Sickly? Husband's Contractual Wife

Chapter 86

 

I wrapped my earrings in my hand and looked up at him.

 

“Selené.”

 

“……”

 

“That’s your name.”

 

“My name… yes.”

 

Yes, that’s my name.

 

But why does my name, which has been called countless times before, sound so sweet now?

 

“Goddess of the Moon.”

 

“……”

 

“Selené, Goddess of the Moon. Right?”

 

When he held me, my mother had a dream that a large moon rose from the sea. She said she held it in her dress.

 

“That’s right.”

 

As I thought about the origin of my name again, I realized it must have a grand meaning. Being the Goddess of the Moon.

 

Before I could ask, he asked first.

 

“Is it a gift?”

 

He seemed hesitant.

 

He seemed to have something more to ask, trying to hold back.

 

Could he be wondering?

 

“It’s from a man.”

 

There was a subtle change in his expression at my words.

 

A sense of satisfaction rose in my heart.

 

It felt good that he was paying attention, showing interest.

 

“A man is a man.”

 

I almost burst into laughter.

 

“My father.”

 

He listened calmly to my words.

 

“He gave it to me as a gift and then left shortly after.”

 

I still remember that time.

 

My mother, who was carrying my youngest sibling in her womb, was surprised by the news and gave birth much earlier than expected before leaving for the same place as my father.

 

Leaving only me and my siblings behind.

 

“It may not be expensive, but it’s precious to me. I would have been upset if I had lost it.”

 

“… I see.”

 

He nodded silently.

 

* * *

 

As we left the dessert shop, the sun was already setting.

 

It was time to go back.

 

As I hurried to return to the carriage, he grabbed my arm and pulled me back.

 

“It seems like something important is still left.”

 

“What is it?”

 

Something important?

 

“What on earth could that be?”

 

Just spending a luxurious tea time at the dessert shop made me feel happy in that dreamlike moment.

 

“A date, they say. The end should be decorated splendidly.”

 

He smiled, his eyes twinkling.

 

“What…?”

 

Not understanding his meaning, I just stared blankly at his face.

 

“It’s proof of a successful date. Something to boast about when we return to the mansion.”

 

“…”

 

“Tell me what you want.”

 

His words left me frozen in place.

 

“Tell me what you want,” he said.

 

“Why?”

 

“It feels like I’ve rubbed a magic lamp or something.”

 

It was truly enchanting, but a bit frightening coming from him.

 

‘What does he mean?’

 

He seemed to read my expression and answered.

 

“What you desire. Speak it.”

 

Seeing the fiery gleam in his eyes, I felt even more uneasy.

 

“Excuse me?”

 

“Anything is possible.”

 

In other words, boasting about wealth… no, flaunting wealth was entirely possible.

 

“Can’t decide?”

 

It seemed like he was determined to buy me anything tonight, no matter what.

 

I felt like if I didn’t speak up, we’d be here all night.

 

I quickly scanned the surroundings and grabbed the most ordinary thing I could find.

 

“Uh, then buy me a hairpin.”

 

Not far from the dessert shop, I spotted a street vendor selling hairpins made of beads.

 

“…”

 

He looked at where I pointed and frowned slightly.

 

“Not something like that.”

 

“Why not?”

 

“I’ll buy you that later.”

 

He said firmly.

 

“Why are you being so scary!”

 

I couldn’t hold back and yelled out.

 

“I said I’ll buy it! Anything!”

 

He didn’t yield either.

 

“Fine. Just a hairpin, then?”

 

“Yes?

 

Yes…”

 

I replied hesitantly, and he took my hand.

 

“We have somewhere to go.”

 

Looking at me with a slight smirk, he said, “Where?”

 

Somewhere to go? All this time, it was me dragging him around.

 

He seemed reluctant, but there was also a sense of compliance.

 

It was the first time he directly said we had to go somewhere.

 

“You’ll see when we get there.”

 

He took me by the hand and led me into a street adjacent to the dessert shop, filled with jewelry stores.

 

The street was adorned with jewelry displays as dazzling as the gems themselves, capturing the attention of passersby.

 

We could glimpse wealthy ladies shopping for jewels and men accompanying their lovers or wives into the stores.

 

Each store showcased its most expensive and beautiful jewels in prominent positions behind glass windows.

 

“Why are we here?”

 

I murmured absentmindedly as he naturally took my hand.

 

Our hands overlapped as if it were always meant to be that way, his large hand seemingly engulfing mine.

 

Anyway, he led me through the street filled with jewelry stores, into the largest and most extravagant-looking one that seemed to sell the most expensive jewels.

 

The display cases in that jewelry store were filled with items that would make anyone’s eyes sparkle with admiration, though the prices were exorbitant.

 

I tried to count the zeroes in the prices but eventually gave up.

 

He walked with determination.

 

No matter how modestly dressed he was, he couldn’t hide his extravagant appearance.

 

To anyone’s eyes, he was a man with overwhelming charm.

 

No matter how hard he tried to conceal his status or position, he couldn’t hide his inherent nobility.

 

The people inside the store all turned their attention towards Amoide.

 

Then, they looked at me with curious eyes as I walked alongside him, clinging to his arm.

 

“Oh, Ifrit Duke.”

 

The person who seemed to hold the highest position in the store spotted Amoide and hurried over.

 

“If you need anything, I would have brought it to you myself. Is there something you’re looking for?”

 

The shopkeeper had already signaled the attendants with a glance.

 

They immediately started bringing the most expensive and luxurious jewels from the display cases in front of Amoide.

 

“Is it a gift for your beautiful lover?”

 

The shopkeeper asked, looking at me with curious eyes.

 

“She’s my wife.”

 

At his words, I felt my heart drop to the floor with a thud.

 

The shopkeeper’s face showed a mixture of surprise and excitement.

 

“Oh, I see. My apologies for not recognizing. I hadn’t heard…”

 

“Is it so surprising that I’m married?”

 

He examined the jewels in front of him as he spoke.

 

“Not at all. It’s just that we’ve never met.”

 

At his words, I turned my head in the opposite direction.

 

He seemed to be acquainted with most of the nobles in society.

 

“No one must know you’re a duchess.”

 

I deliberately chose modest attire and a simple carriage.

 

There was nothing good that could come from our outing being revealed.

 

“Amoide…”

 

I tugged at his sleeve, and he pretended to focus on choosing jewelry.

 

After a moment, I looked at what he offered.

 

It was a platinum hairpin adorned with small and large diamonds shaped like crescent moons and stars.

 

In other words, it looked incredibly expensive.

 

And indeed, it was.