Chapter 4

Bookmarking, rating, reviews, and reports of typos, thank you for all of them.

My wife, Marianne...

1. Is very intelligent

2. Has extraordinary drive

3. Is terrible at keeping secrets

But now, all three of these traits are in full swing.

For a while, I noticed she was reading difficult physics books. After that, she spent all day and night calculating something on paper and holed up in her workshop.

And for the past few days, she hasn't been able to look me in the eye.

This is definitely it; she must be planning to carry out that scheme, despite my telling her to stop.

So I sneaked into Marianne's workshop. Fortunately, she's out preparing for the harvest festival, apparently trying out different stall items with the ladies' club.

Thanks to her, our territory's crop yields have increased dramatically. I'm very grateful. There are so many visitors from other territories that it's constant.

The people in our territory also trust my wife and consult her first when something comes up. I can't help but think, "What about me?" but since everything is running smoothly, I don't dwell on it.

Now, I wonder if there's anything suspicious hidden here. There doesn't seem to be anything for that experiment I rejected... I doubt Marianne has given up.

Feeling a mix of relief and disappointment, I was about to leave her workshop when I noticed an unfamiliar sewing machine. Next to it was a large amount of thin silk fabric.

A brand new sewing machine? Has Marianne started making clothes? She's not clumsy, but she's always thinking three, no, five steps ahead of her time. If she made a silk dress, it would definitely be something extraordinary.

While I was tilting my head in confusion and about to leave the workshop, my eldest son, Harold, stood there looking at me with a serious expression.

"Ah, Harold, you're back from the palace already? How was your study today?"

"Study was okay. Did you go into Mother's workshop, Father? Does Mother know about it?"

"No, I don't think she does."

"Nicholas and I are told not to enter your study or Mother's workshop without permission. Mother always says, 'Mother's workshop is the same as Father's study.'"

"Right. I'll be more careful from now on."

"Even among close friends, there are formalities."

"Hey, Harold, who taught you that? Mother?"

"No, Aunt Katharina taught me."

"I see."

Harold, influenced by his adored sister Katharina or perhaps by the bloodline of the Randfuria family, speaks with a logical and composed manner for a six-year-old.

"I'm home."

Marianne's beloved voice echoed from the entrance hall.

"Welcome back, Marie."

"Back, Alex."

We kissed each other's cheeks and hugged. I peered into Marie's face, of course, on purpose. As expected, she quickly averted her eyes. Hmm.

"Mommy!"

Marianne greeted Harold and Nicholas, who ran up to her, and Flora, who was being carried by the maid Reia, with a loving mother's face.

At dinner, Marianne happily talked about the harvest festival. They plan to set up over a dozen stalls, each selling different foods.

"Vegetable dishes, meat dishes, fish dishes, drinks, and desserts. Each of the residents will sell their pride and joy."

Marianne, with her smooth, egg-like white face, spoke cheerfully, still looking like a young girl and adorable.

"Mother, Aunt Katharina said to check the market prices before setting the prices for the items sold at the stalls."

"Oh, Harold, when did you see your sister?"

"Today, Aunt Katharina came to the palace on business and stopped by to see me."

"Pricing, huh? I think it's fine if the prices are low enough for everyone to buy, since it's a festival."

At that point, Nicholas eagerly joined the conversation.

"Mom, a lot of people will come from outside, right? Are you going to make a big reveal?"

A big reveal? What's he talking about? When I looked at Marianne, she was blushing and fidgeting.

"Marie, can you come to my study after dinner?"

"Um, yes. I understand. The study, right? Yes, yes."

"Alex? I'm here."

Marianne, with an unusually cheerful smile, poked her head through the door.

"Come in here."

"Okay."

Marianne entered through the door and stood as far away from me as possible. She's so cute that I almost laughed.

"That's not the right place, come here."

I pointed to my knee with a frown, and she approached with a nervous look. So cute. Marianne, looking troubled, sat sideways on my knee.

"Is this okay?"

She muttered to herself, blushing. I gently hugged her from behind.

"Now, what is my dear wife up to? I won't let you down from my knee until you tell me."

"Ah!"