Episode 10
“We officially had a wedding ceremony, so it’s right to call me ‘wife’….”
“Oh, is that what you meant?”
Yerin seemed momentarily perplexed, but then smiled as if it was no big deal.
“It’s okay.”
“…Are you sure?”
“Even if you don’t call me ‘wife,’ it doesn’t matter to me at all.”
Yerin raised her eyes with a sarcastic look.
“I understand the Duke’s feelings very well.”
“No, what do you mean…”
“If we think back to why we became a married couple, it’s natural for the Duke to hate me.”
Yerin nodded with a helpless expression.
Doyul’s face stiffened slightly.
‘Again.’
It’s no different from ignoring her in front of everyone, how can that be okay?
But she always says it’s okay.
Silently enduring all those unreasonable things, she says, “It’s natural for you to hate me.”
And Doyul, in all these situations.
‘…I’m angry.’
Strangely, he couldn’t help but twist inside.
“No, it’s my fault.”
With a somewhat harsh tone, Yerin’s surprised eyes became like those of a startled rabbit.
“You shouldn’t do that to the wife.”
“Yes, yes?”
“If something like this happens, you should apologize. What good does it do to say everything is okay?”
Doyul narrowed his eyes and poured out a barrage of scolding.
But Yerin didn’t pay any attention to his scolding.
It was because one word he casually said pierced her heart.
“…Duke.”
“Just because you say everything is okay, do people really think everything is okay… Why are you like this?”
Doyul looked at Yerin with a puzzled expression.
And no wonder, Yerin’s eyes were sparkling like stars.
“Do you know why you called me ‘wife’ just now?”
Huh?
At Yerin’s words, Doyul blinked his eyes blankly.
‘…Is that so?’
Doyul accidentally called her ‘wife’ while scolding her.
Yerin’s cheeks turned as red as a ripe apple.
“Will you continue to call me ‘wife’ from now on?”
“Well, um… since you and I had a proper wedding ceremony…”
Doyul nodded hesitantly.
Upon hearing that, Yerin’s face lit up like a child receiving an unexpected gift.
“Thank you!”
…How can she be so happy just with the title of ‘wife’ that should be obvious?
Doyul felt a subtle shift in his emotions.
Meanwhile, just by looking at her, his heart fluttered as if being tickled by feathers.
“Uh, anyway…”
Doyul tried to change the subject.
“I’m not in a position to criticize you unilaterally, wife.”
“Huh?”
“Actually… I didn’t behave properly earlier either.”
Suddenly, Doyul’s face darkened like a cloudy sky.
“When you were being punished by the family, I didn’t save their lives.”
He lowered his gaze silently.
Beneath his long eyebrows, his black pupils trembled.
Instead, in that situation, I demanded that all the troublemakers be driven out.”
His thin voice seemed like it would break, but it continued without faltering.
“Did I say ‘Myung’? That troublemaker was probably seriously injured.”
“….”
“Even if they were lucky, they would definitely be disabled from the violent beating.”
Unable to overcome the feeling of being criticized, Doyul clenched his fist tightly.
Even though his nails were digging into his palm, he couldn’t even feel the pain properly.
“If I were a true nobleman, I wouldn’t have acted like that.”
“…Duke.”
“We were taught at the Northern Ice Palace that every life should be cherished…”
“Duke!”
At that shout, Doyul suddenly raised his head.
Yerin was looking at him directly.
It was a stern gaze that he had never seen before.
“You don’t need to feel guilty, Duke.”
“…One.”
“You chose to protect me, Your Highness.”
Yerin replied sharply, reaching out her hand.
Her small hand finally touched the back of my hand.
Doyul noticed that he was clenching his fist so hard that his bones were protruding from his hand.
“The guilt for that choice should be felt by me, not Your Highness. So…”
Yerin spoke firmly.
“I will bear the burden.”
“My lady.”
“The guilt, the resentment of the troublemakers, I will take it all instead of Your Highness.”
The touch that gently stroked Doyul’s hand was incredibly soft and warm.
“Please don’t be in pain, Your Highness.”
Yerin whispered softly.
“Above all, Your Highness, don’t you ponder whether your actions were right or wrong?”
“….”
“I believe that itself is proof of Your Highness’s kindness.”
Doyul couldn’t say a word.
Her soothing voice, her comforting words that gently embraced his tortured soul.
He wanted to lean on that voice somehow…
“I appreciate Your Highness’s kindness. Also…”
Yerin, who looked up at him with her eyes slightly lowered, folded her eyebrows gently.
It was a radiant smile like the spring sunshine, spreading to all things.
“…I’m very happy that Your Highness chose me instead of Myung.”
At that moment.
The strength that Doyul had been holding onto in his hand slipped away.
“…As soon as possible.”
Feeling a rush of heat behind his ears, Doyul quickly withdrew his hand from Yerin’s.
“I plan to return to the Northern Ice Palace.”
“Wow, really?”
Yerin’s eyes widened in surprise.
Doyul subtly avoided her gaze and instead nodded slightly instead of answering.
“I’m really looking forward to Your Highness’s hometown!”
“Is that so?”
“Yes! I hope you go back soon.”
Listening to Yerin’s innocent voice, Doyul pursed his lips and asked himself.
…If I want to continue trading food steadily, it’s better to show that I care for the daughter of the family.
That’s why I protected her.
There’s no other meaning, none at all.
Doyul forced himself to think that way.
While deliberately ignoring the fact that he stood against the family that provided food to protect their daughter.
