The Dragon Duke's Wife - Chapter 35
Living as the wife of the person she loved—what more could she ask for?
Despite thinking this, a feeling of loneliness crept in, making her feel cold to the bone. Ancia pulled the blanket up over her head. She tried her best to stop the tears, but the sound of the door opening interrupted her.
“…Kal?”
Ancia peeked out from under the blanket and was startled to see Khalid standing in the doorway, slamming the door shut behind him and quickly walking toward her.
“Sorry. My face… it’s a bit…”
“Why were you crying?”
Khalid gently lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him. Ancia tried to turn her gaze away.
“Please don’t look… It’s ugly… Mmm.”
He leaned in to kiss her. Ancia tried to avoid it.
She didn’t want to be a substitute. Knowing that Khalid had someone he loved, today of all days, she couldn’t bring herself to give in so easily.
But her body trembled against her will. After just days of sleeping apart, she missed him so much. She wanted to be in his arms.
“Ann, tell me. Why were you crying?”
“It’s nothing.”
“You came here to cry? If you were struggling or feeling sad, you should have told me.”
His voice was soft as he whispered. Ancia lowered her gaze, and tears fell freely down her cheeks.
She wrapped her arms around Khalid’s neck. Even if he loved another woman, Ancia loved him.
“Please hold me.”
“I didn’t come here to just hold you, Ann. Tell me why you’re crying.”
“Please hold me.”
She tilted her head, trying to kiss Khalid on the lips.
Just before their lips met, Khalid gripped her chin and stopped her.
“I told you to speak.”
He said this gently, but his pupils were sharply narrowed. There was a tension in his voice. Ancia already knew that when he was angry, his eyes changed like that. Her body stiffened under the threat.
“Ka-Kal?”
“Don’t make me angry, Ann. Who were you crying for?”
“Y-Yes?”
Ancia didn’t understand what he meant and asked again. Khalid’s grip on her chin was painfully tight. The pain felt like her bones might break, and she trembled in fear.
“Where is the ring?”
“I, I took it off because it was too heavy…”
“Don’t lie. The gem on that ring isn’t heavy like a diamond.”
“Did I… do something wrong…?”
“Why? Did you think about an ex? Or do you regret marrying this way? Am I boring you now?”
Before Ancia could respond, Khalid kissed her lips. The kiss was cold, like two statues pressing their lips together.
He pinned her down, climbing over her, and began removing her outer clothes. Ancia froze in fear. As she recoiled, Khalid gripped her chin with one hand to hold her still, and with the other, he tightly grasped her left hand, his eyes locking with hers.
He spoke mockingly.
“Did you think I wouldn’t notice? Switching bedrooms like you were running away, taking off your ring every chance you got, and even when you hold me, your mind is somewhere else. Every time I try to talk, you just bring up the excuse of wanting a baby, as if all you care about is sharing a bed with me.”
“That’s not true, I never…”
Ancia couldn’t confidently deny it. She had thought that if she got pregnant quickly, she would have a reason to stay by his side. Whenever anxiety crept in, she sought comfort in his arms. At least when they were together, her doubts seemed to disappear. For those moments, it felt like he truly loved her.
Khalid’s tone was sharp as he reproached her.
“Even now, you’re doing it. Are you feeling guilty? Does it feel like you’re selling yourself because of a debt? Thinking back, it’s been like this from the start. I forced you into this, didn’t I? I held you when you didn’t want me to, and I made you sign that marriage contract before we even truly talked.”
His words cut deep, and Ancia felt her breath catch as she tried to protest.
“No, that’s not it. I’ve never thought that.”
“But even so, you can’t demand a divorce from me. You’re mine until the day you die unless I say otherwise.”
With those words, Khalid raised his hand, and the wedding ring she had removed flew from wherever it had been and landed in his palm.
He gripped the ring tightly, and under his grasp, it melted into gold liquid, dripping onto Ancia’s neck. The sudden heat startled her, and she writhed in response.
“Hot—!”
Khalid grabbed her neck, pinning her to the bed, and took the gem from the ring. Without hesitation, he pressed it to her lips.
“Swallow it.”
“Wait, Kal, no—!”
She gagged, trying to resist, but Khalid held her firmly, his hand on her tongue, pushing the gemstone deeper into her throat until she had no choice but to swallow it.
“Ugh, uh…!”
Her throat burned as if a ball of fire were traveling down her esophagus. Khalid pulled her clothing down from her shoulders and kissed her chest.
“You’re mine.”
“Ah, ahh… Kal—!”
The heat settled briefly in her chest before spreading through her entire body.
It felt like she was trapped in a carriage bouncing over a rough, stony path. Her body trembled uncontrollably, her skin cold despite the overwhelming heat burning within. She clung to Khalid’s shoulders.
“Kal… it’s so hot… but so cold… I can’t…”
“You’ll warm up soon. You already know this feeling, don’t you?”
