Beneath the Surviving Princess's Joyful Facade - Side Story 13

“Your name?”

“Henriette, Fletty…”

“Henriette, then. The weak heir of the irresponsible Count Fletty.”

Eirik called the young man’s name with an oddly familiar tone. Even though he was insulting the entire family, the young man was left standing with his mouth open, utterly at a loss.

“My wife and I plan to enjoy the rest of this festival. What do you plan to do?”

“I-I will avoid the two of you…”

Even though the young man managed to squeeze out a response after freezing for a moment, the ominous look on Eirik’s face didn’t fade.

“You won’t live very long that way.”

“N-no, I’ll return to the inn, stay in my room, and not come out!”

The frightened young man looked truly pitiful, but Eirik, who had grabbed his shoulder, didn’t stop. He tilted his head to match the young man’s eye level and spoke each syllable deliberately.

“Not a single strand of hair.”

“N-not a single strand of hair will step out of the room.”

“Good. Send my regards to your mother.”

With a relaxed tone, Eirik wiped the remaining juice on the young man’s clothes. After briefly glancing at the reddish-brown hair of the young man as he staggered away, he gestured to Cullen.

“Bring me another one, a proper one.”

He turned to Miesa. This time, his brow was deeply furrowed, but the murderous aura from earlier was nowhere to be seen.

“That was a proposal, just so you know.”

“I didn’t know! I had no intention of accepting it! There was no way I’d take something from a stranger, especially when they had such a serious look on their face!” Miesa waved her hands in a panic.

Siata, standing beside her, also shook her head. “I didn’t know that Kalite fruit had a proposal meaning in Kazen either. This walnut-obsessed region, why…”

Eirik clicked his tongue and carefully took the flower crown off Miesa’s head, discarding it on the ground.

“And yet, what were you talking about with him for so long?”

He quickly took the wheat crown from Cullen, who had rushed over, and placed it on her head. His face was still frowning, but his hand gently tidied the hair on her forehead.

“……”

Eirik pressed his lips firmly to her forehead, leaving an imprint like a seal, then murmured, “It smells strangely delicious. What on earth did you put in your hair? Meat?”

“Eirik…”

Her startled heart had settled, but Miesa’s face grew increasingly warm. Seeing Eirik’s menacing demeanor towards the young man made her heart race uncontrollably.

“You were so harsh to that poor young man.”

“But I was the more pitiful one, almost having my wife taken from me right in front of my eyes.”

Seeing Eirik’s sullen expression, a smile broke out on Miesa’s lips.

“But you were really like a thug earlier—and so cool. My goodness, you even mentioned his mother.”

“Alright then, go and have fun. If anyone speaks to you, tell them that the man with the scar on his cheek is your husband.”

Since they had argued earlier, he really hadn’t bothered to cover the scar today. Though the young man’s fear likely wasn’t due to just the scar.

“Alright, I’ll do that.”

Miesa’s heart was beating in an unusual excitement.

How terrifying had he been just moments ago? And it was because another man had tried to propose to her.

He hadn’t even revealed his identity. His anger wasn’t from lordly authority, but genuine jealousy when another man desired her.

Her little heart felt like it was about to burst. When Miesa and Siata returned to the dancing group, their faces flushed red, the onlookers who had been watching called out to them.

“You were a young lady earlier, and now you’re back as a wife!”

“I’ve never seen such an intense proposal before! So, are you marrying that guy?”

Amidst the barrage of curious questions, Miesa answered proudly with a smile, “Yes, he loves me so much. I might as well marry him.”

“Lucky you! Congratulations!”

“Oh, I’m so jealous! He’s so tall and handsome!”

Miesa paused at the last comment from the shouting women. But she wasn’t particularly displeased by the fact that these sincere women were coveting Eirik.

“That’s right. He’s tall, handsome, well-built, and he’s only interested in me.”

She grinned, though it wasn’t quite enough to satisfy her. She added one more line, “Did you see earlier? He looked like he was about to rip apart the guy who tried to propose me!”

“Oh, stop it!”

“Alright, young lady, if you’re going to brag, at least buy us a drink!”

Delighted by the women’s teasing, Miesa gestured towards Siata. Everyone on the hill ended up with a cup of hot drink, thanks to her.

***

Their journey in Kazen was delightful. The revelation of Eirik’s fiery jealousy was another source of satisfaction for Miesa.

However, another debate awaited the couple once they returned to the Cladis estate.

“Eirik, so we’re going to have a child, right?”

“Well, we’ll see,” replied Eirik with a calm expression. “Your feelings might change again. Why don’t we give it some time?”

“They won’t change. Not ever.”

“Having a child is irreversible. Let’s take our time to think it over.”

She didn’t expect him to be this cautious.

Miesa had thought it would be enough if she made up her mind, but she hadn’t anticipated that he would erect such a firm barrier, leaving her perplexed.

“I’m healthy now. What’s making you so anxious?”

“Miesa, perhaps we should put this topic aside for now.”

Today, they were standing before the painter, getting their portrait done. Eirik stood tall while Miesa sat beside him, her lips the only part of her that moved as she spoke.

“No. Soon it’ll be New Year’s, and you’ll be busy again.”

“How about we discuss it properly after the New Year’s festival? Perhaps by the time the next New Year’s comes around.”

The suggestion of considering it for an entire year left her speechless. Miesa felt a surge of frustration.

Later that night, she sat on the bed, hugging a pillow, waiting for him. As soon as Eirik entered the bedroom after his bath, she patted the pillow and spoke nonchalantly.

“Baby, Daddy’s here.”

“……”

“Our baby is so pretty. My lovely little one.”

Eirik stood frozen in place, his mouth agape, then quickly approached her. His wet hair still dripped, as if he hadn’t even thought to dry it.

“…Miesa!”

“Hmph.”

Realizing it was a joke, Eirik collapsed onto the bed. He pressed his temples for a moment before slowly speaking, “Miesa, do you have any idea how shocked I was?”

The color had drained from his face. Seeing this, Miesa suddenly felt a pang of guilt. She threw the pillow aside, clung to him, and apologized.

“I’m sorry, Eirik, really.”

“……”

“I knew it might seem a little strange. That’s why I did it when we were alone.”

She had been certain he wouldn’t get angry, but she hadn’t anticipated such a reaction. While Miesa stammered her apologies, Eirik shook his head and muttered.

“This isn’t okay. Not this, of all things.”

Finally letting out a sigh of relief, he looked up again, frowning.

“That was a joke?”

“Well, it was more like a bit of mischief… Anyway, I promise I won’t do it again.”

“That’s even worse.”

He ground his teeth but had a wry smile on his lips.

Watching his reaction, Miesa spoke again, cautiously, “But imagining a cute baby that looks like you, only looking at me… It makes me so happy.”

“Am I not enough?”

Though his question sounded incredulous, Miesa was serious.

“You don’t cry when I leave.”

“That phase doesn’t last more than a few years. After about ten years, they’d probably care more about their friends than their parents.”

After pausing for a moment, Eirik’s voice lowered as he spoke again, “No, even if they still clung to their mother’s skirt at ten, it would be troublesome. Especially as the heir.”

He continued in a serious tone, “Just being born would mean the child would have the weight of becoming the next head of the family. We must also consider the pressure that would place on them.”

“……”

“That’s why this isn’t a decision to be made lightly. Bringing a child into the world simply because you want a cute baby isn’t enough of a reason.”

The children he intended to adopt were not only talented but also seemed capable of understanding the weight and responsibility of leading the family.

With the honor that came with the role also came many burdens. Eirik wondered how a child born into such a position would accept their fate.

As they talked, he realized that he had inadvertently projected his own past suffering onto the topic. He gave a bitter smile.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to burden you with such weak words.”

“Weak words? What do you mean by that?”

Eirik hesitated to answer. He feared that if he continued explaining, unnecessary details would slip out—pressures he had felt long ago that there was no need to disclose now.

However, as Miesa pondered his words, she began to sense what lay beneath her husband’s silence. He, too, had not been free from that sense of obligation.

Miesa held his hand tightly. It was the first time he had even partly expressed the pain that came with his position. A mix of emotions swirled inside her heart.

Sympathy and compassion for Eirik. Pride in him for enduring everything so admirably, despite it all, and gratitude for still caring for her.

“I didn’t realize how much pressure you must have felt.”

“It’s hard to think of a father who would pass on such burdens as a good father.”

Seeing his weak smile, Miesa felt even more conflicted. It wasn’t Eirik who was the problem; it was herself.

“No, you’re fine, but me…”