As she met the family members, Eldy became increasingly convinced of her suspicions.
Even setting aside her mother and father, who had shifted to nothing but “my daughter” this and “my daughter” that the moment they accepted her into the family, Jen was simply not acting like herself.
“Don’t speak ill of our sister-in-law, Eldy. And ‘Iris Witlo’? Where did you learn such manners?”
Jen had been bewitched—thoroughly bewitched.
The Jen that Eldy knew should have been the first to suspect Rishi and oppose the marriage. But instead, she was wagging her tail like a dog following its master.
“What on earth did that woman do to you?”
“Do to me? What could she possibly have done? I don’t know why you’re being so sharp! Rishi hasn’t done anything to us, nor is she mistreating Kay. Everyone is living happily, so why are you barging in and causing a ruckus, you jerk?”
“What kind of tone is that to use toward your brother—!”
“Brother, my foot. We’re busy, so get lost.”
Jen, who was in the middle of decorating the wedding hall, waved her hand in annoyance.
Eldy glanced toward Nella, who was standing nearby, her expression asking, *’Hey, isn’t she weird?’* Nella only responded with a smile that suggested, *’It’s understandable.’*
*’I’m the only normal person in this mansion. No, if it were Kay…’*
The last person she could trust was Kay.
Perhaps Kay had been the first to notice that there was something strange about Rishi, and had chosen to marry her so he could keep her by his side and observe her.
Kay couldn’t see souls, but he had a sharp eye for people.
Eldy decided to put her faith in her brother.
“Kay!”
Eldy opened the door to the study without knocking and immediately scanned Kay’s soul.
It was glowing with its usual, tranquil light.
“Eldy.”
Kay didn’t move from his chair; he only lifted his eyes to glare at her. He looked to be in a foul mood, but Eldy didn’t care.
“That woman, she’s strange.”
“I hope the person you call ‘that woman’ is not my wife.”
“I’ll be honest. Yes, at first, I thought you’d lost your mind when you said you were marrying the daughter of Duke Whitlow, and I just didn’t like her. ‘The Flower of the Whitlow Duchy’—it’s ridiculous, isn’t it?”
Kay nodded, signaling her to continue.
“I was wary and treated her with hostility. But at that moment, her soul shifted in a strange way. I almost got caught in it. Even I, Eldheart Green, was almost bewitched.”
“Hmm.”
“She has a suspicious soul, brother. I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s like… as if some other soul is mixed into hers. There’s something attached to that woman. She’s not normal.”
“I know.”
*Just as I thought!*
Eldy cheered inwardly. She knew Kay would have noticed.
“Rishi is a very special woman.”
But for some reason, Kay’s expression was peculiar.
“The more I look at her, the more I discover. She always surprises me.”
Kay looked incredibly happy—joyful, even. Eldy had never seen him smile like that.
She was as shocked as she had been when she saw the anomaly in Rishi’s soul—perhaps even more so.
“What are you doing right now, Kay?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why are you smiling so stupidly? Are you crazy?”
“Did I?”
Kay rubbed his lips with one hand.
“Well, they say you become a fool when you’re in love. I suppose I’ve become a fool.”
Eldy was speechless. She stared at him, lips parted, before shaking her head.
“Everyone has gone crazy.”
“You’re the one who’s crazy, Eldy.”
Kay wiped the smile from his face, stood up, and walked toward her. The gaze he leveled at her chilled and grew sharp.
“I chose Iris, and Iris became my wife. Yet I heard you were rude today, calling her ‘Whitlow’.”
“That brat Jamie…”
“Eldheart Green. I would appreciate it if you didn’t show any disrespect toward my wife.”
Kay grabbed Eldy’s shoulder firmly.
It was a grip strong enough to bruise bone.
Eldy knew how angry he was, and she understood that he would only grow more volatile if she ignored his warning. She liked and respected Kay; she did not want to earn his enmity. That was why she refused to believe this was happening.
“Kay, surely… you aren’t throwing away your sister for a woman?”
“Not a woman—my wife. If Rishi were to be rude to you first or try to harm you, I would fight Rishi for your sake. But right now, it seems the situation is the opposite, Eldheart.”
His words were fair.
“I don’t want to fight with you, brother. But you must understand why I am doing this. That woman… no, Iris’s soul is clearly not normal. You believe what I see, don’t you?”
“I do.”
“And yet, you’re pushing me away like this for her?”
“Whatever form Iris’s soul may take, I believe in the Iris I have experienced until now. And Eldy, I am not pushing you away. I am reprimanding you for being rude to your sister-in-law.”
Kay’s grip on her shoulder tightened.
Eldy looked into his eyes. His irises shone with an absolute, unwavering trust in Rishi.
If Kay trusted her, there must be a reason. Eldy believed Kay wasn’t the type to be merely bewitched.
“I hope your choice is the right one. But even if it’s wrong…”
Eldy brushed his hand off.
“I won’t treat you the way you are treating me right now.”
+++
Kay knew that Eldy was hurt, but he had no intention of coddling her.
He understood her suspicions. From her perspective, since Kay had never been interested in women, he would have assumed there was a specific, perhaps sinister reason for him to suddenly marry ‘The Flower of the Whitlow Duchy.’
She had observed Rishi, and she had discovered the anomalies.
Even so, Rishi was his wife. No matter what she thought, it was unacceptable to be rude to her.
*’Two souls, huh…’*
After Eldy left, Kay went to his room, his thoughts drifting.
*’Eldy couldn’t have seen it wrong. There’s clearly something special about Rishi’s soul.’*
Eldy had asserted that she had ‘never seen anything like it.’
*’Could it be related to how Rishi seems to know the future?’*
But that wasn’t a reason to doubt her. Everyone had at least one special ability. Kay had the power to suppress the strength of holy relics, and Eldy had the power to see resentment and obsession.
He didn’t know the exact nature of Rishi’s power, but as long as it didn’t cause harm, it didn’t matter. Kay was certain Rishi would never hurt him.
Rishi was lying face down on the sofa, reading a book. She was so focused she hadn’t even noticed him enter.
Kay watched her, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t see what Eldy called a ‘soul.’
How did Rishi look through Eldy’s eyes?
To his eyes, she was nothing but beautiful.
“How long are you just going to stare at me?”
Rishi asked, eyes still fixed on her book.
A smile spread across his lips. Kay walked over and sat at her feet.
“Since when did you know I was here?”
“Since you walked in.”
“I thought you were focused on your book.”
“I don’t really have the best concentration.”
Rishi spoke honestly, then rolled onto her side. Her small, dainty feet hovered in his vision. Kay grabbed her slender ankles and pulled.
Her body slid toward him, her small feet coming to rest on his thighs.
How could she walk on such delicate feet?
Kay pressed his thumb and index finger against her big toe.
“Ah…”
The moan that escaped her red lips was seductive.
He wondered what kind of expression she would make if he licked her round big toe as if it were a piece of candy.
But for now, the heat that was secretly rising…
It was not the time to fuel the fire.
“I heard that Eldheart was rude to you. I will apologize on her behalf, Rishi.”
For some reason, Rishi wore a strange expression.
It was a look of surprise, sadness, and joy all at once. Rishi would sometimes make expressions like this.
“Did I say something wrong?”
“Ah, no. I just didn’t expect to receive an apology for something like this. It’s alright. Eldheart’s suspicion is reasonable.”
“Reasonable? You were chosen by me, and even if we haven’t held the wedding ceremony yet, you are already my wife.”
“Kay, I was the one who made the choice. I actually even threatened you a bit to get married, remember?”
I had forgotten. Only after Rishi pointed it out did I recall that such a thing had happened.
“If anything, it would be strange if Mother, Father, and Jen treated me well without any suspicion.”
“That isn’t strange at all, Rishi. Because my parents and Jen trust and love me, they also trust and love the woman I chose. That’s only natural.”
It seemed Rishi didn’t know that this was natural. Judging by the bewildered look on her face, that was clearly the case.
Just as Kay guessed, Rishi was thinking:
*‘Is that natural? Just because a son trusts and loves someone, they would trust and love the woman he chose, too?’*
In her past life, the family had never done anything of the sort.
*‘No, to begin with, they didn’t even love me.’*
Rishi hated that her past popped into her mind whenever a good moment with Kay occurred. How much time would have to pass before she could completely escape those memories?
“I’ve already had a word with Eldheart, but she might be rude to you again. If she is, feel free to slap her across the face, Rishi.”
Kay seemed anxious because of Eldy, but Rishi wasn’t particularly bothered.
It was arrogant to hope that everyone would like her. As long as they didn’t cause her harm, it wasn’t a problem worth worrying about.
After Rishi answered with a smile, she checked the wedding invitation replies that Kay had left on the table.
Since it was the Green family’s wedding, the list of those who sent replies was luxurious.
Among them, one name stood out: Crown Prince Iovet Okbocithers.
*‘The Crown Prince is coming…’*
The Emperor and the Crown Prince rarely left the Imperial Palace. Especially the Crown Prince; because many coveted his position, he often laid low.
As Rishi stared intently at the reply, Kay explained.
“I’ve known Crown Prince Iovet for a long time. We studied together briefly at the Academy.”
“Ah, I see.”
Rishi replied perfunctorily, trying to recall what had happened to the Crown Prince around this time in her past life.
*‘I remember the Crown Prince trying to start some kind of business… what exactly was it?’*
She was so busy searching her memory that she didn’t realize Kay had wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.
“Rishi.”
Only when his low-toned voice brushed against her ear did she remember she was still with him. Kay used his thumb and index finger to gently lift her chin so she would look at him.
“Don’t make me too jealous.”