. At that moment, he got startled, and pushed her back slightly. Her body was pushed back helplessly despite the light force. To make matters worse, her slippers came off and she lost her balance and ended up hitting her bottom on the floor. Embarrassed and hurt, tears came to her eyes. Nadia raised her head and looked at Altair with resentful eyes, and he came in front of her with a flustered look.

“Are you alright?”

Altair gently helped her up, and brushed the dirt off her rear. He looked around to see if there were any injuries, but then he stiffened again as his pupils landed on her chest. Wondering why, Nadia lowered her head, and the waistband which she thought was tied tightly had come loose and the coat was wide open. Between them, her body in thin pajamas was completely exposed. Looking at Altair’s face with his mouth wide agape, speechless, Nadia felt like an exhibitionist showing off his naked body in front of a high school girl with his coat wide open.

She hurriedly tried to pull her coat back together, but the strings were not tied as well as she thought due to her frantic movements. Not only so, she even dropped her waistband on the floor. Altair, who was quietly watching this, facepalmed with both hands, then came close to her and grabbed her wrist as she was trying to pick up the waistband again.

“This is way out of line.”

“W-what is-…”

“Who could bear to look at something like this unfazed? Damn it. No one can withstand it.”

Altair, who went on grumbling while Nadia couldn’t tell whether he was talking to himself or to her, leaned down and kissed her. As her eyes rounded in surprise at the sudden passionate skipship without warning, Altair boldly and wetly swept through the inside of her mouth. Promptly, he spoke to her with their lips slightly pressed together.

“I told you. I’m feeling strangely energised today. If you deliberately provoked me…You better be prepared, wife