The Abandoned and Terminally Ill Lady Married a Monster - Chapter 55
Chapter 55
Poor little thing.
Ailee had already captured Minerva’s heart, and now, realizing the girl’s plight, a firm resolve to protect and cherish her blossomed within the Duchess. “She must be terribly shaken. I’ll have some calming remedies prepared.”
The girl was so thin and frail; Minerva worried she might collapse from the shock of the day. Ailee was slender, but not truly gaunt. It was simply that everyone in the Grand Duke’s household, Minerva included, possessed above-average muscle and robust physiques, making her appear more delicate by comparison.
“I must approach her slowly, teaching her little by little.”
As Minerva pondered the best way to do this, another thought struck her. Come to think of it, the girl didn’t have to fulfill the traditional role of a Grand Duchess. Her son, still disobedient even after returning from war, could manage those trivial duties himself. Ailee was so fragile, she might faint at the mere thought of such responsibilities.
“No, no, that won’t do.” Her son needed such tasks. It would keep him occupied, preventing him from getting into trouble and encouraging him to settle down with his sweet Ailee. Pleased with her brilliant plan to ensure both her son’s and Aili’s happiness, Minerva beamed.
***
Meanwhile, a chilling air hung over the bridal chamber, a place that should have been filled with warmth. A fathomless despair filled Ailee’s eyes, a sight so painful it squeezed the heart of anyone who witnessed it. How could she speak of divorce with such a wounded expression? Did she even realize how contradictory she appeared?
Daykin tried to ignore it.
“Ailee, are you hungry?” He hummed, taking her hand gently. “You must be famished. I’ve been so thoughtless, keeping you standing here.” His words were kind, yet Ailee remained unmoved. Her face, still pale, uttered the word again, “Don’t… change the subject. Divorce me… Daykin.”
Daykin let out a short, harsh breath, his lips twisting. Yesterday, the divorce demand. Today, the same demand, with a face like death. Just moments ago, she had greeted him with such shyness. Why this sudden, desperate plea for divorce? His gaze, intense, remained fixed on her. “…You were with Mother all afternoon. Did she say something to upset you? If so, I’ll…”
“No, it’s not that.” Ailee’s pale lips trembled. Your mother has shown me undeserved kindness. A bitter ache settled in her stomach. She rushed to add, lest Daykin suspect conflict between them. She didn’t want to be the wedge between mother and son. “Your mother has been wonderful to me. Incredibly kind. This isn’t about her.”
Daykin’s eyes narrowed. The woman he loved beyond measure, the woman for whom he would gladly give his life, seemed frightened but not deceitful. Still, he needed to investigate. He would question the servants who had been present and speak with his mother to understand the situation.
But first… He needed to understand why she was so insistent on this divorce. “I have no idea why you want to leave me.”
At the word “divorce,” Ailee’s face tightened, then relaxed. Daykin, attuned to her every nuance, caught the subtle shift. She demanded a divorce, yet the word itself made her flinch.
He asked, a chilling thought creeping into his mind despite its absurdity. “Is there… another man?” A subtle madness tinged his gentle smile. “Tell me. I can… pretend to be him.” He couldn’t guarantee the man’s survival, of course, but he could certainly become him.
Ailee, oblivious to the dark undercurrent in his words, was taken aback. Where did that come from…? The strange question puzzled her, but it wasn’t important. The thought vanished as quickly as it appeared. “I… I don’t belong here.” Each word felt like a heavy weight on her tongue. Confessing her inadequacy to the man she loved was more difficult than she imagined.
But she had to do it. She couldn’t let her presence ruin his life. “I’m ignorant. Uneducated.”
Daykin’s perfectly sculpted eyebrows rose, then fell.
“I know nothing of estate management or courtly etiquette.” Daykin’s eyes seemed to ask, And?
By now, she expected disappointment, perhaps even a contemptuous look. But Daykin showed no reaction. He seemed to be asking, almost impatiently, for the real reason.
