I Married the Mad Duke Who Killed My Husband - Chapter 67
“……”
“……”
After the brief meeting ended, we saw off the 2nd Prince as he returned to the palace, welcomed the rest of the knights who had safely returned, and then Cassion and I were left alone walking down the corridor.
Though the corridor was familiar, the atmosphere between us was strange and full of tension.
“Before going to my room, I’ll just check on Lorang one last time. Also to tell him that we’ll start mock trial training from tomorrow.”
In the end, I had to be the one to break this suffocating air. I heard that while I was receiving treatment, Lorang had also washed up and fallen asleep, and there was no sound coming from near the door assigned to him.
“…Cassion?”
I wasn’t planning to barge in recklessly, especially since he’s prone to crying, but I didn’t intend to leave him alone either. As I reached out to knock, Cassion gently grasped my hand.
As soon as I noticed his touch, which had become cautious around me at some point, he quickly let go as if he had achieved his goal.
“Don’t use your hands, Asil.”
“What? It’s not so bad that I can’t even grab a doorknob. You know these are just minor wounds.”
The bandages on my hands were truly excessive treatment.
It was just a scratch from swinging the closet rod at Jenin’s house, but the doctor had insisted on bandaging it as a precaution, questioning my character.
“Everyone’s suspicious, so I’ll just take it off……”
“No.”
How can he tell me not to use my hands at all when they’re used so much in daily life? As I pouted and tried to remove the bandage, he enclosed my hand in his large one.
Suddenly, we were standing in front of Lorang’s room door with both my hands trapped in his, as if we were playing a children’s hand game, and tension filled the air between us again.
Ah, I don’t like this atmosphere. My heart is in turmoil.
“Ah, I won’t do it, so please let go of my hands. If you want, you can knock instead.”
Honestly, it was more like he was lightly holding my hands rather than trapping them, so I could have easily pulled away myself, but for some reason, it was difficult to be the first to withdraw my hands.
Fortunately, he released my hands as soon as I spoke. Yet, I could clearly feel his touch as he lightly brushed over the bandages before letting go, causing my heart to stir once again.
“Don’t knock, and there’s no need to talk to Lorang either. I’ll relay the message, so you should go to your room and rest now.”
“What?”
“I told you before. You don’t need to be deeply involved anymore.”
In truth, I don’t mind if I’m not the one to relay the message to Lorang. As he said, I am indeed tired and want to rest now.
But it didn’t seem like he was just talking about this one instance, so I reflexively questioned him, and he reminded me of something I had forgotten.
The tingling tension that had been maintained suddenly shattered at his words, and my mouth gaped open again.
“Ah~ You mean that thing about being confined to the Duke’s residence and not doing anything?”
“The nuance is different, but yes.”
Cassion shows no signs of backing down. I raised my chin and brought my face close to his like rivals before a match, but he didn’t budge an inch.
“I asked you before, didn’t I? If you liked me that much.”
It was a question I couldn’t get an answer to because of the attack. But in truth, it wasn’t a question seeking an answer, it was more like a statement to get past this moment and turn the situation in my favor.
But it was my mistake to still think of him as the naive Cassion.
“…Cassion…?”
“……”
“…Uh……”
Instead of answering my question, his red eyes, which were gazing at me, slowly drew closer. At first, I thought it was an illusion of being drawn in because his eyes were so deep.
Then I realized one thing. He was getting closer as if he was about to kiss the face I had thoughtlessly brought near.
Every moment feels like it’s in slow motion.
A kiss? Is he trying to kiss me now? Me? That Cassion?
“…Asilia.”
“…!”
I must have closed my eyes without realizing it. But at the low voice right next to me, I opened my tightly shut eyes wide. We were so close that I could see his shoulder right away, so I stiffened my body, but he had no intention of moving away and whispered in my ear.
“You know what my answer is.”
“……”
“If you’re going to freeze up like this, stop provoking me. I’m not used to these… things, so it sounds like you’re telling me it’s okay to approach.”
“……”
Honestly, I couldn’t even comprehend what he was asking. Has Cassion ever felt this threatening before? No, ‘threatening’ isn’t the right word. It’s not that I’m feeling fear.
Chu.
“…!!”
As I was rolling my eyes in confusion and grasping the hem of my skirt, he took my hands that were tightly gripping the fabric, straightened up, and lightly kissed the side of my head.
“Go to sleep, Asilia.”
“……”
Chuckling softly, Cassion gently pushed my stiffened back, and I glided down the corridor. My soul had already left my body.
“…I’m glad I washed my hair before coming…”
I walked down the corridor of the Duke’s residence towards my room, unable to even think of looking back. Then, startled by the words that had unconsciously escaped my lips, I banged my head repeatedly.
But soon my fists loosened, and as if entranced, I pulled my pink hair to my nose and smelled it. It’s just the scent of perfume… No, this is not the time to worry about such things!
“My Lady! You’ve finally come to your room! I’ve prepared everything for you to rest comfortably… My Lady?”
“……”
“My Lady? Are you alright, My Lady?”
“……”
Plop-
Where did the naive Cassion I knew go!
“Ughhhh~!”
“What, what’s wrong? Did something happen? Should I go and hit someone for you?”
I collapsed on the bed and started pounding the pillow furiously. Pia circled around me in confusion, but I couldn’t give her an answer.
I thought I’d fall asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow because I was so tired, but that low voice and the sound of the kiss kept echoing in my ears, making me feel like I’d spend the whole night awake.
***
“…Ugh, it’s so bright.”
I really couldn’t sleep well.
Whenever I thought about preparing for the trial, I thought of Cassion, and when I felt like the fear of being attacked might resurface, I thought of Cassion again.
And decisively, there was actually another attack targeting Lorang while I was tossing and turning.
It seems the Duke’s knights cut them off at the entrance, but since I was lying awake, I could hear the commotion outside.
“The Empress is persistent too.”
Well, it’s an issue that can’t help but be persistent. We’ll have to stay alert until the moment we enter the courtroom.
…Which means this is not the time to be thinking about Cassion.
“Am I too swollen?”
“Yes.”
“…Do you think a bath would help reduce the swelling? Can you give me a massage?”
“My Lady.”
I suddenly feel burdened by the thought of facing Cassion. We always had meals together at the Duke’s residence, so I should get up soon, but even though breakfast time had passed, I couldn’t bring myself to leave the room.
Not only because of the suddenly changed environment but also because of the dark circles under my eyes and my swollen face from staying up all night because of Cassion.
Who would have thought there’d come a day when I’d feel anxious about my appearance.
“What? Is it not the kind of swelling that can be fixed with a massage? Should I try a cold compress instead?”
When I asked Pia, who was standing firmly in front of me, she returned a pitying gaze. There should be some unchangeable rules, so why is she acting like this?
“Half your face is bruised, and you think a massage makes sense? And compared to that bruise, the swelling is nothing.”
“Ah.”
“Still, it seems the bruise-removing medicine had some effect. Yesterday it was pitch black, but today it looks a bit greenish, or maybe yellowish……”
“…Stop it.”
It’s good that the wound is healing, but you’re saying it looks even weirder now, aren’t you?
“…This won’t do, bring me something to put on my face.”
“The doctor said to only apply the herbs. She said since the bruise isn’t an open wound, covering it will just make your skin stuffy.”
“So you’re saying I should walk around looking like this?”
“Why are you being like this? Everyone has already seen your face. You were so cold when I was crying yesterday.”
“I get that you’re upset, but isn’t there anything you can do? How about some makeup?”
“Give it up, My Lady. Your skin is dry too.”
At Pia’s cold words, I flopped back onto the bed. Does this mean I have no choice but to face Cassion looking like this?
It’s the first day since returning to the Duke’s residence, and I was planning to show off my tidy appearance again to bring back the naive Cassion who used to be swayed by me!
Knock knock knock-
‘Asilia, is everything alright?’
“!!”
As if summoned by my thoughts of him, Cassion’s voice came from outside the door, making me half-jump out of bed. Pia’s gaze turned strange at this.
But clearing my throat was the priority, in case he opened that door and came in.
“I, I just overslept! Please have breakfast first!”
‘Are you sure nothing’s wrong?’
“Nothing’s wrong, I said! Pia is here with me too!”
‘…Alright. I’m worried, so please come down to the dining room when you’re ready. I’ll be waiting.’
“…Geez, why does he have to talk like that… Why are you looking at me like that?”
I hit the pillow in response to Cassion’s kind words, then caught sight of Pia’s narrowed eyes and turned serious.. Why are you looking at me like that?
“I was just thinking that even someone with outstanding beauty and intelligence acts the same when in love.”
“In love…!”
“Well, I suppose that expression doesn’t suit a couple who’ve already been on their honeymoon… But well, My Lady, you’re acting like a newlywed village woman who’s just started playing hard to get.”
“Me? I’m acting like that?”
“Yes.”
Because of Pia’s firm answer, I wasted time recovering from the shock, which meant it took even longer to go down to the dining room.
Naturally, I adjusted my hair parting to conceal the bruised side of my face as much as possible.
