The Truth 

　I feel like I slept well.

　I wriggled to get up and gently brushed the curtains aside.

　My head felt a little heavy, but I put on a pair of indoor slippers that had been placed beside the bed and stood up.

　The curtains were drawn at the window, so I opened them gently and was surprised to see that it was dark.

　Eh?!

　It was pitch dark outside!

　I thought I had napped briefly, but it seemed I had fallen completely asleep.

　Ah, so that’s why my head’s heavy. I overslept. I looked for the bell that was always kept by the bed.

　I couldn’t find it. Thinking that this wasn’t a mansion, I opened the door that connected the room to the office.

　A bright light shone into the dark room, blinding me because I was accustomed to the darkness.

“You’re awake. You’ve slept too long for a nap.”

　He’s being sarcastic.

“What time is it now?”

　I didn’t feel like retorting, so I asked my husband, who was also alone in his office, what time it was.

“It’s almost past suppertime.”

“…Sorry about that.”

　Feeling somewhat uncomfortable, I walked into the room, and my husband urged me to sit on the sofa.

　Ugh, this is awkward.

　If this were our house, I’d have run to my room immediately!

“Are you hungry?”

　He said that it was long past dinner time, but I wasn’t that hungry.

　When I said I was fine, he replied curtly, “Oh, I see.”

　At that moment, I informed my husband.

“Well, I don’t always eat three meals a day, but I don’t consider that a breach of contract.”

　I’d rather not be woken up in the middle of the day and told to eat.

　Well, considering the time, I have no choice but to wake up.

　My husband nodded and accepted my words.

“By the way, when are we going home?”

“We’re going to stay here today. A lot of things happened while you were asleep, and it took me this long to process them. I thought of us going up after you woke up, but…it’s very late to leave now. It’s also a bit dangerous at night.”

“Er…that being the case, can I borrow a guest room somewhere?”

“We’re a married couple. If I ask you to do such a thing, suspicions about trouble in our marriage will arise.”

“Then, I’ll take the couch…”

“We can share a bed. I’m not going to do anything.”

　I tugged at the corners of my mouth in a huff.

　You know, I can’t just take the word of someone who has done so much to me, right?　

　Do you have any idea how much credit you have, Husband?

“Are you, by any chance, into Michelle’s type?”

“Pardon?”

　I looked at my husband quizzically at the sudden development of the topic.

“Is that the kind of person you’d prefer to marry?”

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about…”

　Besides, I’m already married, so I don’t think there’s any point in talking about it.

　But my husband asked me so seriously, so I answered seriously as well.

“If I’m to answer in all seriousness, I’d say I prefer a man, so I don’t think I could answer Miss Michelle even if she confessed.”

　This time, my husband raised his eyebrows as if to ask what I was getting at. 

“You ―― do you not know? Wait, you didn’t notice?”

　Huh? What?

“Michelle is a man, okay?”

“………Huh?”

“Sure, he’s a woman on the registry, but he’s a man, that’s for sure.”

　Hiss, I don’t know!

　What the hell?! What, is that common knowledge? Husband, you’re talking about it as if I should know about it, but in social circles, that’s unspoken knowledge!

“I know exactly how you’re feeling. In case you’re wondering, it’s a part of the Marquis of Andrette’s shame, so very few people know about it. I didn’t know about it, either, until he told me.”

“Then why would I know about it?”

“…I thought you were cooperating because you knew he was a man and bore goodwill.”

“Not at all! Why would I do that?!”

　I’m not that slu-tty, Sir!

“No, honestly, I’m just attending a tea party hosted by the royal family.”

“T-That’s…that’s because I thought we could be friends…and I was feeling a little guilty.”

“So I guess that means you’ve been taken for a ride.”

　Oh, shut up!

　Not everything he said was a lie.

　At least the issue of factions, while true, he is not in a weak position ―― that much was clear to me today.

“It took me great pains to convince him to attend the royal tea party with us…but when all was said and done, everything was wasted on a dumb b.itch.”

“Seriously, I’m still curious. Why did you defend me this time, Husband?”

“Your tone implies that I’m always up to something.”

“Let me make myself clear, you’re right. I thought for sure that you had planned the whole thing today. You’re always distorting my words, and Ragnard’s, too!”

　I told him something I normally wouldn’t have said without concealment.

　Usually, he would have ended up poking fun at me, but today, he listened to me seriously.

“This was my first large scale social gathering since our marriage. Even though it was daytime, and if it was hosted by the royal family, I, as your husband, is obligated to do my bit to protect you. Besides, if someone who hates socializing is motivated to do it anyway, but I failed to provide backing, there won’t be a next time.”

“Is that all?”

　Somehow, I had a feeling it wasn’t just that.

　He warned Her Majesty and Her Royal Highness because he didn’t want them to mess with me.

　Why is that?

“I don’t want you to become more and more averse to socializing…Well, today ended up in an indescribable manner, but wasn’t it nice to have someone you’re reasonably close to?”

　My husband said somewhat softly.

　I blinked incessantly at my husband’s words and stared at him.  

　At that moment, for some reason, I felt I understood why my husband wanted me to socialize so much.