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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: The First Kiss
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After the Grand Duchess and the nobles departed, Cynthia, left alone, nibbled on her gingerbread man cookie while surveying the garden.
"They don't exactly look like a married couple, do they, Brigadier General Vicente?"
"It's just an act of getting along on the surface."
'What does a perfect couple look like, I wonder.'
Under a white parasol, a man and woman were chatting and laughing brightly.
And behind them, a couple carrying a child around five years old strolled amiably through the garden.
They weren't doing anything particularly special, yet it was obvious they loved each other.
In comparison, she and Masera were merely bound by shared interests—no family ties, and most importantly, no love.
No matter how positive Cynthia was, she didn't believe Masera would naturally come to love her.
'Everything requires effort.'
Thinking simply that 'the male and female leads will fall in love anyway' was far too optimistic.
'Especially since a commoner like him most desired noble royal blood. Like the Grand Duchess Charlotte.'
[“It was because I lusted after bloodline alone. Because I forced my son into a marriage he didn't want...”]
At that moment, the lamenting voice of an elderly lady reached her ears.
Perhaps because it felt eerily similar to her own situation with Masera, Cynthia found herself listening intently without realizing it.
[“Lady Freitbacher, don't blame yourself too much.”]
Voices of other women comforting her followed.
[“At the time, I believed bloodline was more important than love. Even until my son, who abandoned everything for love, died in that bombing in the duchy.”]
Cynthia turned her head slightly to look at the lady.
With black hair and teal eyes, she appeared to be a high-ranking noble.
[“I learned I had a grandson only when I received news of my son's death. He'd be about eight if he were alive. Because of my greed, I lost even that grandchild I never saw. For that sin, I'm living in this hell without a single loved one.”]
The lady, who had been choking back sobs, finally covered her face with both hands and shook with her shoulders.
[“They say what saves us from the innate loneliness of humanity is not wealth or power, but love. I, who committed the sin of greed, will never be redeemed.”]
Listening to the lady's story, Cynthia gazed down at her reflection in the tea.
She felt pity for the woman living in solitude after losing her family.
'But living without family or loved ones is the same for me.'
And on top of that, without money or power!
Just as she was starting to feel downhearted, her eyes caught the Grand Duchess Charlotte, surrounded by people and laughing—unlike her own solitude.
The Grand Duchess spotted someone and smiled brightly before approaching.
It was Masera.
Watching from afar, Cynthia recalled Karos's words: 'Masera plans to profit from the marriage, divorce, and remarry the Grand Duchess.'
The thought that it was actually possible made her shoulders tremble.
'But wouldn't that just be the ruined plotline? Not healing, but straight-up damaging?'
Suddenly dazzled by a reflected gleam, she blinked, and a tall, upright man appeared before her.
Masera, dressed in his officer's uniform.
"What are you doing, moping all alone?"
His words were tossed out indifferently, but she could tell he had approached out of consideration for her being alone.
'I'm not alone. At least not right now.'
She told herself it would be fine to take the alimony and start a new life, but in reality, it felt incredibly bitter. She'd be alone again.
'Like the people at the mansion, couldn't they include me as family too?'
It was a shameless wish from a liar like her.
"Others approached me first, but I don't speak Media, so I became a voluntary loner."
'They definitely weren't saying anything nice. I must have just smiled innocently without understanding.'
Masera sighed inwardly at her thoughts.
"You should learn it soon. Standing out alone like that doesn't look good."
Masera knew her situation but deliberately spoke coldly.
Yet Cynthia just smiled sweetly.
"I'm not alone, though? I'm with my husband."
At the word 'husband,' Masera's eyebrow twitched.
Masera felt uncomfortable with how Cynthia interpreted everything he did as kindness or goodwill.
Just as he moved to leave,
"Over there—I was watching a happy family. Nice, right? The baby is so cute."
In the direction Cynthia pointed, a young couple holding their child gazed at some winter fruit.
"For a really long time, I've dreamed of having a family like that."
'A life that's natural for some, but impossible for me.'
Cynthia gave a wry smile as she recalled her harsh previous life.
Masera's eyes flickered with bewilderment as he glanced between the child laughing gleefully in its father's arms and Cynthia.
"Are you saying right now... you want a child?"
Seeing Cynthia's red eyes widen roundly, Masera added in warning,
"Ours is a relationship founded on a deal. A child wouldn't change anything between us."
"I know."
Cynthia dropped her gaze and fiddled with her cookie.
"But that doesn't mean I want a happy family with you, Brigadier General..."
"Then you plan to do that with some other man? As long as we're married on paper, I absolutely won't tolerate infidelity."
Seeing his increasingly angry face, Cynthia's expression turned baffled.
"Huh? What am I supposed to do then? You're like a grumpy kitten."
"...A kitten?"
"A snobby, ungrateful cheese cat that paws at snacks to knock them away."
"Cheese cat. And you look just like that wild rabbit who mercilessly beat soldiers on the snowy plains."
The unusual tension between them drew the gazes of those around.
Noticing, Masera stuffed a cookie into Cynthia's mouth. With a faint smile, he whispered,
"Aren't I doing everything you want, Princess of Luck? I clearly told you not to expect more from me."
"Mmph! Mmf!"
Unfairly, the cookie in her mouth prevented any retort.
At that moment, someone who noticed their conflict approached and raised their voice.
"You two look so close."
It was one of the nobles who had mocked them earlier for 'pretending to get along.'
"Everyone, pay attention! Doesn't today's banquet also celebrate the marriage of these two visitors to the palace? Please raise your glasses to their happy and beautiful married life."
At the noble's words, everyone lifted their champagne glasses toward the pair.
Cynthia hurriedly rinsed her mouth with tea and raised her glass.
The noble beginning the toast said something that would put them in a bind.
"You must show your affection for the lovely princess with a kiss, Brigadier General."
"That's right! You have to express it as much as your love!"
Refusing seriously here would ruin the mood and spark all sorts of suspicions.
Even the party orchestra began playing the romantic classic "Love's Dream."
Somehow, the situation had led to them having to kiss in front of everyone.
Cynthia glanced around in distress.
At the wedding, the veil had allowed them to fake it, but not now.
'Why did you have to get snippy for no reason.'
Cynthia shot Masera a blaming glare.
'Why did you have to bring up pointless talk.'
Masera glared right back.
"Hahaha, do it properly!"
"I'm so jealous! Such a handsome groom and beautiful bride!"
The crowd's playful teasing toward the newlyweds rang out.
Masera looked down at Cynthia's lips. More precisely, at the cookie crumb on the corner of her mouth.
Seeing her pouty expression, an inexplicable defiance welled up in him.
"You should relax your face."
"Wha..."
"I'm doing it for real."
Her attempted retort and breath were swallowed by his lips.
His arm around her waist felt firmer than usual.
'He's really doing it?'
Cynthia's mind went blank in shock.
Dong-
The bell tower tolled the hour from afar.
The heated, clinging lips slowly parted.
He licked the cookie crumb from the corner of his mouth with his tongue, his eyes opening languidly. It reminded her of the sun rising over the horizon.
The cheers and applause around them seemed to turn into wave sounds, fading distantly beyond the sea.
'My first kiss...'
Second life around, her very first experience.
