News would have reached the Emperor that the Grand Duchess of Lusenford had fainted and was carried out of the carriage. The Emperor must have been satisfied, having preemptively kept the Grand Duke and Duchess of Lusenford in check, knowing they would draw attention during the Crown Prince’s engagement ceremony.
He seemed to thoroughly enjoy controlling and intimidating people this way. It was the same logic behind forcing Peon, who brought the murder weapon after killing the Duke of Ostein, to marry Kaela.
Kaela’s mind easily pieced all this together. In high society, understanding such matters was fundamental to survival.
But she didn’t want to know any of this. Kaela closed her eyes. She didn’t want to know any circumstantial evidence that might absolve Peon even slightly.
“It’s unfair.”
Peon readily admitted it. She was powerless, from a ruined family, and a woman, while Peon was a dragon who had awakened through countless sacrifices – it was unfair in every way.
“…If your hatred for me had made you want to live even a little, I would have kept you ignorant.”
He would have remained her most powerful and undefeatable enemy until her last breath. Everything Peon did was ultimately meant to keep Kaela alive, even if just a little longer.
He didn’t want vindication or understanding. That didn’t matter. He was already a great sinner for his crimes.
“But hatred isn’t your source of life.”
It’s only poison eating away at this fragile body. Even if she gave herself over to anger and set fire to Lusenford and the Crania Empire, Kaela was already too exhausted and worn down.
She knew well that she would burn out and disappear before the fire could even grow. So she only yearned for death quietly – the death that Peon gnashed his teeth at and hated.
“You tell me to live, but you think everything will end if you die?”
The woman who ordered him to live had never once said she would live herself. She would only tremble, squeeze her eyes shut once, open them, and silently accept the approaching death.
That’s why she walked through the monster’s garden without screaming. He knew everything. Knowing everything, Peon could only laugh nervously.
Kaela – good, virtuous, wise yet innocent. Kaela – who couldn’t even manage to hate unconditionally. She had comfortably hated her husband for being an accomplice in her father’s murder, but now she knew that wasn’t true.
He could have kept her from knowing, from ever realizing, but Peon left it be. He let his wife walk the same monster’s garden he had once walked carrying a box with a gun, let her walk until she finally discovered him with his neck in the Emperor’s grasp.
He would never surrender her to death.
“You live too, Kaela. While figuring out new ways to define me and resent me.”
After clearing up Lusenford, now it was Craine filled with all sorts of poison. It was obvious Kaela would not miss any opportunity to die, even throwing herself right into it.
So it was better for her to be confused for a while, contemplating how to deal with Peon.
“Think about me instead of death, Kaela.”
Death was Peon’s rival in love. Like a fool, he had once handed his wife over to that despicable rival.
He had almost lost her twice more. He doesn’t know how much he trembled like a coward inside today, watching his wife collapse from exhaustion after crying.
Fearing she might never wake up again, that her small and helplessly fragile body might not withstand the dehydration, he was gripped by terror, constantly counting her heartbeats and breaths, checking her temperature.
Even if she found him detestable now, even if this woman – and no one else – begged to be let go while cursing him, he couldn’t do it.
He couldn’t lose to death this woman who shared everything, even that time he didn’t want to return to, this woman who was broken because of none other than Peon.
Hadn’t he already lost their child? No, he had given it up entirely.
He was already blind with the fact that Kaela, who was far more fragile and barely kept alive now through all sorts of methods, had died alone carrying their child, shivering from cold and hunger.
Even if people point fingers saying he has no right, he would shamelessly hold onto her, embrace her, and never let go. He was already holding her tight.
“You’ve been putting it off all this time. You shouldn’t postpone homework.”
She tried to say something more, but Peon kissed her first, murmuring. Her brief moment of wakefulness would only be temporary.
“Sleep more, Kaela.”
Kaela tried to think more through her confusion but couldn’t fight the weight of her descending eyelids. It was fortunate that he had at least made her drink a full glass of water.
“Think after you sleep.”
The most dangerous being on earth whispered sweetly while holding and patting her.
“You’re tired now, aren’t you?”
As if agreeing with his question, her long eyelashes fluttered down and up again. Eyes clear as the cloudless sky. Peon gently stroked those eyes closed.
“Time to sleep.”
Sleep deeply with eyes closed. He repeatedly performed the same gesture, remembering when he had closed his wife’s eyes, which had been colder than any chill, with his hands numbed by cold. Kaela is warm now.
“Sleep well.”
He would take the nightmares instead, so she should have only sweet dreams.
Peon waited earnestly for Kaela to fall into deep sleep, watched her for a long while, then closed his own eyes. Though he must guard his wife’s side, he had no right to watch her sleep.
As he had done countless nights before, he quietly locked himself back in the northern tower of Lusenford, where there was only flesh-biting cold, hunger, and terrible pain.
****
Kaela sat quietly and thought. Though she already knew it, she realized again: even hating, getting angry, and seeking revenge required physical strength. Those noble ladies who scratched their unfaithful husbands’ faces and threw tantrums must have had amazing stamina.
“The only solution is to eat well and build up your strength,” Darinka said decisively. That meant she had to eat one more spoonful even when she didn’t want to, and force her body to move even when she didn’t want to budge.
It was natural to be exhausted after crying so much with a body already tired from travel fatigue. Crying was truly useless. Kaela, who vowed never to cry again, needed to avoid Peon first, who was the cause of her tears.
“You must avoid anything strenuous on your body, and anything that upsets you emotionally.”
“I should.”
But it was physically impossible to avoid Peon, who stuck close by, listening to all the doctor’s diagnoses and prescriptions as a guardian, nodding his head.
Today too, he volunteered to hold her in his arms and feed her each bite of food. Not just that, he even naturally took charge of helping her bathe. It was difficult to drive him away when she had no strength to begin with.
If only he would listen. Before the regression, it was hard to even see his face, and he wouldn’t listen to her, but now he clung to her – yet still wouldn’t listen to what she said.
“Aren’t you busy?”
“Everything except that.”
“Pardon?”
“I’ll listen to everything except you telling me to go away.”
After saying that while staring at her, he started kissing her cheeks again and again. Should she cry again to get rid of this annoying husband? When she had wailed, his face had turned pale as he desperately begged her “please” not to cry.
Honestly, that expression was somewhat satisfying. So Peon was capable of making such expressions too.
“I didn’t tell you to go away…”
“Asking if I’m busy is the same as telling me to go away.”
“No, it’s different…”
“Then what is it? Why do you keep asking if I’m not busy?”
Darinka knowingly packed her bag and quickly disappeared, leaving the Grand Duke and Duchess alone. She was indeed quick-witted. Once again today, he tried to make eye contact with his wife who had started with the resentful “aren’t you busy?” But his wife kept avoiding his gaze.
“At times like this, shouldn’t you go and work diligently?”
And she stubbornly raised her formal speech again while carefully drawing lines. Though there was no strength in her hands pushing Peon away, he quickly caught them to stop her. He didn’t want to be pushed away anymore.
“That’s how it used to be.”
Because the Emperor was watching, he had to be more diligent, bow lower, crawl like an insect, and not refuse any dirty work.
“Not anymore. Why would I go through regression just to repeat that?”
Speaking slowly, he was like a satisfied predator lazily sprawled after a full meal. Holding his wife firmly with one arm and kissing her small hand, Peon looked up at her intently with his purple eyes.
“You already know, so why ask?”
How could his clever wife, who had figured everything out after running one errand in the monster’s garden on the Emperor’s orders, not understand that things had changed?
She must know that Peon wasn’t following principles rigidly like before the regression, but was now behaving appropriately, bowing just enough before the Emperor, and that even the Emperor wasn’t the same as before after the shock of the Empress’s collapse.
“Just stay like this today. The Grand Duchess of Lusenford collapsed from shock, so naturally, the Grand Duke must tend to his wife.”
He embraced Kaela’s waist and closed his eyes. His face looked unwell, as if he hadn’t slept. Kaela awkwardly looked at her husband and asked in a small voice.
“How’s your body?”
One eye opened slightly, and the purple eye looked at her.
“No, since you drank poison… are you really alright now…?”
“I must have quite a bad reputation with you.”
He raised himself up.
“Seeing as you ask again even after I said I’m fine. I’m okay. That level of poison evaporates immediately anyway. I forced myself to create and vomit the blood.”
“Ah, I see.” Kaela quickly nodded. But Peon didn’t let it go. He looked at her with complicated eyes.
“Do you think the Emperor could hurt me?”
This time she shook her head vigorously. Then, could it be that Kaela was worried about him? His mind only wandered freely at times like this. Words that shouldn’t dare leave his mouth floated around before being forcibly swallowed. That couldn’t be possible.
“Or are you anxious that I might repeat those dog-like acts I did to you?”
That must be why she’s anxious. Peon confirmed this while looking at her delicate, unmoving face. See? He was right.
“I’m sorry. I asked about something obvious.”
He knows how to frighten people, but he doesn’t know how to erase learned fear. Even if he lowered himself endlessly, treated her well, and did his best to be gentle, fear that had seeped into her marrow wouldn’t disappear. Whether it was fear or disgust, these unclear feelings would probably never fade in her lifetime.
“Isn’t it hot? Shall we go out? Yes, let’s go out.”
Go out? The moment Kaela opened her eyes wide, their surroundings changed instantly. From sitting on the bed in the townhouse master bedroom, she suddenly found herself sitting by the Ener River that flowed alongside Craine.
Nobles were scattered in groups under the shadows cast by large trees between the grass, escaping the heat, and Kaela was sitting in the best spot. Peon handed a white parasol to the startled Kaela.
“Wait a moment. I’ll go buy some cool drinks.”
Just as she was about to say that they hadn’t even changed into outdoor clothes, Kaela realized she was wearing a pure white outdoor dress. Moreover, her left hand properly wore the wedding ring, engagement ring, and guard ring.
Of course, the engagement ring wasn’t the Empress’s random ring given by the Emperor, but the huge Kervan diamond that Peon had given her separately.
Now dressed like her in a spotless white shirt with light, cool outerwear, he quickly walked away. The sunlight poured mercilessly onto Peon’s black hair as he left the shade.
“Wow…”
Kaela opened her mouth wide and stared at the scenery across the river.
The magnificent imperial palace visible in the distance, the densely packed buildings below it, the boats floating on the river reflecting the blue sky, the carriages slowly queuing across the distant bridge, and the colorful summer outfits worn by nobles leisurely spending time lying or sitting on the grass – all delighted the eye.
The noble ladies typically carried parasols, while the gentlemen wore hats. Kaela looked at the parasol Peon had given her and marveled at the delicate embroidery on her dress. Magic that even changes clothes – how convenient!
“Oh, isn’t this Her Highness the Princess of Ostein?”
Kaela looked up and faced a faint face buried in the recesses of her memory. Ah. A noble youth with a title and enough free time to leisurely come out on a day like this.
“Yes, hello.”
“I heard you had come to Craine.”
“Yes, the weather is lovely.”
“Did you come alone? If you need an escort, I could…”
“I came with my husband.”
“But he’s not by your side, isn’t that dangerous? Even if just for a moment, I could keep you company…”
As soon as the words “keep you company” came out, Kaela cut him off sharply.
“I’m fine.”
Of course, since the rejection came with a smile, the man persisted.
“But isn’t it dangerous for a lady to be alone?”
“It’s not dangerous at all.”
“There have been some unfortunate incidents in this area. If I could just stay by your side for a moment…”
“My wife says she’s fine.”
A clear, low voice was heard behind Kaela’s tired responses. She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. The man, seeing the Grand Duke who was a head taller than him, mumbled an apology and quickly fled.
“Someone you know?”
Peon, who had returned immediately after going to buy something, asked.
“I only know his face. I can’t remember his name. Ah, Baron Rodinal? Probably that.”
“…You know him quite well?”
“Not really.”
She shook her head and looked at Peon.
“Did you come back empty-handed?”
She looked particularly disappointed at his empty hands.
“…No. I’ll go buy something.”
He smiled slightly and turned right around. He should hurry back. Very quickly.
Thanks for the update Bee!