#814 The Other Pair of Newlyweds: The Wife’s Side

My name is Carp.

I’m a teacher at the prestigious Mermaid Witch Academia.

I am the stern educator of future merladies at a school dedicated to their upbringing.

I strive to discipline myself to be a paragon of virtue and conduct myself as the supreme lady.

Just the other day, I finally tied the knot.

Being a woman, marriage is, of course, a natural progression.

In a sense, it’s a duty.

Entering another household, becoming the bridge that connects families, and bearing heirs are indispensable aspects of human activity.

Admittance to the elite Mermaid Witch Academia is granted only to daughters of noble houses, which further cements the significance of matrimony.

Therefore, it is imperative that I, who guide these young ladies, embody the decorum befitting a mermaid of virtue.

The comportment befitting a lady, and now, a wife.

Now that I am married, I see it as an excellent opportunity to demonstrate to my students the proper conduct of a wife in practice.

Ordinarily, I walk three steps behind, holding my husband in high esteem, serving and supporting him with the deference of a devoted servant.

But behind the scenes, I direct the household as the matriarch, guard the kitchen as my domain, and in the chamber, it’s I who takes the reins.

This is the ideal visage of a married lady.

Now that I’m married myself, I shall practice this ideal, becoming the exemplary wife who respects yet adeptly manages her husband!

Oh, dear Gobukichi!

Prepare yourself to be ruled by a perfect lady wife like me, albeit a pitiful fate for you!

However...

Sir Gobukichi proved to be a more formidable opponent than I anticipated!

“Carp-tan! I love, love, love, love, love, love, love you! Slobber, slobber, slobber, slobber, slobber!!!”

What an onslaught!

I had assumed him to be gentlemanly and rather rugged... even bashful, until the actual ceremony.

But once we became husband and wife, he unleashed himself fervently! A veritable torrent of passionate advances?!

“Carp-tan! Carp-tan, Carp-tan, Carp-tan! Huff, huff, huff! You’re so cute, so adorably cute, I just can’t...!!!”

I had not expected Sir Gobukichi to undergo such a drastic transformation!

But I understand... This must be his strategy!

The strategy of dominating the dynamics of our marriage with such lovey-dovey sweetness!

His aspiration is admirable, a determination that spares no means—I’m in awe!

Truly, he is the man I chose to marry!

However, as a teacher who instructs ladies, I cannot afford to lose.

To teach my students the art of being a good wife who expertly manages her husband, I must not lose this first battle in our marital life!

I shall charm Sir Gobukichi, turning him into a hapless husband who can’t help but yield to his adorable wife’s every word!

***

Thus, numerous battles have been waged.

“Carp-tan, I love, love, love, love you!”

“Darling! I adore, adore, adore, adore you!!!”

If Sir Gobukichi lets loose, I will not be outdone and will remove another limiter in response.

As we carried on with this routine, the situation escalated with each repetition. Before we knew it, we found ourselves in an irreversible mess.

Now and then, our neighbor Zoth Syra would pass by our fence...

Casting a troubled glance that seemed to say, “Is that really becoming of you...?”

What?

Does it matter if we’re both happy in the end?

No, that’s not it.

I am simply demonstrating to the young girls the ideal form of a wife as a mermaid teacher.

Showing them the figure of a wise wife who controls her husband, making him dance in her palm.

For this purpose, the formidable Sir Gobukichi makes for a splendid sparring partner.

I’ll use this challenge as teaching material for my students on how to ensnare and tame such a husband!

And today marks a pivotal moment in our struggle for marital dominance!

Orkubo’s Castle is meant for a grand gathering where people make merry and enjoy the festivities.

As someone who instructs mermladies, I’d typically shun such frivolous events, but since my darling Sir Gobukichi has invited me, I cannot refuse.

You think I’ve been cleverly coaxed?

Nonsense.

By willingly accepting the invitation, I lure him into complacency, waiting for the perfect moment to seize control!

This is the cunning art of a wife’s manipulation!

In such riotous festivities, one’s spirit naturally becomes light and giddy.

I’ll harness that merriment to further ensnare Sir Gobukichi in my affections, molding him into the ever-so-obliging gentleman who hangs on my every word!

After all, he is no ordinary bumpkin; he stands a cut above the rest. To have such a stalwart man dote on me, under my delicate thumb, is truly a lady’s finest skill.

But Sir Gobukichi is a splendid man.

Even in the monotony of a queue, he ensures not a moment dull for me.

Merely gazing into each other’s eyes makes us lose track of time completely.

Eh? What’s that?

Our turn’s up? Who cares about that – let us gaze into each other’s eyes just a bit longer!

Then there’s the stuff that followed – wearing matching outfits on the spot, sipping from the same drink with two straws. It’s all just so disgustingly sweet.

Who knew such marvelous times existed!

I feel like forgetting everything and just basking in these moments with him!

...Oh no!

What am I thinking?!

My true aim is to make Sir Gobukichi fall head over heels for me, crafting him into a husband who will serve me devoutly.

That’s the exemplary wife I ought to be showing my students!

But what’s with this giddiness, this attire?!

My shirt is practically filled with hearts!

This won’t do. If acquaintances see me like this, who knows what they’ll think? My pristine image as the Iron Merlady will be all for naught!

“Isn’t it too late for that? What’s gotten into you, acting all lovey-dovey in such a crowded place?”

“Zip it, Zoth Syra! You go flirt with your own husband!!!”

I sense someone passing by, but now’s no time to worry!

Strolling around in couple’s outfits with couple’s drinks in hand – it’s shameless!

I’d like to make a strategic retreat before being spotted by an acquaintance, but Sir Gobkichi looks so happy next to me. I worry that cutting it short might offend him.

What if he thinks I’m no fun?

While I’m fretting over this, my predicament takes shape.

A group of girls— students from Mermaid Witch Academia, no less—are mingling among the thousands of visitors at Orkubo’s Castle!

What are they doing so far from the sea? How did they get their hands on the humanizing potion?!

If they get hit on in such a frivolous place while dressed to the nines, what then?!

I should observe them...!

I mingle with the crowd and eavesdrop on their chatter...

“Kyaa! This is so fun! To think such fun can be found on land!”

“Our parents scared us, saying the land is hell, but this is nothing like that!”

“Of course, they lie! Adults just want to keep all the fun to themselves because they think it gets in the way of studying!”

They’re right!

Shouldn’t students be buried in their books even on holidays?!

Shouldn’t they be reading or exercising, not frolicking here?!

And where did they get the high-class humanizing potions that only witches can make?!

“Our new Mermaid Queen is so nice, isn’t she? Giving us that fancy potion in secret and everything. It must’ve cost a fortune!”

“Nonsense, the new queen is a witch herself. She could brew humanizing potions without breaking a sweat!”

The culprit is HER?!

That ne’er-do-well queen and a disciple of Zoth Syra! Chaos reigns with such a riff-raff on the throne!

“She’s teaching the noble girls bad habits to slowly increase her followers!”

“Thanks to her, even someone of low birth can rise to create their own faction. The future under King Arowana seems secure!”

“I’ll happily serve under Queen Puffer! After graduation, I’m going to the palace to work!”

“And then get more potions to come here, right?! I plan to do that, too!”

This is terrible! My school’s young ladies are being led astray by a bad influence!

I can’t stand by and call myself a teacher!

“Wait right there, girl!”

“AH!!! TEACHER CARP?!”

“What’s all this giddying?! The essence of a student’s life is study! Not gallivanting here – go back home and practice your embroidery!!!”

“AREN’T YOU A HUNDRED TIMES GIDDIER THAN US?!”

How I look right now: matching outfits, a couple’s drink, a man by my side.

No, you’ve got it all wrong! This is just a lady’s crafty way of steering her husband...!

Even then, my protests were in vain.

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its giving kaguya-sama vibes but married version