MHITE - Chapter 5

My Husband is Too Earnest

Translator: Aucchan

Proofreader: Chonnie

Chapter 5

We arrived together at a distinguished noble’s mansion. Our invitations had been separately addressed, but we decided to go with each other. It was a nice change of pace since it had been a while since we went out dressed to the nines, but I had one concern.

Lady Liselotte.

Alberto seems to have recovered from his heartbreak by a substantial margin. Now, his gloomy faces make an appearance only once in a blue moon. 

I was concerned about what kind of reaction he would have if he was to reunite with his first love once more. Wouldn’t a spark relight the dim but still present embers? 

And even if Alberto could endure, how about his beloved? She had found herself in a marriage that wasn’t out of her own will. If she saw him, would she be able to hold herself back?

I sincerely hope that they won’t cause too much trouble.

I wasn’t sure if he could sense my melancholy or not, but Alberto glanced my way. I couldn’t help but internally berate him for looking so carefree.

“Alberto,” a saccharine-sweet voice called out his name. 

Speak of the devil and she will come. 

“Liselotte.”

It’s the appearance of the former lover. 

Alberto wore an astonished expression; as if asking ‘what are you doing here?’

It’s not really that surprising, isn’t it?

The aristocratic society is every bit of a small and exclusive group. I heard that Lady Liselotte had married into a fairly wealthy household, so it wasn’t odd for her to be invited into this place. It would be weirder if she hadn’t been invited. 

Really, when it came to her, his brain would stop functioning logically. It was quite sad to see. 

I sighed inwardly as I saw the two had become living statues. I doubted that they could converse simply through their eyes, but who knows? If that was proved to be true, then I would say that it was expected from a pair of devoted lovers.

It made me curious as to what they were talking about.

It was fine for them to express their love for each other, but I really want them to stop causing trouble for the people around them. But really, having this kind of confrontation in a public place with the nobility that gossiped as if they’d die if they didn’t?

I peered at Alberto’s face; thinking. Perhaps this encounter will end up fine. 

“Liselotte!”

Oh my, another person to join the show.

“I told you many times to not disappear suddenly, right?” A man asked in exclamation. 

“I’m sorry, big brother.”

Lady Liselotte’s brother, hmm? Come to think about it, he recently became the topic of conversation of a number of ladies. His delicate face closely resembles that of his sister’s. 

I think his name was Ruth. He’s handsome, has a good background, but I’ve heard of people talk a fair bit about his only flaw.

He had a sister complex.

Although, I do think that that was due to Lady Liselotte being undependable.

“You are already a married woman. If you go to where another man is so easily, then you will cause a misunderstanding.”

It seems like she cast off her husband to come barreling here. 

That’s not very good at all. If she was another wife who was faithful to her husband, then there wouldn’t be a problem. But she just recently, perhaps to some–still is, a girl in the limelight of drama.

Moreover, as long as the other party who she is with is Alberto, people would still suspect them.

It wasn’t smart of her to initiate this little reunion.

“But… I really wanted to meet with Alberto no matter what.”

“That is…”

“You guys are too much already. You, mother, everyone– has confined me in the mansion. You also forced me into a marriage. Isn’t that enough?”

To no one’s surprise, the marriage was indeed forced upon her. Of course, she would dislike that and resist. 

“I know that what we did was bad at the moment, but we did it all for you.”

“You didn’t do it for me at all.”

Ah, things weren’t looking good. As long as they don’t drag me into the catfight, then they could do whatever. 

Ugh, so troublesome. People were beginning to look at the commotion with curious eyes. Having so many people’s attention to us made me very uncomfortable.

Lady Liselotte ignored her brother’s words; barreling towards the person she loves. 

“Alberto-sama. I would like to have a word with you.”

“But…”

Alberto glanced my way, but I refused to meet his gaze.

This was his problem. He needed to make a decision for himself and firmly stick by it. 

Because of him, Lady Liselotte looks at me too.

She tries to make a cute expression, but her eyes were filled with jealousy and hatred. To her, I’m the rival in love who stole her lover from her. She might even think of me as a wicked woman or a witch; cursing me to burn, or something.

Woah, so scary. 

“Alberto, how about you go and have a dance with Lady Liselotte?”

I’m really so kind as to help them but still maintain their propriety. They can talk while dancing, but because they’re in other people’s eyes, they’ll have enough common sense to not do anything stupid.

Hopefully.

Upon hearing my words, Alberto looked perplexed. 

“But if I do that, then you will…”

“Alberto-sama, let’s go.”

Lady Liselotte got tired of waiting. From the moment she heard my words, she pressed her chest against Alberto’s arm. 

Her body was nice. Alberto has eyes, so he’s probably happy. 

Don’t mind me. Go and have a dance with her. 

“Geez, she is really…” Ruth complained in a soft voice but stopped once he realized I was still there. After a quick apology, the man went on his way. 

“I’m sorry. My little sister is rude.”

“No, I don’t mind.”

I wanted to say to him that he also had it rough. 

He was the brother of my husband’s former lover. To our awkward relationship, Ruth makes an ashamed face. I don’t really pay it any mind; watching Alberto and Lady Liselotte dance. 

They danced gorgeously. You could get a sense of spring flowers blooming in the background. They overflowed with the same sentiment that you would find in a romance novel that went to the extremes of devotion.

“…Between Lady Liselotte and her husband, is it not going well?”

“Yes, well… she seems to hold a grudge as she was forced into the marriage. Combined with that house being strict, I can’t say that it’s going well at all.”

It must have truly been a difficult struggle for him as it was a lot to say all that to someone he had just met. 

“I’m sorry. I’m going to greet my sister’s husband’s parents so I will be going now.”

“Alright,” I waved my goodbye.

It was an excuse under the name of greetings. I looked at Ruth’s back with an exhausted expression on my face, and this time I truly look at him with sympathetic eyes. 

I wonder if his little sister understood her brother’s difficulties.

With perfect form, Alberto escorted Lady Liselotte.

Looking at them like this, there was no doubt that they really suited each other. Lady Liselotte’s cheeks were flushed; her pale skin colored red like a rose.

The face of a girl in love.

“What. Are you fascinated by your husband now?”

“Oh my, Franz. It’s rare for you to show up at the ball.”

He always found excuses to skip events and refuse invitations because he thought of them as a drag.

“Well, I heard that you were coming. I thought that you’d feel awkward by yourself, so I came here to be an ever-amazing source of moral support.”

I chuckled, “Thank you. You really help me.”

Feeling curious eyes on me was reminiscent of the feeling of suffocating. Seeing Fraz’s familiar face really made me feel at ease. 

Franz laughed, wanting to get an update on my current situation. 

“How is it? Are you getting along with your earnest husband?”

“Well, lately, we seem to be able to converse more than before.”

He nodded; a teasing smile on his lips. “That’s a big step forward. It’s a great difference from the other lady.”

His sight was focused on Lady Liselotte.

“…It seems like it’s not going very well for her.”

I remembered Ruth’s exhausted expression just now. 

“Seems so. She didn’t seem to want to open her heart in the way your husband did.”

“But wasn’t Lady Liselotte the one who broke up with him via letter?”

Isn’t that the same as saying our relationship end at this? 

Franz sighs. The expression on his face read “you’re too naive.”

“Obviously that’s not what she wants.”

“…Then what’s the truth?”

“If it’s going on like this, you won’t be able to obtain me, so come abduct me. It’s a girl’s desperate, courageous confession.”

Is that so? Truly, I couldn’t understand. Does love really need for you to hide your true intentions and devise strategies?

I sighed, “I will never understand this in all my life.”

“That may be true,” Franz coughed; showcasing a smile. “We’re done with that. Since you’ve already come to the party, how about a dance with me, madam?”

He held his hand out; his words overdramatized. I snorted at him.

“Of course, I’ll gladly accept, dork.” 

In each and every social engagement, I’ve always asked for him to be my partner. Because of our time together, our dancing wouldn’t be inferior to anyone else– even my husband and his beloved’s. 

“Hey, come to think of it, you haven’t come to visit me lately.”

“Well, I don’t want to disturb a pair of newlyweds.”

His words seemed very thoughtful, but they were, in fact, complete lies. Knowing him, he would be busy playing around and having fun in other places.

“You don’t have to mind it. Please come to play just as before.”

Maybe if Alberto comes to be acquaintances with the ever-energetic and blindly optimistic Franz, he would start to feel better too. 

“I’ll see.” My friend answered vaguely. 

“Do you not like Alberto?”

Franz seemed to contemplate my question, before laughing and saying yes.

“Hey, since you invited me to go, I will go and play.”

“Alright. I’ll be waiting for you.”

Even as I talked and laughed with Franz, my eyes would sometimes meet Alberto’s coincidentally as he danced with Lady Liselotte.

Previous Chapter || Table of Contents || Next Chapter