I’m Going to Change My Husband With a Predatory Marriage - Chapter 84

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 84

“…?”
I still couldn’t gather my thoughts properly.
The situation was so absurd that it was difficult to comprehend.
‘Arpard was worried about me?’
I still couldn’t believe it.
‘And it seems he was hurt because I didn’t acknowledge it….’
Did that even make sense?
It appeared that when a person was too shocked, their mind simply didn’t function properly.
Or perhaps it wasn’t working well because I’d been unconscious for five days and hadn’t eaten properly.
That was when it happened.
A silver spoon was thrust before me.
“Ah.”
In that pale, elongated hand—masculine yet beautiful, though bearing many scars—a spoon held thin broth was offered.
So Arpard was actually feeding me soup.
Of course, it wasn’t the first time Arpard had fed me.
‘We fed each other in front of the Emperor and Empress while being ridiculous.’
And… we’d once shared dessert with a single spoon.
Though I realized it later and was shocked.
I wanted to say I had hands of my own and would eat with them.
But I couldn’t do that right now.
‘How tightly did this man wrap me up! Why won’t it come undone!’
Struggling again proved useless.
My body had no strength, and the blankets were wrapped far too securely, whatever method he’d used.
And my stomach was completely empty, growling audibly.
‘And why does the soup smell so good!’
Growl.
My empty stomach protested once more.
In the end, I had no choice but to surrender to desire.
All the while, Arpard’s hand remained steady without the slightest tremor, holding its position firmly.
I finally had no choice but to open my mouth.
“…Ah.”
Then Arpard smiled for the first time since I’d awakened.
It was completely different from the scheming smile I often saw, or his cold laugh.
A pure smile that made him look like a boy.
“Good.”
Swept along by that smile, I ended up accepting and eating the soup he offered until the bowl was empty.

* * *

It took a full day before Arpard finally freed me from my quilted cocoon.
In truth, I had continued attempting escape.
But every effort ended in miserable failure.

“Your Highness? Arpard? Surely you can release me now?”
“I have much to do. I cannot waste time like this!”

He fed me soup and medicine, wiped my face clean, and then
replaced my bedding with soft linens before wrapping me up again and settling me to sleep.

“Don’t think about anything now. Just rest.”
“But you know how critical this moment is! If I make even one mistake, the Empress might strip me of my authority over the Palace again!”
“That won’t happen.”
“How can you be so certain?”
“Because I won’t allow it. Don’t you trust my abilities?”
“….”
“So focus only on your recovery.”

With those words, Arpard began patting the quilts above me as I lay there.

“Don’t worry or fret. Sleep. Leave everything to me.”

I wanted to resist. My will certainly intended to.
But my body disagreed. My eyelids were far too heavy.

“If I sleep now… it won’t do….”
“It will. Trust me and sleep.”

A soft shushing sound caressed my ears.
My body, ravaged by fever for five days, could resist no longer and surrendered once more to deep slumber.
Unlike the previous five days, it was the sweetest of sleeps.

* * *

Arpard processed the documents Yulken had brought at Hillia’s bedside.
Of course, there was nothing I could do about the schemes Hillia had orchestrated without my knowledge.
At least, I could sufficiently monitor the movements of Imperial Court Society and respond accordingly.
Yulken, who had brought the documents to the Bedroom door, was pacing anxiously.

“How is The Protagonist doing? Is she alright?”

I had observed Yulken for ten years.
I was certain that neither before nor after would he ever worry about my safety as the Prince with such anxiety.
I hadn’t expected it. I wasn’t disappointed either.
I simply clicked my tongue and slammed the door shut with a bang.
Behind the closed door, Yulken cried out.

“You must care for The Protagonist properly! Isn’t one pair of hands from the Prince insufficient! You must nurse her correctly!”

I couldn’t deny that this was rare.
She was truly an extraordinary woman.
‘She was only at the Prince’s Palace for a month, yet she has enchanted everyone in the palace.’
I wonder if she’s using some kind of magic.
I sighed and continued organizing the documents while gazing intently at Hillia’s deeply sleeping face.
At least she was sleeping with a more peaceful expression than when her fever was raging.
For the past five days, her entire body had burned with fever, and she had suffered nightmares the whole time.
Without realizing it, I reached out and gently caressed Hillia’s cheek as she slept deeply.
It was to check if any fever remained.
Fortunately, there was no fever.
But then.
Tears began to form at the corners of Hillia’s eyes as she slept with a peaceful expression.
Just as dew that has formed absorbs surrounding moisture and becomes thicker and more transparent, Hillia’s cheeks were soon deeply wet with tears.
I had seen much blood, not to mention the tears of others.
But this was the first time I felt pity upon seeing someone else’s tears.
‘Somehow, I’m experiencing so many new sensations and emotions for the first time.’
The fact that all of it came through this woman was strange and unfamiliar.
The most peculiar thing was that this sense of alienation didn’t feel unpleasant.
I exhaled a long breath and wiped away the tears that had dampened Hillia’s cheeks.
The teardrops formed like transparent jewels on my fingertips.
Staring at them for a moment, I impulsively licked the tears away.
It was strange that the transparent liquid touching my tongue wasn’t sweet.
Of course, it was natural that another’s tears wouldn’t be sweet.
‘This woman’s tears and blood must all be sweet.’
Her skin was like marshmallow, and her hair was like pink cotton candy.
Her eyes resembled violet candies.
She was the kind of woman whose sweetness would melt on the tip of one’s tongue, no matter where it touched.
Yet her tears carried a salty taste that resembled sorrow.
I was caught between inexplicable anguish and worry, and… a burning thirst.
Hillia’s rosy lips parted, and a small whimper escaped.
“Count Beltane….”
“….”
Arpard froze solid as stone.

* * *

When I opened my eyes the next day.
I felt my body was remarkably light.
“Mmm―!”
As I stretched and rose, Anny greeted me with a relieved voice.
“You’re awake, Your Highness! How is your body feeling?”
“Yes. Much better. Though I’m still a bit… weak.”
Through my drowsy eyes, I noticed a stack of documents at my bedside.
Reading the paper on top, I could tell it was a report summarizing the movements of Capital City High Society following the banquet.
Not only was the situation analysis thorough, but the countermeasures were flawless.
The handwriting of the detailed instructions and the signature were ones I recognized.
‘Arpard did this?’
It was so perfect I was left speechless.
‘He did exactly what I would have done.’
It was fortunate. Unlike my worries from the moment I woke yesterday, my absence was barely felt—everything had been handled so well.
As I was marveling anew, Anny pleaded beside me with a worried voice.
“Please don’t work the moment you wake up. I’m afraid you’ll collapse again.”
I set down the documents and replied.
“I understand. I’m sorry.”
“No, but you absolutely cannot overexert yourself like that again.”
An apology came naturally, feeling sorry for worrying Anny.
Then I recalled what I had said to Arpard yesterday.

“You seem to have forgotten that red blood flows through me as well.”

Though it came late, such a thought occurred to me.
“….”
What if I had apologized for worrying him? Would Arpard not have been angry?
Perhaps… he wouldn’t have worn such a wounded expression.
I consumed the deeper broth and medicine that Anny had brought, darker than yesterday’s, and asked.
“Where is Arpard?”
Then came an unexpected answer.
“He has summoned Count Beltane and is in conversation with him.”
“…?”

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