I Will Become the Ex-Wife of the Beast - Chapter 40

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

“…Brother-in-law, Grand Duke Your Highness.”
“Seems you want to go down there.”
“Not really, but, um. Rose is supposed to be alone today, apparently.”
“…Who said so?”
At Rose’s small voice, Kiers frowned again. What on earth had she been told to make her this anxious already? Of course, it was true, and as a grown man, he did have other things he was looking forward to. But the fact that little Rose was agonizing over it alone irritated him more than he cared to admit.
“Rose?”
“Mm.”
Squirming in his arms, Rose just shook her head. Her eyes welled up with tears, as if the words that burst out of her were a vow she was making to herself.
“At home too, when Sister came back late, Rose stayed by herself just fine!”
“…And?”
“Rose is okay. Rose was okay in the box, too!”
“…Hmm.”
He aimed for the moment Rose, clutching his clothes and trembling, let her guard down. It was such a brief moment that the child couldn’t even stop to think about the words she didn’t mean.
“Rose, I don’t much care whether you’re okay or not.”
“…Brother-in-law, Grand Duke Your Highness.”
“Can a Grand Ducal House lady be satisfied with something so half-hearted?”
He leaned in and blew the sugar dust off the corner of Rose’s lips with a soft puff. Rose, who had no idea what he meant, giggled and wriggled as if tickled, and he scowled exaggeratedly.
“Whether you like something or dislike it, those two options will be enough for you from now on.”

◇ ◆ ◇

What is this mess.
Caught in the rough grip of Renie and Rea, I was dazed and couldn’t even open my eyes, until at last I looked into the mirror and saw a woman I’d never seen before staring back.
Platinum-blonde hair rippled down past her waist, each strand gleaming after countless rounds of brushing. Her eyes, naturally tilted up at the corners and imperious, grew even sharper with a touch of light makeup. Red lips, a neck white as snow, and a robe that emphasized the line of her chest…
“S-sexy!”
The fact that I was the one I was talking about was a trap in itself, but there’s no other way to put it. I’d resolved to make good use of this pretty face somehow, but I never expected it would be this much.
“….”
I raised a hand to my cheek, looking disbelieving. Hey, pretty lady over there, why are you copying me?
If I’d spent a day like this back in Korea, I’d have been late to a hundred appointments that day alone. I could have met every person I’d meet in a year, shown off this dizzying beauty, and lived off that one day’s memories for a decade. But the problem was that the only person I’d meet today was a single one, and on top of that, my husband on our wedding night.
“…Hm.”
Belatedly tearing my gaze from the mirror, I looked around and pressed my lips tight. So this was the Grand Duchess’s bedchamber?
Since the twins had hauled me in as if I were being kidnapped in a blanket, I hadn’t had a chance to look around.

「Your Highness the Grand Duchess, that door there connects to the Grand Duke’s room. Once a light comes on to show he’s arrived, you may go in.」

Their giddy voices seemed to still echo in the empty room. Those demure-looking ladies, where on earth did all that passion come from? Now I had enough reason to believe that Lord Jerome, of the same bloodline, was on his way to becoming a promising 19+ talent.

「From now on, the Grand Duke won’t be able to keep his wits about him around Your Highness!」
「If it goes like this, Your Highness might not be able to walk out of the room tomorrow! Eeeek!」

Why were they the ones talking and shrieking?
Thinking of the two of them clutching their hands and cheering left me uneasy. If you judged by whether they were kind or not, they seemed kind, but not in a normal sort of way. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been so gleeful about shoving someone into the beast’s den, a beast they were too scared to even make eye contact with.
“….”
I stole a glance at the door that supposedly led to his room. The dark, antique door had frosted glass set into it, so you could at least tell if someone was on the other side. The moment I thought he would soon walk into that room, my reflection in the mirror seemed to blur.
“…What do I do now.”
What do I do, what do you think. Whoever’s good at this will figure it out.
“Hmm.”
I’d been preparing myself for days, so there was no point putting on an act now. It wasn’t as if I didn’t know what kind of man Kiers was in the novel, and honestly, I was even a little excited.
Of course I was. It was the novel I’d actually paid for, the first time I’d ever spent money on one, even though I used to tremble over every single won.
Could he really be so hot that just a brush of skin would leave his warmth imprinted on my body? And he’d just lift the clothes aside with one hand and treat my chest so roughly…
Clack.
Faintly, from somewhere far off, came the sound of a door. Startled, I immediately checked the glass window above my door, and sure enough, the room across from me had lit up. Already tense, I covered my eyes and paced around in place for a long while.
When am I supposed to go in? Can’t he just come over here?
Honestly, it would have been better if he came to me, but Rea had said it was tradition for the bride to go to the groom on the first night. I’d meant to fasten the front of the silk robe Renie had dressed me in, but I found myself loosening it again, just a little.
…No. It’s not like I meant anything by it.
Anyone could tell it was ridiculously expensive. If the beast tore it, I’d never be able to wear it again.
I’m not quite sure why I thought “tear” instead of “take off,” but I rubbed my nose awkwardly anyway.
If I could just get it over with before I did anything, before some nosebleed turned this into a mess, it would be better to go quickly. So this can’t be called an impure intention.
“…….”
Knock, knock.
I swallowed hard after knocking. In that instant, thoughts raced past me like a reel of film, the kind people say flashes before your eyes right before you die.
“Come in.”
Could he at least have opened the door himself, as a decent human being would?
Hearing Kiers’s voice, full of that distinctive resonance, I held my breath and opened the door. My legs were already trembling, but judging by his personality in the book, he wasn’t the type of man who would care whether my legs shook or not.
Right, Bella, think of it as a VR game.
All I have to do is enjoy a full sensory experience without spending a single coin.
With my eyes squeezed shut, I stepped into his room. The moment the air hit me, carrying his scent, my body reacted before my mind did.
“…….”
Under the soft lighting, I slowly opened my eyes, but my heart still thumped wildly on its own.
My eyes wavered at the large figure already lying on the bed.
In such a hurry, aren’t you? Then under that blanket, his bronze muscles, which are supposedly like a marble sculpture… why are they so big?
“…What.”
“Big sister!”
Rose popped her head out from under the blanket just in time and waved her dainty little hands at me. Beside her, Kiers lay stretched out, his head propped on one hand, and he narrowed one eye and patted the empty space beside him.
“What are you doing? Hurry up and lie down.”

…Where are these bronze muscles?
Can I get a refund on my solemn resolve?
By the time I finally came to my senses, I was already lying on the bed, having claimed a spot for myself.
Even though I had let myself be lured onto the bed by Kiers’s beckoning hand, strangely sultry despite that mask, it was obvious the owner of this spot was someone else.
“Rose, from now on, you must not accept just anything the knights give you.”
“Why?”
“Because they’ve never raised a… child before.”
Kiers let out a deep sigh as he gave Rose a warning.
“Men like them have no idea how much to give or how to feed someone properly.”
“Ahh, I see! They don’t know! Hmm.”
It was supposedly a warning, but in truth, the two of them were cozily sweet-talking on the bed while I sat awkwardly in one corner, all by myself.
Am I really the new bride?
Turned halfway toward the edge of the bed as if I might fall off at any moment, I felt somehow both wronged and utterly bewildered.
“Sister, why are you way over there? Come play with us!”
“…Uh, Rose. But why are you even here?”
“The Grand Duke said we should come together! He asked Rose whether she liked or didn’t like being alone at night, so I said I was scared and didn’t like it.”
“…Rose.”
Only then did I understand why Rose was even more excited than usual. While I, her big sister, was busy tearing and stripping and fussing over my robe, our Rose had been freed from the terror of being left alone.
Overcome with belated guilt, I bit the inside of my cheek and gently brushed the bangs from Rose’s forehead.
“My lady, are you feeling neglected?”
“Huh?”
I narrowed my eyes at the amused voice, pretending to be annoyed, but in truth, I was grateful.
Thank you, Beast-sir, for not leaving our Rose alone.
A man who could have had the entire world if he wanted, asking a child whether she liked something or not, made my heart flutter. His unwavering gaze made my cheeks and lips prickle.
“…Not at all. Why would I feel neglected!”
Still, I didn’t know how to bring up the matter. Rose was between us, yet meeting Kiers’s eyes on the bed wasn’t easy. Even though I was lying on a wide, soft bed, it felt as if I had been laid on hot stone.
My back prickled, and my mouth had gone bone-dry.
I hurriedly turned away from him, back to my corner, but the heat didn’t vanish anywhere. Even when I blinked, all I could see were objects saturated with traces of Kiers. Perhaps because of that, the feeling only grew stranger.
I shut my eyes and listened only to Rose’s chattering voice coming from behind me.
“Sister, why did you go over there again?”
“Mm, no reason. I just like it here.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————