Chapter 416: The Great Lord Also Has a Daily Life (3)

Seeing Mar’s reddened face as her eyes darted around, I felt relieved.

Indeed, speaking directly was the right answer rather than making long-winded excuses. Speaking informally was more effective than any persuasion or apology.

It would be strange to apologize in the first place.

Yes, honestly, there’s nothing to apologize for. Just as I’m used to formal speech, Mar must be too. She never expressed any dissatisfaction with our mutual formal speech until now.

Beatrix bringing this up wasn’t because Mar showed dissatisfaction, but rather from questions like ‘Why do you speak casually to me but formally to Mar?’ It can be considered a peaceful incident where no one was harmed or felt hurt.

I should have done this earlier.

But regardless of whether there was harm, it’s something to reflect on. I didn’t use formal speech with all my lovers, only with one. It’s fortunate that Mar is the first wife (to-be); if she had been the last, she might have cried thinking I was putting up a wall only with her.

I tried to convince myself it wasn’t something to apologize for, but guilt gradually built up. She’s so happy and flustered just from me changing my speech style, and I couldn’t even do that simple thing.

“I’m sorry. Changing to informal speech should have come before nicknames, the order was strange.”

So I ended up apologizing after all. An incident where there’s no victim but there is a perpetrator. It’s a contradictory statement, but I managed to achieve that contradiction. It’s remarkable in many ways.

Even the person receiving the apology started trembling silently. It’s a vibration reminiscent of Penelia in her prime, so it seems she’s lost her senses from the consecutive informal speech.

“Mar.”

“Ah, yes!”

When I called her name, she seemed to regain her senses and kept nodding.

That’s a relief. I was worried that just when Beatrix and Penelia had gotten used to skinship, the normally fine Mar might suddenly become the weakest at it.

“I’ll try hard enough to make you forget any disappointment you felt.”

“Ah, no, I wasn’t particularly disappointed…”

“I’m saying that because I feel sorry. We’ve been too stiff as lovers.”

Mar’s eyes started darting around again. As if recalling each instance of skinship we’ve shared until now.

Certainly, we often had skinship like forehead kisses, cheek pecks, lap pillows, and hugs like young lovers. We did it so much that it contradicts the statement about being stiff.

But relationships between people are formed through actions and words. No matter how perfect the actions, if the words are a mess, you can’t form a normal relationship.

So things need to change. Not just through actions, not just thinking inside, but speaking out loud.

“I’ll do better from now on. To the point where you’ll tell me to back off because it’s disgusting.”

Of course, I can’t imagine Mar pushing me away.

“Then you’ll have to try until you die, right?”

Mar seemed to have the same thought, answering with a broad smile. She’s saying she wants me to show affection by her side for life, since I have no intention of saying such things until I die.

“Of course, that’s what you should do for the person you love.”

Mar, who had been smiling at those words, suddenly froze.

I almost gave a bitter smile at her immediate and intense reaction. Even I think I’ve been too sparing with these short and simple words.

“I love you, Mar.”

So let’s whisper these words every day to make up for not saying them until now.

The words I couldn’t say to anyone since Hecate left, for the people who fill Hecate’s place and stay by my side.

“I’m sorry for only saying it now.”

And I kissed Mar’s lips.

Not playing around on her forehead or cheeks like before, but going where I should have.

It seems I gave too much shock in a short time.

“I-I, I’ve been waiting so long for those words…”

Seeing Mar crying profusely in my arms, the triangle in my heart started spinning at light speed. A woman wailing after hearing “I love you,” how is this the image of lovers about to get married?

“I’m sor—“

Just as I was about to apologize again while patting Mar’s back, this time Mar pounced on my lips.

I was surprised by the sudden action, but of course, I didn’t push her away. Rather, I embraced Mar more tightly and went along with her lead.

“This too, I’ve been waiting for Carl to do this…!”

After being stuck together for a while, Mar finally separated and showed resentment that wasn’t really resentment while hiccuping.

There’s no room for excuses here either. How frustrated must she have been when her lover only aimed for her forehead and cheeks, not her lips? Despite that, as a lady, and knowing my past, she must have endured without daring to ask first.

I’m a bastard.

I finally succeeded in a chilling self-objectification. Usually, people are lenient towards themselves, but I couldn’t be at this moment.

If there’s someone who can be lenient to themselves even in this situation, are they even human? They’d be an emotionless psychopath.

“I’m sorry. I made you wait too long, didn’t I?”

“Of course!”

I flinched at Mar’s shrieking momentum.

Well, it’s an obvious statement. I asked an unnecessary question.

“…But.”

As I closed my mouth, unable to overcome my guilt and speak, Mar, who seemed to have calmed down a bit, continued.

“But thank you for doing it now, even if it’s late…”

At this statement full of mercy and affection, I kissed Mar’s lips again.

If I stayed still after hearing these words, I’d be a machine incapable of understanding the emotion called love.

I’m happy. This emotion can’t be expressed merely with the word ‘happy,’ but the closest expression would be happiness.

I accepted Carl, unable to wipe away the tears flowing as if I were broken. I accepted Carl’s affection, Carl’s gestures, everything.

“I love you, Mar.”

As Carl’s words came back to me, my mind became hazy.

But I forced strength into my trembling body and endured. If I collapse now, it’ll ruin the mood. And what if I accidentally bite my tongue?

I can’t.

I can’t end this perfect moment. I can’t let go of this moment I’ve been waiting for, that I could only achieve in dreams.

Comforting myself like that, I embraced Carl more tightly. It’s an effort not to fall, but also a small protest to Carl. A protest asking him to stay like this today since he’s made me pine for so long.

It’s a bit embarrassing as a lady, but what can I do? This moment is just too good.

Ah.

Fortunately, my protest seemed to reach Carl, as he sat on the sofa while still holding me.

My heart is pounding. This is a signal that he’s going to be more intense, right? Since it’s more comfortable sitting than standing, it means he can put more effort into expressing affection, right?

But, but what’s stronger than a kiss? No, I can think of something, but can we do that here—

“Um.”

Suddenly, a voice interrupted my thoughts.

“Sorry for the tactless interruption, but watching was making me too envious.”

I hurriedly turned my head towards the voice to see Elizabeth unnie with a pouty expression.

I didn’t realize. Someone else came into the president’s office, and I only noticed now.

“Uh, unnie?”

“Yes.”

“When… did you come in?”

Unnie grinned at my desperate question and started rubbing her hands vigorously.

It’s a strange action, but I instinctively realized. She must have seen almost everything… I just didn’t notice…

“Both Mar and Executive Manager are too much. You saw me come in but kept going.”

At those words, my whole body trembled.

Carl knew unnie came in and still continued? He kept going without stopping?

“What’s wrong when it’s between family?”

I tightly closed my eyes at Carl’s words, which were like the final blow.

Even if we’re family, blatantly showing affection is a separate issue.

Perhaps as a reaction to the heated atmosphere cooling down, Mar buried her face in my chest and didn’t move. It must be a small protest, unable to face anyone.

What timing.

I smiled bitterly while patting Mar’s back. I did tell Elizabeth I’d return today, but if I had known it would be like this, I would have contacted her a bit later. I’ve given Mar an unforgettable memory in many ways.

Of course, I don’t intend to complain about why she came at this timing. It would be like a troublesome boss to complain after inviting her myself.

Was it too stimulating?

And Elizabeth’s state after directly witnessing others’ skinship wasn’t good either. With her face slightly flushed, gently touching her own lips, it’s obvious what she’s thinking.

It’s understandable.

Unfortunately, Elizabeth’s life lived and life without a lover are identical. Despite her overflowing madness, when it comes to romance, she’s as pure and unblemished as her hair color.

It sounds like a lie, but it’s true. She’s satisfied just by sitting on my lap and having her head patted, after all.

Looking at it this way, she’s a shy lady.

If her mental world were even a tenth as pure as her view on romance—

“Um, Executive Manager.”

“Yes?”

Elizabeth, who had been touching her lips for a while, cautiously opened her mouth.

“When is my turn?”

At those words, my hand patting Mar stopped. I could feel Mar in my arms flinch as well.

It’s a question without context, but understanding its meaning was simple. The reason for mentioning turns at this timing is obvious.

Do we need to take turns for this too?

Since I’ve started expressing deeper affection with my lovers, she’s asking when it will be her turn, as the fifth.

“If possible, do it within today!”

Seeing Elizabeth giggling, I felt a different kind of guilt than before.

Clearly, only Mar and Elizabeth are here, but Elizabeth, being the fifth, is yielding her turn to the three who aren’t present.

Damn it.

It’s all my karma…