Chapter 17
“One of Count’s family members is here?”
While Iris was changing, Christina announced Celestine’s visit.
Iris’ heart sank.
Her husband’s family.
In her previous life, her relationship with the family of Duke Hutch was terrible. She didn’t have any good memories with her in-laws.
Rather, she would rather stomach Duke Hutch than them.
They seemed to believe that Iris had fallen in love with their great and proud son and that’s why he had married her.
Alfred’s sister, Jillian, was the wife of Count Walder, and her behavior was completely different outside and inside. Outside she was a noble and gentle Countess, but inside she was manipulative and cruel.
Jillian would check the condition of the house whenever she visited Alfred’s mansion. While she looked everywhere, Iris had to follow after her like a maid.
Even though it wasn’t Iris’ job to clean the mansion, if a speck of dust was found on a window frame it was blamed on Iris.
[As the mistress, can’t you take care of this kind of thing? You didn’t learn of any of this when you were living as the flower of Duke Whittle? This much is basic.]
Then, Jillian would ask a maid to bring a cane.
[If you do something wrong, you should be beaten.]
Iris could vividly remember the pain of the slender cane striking against her calves like it was yesterday.
Delicate fair skin with red lines, sometimes even peeling.
Blood trickling down her calves.
Far from shocked, Jillian smiled at it. As if it was what she had hoped for.
Alfred sided with Jillian when he saw Iris’ blistered calves.
[My sister values manners. You haven’t learned much. You’re the flower of Duke Whittle. If I had known you were like this at Duke Whittle, I wouldn’t have married you. You should be thankful that I don’t throw away things like yourself and have kept you by my side.
Her other in-laws did more than that, not less.
Iris closed her eyes and cleared her breath to escape.
‘It’s all in the past. It’s not going to happen this time.’
She recalled Keivrand’s family.
Keivrand’s family was just as famous as him, who was the guardian of the sacred relics.
Venerable Count Wyburn Green and his wife Helena.
The second son, Edward, who is the vice captain of the Order of Knights’ under the Divine Kingdom.
And the youngest Celestine.
As far as Iris knew, Celestine doesn’t attend social gatherings very often, but everyone wanted to be close to her.
‘Celestine…’
In her previous life, Iris had seen Celestine a few times at the parties she had attended.
But she only saw her from afar and has never spoken to her.
‘She gave off a cold feeling… ”
Even though it was in her ‘previous life,’ it was only a month ago for Iris.
Just before her death, she was beaten by Jillian for not giving birth to a child, so the trauma from her Alfred’s family remained vivid.
Although she didn’t show it on her face, her heart was beating so fast that her forehead throbbed.
“Miss Iris, are you okay? You don’t look very good…”
Iris came to her senses as she stared blankly at Christina’s face like she had just woken up from a dream.
‘Right, I’m not Iris Whittle or Iris Hutch. I’m Iris Green.’
Iris Whittle and Iris Hutch endured unjust beating, but Iris Green will be different.
“I guess you’re not feeling well because of travel sickness. Do you want me to call a doctor?”
Christina’s eyes were full of worries.
Over Christina’s shoulder, Juliette was seen pouting her lips.
Her expression reads, ‘She’s pretending to be sick, why call a doctor?’
Elly stared at Juliette with a look of ‘Shall we just kill her?’ but Iris decided she saw wrong.
There was no way the famous Lutech family’s esteemed daughter would have such a wicked idea, she thought.
“It’s okay. Just a little hot.”
“You don’t have to overdo it, Miss Iris. Miss Celestine will be joining you for dinner tonight…Miss Celestine is a little bit…”
Blurring the end of her words, Christina added.
“The Count’s guards were freaking out in front of Celestine.”
Elly nodded hard as if she agreed.
Iris also wanted to avoid it if she could.
But she couldn’t live her whole life avoiding Keivrand’s family.
‘Besides…’
When she was walking around death, she saw Keivrand’s family die.
Neither Keivrand’s parents, brother, nor sister died comfortably in her previous life.
‘I don’t know exactly when…’
If the scene in her moment of death is really the future that will happen, the part that can be changed must be changed.
‘For the time being.’
Iris abandoned her fear and regained her composure.
‘I’ll see after judging them.’
* * *
Keivrand also knew that the marriage wasn’t something that would go their way as they pleased.
Although marrying for love is in trend, he knew very well that lineage was still important.
Only.
“I completely forgot.”
Keivrand answered flatly to Jamie who had asked him if the Venerable Count and Countess had been informed of their marriage.
Jamie, dumbfounded and staring blankly at Keivrand, spoke.
“If the boss is so out of his mind, it’s going to be harder for me, right?”
“Sorry, sorry. But really…I completely forgot.”
“How is that possible?”
“Yeah…”
How it was possible, Keivrand didn’t know.
From the day Iris came wearing a hood, his mind was mostly thinking of her.
Who is Iris, truly?
Why does she feel so mysterious?
Even with such an arrogant and strong appearance, why does she sometimes look fragile and perilous?
When will she open up her heart to him?
What will she look like then?
What does the hot Iris look like?
What would she look like in bed?
What about their first night?
He hadn’t even thought to tell his family about the marriage because he had so many thoughts that he couldn’t understand.
“It’s Cel, but…Do you think the Venerable Count and Countess will stand still if they find out about this?”
“Well. It’s awkward.”
“It’s not to the point of being awkward, is it?”
Jamie said, with a smile on his face while gritting his teeth.
“I need to talk to Cel first.”
Keivrand knows how strong his sister is, so it was a good idea to soothe her first.
“It’s no use, so sit down. Boss.”
Jamie said as he pointed his index finger to a chair.
“I sometimes get confused whether you’re the boss or me. What did Cel say?”
“Is my brother who I haven’t seen in a long time just using his head for decorations? Call me at dinner time!”
“…”
“Is what she said… ”
“She’s not young anymore so why is she talking like that?”
“That’s understandable, isn’t it?”
Keivrand didn’t answer.
He didn’t need to be there to know how much Celestine would have polished his shadows while he was gone.
There’s no way they would have an excuse.
“Until it’s time for dinner, write a letter to the Venerable Count, boss. I’m sure you’ll be a good son and inform them of the marriage now, right?
* * *
“I’m sorry you have to have dinner with my sister without notice, Irie. Oh, that dress. It looks good on you.”
Said Keivrand, who came to pick up Iris before the dinner.
Iris was wearing a dark, wine-colored dress that wasn’t glamorous but had an elegant feel to it.
“There’s nothing to be sorry about. It’s something you didn’t know.”
Iris walked down the hall with her hand slightly on Keivrand’s arm.
“I…there’s something I need to tell you in advance.”
“Tell me.”
“My siblings, um. There are two of them, and the one that came today is my sister. She’s the youngest in my family.”
“I see.”
“That’s why she’s so immature. She’s a little…How should I say…”
“She’s crazy.”
The answer came from behind.
Iris didn’t know when, but Nathan was following the two.
Every time she sees Nathan, she couldn’t help but mistake him for a woman.
A fair and pretty face similar to Iris’, and a bit of long, light golden hair.
Sweeping the back of his hair with one hand as if it was bothersome, Nathan added.
“I’ll join you for dinner, boss. I don’t know what the crazy little girl is going to say to my sister-in-law.’
Even though Nathan called his sister a ‘crazy little girl,’ Keivrand didn’t point it out.
It occurred to Iris that the relationship between Keivrand and his shadows wasn’t that of an ordinary noble and knight.
As far as Iris knew, Keivrand’s shadows were like family to him.
“That would be great.”
Keivrand nodded his head.
Iris’ barely relieved anxiety began to rise again.
What kind of personality does Celestine have that Nathan was so concerned about her behavior?
“Sister-in-law.”
Nathan quickly came to Iris’ side and spoke.
“No matter what Celestine says, just don’t be bothered by it. I don’t know what she’ll say, but don’t pay it any mind.”
“Really?”
“Yes. She’s really…She doesn’t know how to mince words.”
Nathan tilted his head when Iris smiled lightly.
“Why are you smiling?”
“The same goes for Nathan.”
Nathan smiled, showing his teeth.
“Sister-in-law isn’t simple either.”
Nathan looked more like a woman when he smiled.
“Anyway, sister-in-law. Just ignore what you don’t want to hear, and listen to what’s good to hear. That’s just her personality, so don’t fault her for it. I’ll kick her if she says something bad.”
“Kicking…a lady.”
“Lady? Celestine?”
Nathan widened his eyes and looked at Keivrand with the expression of ‘are you hearing this?’
Keivrand spoke.
“Irie. Celestine is more like a man than a lady…”
* * *
At the hall where everyone was supposed to have dinner, Celestine had arrived first.
Celestine, who was occupying a seat on the long side of the table, turned her head to the sound of the door opening.
Iris put her hand on Keivrand’s arm and slowly entered the hall.
On her left was Nathan.
Celestine didn’t seem to mind seeing Nathan come with them.
Keivrand headed to the seat of honor and Iris stopped opposite Celestine.
Celestine stared at Iris then looked back at Keivrand.
“Why don’t we change seats?”
“What?”
“Brother, why are you sitting in the seat of honor? Isn’t your wife the main character today?”
At the unexpected words, Iris widened her eyes.
The same was true of Keivrand.
“Oh, I see.”
Keivrand replied without hesitation and switched seats with Iris.
Iris has never sat at the seat of honor, so she headed to the seat in an awkward mood.
When she stood in front of the chair, Celestine got up.
“This is…”
Keivrand was about to introduce Iris, but Celestine raised her index finger and interrupted him.
“I want to hear your wife’s voice, not yours.”
Iris was confused.
What does Celestine want?
Is this a new type of bullying?
Celestine raised one eyebrow and looked at Iris.
As if she was telling Iris to go ahead and introduce herself.
Iris had nothing to lose, so she decided to play along.
“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Iris Green. I recently registered my marriage to Miss Celestine’s older brother, Keivrand Green. Before that, I was Iris Whittle.”
“I’m Celestine Green. Feel free to call me Cel.”
Celestine said with a blank stare.
And then she added.
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“Can I call you big sister?”
This time, Celestine’s expression changed.
She had a puppy-like look like she was waiting for her big sister Iris to throw a ball.
== Translator’s Note ==
1. Please report any typos, grammatical/spelling errors, sentences you find weird, and other etc…in the comment section .