I Married Because I Wanted To Live A Normal Life Chapter 74

Chapter 74

I held back a sigh and spoke.

“…Did you skip your meal again? You’re going to pass out… Your health could worsen, Marquis. You’re not in your prime anymore, you know.”

“What are you talking about? I’m still young.”

The man’s indignant reaction was quite amusing.

Of course, I hadn’t really said it because I thought he was old, but I just wish he would shut up and eat his food instead of wasting time refuting such silly remarks.

The blood of my ancestors, who were serious about their meals, is boiling for the first time in a while. We do all this work just to eat and live, so who in the world is going to recognize you for working yourself to the bone like this?

“…Before I report on the matter of His Royal Highness the Prince’s coronation oath rehearsal…”

But the man was the annoying type who would actually get annoyed if I nagged him to eat, so I started with that and smiled brightly.

“I haven’t had dinner yet either. Would it be alright if I reported slowly while we eat together?”

“What?”

“I’m just so hungry.”

At my words, the man narrowed his eyes at me for a moment, then let out a hollow laugh.

“You want to make me eat that badly?”

“What are you talking about? I was just about to have dinner, and I thought you might feel left out if I ate alone, so I’m just asking out of courtesy.”

Even at my playful words, Callen chuckled as if sighing and muttered, “Alright, alright.”

Callen called for a servant and ordered a new meal to be brought, and soon, steaming hot food was delivered.

The servants quickly set up chairs for a makeshift meal. I then urged Callen, who still hadn’t moved from his desk, and sat down at the table.

Seeing him face-to-face like this again, the man looked a little thinner. The thought ‘You should only work as much as you’re paid,’ crossed my mind, but then it seemed the man before me was more of a ‘giver,’ so I swallowed the words I was about to say.

Callen reached for the steak on my plate.

“It’s fine.”

“I just wanted to use a knife for the first time in a while.”

The retired knight said so, and for a moment I was at a loss for words and couldn’t refuse.

As if in revenge for just a moment ago, Callen smiled mischievously and proceeded to cut my steak into bite-sized pieces. What a petty fellow.

Soon, with a clink, my steak was returned to its place, and a quiet meal began.

Since it wasn’t polite to speak while eating, my offer to report while we ate was purely a ploy to lure the man, and Callen must have known that.

Savoring the texture of the meat that melted in my mouth, I swallowed my food thoroughly and then spoke to him.

“I heard you haven’t been going home lately?”

Callen, who was drinking wine with his meal, coughed, choked.

“…Who told you that?”

“Your cute nephew.”

“That rascal, spouting nonsense again…”

The man muttered, as if embarrassed. I sighed.

“What kind of uncle in the world makes his nephew worry? Are you at least sleeping well?”

“…..”

“…Don’t tell me you’re just catching catnaps at your desk or something like that, are you?”

“No…”

If it’s no, it’s no. Why are you avoiding my gaze and speaking so unconfidently?

I doubted he would listen to me, but the request from his young nephew remained in the back of my mind, so I opened my mouth.

“Please take care of your body. Don’t just bury yourself in work. When the top is like this, the bottom gets too disciplined, and it only leads to unnecessary fatigue.”

“It’s just been for the last few days. Once things are sorted out and His Royal Highness is safely crowned, I’ll be less busy than I am now.”

“…..”

“You know the situation is not easy right now.”

Listening to his stubborn words, I realized why Esdelle had, of all people, secretly designated me as his partner.

This man needs someone to take care of him.

It wasn’t because he was simply incapable of taking care of himself.

It was just that he was often so lost in his own thoughts, which others couldn’t know, that someone needed to constantly give him attention.

So that he wouldn’t be forever trapped in solitude.

Since my position required me to look after Callen, I figured that from Esdelle’s perspective, our relationship must have looked quite plausible.

But there was a limit to the amount of attention a mere acquaintance could show.

I poked at my salad and said, “Marquis, these days… well, is there anything else you’re interested in besides work?”

“Something else?”

“Hobbies. Social activities… They can be a nice change of pace, and you might even find a good connection. It’s good in many ways.”

At my words, Callen blinked, then made a face that seemed to say, ‘Don’t tell me?’

“Are you perhaps indirectly asking if I’m seeing someone?”

“No, that’s not necessarily what I was asking…”

“Goodness. To think there are people who ask such things these days.”

“That’s not it!”

Great, I’ve been judged as a young fogey for the second time after Lewis. People! That’s not what I meant!

At my gritted-teeth denial, Callen, perhaps having been joking after all, laughed and then said, “I’m not thinking about it yet. …Nor do I need to.”

Your nephew seems to think a little differently, though.

“But sometimes, I still find myself resentful of the person who snatched away the capable aide I needed most.”

“…Who? Don’t tell me you mean my husband?”

At that, Callen looked at me for a moment, then said in a playful voice.

“Are you admitting that you yourself are capable?”

“If I weren’t, you wouldn’t have kept me by your side, Marquis.”

“I can’t tell if you believe in your own abilities or if you’re just flattering me…”

He shook his head and muttered, then continued.

“Yes. I mean your husband.”

“…..”

“I needed you too…”

His voice, perhaps due to my mood, sounded extremely disheartened. I was grateful that Callen thought so highly of me, but in truth, there were far more capable people under his command than me.

He’s probably just saying it to encourage me. With that thought, I was able to shrug my shoulders and retort.

“I don’t think working at the palace suited me anyway, so I probably would have quit even if it wasn’t for the marriage.”

“That’s a bit disappointing. I thought I was treating you well.”

Could the treatment this man is talking about be the kind where your authority grows as your responsibilities increase from being given more work? My hand holding the fork tightened on its own.

“…But if you had gotten to know me more deeply…”

At the suddenly lowered voice, I, who had been glaring at my meat, looked up. Callen, still with a smile on his lips, was poking at his own meal with a fork.

“You would have found me burdensome.”

What is this nonsense? I opened my mouth in disbelief.

“…You never even gave me a chance to get to know you in the first place, did you?”

I felt I had to point this out, and the man’s eyes widened. What’s so surprising? I gave a smirk.

“Did you know? You’re extremely shy, Marquis.”

“No, I…”

“I’ve already reached an agreement with Lady Avenue on this matter, so I won’t be accepting any rebuttals.”

“…You two talked about that?”

Callen grumbled.

Then, a very brief silence fell. Callen blinked a few times, as if he had been caught off guard, then ran a hand through his hair.

“That… was not my intention. If you felt hurt by my actions, I’m sorry. I just…”

“…..”

“…thought it would be better for you not to know. About me.”

“…Why?”

At my words, Callen’s face contorted slightly, then he hid it with a smile and said, “Well, My Lady… you’re a Baron now, but. When we first met, you didn’t come to the palace because you wanted to, did you?”

“Hmm.”

“And I didn’t want to burden you with any other problems besides work.”

“For example, you didn’t want to make me clean up an unnecessary mess for my boss?”

“So to speak. Wouldn’t you have found it burdensome too?”

“I don’t know. Maybe I wouldn’t have thought so.”

“…What?”

Of course, it wasn’t for me to say, as I was more skilled than anyone at hiding my own affairs.

But just as I had a small realization after meeting Sir Ted on the way here, I wanted to convey to the man before me, even if just a little, what I had learned while being with Hisch, so I opened my mouth.

“Actually, I’ve been quite curious about you, Marquis. If I may be so bold, I’ve even thought, ‘Why on earth does this person live so diligently?’”

“What did you say?”

Callen laughed in disbelief, but I continued without paying him any mind.

“You could live a little more comfortably. You could live a life where you get angry at others and defy your superiors, but why cling to work as if there’s nothing else to cling to? I’ve had thoughts like that, you know.”

At my words, Callen, his laughter gone, just looked at me silently.

“So, if you had given me an opening, Marquis, I might have tried to understand you a little.”

“…..”

“‘Ah, so that’s why this person is like this. I want to know more, what makes this person think that way.’ I might have become curious.”

Everyone must have a desire to become perfect according to their own standards.

But in reality, it’s an impossible task, and everyone has a flaw somewhere.

It’s just that everyone hides it because revealing it is no different from telling the other person your weakness.

But as fate would have it, some people who learn of that weakness might try to use it.

And yet another might find the discovered wound of the other person unbearably lovely.