I Became A Married Man in Another World
Chapter 140
140 Mother Turned Into a Flower
Since ancient times, from the moment people first settled and formed villages on this land, the Bern Border County had been plagued by foreign invasions.
Thus, the family charged with defending this territory had focused all their strength on cultivating military might.
Without power, one is trampled. No matter how benevolent or wise a ruler may be, without power, everything will eventually be seized and destroyed by cruel and barbaric enemies. A strength great enough to protect one’s family, people, and livestock—that was the only true justice.
That experience and belief had seeped into their very marrow, passed down through generations. It was as if their brains were made of bone itself.
‘Is that why?’
Since meeting the man named Juhwan, the trembling in his chest had not ceased. He wanted to test himself against that man just once. This invitation was the result of that desire.
In a Magic Beast hunt, one could compete even without crossing blades directly.
The mere thought made the blood boil in his veins. I will not lose, he thought.
‘Really, I’m not young anymore, yet I’m overflowing with far too much vigor.’
The Count of the Border gave a wry smile and donned his clothes with the help of the head butler.
The head butler gave a brief report in a low voice.
“Chief Aide Kyle attempted to assign maids to the Santa-class mage’s quarters but failed. He brought his own maid and valet. They are twins from the Ribia family.”
It seemed Kyle was plotting to bring the man over to their side given the chance, but it wouldn’t be that easy. The Count smiled bitterly.
“The Guild is determined not to let him be snatched away this time. To think they even asked Ribia for help.”
A significant number of high-ranking nobles received etiquette training from the Ribia family. Those who received this education were mostly heirs, other high nobles, or women destined to marry into royalty.
That was the source of Ribia’s power. While they held no practical authority, the Ribia family occupied a unique position in social circles. Because of this, they could not be ignored.
“The young master likely recommended them. He dislikes the idea of the adventurers leaning too far toward our side.”
“You shouldn’t call a banished fellow ‘young master.’”
The head butler grinned.
“Even if you say that, you went out of your way to ask the Guild Master to take him in… Your words lack conviction, Master.”
“…I didn’t ask. It’s just… the Master made an assumption and took the boy.”
“Yes, of course.”
“…If he had stayed here, he really would have died. He’s a fellow who doesn’t even know how to swing a sword properly. There were more than a few people furious with him.”
“Yes.”
“Sigh… Don’t tell anyone.”
“I would never spread your secrets, Master.”
“Right. But… don’t tell my wife either.”
“Don’t you think it’s time you told the Madam? Rather than continuing to let her resent you like this.”
“….”
The Count fell silent for a moment and sighed. His relationship with his wife was still fine on the surface. They shared a bed every few days, and a harsh word had never passed between them.
However beneath the surface, resentment upon resentment had piled up. They had lost several sons to the battlefield. Each time, her resentment grew.
On top of that, because he had banished their only surviving son, his wife’s resentment had grown deeper and deeper.
But if he were to reveal the truth to her, she would undoubtedly go to see their son. Then others would realize that he hadn’t truly cast the boy out.
That would be problematic. His son had broken the unspoken rules of noble society. If it became known that the head of the family condoned such behavior, people would revolt. It would make ruling the territory difficult.
The Count let out a long sigh.
“Still, I wish she would realize my true feelings from the fact that I never sent out a formal notice of disownment.”
As he let slip those inner thoughts, the head butler looked at his face with pity.
Once a notice of disownment was circulated among the nobility, the relationship could never be restored. They would become total strangers. Conversely, as long as that wasn’t done, he could find an opportunity to bring him back later.
“She was someone who would have understood that much…”
But his wife’s heart had frozen over the act of banishing their son. Resentful that she couldn’t keep one of her few surviving sons by her side, he felt her heart turn to ice every time she looked at him.
“This will never thaw until that boy is brought back.”
As he sighed, the head butler spoke up as if to divert his attention.
“The Santa mage also seems to have caught the eye of Mr. Leonard of the Miller Merchant House. We received word that he would attend this party, but I thought it would be difficult. Surprisingly, he arrived the day before yesterday.”
“Oh? At this time? Usually, he would be in another kingdom by now.”
“It seems he rushed his business there because of the mage. He must be quite fond of that Santa mage.”
Rubbing his chin, the Count grinned.
“Ah, that mage… there’s something inexplicably drawing about him. He has a way of pulling people in.”
“I only caught a glimpse, but he just seemed like a giant of a man…”
“You’ll know once you speak with him. There’s a strength in his eyes. He has a way of capturing one’s heart.”
After finishing dressing, the Count looked into the mirror held by the butler. An aging man stared back at him. It felt like an old clown wearing makeup.
“I think this every time, but these clothes don’t suit me.”
Juhwan, that man was also large and sturdy like himself. Would he feel the same way? The thought made him feel a bit apologetic.
He knew he had invited him to an awkward place. Bringing a commoner family into a gathering meant only for nobles could be seen as a form of bullying.
He knew that, but he still wanted to ride alongside that man during tomorrow’s hunting season. Looking at him made the bravado of his youth boil over. It made him feel as if he had returned to the vigorous days of his prime.
“Hey, am I a man lacking in consideration?”
When he asked the butler, the man simply smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling.
“I thought so.”
As he muttered bitterly, a servant brought a message.
“The Madam is ready.”
“Ah.”
The Count slowly moved his heavy body.
“A lady’s preparations should be a mystery.”
Saying so, Angelica Ribia led Riji to another room, while Juhwan dressed with Daniel’s help.
“Sigh.”
He must have sighed a hundred times.
Daniel chuckled.
“You really hate this, don’t you?”
“….”
Of course he hated it. The clothing of this era was different for commoners and nobles. Very different.
Commoners mostly wore loose shirts and trousers. Hunters would add leather vests, coats, and bags. Pouches at the waist and shoulders were essential.
But nobles wore clothes with voluminous, puffed ruffles at the neck and sleeves. It was similar to the clothes in the portraits of Henry VIII, famous for beheading his queens.
The pants… were like tights. Skin-tight. They were knee-length breeches worn with long stockings fastened with ribbons.
‘I want to die.’
Juhwan looked at the strange, bulging pouch between his legs.
It was to hold his… junk. Sigh. He wasn’t mistaken. It was literally a codpiece.
For some reason, the men of this era made these stiff fabric pouches and covered themselves with them. He had no idea why. Why this… and it was even prettily decorated. He could feel the ‘sincerity’ of the maker.
The only saving grace was that the doublet came down slightly to cover it… no, it didn’t. If he looked down, the protruding codpiece was right there. It was driving him crazy.
“Wow, you look incredible. You look dashing.”
Juhwan didn’t respond to Daniel’s words. Whether it was a hollow compliment or not, he just wanted to die.
‘Sigh. I clearly asked the tailor and his assistants to make the pouch smaller, but it got bigger instead.’
As he was grumbling to himself, the door to Riji’s room opened.
Dorothy came running out, then skidded to a halt. Her eyes went wide. She seemed shocked by Juhwan’s appearance.
However, Juhwan was even more shocked than Dorothy. Dorothy had a thin, fluttery fabric tied in a knot around her neck.
Her outfit consisted of tight-fitting breeches like Juhwan’s, with a top that had puffed ruffles at the sleeves and waist. The color of her top matched Juhwan’s. It seemed to be a matching set. The only difference from Juhwan was the absence of the codpiece.
Well, it would be a problem if she had one.
Juhwan bent down slightly to get a better look at Dorothy.
“Dorothy. You look so cute.”
Only then did Dorothy seem to realize the person before her was the father she knew. Her face broke into a wide, relieved smile.
“Daddy! Mommy is a flower. She turned into a flower. She’s so pretty!”
As if drawn by those words, Riji emerged from the room beyond.
“….”
Juhwan stared at his wife in silence.
Her chest and waist were constricted by a corset said to be made of whalebone, and she wore a bell-shaped hoop skirt with several round rings attached from top to bottom.
Over that, multiple layers of tops and skirts were draped, and her cleavage was partially veiled with a fabric shaped like dragonfly wings.
Her hair was puffed up large, with a tiny hat perched on top.
White powder had been patted onto her exposed face, neck, and arms, and her eyebrows, lips, and cheeks were painted with cosmetics she was seeing for the very first time.
Even back in the village, she had worn dresses to get her body used to them.
But those were simple. She had never worn something so full-scale until now. Her heart was pounding.
Will he like it?
Will I be enough for him?
She didn’t wish to be more beautiful than other women. But at the very least, she wanted to be enough so that she wouldn’t be an embarrassment standing by his side. So that he might desire her just a little bit more.
Riji placed her hands over her heart. Please, please, let my appearance stir desire in his eyes. Let me hold him so that he doesn’t feel even the slightest bit of interest in another woman. That would be wonderful.
After finishing the styling, Angelica stepped back and tapped a finger to her lips.
“I did it myself, but this is truly a work of art. Am I not possessed of a divine touch?”
She could hear Dorothy, who had run out of the room first, telling Juhwan that her mother had turned into a flower.
Angelica grinned.
“Madam, you are truly as beautiful as a flower. The Master will surely be pleased.”
Angelica turned gracefully and approached the door. She spoke toward Juhwan, who was on the other side.
Watching Angelica’s straight back, Riji took a deep breath.
Dorothy and Angelica had both said she was pretty and that it was fine. Juhwan might like it too. No, being the kind man he was, he would surely tell her she was beautiful.
‘It’s okay, it’s okay. I won’t look strange.’
Thinking thus, Riji caught her breath as she entered the space where Juhwan was waiting.
Her husband stood with his black hair swept back, his body wrapped in a magnificent fabric. If the god of war were to descend to earth, he might look like this. It felt unfamiliar to Riji, who had only seen his kind and gentle side; it felt as if she were looking at a different person.
Juhwan’s face, which had been smiling at Dorothy a moment ago, turned toward her.
“….”
She thought he would say something. She expected to hear the words he often said—that she was beautiful, pretty, or cute.
But he said nothing. For some reason, it looked as if a furrow had formed on Juhwan’s brow. Gradually, bit by bit, Juhwan’s expression grew grim.
Her heart felt as if it had dropped to the floor. Added to his unfamiliar appearance, his blunt face made it impossible to read her husband’s heart as she usually could. She didn’t know what Juhwan was thinking.
‘As I thought… it doesn’t suit me. Such a beautiful dress and jewels are not for me…’
The thought made her vision go dark. Moisture began to gather in her eyes.
‘What should I do?’
She had been excited because Dorothy said she looked like a flower. She might have been a bit conceited because Angelica said she was beautiful. She had worried if Juhwan would like it, but on the other hand, she had also been arrogant enough to believe he surely would. She had thought Angelica wasn’t showing her the mirror just to surprise her. Perhaps it was because she looked hideous…
Let’s just take it off. Noble party or not, at this rate, I’ll only be a disgrace to Juhwan.
Just as she was about to turn away, Juhwan spoke as if spitting out the words.
“This won’t do. If I take her out like this, she’ll be kidnapped. The world is a dangerous place, and to look like that…”
“…?”
The words were so strange that her mind seemed to stop. As she looked at Juhwan’s face in confusion, Dorothy asked.
“Daddy, doesn’t Mommy look like a flower?”
“She looks like a fairy just born from a flower.”
“Is that why she’ll be kidnapped?”
“…Yes.”
Daniel and Angelica began to laugh.
“Master, it’s true that men flock to beautiful women. Especially married women, who often become targets. Noblemen tend to flaunt their charm by praising and secretly seducing women. Sometimes they use love potions on women who don’t comply, or if the woman’s status is low, they use force… well, there are many such cases. Often, the victims can’t speak up because of their reputation.”
Daniel wiped a tear from the corner of his eye and continued.
“There might be such a crowd this time as well. But the Madam has the Brooch with the Count’s crest pinned right there. Unless they’re drunk or have completely lost their minds, they won’t dare use such force.”
Ah, that’s right. Riji looked down at the Brooch pinned to the fabric at her chest.
The same crest that had been engraved on her husband’s cloak was beautifully decorated with metal and jewels.
To the left and right of the shield emblem were animals resembling an eagle and a lion. Since both were depicted with wings, they could be imaginary creatures, or perhaps a type of Magic Beast.
An identical Brooch was pinned to Dorothy’s clothes, only slightly different in size.
Juhwan approached and took Riji’s hand. He lightly pressed his lips to her fingers and gazed quietly into her eyes. His eyes were filled with passion.
‘Thank… thank goodness….’
He desired her. Her husband’s eyes were telling her that he wanted her. The tension drained out of her.
Juhwan placed a hand on her waist and whispered in her ear.
“You’re truly beautiful, Riji. I thought my heart was going to stop.”
Leaning down to rest his forehead on her shoulder, Juhwan murmured.
“Ah, really, I’m scared to death that someone might steal you away.”
No. I’m the one who’s scared. I’m trembling as if dozens of blades are pointed at my heart, fearing someone might take you away.
When Riji whispered that back to him, Juhwan laughed. We’re both the same. Hearing him mutter those words finally put her mind at ease.
Having approached at some point to listen, Dorothy poked her head between the two and said.
“Then Mommy and Daddy can just protect each other. Then nobody will steal you.”
“Dorothy, you’re so smart.”
Juhwan laughed.
Riji, drawn in, smiled as well.
