Sickly? Husband's Contractual Wife

Episode 51
‘How can I know if you don’t use words…’

My thoughts were cut off when a long sturdy leg crept in between my legs.

“Amoide!”

Under the heavy and powerful pressure pressing down on me, I couldn’t assemble my thoughts. I was entirely engulfed by his body on the bed, like prey caught in a trap. His power was so overwhelming that my resistance had little effect on him.

What on earth is going on? I wanted to cry.

“What, what, what, what is it? What are you doing?”

I attempted to escape while questioning him even under the intimidating sight of his glowing eyes.

“Because I want to talk but you keep trying to run away.”

His tone softened abruptly. It was so lovely that it gave me the chills. The abrupt shift in tone sent shivers down my spine.

“Let’s talk, so please… stop acting like this…”

“Did you not listen? I’m sick of trying to decipher your words. I’m sick of your silver tongue.”

His finger brushed against my lips.

“So, let’s play one of those games for real.”

Amoide raised his free arm and began to untie the string that held his shirt closed.

Whoosh.

I gasped silently at the sight that was presented when the string came undone.

“……”

I could see the substantial muscles on his chest as the front of his loose shirt dropped open. It was dangerously close. He leaned over me, his chest just touching mine. His long shirt brushed up against my bare chest.

‘Mommy…’

The cool, smooth fabric against my bare skin made every fiber in my body stand on end. It was irritating and ticklish. And, despite this, I couldn’t help but think about how his chest was enormous…

“Why, why, why? Why are you suddenly removing your clothes?”

‘You started it by untying the knot!’

I felt like crying even more.

“Let’s be fair and talk while we’re loosening up.”

I finally came to when he spoke. I shook my head from side to side, attempting to shake off the unusual emotion, no, hallucination. Amoide’s gaze, which was looking down at me, seemed to slant a little. I was sure there was a major misunderstanding.

“…But it appears that you do not want to sit and talk… So I just changed perspective a little.”

He murmured softly and strengthened the hand that was coiled around my wrists. A notion came through my head like lightning at that instant, and I managed to speak.

“My hand, my hand, my hand hurts, hand.”

I shook my hand, which was wrapped in a white gauze.

“There’s no need to be concerned.”

With that, he grabbed the wrist of the bandaged hand and dragged it up higher. He hammered it into place as if it were a nail.

“I won’t be using this hand.”

He won’t be using it? What does he mean, and why does he imply he won’t use my hand as he pleases? I couldn’t comprehend what he was saying, which further added to my confusion.

“Shall we talk now?”

I wanted to ask him why he had to speak in such an awkward position, but my mouth was agape.

“You said that I can’t do what I need to do properly.”

“Did I?”

“You said there is a serious, fatal flaw in me fulfilling my duties as a husband, and that’s what everyone is saying.”

“…And who said that?”

“Who do you think?”

Camilla’s face came to mind first, followed by the chef, Jean’s, then Raymond’s – that was already three suspects in mind. But they all had good reasons not to say it to others. Would Camilla take the initiative in discussing her son’s problem? Or would the doctor go around disclosing the secrets of the patient under his care? Or how about Jean, who doesn’t say anything even when he’s cooking in the kitchen? None of the three had any cause to say such things to Amoide directly.

Camilla had told me several times to be careful what I said in case it upset her son.

What good would Raymond telling others do? He’s a man who doesn’t say much anyway.

Jean also spent a lot of time in the kitchen. He wasn’t free enough to meet Amoide separately and say things that were unneeded.

“I… I have never said such a thing.”

I pushed out my tongue to moisten my chapped lips.

“The same is true for Mother and Raymond. Why would they say such things? Jean?”

“You mean Raymond, Mother and Jean? You spoke about this with all three of them?”

Oops. A shudder shot down my spine as he narrowed his gaze and considered what I said.

‘I slipped up.’

I bit my lower lip tightly, but what was done was done.

“Speak.”

He said this while firmly grasping my hand. There was nowhere to go.

“Did you say anything to those three people? How did you phrase it? That I’m incapable of being proactive, that my energy levels are so low that I can’t even function at night?”

I was slapped firmly in the face by the strong energy he was radiating, and I scrambled to make explanations.

“No, I, I didn’t…”

But my mouth was gaping, and I couldn’t say anything, because what he said was true. In order to get over my problem, I made up lies. Even though it was part of the plan for saving him, it was a fatal error.

“I assumed you’d given up. You were awkward at first, but soon you acted as if you had given up on having my child.”

“I still have the same feeling. I only want you to be well.”

“…Do you really want that? Is that all there is to it?”

He narrowed his eyes and looked at me. His eyes were filled with scorn.

‘What gives, all of a sudden?’

We were doing excellently: we went on walks and ate meals together; you even assisted me in chasing Greta away! I even made a phony, unintentional confession! We had some interesting chats!

“I told you, I, I love you.”

“Are you really in love with me?”

His sardonic laugh, which sounded like a sigh, landed on my brow.

“Then what else could it possibly be?”

I stated unequivocally.

“…Then prove it.”

His finger brushed up against my cheek. I shuddered and tried hard not to be touched by him.

“Make an active effort to seduce me. Please don’t be so uptight. I don’t keep a trembling woman around as a hobby.”

“There seems to be some kind of misunderstanding.”

I struggled urgently to speak. But the more I tried, the more powerful the force pulling me down became.

“You said you fell for me.”

He then leaned in closer.

“You said you loved me?”

Something hot and damp was in my ear.

“Amoide!”

I yelled. His lips went down my neck, almost to my collarbone.

“Why? Isn’t this what you were hoping for?”

As I felt his breath on my flesh, I shuddered. His lips were practically touching my chest.

“To have my child, you must do something with me.”

As he smiled, a rush of wind blew across my chest. My body shook and trembled.

“But why have you changed your mind now?”

“No, no. That is not the case. I had planned to…”

How could my good intentions to look after his health be so twisted? I was so stunned that I couldn’t even speak properly.

“Use your head if you want to have a child and not just be a duchess in name but the mother of an heir. Don’t use shallow tricks.”

His tone was chilly and controlled.

“When I die, you will become the duke’s mother. You would be able to govern the dukedom like my mother does today.”

My mind went blank as I listened to him talk.

“Rather than trying to win over those around me, you should have come to me.”

What I was hearing was incomprehensible to me.

“You could have stripped naked and jumped into bed. After all, your body is all you have, isn’t it? You should put it to good use.”

“……”

“Beg me to let you have a child, then seduce me with your body.”

“Amoide, there’s been a misunderstanding…”

“If you want to have all that luxury, then use your head.”

“……”

Use my head. This was the most offensive thing I’d ever heard him say, especially in this context.

“What… do you mean?”

“I mean, don’t be so naive. Don’t squander your time the way you have been. Isn’t having my child the first step in gaining control in our household?”

“……”

Under his chilly, condescending look, I was at a loss for words. Amoide, on the other hand, moved in and brushed his lips on the side of my neck. I let out a little scream and twisted my body in response to this strange contact.

“I don’t want this, I really don’t…”

“Is this also an act?”

A sarcastic laugh rang forth.

“You can’t fool me with this act right now.”

He quickly defeated me. I felt the rash movement of his lips run through my chest. I felt like a fish being cut open on a chopping board.

“Ugh….”

I couldn’t defeat him no matter how hard I tried. I couldn’t find any opening. I was frightened of everything.

“I don’t want this…… Please… Stop…”

My eyes welled up and tears streamed down my cheeks. I couldn’t stop protesting, even though I knew it was pointless; Amoide simply gazed impassively down at me while I struggled desperately.

Why is he staring at me like that? The grasp on my wrist suddenly relaxed slightly. I swiftly released my grip and shoved his chest as hard as I could.

“Get off, get off…”

I hammered on his chest and pressed hard, but he didn’t even flinch. He didn’t back away from me, but he also didn’t stop me. At some point, I realized I was just struggling alone.

‘Something isn’t right.’

The hand I was using to attack him was caught the minute a clear warning sprang into my mind.

“It doesn’t seem to hurt anymore?”

“……”

A bandage was wrapped underneath the huge hand that caught mine.