Sickly? Husband's Contractual Wife

Chapter 101

Even though I had signed the contract for the money, I was still his wife legally.

Ririn was nearby, and Melia and Tina were looking at the unfamiliar man with wide eyes.

I couldn’t let them hear that their sister was a nobleman’s mistress.

“I am…”

Just as I was about to speak up in indignation, Amoide spoke first.

“I said ‘wife.’”

He emphasized it again.

His voice wasn’t loud, but it was heavy and full of force.

“I don’t use such words for a mistress, Baroness.”

“Then, really, you, you……”

Aunt pointed at me with a trembling finger.

Seeing her shaking hand made me feel as if my own eyes were shaking as well.

“She is Duchess Ifrit, Baroness Luden.”

Colton, who had been standing behind Amoide, stepped forward and spoke.

He walked over and politely withdrew Aunt’s hand gesture toward me.

“It’s rude to gesture like that.”

“This…….”

Aunt lowered her hand and awkwardly smiled.

Then she stared at me fixedly while standing close to Amoide.

“It’s ‘Duchess.’”

Colton once again smiled beside Aunt.

“……”

Aunt Elinda looked back at the butler, who wore a gentle smile as if waiting for something.

“Please show proper respect.”

As soon as Colton’s words fell, Aunt rolled her eyes towards me, and I looked at Amoide.

He remained expressionless, merely watching Aunt.

“I’m…… I’m pleased to meet you, Duchess.”

Aunt had no choice but to slightly lift the hem of her dress and offer a polite greeting.

“Ah……”

Unintentionally trying to bow as well, he firmly held me in his arms and whispered,

“Stay still.”

So, I decided to stay still.

Seeing Aunt Elinda’s trembling lips made me wonder if the blame would fall on my innocent siblings.

When Camilla found out and got furious, I’d have a clear response.

“I didn’t do it; he did.”

I could almost picture Camilla’s face contorting in reaction.

It was a scene I strangely looked forward to.

“You look tired.

Let me escort you to your room.”

Colton politely suggested.

“No, I……”

Aunt glanced once at me, clenched her teeth, and then headed upstairs.

After dealing with Aunt, Amoide turned his curious gaze to my younger siblings and made eye contact with them one by one.

The twins, especially, seemed to be waiting eagerly for their turn and immediately began bombarding him with questions as soon as their eyes met.

“Is he our sister’s husband?”

Melia asked first, her eyes sparkling.

“……Yes.”

Unlike the assertive declaration to Aunt, Amoide appeared somewhat embarrassed.

“But he’s a Duke?”

Tina asked next.

“Yes.”

“The Duke is someone very important, right?”

“Exactly.”

The twins continued chattering and observing Amoide without stopping.

“You’re Melia and Tina, twelve years old.

This is Ririn, fifteen years old.”

“Hello……”

Shy Ririn greeted him, her face turning red.

“Hello, Ririn.”

He greeted her gently.

Ririn blushed even more and lowered her eyes.

“Then you must be Austin.”

“Duke, Duke.”

Austin repeated after the twins.

“He’s five years old now.”

Amoide immediately picked Austin up.

“You might be surprised……”

I tried to stop him, but before my words could finish, Austin began laughing gleefully as Amoide lifted him up.

I watched the scene blankly.

The tall man easily lifted Austin up and down several times.

“I want to, too.”

The twins, watching from the side, clung to his legs, one on each side.

In the end, Amoide had to repeatedly lift and lower both Austin and the twins.

“No one else can lift us that high.

Even Brother Edgar can’t do that.”

Ririn whispered from the side.

“But, sister, when did you get married?”

“That’s…… it just happened.

I’ll explain in detail later.

You mustn’t tell anyone.

Make sure Aunt doesn’t say anything either.”

I mumbled absentmindedly.

“……Shouldn’t it be kept a secret?

Why?”

“There are reasons.”

I answered with a smile.

The children’s laughter echoed again.

As I watched Amoide seamlessly blend with the kids, I felt a strange mix of emotions.

‘I can’t understand.’

I really wanted to see what was going on inside him.

He would frown, smile, seem affectionate, then be cold, worry, and then get angry.

I couldn’t make sense of the emotional ups and downs.

Is there anyone else whose mood swings so drastically within a single day?

‘Is he going through something like menopause?’

I seriously considered it.

Although his young age made that unlikely, I had no other way to explain the situation.

“Sister, what’s wrong?”

“……It’s nothing.”

It wasn’t just his demeanor that was inconsistent.

Watching him play with the younger siblings made my emotions rise and fall repeatedly.

‘Why is this happening?’

My chest felt tight.

I was even more confused because I didn’t understand the reason.

* * *

On the way back to the Duke’s residence from Aunt’s house, he remained silent.

There were only the two of us in the carriage.

I had ridden in the carriage with Colton and Rona, and now I was traveling back in Amoide’s carriage with him.

He just rested his chin on his hand, staring blankly out the window.

Starting a conversation felt strangely difficult.

‘I should be saying thank you.’

I must have had that thought at least thirty-seven times already.

Yet, I couldn’t bring myself to speak to him.

An oddly heavy atmosphere filled the carriage, weighing it down.

Just moments ago, he had arrived like a knight rescuing a damsel in distress—well, he was a real knight, but that’s not the point. He had protected me, but now he was acting as if I were invisible.

“We’ve arrived,” Colton announced as he opened the carriage door. Amoide stepped out first and extended his hand toward me. I reached out but hesitated to take it.

“What are you doing?”

Seeing that I hadn’t responded, he took hold of my barely outstretched hand and pulled me out with a gentle but firm grip. I was quickly lifted out of the carriage.

‘Thank him, thank him.’

I was trying to summon the courage to say it when he suddenly started walking ahead of me with long strides.

Just a moment ago, he had been so insistent on keeping me close, and now this?

“Um… Amoide.”

I finally gathered the courage to call out to him. He stopped abruptly and turned to look at me, startling me with his intense gaze.

“Why do you let people walk all over you?”

His sharp words made the hair on my body stand on end.

“W-what do you mean?”

I stammered, unable to find the right words.

“If I hadn’t followed you, what would you have done?”

“Just left it alone, I guess.”

“You make it impossible for me to leave you alone.”

“…”

His harsh expression left me speechless.

It’s not like I asked him to follow me.

I opened my mouth to argue, but I couldn’t get a word out before he continued.

“It’s annoying, troublesome. No matter how hard I try to shake you off, you keep hovering around like…”

“Like a fly?”

His face twisted further at my words.

“When did I ever call you a fly?”

“You said I was acting like one!”

“I never said that!”

“You did!”

“When?”

“Just now!”

We glared at each other, both breathing heavily. His cheeks were slightly flushed, and my face felt just as hot, likely just as red.

“I…”

“I…”

We both started speaking at the same time, then stopped, looking at each other awkwardly. As I tried to think of what to say next, I couldn’t ignore the feeling of being watched.

Turning around, I saw Rona and Colton, who quickly looked away when our eyes met.

They had likely witnessed the entire unseemly argument between the duke and the duchess. And they weren’t the only ones.

Servants passing by had also been watching us, standing still and staring. When I looked at them, they quickly scattered.

“L-let’s go inside,” I whispered urgently and tried to walk past him. But he grabbed my arm, stopping me.

“…I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“For speaking harshly.”

“…You realize that?”

“Yes.”

His sudden admission caught me off guard.

“It’s fine, and… thank you for today.”

I whispered quickly, feeling uncomfortable. The situation felt overwhelmingly awkward. He seemed to feel the same, but he still didn’t let go of my arm.

Just as I was about to tell him to let go and go our separate ways, he said something unexpected.

“You can go see your siblings whenever you want from now on.”

“…Whenever?”

Did I hear him right?

“Yes, whenever.”

“But your mother…”

“My permission. No one will say anything.”

“Really? For real? I can go anytime? Whenever I want?”

“Yes, do as you please. But.”

“But?”

“Be back before dark.”

“…”

“It’s dangerous outside. Always take the escort knights with you.”

“That’s unnecessary. I’m not going to war or anything.”

“Safety is important. You’ve been too careless.”

It was because I had no reason to be cautious. I only went out once a month, and my appearance was far from that of a duchess.

“Fine.”

If he insists, I’ll comply. It’s not a big deal.

He let go of my arm only after hearing my agreement. Then he continued walking in the direction he had been heading earlier, without looking back once.

I watched him for a long, long time.

Even though he didn’t turn around, I was sure he knew I was watching him from behind.

“I don’t get it…”

I thought I didn’t understand his thoughts and feelings, but now I was even more confused about my own.

A warm wind suddenly blew, signaling the change of seasons.

And along with it, something between us had changed too.