Side Story 1 Chapter 6

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“That’s why I told you not to follow me.”

I shrugged my shoulders, glancing at Dietrich’s eyebrows which had risen with no intention of coming down. 

“Did you know?”

“Know what?”

“Did you know that the chef at this restaurant likes you?”  

I couldn’t answer right away when Dietrich asked with a hard face.

I thought he would be more angry if I told him the truth that I knew.

Frustrated at me who just blinked my eyes, he loosened his black cravat and urged me. 

“Answer.”

“I knew but…..”

There’s no way I wouldn’t know because whenever he sees me, his eyes shine and a pink aura overflows. 

Dietrich didn’t think to relax his stiff face, finding my crawling voice not to his liking. 

“Does that mean that you went to this restaurant even though you knew it?”

“Uhuh.”

But I really didn’t know he liked me enough to propose to me.

‘Moreover, even though he liked me, he didn’t even know that I was the Duchess.’

Chef Jerry Mont, who was so famous that everyone with a little interest in cooking knew of his name, recently sold a restaurant in the capital that one could not even get a reservation unless they were in power and opened a small restaurant in the North.

‘I heard he’s a famous person, so I came here once. I didn’t expect it to be this delicious.’

Undoubtedly, Jerry Mont was a chef who lived up to his name.

The marriage of seafood dishes I had never heard of in my life and wine that he made by running a vineyard himself was worthy of the metaphor of an orchestra resonating in one’s mouth. 

I became a fan of his at once.

The problem was, I wasn’t the only one who liked him.

“If the lady wants to taste my food, please let me know. Even if it’s a holiday, I’ll open the restaurant.” 

Jerry Mont’s restaurant was smaller than his restaurant in the capital, but it was difficult to make a reservation because there were only a few tables.  However,  I was always able to taste his food without waiting. 

The day Jerry Mont said he fell in love with me at first sight was the day I succeeded in booking a reservation at the restaurant after waiting for two months. 

He grilled my portion of lamb steak but was so absorbed in watching my face that he burned it all, and I was able to obtain his best customer only business card with his apology. 

In addition to the privilege of visiting his restaurant without reservation, I was able to taste all of his new works as a culinary researcher.

No wonder he was so nice to me and not just drooling over my appearance….

‘But did he really not know that I was a married woman?’

After becoming the Duchess, I had been out of touch with social circles, but I didn’t expect that not one of the  restaurant’s employees would know my face. 

‘If someone had warned me in advance, I could have prevented this mishap.’ 

In the end, Jerry Mont, who harbored affection for me on his own will, proposed to me, a married woman, in front of her husband, Dietrich.  

“Please marry me.”  

“Pardon? What did you say just now?”

“I’d like to have a hundred-year-old marriage with you.  I am Jerry Mont, a man with perseverance who has risen from the bottom to where he is now! Lady, please with me–”

Pak!

Unfortunately, Jerry Mont’s marriage proposal speech, which he prepared diligently, didn’t last long. 

It was because Dietrich punched and sent Jerry Mont, who had entered the special room and began chatting away, out of the room. 

‘I’m glad he left his sword in the carriage.’

If he had carried his sword around his waist as usual, Jerry Mont could have died a miserable death in the restaurant he runs.

I clicked my tongue briefly, recalling Jerry Mont’s proposal, then opened my mouth to appease Dietrich, who was in a low mood. 

“Anyway, it’s nothing so don’t worry about it too much.”

“It’s nothing, you say?”

“Yeah. It really is nothing.” 

As people live, they can receive confessions and be mistaken as unmarried. 

Jerry Mont was a gentleman who never bothered me even though he hung around desperately, so I felt sorry for him as he moved away with a black bruise on his eyelid. 

“You were a little too much. He really didn’t know so he made a mistake.” 

Dietrich’s eyebrows subtly rose a little higher, as if he didn’t like my nonchalant reaction. 

I touched his crumpled forehead with my fingertips and grinned.  

“Are you jealous?”

When I teased him, he responded with a brief sigh. 

“Don’t laugh.” 

I was already married to him, but I couldn’t stop smiling because I thought he was a little cute when he cared about Jerry Mont.  

“I don’t get jealous anymore.” 

 “Ha?”

“Yeah. That’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing. And I’m naturally generous.”

Since Dietrich was already my man, was there any reason to be jealous?

I wasn’t that narrow-minded.

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Dammit.  That wasn’t true.

I’m very narrow-minded.

I’m so narrow-minded that it was as narrow as a small store. 

‘But I have to hold it in.’

I hid my clenched hands behind my dress, fearing that the strength I had put in them would show.  

“Anissa.” 

Whether she knew my feelings or not, Veronica, who had grown up, appeared at the ball after a long time, called me in an alluring voice. 

“You’re pretty today, sister.”

I greeted her with a forced smile.

“You’re pretty, too. But what’s wrong with Dietrich? Did he eat something wrong?”

‘That’s what I’m saying.’

I shook my head, only agreeing inwardly with Veronica’s words.   

“No, well, he’s just doing his duty as the Grand Duke.”

‘Kuuu.’

I spat out words completely different from what I had in mind and looked at Veronica’s puzzled face. 

She tilted her head as if unable to comprehend my words, “His duty as the Grand Duke?” 

As I turned my head along Veronica’s gaze, I could see Dietrich’s neat face surrounded by the young ladies who dressed up with all their might. 

“.....Yeah. He’d been reserved all this time after all.”  

“But he’s not the kind of person who would do things to please others.” 

‘That’s what I’m saying.’ 

I only affirmed Veronica’s words inwardly and rubbed my hands around my eyes where heat kept rising up. 

‘Usually, he would have blown the cold air so that they wouldn’t dare talk to him.’ 

Dietrich danced with a woman at the ball in Lagrange today.

As the great lord of the North, he responded to the request of a shy girl who had just made her debut–who didn’t know what Dietrich was like.

Thanks to that, the young ladies, who had difficulty even meeting eyes with  him, let alone talk to him, flocked like moths, so I couldn’t dance with my husband even once. 

‘It’s fine.’

I’m not jealous at all.

I tried my best to repeat the futile words, but then I pouted out of sight.  

‘I’m going to die of jealousy, really.’

I had no choice but to admit belatedly that I was a human with a very narrow-mind but I couldn’t say anything having said the opposite with one mouth, so I calmly kept my posture like a folding screen. 

“Anissa.”

As I watched Dietrich conversing with a young lady whom I have never seen before becoming one with the wall, a long shadow fell over my shoe.  

“Count.”

“It’s been a long time.” 

I smiled at the man who gave me a kind smile that made me feel at ease.

Now the Count of Devonshire, he took off his frock and held it in his hand before leaning over and kissing the back of my hand. 

“I haven’t seen you since the wedding.  Have you been well?’

“Yes, thanks to you.”  

While exchanging fruitless greetings with the Count, I turned my head at the sudden stinging eyes I felt.

‘I was sure he had been glaring at me just now.’ 

However, instead of looking at me, Dietrich was nodding as if concentrating on another young lady’s words. 

‘You’re even smiling?’

The smile on the corner of his lips looked very friendly so I grabbed the hand of the Count standing in front of me. 

“Count.”

“Please speak.”

“Would you like to dance to a song with me?”  

“Ah, my legs hurt a bit so I’m going to rest…..”

“Thank you!” 

I listened to the Count’s words which were trying to refuse my request without any tact with one ear, and I caught him then stepped out to the central hall. 

“Dubois, a very heavy music, please.”   

At my request, Dubois, who was playing the piano, changed the song in a hurry. 

I began to dance as if clinging to the Count, who was taken aback by the greasy and racy tune that made my eardrums feel sticky. 

“.....I was wondering how you and the Duke were doing.” 

The Count, who had been caught and dragged by me in surprise, alternately looked at Dietrich and me, then with a broad smile, he wrapped his arms around my waist. 

“I see you’ve been living adorably.” 

“I’ll let you rest soon.”

The Count sighed briefly at my assertion, then took the lead and turned around.

I opened my mouth as if whispering to him, wondering if Dietrich’s gaze was among the eyes pouring down on my back. 

“Is he looking at me?”

I didn’t exactly state who it was, but he shook his head shortly after understanding my intentions. 

‘He’s not looking?’

“Count.”

“Yes?”

I furtively raised my eyes fiercely and urged the Count. 

“Touch my waist a little bit more.”

“.........”

“If the music is heavy, the skinship should be heavy, too.”

“I don’t want to die for dancing with you, Anissa.” 

“You said he’s not looking.” 

“Yes. His eyes aren’t looking…..”

But bloodlust–a ferocious thirst for blood could be felt in the air.  

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