Why Is My Husband the Villainous Schemer! - Chapter 63

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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 63
At her words, Carcel’s eyes snapped shut for a moment, then opened again.
He’d momentarily overlooked just how adorable Asha could be.
“It’s just… my heart’s racing so fast. That’s why I’m bleeding.”
“Haven’t you been exhausted because of us this whole time?”
“Even when I spent three days and four nights running across battlefields without sleep, I never got a nosebleed.”
“My goodness.”
At those words, Asha covered her mouth in surprise.
Carcel pressed the handkerchief awkwardly to his nose while confessing with a ticklish honesty.
“Being close to Asha has made my heart work far too hard.”
At that, Asha’s cheeks flushed pomegranate-red and she bit her lip.
Then she reached out and poked Carcel’s cheek with her finger.
“Carcel, you’re going to get blood on your face.”
“Your face is blushing like spring strawberries right now, Asha.”
“I know.”
Asha laughed shyly.
“I’m aware of you too.”
“Asha, I’m truly happy.”
Carcel held up his hand to show her.
“If I become any happier than this, I fear I’ll die young from cardiac arrest. I apologize, but I’d appreciate it if you’d stop doing such beautiful things.”
“Don’t you think you’re exaggerating?”
“I have no tolerance for such things. Once I grow accustomed to it… it should improve.”
Carcel wiped away the nosebleed that had finally stopped.
“I’ll give you a new handkerchief soon. I apologize for ruining it.”
“It’s nothing special, so you don’t need to give me a gift. I have another handkerchief anyway.”
Though his mind was already filling with plans to buy her dozens of handkerchiefs, Carcel kept that thought to himself.
“Shouldn’t we try sleeping now? We have things to do tomorrow.”
“I suppose we should. I’m so tired I think I’ll be out the moment I lie down.”
Asha, familiar with having slept together the night before, lay down on the bed first without hesitation.
Carcel, meanwhile, approached the bed slowly, worn from already spending a sleepless night.
Sharing a bed with the woman he loved was still unfamiliar to him.
Especially when yesterday had been an embrace, and today he’d kissed her cheek—the stimulation was growing bit by bit.
Even as he extinguished the light, Carcel tried to hide the heavy, thundering beat of his own heart.
“Sleep well, Carcel.”
Asha casually extended her palm to him, as if asking him to take her hand.
And poor Carcel, unable to resist, had no choice but to accept it.
‘How could I possibly refuse Asha’s hand? Even if my heart pounds as though I’m near death.’
He, who had already resigned himself to that fate, carefully wrapped his fingers around her hand with firm resolve.
“Sleep well, Asha.”
Before long, Asha had fallen deeply asleep.
Carcel, meanwhile, tried to sleep but found himself unable, overwhelmed by surging dopamine.
When morning arrived after a night of wakeful vigilance, Asha’s eyes opened fresh and bright.
“Mm.”
Carcel could feel every moment of her turning her body to look at him.
Because he hadn’t slept a wink.
Unaware, Asha reached out and poked Carcel’s cheek again.
The pretense of sleep began to crack at the corners of his mouth.
‘How cute.’
Who could remain unmoved when a soft, sweet-smelling woman lay beside him, playing innocent?
When he opened his eyes, Asha’s widened with delight.
“You’re awake? …You really are awake, aren’t you? Or are you hurt somewhere?”
“Well…”
Carcel dared not tell her he hadn’t slept at all because of her presence—she might declare they should sleep separately.
“Carcel, are you hurt? Your eyes are so red, and you have dark circles too.”
She peered at his face with concern in her gaze.
Carcel held back the urge to pull this rabbit-like woman, who was now looking worried because of him, tight against his chest.
He clenched his fist.
“I think I’m sick. What do I do?”
When Carcel didn’t answer, Asha placed her hand on his forehead and quietly nestled halfway into his embrace.
Flooded by the sensation of warm, soft Asha against him so early in the morning, Carcel lied fluently.
“Cough, cough. I seem to be ill.”
“You’re sick? I should have known something was off when you had that double nosebleed yesterday!”
Carcel had never been ill in his entire life.
‘What were the symptoms of a cold again?’
He struggled to recall the symptoms of a sickness he’d never truly experienced.
‘High fever, cough, runny nose.’
Of the three, what he could manage was a cough, and…
“Wait, Carcel! You really do have a fever.”
“Is that so?”
…burning his body’s energy to raise his temperature.
An ordinary person would find that difficult, and certainly wouldn’t think to try it.
But he, a Martial Artist, could do whatever he pleased to appear frail before his wife.
“Cough, cough.”
“That cough sounds strange. Like someone who’s never been sick before.”
At her sharp observation, he averted her gaze.
“What should we do? You didn’t get sick because of me, did you?”
“I’d appreciate it if you held me—I’m feeling cold. Cough, cough.”
At the genuinely awkward coughing, Asha’s eyes narrowed further.
Carcel’s body was blazing hot like a burning coal, so he did seem ill, but somehow she couldn’t shake the suspicion that this was a ruse.
Yet because it didn’t quite feel like an act, Asha embraced him and patted his back.
“But when you have a cold with such a high fever, you’re supposed to feel hot, not cold. Shouldn’t you be putting ice on yourself? Why are you saying you’re cold?”
Suspicion pooled deeper and deeper in Asha’s round eyes.
Finally, Carcel couldn’t withstand that gaze and burst out laughing.
“You’re not really sick, are you?”
“But I’m burning up like this?”
“You’re playing tricks again, aren’t you?”
The confusion and concern in Asha’s gaze as she looked down at him was endearing.
He’d never been ill before, and even if he had caught a cold, there would have been no one to worry over him.
Everyone in the Rakan Duchy knew his constitution and expected him to recover quickly.
“…Seeing Asha look at me with such concern makes me want to be ill often.”
“I knew you were faking!”
“You’re sharp. I’m impressed you saw through that.”
Carcel teased Asha as he pulled the woman who was already half-nestled against him closer by the waist.
“Carcel! Stop worrying me!”
Watching Asha cry out in indignation, he grinned widely, his teeth flashing.
Life, which had never given him reason to smile, had become joyful.
“I wanted to hold you, Asha.”
This time, unlike before, Carcel looked down at Asha seriously.
The moment his gaze fixed intently on her.
The mood shifted in an instant.
The subtle irritation that lingered on Asha’s face gradually dissolved.
As if nothing existed between them but the stilled air itself.
Carcel lifted his hand to cup her cheek.
Asha didn’t resist even as his hand wrapped around her hair and ear.
She could sense something unmistakable in the intensity of his gaze.
Knowing that if she stayed still, Carcel would kiss her, Asha remained fixed on him, caught.
Her throat grew dry and a thirst rose within her.
Asha slowly closed her eyes.
She was bothered by the fact that she hadn’t brushed her teeth, but somehow the moment had turned seductive and impossible to break.
She couldn’t shatter this atmosphere.
It was then.
Knock, knock, knock.
“I apologize for coming so early, but an important guest has arrived. I believe you need to see them.”
The voice was Matt’s, Carcel’s closest aide.
The moment shattered completely.
At this, Carcel exhaled in frustration and clenched his teeth.
His jaw tightened with force.
Asha, coming to her senses belatedly, quickly climbed off Carcel.
She scrambled to make excuses, flustered.
“Oh, is it really that late already? Linea must be awake by now.”
“…Yes.”
“I’ll go wash up first! And Carcel, you have an important guest waiting, so you should go!”
And so Carcel’s first kiss slipped away like a daydream.
* * *
“Have I offended you somehow?”
Matt asked carefully, gauging Carcel’s mood.
“No.”
Carcel denied it, his attention fixed on the documents.
But Matt couldn’t take his word at face value.
And with good reason—
“Then why did you have me do push-ups the moment I arrived?!”
He was currently sweating profusely and being punished right in front of the guest!

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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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