It Feels Like I’m About to be Divorced, But my Husband is My Favorite

Episode 49

“Uncle?”

“Marianne, that… ha… no, where on earth did you hear that word?”

Marianne rolled her eyes nervously, wondering if she had said something wrong.

“Well… I just heard it here and there.”

In truth, the exact word ‘consummation’ was something she had picked up from Amy.

“The maids mentioned it while saying the Grace Room would be open after a long time.”

It wasn’t entirely a lie.

While her uncle was away, the maids were in an uproar, cleaning and decorating the Duke’s mansion, including the Grace Room— the marital bedroom— in preparation for a new hostess.

“Marianne.”

“Yes?”

Euclid called his niece’s name, then sighed and ran a hand over his face, trying to calm his startled heart before speaking softly.

“Do you happen to know what the word consummation means?”

“Um… doesn’t it mean you both sleep together in the Grace Room?”

Marianne tilted her head curiously as she replied.

She wasn’t entirely sure of the exact meaning, but piecing together various conversations, that’s the impression she got.

“…That’s right.”

Thankfully, her guess was correct.

Seeing her uncle struggling to compose himself, Marianne smiled brightly.

“Then, have a great consummation, you two! Don’t worry about Dior and me!”

Wow, I…

I never thought I’d hear someone tell me to “have a great consummation.”

And from such a young child, no less!

Of course, she didn’t fully understand what she was saying, but that didn’t make it any less embarrassing.

Euclid, who seemed just as shocked by her words as I was, turned beet red from his ears to his neck.

‘Even when he’s embarrassed, he’s so cute!’

As I admired this new side of him with amused eyes, Euclid, sensing my gaze, turned to look at me.

“Ahem.”

Fearing that he might catch on to the indecent thoughts swirling in my head, I cleared my throat and asked,

“What is the Grace Room, exactly?”

Truthfully, while I pretended otherwise, I had secretly been looking forward to the first night at the Duke’s estate.

However, the room assigned to me as the Duchess was neat and tidy but didn’t seem at all like a bridal chamber, leaving me quietly disappointed.

‘So I thought maybe there wouldn’t even be a first night at all…’

Perhaps noticing my confusion, Euclid explained.

“It’s… the marital bedroom for the Duke and Duchess.”

“A marital bedroom? Is it common to have a separate one?”

“It is here in the North, unlike in the capital.”

Oh, I see.

For a moment, I wondered if this was an Empire-wide custom, but thankfully, it wasn’t.

“My apologies for not informing you earlier.”

“No, it’s fine. But then…”

Maybe it was because I’d been so shocked when I first heard the word consummation, but it seemed to echo in my mind, clinging stubbornly to my lips.

Trying to dismiss the thought, I waved it away in my head and asked in a casual tone,

“In the North, is it customary for a couple to use the Grace Room—the marital bedroom— whenever they sleep together?”

“Yes, that’s the general principle.”

General principle.

So it seemed that consummation—or rather, sharing a bed—was something reserved for prearranged dates here.

Considering how, in ancient times, some kings and nobles consummated their marriages in front of witnesses, it wasn’t such an unusual tradition.

Still, as someone who had dreamed of a warm and affectionate married life, it was a bit disappointing.

I had imagined that being married meant naturally sharing one bedroom, but perhaps that was just a fantasy.

Well, even if there were such a rule, Euclid would probably insist on separate rooms anyway.

It did align more closely with the relationship between Evgenia and Euclid in the original story, who divorced without much regret.

Trying to push aside my disappointment, I thought optimistically.

‘Surely, among the previous ducal couples, there must have been at least a few who got along well.’

As Euclid had said, it was just a principle. Most couples probably spent their nights together discreetly in each other’s bedrooms.

So, if we could move past this current awkwardness and grow closer as a couple, who knew what the future might hold?

‘And if Euclid is too shy to come to my room, I can just go to his… Oh, ahem!’

I caught myself daydreaming about the distant future.

Feeling my cheeks grow hot from the improper thoughts, I rubbed them lightly and looked at Euclid, who seemed hesitant, his lips moving as if to speak.

“Well, then…”

“…”

“So, since it’s the first time…”

“Are you saying we absolutely must spend the first night in the Grace Room?”

The duchess had finally entered the ducal estate for the first time.

It wasn’t a significant question, given it could already be inferred from the earlier conversation, but I asked for confirmation anyway. At that moment, Euclid inhaled sharply as if caught off guard by an ambush.

A moment later, Euclid slowly blinked and answered quickly.
“Yes, that’s correct.”

He then turned his attention back to the children.

“Chew slowly,” or, “You need to eat a balanced diet without being picky.”
He was tending to the children so diligently that it seemed almost second nature.

‘Ah, so unbearably adorable.’

Did he think I wouldn’t notice him deliberately changing the subject?

He pretended to be calm, but his ears were flushed red.

Well, it wasn’t exactly the kind of topic one should discuss further in front of young nieces and nephews.

‘Of course, it was that little nephew who brought up the subject of the wedding night first, though. Hehe.’

Feeling both proud and fond of Marianne, I patted her on the head in my mind. I also imagined lightly poking Dior’s chubby cheeks as he happily devoured his food, before reaching for my fork again.

And then—

‘Huh…?’

I couldn’t move.

When I mentioned the word “wedding night” earlier, I was completely unfazed.

But now, it seemed… I was nervous.

Barely eating a bite, I ended the meal and returned straight to my room.

The head maid, who had followed me to my room, spoke.

“Madam, I will guide you to the Grace Room shortly.”

“…Alright.”

After she left, the room fell into silence with only Anne and me remaining.

It was Anne who broke it.

“Madam… would you like me to prepare you for the night?”

Was it her unusual gaze and expression, different from her usual demeanor? Or was it just that I was nervous?

Anne’s slow and deliberate question made my ears heat up for no reason. In the end, I shook my head, pretending to be indifferent, just as Euclid had done earlier.

“No need. I’ll just sleep as soon as I get there.”

My tone came out a little curt, perhaps without realizing it.

Frankly, my nerves aside, I wasn’t expecting much anyway.

We had faked a kiss in front of everyone at the wedding ceremony. A real wedding night?

‘Not a chance.’

“Just bring me some sleepwear.”

“What kind of sleepwear…?”

“The usual!”

Why was she dragging out her words so strangely and asking these odd questions?

When I glared at her sharply, Anne flinched and hurried off to the dressing room.

Left alone, I leaned back comfortably and exhaled a long breath.

‘Goodness, a wedding night, of all things…’

I hadn’t anticipated this and had already taken my bath earlier, so now I had some idle time until the maid came to escort me.

‘On second thought, maybe it’s for the best.’

At first, I found the northern custom of separate bedrooms for married couples cold and unwelcoming.

But without such formalities, would I really have been able to spend the night in the same room as Euclid?

Even on the wedding night, Euclid, with his excessive sense of consideration, would never initiate anything.

So it was a relief that the Grace Room existed.

Besides—

‘I’ve been meaning to discuss a lot of things anyway.’

Now that I didn’t have to create an opportunity or delay matters further, I was genuinely pleased.

Well, maybe not entirely pleased.

Even as excitement bubbled within me, my expression turned slightly somber.

It was because of the conversation we’d had earlier in the dining room.

At first, I had thought Miss Biers was a nanny, but it turned out she was the children’s aunt. Still, I couldn’t help but suspect she was manipulating and tormenting them from behind the scenes.

Just because I learned she was family didn’t mean my doubts vanished.

Sometimes, family could be even crueler than strangers. I knew that all too well.