Husband, I’m OK With a Divorce, but I Want to Continue My Slow Life! “The Despised Ability Was More Versatile Than the Saint’s” – Chapter 23

ㅤChapter 23
ㅤHaving fully recovered and officially granted permission to stay in this country, Ruby was enjoying her days even more.
ㅤShe would wake up at exactly six in the morning with the gentle sunlight. She would have a warm breakfast with Emma and her Creatures Under One’s Care, then devote herself to tending the expanded fields. After lunch, she would take a walk in the forest, also serving as a stroll for her Creatures Under One’s Care.
ㅤIf she came across fruits during this time, she would harvest them, and if she encountered Monsters, she would ask, “Do you want to be my friend?” The Monsters that emerge from the Underworld are mostly poisonous creatures, so they were not a threat to Ruby, the Poison User. No matter how terrifying the Monster looked, they were strangely endearing to Ruby, just like Michael.
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ㅤIncidentally, the remaining one in ten were Monsters that would attack Ruby and the others. If they couldn’t communicate and became a threat, she had no choice but to defeat them. Blacky was active in this, and they became his food.
ㅤReturning to the log house that Emma had made comfortable, Ruby would prepare meals using the harvested vegetables and other ingredients. Before evening, she would cleanse herself in the spring and go to bed as night fell.
ㅤRuby truly felt that this was the happiest time of her life.
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ㅤ――One day, an unusual guest came to the log house.
ㅤRuby, who was doing her usual farm work, stopped at the sound of Michael’s alert bark.
ㅤApproaching was a large man with bluish-black hair and golden eyes. His attire, resembling a knight’s uniform, was imposing, making his dignified demeanor even more striking.
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ㅤ”……Oh? Isn’t that Your Majesty? It’s been a while. What brings you here?”
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ㅤRuby stood up in surprise.
ㅤTheodore had a somewhat uncomfortable expression.
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ㅤ”……I just came to see how you were doing.”
ㅤ”I apologize for taking up your busy time. As Your Majesty instructed, I will report to the Knight at the station if anything unusual happens, so please don’t worry.”
ㅤ”……”
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ㅤTheodore didn’t reply and stared intently at the field at his feet.
ㅤThe clouds had cleared as if by magic, and light was pouring down on this area alone. The vegetables, carefully planted in straight lines, were vibrant green, basking in the light and looking comfortable.
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ㅤ”……Did you grow all of this yourself?”
ㅤ”Yes! The number of Creatures Under One’s Care has increased, so I’ve expanded the farmland. I have leafy greens, root vegetables, beans, and potatoes. I’m planning to try wheat soon.”
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ㅤAfter a moment of silence, Theodore voiced the reason he came here today.
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ㅤ”……Princess Ruby. Please let me help you with your farm work today. In return, would you mind telling me about this field?”
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ㅤRuby was taken aback by the unexpected offer.
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ㅤ”Your Majesty is going to do farm work!? I don’t think talking about fields is very interesting, but I’ll tell you as much as you want if you’re interested. You don’t have to help me when you’re so busy.”
ㅤ”No, that wouldn’t sit right with me. I would feel uncomfortable if you thought I only came here for information.”
ㅤ”Isn’t that fine? You are the Emperor.”
ㅤ”No.”
ㅤ”Is that so……? Ah, could it be that Your Majesty is starting your own garden? So you came here to learn the know-how!?”
ㅤ”……Well, you can think of it that way.”
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ㅤIt seemed that Ruby didn’t hear Theodore’s muttered reply. “You should have said so sooner!” she said, running off with a smile to fetch farming tools for him.
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ㅤ”Here you go, Your Majesty! I apologize that these are the ones Emma usually uses, but please forgive me as we only have two sets.”
ㅤ”No problem.”
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ㅤTheodore received the h*e and took over the furrow Ruby had been tilling.
ㅤHowever, as expected, Theodore, who had never done any farming, was a sight to behold.
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ㅤ”Hey, Your Majesty! You hold the h*e like this. You’ll hurt your back if you do it that way. And you turn the soil from the outside inwards!”
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ㅤThe flustered Ruby placed her hand over Theodore’s right hand and lectured him on the correct way to hold the h*e. She moved it with him a few times, and then placed her hand on his waist to teach him how to make furrows without straining his body.
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ㅤ”Ehehe. I was also doing it my own way until recently. Emma taught me the right way…….But Your Majesty, your face is bright red!? Are you alright?”
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ㅤLooking back up, Theodore’s face was red all the way to his ears. Moreover, he seemed absent-minded and dazed.
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ㅤ”You’re always in the castle, so you must have been affected by the sun! Let’s go inside and take a break!”
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ㅤAs Ruby pushed Theodore’s back, trying to push him into the log house, Theodore suddenly came to his senses.
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ㅤ”……I apologize. I’m alright now. I don’t need a break, let’s continue working.”
ㅤ”But, your face is bright red–”
ㅤ”I’m just a little hot. I’m fine.”
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ㅤHaving said that firmly, Theodore started to till the field with tremendous vigor.
ㅤRuby involuntarily gasped in admiration at his single-minded movements, as if he was trying to shake off distracting thoughts.
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ㅤ”You’ve already grasped what I taught you. As expected, Your Majesty is a capable person……!”
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ㅤThanks to his efforts, the planned work was finished in no time. Although Theodore had said he would help for the day, she usually only did farm work in the mornings.
ㅤSo, Ruby decided to invite Theodore for lunch and ask him about his purpose.