I Married the Mad Duke Who Killed My Husband - Chapter 63
“How did you know we were at Jenin’s house? Were you following those men?”
Though it was late at night, no one was asleep. Well, Lorang’s eyes were becoming increasingly unfocused as his tension eased, but Cassion, Jenin, and I remained wide awake.
“Yes. I was following their traces trying to find you. As I tracked them, the geography started feeling familiar. When I realized the path led to the village of the woman you support, I figured you’d be here.”
“Oh, see? Duchess! Didn’t I tell you he would be looking for you, that he wouldn’t go alone!”
Jenin clapped her hands in delight at Cassion’s words. Though her face was flushed… it wasn’t from being smitten with Cassion, but rather like someone watching their favorite romance drama unfold before their eyes.
It was a moment that made me feel even more ashamed of my sharp words earlier, especially given her pure gaze.
“What? Did you think I would return to the capital alone?”
“W-well… I didn’t completely rule out that possibility. We’re not exactly on the same wavelength, so how would I know?”
“I knew where you’d be.”
“…”
Well, there’s nothing I can say to that. It seems this network only works one way. Only Cassion can read me, while I can’t read him. Embarrassed by this situation, I turned my gaze away.
Screech
“Ah, why…!”
But then Cassion roughly pulled back his chair and reached out as if he was going to punish me directly. I flinched reflexively, but he just sighed and took away the wet cloth I had been holding against my cheek.
“What are you thinking? It’s just that it seems to have gotten lukewarm, so I’m going to replace it.”
“You startled me. You should say something first.”
“The swelling isn’t going down despite the cold compress being on for so long.”
I didn’t used to be this jumpy. Was it the aftermath of the attack? Trying to hide this, I put on a defiant front, but Cassion ignored my words and held my chin with a feather-light touch.
His touch was so gentle that it made both my chin and heart tingle.
“The swelling hasn’t gone down, and the color seems to be getting darker. By tomorrow morning, it’ll spread to your temples and jaw. What should we do?”
“It’s just a bruise, not like my face is caved in. It’ll fade with time.”
“Don’t say such frightening things, Duchess!”
What can we do about bruises that have already formed? When I responded nonchalantly, Jenin gasped in horror. Cassion, who had already returned with a cloth soaked in cold water, glared at me too. Of course, he heard that.
“Thank you. But I’ll only keep the compress on until this cloth becomes lukewarm. You don’t need to replace it anymore.”
“But…”
“Let’s talk about what we should do next instead.”
Unlike Jenin, who was looking at my cheek with a worried expression, Cassion sat down with his lips tightly pressed together. However, he seemed to have already thought things through.
“…Actually, if you’re up for it, I think it would be better to leave now rather than spend the night here.”
“Right now?”
“Of course, since you’re badly hurt, we could leave tomorrow if—”
“How am I badly hurt? My cheek is just a bit swollen. Think of it as having a tooth pulled and get ready to leave.”
“But Duchess, your stomach is injured too.”
“…Jenin, you didn’t need to mention that.”
“Your entire abdomen was blue.”
“Jenin.”
“Asilia.”
When I called Jenin’s name threateningly, she closed her mouth. And Cassion silenced me in turn. It’s not like I wanted to get hurt.
“No, I really did my best, you know? The outcome couldn’t be helped.”
As I defended myself while shaking Lorang, who seemed to have dozed off with his head down, Cassion repeatedly rubbed his face in frustration.
Then he came over, firmly smacked Lorang’s back to wake him up, and made me sit down again.
“…I’m sorry. I was so angry at myself that I took it out on you unnecessarily.”
“If you’re angry, be angry at the Empress and her knights. You deserve praise.”
Seeing his eyes become so terribly gloomy, I raised my hand to stroke his jet-black hair which had become disheveled from fighting against the wind. After closing his eyes and remaining still for a moment, he took my bandaged hand, lowered it, and kissed it.
I froze at his sudden action.
And then his indirect confession, which I had momentarily forgotten in the urgent situation, comes to mind. He said he liked me.
“I’ll take care of the preparations for departure, so rest. You can even take a short nap if you’d like.”
As soon as I came to my senses, I quickly pulled my hand away. This time too, he had been holding it so gently and weakly that I could easily withdraw it, but in the process, I felt a subtle sensation as my palm grazed Cassion’s fingertips. Why is this sensation so vivid even though my hand is wrapped in a bandage?
“If you could wait just a moment, I’ll bring Leonina. It would be faster and safer for all three of you to ride on Leonina rather than leading two horses.”
“What?!”
I hope my face color is okay right now? Wondering if my ears have turned red, I fidget with them unnecessarily as Jenin, who had been watching us with a pleased expression, drops this bombshell.
Thanks to that, my thoughts about Cassion’s confession were shattered.
“No, we can’t take Leonina! She’s your family, Jenin. We might be attacked again on the way, so it’s dangerous.”
“It’s alright. I trust you lady, and Leonina.”
“Don’t trust! It’s really dangerous, I’m telling you! We might have to abandon or leave a horse to die if it’s necessary for our survival!”
“If she’s abandoned along the way, Leonina will find her way home on her own. And if the kind lady has to abandon the horse, it means your lives are in danger… It would be sad, but both I and Leonina would be happy to be of help.”
“No, that’s not…”
“Please, take her with you.”
Faced with Jenin’s determined expression, I was once again at a loss for words. I’m usually good with words, but today my throat keeps getting choked up.
Knowing how long and deeply Jenin mourned the loss of Leonina in the original story due to a heavy rainstorm, I couldn’t readily accept this proposal.
“You mean that horse that participated in the race. I didn’t see it in the stable, where is it?” “She’s at an inn in a village a little way off. It won’t take long to run there and bring her back.” “Wait.” “Thank you, Your Grace!” “No, no! No, wait a minute!” “I’ll be right back!” “No, I said wait!”
Bang-
Jenin flashed a bright smile at me, who had become flustered and turned into a ‘no’ bot, and left the house.
Jolted awake by a smack to his back, Lorang stirred briefly before curling up like a pillbug and drifting off again, his backside twitching at the sound of the closing door.
“No…”
I was still muttering “no, no” and lowered my helplessly outstretched hand when Cassion sat down next to me where Jenin had been sitting.
“Asilia. It’s too dangerous to pull a carriage or split up on two horses like before. If that woman’s horse can handle three people, it’s better to ride it.”
“…It should be able to handle about three. It’s not far to the capital now, and it moved well even carrying me, Lorang, and Jenin. You might be a bit heavier, but…”
“That’s good then.”
“That you’re a pig?”
“That the horse can carry three!”
I pouted and averted my gaze, annoyed at Cassion for ultimately ordering Jenin to bring her family into danger, and immediately heard his agitated voice. I was annoyed just a second ago, but now I find his quick reaction cute, which confuses me.
“I know you care about that woman. If it’s not an absolutely critical situation, we’ll bring the horse back safely, and I’ll make sure to give her a big compensation afterwards.”
“That’s only natural. She saved my life.”
“You saved her life too, didn’t you?”
“Are you saying we should consider that debt paid and move on? Why are you keeping score like that?”
“That’s not what I… Asil. Why do you keep doing this?”
As I kept picking at him, feeling flustered by this situation where we were alone on a quiet night and my heart kept fluttering, he sighed. But his eyes were still warm.
“Still, hearing your teasing puts my mind at ease. …I was really worried, Asil.”
“…You’ve already said all this. I said I’m fine and thanked you.”
“You’re too soft. You should have gotten angry, asking why I came so late.”
“I even killed someone today. I’m not soft at all.”
“That’s true too. You didn’t need to do something like that. If you wanted to do it, that’s fine, but you’re not that kind of person.”
“I did want to do it. For revenge.”
“Asilia. I know you got involved for my sake.”
…Why are you being so perceptive, unlike your usual self? I missed the timing to deny it and just fidgeted with the hem of my skirt.
“I know you didn’t want to let me do this alone, but what you did could be tied to the crime of killing the Empress’s knight if things go wrong later.”
“It won’t go wrong, so it’s fine.”
“Right. Now it’s just a matter of time before the 2nd Prince becomes the Crown Prince after the trial. It’s all thanks to you. So… I’d like you not to get deeply involved anymore.”
“What?”
“When we return to the Duke’s residence, just stay in your room, Asil. You don’t need to help any further.”
