𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐕𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒' 𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐇𝐅𝐔𝐋 𝐃𝐎𝐆 | 𝘷𝘢𝘥𝘵𝘥 𝘹 𝘔.𝘺/𝘯 |

(56) Loving A Man Is Hard.

"........,"

Time skipped forward as the kids continued their chatter, somehow convincing me that, yes, Winter and I were, apparently, married.

They had such a logical yet whimsical way of reasoning that I found myself nodding along, half convinced by their innocent arguments.

Later, I found myself in the empty guild's kitchen, washing dishes like some sort of housewife.

The kids were still around the dining table, giggling and talking amongst themselves.

I hummed a tune as I scrubbed a particularly stubborn stain off a plate, actually enjoying the simple task as I've felt oddly content.

The rhythmic motion of washing dishes was almost therapeutic.

But then, as the soapy water swirled down the drain, a sudden realization struck me like a bolt of lightning.

‘Wait a damn minute.’

Why was I taking care of the kids and doing chores?

Why was I acting like a housewife waiting for her husband to come home?

Why was I even still here?

I blinked, glancing at the kids, who were blissfully unaware of my internal turmoil, then back at the sink full of dishes.

“This is ridiculous,” I muttered to myself. “What am I even doing?”

This was not how I envisioned my day.

I shook my head, trying to snap out of the bizarre role I had slipped into.

I wasn't supposed to be here playing house.

I was a Grand Duke, for crying out loud!

One with a mission.

Bun-Bun, who had been quietly observing from his spot on the counter, chimed in with a smirk.

“Having an existential crisis, are we?”

I sighed, shaking my head yet again. “Yeah, yeah. Don’t rub it in.”

He twitched his nose, clearly amused. “Hey, I’m just here for the show. But you do make a pretty good housewife, if I say so myself.”

“Very funny,” I replied dryly, rinsing off the last dish and setting it aside. “But seriously, I need to get a grip.”

It was strange how quickly I had adapted to this role, how easily I had slipped into this routine.

As much as I cared for Alissa and enjoyed spending time with the other children, I wasn’t ready to embrace the role of a makeshift spouse just yet.

As I finished drying my hands, I couldn't help but chuckle to myself, half-expecting Winter to walk in and say something like, “Honey, I’m home.”

The absurdity of the thought made me shake my head, a small smile playing on my lips.

But then, another realization hit me.