The Abandoned and Terminally Ill Lady Married a Monster - Chapter 52
Chapter 52
Ailee was about to retort, “You’re the Duke, you should be working,” but stopped herself, remembering Minerva’s presence.
‘Should I use formal speech? Or informal?’
Unsure of the proper etiquette with her mother-in-law present, she felt a wave of embarrassment. Thankfully, Minerva intervened.
“You should be working. Don’t bother my daughter-in-law and get back to it. We’re just here to say hello.”
“Oh, don’t bother her and get back to work? But Mother’s the one playing with my wife. I don’t know who married whom.”
Looking at Kin’s pouting face, Ailee lightly tugged his sleeve. Still undecided on how to address him, she murmured softly, “Work hard… okay?” She spoke quietly, but in the hushed office, everyone likely heard.
Kin stared at her blankly, then blushed deeply and sighed. Ailee could feel the aides watching with amusement, pretending not to. Kin’s blush made her feel self-conscious. Unable to hide her own reddening face, she fidgeted with her fingers. Mother chuckled and led her away.
“I think we’ve said hello. Let’s move on, shall we?”
Waving a small goodbye to Kin, Ailee followed Mother out of the office.
Mother held her hand throughout the tour. Ailee fidgeted with her free hand, feeling increasingly awkward. Unable to bear it any longer, she tried to subtly release her hand. The attempt failed. Mother’s questioning gaze fell upon her.
“What’s wrong with your hand? Oh, is there somewhere else you’d like to see?”
Put on the spot, Ailee fumbled for an excuse. “No, it’s just… I, I have sweaty hands.”
“Sweaty?” Mother tilted her head slightly, then chuckled and linked her arm with Ailee’s. “They feel soft to me. But if you’re uncomfortable, we can walk like this.”
Arm in arm, like a close mother and daughter, the tour continued as if nothing had happened.
It was strange and unfamiliar. ‘This never happened, even when I was a child.’ Even her own mother hadn’t been this affectionate. To be strolling arm in arm with her mother-in-law, sharing this intimacy… it was like a childhood fantasy come true.
Ailee had always longed for that kind of closeness, to laugh and walk arm in arm with family, regardless of the location. She wanted to be part of that warm circle. Emotions were invisible, but physical touch wasn’t. She craved that visual connection. But she’d never had the opportunity.
Now, with this unexpected fulfillment of her childhood desire, Ailee felt a dryness in her mouth rather than joy. Why was Minerva so comfortable touching her? Was she unaware of the rumors, or was she choosing to ignore them? Or was this warmth a result of Ailee saving Kin?
It was comforting, warm, and gentle, but the unearned affection felt like a heavy burden. She felt guilty, as if she’d committed a great wrong, even though she’d done nothing to offend Mother.
‘No, I have done something wrong. I’m getting divorced today.’
It was absurd that she was enjoying this affectionate tour when she should be avoiding Mother. Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to refuse. The desire to be accepted, combined with the fulfillment of her long-held yearning for familial affection, made it impossible to pull away.
Torn between guilt, the burden of unearned kindness, and the desperate hope that this moment would last forever, Ailee found herself arriving at the annex.
‘It looks like a tower.’
Compared to the main building, awash in crimson and black, the annex was a riot of color. Like a child’s drawing, it boasted a palette of playful hues, yet somehow, the effect was strangely harmonious, despite its tower-like structure.
Mother’s gaze, fixed on the annex, held a tinge of bitterness. “I’ll show you that later. I hope you won’t be upset that I’m not showing it to you now.”
“Oh, no, I’m not upset at all.”
I rushed to reassure her, and she offered a rueful smile, adding a brief observation about the tower’s exterior.
“It doesn’t quite fit with the main building, does it? It looks like a child’s toy. Someone’s… peculiar taste.”
Her eyes, filled with a quiet sorrow, lingered on the structure before she took a deep breath and turned to me, her expression carefully neutral.
“I thought things would be different now, with a daughter-in-law and all. I suppose I was mistaken. I’m sorry to have brought you all this way for nothing.”
“No, I enjoyed the walk,” I replied, still omitting the formal address. My words were true. Though initially disconcerted, I genuinely enjoyed her company. They say that if unbelievable good fortune finds you, be suspicious. It might be the kind of luck that comes just before you die. Perhaps this was it.
Mother regarded me intently for a moment before resuming our stroll. Her arm was linked with mine, and I naturally fell into step beside her.
“[Aren’t you going to look at me?]”
Had it not been for that faint, almost pained whisper from somewhere unseen, I wouldn’t have stopped, my gaze drawn back to the tower in bewildered fascination.
The voice was strangely transparent, unlike any human voice I’d ever heard. If someone asked me if voices had colors, I wouldn’t know how to answer, but this one could only be described as transparent. It was utterly inhuman. A shiver ran down my spine, a prickle of unease settling in. Then, another sound reached me.
“[Hmph.]”
Was… was a ghost sulking?
