Chapter 6
“Not an illusion?”
Is Sheriel really just standing there with that serene smile?
Soon, a thin, gentle voice was heard.
“Your Grace, it’s not an illusion. Since I was waiting, please refrain from making baseless remarks and come in.”
Her voice was kind, but her words were as sharp as usual for Sheriel.
Erkian stiffened his face again.
“Why did you come out to greet me?”
Then she smoothly changed the subject.
“Why would I think anything? You’ve been through a lot. Please come in. I told the servants to prepare something you like.”
Sheriel, who had been constantly wearing a cold expression since their marriage, was smiling at him.
She could smile so beautifully. A long time ago, the smile she gave him briefly came to mind and disappeared.
A futile hope that she might like him was starting to bloom.
“Well, that’s impossible. Sheriel despises me.”
With a self-deprecating smile, he followed her inside.
***
“I can’t breathe….”
I couldn’t tell if the food was going into my mouth or my nose.
I welcomed back my returning husband warmly, but even his response was cold.
“An illusion. Isn’t it too much to prepare all this for me?”
A sigh escaped me involuntarily.
He and Sheriel not getting along was worse than I thought.
Even now, amidst the chilly atmosphere where not even the sound of utensils clinking could be heard, we continued our meal without exchanging a word.
“I have to say something. If I miss this moment, it will be even harder to talk later.”
“Your Grace….”
As I called him, his sharp gaze turned towards me. It resembled Cassel’s, full of vigilance.
“Why are you calling me?”
“I have something to say.”
“Go ahead.”
“It’s a bit inappropriate here. I want to talk separately after the meal. Is that okay?”
There were too many servants around here.
Cassel wouldn’t like his story spreading everywhere. That’s why I couldn’t even bring myself to confide in Daisy.
“Do as you please.”
Though his tone was indifferent, it was still an acceptance. I breathed a sigh of relief secretly.
I wanted to finish this suffocating meal quickly.
I was on the verge of collapse anyway.
It would have been better if Cassel were here.
Even to refuse a tea time together. Dinner was even more challenging.
Even as we headed to the bedroom after finishing the meal, he didn’t say a word.
Once the bedroom door closed, before broaching the main topic, I spoke to him warmly.
“I heard you went on an expedition.”
“Yes.”
“Wasn’t it hard? Expeditions aren’t easy. I was worried.”
“Did you say you were worried?”
His reaction was strange somehow.
“You would have rather seen me get hurt. Isn’t that right?”
“…That’s not true.”
‘Why is worrying so difficult!’
My head seemed to hit an even higher wall than with Cassel, that pitiful fellow…….
“What’s the matter with calling me here? By doing this, do you want something?”
“We have a child.”
“We?”
“Yes. Our Cassel. I wanted to talk about Cassel’s education.”
“Was I called here just to discuss child education together?”
“Yes.”
What’s so strange about that? I tilted my head.
Even though I didn’t like it, I mentioned Cassel’s education. I didn’t think there was a reason to refuse?
“After being so against it, you want to discuss child education together? Did you become strange after the accident?”
“It’s perfectly normal. So, Your Grace, let’s think about it together….”
As I reached out my hand, he brushed it away.
“Don’t touch me.”
Somehow, that action and his words subtly reminded me of someone.
‘Don’t treat me kindly like that!’
“Even if I do that, do you think I’ll be fooled by your acting?”
‘Even if I do that, I don’t need a mother figure!’
How similar, this rich man. Even his words are the same?
If Cassel were an angry kitten, then here was more like a sturdy and cold boss cat.
“Cassel tried to get help so that the garbage wouldn’t grow into the male lead. Why is it getting twisted like this?”
Moreover, perhaps because I was uncomfortable eating in this situation, suddenly, I felt dizzy.
“It’s not acting. I just… ugh…”
Ah, it felt like I had properly vomited.
As I staggered a bit, his pupils flickered. It was painful around my temple, but I could feel my hands and feet growing cold.
Suddenly, cold sweat was dripping down my forehead. I felt that my physical condition wasn’t good.
Instinctively, I called out to him.
“Your Gr… Your Grace…”
His pupils widened at the cold sweat on my forehead.
“You, right now…”
Even if he hated me, if I said I was in pain, he would probably call a physician, so I reached out my hand again.
This time, he didn’t push my hand away.
But seeing the man, who was frowning heavily, made me wonder just how much he disliked me.
‘Even holding hands is so repulsive…’
I was worried, but at that moment, what was important was that I was living right now.
Gasping for breath, I urgently said, “I know you dislike me. But I seem to have vomited severely… Ah! Ugh…”
As the pain overwhelmed me, I clenched my lips, and he moved away from me.
Then he shouted, “Call the physician. Right now!”
I could hear hurried footsteps, and I sat there, clutching my stomach, not knowing what to do. Then, the man with a much harsher expression approached me.
“Why did you vomit?”
Even though I knew I had to loosen my relationship with my husband, I felt a little hurt.
“Why? Even if I welcome you, you respond coldly. Ugh… Haah. If you keep that expression throughout the meal and don’t say anything, anyone would vomit.”
I wasn’t really Sheriel.
‘But isn’t it too much to accept not just indifference but also malice? He’s not even as cute as Cassel.’
Thinking of Cassel’s soft cheek that would sink in if pressed, I looked at the man in front of me.
‘See, even now, you’re scrutinizing everything about me.’
Even his eyebrows were furrowed.
“Do you hate me that much…?”
The man in front of me didn’t say anything in response.
‘Cancel the remark about him resembling Cassel. Cancel. It’s a waste to compare this stoic man to our adorable Cassel.’
Then, he spoke.
“You hated me, didn’t you.”
“Me?”
Sheriel hated the man in front of me? Why?
What I knew was just a few lines that came out of novels at best.
So I didn’t know in detail what had happened between Sheriel and him.
“If you hated me so much, isn’t it strange that you would hold my hand first when I approached?”
The man who had come closer suddenly squeezed my hand tightly.
“Ow!”
“You’re being overly dramatic. The resident physician who resides in the mansion will be here soon.”
I felt relieved at his words, but it seemed strange that the man who had warned me not to touch him was now holding my hand tightly.
Soon, I heard panting footsteps. It seemed that the physician had arrived.
“…Sorry for being late. I’ll check your condition right away.”
As soon as he confirmed that the physician had arrived, he moved away from me.
And he walked away nonchalantly. As I felt my body gradually improving thanks to the physician’s prescription, I pondered how to break down the wall with this stoic and enigmatic man.
From a tiny kitten to now an inexplicably large cat.
In the duke’s residence, there were two cats, one who raised its fur only to me.
***
After suffering from nausea for a while, I lay in bed in the bedroom.
‘As expected, it’s best to avoid meals with uncomfortable partners as much as possible.’
It was time to think about other ways to approach my estranged husband.
Tap. I heard a short knock on the door.
I blinked, wondering if it was Daisy.
But I had told Daisy to rest, so no one should let anyone in.
When I didn’t answer, there was another knock on the door.
Tap! Tap… Tap tap.
It was a hesitant and hesitant knocking sound.
With a sense of trepidation, I cautiously whispered the name of the suspected visitor.
“Cassel?”
There was no answer for a few seconds to my question, then a small voice came.
“Yeah.”
“Wow!” I covered my mouth with both hands in excitement. I did well to pretend to be sick. Cassel, our Cassel! He came to check on me because Mom was sick! I tried to conceal my excitement and calmly told him to come in.
As he entered, his curly hair and warm golden eyes caught my attention. He glanced sideways, his lips quivering with embarrassment. “Oh no. He’s too cute, I might die.” I thought, lowering my raised tail as much as possible.
Cassel approached me and said, “I heard from the maids.”
“Heard what?” I asked, and he blushed, lowering his head shyly. “What did you hear?” His cheeks wobbled as he spoke, and the words seemed to tumble out of his mouth.
“I heard you were sick. I didn’t ask. I wasn’t even curious. But the maids kept pushing me to come and see…”
As he spoke, his small hand fidgeted nervously.
