That afternoon, after finishing lunch and returning to his room, Zester received a message from the maid and hurried to the reception room. The youngest, Allen, was having tea and snacks with Estella, and asked if he would like to join.
Given how he’d been worrying about not getting along with Cassia’s oddly prickly younger siblings, Zester gladly accepted the invitation with open arms.
Which brought him to now:
Zester was struggling, caught between the young Ruberno heir and the second daughter.
“I heard the people in Greze live in mud huts. Is that true?”
Estella was wearing the light brown bob wig with a jeweled headband, seemingly very pleased with the git, and she seemed genuinely curious as she asked.
Zester had sensed it before, but now he was sure: these rich nobles of Ruberno seemed to think Greze was some kind of ancient tribal settlement. He smiled awkwardly and shook his head.
“Not quite. In Bohem, where I used to live, there were a few people who lived in mud huts but…”
“No way! How can people live in huts?”
“Ahem, that region originally belonged to native farmers, so the tradition of building and living in huts carried over… Uh, but I don’t think anyone does that anymore?”
“How fascinating. Then did you live in a hut too, Baron?”
“No, I didn’t live in a hut…”
Estella’s eyes were sparkling with pure curiosity so even though the question made him uncomfortable, it was hard for him not to answer. Still, recounting every detail of his time in Bohem felt awkward and embarrassing.
Zester blushed.
“Baron, please tell us a bit about your time in Bohem.”
Allen, who had been quietly munching on a fancy milk biscuit while listening to the two, finally spoke.
Now, he couldn’t avoid it anymore. Zester cleared his throat and spoke.
“My parents were tenant farmers. They rented land from a landowner and farmed…”
“My goodness! You didn’t even have your own land?”
Estella’s mouth fell open and she covered her mouth with both hands while her eyes went as round as saucers.
“Not many people owned their own land back then. Most farmers in Bohem were tenant farers. There was a large landowner in the village, and everyone rented land from him.”
He was referring to Vita’s parents, once dubbed the ‘princess’ of Bohem.
Estella and Allen, watching Zester hesitantly trace his past, exchanged subtle glances. Their eyes were filled with contempt and disdain, as if to say, ‘This guy was absolutely dirt poor’ but Zester didn’t notice.
“In any case, you’ve done quite well for yourself, Baron. If you’d stayed farming in a remote village, you’d have never even seen a glimpse of my sister’s toes…”
“Exactly, Sister Estella. If he hadn’t distinguished himself in the Imperial War, he’d never have had the chance to meet someone like our eldest sister in his lifetime.”
Even though they were blatantly looking down on him with sour looks on their faces, Zester didn’t seem to notice. At the mention of Cassia, he simply laughed and scratched the back of his head.
“You’re right. That’s why I live every day with a grateful heart.”
Allen’s expression twisted in dissatisfaction.
He would rather the Baron snapped back, saying ‘that was a bit much’, that way, he could give him a good scolding and say he should be kissing the ground Cassia walks on instead of acting like they were on the same level.
Estella’s eyes also narrowed when she saw Zester’s reaction. His response was nothing like what she expected. No matter how they poked, Zester just kept grinning like an idiot. Maybe he really was kind of dumb like Allen said after dinner.
“I’m grateful, yes, but I also always feel sorry…”
Thinking about his wife, who had endured nothing but hardship in Greze, made him sink into gloom. Zester lowered his head, muttering softly, and the mood in the room shifted. Estella and Allen grew tense.
Is he really that dumb? This wasn’t how they wanted the conversation to go.
“To be honest, when big sister’s marriage was arranged, I was really upset. I don’t know if you’re aware, Baron, but our sister isn’t just some ordinary noble lady, you know?” Estella remarked.
“Ah! I certainly do. I heard she was even trained as an heir in Ruberno. But even if I didn’t, I’ve always known Cassia is far too good for me…”
“And you must have eyes, Baron. You can see she’s not just beautiful, she’s stunning.”
“Well, that goes without saying…”
Zester kept agreeing to every jab with sincerity, which made ‘Big Sister-obsessed’ Estella lose her composure and get a little excited.
“Whether it’s Math, philosophy, history… there isn’t a single thing big sister can’t do!”
“Wow…”
“Ah! She even knows ancient languages. That’s a linguistic field that even scholars find difficult.”
“Really? I didn’t know that. That’s amazing.”
“Hehehe… of course. Also…”
“Sister Estella.”
Allen, who had quietly been listening, brushed biscuit crumbs from his mouth and cut her off.
Zester’s gaze shifted to Allen. Despite being only nine, Allen returned the look with unexpectedly sharp eyes.
“So, to conclude what my dear sister was saying, Baron…”
Unlike Estella, who still spoke respectfully when she said ‘Baron’, Allen’s tone was snobby, but Zester didn’t seem to mind.
Given how the boy crossed his short legs and folded his arms like a seasoned noble, Zester assumed it was just the bearing of a powerful heir.
“Even if you’re married now, don’t get too comfortable. I believe you’re well aware that our sister is far beyond your league. And frankly speaking, even if my sister gets divorced, she will still be able to find a decent suitor.”
“Right, right! That’s what I was trying to say!”
Estella chimed in to agree.
“Even Brother Ian was really worried about her. I hinted to him once and he said that if Sister Cassia were to return to Ruberno, he’d be happy to stay by her side.”
“S-Sister.”
Allen jabbed Estella in the thigh as she chattered excitedly. Estella turned to him, puzzled and Allen gestured toward Zester with his chin.
“Hk.”
Estella fell silent in surprise.
This time, Zester looked unmistakably, angry. His fists clenched on his thigh looked downright terrifying.
Veins bulged one by one over his knuckles, trembling as he clenched his fist.
He looked ready to throw a punch, and both Estella and Allen blinked in wide-eyed panic.
They were right; Zester was upset and angry. But not entirely at them. It was more that their words, however cruel, were painfully true. Cassia was far too good for him. Perhaps it would be better for her to leave Greze and build a better life. She was still young, with a bright future ahead.
“Everything you’ve said…is right.”
“Ah, um… Baron?”
“However.”
Zester, who had been staring down with his jaw trembling, suddenly jerked his head up. Estella and Allen flinched, startled for no reason.
“As lacking as I may be, I promise to give everything I have to protect and cherish my wife. I know it might be selfish… but I want my wife and I to spend the rest of our lives together in Greze. And to make Cassia happy in Greze….”
“…T-To make her happy?”
“I’ll do everything I can.”
His voice was firm and resolute. Estella and Allen glanced at each other, blinking, then quietly stared at Zester’s determined expression.
***
Meanwhile, having just finished an exhausting discussion with the Count about Drian and the wig business, Cassia had grown increasingly worried about Zester.
Hearing from the maids that he had accepted an invitation from Estella and Allen, she could already imagine him struggling between her scheming siblings, so naturally, she rushed off to find him.
She reached the reception room on the landing between the second and third floors, just as voices trickled out.
There was no partitioning door, so she could hear everything clearly.
When the two maids standing outside tried to announce her arrival, she quickly raised a finger to her lips. They understood and nodded.
“In any case, you’ve done quite well for yourself, Baron. If you’d stayed farming in a remote village, you’d have never even seen a glimpse of my sister’s toes…”
“I agree, Sister Estella. If he hadn’t earned military merit in the Imperial War, he’d never have had the chance to meet someone like our big sister.”
“You’re right. That’s why I live every day with a grateful heart.”
Listening from outside, Cassia let out a hollow laugh. Her siblings were ridiculous, but Zester, who was nodding along so happily, was even more ridiculous.
Determined to see just how far this would go, she remained outside, eavesdropping.
Even powerful nobles didn’t mock commoners so carelessly. And Estella and Allen were well-educated, raised to understand noble decorum. They knew better. This wasn’t something they were ignorant about. They were just teasing Zester since they didn’t like him.
In front of Cassia, they acted like well-behaved foxes. So this was actually a golden opportunity. She would storm in and give them a proper scolding.
“It seems Lord Baron is well aware that you’re not worthy of our eldest sister…”
It was Allen’s voice. He was only nine, but already so cunning.
“Brother Ian was really worried about her. I hinted to him once and he said that if Sister Cassia were to return to Ruberno, he’d be happy to stay by her side.”
This time, it was Estella. Now that she thought about it, Estella had always tried to push her toward Drian, even as kids.
Cassia frowned, ready to intervene.
“As lacking as I may be, I promise to give everything I have to protect and cherish my wife. I know it might be selfish… but I want my wife and I to spend the rest of our lives together in Greze. And to make Cassia happy in Greze….”
“…T-To make her happy?”
“I’ll do everything I can.”
Cassia froze.
Hearing those bold, heartfelt words from her husband in front of others was jarring and unfamiliar. Yet, the weight behind his promise, the quiet conviction, made her heart flutter despite herself. She felt a little embarrassed.
She never thought she’d hear something like that from him. Her cheeks flushed, and the two maids beside her gawked openly.
Even Estella and Allen, stunned by Zester’s rare assertiveness, fell silent. The receiving room went quiet for several long moments.
And then, of course, they resumed their snarky banter.
“Still, Baron, just because you married my sister doesn’t mean she’s suddenly at your level, or thinks the same way as you since you were raised as a commoner. You understand that, right?”
“I agree, sister.”
“Ah, of course. I’ll keep that in mind. For the rest of my life, I will—.”
‘Of course, my ass. That dummy.’
Cassia gritted her teeth and stormed into the receiving room, her heels clicking sharply against the floor. The unexpected entrance drew everyone’s attention. Estella and Allen looked like they had seen a ghost.
Cassia’s face was seething with fury and with her chin raised, she barked.
“What ever do you think you’re doing?”
- Honey, I’m Going on Strike – Chapters 47 – 49 - November 22, 2025
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