Betrothed to My Sister's Ex

“Ah, sorry, sorry! I just can’t sleep unless I’m naked. Of course, when staying overnight somewhere else, I try to be considerate, but when I’m in Lord Cyrus’s room, I just relax and end up stripping like normal, hahahaha!”

Through the steam rising from the teacup, Lord Ruifeng’s bright voice rang out. He wasn’t remorseful, but he did apologize properly in his own way. I, meanwhile, felt the blood drain from my face and flushed deeply—a strange state of circulation I don’t really understand—while I buried my face on the table.

“S-s-s-so sorry for intruding on your rest like this. I-I remember before, Lord Ruifeng, you said you sleep, well, naked… or rather, I heard it from Lord Cyrus, so it’s my fault…”

“There’s no way Marie is at fault. I didn’t even know Ruifeng was staying here.”

Lord Cyrus spat out the words with an incredibly sullen expression.

On the other hand, Lord Ruifeng was smiling cheerfully.

“Sorry, but there’s no need to get so angry, right? I haven’t even seen Marie-chan naked.”

“Showing it is enough to be a sex crime!”

“I was wearing underwear, so it’s like a swimsuit. In the southern country, this is formal attire.”

“This is Dilz. This country has no swimming culture.”

“The summer is short and the seawater cold, though. But since it’s not forbidden by religion, and hot days are hot, I think if you just create the concept, it’ll naturally take hold.”

“That may be true, but that’s not what we’re talking about now.”

“Granado Castle could remodel the courtyard fountain into a pool. Wouldn’t it be fun to play in the water together?”

“That’s true, but that’s still not the topic.”

“Lord Cyrus would want to see Marie-chan in a swimsuit, too. Something like a lavender-colored halter neck would probably suit her.”

“That’s true, but that’s not what we’re talking about, and I think peacock green wrap-style is better.”

…Huh? What were we talking about again?

Just then, Toppo plopped a plate down in front of the two men excitedly discussing floral patterns versus polka dots, while I was spacing out.

“Both of you, enough talking already. Please have your breakfast. The almond butter toast is getting cold.”

And so, we finally managed to eat.

At the dining table that could seat twenty, the three of us sat side by side, while Toppo and Ceri left the room carrying plates. Usually, servants and masters would share a table without barriers, but today there was a guest, so formalities were kept. I’ll ask for their impressions later.

Freshly baked, steaming bread topped with hot, golden almond butter. Unlike regular butter, the Shadelan style is to spread the almond butter before baking the bread.

I held the bread in my hand and took a big bite.

Instantly, the fragrant scent of toasted nuts filled my mouth. The sweetness was gentle but rich, and each bite was highly satisfying. Yet, it only fueled my appetite further.

“—Oh! Delicious!”

The first to exclaim wasn’t me, but Lord Ruifeng.

“This is great. It smelled amazing before I even bit into it, but now it’s even more fragrant. Completely different from peanut butter. It feels more like a proper meal than just sweet bread.”

“You can also mix it with oil and vinegar to make a dressing.”

“Isn’t there a bit of salt in this?”

Lord Cyrus asked, and I nodded.

“The butter is mixed with salt for preservation. It’s common in the Chadelan Territory.”

“It’s the same in the royal capital. Only nobles can eat fresh butter every day.”

“…Delicious. Not too sweet, I could eat this forever.”

“Since you lose salt through night sweat, something salty tastes great in the morning. Cyrus, we should sell this. It would be a hit in the Artisan District for sure.”

“Hehe…”

A smile slipped out unintentionally.

Although I’m currently relaxing and living in this castle, my past where I was raised hasn’t disappeared. I was born and raised in the Chadelan Territory. Honestly, hearing them savor the taste of my hometown filled me with pride.