Honey, I’m Going on Strike – Chapter 5

“I didn’t know I hated it before. I just came to hate it after we did it.”

“I just came to hate it after we did it.”

“I just came to hate it.”

“Hate.”

“…Baron?”

“Ah.”

Zester, who had been dazed by Cassia’s words echoing in his ears, finally snapped out of it.

“Anyway, I have your permission, correct? If the butler comes to see me again, I’ll tell him the affairs are up to him.”

“…Go ahead.”

Zester quickly buried his face in his paperwork, worried that his shocked expression might show. He didn’t even notice that he was scribbling nonsense across the soft parchment, rather than signing signature.

Cassia felt relieved that the conversation had ended more easily than expected and stood up. Ten years from now. Even if she idled around and played for every single second, it would be preferable than wasting time in the company of the man she most wanted to avoid.

“I’ll get going then.”

“Right.”

With light steps, she fluttered out of his office.

***

『I just came to hate it after we did it.』

Gulp.

Zester swallowed dryly as Cassia’s indifferent face reappeared in his mind.

But I liked it a lot.

“What the—?!”

His eyes dropped to the document in front of him. Instead of a signature, he had scribbled useless words on an important document.

[But I liked it a lot]

“Damn it.”

Zester’s face turned bright red. He aggressively scratched the words out with his pen, so furiously that the ink bled and eventually tore through the page.

Cassia Ruberno.

Probably everyone in the Empire knew who she was. Not just because she was the eldest daughter of the immensely wealthy Count Ruberno, but because of her divine beauty, so breathtaking, it was said to rival that of an angel’s.

Her fame had spread so far and wide that even Zester who was too busy making a living to pay attention to women, had heard of her. Still, that was all she had been to him. She was in a world so different from his own that he figured he would never see her face even once in his life, so he never felt any interest in her life.

Imagine then, how surprised he was when he learned that she was going to become his wife. The moment the rumors broke, all the single men in the Empire must have envied Zester.

However, Zester’s feelings were complicated. How could he be comfortable when it was obvious that this marriage had been forced by the Emperor’s unreasonable command?

From her perspective, it would be maddening. A noble lady of such high birth, destined to marry into a powerful household, was instead sent to a remote countryside territory to spend her life with a worthless, commoner mercenary who had been lucky enough to win a low-ranking noble title.

Even if it wasn’t technically his fault, Zester was filled with guilt. That guilt only grew when he saw her portrait. Was such beauty even real? If so, what could she be thinking when she was practically being shipped off to marry a man so far beneath her?

When he saw Cassia stepping out of the carriage, Zester was so nervous that he couldn’t even raise his head. Her beauty surpassed what the portrait had captured, and her attire was so elegant and luxurious that it gave a stark contrast with the shoddy countryside estate. He was embarrassed of the cramped, stench-filled estate that she was bound to see when she came and of himself, a man who had received a title but was no different from a commoner in reality.

If she had acted arrogant or vicious, that would’ve made things easier but Cassia, whose personality was as gentle and lovely as her face, made Zester feel even more wretched.

『I know I’m still young, and inexperienced, but I’ll do my best.』

『I hope the territory we build together flourishes and prospers.』

『I-I feel shy…』

『If you leave like this on our wedding night… people will think little of me. I know you don’t like me but…』

In the end, it was butler Paul who had to push the hesitant Zester into her room. For the 24-year-old Zester who had never even held a woman’s hand, being alone with his beautiful wife was unbearable.

Although they were clearly husband and wife on paper and equals in name, he still felt that Cassia was far more noble than himself. He felt unworthy even to touch or speak to her.

No matter how much he thought about it, it just seemed wrong. Just when he was about to leave, Cassia blushed in embarrassment and stopped him.

He couldn’t recall ever feeling lust before but at that moment, something in his mind seemed to go astray.

Right, she’s my wife. And she wants this too.

With that justification in his heart, he held her in his arms.

Even then, he tried to be respectful. His hands, trembling with desire, were kept at bay by sheer force of will. Her pale skin made him feel like he was staining something sacred. So he tried to touch her as little as possible, just enough to fulfill the wedding night.

‘I tried so hard not to touch her more than necessary… but she still hated it?’

Zester began to squirm with guilt for daring to touch his pure and sacred wife. His hands tugging at his hair grew even more vicious.

The fact that he was the only one who enjoyed it made him feel even worse. He had tried his best not to touch her because he was afraid she would hate it but now that she hated it despite that, Zester felt helpless.

Was she against it the whole time? No, she said she came to hate it after…

Remembering the way she looked at him this morning, with contempt in her eyes, his heart felt even more complicated.

She must’ve utterly hated it. It explained why she was acting like a completely different person today.

As he replayed the night in his head, realization dawned.

The fact that he alone liked it was definitely a problem. His first experience had been euphoric and amazing. He always thought he could control that part of his body but it went completely crazy and paralyzed his brain. Even though he climaxed several times, he hadn’t even noticed whether Cassia was enjoying herself or not.

As he thought it over, he couldn’t even think of a worse situation.

“Damn it.”

What does one do in this kind of situation? Should he go to Cassia and apologize for his mistake?

Zester was in agony.

Knock knock.

“Master, it’s Paul. I have something to discuss.”

A voice interrupted right at that moment, saving him from his thoughts.

“Come in.”

With Zester’s permission, the always-tidy Paul entered the study and bowed slightly. Though he was already forty, his immaculate appearance made him look at least five or six years younger.

This capable butler was originally from the palace and was someone sent to Zester by the Emperor himself. When Zester had been feeling lost with his new territory and title, it was Paul who took over all internal affairs of the territory. He was also the man that Zester trusted the most.

“What is it?”

“I wanted to discuss about the Madam. Now that she’s officially the lady of the estate, I’d like to begin handing over internal affairs that I’m managing. I do plan to transfer them gradually to avoid overwhelming her. However, we do need to inspect the territory as soon as possible so I would like to confirm your schedule. The residents are quite eager to meet her.”

Paul said with a smile.

From his expression, he was clearly fond of the new lady of the estate.

Which was no surprise because there wasn’t a single person who saw Cassia upon her arrival and wasn’t affected by her charm. She was stunning, gracious, and kind. Even Paul had nearly gone cross-eyed trying not to stare at her too long.

However, the woman who had shown up today was brimming with complaints, all of which, Zester knew, were entirely his fault. And he had to accept that.

“No, for the time being, keep handling the internal affairs. My wife is still young, and this place is nothing like Ruberno. She’ll need time to adjust.”

Zester recalled Cassia’s expression as she declared that she absolutely did not want to work while Paul’s eyes went wide.

“…What’s with that expression?”

“I-I’m-sorry, Master. I’m just a bit surprised. I’ve never seen you so talkative before.”

“…”

“And it sounds like you care a great deal about the Madam…I’m glad we have a wonderful Lady of the estate.”

Paul nodded, visibly touched.

Zester felt embarrassed inside. He knew very well that he was a man of few words. He didn’t even say things like ‘thank you’ or ‘good job’ to his staff, even though he wanted to. Just imagining it made his skin crawl.

“Anyway, just do as I said.”

“Yes, of course. Please let me know once you’ve spoken with the Madam again. On a separate note, when do you plan to inspect the territory?”

“Ah, I’ll decide on that later as well and let you know.”

He had no intention of pushing anything onto Cassia. She had made it crystal clear she wasn’t interested. He decided not to bother her about it.

“Understood.”

Paul bowed again and turned to leave. But Zester stopped him.

“Paul.”

“Yes, Master.”

Paul responded immediately.

“Are you busy?”

Paul blinked. Zester looked like he had something to ask. It was rare. In the two years since Paul had been assigned to Greze, Zester had never initiated private conversation.

Paul was a little tense, but also excited.

“No, not at all. Is there something you need?”

“It’s… I’m curious about something.”

“What something?”

Paul asked, keeping his surprise to himself as he strode over to Zester’s desk. His master was making an expression he had never seen in the two years he had been here. His face was flushed red, and he was hesitant to open his mouth.

“Well…”

“Please, feel free to ask anything, Master.”

Paul encouraged him gently.

“W-Well, it’s, it’s…”

He was even stuttering?

Now anxious himself, Paul licked his lips and waited.

“Please, just speak freely, Master.”

Paul tried to coax him kindly, but Zester still hesitated. It took so long that Paul was practically gnawing his tongue, thinking he was going to suffocate from all this anticipation and Zester finally opened his mouth.

“You said…you were once married, right?”

“Yes. I got married when I was living in the capital. I was widowed about two years before I started working here. Unfortunately, my wife’s body has been weak since she was a child.”

“I see. My condolences.”

“Plenty of time has passed since then and I’m okay now. But is that what you were curious about?”

“No, not that…”

At this rate, he was really going to suffocate. Paul swallowed dryly and started at Zester like he wanted to pry his mouth open.

In the end, Zester seemed to come to a decision and closed his eyes then he slammed the desk and yelled.

“Teach me about sex!”

Paul’s mouth slowly fell open.

“…Pardon?”

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