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It was only natural given how pretty she was, but among them, Robbie's case was severe.
It had reached the point where the village chief's wife would beat her chest and ask, “When is that apprentice priestess becoming an official one?” while counting down the days to Iris's vows.
Regardless, she was a lady who would never have a connection with Robbie. But Robbie seemed to think otherwise.
‘T-that's why I gave up...’
Seeing him wail and drink himself into a stupor at the inn, Laura snorted and scolded him.
‘Good grief, you brat! What's the point of being a noble! You'd spend your whole life nursing a sickly husband who lives unnecessarily long just because he eats fancy food!’
In short: give me a break.
Give up, my foot. Iris probably never gave you a second thought.
Of course, Laura knew that scolding the village chief's son like that would make living in such a small village difficult, so she said something different from what she actually felt.
‘Look here, Robbie! A truly cool man knows when to let go!’
‘...Do you think so?’
‘Good heavens! I'm going to see Iris tomorrow, so just give her a wedding gift and forget about her!’
And so, Robbie had come along with Laura since morning, suffering from a hangover while leading two goats.
Since the chief's house raised forty goats, it wasn't a strange gift. However, it was a fairly generous gift for someone like him, so Laura was certain in her heart.
That brat definitely didn't get his father's permission to bring those goats.
Do you know how expensive goats are!
‘But why should I care?’
Robbie is the one who'll get scolded; it's a good thing for Iris to receive two goats!
As expected, Robbie, who had been grumbling to himself the whole way up, changed his attitude and acted very smug as he handed the goats' leashes to Iris.
“Take them, Iris. They're your wedding gift. One male, one female. They'll be good for breeding.”
Iris was, of course, delighted by the unexpected gift.
“Oh my, Robbie. Thank you so much. Two goats! Isn't this too wonderful a gift?”
“Ah, well, our house's goats are a bit expensive, but it's nothing...”
Of course, Laura had no intention of letting Robbie take all the credit.
“One of them is my gift, Iris!”
“Really, Auntie?!”
Just as expected, Iris jumped up and clung to Laura's neck, kissing her cheek. Laura laughed heartily and tickled Iris.
Robbie protested.
“Auntie! Both of them are my gift...”
“If you tell your father that both were gifts, he'll be absolutely thrilled, Robbie.”
At that, Robbie flinched and shut his mouth.
‘I knew he'd do that.’
Having silenced Robbie, Laura scanned the cottage with sharp eyes. Sensing her mood, Iris quickly spoke up.
“I'm not sure where Rahan is either. I just woke up.”
“Is that so? But seeing the fireplace burning, he's a diligent husband!”
Only then did Iris look at the fireplace. Firewood, clearly added by someone at dawn, was burning steadily.
Unless a person is diligent and doesn't sleep much, it is very difficult to keep a fireplace from going out through the night.
Pass for now. Laura beamed.
“A husband who lets his wife be cold on their first wedding night is a failure! Oh, what is this lizard?”
“Ah, that's Rahan's pet.”
“A pet? Your husband keeps strange things. ...Hm?”
As Laura turned away with a smile, she noticed something odd.
“Iris. That bed...”
“Ah.”
Iris, who had just pushed aside the cage containing the axolotl, felt her cheeks flush red.
Laura glanced at Robbie outside the door. He was deciding what to do with the goats and was tying them to a stake in front of the door. Thus, Laura asked in a low, hurried whisper.
“No, why didn't you two use the same bed?”
In the loft of the cottage, bedding similar to that on the bed was protruding and draped down. Not only that, just looking at the traces of someone having just emerged from the bedding, it was obvious that Iris had used the bed alone.
Iris gave a shy smile.
“The bed is a bit small...”
“Goodness! That's all the more reason to cuddle up and sleep together!”
Laura clicked her tongue. Since she had only seen the husband from a distance during the kidnapping, she didn't actually know what he looked like. Still, she thought he had a decent frame.
‘Could it be he's impotent?’
“Hehe, that's why we're planning to buy a big bed.”
Unaware of Laura's thoughts, Iris smiled brightly.
“By any chance, do you need a clerk at your general store, Auntie?”
“Why? To buy a bed?”
“Well, that's part of it...”
It was then.
“Oh. Who are you?”
As he spoke, a black-haired man stepped inside the door. Laura, Iris, and even Robbie, who was at the doorway, were momentarily speechless.
Because the man's eyes were...
“Gah! A demon! Iris! Get away!”
“Huh? Kyaa! Robbie!”
...red. Feeling pathetic, Laura shouted at Robbie, who was grabbing Iris's shoulder and pushing her aside.
“You idiot, Robbie! That's Iris's husband!”
“What?”
Robbie, still struggling to push Iris, asked back with a vacant expression. Iris, who had remained standing without being pushed, let out a little giggle.
Laura rubbed her furrowed brow and apologized to the man.
“I'm sorry, oh dear. That dummy Robbie still believes in superstitions from a hundred years ago...”
“Auntie!”
“Anyone can see he's human! How rude to say that to such a handsome man?”
Laura scolded Robbie for protesting. While the man only laughed, Iris apologized on his behalf.
“I'm sorry, Rahan. I think Robbie was just surprised.”
“It's alright. It's not the first or second time.”
The man's voice was low and composed.
Without realizing it, Laura suppressed the urge to admire him like a teenage girl, thinking, Oh my, oh my.
She had thought he had a decent frame from a distance, but up close, he was even more handsome. He had a face rarely seen in a rural village like this.
“I'm Laura. I run the general store in Vandel! I came today at Abbot Wilbert's request to see if there's anything you need!”
“Nice to meet you. Please call me Rahan.”
The man smiled brightly and shook the hand Laura offered.
‘My, even his smiling face is incredibly handsome! He must have broken many girls' hearts!’
Men are naturally prone to envy and jealousy toward such faces. Naturally, Robbie remained hostile toward him.
“I heard some thug kidnapped Iris and married her; are you that guy?”
“Hmm, that's not wrong.”
Surprisingly, Rahan grinned and nodded at Robbie's rude remark. Robbie glared.
“Iris! It's not too late. I cannot forgive a hooligan like this for kidnapping you and forcing you into marriage! Divorce him and marry me!”
Look at this guy. The man narrowed his eyes. Laura's expression also soured.
What are you going to do if you can't forgive it?
But Robbie did not back down.
“I won't make you work at Auntie Laura's general store! I'll make sure you don't get a single drop of water on your hands! My house raises forty goats!”
Didn't that just become thirty-eight?
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