“If you have any inconveniences during your stay, please let us know at the front desk on the first floor.”
“Thank you.”
What Leopold said about not being disturbed by anyone during their stay at Waynes was true.
As soon as he arrived, he headed to the smallest hotel in the most secluded area, saying it was already reserved.
And he was shown to a room under the ridiculous name of ‘Count and Countess Benhur’.
Although small in scale, the interior was quite neat and tidy, which wasn’t bad.
Betty said that as befitting a trading city with many accommodations, it was also common for interiors to be messy or for unnecessary overcharging.
After hearing that story, I could tell how much care Leopold had put into choosing the lodging.
As soon as the elderly gentleman who appeared to be the manager left the room after guiding us, I sat on the sofa and let out a small laugh.
“‘Count and Countess Benhur’, you say?”
It was a name reminiscent of a historical figure whose first name was Ben and surname was Hur.
That famous general was more well-known by the name Benhur than Ben or General Hur because people couldn’t distinguish between his surname and given name.
But I never thought my husband would be among those who couldn’t distinguish the name of that famous general.
As I giggled softly, Leopold smiled a bit sheepishly.
“That was the only name I could think of at the time.”
“Why didn’t you just go with Ben, Your Highness?”
“Wouldn’t that be too obvious? People might think it could actually be a surname or given name, even if they’re suspicious.”
“And they’re likely to be disrespected for saying so. It’s a perfect strategy, Your Highness.”
As a famous figure in history books, his name was well-known and thus easy to get wrong.
Given the nobles’ tendency to boast, even if this name seems suspicious, they wouldn’t dare mention it out loud.
As he said, there couldn’t be a more perfect name for hiding one’s identity.
“I’m glad you’re amused. And here, instead of ‘Your Highness’…”
“I know, Count. Shall I call you that?”
Leo Benhur and Mela Benhur.
These were the aliases he had created, hoping for a perfect honeymoon.
I nodded, thinking I’d play along appropriately, but for some reason, he seemed a bit dissatisfied.
“Hmm, would it be strange if I called you that? Do you have another title in mind?”
Isn’t it normal for everyone to call them ‘Count’ or ‘Marquis’?
As I tilted my head and asked, he opened his mouth with an “Hmm.”
“You’re my wife, wouldn’t it be strange if you called me ‘Count’ like others? Just Leo is fine.”
“But usually…”
“If we’re a couple from a distant rural estate on a trip for the wife, ‘honey’ wouldn’t be bad either, like others use.”
…Is he teasing me now?
Seeing him bring up an unfamiliar term with a pleased face, I felt a bit provoked.
He smiled gently and looked at me with a slightly expectant expression.
The awkward atmosphere that had been in the carriage until just now had disappeared somewhere, and he might have thought this moment of just playful smiles wasn’t bad.
I looked at him with a slightly displeased face, then grinned and opened my mouth.
“Shall we do that then, honey?”
It was rather he who was surprised by my readily given answer.
He who had been smiling slightly while loosening the cravat around his neck stopped his tapping fingers.
I laughed at the sight of him.
Why did he bring up such a thing if he couldn’t handle it?
I looked at him and chuckled softly, waving my hand.
“I’m joking, Your Highness. Just use my name…”
“No, Mela.”
Mela.
The alias he had given me flowed naturally from his lips.
He quickly changed his expression and turned his head again.
His two eyes were filled with an emotion that could have been joy or languidness.
Even though I couldn’t quite meet his eyes, I could clearly see that I was reflected in them.
It was a sight clearly different from our past days when we were only eager to exchange necessary business.
Not dry conversations, not gazes that unnecessarily avoided each other.
A gaze filled with desperation, as if wanting to meet eyes somehow, wanting to reach me somehow.
“Again. Call me once more, Mela.”
“…What do you mean?”
I felt breathless again under that gaze.
No, perhaps I should say I felt a bit nervous.
I hid my hands under my skirt spread out on the sofa and quietly clenched my fists.
“Just as you called me earlier. The word we’ll have to use often from now on.”
“Honey…?”
It was something I shouldn’t have said out loud.
As I uttered that word that had already left my mouth and formed a complete sound, I thought so.
I shouldn’t have said it.
As I saw his smile deepen at that word I had uttered as if enchanted, that thought grew stronger.
“Yes, Mela.”
In his gaze as he called me, in his tone, in his expression.
Because it was filled with an indescribable charm and lovingness directed at me.
Because the final emotion contained in its end was excessively sweet and sugary.
I repeated the word ‘honey’ to him until I could no longer bear it.
* * *
“Your Highness, no, the Count seems to be in an unusually good mood.”
On our way out for a simple dinner and to look around the area, Betty, who was following behind me, whispered to me with a puzzled look.
“Well. Perhaps he enjoyed today’s meal.”
“What are you saying, Vi- I mean, Madam. The Count doesn’t have any particular likes or dislikes when it comes to food, according to the knights.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. They say that since he spent time on the battlefield, he eats anything as long as it’s food, without being picky. They also said he doesn’t have any particular favorite foods…”
I knew the reason for his good mood, but I couldn’t say it.
I cleared my throat softly, letting Betty’s words go in one ear and out the other.
“How do you know all that?”
“What? Well, when you and the Count were in the carriage, ma’am, I was riding in the luggage wagon. The knights also took turns resting in between.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. So I talked a lot with the knights about the Count. I also told the knights about the foods you enjoy eating and the flowers you like, ma’am.”
“Why would you tell them that…”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Actually, servants often exchange information about their masters. That way, later when the two of you fight, we can subtly leak information…”
Betty grinned with a sly look on her face.
Although that behavior was a bit annoying, I had heard that this was often the case among servants.
I just let out a small sigh.
“Still, you shouldn’t carelessly talk about such things anywhere.”
“Of course, ma’am. I carefully selected who to tell. I only leaked it to those who have sworn loyalty to the Count. Don’t worry too much.”
“Alright. I’m sure you were careful.”
As I nodded, Betty smiled and stepped back a few paces.
Glancing at Betty as she moved away, I looked at Leoprick briefly, recalling one thing that remained in my mind.
After experiencing war, he doesn’t particularly avoid any food.
The idea of Leoprick having likes and dislikes was unfamiliar to me.
Although we had lived as a married couple for years, when I viewed him only as someone to use, I didn’t try to know.
No, I think I didn’t try to know that he existed as a human being too.
That’s why I can’t even think of a single thing he likes.
Suddenly, I felt sorry.
With what I’ve done to him, is it okay for me to act as a loving couple by his side even for a moment?
Is it okay to receive his sincere consideration while pretending not to know next to him as he enjoys himself so purely?
As I walked thinking like that, I noticed Leoprick’s face, still smiling.
The smile hanging at the end of that gaze is sweet.
The reason he’s in such a good mood is because I kept calling him ‘honey’ as if enchanted, according to his request.
Leoprick continued to treat everyone with that beaming face, seemingly very pleased with the term of endearment.
The thought that I was deceiving that smile wouldn’t leave my mind.
It was awkward. All the consideration he was showing, and everything else.
“Aren’t you cold?”
After a while, Leoprick, who was walking beside me, gently spoke up.
“I’m fine.”
“Although the weather is warm, the sea breeze is chilly. If you feel cold, please tell me.”
“I will.”
As I nodded obediently, he gave a satisfied smile and raised his gaze again.
The quiet walk continued, with only the footsteps of Betty, who had followed us out, and the two or three knights escorting us being heard.
For some reason, Leoprick didn’t open his mouth after that.
I didn’t find this calm atmosphere uncomfortable, but at the same time, I felt strange for thinking that way.
Would it be okay if this time lasted longer?
As I was lost in thought, keeping my mouth shut, that’s when it happened.
As the silence lengthened, those following behind seemed uncomfortable, and whispers began to be heard from behind.
Although they were a bit distant so I couldn’t hear the content, I couldn’t help but smile a little at the cute sound of them whispering, trying not to be heard from here.
“Are you enjoying yourself, Mela?”
Leoprick opened his mouth, seeing my expression.
Do people usually describe moments like this as enjoyable?
After pondering for a moment, I nodded lightly.
“Yes, this is enjoyable too.”
“I’m glad that my wife is enjoying herself.”
At his words, perhaps a bit cliché but clearly revealing his emotions, I looked up at him.
Suddenly, I wondered.
Earlier, Betty said that Leoprick doesn’t have any favorite foods.
But at least he liked the word ‘honey’.
He asked if I was enjoying myself, and when I said I was, he said he was glad, and he had the skill to make the silence between us feel comfortable no matter how long it lasted.
So what does he enjoy, and what does he like?
Feeling his gaze resting on me, he lowered his head again and met my eyes.
Behind the faint smile, the emotions occasionally glimpsed – are they the kind I know, or the kind I’ve lived without knowing?
I slowly opened my mouth and asked him a question.
“Are you enjoying yourself, Count?”
It was just an ordinary question that anyone could ask.
Yet Leoprick smiled as if it were the wittiest and most brilliant question in the world.
Rather than laughing because he found it funny, it was more like a surprised laugh, as if he hadn’t expected to receive such a question.
After laughing like that for a while, he narrowed his eyes, which were twinkling with amusement.
The sensuality contained in the corners of his eyes is now natural enough.
Yet while maintaining the seriousness at the end, he slightly bent his waist and lifted my hand.
From his lips that gently touched the back of my hand, a low voice leaked out.
As warmly as if confessing his heart to someone.
So passionately that the knights and Betty following behind stopped in their tracks for a moment.
“I am enjoying myself. I didn’t know being with you could be this enjoyable.”
My Ex-Girlfriend Is The Regent In The Female-dominant World (Male lead transmigrates to the matriarchal world)
Two years ago, Gu Sui picked up a homeless woman in ancient costume from the street.
Apart from occasionally claiming to be a princess from a female-dominant country due to illness, her figure, appearance, intelligence, and martial arts skills were impeccable.
Naturally evolving from roommates to girlfriends, as time went on, Gu Sui found it increasingly difficult to tolerate her queen syndrome.
“Mu Jiulu, can you stop controlling me inside and out? Let’s break up.”
Gu Sui made a breakup call, and since then, he couldn’t find any trace of her.
A year later, Gu Sui, who was planning to move, woke up the next day and found himself in a different place.
“Young Master, today is the day you choose your Wife-master through martial arts competition at Jade Dew Pavilion. Please get up quickly.”
Gu Sui: Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?
As the only son of a general’s mansion in a female-dominant dynasty, the young empress personally issued a decree allowing Gu Sui to select his Wife-master through martial arts competition. Whoever could defeat him could marry him.
Gu Sui: “……”
He didn’t inherit the original owner’s martial prowess, so anyone could defeat him! And what the hell is a Wife-master?
Forced to come to Jade Dew Pavilion, the densely packed women below made Gu Sui’s agoraphobia act up, and his face was full of resistance.
Until he saw the Regent sitting on the second floor, with a smile on the corner of her lips, her eyes wicked and nonchalant.
Hmm… she looked a little familiar.
It turned out that the Regent also found him a little familiar.
Mu Jiulu fiddled with her bone clasp, her deep gaze locked on the man who was out of place in this world.
“Finally, I found you.”
Male transmigrates into female-dominant world
One-sentence summary: What goes around comes around, taking turns in the crematorium
