The Abandoned and Terminally Ill Lady Married a Monster - Chapter 87

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Chapter 87

Before his blue eyes could deepen further than the ocean’s abyss, I hastily withdrew my hand from Kin’s sleeve.

“Oh, Mother might be looking for us now.”

“….”

“She might see us from up there…” I subtly backed away, feeling his gaze fixed on me. Thankfully, it didn’t last long. The hand that seemed poised to pull me close, hovering just behind my head, slowly retreated. Instead, he began to replace the hat that had fallen off.

He neatly adjusted my hair, and all that remained was to leave the rock. Just as I was starting to relax, something soft brushed against my lips before falling away. “Wh-what was that just now…?”

“Shall we go?” Startled, I stammered, and then he took my hand. A voice laced with laughter led me away.

***

As lunchtime approached, we entered a nearby restaurant with a good view of the beach. Throughout the meal, the memory of what happened beneath the rock kept surfacing, leaving me in a daze, but I managed to get through it somehow. Since the dining area consisted of private rooms, there was no chance of encountering other guests. However, I found it a little strange that there were no people even at the entrance. There were no other patrons when we left either. The food, the view, the ambiance—everything was excellent, so I wondered if the business was struggling.

‘Not that it’s my concern.’

I shrugged it off, my stomach full and content, as I stepped outside.

A brief, sharp pain shot through me after the satisfying meal, but I managed to hide it and carry on, smiling brightly, ready to follow the next item on our itinerary. …And now, I envied my past self, who could smile so carefree.

I stared blankly at the two figures before me. Mother and Kin were arguing. It began when Kin asked me where I’d like to go first.

“Didn’t you hear my dear daughter-in-law? She said she wanted a hat, bracelets, clothes, a ring, a necklace, and shoes. Of course, I’ll buy her more than just that.”

[How about asking for a carriage too, my dear?]

“Did Ailee really say that?”

“I see you haven’t told her yet. My, my, it seems you two need to build more trust as a couple. Now, my dear, shall we go look at shoes first?”

The arm linked with Mother’s pulled me closer. I didn’t lose my balance, but I could feel a sharp gaze from beside me, causing a light sweat to break out. Perhaps I should be grateful it wasn’t directed at me.

‘But Mother, I never said I wanted those things…’

…Oh. I did.

“I’d love that. Actually, I also wanted a hat, and br-bracelets. Um, and some new clothes too.”

“Is there anything else you’d like?”

“A r-ring, and a necklace. And I think it would be good to get new sh-shoes…”

However, I hadn’t meant it when I said I wanted those things. I had simply said them because I didn’t want to disappoint Mother.

‘I never thought she’d actually offer to buy them all.’

I had assumed I’d be sent away before it came to this, or that I’d leave on my own. I never thought this situation would actually arise. That’s why I could be so brazen.

Regret washed over me. I shouldn’t have said those things if I knew it would come to this. But even if I could go back to my first meeting with Mother, I probably would have done the same. I didn’t want to disappoint her.

As I stood there, caught between a rock and a hard place, Kin pulled me towards him by the hand we were holding. It wasn’t a forceful tug, but it was unexpected, and I stumbled against his chest, my head bumping against him.

“Thank you for the helpful information, Mother. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’ll spend some quality time together as a couple.”

“What are you talking about? My daughter-in-law asked me to buy these for her, so I should be the one to do it.”

[I can buy them too! Well, no. My money is Minerva’s money, so it’s the same thing, isn’t it?]

Being surrounded by so many voices was confusing. The best course of action I could think of was to point at any shop and suggest we go inside. “H-how about going there first!”

“A jewelry shop. Not bad. Now that you mention it, your neck does look a little bare, dear.”

“Shall we start with bracelets, Ailee?”

[I have a good eye for jewels! Just trust me. Hmm!]

Of all the shops, why a jewelry shop? I tried to change my mind and suggest somewhere else, but it was impossible. I was surrounded. I had no choice but to go along with them. …And so, back to the present.

The argument, far from subsiding upon entering the store, seemed to have intensified. “What kind of eye is that?”

“And you’ve been fixated on blue and purple. It’s good to have a variety.”

[My dear, how about this ring? Hmm, it would be nice to have matching family rings. My dear, can you tell them that we should all get this one and that one?]

It would be wonderful to wear them to the banquet together! Ho ho!

My hands and eyes were busy trying to pretend I wasn’t listening to Father while simultaneously receiving recommendations from Kin and Mother. Bracelets were piled onto both wrists. Necklaces were layered so thickly around my neck that they overlapped. Rings were fitted onto, then removed from, all ten of my fingers.