MHITE - Chapter 7
My Husband is Too Earnest
Translator: Aucchan
Proofreader: Chonnie
Chapter 7
“So, you accepted their proposal?”
Franz looked at me as if he couldn’t believe what I had done.
“Yes. After all, I do feel sorry for them”
Ruth told Alberto that he had something to discuss regarding work, and so the plan was exected safely. Of course, work was just used as an excuse to lure him out so that he could meet with Lady Liselotte.
He was going to reunite with his lover. Further, his lover who was currently sick due to love. I’m convinced that there was no way he would refuse even if we hadn’t set up this scheme for him.
Just like this, if my husband’s first and true love endures, then that would be good for him. However, instead of agreeing with my sentiments, Franz didn’t look convinced. His mouth turned down at the corners, and a rare look of anger comes to his face.
“Even so, what if those two were to elope? What would you do?
“I don’t think that will happen. Lady Liselotte is sick and her body wouldn’t be in the best condition to live a life on the road. Also, Alberto isn’t the kind of person who would abandon his duties halfway through.
I am confident in Alberto’s character. He is not an irresponsible person.
“You… can you just imagine what a young man and a young woman would do when alone together, right?”
“Yes, I’m aware. It’s fine. I already considered and accepted that when I agreed to the proposal. “…Haa. Whatever, I don’t care anymore.”
I tilted my head to one side as Franz looked at me with an expression showcasing how speechless he felt.
“Are you worried about what will happen if Lady Liselotte’s husband finds out? It’s fine, don’t worry. I’m quite confident in my acting.”
“No, I don’t mean it like that. If your husband were to know that you, his wife, did-”
A slam reverberated through the mansion. We both turned out heads towards the door where the sound originated. Alberto stole my gaze; his chest heavily going up and down as he stood there, breathless.
I could hear Franz mutter a gleeful ‘oops.’
“Claudia. Did you know about it?”
“Oh my, you’re already back?”
Strange. I thought that he wouldn’t come back at all this week. I schooled my expression to one of ignorance; masking the surprise I felt.
Alberto suddenly directed his gaze to Franz who was nonchalantly devouring the sweets I had prepared for him. A fierce look was on my husband’s face– I didn’t even know he could make that type of expression.
“Who’s he?”
Franz looked up; cheeks stuffed with candy. “Oh, you don’t know? I’m Claudia’s best friend. You can call me Franz,” he replied to Alberto’s question with a composed expression. Despite no apparent animosity, it caused Alberto to look even more stern.
“I don’t care about that. What I want to know is why this man is here when your husband is away from home,” his eyes set on me accusingly.
Franz smiled, “Because Claudia told me to come and play anytime. If it’s a request from her, of course, I can’t refuse.”
Alberto looked at me with a dangerous glare. I think he misunderstood. It’s true that I invited Franz over if he wanted to come, I didn’t press him to. Why was he saying it in a way that alluded to something taboo? He catches my eye, and I see him smirk.
Ah, this supposed best friend of mine is really hateful.
I wanted to resolve the misunderstanding with Alberto first, but he looks angrier than what was reasonable. I, who was not often shaken, startlingly stiffened up.
“Claudia, I have something I would like to discuss with you.”
“Well then, I should be going now.”
“No,” Alberto eyed Franz who had spoken, “you’re an important guest that my wife invited. So please, wait here.”
He emphasized the words ‘my wife,’ and then grabbed my arm, leading me out of the room.
My best friend waves me off with a wink even as I send him distress signals with my expression. His expression shows that he’s undoubtedly amused by the situation.
Yes, he was quite hateful.
Alberto showed me into the study, locking the door from the inside so nobody could come in.
I thought that he didn’t need to go that far. As he turned around, he caught me by surprise and pushed me against the wall. My objections became lost with the movement.
“Why did you let me go to where Liselotte is?”
“Why you say… what do you mean why? You are frantically in love with her, right?” The answer should be obvious.
“That’s why you let me go to where she is? Even though I have you as my wife?”
Disbelief clouded his eyes, and the glare he shot me made me feel like he wanted to denounce me. I thought he would cry happy tears. Why on earth is he acting like this and making a face as if he was hurt?
“I know that you adore me as your friend, and I’m grateful for that. I think you have adequately done your duties as my husband in name. That’s why I think that it’s okay for you to love the person whom you love. I won’t punish or judge you for it.”
Alberto remained silent even after I finished talking. I felt impatient with his bad mood, so I added on to it.
“Also, it was a favor asked for by both Lady Liselotte and her brother. She felt depressed over your supposed unrequited love, to the point that she could collapse anytime. That’s also one of the reasons why I thought it was fine for you to meet with her.”
The time was just right as her husband was away for business. He wouldn’t be home for one week. They appealed to me that it might be their last chance together. I was also reminded of Alberto’s gloomy face, and that’s why I accepted their proposal thinking that it was unpleasant to see that kind of expression once more.
“It’s fine? With your ‘it’s fine,’ you handed over your husband to another woman? Aren’t you anxious at all that I could have done something with her?”
“Not really, I don’t really mind.”
“Wha…” Alberto ran a hand down his face. His voice trailed off– speechless.
Then he looked at me with a pathetic expression on his face. It reminded me of the appearance he had when he was told that he had to part ways with Lady Liselotte.
He looked so hurt and betrayed that I had to avert my eyes.
“So, were you able to meet Lady Liselotte?” I changed the focus of the subject.
“…yes, I did meet with her.”
Something odd bubbled up in my chest at his short and blunt answer.
“Did you really meet with her? And have a conversation with her?”
“…yes.”
I feel more anxious now at the plain answer of his, “Really?”
He nodded his head as if he was resigned to my persistent asking.
“Yes, I did. I firmly broke up with her. I told her that from now on, we both need to move on and go our separate ways.”
Huh? “Break up?” I asked, “Are you really giving up on her?”
Even though he was deeply in love with her? Even though he was so desperate to the point of saying that he would do anything for her?
I was worried whether or not the Alberto in front of me was really Alberto. In order to tide over my suspicions, I touched his cheeks and forehead repeatedly. Since he frowned in response to my touch to show that it was unpleasant, I confirmed that it was the real Alberto.
However, I can’t believe it. Maybe he’s sick?
“If you’re holding back because of me, please don’t. I really don’t mind.”
“I’m not holding back.”
“It’s still not too late. Go back, and please grow your love for each other as much as you want. Fall for each other over and over again every day. I will-”
“Please stop! I won’t go back to where Liselotte is, and I don’t plan on falling in love over and over again with any other person other than you!” It was the first time I have ever really heard Alberto raise his voice.
I could hardly believe my ears. The content was… wrong.
“Alberto,” I carefully touched the top of his hand, “You don’t have to try to love me to the point that you sacrifice yourself. I admire your dedication to your duty, but it’s painful for me to see too.”
I wonder why Alberto dejectedly dropped his shoulders. A weary expression took over the entirety of his face. He looked at me with eyes similar to an abandoned puppy’s.
“Claudia, you don’t love me?”
I blinked, “No. I love you.”
“You’re lying!” Like a child he blew up, shouting in a loud voice. His eyes never wavered from my face. My volume softened as I tried to get him to calm down.
“I hate telling lies, especially to those who I care about. That’s why I’m telling you my honest feelings. I love you.”
“As the opposite sex? As a husband? As a lover?”
I gave a wry smile as he bombarded me with questions, “Yes. All of that.”
Alberto still had a suspicious look in his eyes as he moved closer to me. In the end, he sighed, resigning himself into believing that what I said was the truth– which it was. This time, he sounded very tired.
“I don’t understand. Why did you let me go to Liselotte? It’s like pushing the person you love to love another person. If I were you, I’d be going crazy right now.”
I hummed, “Well that’s where you and I differ. For me, if the person I love goes and loves another person truly, then I’m not at a loss.”
Perhaps I would feel a bit hurt and then need to rest. After, I would learn to get through each day. That was the most practical thing, after all. There was nothing I could do. I couldn’t force him to love me, now could I?
A small smile found its way to my lips, “I also wanted to know if you had honest feelings for me, and that I wasn’t just a rebound. I’m glad they showed up now.”
To me, Alberto was an existence that shook up the foundation and sense of values that I’ve built up for how many years. To think that someone could truly love a person so much… it made me want to watch their love story until the end.
Somehow, I became the one at the receiving end.
“You… are really weird,” he sighed.
“I think so, too. But, this is my nature. Instead of worrying, I prefer to find a single clear solution.”
I was still trapped between him, the wall, and his arms as he listened to my answer. The expression on his eyes that at first reflected pain suddenly shifted to something more primal as he looked at me.
“I want you to worry. I want the person I love to worry and fuss over me all the time. I want you to rely on me to help you if you need it.”
I think I finally fully understood why he discarded his secret meeting with Lady Liselotte and returned to the mansion to find me– and why he was on the verge of acting like a caveman.
“Alberto… do you love me?”
He laughed as if in disbelief, “Yes, I love you.”
Without warning, his arms encircled me tightly. I was startled, trying to put a more respectable distance between us, but it just made him hug me tighter and closer to his chest.
I resigned myself to his passion, but I wanted to clarify things with him.
“From when did you come to love me?”
“Since a long time before.”
I wanted to ask him for more specifics, so I did.
“But do you still love Lady Liselotte?” As if the fire suddenly met a pail of water, his face turned dark.
“When I think of the things that happened between us, I regret how I’ve been with you. I’m sorry. I compared you to her a lot of time and made you, my wife, see my pathetic state as I lamented over another woman. I don’t have the right to say I love you after all this time.”
“It’s alright, I don’t mind.”
Everything turned out this way in the end anyway.
“I was scared that my relationship with you would collapse if you knew my feelings. Because I thought that even if you accept me as your friend, you would never consider me as anything more. I think I wouldn’t handle it and run away if you had rejected me.”
What a troublesome kid, I thought.
He was as timid as a mouse and a worrywart like a maiden in love. He was such a hopeless person. I can’t take my eyes off of him.
I placed my hands on his cheeks to lift his head up; locking his gaze up with mine.
“We’re already married, so there’s no way I would reject you.”
“I didn’t want you to accept me just because we’re married,” he stole the hand I had on his cheek; softly pressing his lips against my palm.
“I love you,” he looked at me earnestly.
It’s unlike my usual self to be moved by simple words. A heat burns the tips of my ears.
“Our marriage was sudden, but I was touched by your kindness, strength, and liveliness. When I was at my lowest, you encouraged me to live to the fullest again. Right now, I came to love everything about you, your innocent smile, even your rarely shown clumsiness in knitting.”
I wonder how can he say those embarrassing words fluently without blushing.
“Then I came to realize that I’m already in love with you. But when I heard from Liselotte that you’re the one who recommended the meeting, it made me think that I’m the only one who fell in love in our relationship. I felt so pissed and wanted to question you. And when I hurried back to find you, I saw you having fun and smiling without care towards that man. It felt like in exchange for giving me Liselotte, you would have him. My mind ran wild at the thought that you would approach Liselotte for help. I wanted to kill him and then confine you.”
The words filled with insecurity startled me. I thought he was a peaceful person, but he seemed to be quite violent too.
“That’s just a misunderstanding. Franz is just my friend. Also, it was Lady Liselotte and her brother that came to ask me for the meeting as a favor.”
“I know that now,” he sighed, “But I wish that you had refused them. I wish you had burned with jealousy and stopped me from going.”
“Then from now on, I will do that.”
He put his hand on my waist, the other cupping my cheek. “Really, Claudia? Can you swear that you will allow me into your heart? Will you allow me to love you and you alone?”
He looked so distraught that it was overdramatic. So of course, I agreed.
A smile bloomed on his face, “Thankfully we’re no longer just husband and wife in name.”
I’m relieved things worked out just fine. I patted his hand, “Alright. Let’s go back. I think Franz will be feeling worried by now.”
He didn’t pull his arms away. I repeated my words once more thinking that he didn’t hear me.
Oh, dear. His eyes were dark.
“Alberto, let’s go. We already reconciled. We have to return to the parlor, there’s a guest waiting for us.”
“No, I don’t wanna.”
Showing him an angry expression, he ignored it and pulled me into a hud once more. His lips tickled the edge of my ear, whispering with a sweet voice that could make anyone melt.
“Claudia, let’s love each other to our heart’s content. Although we’re husband and wife in both feelings and name, there’s still one thing that we haven’t done to allow our titles to ring true.”
“Ah!” He picked the dumbfounded me up in a princess carry, walking towards the direction of the bedroom.
Although it was still day, I was thoroughly and plentifully showered with love by him.
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