“I just want to shut up some people’s dirty mouths and stop my family from worrying,” Mary explained.
Many socialites were sneering and mocking her behind her back, saying that her fiancé abhorred her and that this marriage was a sham. The more shameless ones even said that she was a slut, trying to seduce Astar Levi, only to be disdained.
If she could slap all those disgusting faces until they were swollen, she’d gladly do it! She already had to endure two decades married to someone she didn’t like; why would she endure even more of the abuse if she didn’t have to?
Besides, it wasn’t just her that was suffering due to this but also her loved ones.
Maery’s gaze turned helpless, yet doting, “After seeing your scary face and stand-offish demeanor at today’s party, my brother is looking at me with tears in his big eyes like I am a martyr about to be sent on a suicide mission!”
She hid her mouth behind her hand and giggled, “He even begged me, for the first time in his life! He came up to me, pulled at my sleeve looking all pitiful, and whispered in a soft voice, ‘Sister, do… do not marry that scary person… alright?’”
Even recalling that made Maery grin from ear to ear. Kyaaa~ So cute!! Ah!!! (⁄ ⁄>⁄ ▽ ⁄<⁄ ⁄) ❤
Levi also recalled seeing a child hiding behind his sister’s skirt earlier. Although Aris was already 12 this year, his puberty had still not kicked in, so he still looked very milky and adorable.
Levi didn’t like children, though. They were too stupid. And troublesome to deal with.
But he could understand Maery’s affections. It was similar to the gentle feelings he had for their family’s cat. It was interesting to look at, pleasant to touch, and unlike humans, it caused him no discomfort. On the contrary, it felt rather nice and relaxing to pet it.
If something made his cat sad and restless, then he would, of course, want to remove the source of its woe!
And also, he might not have a little brother that was worried about him, but he had protective parents.
“Now that you mention it…” Levi’s eyes narrowed in thought. His parents… also seemed to be worried about the whole arranged marriage matter? And they were constantly looking for opportunities to bring the two of them together. Annoying him to death! Even forcing him to attend this boring party…
If he could make the two of them stop pestering him, that would be a huge win!
Waiting for a long time now without hearing a protest from the reticent teen, Maery asked, “So… you ok with that?”
Levi nodded his confirmation.
“Good, good,” Maery’s eyes lit up, “Then… about mistresses…”
Levi’s face immediately scrunched up, “Not allowed. I don’t want a scandal on my hands. If you want to date, date after we are divorced.”
“My thoughts exactly! (☞ﾟヮﾟ)☞ So… We have an agreement?” Cordia Maery offered her hand, smiling from ear to ear.
Astar Levi’s frown eased, and he resolutely shook her hand, “We have an agreement.”
After this secret pact was established, Astar Levi and Cordia Maery started to attend unavoidable events together, acting as if they were a harmonious couple.
Those not in the know thought the two were well matched, but Blackie, who could hear what they were really talking about and even thinking, had no words.
The event he was currently watching was of a charity auction held 5 years ago.
A beautiful, elegant lady and a handsome, imposing gentleman made for a striking image as they walked together on the red carpet. Whether it was their most noble identity or fashionable appearance in their designer clothes, everything about them attracted revering and envious gazes from their surroundings.
Maery held Levi’s arm intimately, smiling towards the flashing cameras. Levi turned his better side towards the cameras as well, following Maery’s lead. It was just that there was no sign of a smile on his face. Instead, he looked as if he had eaten something sour.
As the two walked, Levi’s frown kept deepening until he finally asked under his breath, “What’s that horrid smell? Are you using a new perfume?”
“Smile and wave, Levi,” Maery squeezed through her gritted teeth, “Smile. And. Wave.”
Blackie, “…” Ai, this was painful to watch! Fast forward, fast forward!
And so he fast-forwarded until…
Oh, look! Finally! Four years ago, there was a party that the two attended together, and from first glance, Blackie could tell that both of them were in a good mood. This should definitely not be as painful to watch as the former event! One look, and it was obvious that after two years of associating with each other, they had visibly gotten more familiar!
Or perhaps a more accurate term would be, more tolerant? ?
Cordia Maery pulled her fiancé around the party arm in arm, until… “Hottie alert, 10 o’clock!” Maery restrained her squeal behind her hand.
‘Why would I care?’ Levi, next to her, barely managed to suppress his eye-roll.
However, after a few seconds, he could restrain his curiosity no longer. He lowered his head and used the cover of his long eyelashes to take a peek at the two people talking to each other at 10 o’clock direction.
“Which one? The left one or the right one?” He inquired under his breath.
Maery looked at the two people at 10 o’clock direction and fell silent.
On the left was a fresh little cutie straight out from college, and the one next to him was… his middle-aged father…
“...” 〒▽〒 With tears in her eyes, Maery attempted to change the subject, “Oh, look at 2 o’clock! What a cute dress! Serene looks so beautiful in it, doesn’t she?”
Levi was dissatisfied that his previous question had been ignored, but nonetheless, he paused a moment to take a peek at 2 o’clock direction and then asked, “Which one is Serene?”
Maery fell silent again. Never mind the fact that Serene’s and Levi’s mothers were cousins… but out of the three people standing there… one was wearing a skirt, and out of the remaining two who wore a dress, one of them was a man...
Maery took the olive out of her Martini and then gulped the entire glass down all at once.
‘Alcohol, please work your magic quickly!’ QAQ ‘The party has just started, and I am already about to reach my daily Levi-limit!’
Blackie, too, was about to reach his Levi-limit, so he chose to skip these public displays of “affection” and just watch the footage of the two having their weekly lunch together.
At least then, the two could act like themselves and perhaps even discuss something relevant?
And thus, Blackie fast-forwarded to an utterly ordinary lunch date that happened three years ago.
Maery waltzed into the private room, looking exhausted, “Hey.”
Levi grumbled something intelligible as his response, not even bothering to lift his eyes off the light screen in front of him.
Maery evidently expected nothing less from Levi, thus she slumped down in the chair, feeling at ease.
Ever since she started to work as a Healer, she had been hard-pressed to find a break!
At least, for lunch, she could take a breather and relax! (～￣▽￣)～
After a momentary pause, Maery sat up, opened up her light screen to a new drama she had recently started watching, and put her wireless earbuds in.
One ate slowly while scrolling through some documents, the other ate equally as slowly while watching a drama based on a popular BL novel.
Besides the sound of eating, the room was perfectly silent.
Or it would have been if it weren’t for an occasional snicker coming from the fujoshi indulging in her daily pleasures.
