Married to a Man who Wants to Kill me

 

 

Today, I spent some leisurely time with Casey at the Vanessa Palace.

 

Casey, who had grown quite a bit, seemed to be transforming from a fragile puppy into a more graceful wolf-like creature.

 

His distinctive shoulder blades were noticeably growing, but mischievous Casey always appeared cheerful.

 

I stroked the back of the black wolf and muttered to myself. “We share more similarities than I thought.”

 

That day, unable to resist Stella’s urging, I immediately called for a consultation after seeing the mark on my chest. However, the only response I received was that they couldn’t determine the cause.

 

Lately, whenever I woke up from a nightmare, I’d feel excruciating pain for a very short period of time. However, it was unclear whether the mysterious mark was related to that.

 

Thankfully, there were no apparent issues, and day-to-day routines continued without any disruptions.

 

I had the ominous thought that I might have contracted a terrible disease, but since I couldn’t properly identify the cause, there was nothing I could do about it.

 

I had no choice but to watch and wait with patience.

 

Putting aside complicated thoughts, while playing with Casey, Ian appeared at the entrance of the Vanessa Palace.

 

The timid wolf quickly hid behind me when he noticed the unfamiliar figure. I, too, felt awkward meeting him. I really didn’t want to talk to him anymore.

 

In any case, his coming here in person must mean there’s something important he needs to convey. I didn’t feel comfortable bringing an outsider into the presence of Casey, who was wary of strangers, and as if he knew what I was thinking, he didn’t come any closer.

 

I handed Casey over to the caretaker and approached Ian.

 

“What’s going on?”

 

“I heard you weren’t feeling well.”

 

He was referring to the visit of the palace physician to the Empress’ Palace.

 

“Now, you don’t think I’m just feigning illness anymore, do you?” I sharply retorted, and he sighed softly, closing and opening his eyes slowly.

 

“I’d rather it be a feigned illness.”

 

He seemed to have made up his mind to be shameless, and openly revealed his true feelings.

 

Every time Lethenia complained of pain in the past, he would naturally think it was just a pretense.

 

Even when I first woke up here, he had accused me of faking illness. My eyebrows creased involuntarily. He continued nonchalantly.

 

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

 

Our eyes met directly. No matter how much time passed, facing Ian and having a conversation still felt quite uncomfortable. Eager to leave, I spread my arms to show him and spoke in a gruff tone.

 

“Look, I’m fine; I’m not really sick. So, spare me unnecessary concern.”

 

He carefully scanned me as if assessing something.

 

“Yeah, I guess so. Fortunately, you look fine.”

 

“So, are we done here?”

 

As I turned to leave, he held out an arm to stop me. When I turned my head toward him, the corner of his mouth tugged upward slightly.

 

His doll-like smile was still quite charming, but somehow the chill in it had grown stronger.

 

“Actually, there’s something else I wanted to talk to you about.” Ian’s tone felt somewhat sharp. He paused for a moment before continuing.

 

“I heard you met Lord Claflin at the Briland Farm.”

 

My whole body stiffened at the mention of Theo. Turning to him, I asked proddingly.

 

“You followed me?”

 

“The public opinion about the Xenosians isn’t favorable these days. It would be a big problem if something happened while you were visiting the farm.”

 

The words sounded plausible, but ultimately, it meant that he had been keeping an eye on me.

 

“I don’t think you should go to Briland Farm anymore. The caretakers have all been replaced by people from the Empress’ palace, and there’s no point in going there yourself.”

 

“What?”

 

When I looked at him in disbelief, he repeated the same thing with an unwavering gaze.

 

“In the future, refrain from going out. It’s an order.”

 

“Are you doing this because of Theo?”

 

“Lethenia, don’t feel unfairly treated. A promise is a promise.”

 

Without realizing it, I clenched my fist tightly. A faint sense of hostility was reflected in Ian’s eyes. At this moment, no excuse seemed to be valid for him. I couldn’t help but look at him with a gaze filled with contempt.

 

“I am the Bledel that you despise so much. I’d rather you be as cold to me as you were before.”

 

“…….”

 

“Leave me alone. Don’t pay attention to what I do or what I think. It’s more comfortable for both of us to live our lives separately, just like we always have.”

 

I expressed my resentment to him almost pleadingly. Before long, a tone of self-pity was heard in his voice.

 

“I can’t do that anymore, Lethenia.”

 

Gradually, deep sadness appeared on his face. His thick mask, making his emotions unreadable, seemed useless in front of me—or rather, in front of Lethenia now.

 

Then the words I never wanted to hear came out of his mouth.

 

“I can’t go a day without thinking of you. I don’t even know why I’ve changed so much.”

 

His words were tender and sincere. As he spoke, Lethenia’s painful emotions began to surge. It felt like being caught in an inescapable, terrible snare. Just when he was about to unleash thorny words driven by even greater despair and anger than before, Ian’s gaze shifted elsewhere.

 

At the end of his gaze was Rosetin, standing still like a statue with a vacant expression.

 

She watched us with empty eyes and then walked away. Ian’s eyes followed her back.

 

In that moment, I realized that Ian has an indescribable complexity of emotions hidden behind his walls.

 

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━

 

When Rosetin returned to Kaelin Palace, she continued to stare blankly into space, thinking long and hard about the conversation she had overheard between Ian and Lethenia.

 

The way he craved Lethenia’s affection was terribly unfamiliar. Ian is in love with Lethenia. Everything was a mess. She doesn’t know how it happened.

 

<No matter how many times you’re reborn, nothing will change.>

 

<Just looking at you suffocates me. Your eyes alone give me the chills.>

 

Every time Rosetin remembered the harsh words Ian had said to her, she felt short of breath. It was becoming an inescapable curse, pushing her over the edge.

 

Clang! Momentarily, a wave of dizziness clouded her vision. The teacup slipped from her grasp, clattering to the floor. Her lady-in-waiting glanced up, visibly concerned.

 

“Your condition seems to be getting worse, my lady. Should I summon a physician?”

 

“It’s okay; there’s no need.”

 

“But…….”

 

“Please. Just be quiet,” Rosetin replied somewhat irritably, causing the maid to gape in surprise. Rosetin then apologized to her, faking a faint smile.

 

“I apologize. I’m just a little on edge. I’ll be better after a little rest.”

 

The maid had no choice but to nod silently and leave at Rosetin’s stubborn insistence.

 

Alone in the room, Rosetin let out a long sigh. She could feel her body growing weaker by the day.

 

Ever since the day she became Rosetin Bedos, she hasn’t been feeling well. It wasn’t just the dizziness. Some days her head would ache like it was going to crack, and other days she would feel tightness in her chest and shortness of breath. Her heart would pound for no reason, and she would break out in a cold sweat.

 

During her time at the Count’s estate, she secretly sought out doctors to examine her, but no one could find a clear cause.

 

Suddenly, she realized that her illness was out of the ordinary.

 

‘Something must have happened back then.’

 

She thought her symptoms might be a kind of aftermath. It’s not a far-fetched speculation; after all, an extraordinary thing that happened. Her soul was moved into another body.

 

It was hard to explain, but she could feel it. The thread of her life was gradually shortening.

 

Even after entering Kaelin Palace, her symptoms had become more noticeable, but she had thoroughly hidden them.

 

If she called for a physician for an unknown illness, she would undoubtedly receive Ian’s disapproval, accusing her of pretending to be sick. She feared that her life as Lethenia would repeat itself.

 

Becoming the daughter of a count, she no longer suffered from groundless rumors and the terror of her frightening father. Everyone treated her kindly.

 

Yet there was one thing she couldn’t obtain—Ian’s heart. Just that alone made her doubt continuing to live as the mere shell of Rosetin.

 

Dressed as Rosetin, Lethenia stared at herself in the mirror. She believed that once she took over this body, she would be destined to be happy. She thought that becoming Rosetin Bedos would make Ian finally notice her. But nothing had changed. Perhaps it became even worse. Now, even the precious memories with him have become someone else’s.

 

She had come this far, endured all that terrible pain, and yet his heart was directed to the woman he despised so much. Lethenia Bledel, the woman he had cast into the pit, was now an unknown entity.

 

Unbearable remorse and despair choked her. All she wanted to do now was rest; every day was a struggle. Her new life was all for naught. The happiness she wished for had once again escaped to an unreachable place.

 

She sat in front of the mirror like a lonely doll, recalling the bizarre events she experienced on the day she ate the poisonous mushroom and lost consciousness.

 

 

𝑺𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝑲𝒐-𝒇𝒊