Chapter 90: Husband-stealer

"That’s a blatant lie. This isn’t the first time I’ve gone for a walk with you, and every time I do, you seem happy and tell me how much you enjoy these outings with me."

Silvia didn’t back down, and at some point, the conversation became more casual, and the ranks and positions began to fade into the background.

They seemed like two equals having a discussion.

"Did that happen? Well, today is a little different."

"Why would that be? In fact, since this is a leisurely walk, I don’t see why we couldn’t even stop by the shoe store."

"You want me—your mistress and lord—to go with you to buy some shoes? Don’t you think that’s going too far?"

Azalea reacted indignantly, as if she couldn’t believe what Silvia was asking of her, but Silvia brushed it off and continued.

"What’s the problem? You’ve already given me time off, and you yourself said that when there’s no work, it’s okay to treat you normally, right? After all, we’re lifelong friends—almost like sisters, as you so often say."

"...Yes, and as your lifelong friend, I’m actually a little worried about you, Silvia. You know, instead of coming with me, I think you should focus a little on your personal life."

"(≖_≖); don’t try to change the subject."

Silvia wasn’t stupid; she knew what Azalea was trying to do, and she had no intention of giving her that chance.

"I’m completely serious. This isn’t a new issue. I’ve been encouraging you to find a boyfriend for the past few years. It’s about time you got married and had kids."

"I already told you there’s no need for you to worry about those things. I’ve got it perfectly under control."

Or so she thought, but Azalea’s point hit a nerve that was hard for her to ignore.

"That’s a lie. You’re not even trying, and that’s really a shame, considering how pretty and always fashionable you are. I’m worried you’ll end up single for the rest of your life. Haah~ your situation is bad enough as it is... About to turn forty and never having had a single boyfriend."

"You’re in no position to say that. You didn’t have a single boyfriend before you got married for convenience. Besides, what’s so great about marriage? Looking at you and how badly it turned out for you really makes me never want to do it in my life."

"Ugh! Okay, you have a point there, but it’s not bad if you find the right person. I just had bad luck and prioritized other things over love. It’s no surprise I ended up like this."

"I think it’s the same no matter who it’s with. Besides, personally, I’m not interested in men."

"Huh?... So... are you interested in women?"

At that moment, upon hearing Silvia’s words, Azalea looked wary and took a step back.

If Silvia wasn’t interested in men, her intentions might be something else.

Azalea feared the worst—she might care deeply for Silvia, but not in that way.

She was completely straight.

"Hey! Stop thinking whatever it is you’re thinking. I didn’t mean it that way. I’m not interested in women either—and certainly not in you. I’m just saying that, between a man and clothes, I’d choose clothes a thousand times over."

"Phew... You scared me. But if you did like women, I’d support you. As long as it’s not me, everything’s fine. Ahem! It’s obvious, but just to be clear, I’m completely straight."

"Tsk. Me too."

"Hey, how do you know that if you’ve never actually been interested in anyone or fallen in love?"

"I just know, that’s all... Anyway, I really don’t understand people who fall in love. The only thing I’ve noticed is that they tend to get dumber."

"That’s exactly what I’m talking about. Forget about getting married. If you keep that mindset, you won’t even be able to get a boyfriend."

"And I already told you that all that is unnecessary. I’m perfectly fine just the way I am right now. I only see problems and nothing positive in that whole situation."

"Oh, come on. Even I, in my situation, can tell you that not everything is bad. Look, I have my little Bia thanks to marriage, and I can assure you that, even with everything that happened, I don’t regret a thing. Silvia, I promise you it’s something you have to experience, or you’ll regret it."

"No, even so, I don’t... Ugh! You really did just change the subject. You’re being shameless, just because you don’t want me to go with you."

"Now you’ve said it outright. You’re overstepping your bounds."

Azalea wasn’t unaware that Silvia had been looking at her with contempt and whispering things about her for the past few days, but she ignored it, since work was the most important thing and she knew that, since they were just whispers, Silvia would bring up the very topic she wanted to bury.

So it wasn’t worth saying anything. But now it was different.

"Tsk! I’m not even working anymore anyway. What does it matter if I say it? And getting back to the walk..."

"That’s already been decided. You go ahead and take the rest of the day off. If possible, meet some guys. I’ll go on my walk alone."

"I don’t want to. I want to go with you and accompany you on your walk."

"I already said no. If you keep insisting, I’ll call the guards and have you locked up."

"Oh! So you’re resorting to threats, I see... Well, I can do that too. If you do that, I’ll hand in my resignation."

"Ugh!... I really don’t understand why you’re being so stubborn... Ah! Now that I think about it, I don’t think you can take the afternoon off. There’s something I need you to do."

Things circled back to the initial argument, and Azalea, who was feeling increasingly pressured by Silvia, finally came up with another solution to get her way.

"(≖_≖), so that’s how you want things to be. You want to use my professionalism against me."

"ƪ(˘⌣˘)ʃ, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I just remembered there’s work to be done. Oh, and don’t worry, I’ll send another maid to get those shoes. Okay, what I want you to do is..."

"No! I won’t do it! I know it’s just an excuse. Fine, enough with the silly beating around the bush. I’ll say it straight out. I know exactly what you want to do, and I want to go with you to prevent the indecent act you’re planning to commit."

"I-Indecent? That’s a very... No, I already told you that you misunderstood what you heard that night."

"Well, I don’t believe you at all. I know you rushed and worked so hard just to go after that married man. And, as if that weren’t bad enough, you were planning to break them up... Honestly, I didn’t think you’d be that kind of person. I’m really disappointed."

"Hey, wait. Don’t yell here—someone might hear you."

"I’ve already set up a sound barrier. I’m really proud of my professionalism and all that, but above all, You’re like my sister, and I can’t let you go down that corrupt path."

"Hey, you’re going too far by calling him corrupt. A-and I already told you it’s all a misunderstanding..."

"Stop it. Neither you nor I are stupid. Keep saying that and you’ll just dig yourself deeper. Husband-stealer."

"What do you know, when you’re a single woman who’s almost forty and potentially lesbian?"

"That last part is totally wrong, you cuckolded forty-somethin"

"It isn’t until you prove me wrong, you damn half-elf with a twisted personality. Probably everything you say is just an excuse because you know that with your twisted personality, you wouldn’t even catch a fly..."

"(►__◄) When the young lady returns, I’ll tell her everything."

"눈_눈, you wouldn’t dare."

"Try me. 눈_눈"

"You’re playing dirty by dragging Bia into this... Ugh!... Okay, let’s calm down. There really is a big misunderstanding here. Since you’re being so insistent, I’ll tell you that I just want to go to a massage parlor."

"(≖_≖)... I see you’re still trying to come up with a lame excuse. Fine, just for the sake of our long friendship, I’ll listen to it."

"Ahem, it’s not an excuse, it’s the truth... The reason I was late that day was because the massages were so good that I fell asleep for hours. I was so relaxed and sound asleep that I didn’t even notice the earthquake. When I woke up, I felt so refreshed... It really was so amazing that, even today, I still feel refreshed."

"Hmm... From what I can tell, at least what you just said isn’t a lie. You can continue."

Silvia knew Azalea very well, and that was precisely why she knew that what Azalea had said that night wasn’t a misunderstanding.

But, apparently, she hadn’t lied about what she’d just said either, so Silvia began to wonder a little if there really was a more complete story behind it all.

"O-Of course I’m not lying... Yes, and what you heard earlier is a misunderstanding. The person I was referring to was the massage therapist, but I meant it in the context of massages. Giving me so many massages had worn him out so much that he couldn’t give them to his wife—he told me during the massage that he usually gives his wife massages."

"...Hmm, I sense some truths and half-truths there. And how does that explain the contraceptives..."

"Ahem! Forget about that. The thing is, I do go there, but it’s to get massages."

"...If that’s all it is, why are you so adamant about not letting me come with you?"

"Well, ahem... The truth is, I’m a little embarrassed to say it, but... hmmm, I was actually a little captivated by that young man’s touch—"

"Is he young?"

"Ahem... Let me finish. Anyway, I’m a little embarrassed to say that I was so captivated by that man’s massage that I really want to keep him all to myself—I want him to use all his energy on my massages—and that’s what you overheard. This is all just about massages, nothing more, nothing less. Ahem... Besides, his wife was there the whole time. Do you really think we’d do anything indecent?"

"눈_눈. We both know that what you just said sounds a bit forced. And it’s more like a half-truth—and, if I’m not mistaken, you were brazen enough to come between a young couple and commit infidelity right under the other person’s roof. And that man is even more of a scumbag. Seriously, you have no judgment when it comes to men."

"Ugh! Silvia, I feel like you’re going a bit too far. And don’t speak ill of him—it’s not his fault... and, like I told you, it’s just about massages."

"All right. Let’s say I really do believe you. If that’s the case, it’s okay for me to go with you, right? After all, the problem was that you were too embarrassed to tell me what you’ve already told me."

"..."

"Anyway, I could use a massage. I’m sure you—who’s always grateful for my help—would have no problem treating me to a few of those relaxing massage sessions that captivated you so much."

"..."

"On top of that, I’ll go and verify what you’ve said. Really, doing that is the only way to prove your innocence. Because, if you don’t, from now on I won’t be able to help but think that you’ve been doing something shameless, completely changing my opinion of you and making me—even though I’m acting professionally—unable to avoid looking at you with contempt and saying exactly what I think."

"..."

Silvia had truly backed her into a corner. Azalea didn’t seem to have anywhere to run.

Azalea had already experienced that look of contempt and those scathing whispers over the past two days.

But Azalea really didn’t want to take her there, since that would disrupt everything she had planned.

She wanted to enjoy the rest of the day; she’d worked so hard the last few days for this, and she didn’t want to ruin it.

"So, there’s no problem, right?"

"...No. /_ \"

But at this point, she couldn’t give any other answer than that.

"Fine. If it really turns out I was wrong, I’ll apologize for the 127 times I called you shameless, immoral, and all that other stuff."

"Yes, I’d appreciate that."

That’s what Azalea said, but the problem was that Silvia was right, and she was doing everything she’d been accused of.

Even so, despite Silvia’s judgment and everything she’d done, Azalea had no intention of backing down.

She didn’t want to break her bond with that massage therapist she hadn’t stopped thinking about for the past few days.

Haah~... I guess nothing will happen today. Maybe another time, when... Ah! Come to think of it, his wife was a massage therapist, too.

It was at that moment that Azalea remembered something.

If she remembered correctly, there were two massage rooms, and Astan’s wife, Iris, was also a massage therapist—which would give her an opportunity.

It might be risky, but the thought that there was a possibility encouraged her.

Hmm, I wonder if it would seem suspicious to bring him a gift.

Azalea thought, in a better mood, now that she was going back to that massage parlor to meet her destined partner.