Episode 6
Even though the ‘reason’ wasn’t said outright, it was clear what it was.
If the ‘condition’ that made this marriage necessary no longer existed.
If there wasn’t any reason to get married to a woman like me.
If he could meet a beautiful young woman from a better family who had grown up without having to work hard.
No matter how hard I tried, I could only come up with one answer.
His body.
‘Camilla should be the one to ask for divorce first.’
In other words, if we split up and it wasn’t my fault, this contract will end on its own.
Even though I won’t be able to make more money, at least I won’t have to pay it back.
No, that’s even better.
If ‘Party A’ wants to end the contract, ‘Party A’ must pay ‘Party B’ half of the contract amount as compensation. That was a really good clause.
It took some work to find because the letters were so small.
Still, it was a clear phrase in the contract that I had signed with Camilla.
It was the only sentence I could hold on to, the only one that was fair to me out of the many unfair ones.
Party A’s will is still a huge question mark, but that’s better.
“Well, I do have something to say, too.”
I spoke with purpose in my voice.
“… Something to say?”
“Yes.”
“What do you want to say?”
Camilla’s eyes got narrow as she looked at me. Do I sound too sure of myself? The way Camilla looked at me seemed to say, ‘Can you afford to be that arrogant?’
I took a deep breath as I looked into her eyes.
One, two, three.
“From now on, I want to take care of my husband’s affairs.”
I finally said what I wanted to say.
Oh my god, I really did say that.
Even after I said that, I couldn’t help but shrink because I was so scared.
Thump, thump.
My heart was beating so fast that I could hear it in my ears.
“What does that mean?”
Camilla gave me an angry look.
“I don’t know enough about what’s going on with Amoide.”
“What do you even mean with that?”
Camilla cocked her head and scowled.
When I saw her like that, my heart beat faster.
‘I need to keep my cool.’
I said this over and over in my head like a chant. I couldn’t give up at all here.
“Well, things like what he eats, if he goes for walks, when his seizures happen, and so on.”
“Why are you all of a sudden interested in that?”
Camilla was wary of me as she looked at me.
“I felt like I depended too much on Mother and Raymond all this time. I only cried by my Amoide’s side.”
After hearing my words, Camilla made a face, as if she heard something strange.
“So?”
“I want to be in charge of all of those things.”
“You?”
She probably meant, ‘someone like you?’, but her words came out just like that.
“I want to look out for Amoide’s health myself.”
“What did you say?”
Camilla’s eyes got really big, but I didn’t care and kept talking.
“He’s my husband.”
Somehow, my cheeks felt hot. Even though the phrase wasn’t made up, it took a lot of guts to say ‘my husband.’
My husband, my husband. Selene’s husband.
“Husband?”
Camilla laughed as if she couldn’t believe what I said.
“Don’t waste your time on something like that. Just play your part. Raymond is already taking care of Amoide.”
“…”
“I don’t know what went on with you, but don’t forget what you have to do. Your part here is…”
“To bear a healthy heir.”
“I’m glad you haven’t forgotten.”
Even though she was being condescending, I forced a smile in response.
“Of course. This is exactly why I’m doing it.”
“Then you should just try to get pregnant. You’re taking the medicine that Raymond gave you, right?”
She put her head back on the couch and asked.
“Of course.”
Was my response too fast? I slowly turned away from her sharp eyes.”
“You’re taking it right on time, aren’t you?”
Why do you ask if you already know the answer?
I sighed to myself.
Greta, Camilla’s maid, not my maid Rona, brought the medicine.
Greta brought the medicine to me herself three times a day and held it out in front of me each time.
Not only that, but she also brought me a bottle of medicine that was meant to help me get pregnant on the day that my husband and I were supposed to share bed.
She made sure I drank all of it and didn’t leave a single drop.
Greta’s eyes were always on me, and I couldn’t help but notice them.
“But I am not sure if the medicine really works.”
When I said that, Camilla’s eyebrows slightly raised.
“What does that mean?”
“Well, we can’t just take everything Raymond says at face value.”
My calm answer made Camilla’s look even more hostile.
“Raymond is a great doctor. His medications are reliable.”
“Even the best doctor can’t fix something that can’t be fixed.”
I answered without much thought, but part of me felt like giving up.
“What do you mean?”
Camilla’s face changed right away when I gave a vague answer.
“I… I thought maybe there were other problems.”
I took a nervous swallow. I played with the edge of the teacup I was holding on purpose to waste time.
“Anything else?”
“…So, both the mother’s and the father’s health are very important for a child to be born healthy…”
“Father—”
Camilla’s face looked awfully angry right now.
She seemed to wonder why I was suddenly talking about her son’s health when I already knew about it before I married him.
“Yes. I knew he was weak, of course, but what I’m trying to say is…”
I wrinkled my brow and smiled in a strange way.
At that moment, Camilla’s look, which had been fixed on my face, began to change.
“Speak clearly so I can understand you.”
Camilla’s hands, which were on her knees, turned white.
Her eyes had been narrowed like she was thinking about something, but they slowly started to get bigger.
‘Looks like she’s upset.’
I took a careful look at her.
“Uh… yeah.”
I pretended to read her face on purpose and didn’t say anything.
“Raymond can’t possibly know everything about the private life of a couple.”
Just a moment ago, Camilla’s face was pale, but now it started to turn red and blue.
“Why not?”
Her face changed, as if she thought my slow words meant something strange.
“Couples know best what’s best for them.”
I laughed in a confusing way.
“Some things can’t be done just because the wife wants them. Even if I always take the medicine.”
I tightly shut my eyes and finished my speech.
I had tried to be as vague as possible, but it was clear what I meant.
“My son… no way!”
The duchess’s voice shook a little bit.
“Definitely not, definitely not.”
Her eyebrows went up, and the teacup in her hand shook. Then, all of a sudden, a voice that was full of fear filled the room.
“…Are you saying that he’s impotent?!”
Camilla’s face was even paler than the teacup she was holding as she looked at me.
Ah, did it really surprise her that much?
But I never even once said the word ‘impotence.’
“No way, my kid would never do that! It’s impossible, out of the question!”
Camilla screamed and lost all of her pride. I didn’t expect her response to be as angry as it was.
“Uhm, Mother, you’re talking a bit loudly.”
I put my finger to my lips quickly.
“Huh?”
Camilla quickly looked around as if she had come to her senses again.
All of the staff had been sent away before tea time, which was a good thing.
…Even though they could be outside.
“Are you saying that there might be a problem with Amoide because you haven’t had a baby yet?”
Camilla took a deep breath and went on.
I smiled and said it in a whisper. Camilla’s eyes seemed to shake as if an earthquake had just happened.
“It’s impossible. Raymond is the doctor who takes care of Amoide. He has never said that there were problems in that area.”
I was surprised by Camilla’s trust in Raymond.
Since he took over the family business and became the family doctor for the Ifrits, it had grown even bigger.
Most people thought that if it weren’t for Raymond, Amoide wouldn’t be living today.
Amoide had been in a few close calls with death while Raymond was taking care of him.
Camilla worked hard to stay calm, and it was easy to see. So, I gave a small smile as a reply.
“How would Raymond know that?”
“…”
“I am, after all, his wife, madam.”
I told her the truth in a cool way.
“…”
“Think about it: I’ve been taking the medicine Raymond gave me and spending the night with Amoide when it was time. Still, there’s no sign of pregnancy…”
“There must be something wrong with your body…”
Camilla stopped me.
“Suddenly passing out? Isn’t it strange that a young, healthy person would just fall down?”
Camilla’s eyes were twitching.
It was a sad attempt to avoid the truth. So I couldn’t lose either.
“I was just nervous, and Amoide’s sudden fall caught me off guard.”
“Amoide’s health didn’t go down just yesterday or the day before, why are you so shocked…”
“You were almost going to fall down as well, Madame. When someone is scared, it’s not strange for them to act like that.”
When I said something calm, Camilla’s face got very stiff.
“It can be tiring to take care of a sick person for a long time. Not as much as you, Madame, but I’ve been keeping an eye on Amoide too.”
“…”
Camilla’s eyes shook for a moment.
