I Became the illegitimate son of a duke

33 – After the Wedding

Knock Tok-

“…Chloe, are you there?”

That night, I knocked on Chloe’s door slowly.

There is no answer.

“Sorry, I came so late.”

Even if Chloe disappeared, I couldn’t immediately follow her.

If I miss the banquet after the wedding, the wife who lost her husband will be left alone in the banquet hall and will be very sad.

In the end, it was only after the banquet after the wedding was over that I was able to visit Chloe.

“You said you didn’t even eat. It’s your favorite beef cream soup.”

When she lived outside her castle as a child, Chloe sang her favorite food every day asking for it.

The chef made it because he was worried that Chloe was not eating and was constantly in her room, as if rumors had spread throughout the castle.

She once told the chef in passing that she had mentioned Chloe’s favorite food, and she remembered that.

“…”

“Haaa…”

But still no answer.

Even though the door is locked and there are rustling noises inside, so apparently Chloe is in here.

“…Do you hate me getting married so much?”

Older Chloe also looked at me with the eyes of the opposite s*x sometimes, but most of the time she looked at me with the eyes of her trusty brother.

However, those eyes have been unified into one since some time ago, that is, when her third older brother died. With the eyes of the opposite s*x.

So now, Chloe must have felt a broken heart, letting go of her unrequited love that she loved. Against me, her brother.

What should I say to make Chloe feel better?

“…No.”

“Chloe!?”

Chloe, who had been still, finally answered.

But… Isn’t it? Chloe, is that because I got married?

“In the past, Master hated getting married. Having a new place to lean on for Master, who only looked at me, would mean that Master’s feelings toward me would decrease.”

“Uh…Huh?”

I never thought Chloe would have such a heart.

I thought he was hostile toward Ines simply because of his love for me… But did Ines become hostile because he took away the feelings that came to him?

Certainly, until Ines came to Dijon, I had no one to lean on mentally in this world except my late mother and Chloe.

Since her mother passed away, Chloe, who has dominated my emotions and interests, would have been easier to feel if the things that came to her were reduced even a little.

…Wait a minute

“In the past?”

That means not now.

“Yes, back in the day. If I hated it that much, I couldn’t have gone to my master’s wedding. Of course, I still hate it, but it’s less than before.”

“Then why the hell—”

My question is interrupted by a creaking door.

“ㅡ Chloe.”

“Come in… Let’s talk.”

At the other side of the door, Chloe, slightly emaciated with red eyes, is looking at me with a shy smile.

I’m still wearing the dress I wore during the day. Although she crumpled a little a lot.

What should I say first?

Growling

“Wow!?”

“…hahahaha, let’s eat first.”

Amid the silence, a growling sound echoed from Chloe’s stomach.

I’m glad. Just in time, Chloe’s stomach cries cutely.

Thank you, Chloe’s belly. I’ll put something to eat right now.

“That, ah… That’s…”

Unlike me, who was relieved, Chloe must have been very embarrassed, not only around her eyes but also her cheeks were completely red, and a whimpering sound of ‘Gyaaa’ was coming out of her mouth.

Hmm, it’s also good for Chloe who is dignified, but Chloe who shows her emotions like this is better. It would be nice if it was always like this.

…………

“Come here. You’ve got soup on your mouth. Let me wipe it off.”

“Oops… I-I’ll do it…”

“At times like this, just stay still.”

At first, Chloe couldn’t eat comfortably because she was too cautious, but after I scooped her up for her, she quickly finished the soup with a happy expression on her face.

…I miss it, I used to do this often when I was young, but it hasn’t happened since I entered the castle.

“hehehe…”

Chloe, who refused to take my handkerchief with her eyes closed tightly and turned her head to and fro, was satisfied with a smile as if she had never done that when I forcibly wiped her mouth.

I think it was because I had a strong reluctance to show embarrassing things, but after the work was over, I felt relieved that I was taken care of.

“Are you done now?”

“Yes…”

My skin, which had lost its vitality due to emaciation, returned to its original state and a bright expression was restored. After all, eating something when you’re depressed is effective.

“So, why did you do that?”

“…A ring.”

“A ring?”

“You never gave me a gift like that.”

“Ah…”

Was that the cause?

Well… Although she had given Chloe many gifts, she had never given her a gift as fancy and extravagant as her wedding ring to Ines.

“Give me the ring, too.”

“But that means bonding between spouses…”

“Yes…? Did the ring have that meaning?”

Oops.

As I said before, in this world there is no custom of wearing the same ring as a couple or between husband and wife.

So even if I said that the ring had that meaning, it would sound a little strange to most people.

“Can’t I…?”

Chloe asks me with an expression that looks like she will collapse soon. Tears are in her eyes and her voice is trembling.

“…Okay, wait a minute.”

“Thank you… Thank you…”

How can you say no here?

Even if I explained that it had such a meaning, Chloe would not understand it at all.

… Anyway, it’s a wedding ring, but giving her sister the same one is a bit much, so I should give her a slightly different shape.

“And… Master, I’m really… Sorry for leaving the banquet hall on my own. Even though everyone was looking for me a lot…”

“It’s okay, nothing you’re worried about happened.”

Some people were puzzled when Chloe, who was showing off her presence in a beautiful dress, disappeared, but thanks to my evasion, no one’s reputation was damaged.

Of course, explaining the process in detail will break the mood, so I just tell Chloe that it’s okay.

“But…”

“Even if it’s okay? You don’t have to worry.”

“That… Lord, wait a moment– oops.”

“Get some rest today.”

With all her emotions relieved, Chloe apologized to me with a very apologetic expression, and I reassured her.

Still hesitating to see if there was anything left to apologize for, Chloe lay meekly on the bed while I stroked her head and supported her body at the same time.

“Sweet dreams.”

“That… Master.”

“Huh?”

“I can’t sleep in a dress…”

“…Ah.”

Alas.

Chloe, who has a thrilling expression on her face, looks at me with blush on her cheeks and smiles shyly.

“Well, then I’ll be gone, so Chloe, change into pajamas and sleep soundly.”

“Yes, yes…”

Slightly embarrassed, I hurriedly straightened my folded waist and stood up. Chloe, who was lying on the bed, sat on the bed and touched her clothes.

Are you thinking of changing clothes already? I have to leave soon.

I heard a rustling sound behind me, so I hurriedly opened the door and went outside.

“…Master.”

“Huh?”

Chloe catches me with a horse as I try to close the door.

“Thank you.”

“Thank you, well. It’s a must.”

With that said, I closed the door.

“…And you have to give me the same ring.”

“ㅡ Huh?”

But at the same time as the door closed, Chloe said something unexpected.

I can’t open it again and go in and talk… I can’t, I’m changing my clothes.

Closing the door in good shape, but opening it again or shouting in front of the door and talking is out of shape.

…It’s a big deal.

…………

“Haaa…”

It was late at night and I couldn’t speak on the spot, so I came to my room for now.

I was going to pretend to give you a ring and give you a different ring from Ines’s, but you said that at the end.

If I had told you in advance, I would have explained it calmly.

…Could this be what you were aiming for? So that I can’t say no?

Hmm… Chloe is smart and sensible, so that’s possible. You must have noticed that if I asked for the same ring, I would turn it down.

“I thought I would be satisfied with receiving a ring just like Ines, but it came out like this…”

Hmm… It was a mistake to explain the meaning of the wedding ring. I wouldn’t have done this if I had just given him the ring from the beginning.

No one but me, Ines, and Chloe know the meaning of a wedding ring, so if Chloe wears a wedding ring, other people won’t mind, but… I’m uncomfortable, I am. What brother in the world gives her sister a wedding ring?

Okay, Chloe hates Ines, so I’ll have to dig into that.

If you wear the same ring as Ines, your uniqueness will disappear, and you will imitate Ines. If you say things like this, such as, “Is it really okay to have a ring designed just for you?”

First of all, make a plan like this… First of all, it’s late, so let’s go to sleep—-

Smart –

“Huh?”

At that time, a Laurel-like knock sounded from the door.

What’s going on at this hour?

“Seobang, are you sleeping?”

“Ah, it’s Ines. You’re not sleeping yet. What’s going on…?”

I couldn’t keep Ines waiting outside the door, so I hurriedly opened the door, and there stood Ines in her nightgown, her face red.

I’ve seen Ines in her pajamas a few times before, but this time is very different.

Because Ines walking down the hall wearing pajamas and Ines standing in front of my bedroom wearing pajamas have a completely different sense of weight.

“As I said before… We are from the same bedroom.”

After saying that, Ines shrugged and looked up at me with his head slightly bowed, smiling shyly.