MDLCM Chapter 5

   “You are very beautiful.”

　On the night of the king’s birthday party, seeing Bridget in full dress, Ray honestly expressed his thoughts.

   “Oh, thank you for the ‘thoughtful words,’”

　Bridget said, making fun of Ray like his mother would.

   “I can at least compliment a woman. But I really, honestly felt that way.”

　Today Bridget’s chestnut-colored hair was intricately tied up, and she wore a glittery hair clasp and the talisman ring on her finger. The dress was cream-colored and shiny, with embroidery at the hem. Miranda nodded with satisfaction.

　She looks dignified in her usual auditor’s uniform, but today she looks soft and feminine. People who only see her in her auditor’s uniform may not notice her, as Ray did when they met in the cafe.

   “Thank you. But…”

　Bridget pulled back a little and looked at Ray from top to bottom.

   “I’m sure you won’t find anyone more beautiful than Ray today.”

　♦︎

　When I arrived at the palace, there were already a lot of people gathered, chatting here and there.

　The hall was brightly lit with numerous candles, and when I looked up, I saw a huge, sparkling chandelier hanging from the high ceiling. I looked next to me and saw that Bridget was also looking up at the chandelier. Her eyes sparkled as the light reflected off of it.

   “Were you not involved in social circles before?”

   “I used to show up originally. After I became an auditor…I went to an evening party once when I arrived at the royal capital. Since then, I haven’t been able to go out anymore.”

　Bridget scurried around.

   “Conspicuous…”

   “Huh?”

   “Everyone is looking at you, Ray.”

　I wonder. Ray looked around. I’m not sure when it happened, but I don’t really care about people’s gazes. I guess I can’t be bothered.

　The knight announced the visit of the king and his wife. Everyone bowed their heads and waited for their entrance. After that, as the nobles went to greet them, Ray and the others joined in.

   “Happy birthday, Your Majesty,”

   “Thank you. You too, congratulations on your marriage.”

   “Thank you.”

　The King and Queen are staring at Bridget.

   “Miss Bridget…no, Mrs. Miller. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you in a dress. It looks good on you.”

   “Thank you, Your Majesty. I will be following up on next month’s audit, so please be prepared.”

　Ray knew the royals would be audited too, but he didn’t know it was next month.

　The king leaned forward a bit and spoke to Bridget.

   “Hmm. Please be gentle with me. Please, please.”

   “Yes, sir. I will serve you to the best of my ability.”

　The Board of Auditors is an agency independent of the state. Ray and the Queen sneaked a glance at Bridget, who probably wouldn’t go easy with her audit, and smiled.

　♢

　After greeting the king, I went around to greet my acquaintances as well as to report my marriage.

　Bridget was not in any social circles, so she was hardly known by the nobles to begin with. Many people don’t even know about the profession of an auditor, as they wouldn’t be associated with it unless they were subject to an audit. Ray had to repeat the same explanation to each person they met.

　Bridget was defensive about the reaction of the nobles, but generally everyone seemed to receive Ray’s marriage favorably and congratulated him.

　There were a few rude looks and a few slight sarcastic remarks from some of the ladies, but Bridget was relieved to see that they were calm on the surface.

　From the time they were chatting, Bridget was getting more and more nervous. The time for the dance was approaching.

　When the nobles had finished addressing the King and Queen and when the King and Queen began to dance on the floor, Bridget’s nerves were at an all-time high. She hadn’t done anything yet, but her sweat was beading down.

　After the King and Queen, the royals danced, then the floor was opened up and the nobles began to dance freely.

   “Let’s go,”

　Bridget took Ray by the hand and entered the floor and began to step to the music.

　Ray led me with a gentle smile, but I didn’t have time to look at his face. The hem of my dress is in the way. Our practice was with a knee-length skirt after all. I failed.

　I should have listened to the music carefully and moved my legs as I practiced, but I could tell that they weren’t moving quite right.

　A cold sweat ran down my back and my breathing became shallow. Ray’s fingertips are warm, but I’m sweating, and my connected fingertips are cold.

　In general, I’ve always been bad at exercise. My dance classes in school were either laughed at or rejected by my partner. Ball games were a sight to behold. Exercise class was depressing. I hated it.

　It would be better if I was the only one being laughed at. But here, Ray would be laughed at, too. Even now, I feel like people around me are looking at me and laughing.

　I should have practiced more if this was going to happen. I’m in a panic and my mind is blank. I can’t even hear the music.

　Bad memories from the past flow through my head like a kaleidoscope.

   “Miss Bridget, Miss Bridget.”

　I hear a voice calling out to me, and I come to my senses with a start. I meet eyes with Ray, who is looking at me calmly.

   “It’s okay, calm down. It’s going to be over soon. Hang in there and relax your shoulders.”

　Ray gently caressed the back of Bridget’s hand with the thumbs of his hands. Bridget breathed a sigh of relief. Then the music came back.

　Ray was right, the end soon arrived and the song changed. Ray left the floor with Bridget.

   “Let’s go home now that we’ve done our business.”

　They left the royal palace.

　I’m so ashamed, miserable, and sorry that I can’t look up.

　The carriage arrived home without a word from Bridget.

　Tired both physically and mentally, she bathed in the hot water with a limp, and slumped into bed.

   “…I want to disappear…”

　I’d like to stir up a strong drink, but tomorrow is another work day. Bridget covered her head with the duvet.

　After a while, Ray also came into the bedroom. He built a magic wall and found himself in bed on the other side. I have to apologize for tonight.

   “…Ray…. I’m sorry. I have been completely unhelpful as your temporary wife. I am sorry for the embarrassment I have caused you.”

　I tried to keep my voice from trembling, but when I tried to speak, tears started to well up in my eyes. I put pressure on the back of my throat to keep the sobs from spilling out.

　Then the bed creaked and the covers were shifted off my head. Ray turned off the magic wall and moved right next to Bridget, looking into her wet eyes.

   “Thank you for your hard work today. I’m not ashamed of it at all.”

　He gently brushed away the hair sticking to Bridget’s forehead with his hand that was drenched in tears and sweat.

   “I mean, you know, I felt closer to you because I knew you were not good at something, Bridget. I thought you would be the type of person who was perfect at everything. Thank you for going along with something you didn’t want to do today.”

   “…but I’m sure people will say a lot of things because of me.”

　My tears wouldn’t stop flowing, and Ray wiped it away with his finger.

   “If they say something, let it be. I had a good time today. I escorted a beautiful woman and received a lot of congratulations from everyone after all.”

　I know that they were words to comfort me, but I’m still grateful for the positive words, and Bridget wiped her tears from her face.

   “…I have to correct my mother-in-law. She made it sound like you couldn’t say a witty word, but I guess it’s not true after all.”

   “Yes! Definitely tell my mother next time.”

　Bridget laughed as Ray insisted.

　Then, after a bit of banter, Ray returned to his original position and cast the magic wall.

   “Good night, good night.”

   “Thank you, good night.”

　The misery remained, but thanks to Ray, I felt a lot better. Thank God for his kindness.

　Bridget took a deep breath and was able to fall asleep with a sense of peace.

　♢

　At noon the day after the night party, Bridget was having lunch in the cafeteria at work when a tray was placed on the seat across from her.

   “Bridget, do you mind if I sit here?’”

   “Annie, of course, go ahead.”

　Annie is the woman in charge of administration in the first group, and I’ve known her since I arrived as an auditor in the Royal Capital. Since she is a social butterfly, I often get a lot of information from her.

   “I saw you yesterday, with your rumored husband. He really looked like a prince.”

   “I’m sorry I didn’t get to greet you yesterday.”

   “It’s okay. Even from a distance, it was a sight to behold.”

　I heard that Annie would also be attending last night’s evening party with her husband, but I couldn’t find her.

   “Social women were waiting to see you yesterday. I wondered what it would be like to be the young lady who won the beautiful divisional commander.”

   “Ehh…, and their reaction was…?”

　When Bridget asked fearfully, Annie chuckled.

   “Don’t be shocked. We were like, What? Bridget is not known in social circles, her work is a mystery and her dancing is terrible, so she must have hit it off with the Divisional Commander or maybe it was the parents’ decision.”

　Shocking. I think it means that I’m not taken seriously by the ladies. It’s a temporary marriage, and as a lady, I can’t compete with them, so maybe that’s okay.

   “I’m sure the jealousy would have been worse if she had been a somewhat famous young lady. So I think it’s good that it’s Bridget. But when did you really get to know each other?”

   “As I told you, we went on a blind date, we hit it off, and we got married, and that was it.”

   “Hmmm.”

　It was originally a temporary marriage to keep pressure away from the parents.

　The fact that his marriage partner was Bridget may have diminished Ray’s reputation among the ladies, but it’s a good thing he’s fulfilled his original purpose.

　Bridget forcefully convinced herself that.

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