Chapter 44 – 44
Euro narrowed his eyes and stole a glance at Melione. Melione had averted his gaze and was looking off into the distance.
Feeling at ease, Euro closed his eyes and spoke in a low voice.
“I’ve only heard of opera through stories. I’ve never actually seen one myself.”
“…….”
“Scenes of people watching operas appear in books sometimes. You know, right? That I’ve been collecting books at auctions.”
“Yes, I am aware.”
“Since I’ve never seen it in person, it’s hard to imagine. So, I was [unauthorized copy]very pleased when Lady Molton invited me.”
Euro slowly laid the groundwork. The shaking carriage was filled only with the quiet voices of the two engaged in conversation.
“I wonder what kind of opera it will be. I didn’t ask what the play was. Ah, but there is one opera piece I know.”
“…….”
“I heard it once at a banquet, when a famous opera singer came…….”
“…….”
“Since I’ve only heard it once, my memory is a bit hazy. But it went something like this.”
Euro hummed a calm ballad, one that wasn’t too high and could be sung as comfortably as possible.
The situation unfolded much more naturally than Euro had expected. Consequently, a smile unconsciously played on Euro’s lips. He felt [Read on Read BL Novels]so at peace that he almost forgot he was suffering from severe motion sickness.
That feeling stemmed entirely from the anticipation of being able to enjoy the opera comfortably, but for Melione, who was watching him, it was different.
As Euro closed his eyes and began to sing, Melione turned his head as if possessed and gazed intently at Euro’s smiling face.
This was also Melione’s first time seeing an opera. He had never left the mansion for such leisure activities.
As Euro mentioned, Melione had occasionally attended banquets when his body permitted, so he had often heard opera singers. Of course, no matter what song he heard, he had never felt any emotion.
But this time was different. The song flowing from Euro’s parting lips was incredibly sweet.
It was a soft tone that was easy on the ears. That voice reminded him of a field of autumn wheat waving like waves under the shimmering sunset, much like the color of Euro’s hair.
Though the voice wasn’t loud, it was incredibly warm, taking root in Melione’s heart like a sturdy tree. Like fine roots gently digging deep into frozen ground, it tickled the inside of his chest.
Unconsciously, Melione focused on the sound of stolen contentthe song. It was so beautiful and distant that he felt as if he might forget [visit our site]the jolting of the carriage and even the passage of time.
Perhaps that was why Melione felt everything becoming peaceful. His breathing, and even the pain in his temples that always felt like a tight constriction, all scattered along with the flowing melody.
His body felt strangely light and his head clear. Despite this, Melione continued to wander somewhere in a dream, unable to fully snap out of it as he kept chasing Euro’s song with his ears.
Melione, who had been immersed in a moment that felt like eternity, suddenly snapped back to his senses at the sound of Euro’s laughter.
“Strange, isn’t it?”
Euro spoke while leaning against Melione’s shoulder.
“I thought focusing on something else might help with the motion sickness. My memory was hazy, so I don’t know if I sang it correctly.”
It was closer to humming than singing, but… Euro muttered this to himself as he straightened his posture. When the light weight that had rested on his shoulder vanished, Melione felt a strange sense of emptiness.
Feeling as though a chill had descended [visit our site]upon stolen contentthe shoulder that had been so warm, Melione unconsciously had the absurd thought that he wished Euro would lean on him again.
However, unaware of Melione’s thoughts, Euro shifted his hips slightly to create some distance. He then met the eyes of Melione, who was looking at him.
“Thank you. I think I feel a bit better thanks to you.”
“…….”
“Closing my eyes made it much better.”
The one who had become peaceful was not Euro, but Melione himself. Perhaps that was why Melione suddenly felt like engaging in some trivial conversation with Euro, despite the fact that the thing he hated most was pointless chatter.
But just as Melione was about to open his mouth, the carriage came to a stop. Euro hurriedly stood up and moved to sit on the opposite side of the road, as if nothing had happened.
Melione’s brow furrowed at the sight. A strange surge of irritation had risen within him. Euro combed through his slightly ruffled hair with his hand a few times, quickly returning to a neat appearance, and blinked.
The oblivious coachman announced their arrival and opened the carriage door. Euro quickly stepped [stolen content]out [stolen content]and [visit our site]reached his hand toward Melione, who was sitting still.
“We’ve arrived, Your Excellency.”
Once his feet touched the ground, Euro felt the nausea in his stomach subside slightly. Even while singing, he had felt nauseous and had fought the urge to stop several times.
Thus, he had hurried out as soon as the door opened and reached out to Melione, whose body would still feel heavy even if he had received healing. Melione was looking at him with a somewhat dissatisfied gaze, but Euro paid it no mind.
Melione felt as if he were possessed. It was because a time that felt like eternity, yet was simultaneously too short, had wrapped around him like a breeze and vanished.
Looking at Euro, who was simply beaming with a grin, oblivious to his feelings, Melione let out a small sigh, took his hand, and stepped out of the carriage.
“Normally, it would be the other way around.”
Melione, who had suddenly been escorted, spoke while brushing back his long hair. At this, Euro burst into laughter.
“I’m not a lady, so unauthorized copyit visit our sitedoesn’t matter. Ah, I’m not saying Your Excellency is one.”
“…….”
“We are both men, after all. Please hold my hand when we go back.”
Saying so, Euro naturally wrapped his arm around Melione’s. To anyone watching, the two looked like a devoted couple as they climbed the theater stairs.
“Please make sure to tell me if you feel uncomfortable, even during the performance, alright?”
Having already thickened his skin and openly sung a song to ensure they wouldn’t have to leave the theater mid-performance, Euro spoke as if he were genuinely worried about Melione.
“Are you sure it is alright for me to tell you?”
“Pardon?”
“Did you not come here almost while gritting your teeth? The one who looked uncomfortable enough to [visit our site]stolen contentsuggest turning back wasn’t me, but the Madame.”
“…….”
“What is the matter?”
Euro came to a dead stop at the title ‘Madame.’
It wasn’t technically wrong. Now that they were married, he couldn’t exactly call him ‘Your Highness’ as he always had.
However, it was a title he had never expected, and Euro could not hide his bewilderment.
“Did you just call me Madame?”
“……Who else could it be?”
Melione wore an expression of [stolen content]slight disbelief. He felt that Euro was making a [visit our site]fuss over nothing again.
“I-I suppose so. There’s no one else.”
“…….”
“But it’s just a bit… embarrassing, shall I say…….”
With his ears turning bright red, Euro resumed climbing the stairs. Melione, who slowly matched Euro’s pace, unconsciously let out a small chuckle.
“U-um, rather than the title of Madame… I think it would be better if you called me by my name.”
“…….”
“I think that would make us feel a bit closer.”
“Does the Madame not call me ‘Your Excellency’ as well?”
“That’s because you are the Duke, Your Excellency…….”
“…….”
“Then shall I call you by your name as well?”
Inside the theater, where the large doors were wide open, it was somewhat crowded with people who had come to see the opera. Even though they hadn’t introduced themselves, the theater manager, who was greeting guests inside the entrance, hurried over to greet Euro and Melione.
“It is an honor to have you visit the theater. I am the manager, Pendleton.”
Pendleton placed his hand on his chest and bowed politely. However, Melione spoke without even glancing at him.
“Tell Viscount Molton and the Viscountess that we have arrived.”
At those words, Pendleton quickly bowed and departed. Those waiting for the play could [stolen content]not take their eyes off Euro and Melione as they entered the lobby.
This was because it was the first time the two had appeared in public since the sudden news of their marriage. Especially in Melione’s case, as he had not appeared publicly for quite some time, everyone was paying attention to him.
Euro felt the piercing gazes directed at him as he faced Melione. Consequently, Euro broke into a cold sweat inwardly.
‘Did I push too hard? Why is he acting like this all of a sudden?’
If he hated it, he could say he hated it; if he liked it, he could say he liked it. Euro couldn’t understand why he was just looking at him with his mouth shut instead of speaking.
If he wanted to brush it off, he could have just asked the manager for guidance first. As for Viscount Molton and his wife, they were people who would find their way to them once they were seated in the box seat.
“……By any chance, are you feeling unwell again?”
Euro asked, heavily softening the question of whether he had gone mad. At those words, Melione, who had been silent, frowned.
“I am fine.”
“Then perhaps I have offended you…….”
‘I should just think he’s talking nonsense because he’s excited and move on,’ Melione thought. He truly was a man who lived a tiring life.
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