Sickly? Husband's Contractual Wife

Episode 67

Unable to speak and feeling that putting on the clothes wouldn’t make much difference, next was the dress. The thin silk dress succumbed to his merciless grip, bearing the consequences of his violence. Until above, he skillfully removed them, but from then on, seemingly losing patience, the torn frills and lace were scattered everywhere.

Still, I had to wear something. I managed to find items among the scattered clothes on the floor that could serve the minimal role of covering my body. The least damaged piece among the items on the floor was his dress shirt. Tailored to fit his body, it was generously spacious, making it suitable to drape like a shawl.

Recalling the incident where he tore off the clothes as if dealing with a snake, my face paled. But now, the situation was even more extreme than back then. I quickly gathered the clothes and draped them over myself, then stood up.

With cautious steps toward the door, I glanced back briefly. He was still blissfully asleep. I prayed fervently for him to keep sleeping peacefully.

Tap. As I finally lifted my foot, something caught my ankle. Looking down, I saw a large piece of wood on the floor. It had a familiar rose and vine pattern, and one side seemed roughly broken, as if it had fallen off somewhere.

Gently turning my head, I noticed that above Amoud’s sleeping head, the bed’s headboard decoration was miserably shattered.

“Oh my…”

Was that the sound of ‘woojik’ I heard yesterday? Was that what it was?

“How did he…?”

I gazed at the bed, then at the scattered decorations on the floor. After several repetitions, I finally managed to move my feet.

Today, of all days, the door felt incredibly far away. “…” Creak. Even the faint sound of the door opening seemed loud now. “Please don’t break, please.” I prayed silently while pushing the door open. “Sleep well, deeply,” I whispered softly through the slightly opened door before closing it.

“Hoo.” Only after stepping on the marble that adorned the corridor floor could I finally release a sigh of relief. “Heuk.” However, as soon as I turned, I met Emma’s cold gaze. “Emma, hello?” I awkwardly greeted her with a forced smile.

“Good morning, madam.” Emma glanced over me slowly and offered a greeting. It was clear that I didn’t look welcoming. While verbally greeting me, her eyes seemed to be cursing me.

“…” Her scrutinizing gaze stopped precisely around my neck. Emma was staring intently between my neck and chest.

“Why are you looking like that?”

“It’s nothing, madam.”
The corner of her mouth trembled slightly.

‘Why is she acting like this?’

Is her gaze colder than usual just because of my mood?

“Well, then I’ll go tidy up the bedding…”

As Emma tried to enter Amoide’s room, I blocked her way.

“Amoide is still sleeping. Don’t go in.”

“Is that so?”

Emma asked with an exceptionally stiff tone.

It was unusually harsh today. Meanwhile, her gaze continued to linger around my neck and chest.

“Yeah, so do it later.”

“Understood.”

Emma obediently stepped back.

“Then, I guess I’ll have to wait until he wakes up.”

“Yeah, today…”

Suddenly, the image of Amoide’s body, as if he was still in his newborn state without any clothes, flashed in my mind.

“…Don’t go in until Amoide calls you.”

“What?”

Emma’s eyebrows furrowed unpleasantly.

“Anyway, just do that.”

“Why?”

Emma’s expression seemed oddly rebellious.

“He might be… tired.”

“I see.”

“Hmm?”

Could something have happened?

No.
“I haven’t even entered the room yet.”

“You wouldn’t know; you just have to not know.”

I desperately hoped this premonition was wrong.

“Well, I’ll go check.”

“Sure.”

Emma looked at me with a faint smile.

Tap, tap, tap.

Even as I walked away almost running, the back of my head continued to feel warm.

I wanted to sprint with all my heart, but I couldn’t.

It wasn’t because Emma would suspect.

It was due to the tingling pain piercing through my entire body.

* * *

“Heh… heh.”

As soon as I opened the door to my room, I exhaled deeply.

Throughout the journey back, I had to suppress my chest, fearing I might run into someone.

Luckily, it was still early for the morning routine of the estate to begin properly.

If not, I would have had to face the curious gazes of the servants throughout the way.

Knock, knock.

I jerked my body at the sudden sound of knocking.

It seemed like Rona was knocking on the door of my room as I returned.

I opened the door a bit and peeked outside.

“Madam, may I come in?

You must need a change of clothes.”

“No, I’ll manage on my own.”

As Rona attempted to open the door, I hurriedly grabbed the doorknob.

“You seem tired.

I can help.”

“Tired….”

Wait, how did Rona know I was tired?

I kept pulling the doorknob desperately and looked at Rona’s face.

“No, I got it.”

“….”

A mysterious smile filled her face.

“It’s okay, Madam.

It’s all like that.”

“What… what is all like what?”

“Ah, you don’t have to say that to me.

I know.”

I continued to pull the doorknob, and when Lana tried to open it, I firmly held it.

“You don’t have to, Madam.

It’s all normal.”

Rona forcefully pushed the door open and entered.

I stepped back, looking at her with a bewildered expression.

Rona confidently walked in, placed towels and underwear on one side, then swiftly turned around.

“Since you didn’t return yesterday… I was worried…”

Rona murmured with a face that seemed on the verge of tears as she looked at me.

Her expression, with her hand covering her mouth, was quite peculiar as I stared at her in confusion.

‘Why is she acting like this again?’

While I puzzled over it, Rona lowered the hand covering her mouth.

“…Absolutely not.”

Swiftly, as her hand descended, her lips, curled like a wheel, appeared.

“Madam, finally.”

At her words, I fidgeted, looking around uncertainly.

“What, why? What? Why are you like this?”

No way, absolutely not.

I have no idea, absolutely.

Last night’s events were our secret, just between him and me… Well, it was just something like that.

But why did Rona’s eyes seem to know everything about last night as if she had seen it all?

“Rona?”

I cautiously called Rona’s name, but whether she heard or not, she was solely focused on something else.

“Where are you looking?”

Rona’s eyes were directed towards the area around my neck and chest.

The exact same spot Emma had stared at.

However, unlike Emma’s eyes, which twisted in disgust at what she saw, Lana’s eyes sparkled as if pouring out stars, radiating brilliance.

“Did you ask something?”

Following her gaze, I absentmindedly lowered my head.

“Gyah.”

A crude scream escaped as soon as my chest came into view.

Above the square neckline of the dress, right where it protruded, there were traces of vividly colored marks.

As soon as I noticed the marks, I rushed to the console mirror.

“Oh my goodness.”

The marks were not in just one place.

Apart from the spot visible when I lowered my head, they were scattered evenly from the center of my chest to the part covered or exposed by the clothes, reaching near the collarbone.

“What is this?”

While I was in shock, Rona, hands clasped together, had eyes that gleamed.

Her eyes, which had looked like scattering stars, now seemed to have transformed into heart shapes.

“What is it, the traces of love.”

“Traces of love… what?”

I touched the reddened areas on my chest and around my neck with my hands.

Remembering what had happened at each mark wasn’t difficult.

<Run away, Selene.>

“…”

His whispered words in my ear and the actions he had taken…

“Like this… like that…”

Once again, everything flashed before my eyes.

I vividly remembered how these marks looked.

“No, this can’t be.”

I hastily tried to rub off the reddened marks with my hands.

However, instead of fading away, the marks became even darker.

“If you rub, it will get darker, Madam.”

Rona quickly approached and held my hand.

“Huh? Ugh?”

“No matter how much you rub, it won’t disappear.”

“T-then what should I do?”

“You have to wait until it fades… that’s all.”

“…”

It’s hopeless.

It’s utterly hopeless.

I slumped into a chair.

“Why are you like this?”

“I can’t go around like this.”

“Well, what does it matter? Everyone will know that you two spent a passionate night…”

“That’s not allowed!”

At my stern words, Rona looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“Oh, why?

What’s embarrassing between a married couple?

If you really mind, I can cover it up with makeup.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“Then, would it have some effect?”

It felt like a faint ray of light was shining through the dark sky.

* * *

“No, this won’t do.”

I stood in front of the full-length mirror and let out a silent scream.

“This is the best I can do to cover it up?”

Even after Rona carefully applied makeup for two hours, the reddish marks didn’t completely disappear.

“I covered a lot… Is this still not enough?”

Rona looked disappointed, holding the makeup brush.

“Having a little visible is fine.

These days, this makeup technique is trendy…”

“What did you say?

Trendy?”

“Yes.

Deliberately leaving red marks in noticeable places.”

Rona casually explained.

“Not only in the palace but everyone in the capital will follow suit.

In taverns, on the streets…

Everywhere.”

Rona spoke, folding her fingers one by one.

“Are you kidding me right now?”

“I’m not kidding.

I’m telling you the truth.”

Rona retorted with wide-open eyes.

“It’s a makeup trend in social circles these days, I’m sure.

I heard Lady Mord, the wife of Viscount Mord, talking about it at the tea party last time.”

Unbelievable.

“It’s a trend, a trend indeed.”