Sickly? Husband's Contractual Wife

Episode 44

She didn’t appear to be fully unaware of what I was saying. She may have known and claimed not to.

“When people hold power for a long time, they tend to become complacent. That makes me nervous.”

I tried to persuade Camilla once again.

“This is only a temporary dismissal. It’s almost like a warning.”

Knock, knock, knock.

“I brought some tea.”

Greta emerged from behind, carrying a tray. She appeared to be aware of the frigid mood in the room, but approached emotionlessly.

“Greta, you’ve come at a good time.”

“Yes, Madam.”

Greta sent me a look as she bowed her head to Camilla.

“Selene claims you’ve abused your position as head maid. That is why she has asked for your temporary dismissal.”

“…”

Greta spoke with her eyes slightly dropped.

“I am alone in the house, and there are many maids and servants. To handle so many people, I have to be dictatorial at times.”

Greta kept her cool.

“I can see how there could have been some dissatisfaction in that process.”

Greta fixed her gaze on me as she answered smoothly.

“…”

“But it was all because of my devotion to the madam. Because, if I am strict, everyone will work well for the duchy.”

Greta stood firm in her defense. It was like seeing a dictator defend their dictatorship. Most importantly, she has faith that the most powerful person in the mansion is on her side.

So I chose to poke Camilla in her most sensitive area.

“… What if the snake had appeared not in my room, but in Amoide’s?”

Camilla’s eyes widened as soon as I said the word ‘Amoide.’

“Imagine what might have happened if the snake had gotten inside Amoide’s chamber. Isn’t it terrifying merely to think about it?”

“…”

Camilla bit her lower lip, as if she was drawing the event in her mind. Of course, it’d be terrifying. After all, he is her son.

“As Mother pointed out, Amoide is physically frail. If he were to be bitten by a snake, the venom might spread more quickly than in normal people.”

I carefully dropped my voice to give my words a foreboding air.

“Consider it. Wouldn’t it be dreadful if Amoide was bitten by a snake?”

Camilla’s eyes shifted dramatically once again.

“So, you can’t just let this pass by.”

“My dear Lady!”

Greta abruptly interjected, nearly dropping the teacup in her hand.

“Greta?”

Greta was on her knees, staring at Camilla pleadingly.

“I have always lived as the hands and feet of the madam.”

“It’s only a temporary dismissal, Greta.”

It was not a permanent dismissal, but rather a temporary one. Greta produced a pained grimace as if her life had been cut short, despite the fact that she only had to lay down her duties for a short time.

“Without me, there would be no one to look after this mansion.”

Greta clutched Camilla’s skirt hem tenaciously.

“Lady Camilla is preoccupied with the duke’s health and has a lot on her mind. But if it weren’t for me…”

Camilla’s eyes shifted dramatically again in response to Greta’s words.

“Amoide’s life could have been in danger.”

I stressed the point once again.

Camilla wavered while Greta and I spoke alternately, her emotions shifting back and forth. I had no idea Camilla had such an emotional personality.

‘She’s weaker against Greta than I imagined.’

She had taken Greta from her maternal family, but to be affected to this extent? It was unexpected. I knew she trusted Greta deeply since she had served her since infancy, but I didn’t expect Camilla, who is aristocratic to the bone, to have such a side to herself.

Camilla was still torn, staring between me and Greta.

“What would you do if I gave you the order, Mother?”

It was a friendly voice. But it was a voice I didn’t expect to hear at this time. I spun around fast.

‘Amoide.’

My ‘contract spouse’ has arrived to visit us.

‘What exactly is he doing here?’

Amoide stepped up to me and stood at my side, whether he noticed the question marks popping up over my head or not.

“Amoide?”

Camilla couldn’t take her gaze away from him, taken aback.

“What… brought you to my room, Amoide?”

“I have something important to tell you.”

He spoke while looking at Greta and me alternately.

“It appears that Greta needs some time off to consider her position in this mansion properly.”

“Amoide?”

Camilla raised an eyebrow at her son, as though she found his words odd.

“There are more reasons to hold her accountable than just the appearance of a snake in the middle of the night.”

Amoide maintained his cool.

“Before dawn, a servant came to inform me that the Duchess had vanished from her room in the night.”

“It’s because the Duchess suddenly vanished. I was concerned…”

Greta spoke quickly.

“It seemed more like suspicion than worry.” He quipped back drily.

“I heard that the Duchess secretly went outside the mansion!”

“My wife was with me yesterday.”

“However, yesterday was not a conjugal visitation day.” Greta stumbled.

“Do we really need your permission for that, Greta?”

An icy snarl was aimed towards Greta.

“I just…”

She was pale and only stared at Amoide helplessly.

“I’ll say it again. Yesterday. Selene. Was. With. Me.”

The low voice wasn’t loud, yet it carried a lot of weight. It caused my hair to stand on end.

‘So he’s that type of guy.’

I shuddered slightly as I became aware of an oppressive feeling I hadn’t before recognized. And I felt a little sorry for Greta, who was taking the full brunt of that chilly force alone.

‘At least it isn’t me.’

It was terrifying merely to think about it. It was comforting that it wasn’t me. Camilla was watching everything with a peculiar expression on her face.

“Your love for your wife is extremely deep, Amoide.”

“I am the master of this mansion and the head of the Ifrit family. Even if I am relegated to my bed.”

“I know.”

Camilla spoke out, a grimace on her face.

“The honor of my wife is a direct challenge to my honor.”

His piercing blue gaze was riveted on Greta.

“A mere servant has dared to tarnish the Duchess’ reputation.”

Camilla’s eyes darted about anxiously in response to Amoide’s comments.

“Yes, it’s as you say, Amoide.”

Greta was taken aback by Camilla’s words and stared at her mistress.

“…Greta, this is an order from Duke Ifrit.”

“My Lady…”

Greta gazed at Camilla for a moment, then at me.

‘This is a surprising development.’

I was surprised and glanced up at Amoide. Amoide paused for a moment, met my eyes briefly, then walked out of the room.

‘This is unusual.’

Externally, he appeared to be in wonderful health. But there was something that gave me an uneasy feeling that I couldn’t shake.

‘Did I see it wrong?’

It felt bizarre to feel this way about someone who had put on such a powerful and scary performance seconds ago.

“Wait a moment, Selene.”

I was going to follow straight after Amoide when Camilla called me back into my seat.

“Since Greta’s position is now vacant, we’ll need someone to fill in for the time being.”

“Yes.”

I waited for her next words with bated breath.

“I’ve got a lot on my plate. Social gatherings, outside activities, and issues concerning Her Majesty the Empress.”

“I am well aware.”

Camilla was actually extremely busy. Since her husband, the previous Duke, had died, and Amoide had been unwell for a long time, she had taken over some of the responsibilities of the head of the household. Her efforts were mostly centered on the royal court and social circles because she was not a knight. It was also for this reason that she had outsourced the mansion’s affairs to Greta.

“As a result, I will require you to temporarily manage the household affairs.”

“…”

“Do you not want to?”

“I am willing.” I shook my head swiftly.

“I will do my best since you have entrusted me with this task.”

I averted my gaze to the ground to avoid Greta’s ravenous eyes. Anyway, everything went as planned. It was easier to resolve than I had anticipated.

But I couldn’t get Amoide out of my mind after seeing him earlier.

* * *

I rushed to Amoide’s room as soon as I left Camilla.

“Excuse me, Amoide.”

He greeted me from his usual vantage point near the window.

“Took you a while to barge in as usual.”

I scrutinized his face attentively as he gave his unique customary greetings.

“What exactly are you doing…?”

“Are you not feeling well somewhere?”

“…”

He just kept looking at me without saying anything.

“You didn’t seem well in your mother’s room earlier.”

“Did it seem so?”

“Are you… all right?”

“I’m just tired because it’s spring.”

He closed his eyes and rested against the window frame.

“Thank you.”

“For?”

“You took my side, didn’t you?”

Earlier, it was absolutely unprecedented. In front of his mother, he stood on my side.

“Not particularly.”

…

Well, he wasn’t the sort to admit it.

However, a languid warmth enveloped his face.