Marriage With A Suspiciously Demure Husband - Chapter 100

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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 100

Chapter 15. Between Sincerity and Suspicion

I furrowed my brow.
“What do you like about him? If it’s just a simple question, of course you’d like him. He was so straightforward and endearing. No, listen. You really have to hear this. Who is he, you ask….”
As I turned my head again, my cheek was caught once more.
Have you ever seen a gaze burning with fury while the expression drips with cold disdain?
I thought Kailas’s face was precisely like that right now.
“Don’t look at anyone else. Look at me.”
“But… wait.”
“For now, I’m the only one you need to want. Do you want to set up a mistress or something?”
“What? What do you mean all of a sudden…?”
Why was the conversation flowing in that direction?
“Even if you did, do it later. Don’t even dream of it now.”
Watching him spout such absurd words left me speechless.
I was almost frightened someone else might hear.
“What in the world are you saying? Did you seriously take a hit to the head from a Demon Beast outside?”
“…Don’t change the subject.”
“No, really, what are you talking about? What’s gotten into you? People are staring.”
I hissed at Kailas, just loud enough for him to hear.
“I saw the two of you talking earlier. You smiled at him so beautifully.”
“…No.”
“Why won’t you say anything?”
“No, you’re really being ridic—”
I let out a short sigh and forced myself to smile, grabbing his arm.
“Let’s go. We should talk outside.”
“Just tell me.”
“…I’ll get angry if you don’t.”
I really would lose my temper.
I clenched my teeth and flashed him a strained smile.
I had no idea why he was acting this way, but all the ladies’ gazes had turned toward us.
The way they were watching with such interest made it clear they were definitely jumping to conclusions.
As I dragged Kailas away earnestly, the ladies’ smiles only deepened.
Good grief.
I didn’t stop at pulling him into the Corridor; I opened the nearest door and pulled him inside.
Fortunately, Kailas came along without resistance.
I shut the door with a bang and glared at him.
“Are you insane? What’s wrong with you, all of a sudden? Everyone’s staring at us.”
“Because you smiled at that bastard so beautifully.”
I nearly lost the ability to speak.
I barely held onto my composure and glared at him.
“So what? Should I not smile when someone approaches with good intentions? You wouldn’t even listen when I tried to tell you.”
Kailas turned his head away as if forcing himself to hold back, then turned toward me again.
“Fine. Tell me what you were talking about that made you smile so beautifully.”
Wait, hold on.
It felt as though I were defending myself like a criminal when I’d done nothing wrong.
My mood soured instantly.
“I’m not going to tell you.”
What on earth was happening?
I turned to walk toward the door and open it.
In the same instant, Kailas’s presence engulfed me from behind.
“…I’m afraid.”
……
“I’m afraid another man might catch your eye.”
The arm wrapped around my waist tightened like a vise.
He held me as if I were sinking, and his low sigh burrowed into my ear.
But what on earth……
I couldn’t find my words.
It dawned on me, belatedly, that this was more than simple irritation or something I could laugh off.
I laid my hand over his, which wrapped around my waist, and patted it gently.
“Let go for a moment, would you?”
……
“Kailas, just for a moment.”
I tapped his hand, asking him to release me, but his massive frame remained unmoved.
I sighed.
“You’ve misunderstood something. It’s not that I’m… struck by anything. Far from it — I wouldn’t even consider it. So let me go, won’t you?”
After I’d tapped his hand for some time, Kailas finally loosened his grip.
When I turned to face him, his expression left me speechless once more.
Kailas Hadid was shaken.
This wasn’t a performance — he was genuinely anxious.
I lifted my hands to cup both his cheeks and asked softly, “What’s gotten into you?”
“I don’t understand what you’re doing.”
……
“You promised me a year. You agreed to it.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you like this?”
“I just am.”
“You just are?”
“You won’t believe it, but ever since I fell in love with you, I’ve been like this. Always anxious.”
……
Kailas was sunk deep in that anxiety.
I was quite startled.
I’d thought I’d seen every emotion Kailas possessed, whether feigned or genuine, but the face before me now was one I’d never seen before.
“I wish every reason you smile were because of me.”
……
“I wish you didn’t cry at all, but if you must, then of course it should be because of me. I wish you could only fall asleep with me beside you. Don’t take your eyes off me.”
“What do you—”
“Don’t even look at another man. Don’t think of him at all. I wish you’d find everything difficult if I haven’t done it for you. I wish you valued me above all else. Think of me all day long. Want to see me. Tell me every day that you love me. …That’s what I wish.”
I furrowed my brow and slowly shook my head as I looked at him.
“That’s not what I meant at all… why would you think—”
“Because that’s what I am right now.”
……
“Your husband — that’s what he’s like now. I know what I’ve done. I know it, too.”
…Kailas.
As I released the hands that held his cheeks, Kailas lowered his head.
His forehead touched my shoulder.
“Please……”
He pressed himself closer, as if begging to be soothed.
“I was wrong.”
……
“I was wrong about everything. Please, Hazel.”
For a moment, my breath caught.
“Not just a year — I wish you’d stay by my side always, whenever that may be.”
……
“How am I supposed to live without you? You know better than anyone that I can’t hurt you. No one will protect you like I will. I can give you everything, so why, why do you keep… When you look at another man, it tears me apart. I don’t know what to do, how to—”
Everything was a chaos, and I couldn’t grasp what to say.
Whatever left my lips seemed destined to feel like an answer to him.
After a long moment, I exhaled slowly. The first thing was to clear up the misunderstanding.
“That young man from earlier was Chamberlain Delo’s nephew. His name is Emel. Have you never seen him before? He’s admired you since long ago, and he applied for the Duke’s Knight Order recruitment this time — he was hoping he’d get in. He said he first saw you ten years ago. He wants to work hard to serve you directly, to be close at hand. That’s what I was talking about. Nothing like what you’re imagining. And besides, I couldn’t have frowned at him in that moment. He seemed capable, so I looked upon him favorably.”
……
“He remarked that the Banquet Hall was beautiful too. And he just turned twenty. A child, Kailas. A child. Younger men aren’t my taste, so what were you thinking?”
……
Since he still didn’t move, I raised my hand and rubbed the back of his neck to soothe him, and he let out a deep sigh.
His warm breath touched the nape of my neck.
“Do you understand now? Have you calmed down a bit?”
I pushed him toward the door as he looked up and told him to get some air.
His expression remained troubled, but fortunately Kailas accepted without protest and left, saying he’d be back soon.
“Sigh……”
I had a sense of what he wanted to hear, but I couldn’t give him an answer right now.
After the sigh, I opened the door and stepped into the Corridor, which lay empty.
It seemed he’d gone for air as I’d suggested, so I entered the Banquet Hall first.
The moment I appeared, the noble ladies converged on me like they’d been waiting, launching into conversation about how well the two of us got along—and I found my throat had gone quite dry.
I should have seen this coming.
I reached for a cup of water on a nearby servant’s tray and drank.
“…Ugh.”
The instant I swallowed, a sharp metallic reek hit my senses.
I nearly spat the water straight back out, dignity be damned.
What was that?
The liquid was clearly transparent, yet the smell that washed over me was so thick, so distinctly like blood, I could have sworn I was drinking iron and gore.
Could the water have gone bad?
Before the banquet began, I’d personally verified the oak casks holding the wine, and I’d watched as both the beverages and the water were drawn fresh and clean.
Everything had been fine moments ago.
Other guests were drinking wine and water without complaint—no sign of discomfort on any face.
I asked Tene to check if there was anything wrong with the supplies, then stepped outside to rinse my mouth, my stomach turning at the thought of being seen looking unwell in front of everyone.
I couldn’t afford to show weakness at the banquet.
When I returned after cleaning my mouth thoroughly, Kailas still hadn’t come back.
“My lady.”
“Ah, Tene. Was everything all right?”
“Yes, I’ve checked everything thoroughly and found no problems. Might I examine the cup you drank from?”
“Oh, just a moment. I set it down here. Yes, this one.”
The cup, still half-full of water, fortunately hadn’t been cleared away and sat exactly where I’d left it on the table.
“I’ll go check it at once.”
“Please do. And don’t drink any of it, just to be safe.”
Kailas returned somewhat later than expected, and he was noticeably calmer now.
His expression had grown so tranquil that one could say he’d returned to his true self.
“Are you all right now?”
Kailas moved his lips as if to speak, then stopped.
I took his silence as assent.
“…That’s good.”
But then my nausea returned.
The wave of sickness rose up enough that I grimaced, and he bent down to study my face.
“What’s wrong? Are you feeling ill? Should I call for a physician? Wait—”
He was about to summon a doctor immediately, so I grabbed his hand. To call for a physician over a single wave of nausea seemed like overkill.
“…No, it’s just—I drank that water earlier, and suddenly I got this metallic taste, so my stomach’s been a bit unsettled.”
“The water?”
At that, he glanced around as if thinking he ought to find whoever had brought the water, so I had to grab his hand again.
“Yes, but since Tene checked everything else and found nothing wrong, she’s gone to examine just the cup I drank from. It’s nothing serious enough to require a physician, truly.”
“Then rest for now. Everyone’s still eating and talking anyway.”
“I wanted to stay longer though.”
“There will be other events.”
“…I suppose so.”
Another wave of nausea rose up, and I leaned against Kailas as we left for the Corridor.
A headache seemed to be creeping in as well.

* * *

“…Hazel.”
………
“Hazel.”
Kailas was calling my name.
I forced my tightly closed eyes open, and a harsh light stabbed down at me.
“Hazel.”
“Ugh, the light… it hurts……”
Kailas’s hand covered my eyes.
After a long moment, I pushed his hand away and opened my eyes to find myself lying in a room I’d never seen before.
It was excessively large and ornate.
I looked around in confusion, unable to make sense of anything.
“Where is this? Was there such a room?”
Hadn’t he and I just left the Banquet Hall?
“This is the Imperial Palace.”
“Ah, the Imperial Palace… I’m sorry? What did you say?”

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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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