Spring Blooms When I'm With You

"Oh my!"

"Isn't that..."

"The one President Fuse married? His wife from... an ordinary family?"

"Yes, I've seen her before... At Old Madam Fuse's birthday celebration banquet before."

Faint whispers came the moment Tsubaki came out of the car. Even when those words, either good or unsavory, entered her hearing, she kept a calm smile on her face. Tsubaki leisurely swept her gaze across the foyer while occasionally gave a light nod and smile to whoever met her eyes.

Even though the wealthy madams who she met during the charity tea party the other day were polite and accepted her like how Mrs. Souma did, Tsubaki knew there were still some who were puzzled by her suddenly becoming the new mistress of the Fuse household.

As they said, she came from an ordinary family, or in other words, a commoner. A being who was supposed hard to come into contact with them on a personal level.

Tsubaki didn't let their words ruined her mood. Especially when she didn't know most of them. Step by step, followed by Kaede who held on to the gift, she walked toward the main door where a few staff were checking the guests' invitation cards. The guests could hand the gifts to them as well.

"Missus, may I have your card?" The young man politely asked once it was Tsubaki's turn.

"Here it is," Tsubaki gave the young man a smile as she handed the card from her purse.

The young man's eyes brightened when he scanned the content of the invitation card, "Ah, you are Mrs. Fuse Tsubaki. Mrs. Souma asked us to directly bring you to her. Please, follow me, Mrs. Fuse."

"Thank you."

Although Tsubaki was baffled by Mrs. Souma's arrangement, she didn't argue with it. She tailed behind the young man in a black-and-white suit inside the main hall. Kaede gave the gift to another attendant before she quietly made herself invisible.

"Tsubaki!"

"Kanako," Tsubaki chuckled.

The young lady was dressed in a burgundy-colored c.o.c.ktail dress. She hurriedly walked to Tsubaki and wrapped her hands around Tsubaki's right arm. Kanako looked at the attendant, "I'll bring her to Mrs. Souma. You may attend to your post now."

"Understood, Miss."

As he saw that both of them knew each other, the young man left. He had known that Kanako was close to the lady of the Souma household so her words were credible.

Kanako directly brought Tsubaki deeper into the main hall until they passed the exquisite chandelier hanging above their heads. Along the way, they politely greeted back the people who addressed them first. Their words were almost the same.

"You are Mrs. Fuse, right? Ah, I can't believe when I heard President Fuse has married... someone."

"Oh, a baby is already coming? En, what a good relationship you have with President Fuse."

"For you to be here alone... Where's President Fuse?"

"Won't he come? He just let you come here alone?"

Kanako was infuriated by what they insinuated behind those words. While Tsubaki answered them calmly, Kanako was the one who wanted to step forward and tear down those smiling faces who were clearly mocking Tsubaki.

"...It's obvious they are dissatisfied with the fact President Fuse has married you," Kanako grumbled once they managed to shake the people off.

"My husband is so famous, what can I do about it?" Tsubaki laughed in a good mood. Rather than being disheartened by their remarks, she paid no attention to them.

Even though those words sounded offensive, Tsubaki only focused on the good parts. There were still people who greeted her in an amicable way. The only ones who talked in a roundabout way of their disappointment were mostly the spoilt heiress.

"You have to keep a tight rein over President Fuse!" Kanako hissed, "Even though he loves you so much, don't let those kinds of crafty women play any tricks on your husband!"

"Alright, alright. I'll listen to you."

Tsubaki could only appease Kanako in this way. She was amused when it was Kanako who was so worried instead of her, the wife of the man coveted by those beautiful and young ladies.

To say that she never had felt inferiority whenever she faced those ladies was a lie. They were raised up as princesses by their parents and lived a life of luxury since young. It was something that was out of reach for Tsubaki but, over time, she ignored it.

Ren was a good husband, too good for her. He had never once made her felt like she was below him. As he treated her as his most precious treasure, won't she just hurt his feelings if she let those women's scorns successfully entered her mind?

"That's Aunt Shiori!" Kanako exclaimed suddenly, "And, that's my mother. The one dressed in an emerald dress."

Kanako brought Tsubaki to where Mrs. Souma was talking with a group of elderly madams. When they saw Kanako and Tsubaki, they stopped talking. Mrs. Souma came forward and gave Tsubaki an embrace.

"You're finally here," Mrs. Souma smiled. She loosened her embrace after a second and looked at her friends, "I guess you have met them except for Kanako's mother. This is Mrs. Esumi."

Tsubaki properly turned her body to face Kanako's mother and gave the woman a respectful bow, "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Esumi. I'm Fuse Tsubaki."

Mrs. Esumi drew a smile then she teasingly pinched Kanako's arm, "Nice to meet you too, Mrs. Fuse. I've heard a lot about you from this daughter of mine."

"Mom! Don't pinch me!" Kanako frowned.

The group burst into laughter.

Tsubaki greeted the other ladies too who she got to know at the tea party. These ladies were unlike the ones she encountered before. She could chat peacefully with them and no hidden mockery could be heard from their words.

No wonder these ladies were Mrs. Souma's close friends. They shared the same elegance as her. Although Tsubaki didn't know if they were being truthful or not, she just accepted it as it was.

Never doubt a person's sincerity if you couldn't prove it otherwise.

"It's a pity that President Fuse couldn't come," Mrs. Esumi lamented regrettably, "I really want to see you two together. Aye, blame me for wishing to see young romance. If my daughter has any decency to bring my potential son-in-law home, I won't have to worry like this."

"Mom, what are you talking about?" Kanako shot her mother a glare. The tips of her ears started to redden.

"I'm saying the truth, aren't I?" Mrs. Esumi shot back, "Look! Tsubaki has already pregnant! She would give Old Madam Fuse a great-grandchild soon. You're even older than her but I couldn't even see the nose of my potential son-in-law."

"Seriously, Mom!" Kanako felt like crying without tears.

Once again the group laughed good-naturedly. Tsubaki felt sorry for her friend but she could only pat her arm while curling up a smile.

The idea to tease Kanako about Saito Hajime crossed her mind but, because it seemed like Mrs. Esumi didn't know about Kanako's feelings for him, she abandoned the idea.

Tsubaki wasn't sure if Mrs. Esumi would accept if her daughter fell in love with her own bodyguard. Saito Hajime was a remarkable man. Although he was a man of a few words, he was a good one. Tsubaki saw the shadow of her husband on her estranged cousin.

If Saito Hajime was just how she thought he was, Kanako would lead a good and happy life beside him, but, feelings couldn't be forced. As much as Kanako had loved him for long, it wasn't clear if Saito Hajime would reciprocate her feelings.

While they were talking, a woman came to get Mrs. Souma. She whispered a few words to her. Mrs. Souma nodded and turned to look at her friends.

"Shinjiro called for me. I'll go to him first."

"Ah, the celebration starts," Kanako murmured to Tsubaki.

The music that filled the hall gradually slowed down before it ended. Due to that, all of the guests stopped chatting. Their eyes were focused on the grand staircase at the center of the hall. The lights inside the hall were dimmed before another light was focused on the top of the stairs.

Two figures were standing next to each other with the woman's hand was hooked around the man's arm.

President Souma and Mrs. Souma descended the stairs, accompanied by the new piece of music. Everyone's eyes were trained on them.

Mrs. Souma was adorned in a champagne-colored dress while President Souma wore a black suit. His tie and lining of the suit perfectly matched his wife's dress.

Both of them appeared to suit each other. If not for the truth of their marriage, Tsubaki would happily wish for their lifelong blessing.

"...ki? Tsubaki? Are you okay?"

"?"

Kanako's voice tinged with concern penetrated her ears. Tsubaki didn't realize that she was withholding her breath the moment she saw President Souma.

"Hey, are you alright?" Kanako asked again.

"...I'm fine."

Tsubaki waved Kanako's worry off with a smile. Through the corner of her eye, a silhouette was walking toward her. Her eyes widened when she saw who was it. The familiar smirk sent goosebumps all over her.

While Tsubaki was focused on that silhouette, her body suddenly was yanked by someone from behind, colliding herself to a sturdy c.h.e.s.t.