Published: August 1, 2025
On the last day of our stay on Luhab Island, around noon.
“Marie. Where are you?”
I called out loudly on the beach, searching for my beloved fiancée.
The tropical island of Luhab was sunny as usual today, the waves calm, perfect weather for swimming. The white sandy beach was bustling with islanders, tourists, and hawkers targeting them.
Marie Shadelan was tall. On top of that, she had fiery red hair and a striking appearance that stood out even in a crowd. If she was wandering around like this, I should have found her by now—at least, that was what I thought.
“Marie. Marie!”
Luhab Island was extremely safe. Besides, she had Isaac as her guide, so there was probably no danger.
“Marie!”
…With a sense of urgency pressing every second, I desperately kept searching for Marie.
—This morning… there had been an awkward atmosphere. I said I was going to greet the island chief and went outside.
I did go, but only because I wanted to buy some time; I had no real business with the chief. The two of us casually shared some tea, but the conversation soon dried up, so out of boredom, we even played castanets together. It was a truly pointless time.
When I returned to the inn, a letter was placed on the tea table in the guest room.
“The sailor came to collect his luggage, so I’ve gone down to the beach ahead of time. I’m playing with the children there, please look for me.”
The moment I saw that, my blood ran cold.
Leaving me behind was clearly out of character for Marie. Had I really upset her just now? If so, the cause was obviously the conversation we just had.
At that moment, Marie looked at me and asked:
“Is it… jealousy?”
—That.
Though inwardly deeply unsettled, I denied it outright.
I said I trusted her, so it was fine, and also that I didn’t want to restrict her social contacts… half-truths, half-lies dressed up nicely.
Marie Shadelan was intelligent. She usually seemed calm and relaxed but was actually very perceptive of others’ moods. She checked twice, then didn’t press further, probably because she saw through my real feelings.
Still, I hid the truth. That was the image I had of a “good husband.”
“Marie! Where are you?”
I walked around on the hot sand, searching for her.
With every step I took, my regret grew.
…Maybe I should have been honest?
That I was a little bothered.
If I had said that, maybe she wouldn’t have been upset. But what if she ended up thinking I was a pathetic man? What if she felt confined and shrank away? Thinking that, I couldn’t say it—“Please don’t touch any man but me.”
“Damn it…”
I wiped the sweat dripping from my chin.
Though it was scorching hot, I felt a chill as though all the blood had drained from my body.
I realized for the first time since meeting Marie just how jealous I was.
If she were with a boring man, I’d be more relaxed. Like I told her, I trusted her and was confident.
But—there was that Angelo.
I looked at my palm. The memory of grappling with him last night resurfaced. After I pushed his sword away, he said:
“Lord Cyrus is a gentleman; he stayed still so his fingers wouldn’t be cut.” Ridiculous. I didn’t move at all. He grasped the blade barehanded, and I couldn’t budge.
That guy was probably stronger than me.
No, that didn’t matter. There was no need to compete. My main profession was merchant, and Marie wasn’t interested in fighting; in fact, she was scared of it.
Appearance-wise, I was probably not losing out. I didn’t really understand male beauty, but Angelo’s looks were objectively decent. He had an overwhelming advantage in status and wealth, but above all, no man loved Marie more than I did. I was the ceiling.
What made me feel threatened was Marie’s reaction.
When she talked to that man, her eyes sparkled. Her expression when asking, “How does that outfit work?” was the same shining look she had when we first met and talked about Ipsandros.
I fell in love with those eyes. That was the moment she began to like me too.
“Marie!”