Chapter 33 : Informal speech (1)

The next morning.

The morning sunlight shone warmly on me as usual.
Looking at the large window with good lighting, the passing clouds and clear sky naturally warmed my heart.

Opening the curtains wide on such a day, sunbathing half-naked, and enjoying the ticklish, strange sensation was my morning pleasure.

Since all the buildings in the area were already vacant, no one could see my naked body through the window.
Though my maid Lilith existed, she lived on the floor below me.

Squeeze.

“Ehet! Ah. You’re awake?”

I turned to look at Caspar, who had just woken up and inadvertently hugged my body.
He still looked hazy, not fully awake.

“…Cute. Agathe.”

“Ah. Uut. What. Are you saying.”

More importantly. Saying ‘cute’ is one thing, but touching me so blatantly like that… Ugh. Reminds me of last night’s ordeal.

Well. It was nice though.

Pat pat.

Caspar stroked my head and whispered.

“Before, I was attracted to your haughty queen-like appearance. But looking now, you’re completely different. Though I knew from experience you were an easy woman at night.”

“I. I’m. Not an easy woman…”

Seeing my already flushed body made it seem utterly unconvincing. But anyway, that’s how it is.

Considering I didn’t acknowledge my feelings for over 10 years despite almost always being by Caspar’s side makes it clear. Yes. I’m not that easy a woman.

It’s just because I’ve already been conquered now.

Caspar chuckled, picked up my clothes scattered around, and handed them to me.

“Right. Let’s go with that.”

“It’s true though…”

Grumbling, I took the clothes and put them away, then took off my remaining underwear too.
Because my body felt a bit sticky from last night.

Having just woken up, I needed to shower and brush my teeth.
Normally, I should have fully groomed myself before Caspar woke up and then woken him, but I slept a bit too soundly.

A short while later.

-Tap tap.

Lightly shaking off the water, I finished my shower.
Caspar was still lying in bed, hazily covered by the blanket.

‘He seems a bit like a child at times like this…’

Caspar really likes soft, fluffy sensations.

He says the blanket feels nice.
Well, compared to the horrific environment he endured before, a bed like this is practically heaven.

I slightly pulled back the blanket, kissed Caspar’s cheek, and smiled faintly.

A morning bird kiss.
Isn’t it such a romantic and happy act?

Strangely, there are many occasions to use my mouth in the morning.
Thanks to that, I brush my teeth almost 3 times just in the morning, but I considered it a duty a wife should naturally perform, so it wasn’t bothersome.

After waking Caspar, I put on an apron and prepare a meal.
Naturally, still without underwear.

I usually put them on before Lilith comes to help clean, but conversely, until then, I don’t particularly wear clothes.

Today’s breakfast is Kimchi Jjigae.
(TL Note: Kimchi Jjigae is a classic Korean spicy stew made with kimchi.)

Isn’t there a saying, “Even Geumgangsan is best seen after a meal”?
Though actually, when we went to Geumgangsan last time, we fought for days without eating anything.

Caspar was eating some dragon scales, but honestly, that seemed a bit much.
Like some beast, eating the enemy’s flesh on the spot?

Haa. I’ve nagged him about this since long ago, but he shows no sign of changing…

Maybe he won’t be able to fix it in the future either.
Since I probably won’t confront Caspar anymore.

Whether knowing my thoughts or not, Caspar placidly ate the meal I prepared.

“Nyam. Hmm. Home cooking really is delicious. …Agathe. Why are you looking at me like that?”

I shook my head.

“…No reason. Just. Thinking I’d like you to leave the children’s education to me later.”

“…?”

Though the question didn’t feel resolved at all, Caspar finished his meal without complaint, focusing on the food.

Haa. Seeing him eat well makes me feel good again. What should I do?

Internally lamenting my hopeless state, I also picked up my spoon.
Then I quietly began my breakfast.

Though I made it myself, it was quite a tasty stew.
Like that, we ate facing each other.
With faint smiles gracing our lips, cheerfully chatting about small things.

This morning scene… Honestly felt good, like that of a harmonious newlywed couple.

This too was a scene changed because of Caspar.

Originally, I would attend to Caspar while he ate and later eat what he left, but he found that too burdensome, so we started eating together as equals.

Following Caspar’s words indeed led to a good result.
Talking like this at the same level was more enjoyable and better for both of us.

“Honestly. I think you were the one being a bit strange back then. Who eats like that among lovers?”

After the meal, Caspar stared blankly at the empty table for a moment, then suddenly spoke.

“Eh…, I didn’t say anything though.”

Is he using mind-reading? How did he know?

“I can see it in your expression. That sad look you make when you put yourself down.”

I was speechless, momentarily fumbling for words.

Well, it’s true, isn’t it? There’s no way I could be a proper wife. No, before that, there’s no way I was ever a proper human being.

If I were a normal person, the Land of Prosperity wouldn’t have ended up ruined like that.

And you wouldn’t have died, nor would Enhen have been dragged to hell.

So my own views are unnecessary. Hasn’t it been proven time and time again? The opinions of a loser like me always bring ruin.

“There. That expression again. Agathe. I told you. Don’t think like that. Think like before. More brazenly and arrogantly.”

“…How. Can I do that?”

What if I end up hurting you again?

But Caspar answered seriously, with a wry smile.

“Then. Will you listen if I order it?”

…If it’s an order.

“…Yes. I can make a show of it.”

“A show. Anyway, that means you’ve completely given up on independent judgment then. Just pretending to listen.”

It was a strangely sharp remark.
I suddenly felt something welling up inside.

“Why. Why? Is that so wrong? I told you. If you just love me… As long as you love me, nothing else matters.”

“It matters to me. At least the Agathe I knew wasn’t someone whose self-esteem hit rock bottom like this. Seeing you like this…, it hurts a bit.”

…Self-esteem.

That crumbled long ago.

Sorry. Caspar. That’s probably a futile effort.

Still. If it’s Caspar’s words, I should try to follow them first. Because I decided that.
“Yes. It turned out that way. Try your best. Dear husband.”

Heh. A faint chuckle seemed to echo like a hallucination.

Caspar smiled and replied to me.

“See. There’s at least one part that hasn’t changed. That stubbornness where you refuse to change something once you’ve decided, even if you die for it. That’s the same as before. Agathe.”

I told you we’re not married yet.

Caspar, muttering that, tapped the dining table with his spoon.

“Informal speech. Right, let’s switch to informal speech. Like before… Again.”

“…That. Seems a bit difficult. Even now, I keep overstepping… Being impertinent and rebellious towards my dear husband.”

If I start using informal speech too. I really feel like I’ll revert to the old days.

“That’s what I want. Do I look like I want a passive woman? Agathe. Don’t misunderstand. We were always… selfish. And I still haven’t changed much now.”

Yes. We were always selfish. We were.

That’s why we fought often. And why I liked it.

“Become a woman worthy of my conquest. Agathe. So that I desire you again. Looking at you now just seems… like an unremarkable woman. Though I know well that’s absolutely not true.”

“…”

Before. I asked Lilith about it.
What if I changed my speech back to how it used to be?

Lilith thought it wasn’t good, but thinking now, maybe it was the right answer.

Caspar, slightly excited, twisted his lips into a smile and spoke.

“So. Let’s start with informal speech again. Like before. Like that day when I first felt the thrill of conquest.”

Informal speech…

Suddenly, an old memory surfaced.

Yes. That day when I was first defeated by Caspar.

Duke of the Land of Prosperity.

Agathe, Master of the Silver Hall, looked down languidly at her ‘toy’.

“Still a long way to go, you blessingless worm. Like that, you can’t even touch a fingertip to my body.”

She wasn’t pleased.

This world, having scum like him as the protagonist. And the situation forcing her to raise such a lowly being.

Enhen seemed to subtly want to help that guy. But she was dead set against it.

She believed no woman would like such a scoundrel. But that was precisely the problem. That beast-like fellow would surely crave endlessly for desires beyond his station.

-Thump.

The Duke, with her youthful face, stepped down from the small chair designed for her body.

‘Annoying. Wish my body would grow faster.’

This body, still retaining baby fat, was slightly uncomfortable. Though being fully grown would also be problematic in its own way.

Though it hadn’t been long since reincarnating, memories of being male were already fading; how would I change once female hormones started kicking in?

I was genuinely worried about that. Though I couldn’t say it was a high priority.

Besides, having sold my soul to a devil, hell was confirmed upon death. Whenever I thought about that, a corner of my mind went blank, making my gender identity seem trivial.

“Wai…t, still. Still-“

Thwack!

A wooden beam struck the boy’s head. Seeing him bleeding profusely from his cracked head, Agathe shot him a chilling glare.

“Not only do you waste my time, but how dare a lowly thing without blessing speak informally. Have you lost your mind?”

Agathe glanced at the nearby servants and gave an order.

“For one month, remove all licorice from the elixir that fellow eats. Give him the most unappetizing food possible. However, ensure it doesn’t hinder his development, make him eat the full portion. Even vomit, all of it.”

The young Duke said this and left the training ground.

Without giving a single glance to the then 10-year-old Caspar, no, the ‘protagonist’.