Arm in arm, the two descended the porcelain stairs, Jet's night blue suit matching Taira's sky-blue dress, while his pitch black hair stood in stark contrast to her silver-colored hair, seemingly lit up by the crystalline ornament reflecting the golden light of the chandeliers.
It had taken Jet fifteen minutes to pick up his jaw the first time he saw her fully dressed up like this.
Even right now, he had trouble staying focused with her silky smooth arm resting on his.
If she hadn't told him to focus, he wouldn't have been able to. He couldn't possibly reject such a heartfelt quest, nor could he act in a manner unbefitting his position as a husband.
So, he put on a firm expression as they reached the bottom of the stairs.
It was a ball hosted partly in their honor, so it wasn't strange if people approached them, but Jet would have liked to take at least a few dozen steps with Taira before being interrupted. Unfortunately, they had barely taken one before some guy appeared.
Tall, moderately handsome, skinny, blond, and eyes that did not leave Taira. Jet already didn't like him.
"Lady Nu, it is my absolute pleasure to see you in good health. I hope you have been well since last." The man bowed politely and extended his hand as if to receive Taira's hand to kiss.
She would not have given it, even if she wasn't holding Jet's arm.
"Cornelius Sydman. I do not recall our last meeting, but I have not suffered, certainly not recently," She said, shooting Jet a meaningful look. Naturally, Jet looked back and met her eyes with a warm smile, doing his best not to melt inwardly.
"Jet, this is Cornelius of the Sydman Family. Sir Sydman, this is Jet, my Husband."
Cornelius' expression noticeably soured as he looked at two exchange all-too-warm gazes. Were they not aware that they were the center of attention of the dozens of guests who had arrived before them? Or did they simply not care?
"So, the rumors that you had picked up a man on the way to the capital were true." Cornelius looked Jet up and down with distaste.
Jet was tall, muscular, and admittedly handsome. But more importantly, his name was Jet, just Jet. No surname meant he was definitely a commoner. As if that wasn't enough, he was tan, and his hands were scarred. He was a laborer.
He was as far from Lady Nu's stature as one could get in the Empire. He did not deserve Lady Nu.
"Since he has bulging muscles like a bull, I assume he will be participating in the Expedition?" Cornelius asked Taira, completely disregarding Jet.
"We can't all be blessed with a physique that makes the sheath of a sword look spacious, Cornelius Sydman. Besides, it's not like these muscles are a hindrance on an expedition, are they?" Jet retorted.
"So, you will be participating?" Cornelius asked before he could appropriately understand Jet's comment about his physique.
Instead of answering, Jet turned to Taira.
"Will you be participating, my dear Wife?"
"Yes, but—"
"Then I will as well," Jet said decisively with a firm nod.
"..." Taira looked at him in silence before sighing. That was not optimal.
Things would have been so much easier if Jet could focus when others talked to him. If he had listened to at least one or two things her servants had said, they could have avoided at least this particular problem.
"Great! I will see you both at that time. If you will excuse me." Cornelius smiled brightly at Jet before bowing lightly toward Taira and leaving the two alone. Jet was relieved until he caught the pressure coming from Taira's direction.
"Yes, Wife…?" He asked hesitantly.
"Are your ears full of straw?"
"I washed myself properly not even an hour ago! That shouldn't be possible!"
Taira stopped him from digging into his ears during a public event and sighed.
"What do you think an Expedition is?"
"An organized, large-scale trip with a set purpose."
"Amazing. How can you be so close yet so lost? And, now that I think about it, you're surprisingly well-spoken, aren't you? I don't even think Cornelius caught your 'compliment.'"
"Well, Uncle studied to become a scholar when he was younger, and he often says that a wise man fights his battle not with fists and swords but wits and words."
Taira gave Jet's forehead a close look.
"Alright, so why don't you know what an Expedition is?"
"Am I supposed to?"
"They should be common knowledge."
"I see. Well, I know how to farm, not how to be a commoner."
"You're joking with me, aren't you?"
"Yes, a little. Do you not like it?"
"I do. Feel free to continue after you tell me whether you know what an Expedition is."
"I don't know."
"It's an armed assault at a Link to unravel Knots and kill Wires."
"Those are words I know the meaning of separately, but when you put them like that…"
Taira sighed. She understood. But she hadn't chosen the terms.
"Well, since you told Cornelius and half of upper society that you will be joining, you will find out next week."
"I see. Wait, you said armed assault?"
"Yes."
"I did something pretty stupid then, huh?"
"Yes."
"Sorry." Jet smiled sheepishly and instinctively started to pull away from Taira.
Taira held on tight to Jet's arm, making sure he couldn't escape with bear-like strength.
Jet's eyes widened in surprise. Taira's arms weren't just skin and bone, and he could see clear muscle definition when he looked closely. But they were still slender and like toothpicks next to his.
He had worked on a farm his entire life, done a lot of stupid shit, and been punished heavily with physical work when he did stupid shit by Auntie and Uncle. He was confident in his strength.
He did not expect the slender Taira to hold his arm in place without visible signs of exertion.
He stopped trying to pull away and simply accepted Taira's warm hands.
At the same time, Taira was also surprised.
Jet should still be a mortal. She had long since left that stage behind. It should not have been as close as it was.
She once again confirmed that she had made a good choice when picking her husband.