The Broken Ring: This Marriage Will Fail Anyway Chapter 71

Chapter 71

She only said one word, but it sounded like dozens to him.

'You seem to have muscles galore but no substance,' 'I wonder if your muscles are actually just for show,' 'You're big, but I'm questioning what you can actually do with that body,' 'I suspected it, but it turns out all you have are muscles,' 'In the end, you lose even to that small guy….' and so on…….

“…Ines, I’m not that big.”

“Really? I always thought you were big.”

“And usually, people don't call someone particularly strong for lifting something like that.”

This was a bit petty. [ʏᴜʟʜᴇʏᴜɴ] It was true that Hugo was making the most of his small natural assets….

In reality, Hugo had a slender body and was slightly shorter than average, while Cárcel was a tall man who exceeded the average, with a large frame and a muscular body built through all sorts of training, so Ines's analogy was literally an analogy.

However, if it were him, he could do it with just one hand… Cárcel, putting aside his strength, realized the impossibility of it just based on physical size and corrected his own thoughts again.

So, if it were him, he could use both hands equally and lift it without trembling pathetically.

“Oh, really?”

“…Hugo worked very hard to do that. Because you made him do it.”

“I see.”

Even the sound of Ines's utterly indifferent response reaffirmed his earlier suspicion.

She wasn't paying any attention to him right now and was solely focused on those diligent employees as the objects of her kindness. Her kindness towards him earlier was also just for show.

However, unlike what Cárcel's head had so clearly interpreted, the ‘Oh, really?’ that reached his heart was more primal and childish.

The 'Really' that didn't trust the other person's words at all. The 'I see' that was heard through the back of the ears. And the 'Really' that fully looked down on him, as if seeing right through his childish competitiveness. The 'I see' that asked if he could really do that…….

Soon, Cárcel began to diligently move the furniture, following her finger, just like the others.

The obvious fact that he was the strongest man in the residence was proven by that, but Cárcel couldn't shake the feeling that he had been somehow tricked.

“What about the west fence, how about tearing it down completely and building a new one?”

Cárcel, without answering, was chewing on his meat while staring blankly at Ines's face. It wasn't that he deliberately didn't answer, but his face looked as if he hadn't properly heard her.

“That side is slightly lower than the others. Was it done on purpose?”

“…….”

“But there’s no reason to do that on purpose. Even if you match the height with the other sides, it’s not like the scenery of Logroño Hill won’t be visible….”

“…….”

“But it's true that the lower fence makes the scenery look prettier… Then what do you think of this? Tearing down everything except that side.”

“…….”

“East, south, north, all the rest. And matching the height to the west fence… Ah, in that case, wouldn’t it be better to just tear it all down?”

However, Ines continued talking regardless of whether Cárcel was paying attention to her words or not. She seemed busy just eating while she talked.

Of course, within a few words, the task had escalated from repairing one side of the fence to tearing down the entire fence.

As usual, a hot-tempered person naturally enjoyed impulsive decisions.

“Right. Tear down the east, west, south, and north. Since the bricks of the residence are rose-colored, the current brown fence is fine, but how about painting it white?”

“…….”

“Making a new fence out of wood would also be idyllic and nice… Like a farmhouse. People deliberately build their villas like that… But wood would look too informal, wouldn’t it? It’s a Captain’s residence, after all.”

“…….”

Cárcel still didn't answer. [ʏᴜʟʜᴇʏᴜɴ] He mechanically continued to fill his mouth with meat whenever it emptied, his gaze still fixed on Ines's face.

He looked as if he were observing a very suspicious and unfamiliar person, or perhaps he didn't seem to have much thought at all.

Nevertheless, Ines continued to unilaterally lay out her ever-changing plans, adding phrases like 'What do you think?' 'Right?' 'Is this better?'

It was a gesture of respecting the other person’s opinion, but judging by the fact that she didn't even care that there wasn't a single reply, it was just words.

Her lips, which had stopped talking and were busily moving for a moment, opened again after swallowing the food.

“…But even metal would look warm like wood if painted brightly. What do you think?”

“…….”

“It would go well with the rose-colored bricks. We can build a proper wall with brighter and wider stones at the bottom, and on top of the wall, we can put up a fancy fence with brightly painted metal.”

“…….”

“Alfonso, what do you think, Alfonso?”

“Excellent insight, Señora.”

“Don’t just say things that I would like to hear. The butler has a good eye, so I’m curious about your opinion.”

Ines spoke softly despite the butler's stiff reply. A slightly flustered look appeared on Alfonso's stern face.

“No, truly… The fence is the frame of the house. As the Señora said, if it’s changed, the residence will look more dignified.”

“Right?”

“The current fence shows some signs of age. It needed repairs anyway.”

“Cárcel, Alfonso agrees.”

“…….”

“Cárcel?”

“…With all due respect, Captain, you seem to have been busy looking at the Señora’s face since earlier.”

Alfonso said so, as if conveying the truth. [ʏᴜʟʜᴇʏᴜɴ] Only then did Ines properly look at Cárcel.

“Ah, was there something on my face?”

There was something. Something suspicious…… Cárcel seemed to be responding with his expression, but soon, he smiled faintly and said,

“Your face is perfect right now.”

“So?”

“I was wondering why you were acting like this.”

Ines tilted her head with a puzzled expression. It was close to an expression that said she understood but would pretend she didn't.

“Do you perhaps hate the idea of rebuilding the fence?”

“No, I like it.”

“If you don’t dislike it, then it’s fine. Alfonso, then call the contractor tomorrow.”

“Yes, Señora.”

“I was thinking of repainting the exterior walls of the residence as well, but the rose-colored bricks are so pretty. I think we can leave them as they are. Right?”

“…Right.”

“And I’m thinking of building a greenhouse in the garden….”

“……Why are you doing this?”

Cárcel finally asked, unable to hold back any longer. Ines saw Alfonso, who had been standing between her and Cárcel, ready to serve them at any moment, flinch and stop holding the water bottle.

“You’re asking why we need a greenhouse?”

“No—.”

“—Well, since you pathetically placed your billiard table and chess table in that nonsensical layout and play alone, I thought of creating a suitable space for you to play in….”

“…You’re making it for me?”

He asked, momentarily entranced, with a feeling close to being touched, but quickly came to his senses.

Besides, a playroom? He wasn't a seven-year-old boy…. And besides… playing alone…….

“No, I mean, besides the greenhouse.”

“Then?”

“I like what you’re doing. But I don’t understand why you’re suddenly doing all this.”

“You like it but you don’t understand it, choose one.”

She suddenly responded in her usual indifferent tone, but she didn't lose her kind, gentle, and hypocritical face.

It was obvious to Cárcel, but the neat, dark green dress she was wearing today somehow made her look even more virtuous and sincere.

Regardless of age, not many women intentionally wore such a dull color, but among the clothes Ines owned, it was a bright dress, almost multicolored. [ʏᴜʟʜᴇʏᴜɴ] However, it was the darkest dress she had worn lately.

Lately, she had at least chosen to wear this kind of clothing. This wasn't the only thing she was doing differently.

That friendly smile, the hypocritical kindness, the bright clothes and somewhat diligently made-up face, the various concerns for the employees, and the meticulous interest in the residence… doing construction, repainting, building a playroom for her husband, no, a greenhouse, and so on…….

Decorating the house, was such a thing even possible for Ines?

“Because you’re doing things you’ve never done before.”

“What can I do when I keep getting inspiration when I look at the house?”

“You’re a woman who hasn’t changed a single piece of furniture in your bedroom since you were six.”

So, in other words, she couldn’t possibly have such inspiration. Ines suddenly put on a pitiful expression.

“It’s true that I’ve been neglectful. It was so depressing to suddenly live in an unfamiliar place….”

“Just so you know, Alfonso just left.”

So, in other words, get rid of the depression that never existed in the first place. [ʏᴜʟʜᴇʏᴜɴ] At the mention of Alfonso leaving, Ines’s hypocritical expression also left without hesitation.

“It’s about taking care of our home. It’s for you, and for me.”

So, on the contrary, there was sincerity in Ines’s words, and that’s why he really couldn’t understand.

“And for the guests.”

“…….”

“We need to decorate the house so we can invite guests.”

“Guests…….”

“It’s not bad now, but for hosting a party….”

Party……? Cárcel's eyes now changed to the level of worrying about Ines's health.

“…Where do you have guests…?”

Cárcel asked as if she were talking about something that couldn’t exist in the world, like a unicorn.

Ines answered as if it were no big deal.

“You have them.”

“…….”

“So, to be precise, it’s for your guests.”

'Your guests.' The worry in Cárcel's eyes deepened further.

“Ines… you must be sick somewhere.”

“No, I’m perfectly fine. First, I’m thinking of inviting Lieutenant Almenara to dinner after mass this week.”

“……Who? What?”

“Lieutenant Jose Almenara. Your adjutant.”

“…….”

“I’m thinking of having a small dinner with your adjutant.”

Cárcel's mouth slowly fell open.