When the Nemesis Eats the Wicked Woman

Chapter 71

…Say that again?

By any chance… Was he offended? No, to be offended by a small thing?

At best, I said nothing more than ‘I’m sick of it’, ‘He’s a rascal’, and ‘Get lost’…?

‘…Wait, he must have been very offended?!’

It felt like I had done almost everything except cursing twice.

I looked into the eyes of Rixus, whose expression I could not read for some reason, and spoke softly.

“…You don’t have to ask for an audience, right?”

“Not that.”

Rixus shook his head lightly.

“The next one.”

What did I say later? Then this was all that was left.

“You can just come into my space?”

“No, not that.”

He sighed deeply, then lifted me up from the chair. He placed a large palm on my back and looked straight at my face.

A fever rose vigorously, as much as the area of his large hand touching my waist.

‘Our faces were too close.’

I thought about pushing him away a little, however I decided to just put up with it.

“You know what’s next. It was really good to hear.”

Then there was only one possibility left. I took a slow, deep breath before answering briefly.

“Couple… Because we’re a married couple?”

I was embarrassed to say this again.

Obviously, when I spit it out earlier, it was said without thinking. But when he said he wanted to hear it again, it felt like a very special and intimate confession.

“……”

Rixus’ lips were already on the rise when I pronounced the word ‘couple’.

I thought that smile was cool.

“It’s good to hear, Candy.”

“……”

Badump, badump. I could hear my heart pounding.

Occasionally, when Rixus made that face and looked at me, touched me, and smiled.

There was something piercing my chest.

No matter how cold I tried to be with him, no matter how hard I tried to be rational in front of him.

In times like this, it was difficult for me to maintain my composure.

“What is it about being a married couple? It’s nothing…”

“It’s not a big deal. For some, it was a lifelong dream.”

“Is it your lifelong dream to marry me?”

“Of course.”

My heart accelerated as he smiled brightly like a boy.

I hurriedly changed the topic of conversation as I felt a tickling from my toes.

“…But why did you come all the way here?”

“Don’t be surprised.”

If he said it like that, it seemed like I would definitely be surprised and excited.

I was already looking forward to it. If he hadn’t told me not to be surprised, I wouldn’t have expectations…

What the hell was going on?

I might be disappointed if I have such high expectations, but Rixus has never let me down.

He took out a card, shaking it slightly.

“Our wedding date is out.”

“……Really?”

When I replied as if I couldn’t believe it, he replied kindly with a warm smile.

“Really.”

At first, I was a little confused. Then, strangely, I felt a surge of emotion and my heart squeezed.

How much effort did I exert for this marriage?

All the hardships that I had suffered while coming to Aktoum flashed through my mind.

When I first arrived in Aktoum and received a cold turkey from Deborah.

The fierce time I had while verifying and proving myself in front of everyone on the day of the high priest’s visit.

And my attempts to get the seal of the marriage permit…

The fruit of all that hard work was in Rixus’ hands.

I was nervous like a student who just received his test report.

“When was it decided?”

Two days ago.

“Your Highness, please write your desired wedding date on this card.”

Ires, Rixus’ lieutenant, came to me and requested for my ‘desired date of marriage’.

Usually, wedding preparations for royal or imperial families range from at least 6 months to 5 years at most. Because there were so many things to prepare.

But I didn’t have time to prepare for five years.

Whether I was alive or dead by then was unknown.

I did not want to become a bride who was killed by her husband while preparing for marriage.

So, from my point of view, it was important to advance the date as much as possible.

“…I’d like it in six months.”

I pondered and wrote the shortest period.

Usually, the wedding date was determined by the ‘average’ from combining the desired dates of the wife and husband.

Consultation in advance was prohibited. Hence, it was common knowledge that one could not set a date fairly and purely for each other.

‘If Rixus also went for 6 months, then the marriage would be done in the shortest period of time.’

Then how good would it be? I wish he had written down six months as if he looked into my heart… 

No, he was the kind to thoroughly prepare, so he could have chosen a year or so.

‘What if it’s more than two years?’

I was suddenly frightened.

…Then maybe, all the hard work I put in so far would be in vain.

When I nervously thought about it, strength entered the hand holding my skirt.

“See for yourself.”

Rixus held out the card, and I hastily opened it.

And as soon as I checked the contents, I was genuinely shocked.

“In 15 days?!”

Without realizing it, my voice rang out loudly.

I was startled like a sea otter that floated off into the sea while biting and eating shellfish, and then crossed over from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean.

“We’re getting married in a fortnight?”

Even though I said it out of my own mouth, it didn’t feel real.

Rixus said regretfully.

“I wish it was faster.”

“…….”

“I don’t think there’ll be much time to prepare if it’s even sooner than that.”

…When the hell did he originally want to get married… 

Did Rixus write the desired date as one second?

How could I write down 6 months and the average comes out as 15 days?

Rixus explained when he read my expression.

“Oh, I decided the date as I wanted without averaging it.”

“…….”

“I’m sorry. I should have explained it beforehand.”

No, I was the one who thought the sooner the better.

But it was too fast. There was probably not much time to physically prepare.

Like he had read my worried expression, he said,

“Berylia, actually, I’ve already prepared a lot of things.”

“How……?”

“Well, I prepared it before you came to Aktoum.”

He said in response to my surprised face.

“On the day you accepted my proposal, I immediately contacted Ires and told him to prepare for the wedding.”

So he was saying that he had been preparing since the moment I grabbed his spirit stone.

I couldn’t even imagine. That he would be doing that.

Well, I came to Aktoum after a week and almost everything was perfectly prepared.

A bedroom that fit my taste, and that huge dressing room.

I had no doubts that he would be perfectly prepared this time too.

However… 

‘I don’t think I’ll be able to finish all the preparations.’

It was the first time that I, armed with momentum, could not keep up with someone else’s drive.

I couldn’t possibly have the confidence to prepare the documents related to Aktoum and Spinel, and the other things that had to be done before the wedding, in just a week.

‘No matter how fast I want this marriage… It can’t be faster than Rixus.’

Rixus’ longing for me was always deeper and greater than my desperation for my life.

When I realized that, my heart was moved; it was strange.

“I want the wedding to be delayed a bit…”

He squinted, not disappointed as expected.

“By how much?”

Then he continued without waiting for an answer.

“If I wait too long, I might die.”

“…Die?”

“From anxiety.”

“…….”

“If I wait any longer, I will die in agony.”

……What, he was suddenly so cute. It was cute to talk so seriously, so I tightened my mouth to hold back my laughter.

Rixus exhaled lowly and brought his nose to my shoulder.

“If it’s delayed by more than two months, I can really die.”

“Fufu.”

Eventually, a small laugh broke out.

I told him adamantly about his gigantic silliness.

“Be patient. You won’t die.”

Then I gently ruffled his black hair with my fingers.

It felt good, like touching a big puppy.

After a short deliberation, I said,

“Let’s make it a month.”

He lifted his head, his nose still on my shoulder, and looked up at me quietly.

“Is that really enough?”

“Yes. I’ll try.”

Rixus looked genuinely happy. Looking at that expression, I felt that it was nothing to suffer for a month.

He stared at me while kissing the back of my hand gently.

“You will be my bride in a month.”

I laughed softly.

Then as he lowered his eyes, made my hand cup his cheek and brought it in front of me, I said,

“Wrong. I’m not going to be your bride.”

I spoke arrogantly.

“You will be mine.”

As if he had just realized it, he let out a soft “Ah!” and raised the corners of his mouth, narrowing his dark eyebrows.

“You’re welcome to it. My body belongs to you.”

He took my hand and guided it to touch his chest. I felt firm muscles.

Then, a ticklish voice echoed in my ear.

“Use it to your heart’s content both during the day and at night.”

My face turned red.

It seemed like he wanted me to use it for embarrassing purposes.

‘Come to think of it… Then in a month, will we have our first night too?’

I hadn’t thought about it before, but Rixus just clearly reminded me of it.

Instantly, our ‘first night of engagement’ came to mind.

How soft his kisses were and how tender his touch was.

The weight that pressed down on me from above was vivid.

It felt like my heart was about to burst.

“At that time, we will really be married.”

With a look that seemed to know everything I was thinking, Rixus gently stroked my blushing cheek and then fell off.

He added as he walked to the door.

“Don’t forget to get ready to go out tomorrow.”

…What? Prepare to go out?”

“Didn’t you hear from the maids?”

I didn’t hear anything. What the hell are we going to do?

That question didn’t last long.

The very next day–

I went out with Rixus and experienced ‘Aktoum’s unique marriage culture’ firsthand.

…And, I swear, it was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life.