I Married the Mad Duke Who Killed My Husband - Chapter 8
“I thought my first patients would be the knights.”
“Stop talking and just treat her.”
“I can’t help but speak in this situation.”
The family doctor hired by the Duke for her boldness was even bolder than expected. She even clicked her tongue in front of Cassion, who still hadn’t managed to return his crazed eyes to normal.
“Well, since I’m treating the lady directly, you’ll get to know my skills well.”
“Is that supposed to be a joke?”
“Stop glaring from the side and just leave.”
Indeed, there was a reason why she had no employment history despite her excellent grades. I thought it was just because she was female, but at this level, it’s as if she has no sense of self-preservation.
I felt the need to separate her from Cassion.
“Why should I leave?”
“Because she needs to treat me under the clothes too.”
“What? Where?”
Having been kicked repeatedly while lying face down on the floor, my stomach and back hurt all over.
I said it because I thought I’d need to take off my clothes for a proper examination, but Cassion, whose eyes had gone wild again, suddenly approached and grabbed me.
“What are you doing!”
I shouted in surprise at his almost pouncing gesture, but contrary to his fierce demeanor, the hands gripping my shoulders and the gaze scanning my body was extremely careful. Having shouted thinking I was about to be undressed, I only ended up startling the butler who had come in with us.
“I’m fine, so please step back.”
But the distance was too close. In that brief moment, he found more bruises and scratches on my legs and frowned. I pushed him away. Although he moved back obediently, Cassion’s intense gaze didn’t subside.
“Those bastards… I should have beaten them more.”
“It’s enough. If you had done more, they might have died.”
I shook my head, arranging my dress to hide the wounds. I remember my family, battered and bruised by Cassion and me. We had chosen to settle this with our fists, taking matters into our own hands before the law could officially punish them for kidnapping the Duke’s wife.
Whether they file a complaint or contest the validity of the marriage, it will take quite some time for them to come to their senses. They probably won’t even have money to call a doctor.
“You’re smiling despite your condition.”
I must have grinned unconsciously at the satisfaction. Ah, I shouldn’t be tainted by such violence.
“What’s wrong with my condition? This is the look of a victor.”
Although my entire body is covered in wounds, I have no regrets.
“Why didn’t you just wait quietly for me?”
“How could I know when you’d come? It’s true that you arrived faster than expected, but if the kidnappers weren’t my family but the First Prince’s faction, I might have been done for while waiting.”
In truth, Cassion is right. Once I knew the kidnappers were my family and not the First Prince’s faction, I could have waited quietly.
Given our contract, he would have found me eventually, even if it took some time.
But I neither had the patience to wait leisurely nor would I have felt this satisfied if I had just sat still waiting for him to exact revenge for me.
“Let’s just say it was a kidnapping experience for future reference.”
“Are you crazy? Is that something to say?”
As I shrugged nonchalantly, Cassion gritted his teeth. He’s really on edge today. Teeth are precious, you know. My strong teeth did such a great job today.
“There won’t be any more kidnappings like this! From now on, I’ll be by your side during interviews.”
“What? I’m planning to hold interviews all afternoon for the foreseeable future. Don’t you have a lot to do?”
Although the war had ended, Cassion, who had just become a Duke, had many things to attend to besides training new knights. I looked at him as if it was nonsense, but he was adamant.
“Don’t worry about that, I can manage. And move the bedroom back to my room!”
He could probably do it. He’d just have to work at night. But that means less sleep time and he’ll be exhausted… Well, it’s not really my concern.
Honestly, I forgot to include a clause in the contract about him doing his best to protect me during the contract marriage period, but I guess it’s fortunate.
“You’re more meticulous than I thou— Kyaaah!”
“…!”
Just as I was about to say he was more meticulous about his responsibilities than I thought, I screamed in surprise as the doctor suddenly undid the front of my dress.
As I hurriedly sat down, trying to cover the suddenly exposed undergarments, I saw from the corner of my eye that the startled Cassion had turned his back.
“Wh-what are you doing? You should do this after Cassion leaves!”
“Well… Aren’t you a married couple who’ve consummated? I didn’t expect you to be so modest while talking about moving rooms back together.”
When I shouted in bewilderment, the doctor looked at us with an expression of disbelief. Unable to find words, I just stammered, “But still… but still…!” while Cassion, his ear tips reddened, cleared his throat.
“I-I’ll go out now. Come to my room when the treatment is done.”
Bang-
He left, almost destroying the infirmary door as he closed it. As I slumped down, the voice of the deranged doctor reached my ears again.
“Why are you all acting like this? You’re going to undress again when you go to the room after treatment anyway, right?”
“…You should focus on controlling your tongue, rather than just your medical skills.”
I buried my face in my bandaged hands.
***
“Ahem… I’m here.”
I had intended to act shamelessly, but seeing Cassion turn his head away, his neck turning bright red as soon as he saw me, I felt like I might make a mistake too.
“I’m tired, so I’ll lie down first. Come when you’re done with your work.”
“What?!”
Whenever I came to this room, we always stayed up all night playing games, but today I didn’t think I could endure due to the fatigue from the attack. As I slipped into the large bed, passing by Cassion sitting at the desk, he turned around in surprise.
“What? Can’t I sleep?”
“No, that’s not it… The last part…”
“Come when you’re done with your work? Why, do you have a lot to do?”
“Don’t tell me you mean to sl-sleep together? There?”
Cassion’s neck, which had just calmed down, turned red again. At this point, my embarrassment was disappearing. A person should be moderately slow-witted, did he live only holding a sword?
“Didn’t you tell me to come to your room? Doesn’t that mean sleeping together?”
“According to our contract, we’re not supposed to have an heir!”
“…Come on, sleeping together doesn’t always mean doing something naughty. The bed is wide, let’s just simply sleep. What are you thinking?”
“…!”
As I deliberately snorted, his face contorted even more. As sleep was coming due to the hard day, I yawned long and hugged the pillow, and I saw him glancing at me surreptitiously.
“If you’re done with work, don’t just stand there, come. You’ll be busy tomorrow too. What, should I draw a line on the bed?”
“No need!”
He answered through gritted teeth. I told you to take care of your teeth.
“…You might fall off like that.”
“Don’t worry. I usually sleep at the edge of the bed.”
“Ah, yes.”
Creaking as he approached the bed, he did lie down next to me, but he curled up his large body, sticking close to the edge of the bed as if I were a landmine that would explode if touched. It’s beyond pitiful, it’s almost laughable.
“Aren’t you being too careless despite having signed a contract?”
“I’d like you to say that you trust me. And in my current state, if you get aroused, you must have some weird fetish.”
Although my face was unharmed except for the torn forehead and slightly split lip, my body was quite colorful. As I mumbled sleepily, letting out another long yawn, Cassion, who had been lying with his back to me, turned his head and looked at me with an incredulous expression.
“I thought you had good self-awareness, but apparently not.”
“Why do you keep picking fights? I had a tough day, so let’s just sleep.”
“…Hah… I was worried you might have been traumatized by the kidnapping…”
“If you keep mumbling, I’m going to go sleep in my room.”
As I warned him, tossing and turning in an uncomfortable position, Cassion sighed and passed me one of his pillows.
I didn’t refuse and took it, placing it between my legs. One to rest my head on, one to hug, and one to support my legs – satisfied with the perfect position.
“Yaaawn… About my family…”
“You said you were going to sleep, but you’re the one talking.”
“Oh, fine then.”
Feeling the need to say something before really falling asleep, I started to speak, but he responded in a sulky tone. However, I felt him turning his posture towards me, so I ignored it and continued.
“They’ll definitely come back. Talking about annulling the marriage and such… They’ll be a bit of a nuisance…”
“I’ll take care of it. You don’t need to worry about it if you don’t have any lingering attachment to your family.”
I was about to say sorry but please take care of it, but somehow he anticipated and responded. I rubbed my face against the pillow and, with my eyes half-closed, met his gaze and grinned.
“Thank you.”
“….”
“And thanks for coming today too. Although you were a bit late.”
“…You moved too hastily.”
He looked at my hands and forehead, both heavily bandaged. His gaze was so worried as if he was caressing the wounds with his eyes.
“Good night.”
I closed my eyes with a peaceful mind. Although it was a day when I was kidnapped and ended up not just beating but abandoning my family, I think I’ll sleep well. There was nothing to fear.
