Ch.169Chapter 169. Tales (1)

“Clatter……”

“Coffee’s ready!”

“Wow, the aroma is amazing. Mother-in-law’s coffee is truly the best.”

“The chef made it, actually.”

“Then your eye for finding such an amazing chef is the best, Mother-in-law!”

“Hohoho. Oh my.”

“Cookies! When are the cookies coming?”

“Soon, dear. Just wait a little longer.”

“Cuss. You’re going to spill your coffee……”

On a lazy afternoon.

Sitting on the living room sofa, Conrad slightly furrowed his brow.

These days, almost every weekend, the house was like this.

His daughter’s family would visit saying they missed him, completely shattering what had been peaceful quiet.

Why did they have to come precisely when he was taking a short break after returning from Washington?

Conrad sighed deeply as he picked up his cup.

As he watched his daughter and her family chattering noisily as always, he suddenly felt something was off.

“Did you two have a fight?”

“Pardon? A fight?”

“I’m asking if you’re not getting along these days.”

“That’s not the case, Father-in-law.”

“If not, then fine. Just felt like the atmosphere was a bit awkward.”

“Are you perhaps in a bad mood today, dear?”

“What is this woman saying……”

Conrad took a sip of his coffee, trying to brush it off.

Juliane flinched slightly at her father’s words.

Indeed, the relationship between Jinsoo and Cuss had been different lately.

After what had happened, it would be stranger if things remained the same.

Compared to before, Jinsoo had been showing Cuss more varied and frequent expressions of affection.

For instance, despite being tired, he would take Cuss out whenever he had free time.

He would kiss her on the cheek at every opportunity.

Nevertheless, there remained a strange sadness in Jinsoo’s eyes when he looked at Cuss.

From that gaze, Juliane sometimes got the impression that Jinsoo was looking deep inside Cuss.

‘Love-hate relationship……’

There couldn’t be a better phrase to describe Jinsoo’s feelings toward Cuss.

Jinsoo clearly both loved and hated Cuss simultaneously.

He cherished her dearly while also hating her enough to want to kill her.

A feeling difficult to explain……

Juliane gave up trying to rationally express that emotion.

“By the way, when are you two getting married?”

“Hmm…… How about within this year?”

“Sounds good, Jinsoo.”

“What on earth are you two talking about……”

Hearing their casual exchange, Conrad felt his head spinning.

Within this year?

Did they realize there were barely two months left in the year?

“Do you think a wedding is like ordering pizza? Just place an order and it arrives right away? You silly kids. Wedding preparations need to start at least six months in advance!”

“Why, dear? If it’s a small ceremony, it could work. Smaller venues aren’t usually booked up, so it could be done in a month or two.”

“A small wedding ceremony? Are you serious?”

“Yes, Father-in-law. Since I don’t have many guests to invite except for a few friends, and we’ll only be inviting guests from Juliane’s side, I don’t think we need to rent a large venue. I was thinking we could just keep it simple……”

“Tsk.”

Hearing this, it seemed to make some sense.

Conrad leaned back against the backrest, crossed his arms, and glared at Jinsoo and Juliane.

“Here are the cookies!”

“Grandma’s cookies are the best!”

“Hehehe.”

“Aren’t these also made by the chef……”

“Could you be quiet for a moment, daughter?”

“You should say thank you before eating, Cuss.”

“Thank you…… But why doesn’t Jinsoo have to say thank you?”

“Huh? Me?”

“Is Jinsoo planning to eat without saying thank you?”

“Th-thank you……”

“That’s right. Good job.”

A once-in-a-lifetime wedding ceremony.

While he wanted to make it as grand as possible to preserve his daughter’s most shining moment, Conrad decided to set aside that desire.

What could he do if they were satisfied with it?

For this family, what mattered now wasn’t a few photos to reminisce over in the future.

Rather than being busy preparing for a wedding, it seemed that fully enjoying their current daily life would make them happier.

“Are you staying overnight?”

“Would that be alright, Father-in-law?”

“Do whatever you want……”

Conrad stood up, brushing off his knees, feeling his face flush at his own words.

It was a day when he wanted to share a drink with his son-in-law and have a serious conversation.

***

“What? You got invited to Alice’s house?”

“Yes. They even said they’d prepare my favorite food!”

Cuss was jumping around excitedly after returning from school.

Alice……

I don’t have good memories of that kid’s parents.

Though I’ve only met them once.

“Don’t they give you a hard time?”

“Hard time…? What’s that?”

“I mean, do they subtly mock you or talk behind your back?”

“I don’t think they do.”

Cuss tilted her head, not understanding what I meant.

Well, what’s the use of asking her?

No matter how human-like she’s become, she still can’t detect sophisticated sarcasm.

I’d have to see for myself to judge.

“I’m ready, Jinsoo!”

“Huh…?”

The door swung open with a thud, and Juliane’s clear voice rang out.

Turning my head, there stood Juliane in a long dress with heavy makeup.

She looked like an actress attending the Academy Awards.

Positively speaking, she was incredibly beautiful; negatively speaking, she was overwhelmingly intimidating just to look at.

“What’s with that outfit…?”

“You’re overdressed, Juliane.”

“Huh? What? Wasn’t it that kind of occasion?”

“We’re just being invited to a friend’s house for dinner.”

“But didn’t you say her parents intimidated you before? We need to establish dominance from the start!”

“I wasn’t intimidated back then.”

“Then we’ll intimidate them!”

“……”

Juliane was already burning with fighting spirit.

I was the one who was embarrassed at the entrance ceremony, so why is Juliane more angry about it……

Seeing Juliane’s seemingly sincere expression made me want to laugh.

“Your makeup. Should we tone it down a bit?”

“Is it that overwhelming?”

“Yes. Let’s wipe off just a little. I’ll wet my finger with saliva and wipe it for you……”

“Eeeek! What are you saying!”

“Come here. I’ll wipe it off quickly.”

“Don’t you dare touch me with that hand! Cuss! Save me from your dad! He’s bullying me!”

“Alright. Then I’ll wipe it for you, Juliane.”

“Kyaaaaa!”

In the end, Juliane let out a sharp scream as Cuss wiped her cheek with a saliva-moistened hand.

With that, Juliane’s makeup, which had taken over an hour to apply, was back to square one.

I was only joking and had no intention of actually doing it, but who knew she’d really wipe it off……

“Grrrr! Revenge!”

“Mmph…?!”

“Look, Cuss has pretty lipstick on now?”

“Pfft…… Hahahahaha!”

I burst into uncontrollable laughter seeing Cuss who had just received a deep kiss.

The lipstick was so heavily applied that she looked like the Joker from Batman.

Come to think of it, Cuss will probably start wearing makeup later too.

Most girls her age are already doing it.

She’ll probably soon be begging for makeup products.

I decided to prepare myself mentally for that day.

“Then I’ll redo my makeup and come back……”

“Eek?!”

“Ah!”

Just then, Cuss jumped up and clung to Juliane.

Apparently, Juliane had accidentally stepped on the tip of Cuss’s tentacle.

As a result, Juliane’s makeup became even more of a mess from Cuss’s hands.

“What are you doing!”

“Ugh…… I’m sorry. I couldn’t see what was at my feet……”

“Ah.”

When Juliane apologized frantically, Cuss sighed in understanding.

Indeed, with Juliane’s size, it would be hard to see what’s at her feet……

Turning my head, I saw Cuss massaging her chest with a dejected expression.

Didn’t she once say that breasts were useless parts that limited women’s physical abilities and that smaller was better? Why is she acting like this now?

“I’ll redo my makeup quickly and come back.”

“Take your time. It’s okay to be late.”

“No, it’s not!”

Getting ready to go out took a bit longer.

Juliane completely removed her ruined makeup and this time applied a lighter makeup that took only 30 minutes.

And she dressed Cuss in more formal attire.

To be honest, I couldn’t really tell how much more formal it was compared to before, but since Juliane, who comes from an upper-class background, said so, I decided to trust her judgment.

“Jinsoo.”

“Yes?”

“I think I’ve gotten better at tying hair. Now I’m equal to or better than Juliane.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“……”

I can definitely feel it too.

My hand movements have become much more skilled at tying Cuss’s hair.

Now Cuss no longer screams when her sideburns get caught.

She no longer complains of pain from her scalp being pulled too tight.

On mornings when we oversleep, she even falls asleep while I’m tying her hair.

That’s how familiar I’ve become.

With tying this child’s hair……

“Shall we go now?”

“Mmm……”

After finishing tying her hair, I gave her a deep kiss on the cheek.

Cuss groaned as her cheek was pressed, and then, as if wanting to get revenge, she rushed over and kissed my cheek in return.

“Let’s go!”

“Yes! Let’s go, Jinsoo!”

With the determined cries of my wife and daughter, our family headed out the front door.

Anyone watching would think we were heading into a final battle, given the atmosphere.

“Isn’t that uncomfortable…?”

“It’s perfectly fine!”

While driving, I kept glancing at the passenger seat.

Partly because of Juliane’s slightly revealing dress, but more because of the shining ring on her left hand.

It was the engagement ring I gave her when I proposed.

Why did she wear that large, cumbersome thing?

“We’re going to war! Right, Cuss?”

“Umm…? Is that what this is?”

“That’s right! They’re probably waiting for us all dressed up too! Upper-class women love to subtly show off when they invite people for dinner. I usually don’t care about these things, but just for today, I’m fully armed for dominance!”

“Oh……”

I see.

So that’s how nobles play.

Indeed, the real deal has a different level of confidence.

“Wow…… That’s an incredibly tall building……”

“Your neck’s going to hurt, kid. How long are you going to keep looking up?”

Alice’s home was located in a luxury apartment in the center of the station.

Moreover, it was on the 10th floor, neither too low nor too high.

I couldn’t even properly estimate how expensive it would be.

“Ah?! I’m not mentally prepared yet!”

Ding dong……

I pressed the doorbell as soon as we arrived.

Juliane panicked for a moment but quickly composed herself and stood elegantly.

Wow. She really looks like a noble lady……

Someone meeting her for the first time would never guess that this beautiful blonde woman is actually a clumsy person who gets caught planting bugs.

Soon, with a click, the door opened.

“Welcome!”

“Ahaha…… Welcome.”

“Cuss! You’re a bit late?”

At the same time, Alice’s family cheerfully emerged.

However, all three of them were dressed in casual, somewhat shabby clothes.

What? Dressed up? Subtle showing off?

My head slowly turned toward Juliane.

“What’s going on?”

“I-I don’t know……”

Juliane’s face had turned bright red.