The Earl’s Bad Wife - Chapter 4

Chapter 4 The young lady who stands off against a formidable enemy

Sitting facing each other, I decided to calm myself by drinking the tea for the moment.

Just like the impression Id already had of him, Erich Von Weimar was no ordinary person, I thought.

Normally, when I use my fan and treat them like objects, Id be able to read some kind of emotion on their faces.

And yet, he didnt show even a hint of being shaken up, he simply looked up at me with clear eyes.

But that man was seven years my senior. It cant be helped that he had the time to spare. Perhaps he only views me as a little girl.

Knowing that means I should be on guard.

But, hes already found my weakness which was bird feathers. Its vexing, so vexing.

When I sent him a fleeting glance, our eyes met dead on.

I knew hes been staring at me for some time now.
When I asked him why, hed just praise me for my beauty.

Hermina-sama is beautiful like a goddess again today. When I hog you all to myself, it feels like Ill be completely punished

Again today he says. I wonder, just how many times has this guy seen me before?

No way, scary.

Besides getting praised for beauty was something embarrassing too.

Its obvious that Ill be beautiful. I ordered my maid to make me as such, after all

Ah, I see. Thats why you wanted to bring them along when you get married, isnt it?

Yes

At this point, I wanted to asked whether he was okay with me bringing my maids along, but if I get greedy thatll be another one of my weaknesses. I still have to be patient.

When I looked at my enemy or rather, at Erich Von Weimar, hed been grinning with a sweet, honey-like expression. If I have that continue to enter my field of vision, Ill end up having heartburn.

But itll be my loss if I look away. With an intent to challenge, I continued to stare at him.

Hermina-sama

What is it?

Are you really alright going through with this?

I wouldnt be here if I wasnt

Thats true. What a relief

Even though Id thought the conversation had ended with this, he was a honey man who comes asking for details.

Ive wanted to ask this for so long, but could you perhaps tell me why you kindly accepted the marriage arrangement with me

Because my uncle the king recommended it to me

I see. Thats a plain and simple reason, isnt it?

Yes

It was a mystery why he asked, but he gave a deep bow and expressed his gratitude.

Ill say this at the start. I have no intention of causing Hermina-sama inconvenience

Oh. Is that somonotone

I also intend to make your wishes all come true

Goodness. How wonderfulmonotone

Thats why, let me fool around a little, is that what you want to say?

Ill devote my life to you

Oh. What dreamy wordsmonotone

This isnt good. All my replies ended up turning into monotones before his pretentious words. I have to be careful.

I waited for him to say something again after that but he only looked at my face, wearing a broad smile.

I wonder if the opposite side has his own conditions for me?

It felt eerie that the treatment was a little too good. Having said that, I wasnt about to ask why.

Which reminds me, is work still keeping you busy?

Yes, thats right. For the meantime, I may have to bother you to protect the household, Hermina-sama

Is that so. Youre strangely busy. Its as if youre getting punished for something

Thats true, isnt it?

Just what bad things did he do to be put to work so badly that he cant go back home?

Was it punishment for laying a hand on a maid serving a prince and getting her pregnant?

But it was a mystery why even the prince he served was put to work along with him.

Well, there was a saying that It’s good to have a husband that is well and absent from home and it doesnt seem like there was any other problems.(1)

Is there any other requests you have for me?

No, theres nothing else

Is that so?

With that said, the room turned completely silent.

If our business was over then Id like him to quickly go home, so I tried suggesting that we head to the south-south west direction to the exit.

Thank you so very much for your kindness. Well then, I suppose its about time I take my leave

Yes, until next time

I like that he was a good mind reader.

I sent Erich Von Weimar off on the spot with a full-blown smile.

Since he went out, my smile dropped into a frown, but then, of all things, he looked back my way.

Ah, Hermina-sama, I dont know when well next be able to meet

Thats fine

Hurriedly waving my hand, I urged him to return home.

ah, woops. The hand movement I was making was a go away motion.

He looked like he didnt mind the rude treatment. Just how thick-skinned was this guy?

On the other hand, I ended up respecting him.

Well then, I look forward to the next time we can meet again

Yes. Me toomonotone

My words ended up turning into montones again since I said it without care.

Im completely fed up. I cant lie for the life of me.

It was such a sloppy send off, but hed gone home without wiping the smile on his face to the very end.

It was, how should I put it, exhausting. I ended up more tired than Id imagined.

Was I really going to marry that man?

Somehow, I dont feel like Ill wi no, no, theres no way Id do something like run away before a battle.

My training was still far from enough.

It had been a visit that got me thinking like that.

Several days after that, a letter arrived from a certain woman.

The senders name was Keira Von Weigand. Weigand was a viscount family and, wasnt Keira the viscounts wife?

Id tried thinking back if Ive ever associated with her, but nothing came to mind. I have a feeling that shes around 27-28 years of age. But she practically never showed her face in high society. What on earth was her business with me?

Once again, I checked the letters exterior. No doubt about it, the recipients name was mine. With my head tilted to the side, I opened the seal.

There, shed written how she had something shed like to discuss about Erich Von Weimar-dono.

Ah.

The moment I saw his name, it dawned on me.
This must be that. It was about the snag in their mad love.

But well, pulling me into this, even if it was misplaced, was kind of extreme.

And she even wrote that she wanted me to come to the Weigand manor.

What reason did I have to purposely go there?

I was puzzled on what to do, but Id just finished one stage of the wedding preparations.

Since I had a day without errands, I decided to try paying her a visit, treating it as a test to my abilities.

A few days later, it became the day Ill meet Keira Von Weigand.

In any case, her business with me was probably something like asking me to back off for her.

Now that I think about it, I did hear that she worked as a maid at the palace. Most likely, the two were lovers.

I was thinking of how I should respond to an attack while I got dressed.

If possible, I dont want to have a physical fight with a woman.
Id rather end this discussion amicably for the sake of their activities im the distant future.

For the meantime, I thought about a strategy on how their love can last forever even after the marriage. With me officially authorizing it, it will make it easier for them to have their tryst.

Since the maid told me that I was finished getting ready, I scanned myself on the full length mirror.

Today, I was dressed up in a round collared daytime dress.

It was green in color and had a very lovely design.
Wearing a hat with a flower decoration, I tried twirling around in front of the mirror.

Its perfect today too

Yes, Hermina-sama is the worlds best

I decided to head out while feeling good from the maids words.

A maid, carrying an umbrella and a gift, followed right after.

It seems the Weigand manor wasnt wide enough for the carriage to enter through the entryway.

We ended up getting off in the middle of the garden. Well, the roses were beautiful so its fine, though.

With the umbrella up, we walked until we reached the entryway.

The butler who welcomed us, greeted us with an uneasy expression.

Dont worry, its not like Im going to bite off your mistress, after all.

Even though I smiled to reassure him, the butlers complexion gradually grew worse.

Anyway, all things considered, its quite surprising.

The Keira Von Weigand in my memory had an impression of a fragile and ill-fated beauty. To think that a woman like that fooled around.

The butler told me that his mistress was already waiting inside the room.

In front of the parlour room, I sucked in a breathe.

And so, the battle begins, I thought, pysching myself up. Then, I knocked on the door.

(1) The saying seems to infer that the husband being away means hes earning money for the family. In turn, it means if hes at home, then hes jobless.