* * *
When I didn’t respond, a chill flashed in Jerome’s eyes.
“What bastard have you been shaving for, huh? Just let me catch him. I’ll kill him, and then I’ll lock you up forever, and you’ll only carry my children.”
“Lift your chin.”
“Seriously, is there a man? Even if there is, make sure you’ve settled things before marrying me. I don’t want to share a single strand of your hair with anyone, much less a tooth.”
I debated whether to tell him that he was the only man in the universe who would throw tantrums around like a child over a shave, but I gave up.
Frankly, I wanted to sew his mouth shut.
Jerome’s arms around my waist began to slowly slide down to my hips.
I muttered flatly, not even surprised by the turn of events anymore.
“You know, I have a problem. I can’t control my temper when I’m holding a blade…”
At the dark look on my face, Jerome quickly withdrew his hands.
After finally finishing the shave, just as I was about to leave the bathroom, a firm arm pulled me back.
The sharp scent of soap hit me. Jerome’s wet bangs brushed the back of my neck.
“Yeah, I figured this is how you’d act.”
“…”
“I knew you wouldn’t ask me anything.”
At the sunken tone in Jerome’s voice, I shuddered. He had realized I was consciously avoiding any mention of what happened last night.
His fingers brushed over the mark on my neck.
His touch felt like he was resenting the trace he’d left behind.
“Jerome, I don’t always know what you’re thinking…”
I grabbed Jerome’s hand as it slid down my neck and turned to meet his gaze.
It was the same look I’d seen before, the kind of gaze that barely suppressed some deep desire.
I became strangely aware of our mingling breaths.
Avoiding his gaze awkwardly, I added,
“Don’t try to bear everything alone. That’s where half your problems come from.”
“…”
“We both have the same mission to destroy Mephisto. It’s more useful to find a solution than to blame you. And…”
I trailed off, hesitating. I wanted to comfort him somehow, but I didn’t know what words could console Jerome.
No matter what I said, I didn’t think it would help, especially with Mephisto inhabiting his body.
‘I’m just like Mephisto, trying to use Jerome for my own purposes. How ridiculous is it for me to be the one comforting him?’
With that thought, I couldn’t say anything more.
Jerome quietly waited for me to continue, but instead, I whispered softly,
“Let me go. It’s time for me to head back.”
Jerome, who had been silent for a while, finally released me.
Was it just my imagination, or did he seem a little reluctant?
Feeling oddly guilty, I turned around only to be startled as Jerome abruptly untied the hair I had carefully tied up.
“What are you doing?”
“I didn’t like how it was tied. I’ll make it prettier.”
Jerome passed by me, expressionless. I stared at him in confusion before furrowing my brows.
‘You didn’t have to untie it though. Seriously, what a temper.’
The sun was up, and my body had recovered enough.
It was time to return to the Duke’s mansion.
After cleaning up and leaving the bathroom, I saw Jerry and Jerome chatting in the kitchen.
“No, no. You need to knit outward from there. If you knit inward, it’ll come undone quickly.”
At Jerome’s advice, Jerry nodded eagerly. Jerry was enthusiastically knitting something with needles bigger than their body.
‘Wait, is that smell…?’
I glanced around, drawn by the smell of something delicious.
A steaming bowl of soup was waiting on the kitchen table.
“Eat. I’ll go call the coachman.”
Jerome grabbed his robe and stood up as soon as he noticed I had come out.
Nodding absentmindedly, I sat down at the table.
As soon as I took a spoonful of the soup, my hair stood on end.
It was much tastier than I’d expected.
“Is it that good?”
It occurred to me that I hadn’t had a proper meal in days.
I nodded with my spoon still in my mouth.
It seemed Jerome wasn’t just skilled with his hands; he could cook too.
He was quite capable in many ways.
Watching me, Jerome chuckled softly.
If it weren’t for Mephisto, he’d probably make a decent husband.
He was good-looking, handy around the house, came from a good family, and had a guaranteed future.
‘But then again, this is all probably part of his grand scheme.’
With a sour expression, I spooned more soup into my mouth.
Jerome, standing beside me, tapped my cheek with his finger.
“No matter how good the food is, you should acknowledge your husband when he’s leaving.”
“…”
“Oh, and I’ll wash Chloe when I get back. She always cries when Jeanne washes her because water gets in her ears.”
Despite my consistent silence, Jerome smiled brightly.
I returned my focus to my meal with a serious expression.
‘He’s delving deeper into his delusions… Is this even okay? It seems like he’s already seeing Chloe.’
Just as I was thinking about how to respond to Jerome’s sudden newlywed fantasy, he bent down and patted his own cheek.
“Come on, a reward for making breakfast.”
I pretended not to hear and kept eating my soup.
Jerome immediately grabbed the knife resting next to my bowl and stabbed it into the table.
I sniffed as I looked at the sound of wood splitting beneath the knife.
After wiping my mouth with a tissue, I spoke.
“Where do you want it?”
“Here.”
Jerome, who had looked ready to commit murder just moments ago, now scrunched up his nose playfully.
After the table, I knew I would be next, so I decided to comply with his request.
Although it made me uncomfortable, it was better to kiss him on the cheek than provoke him further.
“Hurry up. My neck’s about to fall off.”
Clenching my fist, I stared at the grinning Jerome.
I vowed to pay him back for today’s humiliation someday.
Resolving to endure, I leaned in to press a kiss to his cheek, but Jerome turned his head at the last second.
Smooch.
As our lips met, the spoon I was holding slipped from my grasp.
Jerome picked up the fallen spoon and placed it back in my hand, smiling softly.
“I’ll be back, darling.”
I silently watched Jerome leave the cabin with a satisfied look on his face, then muttered under my breath,
“Right. Let’s eat. I need to eat to get my revenge…”
I knew by now that getting upset over every little thing would only hurt me.
So, I quietly continued to spoon the soup into my mouth. It was truly a soup of tears.
After filling my stomach with soup, I watched Jerry knit.
Sensing my gaze, Jerry shifted uncomfortably and turned away.
I didn’t feel like striking up a conversation either, so I lay on the sofa, basking in the sunlight.
‘It’s so relaxing I keep getting sleepy.’
At the Duke’s mansion, I was always on edge, worried someone would find out I was a man, but here, I didn’t have to pretend to be a lady.
It was peaceful. If possible, I wanted to stay here forever.
‘But I have to go back. Jeanne still has things to do.’
I must’ve dozed off for a while because I woke up to someone shaking me.
Slowly opening my eyes, I saw Jerry holding something out to me.
Nyaa!
My sleep-fogged eyes widened as I looked at what Jerry had handed me.
It was a small doll that looked exactly like Jerry.
I couldn’t believe it—a doll making another doll.
The irony!
But when I thought about how much effort Jerry must’ve put into making it, I felt a bit moved.
I squeezed the mini Jerry tightly and spoke.
“Is this for me?”
When asked with a bewildered expression, Jerry nodded repeatedly.
Then, he nudged his head under my hand.
It seemed like he wanted me to pet him.
I carefully patted his head, and he purred in response.
“Thank you. I really like it. But are you sure you can stay here? It must be lonely by yourself. Why don’t you come with us?”
Jerry shook his head so vigorously that the white cloth he was wrapped in fluttered.
Then, he pulled out a sketchbook from under the cloth.
“This is…”
* * *
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They could pass as a peaceful family
Thanks
Cutee
Good
hop