I Thought It Was a Common Transmigration - Chapter 52

“Why don’t you come over for tea if you’re free?”

Killian thought it was easy and offered Edith tea, but was politely rejected.

“I’m fine, Killian. Thanks for asking.”

Is she thinking that I invited her just out of courtesy?

‘Hmm…… maybe I was too rude.’

Feeling a little embarrassed, Killian invited Edith to join him for dinner the next day.

“You know, you always seem to eat alone in your room, but you’re welcome to come down to the dining room.”

“Oh……”

“Speaking of which, how about we dine together today?”

“I know the Duke is still uncomfortable with me, and I don’t want to disturb his dining time. Thank you for the invitation, Killian.”

It was the second rejection.

‘Well, it’s true that my father is still uncomfortable with Edith.’

Wrestling with how to make an offer that wouldn’t be met with another family member’s interference, Killian casually made a new offer the next day.

“It’s a lovely day and I was thinking of taking a short walk in the garden, would you like to come along?”

Edith’s eyes widened in surprise, but she shook her head with a weak smile again.

“No, I think I’ll stay in my room, it’s still very hot.”

“……if you say so.”

After the third rejection, Killian got the feeling that Edith was avoiding him.

‘What the hell, I kicked that damn maid out of the house, don’t you think I deserve a thank you?’

I felt offended and sick at the same time.

The next day, Killian came to Edith’s room unannounced and asked her to join him at someone’s tea party.

But her response was sour.

“Is it obligatory?”

“Not…… obligatory.”

“Is this the tea party you wanted to go to, Killian?”

“No, it’s not.”

“Then may I ask why you want to go?”

“Well…… women like that sort of thing, don’t they?”

Edith’s eyes looked surprised again, but then she gave him a look that said, “I get it,” and shook her head.

“If it’s because of me, you don’t have to.”

“You don’t want to do that?”

“I don’t have any particular desire to go right now, and I don’t want to take up your time with something like that.”

It was a subtle rejection, too subtle to make him angry.

“I see.”

“Thanks for asking.”

“I’m not sure you’re really thanking me.”

With a bitter taste in his mouth, Killian stalked back to his room like a defeated soldier.

‘Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Edith go to another house party since we got married, so maybe…… she’s just tired of them.’

He couldn’t help but feel strangely nervous, even as he reasoned.

***

“Someone gave me a strawberry tart from Peridot as a gift, would you like to have some with me?”

The afternoon teatime was approaching, and Killian stopped by and casually offered.

“Strawberry tart from Peridot?”

Wow, this temptation is too hard to resist.

I’ve been dying to try Peridot’s strawberry tart, which you have to stand in line to buy even before the store opens.

“T- thank you, but I’ve been eating too much dessert lately, and I’ve gained some weight…… so why don’t you share it with Miss Lizé?”

“Why Lizé……? Are you serious?”

“Of course, because I never mind that you two are close!”

Despite my best efforts to convince him of my indifference, Killian’s lips turned into a smirk and his eyes grew vicious.

“You don’t mind if it’s just me and Lizé together……?”

Finally, he seemed to see my true meaning.

“Of course! I know you two have been like family for a long time, and I would never want to interfere with your intimate relationship.”

“Ha……!”

He exclaimed in disbelief, his furious expression didn’t lift.

“I…… mean it……”

“I see. Excuse me.”

Killian turned and walked away with Peridot’s strawberry tart.

‘I’ve been meaning to try it…… won’t you give me a piece of the leftover?’

Despite my disappointment, I shouldn’t be defeated by the food now.

I only wanted the strawberry tart, but Killian might suspect I was using the tart as an excuse to get close to him.

‘I must keep my relationship with him clean without being clingy. I must not fall to Killian’s test.’

In an effort to rehabilitate my image to Killian, who perceives me as unfaithful and lecherous, I’ve recently been turning down a number of his offers.

It was clear that he was testing me because he was making offers to me that he wouldn’t normally make.

‘How many times has this already been? Seventh or eighth?’

I felt quite bad for constantly turning him down, but since all his offers involved doing something in close proximity to him, it wasn’t hard to figure out his intentions.

‘If I keep showing my sincerity like this, Killian will eventually believe me. Isn’t that why he’s doing the test on purpose, to give me a final gateway……?’

I pushed myself further, feeling proud that I was passing his tests one by one.

The next day, Lizé called me, still not out of bed.

I had to convince her of my innocence, so I went to her room.

I didn’t bring any gifts, lest I arouse her suspicions again.

“Lizé, are you all right? I’ve been worried about you.”

“I heard you’ve been having a hard time, Edith. Why do these things keep happening to you……”

“I read somewhere that in times like this, just assume it’s because I’m cute.”

“……what?”

I just grinned at Lizé, who looked puzzled and confused.

Lizé smiled back, then spoke after a moment’s hesitation, “By the way, Edith, is there something upsetting about Killian…… no, of course there is, I mean…… are you angry with him……?”

“No! I’m not angry at Killian, not even a little bit, not even a fingernail-sized bit.”

“Not even a fingernail-sized bit……?”

“Eh…… that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but I’m more grateful to Killian than angry.”

I tried to put on my best St. Mary’s face, hoping that Lizé would be able to relay my story to Killian.

“But why are you rejecting Killian?”

“What? Me?”

“Yeah…… Killian seems to be trying to get closer to you, but you always reject him……”

“Did Killian say that?”

“Oh, no! Killian didn’t say that, I just…… heard it somewhere.”

The maids must have been making up gossip, without knowing what was really going on.

It’s easy to misunderstand when you don’t know the details.

Unlike before, Killian stopped by my room once a day to offer me something, and I turned him down for any excuse.

In a way, it might seem like I’m rejecting him out of hand.

“Hmm…… I don’t know how you will feel about hearing this……”

“Go on, Edith.”

“Killian is a poor man, he sacrificed himself for the Duchy of Ludwig. I know arranged marriages are common, but it’s not something a man of Killian’s stature should have to do.”

“Oh, Edith……!”

“I’m not blaming anyone, I swear! I actually don’t think this marriage is all that bad.”

I explained in a purposely brighter voice, but Lizé’s frown didn’t lift.

“But Killian’s different; he hasn’t accepted me yet…… he’s offering me things now only because he’s being forced to because of his position.”

“That’s not true, Edith.”

Lizé squeezed my hand and tried to explain to me that Killian had opened up to me and that he was just trying to get to know me a little better.

But it was driving me crazy.

‘It’s all just your opinion, Lizé!’

Of course, Killian wouldn’t go around saying things like that, so Lizé is trying to convince me, but I know how Killian feels.

‘Lizé may be lying, but I’m not falling for it.’

I had to force a smile, pulling my twitching facial muscles together as best I could.

“So, Edith, please open your heart a little bit.”

“Sure. I’ve got Killian to thank for that, and by the way, I’m afraid you, who still haven’t fully recovered, are too concerned about me and Killian.”

I returned from her visit with as much composure as I could muster.

Everyone seemed to be pressuring me from all sides.

It was like they were poking me from the side, cornering me, expecting me to crumble, saying, “Show your true nature! Take off your mask!”

‘But no matter how much pressure you put on me, I don’t have that nature, though I can’t say no to Killian when he puts his hands on me.’

Strictly speaking, that’s Killian being lecherous, not me, isn’t it?

I mean, I don’t see why I can’t turn down a meal if he puts it on the table for me, but I’m not going to actively…… hm? Looks like Killian’s in my room again.

‘What is he trying to lure me in with this time?’

I walked into my room nonchalantly, determined not to give in, and sat down across from Killian.