Sickly? Husband's Contractual Wife

Chapter 99

Despite his words, he was avoiding my gaze.

Seeing that, I became even more certain.

‘So he was hoping for it.’

For someone who believes they’re going to die soon, it’s natural to feel more attached to the idea of having a child, even if it’s with someone they’re not fond of.

It was clear he had been excited about the prospect of seeing his child.

‘He said all those harsh things, but…’

Was it so hard for him to admit that to me? His emotions were still a mystery.

“I see. I understand.”

Even now, he wouldn’t admit it. I stood up, dusting off my dress.

“I have something to do, so I’ll be going.”

I deliberately spoke coldly. I didn’t look back, even though I could feel his eyes on me. As I made an exaggerated motion to leave, my step faltered.

Looking down, I saw that the hem of my voluminous dress had caught on the chair.

“Oh…?”

I lost my balance and stumbled.

“Be careful.”

It was Amoide’s hands that caught me.

“…”

For a moment, our gazes locked.

“Why are you so clumsy?”

Amoide helped me stand up straight and looked me over.

“I’m not pregnant, you know.”

“What…?”

“But still, thanks for catching me.”

“It wasn’t because of the baby…!”

His voice rose momentarily, then fell.

“…It’s just annoying to see you trip.”

He barely managed to finish his sentence.

“Oh, I see.”

I laughed, but his face was filled with confusion.

“I just meant to be careful.”

“Got it.”

I replied nonchalantly. By now, I was used to his way of speaking, filtering out what needed to be filtered. Getting upset over his words would only be my loss.

Still, it seemed that his twisted personality was something that wouldn’t change.

“How fortunate it is, not being pregnant.”

“…Indeed.”

Beneath his thick eyelashes, his eyes clearly showed disappointment.

‘So, you say you wouldn’t be happy?’

Why couldn’t he just admit that he had been a little hopeful?

Unless…

“You wouldn’t want me to have your child, right?”

He looked at me with a blank expression.

“If it were another woman, someone you love… You’d be happy, wouldn’t you?”

Someone like Veronica, perhaps.

Veronica was a confident and radiant, beautiful woman. She had such a strong presence that it felt like, “Ah, this is the heroine.”

“What do you mean?”

“Exactly what I said. Wouldn’t you be?”

Veronica was elegant, graceful, and ambitious. Despite the many women around the crown prince, Veronica had immediately captured his heart. I didn’t think it was mere coincidence or fate’s help.

“Don’t worry, Amoide. There will be a child to inherit this sword.”

“…”

“When you get healthy, divorce me, and remarry a woman you love, then…”

“You say that so easily.”

Amoide interrupted me.

“That I’ll get healthy, and that I’ll divorce you.”

“Well…”

If Amoide recovered his health, there would be no reason for him to stay with me. He’d probably find me burdensome at that point.

“I am a knight.”

“…I know.”

“A knight does not break their vows. Even if our marriage is only on paper, you are my wife, and I am your husband. That doesn’t change.”

“….”

What should I say to that? For a moment, my mind went blank, and I couldn’t think of anything to say.

“Well, it’s better to divorce first than to be left as a duchess widow when your husband dies.”

His words made me feel like a string in my mind had snapped.

“Why would you say something like that?”

“Why? Does it upset you?”

“No, it makes me angry that you’re speaking so lightly about your own life.”

This time, it seemed Amoide was at a loss for words. Seeing the confusion in his eyes, I continued.

“You said you’re a knight. So why are you so quick to give up?”

“This isn’t something I can decide with my will. My illness can’t be cured.”

He spoke firmly.

“Do you really believe that?”

“Yes.”

“Because of the illness that runs in your mother’s family?”

For a moment, there was a silence so profound it felt like time had stopped.

‘Oops.’

I bit my lip quietly. But the cat was already out of the bag. And when it came to him, asking Amoide directly was the quickest and most accurate way. For the past week, no matter how many books I searched or how much related material I tried to find, I couldn’t discover what illness afflicted the Anor family, Camilla’s lineage. All I learned were various hypotheses based on examples from other families. Perhaps it was an illness caused by drinking water from the same spring, or there was a problem with the food they shared daily. But there was no way to know which, if any, was the actual cause.

It wasn’t as though I could ask Raymond, either. That would be like admitting I had eavesdropped on a conversation between him and Camilla. Besides, Raymond was undeniably loyal to Camilla. There was no way he’d tell me everything he knew.

‘If he had, he would’ve already told me about Amoide’s illness.’

“How do you know about that?” Amoide’s eyes darkened as he looked at me.

“…I overheard your mother and Raymond talking. I swear, it was accidental. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.”

His expression was terrifying. It was as if he had been caught hiding something he wanted to keep secret until the end.

“But now that I know, I can’t just pretend I don’t, can I? I even tried to find out secretly, but…”

I thought I might learn something if I went to see Walter, but Camilla’s order to stay in bed for a week left me no room for such an excursion.

“I concluded that hearing it from you would be the most accurate. Though I didn’t expect to have to ask you like this.”

“…”

He just stared at me in silence. Feeling suffocated by his gaze, I spoke again.

“So, can you tell me? About the illness that runs in your mother’s family, the Anor family?”

“I don’t know how much you overheard, but it’s a terminal illness, for sure. Everyone who had it suffered from unexplained high fevers and seizures and died young.”

He spoke with an indifferent face, as if recounting a story unrelated to him.

“My uncles all died that way too.”

“And no one knows the cause? It’s not some kind of family curse, is it?”

At my question, Amoide looked away. Growing more anxious, I urged him on.

“You know, don’t you? If we know the cause, maybe we can find a cure.”

I grabbed Amoide’s arm. His eyes turned fierce.

“It’s a matter of blood. I can’t change my blood.”

“Well, um, they say that what appears to be hereditary can often actually be due to dietary habits or other factors. People just assume it’s hereditary and leave it untreated…”

He roughly pulled his arm from my grip.

“Don’t waste your time. There’s nothing you can do.”

I glared at him in silence.

“What I mean is…”

He looked surprised, as if caught off guard by his own words.

What did it matter? I was already upset.

“What do you mean?”

I asked softly.

“I mean, don’t waste your effort on something impossible.”

“Oh, I see.”

I decided not to ask anything further. There was little chance of getting more from someone so tightly closed off. But I continued to stare at him, unblinkingly, determined to make him uncomfortable. We ended up locked in a silent staring contest, neither of us blinking.

Knock, knock.

The tension in the room was broken by a knock on the door.

“Come in,” Amoide quickly answered, as if relieved.

Rona entered the room.

“Ma’am, the carriage is waiting. You should leave now to have enough time.”

“Oh, right.”

I quickly replied and stood up. In the midst of arguing with my husband, I had almost forgotten something important.

“Where are you going?” he asked, looking up at me.

“Why would you care?”

I snapped, feeling uncomfortable. His expression reminded me of a dog looking up sadly as its owner left.

“Um, today… I’m going to see my siblings.”

I hesitated, and his response was completely unexpected.

“I’ll come with you.”

“W-What?”

I must have misheard him.

“You’re going to see your siblings, right?”

His answer confirmed that I hadn’t misheard.

“Um, well, it’s not really necessary…”

“Isn’t it?”

I saw a slight furrow in his brow.

“…”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Why are you doing this all of a sudden…”

“Is there something wrong with wanting to see my wife’s siblings?”

He spoke naturally, as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

“It’s not a problem, just unusual.”

“You go poking around my life all the time, and you don’t want me to know anything about yours?”

His words left me speechless. He wasn’t wrong.

“You know far too much about me for someone like you. I should at least…”

“At least what?”

Amoide stopped mid-sentence.

What was he trying to say?

“…at least know your weaknesses.”

What weaknesses?

Did I hear that right?

“What did you just say?”

“Nothing.”

He denied it with a chuckle.

No, this man?

“You did. You said something about weaknesses, didn’t you?”

“When did I?”

“This…”

There was no point in continuing this exhausting conversation. I decided to end it.

“Anyway, it’s not a good idea for you to come.”

At my repeated refusal, he squinted at me.

“Why?”

“My siblings don’t know I’m married. If I suddenly show up with a husband, it might shock them…”

“They don’t know you’re married?”

His voice suddenly sharpened.

“…Yes.”

I felt strangely scolded.

‘Why is he getting angry all of a sudden?’

“You pretend to be single outside while wearing this?”

He waved his hand, showing off the ring.

“Of course not. Don’t be petty.”

“Petty…”

He made a strangled sound.

“My mother told me not to mention it because she was embarrassed.”

I quickly added. This wasn’t in the contract, so I could say it.

“Then I’ll be going now.”

“Take Colton with you.”

He added quickly.

“The head butler?”

“Yes, in case you need help…”

“No, I don’t want to trouble him.”

I shook my head.

“Trouble…”

Did he look shocked, or was that just my imagination?

“I’ll be back.”

I turned away from him and walked toward Rona. I tried to ignore the gaze that felt like it was drilling into the back of my head.

* * *

“It’s been a while, Aunt.”

As soon as I arrived at Baron Ludden’s estate, I greeted my Aunt Elinda.

“Yes.”