Marriage With A Suspiciously Demure Husband - Chapter 83

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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 83

To be honest, the Emperor and Empress had volunteered to become allies in the eyes of the world, so it was natural enough to accept them. That much I could rationalize.
But Jade and Lily were another matter entirely.
We’d only just begun to build rapport, and any clumsy explanation risked deepening the misunderstanding rather than clearing it.
I pulled the bell cord and summoned a maidservant.
Shortly after, one appeared at the door.
Even at the Baron’s Residence, I hadn’t relied much on servants, but the Duke’s Residence was so vast and I still felt so unfamiliar with it that help was welcome.
“You called for me, madam?”
“I need bath water. Nothing else—just prepare that and some fresh clothes for me, would you?”
“Of course, madam. Is there nothing else you require?”
“I’ll call if I need anything.”
“Yes, madam. I shall prepare the bath water at once and inform you when it’s ready.”
I found myself watching the maidservant’s retreating form as she bowed and left.
“She doesn’t seem the nervous type, at least.”
Whether at the Baron’s Residence or here at the Duke’s, all the attendants had always carried themselves with such rigid deference, watching my every word as though they’d done something wrong whenever I said I needed nothing. Even after reassuring them many times over, it had taken considerable time to grow accustomed to it.
Those first three months of marriage at the Baron’s Residence had been truly taxing in that regard.
But this new maidservant who’d come with me to the Duke’s Residence was remarkably quiet, spoke only what was necessary, and showed no trace of flinching—she simply said what needed saying and left.
She did stare at me from behind sometimes, with an oddly persistent gaze, but I’d chalked it up to simple curiosity and let it pass.
When I emerged from my bath, just as it had been at Ferarium, documents were laid out on the bedroom table.
Management reports on the Horn Guild.
Ever since I’d returned to Ferarium, Nizela had submitted reports each morning, which Kailas would bring to me.
I’d told him more than once that the Horn Guild was no longer mine and he needn’t show me the reports, yet here they were, without fail.
Nizela, who had no memory of our previous life together, remained scrupulous and diligent as ever.
It made sense that her individual competence was flawless, and yet somehow it still bothered me.
Having risen earlier than usual, exhaustion caught up with me and I yawned.
I thought I ought to finish grooming, but my wet hair hung neglected and my weary body stayed put—until Kailas entered the room.
Seeing him carry in breakfast with the same easy manner as he had at the Baron’s Residence, I was inwardly startled.
I could overlook the absurd theater at Ferarium, but this—this was unmistakably the townhouse of Duke Hadid.
In that neat and tidy outfit, he’d gone to the kitchen, rolled up his sleeves, and cooked—all while maintaining his composure.
I could almost see the head chef’s expression of dismay.
“Kailas.”
“Hmm?”
“Did you… go hungry often when you were young?”
He looked genuinely puzzled—as though he’d never heard such a question.
“Me?”
“…Never mind.”
Of course not. He would have been served rare delicacies daily since childhood, if anything.
His family had wealth overflowing, not just now but for generations past—so much so it would rot unused. It was baseless worry on my part.
Besides, that man had a habit of preparing my meals yet eating nothing himself.
Hadn’t he chosen his path rather unwisely?
My stomach was hungry enough, and I had no appetite for argument, so I headed toward the table where breakfast waited.
“Give that here.”
He pressed a spoon into my hand and took the towel, placing it lightly over my head.
He meant to dry and arrange my hair, as he had done before.
“I can have a maidservant do that.”
“Your husband’s hands are useful enough. Consider it the Duchess’s duty.”
“There isn’t a duchess in the empire who asks her husband to dry her hair.”
“You are.”
“…I’m going to meet with the Crown Prince and Lady Lily today.”
“If you need anything prepared, I’ll see to it.”
“There’s nothing like that.”
Not that there was, but I wouldn’t have wanted his help anyway.
Once my stomach was sufficiently full, I saw him finish drying my hair and move on to combing it into place.
When I raised my head slightly, I noticed Kailas looked quite satisfied.
“Is this amusing to you?”
I asked while still letting him tend to my hair, but his hands stilled.
“…I’ve never thought of it that way before.”

At his somewhat subdued tone, I waved my hand dismissively.
His expression looked fragile enough to shatter at any moment.
He’d taken my simple remark to mean I was toying with him for entertainment.
It was a mystery why he’d grown so sensitive over a single word from me.
“No, it’s pure curiosity. There’s no hidden meaning—it just looks genuinely interesting.”
He paused briefly, as if grasping the true intent behind my words, then moved his hand again.
“To be honest…….”
“Interesting?”
“Yeah. I want to keep touching it. You know better than anyone how soft your own hair is.”
“I’ve never thought about it deeply.”
“From behind, your part is shifted slightly to the left—about the width of a fingertip. You have a lot of stray hairs at the nape of your neck.”
“……Are you criticizing me right now?”
“I was saying it’s beautiful.”
I turned my body to the side and regarded him with an odd look.
Was he really saying this—touching my hair with that massive frame of his—and meaning it?
Things that never bothered me when he was Noah now caught my eye at every turn.
Even so, Kailas shrugged casually and touched my hair again.

* * *

After finishing my preparations, I headed toward the Imperial Palace.
Since making the contract with Kailas—which wasn’t quite a One-year Contract—something else had changed.
Namely, I’d been assigned a maidservant to attend me and a guard knight.
Whether they were there to watch me or protect me, honestly, I couldn’t say—but their names were Hisan and Liam.
Both were taciturn types, giving off the feeling of shadows placed at my side.
Nizela had offered to be assigned to me as well, but I’d refused, not yet ready to face her.
When I was shown to the Crown Prince’s Palace—our agreed-upon meeting place—I had to meet the gaze of the waiting couple, their faces bright with expectation.
The table was stacked high with newspapers.
Every paper, gossip sheets included, had run stories about my marriage, and just a few days’ worth had accumulated to that height.
If Kailas’s strategy was to plaster my face across the entire empire and make me walk with my head down like a criminal, then his operation was an unqualified success.
Damn that bastard.
“Welcome.”
The beaming smile on Lily’s face was packed with endless questions, which frightened me a little.
Unlike usual, the Crown Prince didn’t greet me with a casual “Welcome”—he simply stared at me intently.
“I hope you’ve been well, Your Highness, my lady.”
Having nothing much to say, I decided to start with a greeting at least, straightening my posture with deliberate formality.
Even though I was sitting on a plush sofa, it felt as uncomfortable as if thorns were stabbing into my bones.
“Well, I’m confused… so you’re not Lord Love, but rather Duke Hadid’s… wife?”
The Crown Prince drew a sharp breath, and my eyes snapped shut involuntarily.
Under normal circumstances, Lily would have checked Jade’s manner of speaking, but she didn’t—so she must have been quite disappointed.
“That is… Your Highness, my lady. There were circumstances on my end… I have no excuse. I’m sorry. I never intended to deceive you both. Truly.”
“So the husband you mentioned a few months ago was indeed Duke Hadid, wasn’t it? You said he farmed on a small scale…….”
Lily asked.
I nodded like a criminal.
With the One-year Contract in place, I couldn’t even claim I’d been deceived—and I really couldn’t!
“There truly were circumstances worth… I apologize.”
“I can understand to some extent. You went through so much trouble persuading him. So, to persuade no other than Duke Hadid himself, you must have suffered quite a lot, haven’t you?”
“I beg your pardon?”
At Jade’s question, a confused sound escaped my mouth without my intending it.
His question seemed to be a summary of the conversation I’d had with His Majesty and everything that had happened since.
“We heard it was because of us. That your wife has been worrying a great deal, so he hopes you’ll understand.”
“I… I’m sorry?”
“Duke Hadid.”
“Even so, you should have told us. If persuasion hadn’t worked, were you planning to hide it forever?”
“No, that absolutely wasn’t the case…….”
“The fact that Duke Hadid came all the way to me to explain tells me this wasn’t just a simple change of heart. But being hurt is still being hurt, you know.”
Following Jade’s words, I could only echo Lily’s remarks like a parrot.
Who had gone where and said what, exactly?
It happened yesterday. Yesterday evening.
Did he go out after dinner?
I didn’t know because I deliberately got up right away and went about my business, trying not to think about it.
“Lord Love, or rather…….”
“You can call me Hazel.”
“Right, we’re friends, so I’ll call you that in private. In any case, I’ve heard the full story. I asked to meet because I wanted to hear it directly from you. Not to reproach you.”
“…Yes. As you know, that man is indeed my husband. I’m truly sorry for deceiving both of you.”
“Yes. Hearing it from your own lips, it finally feels real. Even after His Majesty spoke and Duke Hadid came to find me, it felt like I was dreaming.”
“I feel the same way.”
“Duchess Hadid. So it’s a word that can actually exist in the Empire.”
“Ha ha…….”
Was it good, or not?
I’d expected to hear outright accusations of betrayal, so it was an enormous relief.
What on earth did they discuss when they met, and how?
Looking at how I’ve stirred up such an extraordinary mess and managed to settle it, I’m beyond comprehension.
And having faced this situation with barely a wound, I can’t fathom what I’m actually feeling.
“Now that I’ve heard from her, let’s talk about the real matter.”

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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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