The Abandoned and Terminally Ill Lady Married a Monster - Chapter 83

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Chapter 83

“Darling!” Father spotted me and chuckled as he descended from the tower. I almost forgot Kin was beside me and nearly greeted Father casually. I subtly adjusted my posture.

But—

‘Is it my imagination?’

His presence felt a little more indistinct than yesterday. It was hard to be certain; when I looked again, he seemed the same as before, leaving me unsure.

“Did you get back alright last night? Strangely, I lost consciousness for a while after you visited the tower.”

Father’s question almost made me forget Kin was there again, and I nearly replied that I’d gotten back fine.

‘Father doesn’t want him to know he can be seen.’

Mindful of Kin, I subtly shifted my gaze. I looked somewhere between Father and the ground, giving a vague impression of looking at neither, and gave a slight nod.

“Judging by your attire, you’re off to see the flowers, as we discussed yesterday.”

Instead of replying, I blinked, a little embarrassed. Kin and I were wearing similar colors.

I wore a light green dress, and Kin’s shirt was a slightly darker shade of green. The embarrassment was compounded by the fact that this dress, meant for outings, was a bit too ornate for me.

A large, unidentified gemstone rested at the center of my chest, and smaller jewels sparkled along the shoulder line, radiating outward from the central stone. The neckline was filled with intricate lace, and the sleeves, also layered with lace, were long and flowing. If Regina or my deceased grandfather saw me, they would have scoffed, saying I was playing dress-up as a princess.

Kin kept complimenting me, saying I looked beautiful, but he was clearly blinded by affection.

‘It’s nice that it doesn’t feel too heavy despite all the embellishments. But the lightness probably means they used expensive fabric.’

Thankfully, I wore a wide-brimmed hat. At least it would hide my face a little. Trying to conceal my embarrassment, I lightly grasped the hem of my skirt. Even though our outfits were similar, I hoped we looked ordinary at first glance, so I kept glancing between my clothes and Kin’s.

…After another look, it was clear that anyone passing by would recognize us as a couple.

Showing this to Mother was one thing, but showing it to Father felt strangely embarrassing.

“Hmm hmm. You two look lovely together.”

Perhaps that was the source of my embarrassment, I thought. While I was drowning in my shyness, Kin suddenly spoke.

“We might stop by the market on the way. Is there anything you want?”

“Oh? Uh, no.”

I was startled by the sudden question, but I managed to answer. Come to think of it, I don’t recall hearing anything about a market.

“If there’s nothing you want, I’ll just buy you everything.”

“That’s right. Well done, my son. Very well done.”

“….”

“Hmm, speaking of the market… I also have so many things I want to buy for my daughter-in-law… Of course, having things custom-made is much more convenient and preferable, but the market has its own charm, doesn’t it?”

Kin smiled brightly, mirroring Father’s expression. The impossible exchange between the two, their words somehow forming a conversation, kept distracting me.

The offer to buy me everything and the agreement that it was the right thing to do—the topic itself was so strange that even if I had been fully present, I wouldn’t have known how to respond.

Father continued muttering to himself before clapping his hands.

“I think I’ll come along as well. I can’t miss out on a family outing, can I?”

‘…How?’

I couldn’t bring myself to ask Father that question aloud, only thinking it to myself. Father, with a spirited expression, began vigorously stretching.

“Somehow, I think I can manage it in this state. Haha. If not, I’ll just cry my eyes out in the tower.”

‘Why would you cry?’

And so, somehow, Father also joined our flower-viewing excursion.

***

Fortunately, Father didn’t end up crying. He seemed a little overwhelmed, but his complexion was remarkably good. As soon as he saw Mother, he rushed over to her, chattering about how he hadn’t been outside in years and how lovely the weather was.

‘If Father fully awakens, this family will be absolutely perfect.’

All that needs to happen is for me to step aside and let Father take my place. Then they would all share stories, catching up and embarking on a real family trip.

“Darling, are you feeling carsick?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“How’s your body? Tell me immediately if you’re tired like yesterday.”

“I’m perfectly fine now.”

At dinner, Mother had told us to speak comfortably to each other, so I was finally able to use informal language with Kin, even in front of her. I hadn’t known what to do before and had been hesitant in my speech.

“There’s a place near there that specializes in lobster dishes. Lunch there would be nice.”

“Oh, is that place still open? I’d like to try it, but this body has no appetite.”

“We should rent out the entire place so we don’t have to deal with other people.”

“That was my plan all along.”