The Elven Duke Reluctantly Marries The Cursed Lady - Chapter 74
Moonlight poured down from the sky through the bedroom window and illuminated Violette’s beautiful nude body.
Her sleeping face looked peaceful as she laid on her stomach while hugging Hydrangea’s pillow. Her fair, porcelain-like skin looked smooth even without touching. The outline of her body was perfect, without any unnecessary flesh out of place.
Unmoving, she looked just like a goddess’ statue in a museum.
“Mmmn…”
“!”
Violette let out an uneasy moan as she stirred.
As she began to roll over in her sleep, Hydrangea hurriedly covered her with a blanket.
Hydrangea snapped out of his trance. Why is she here?
Before I went into the bath, I brought her to sleep in her room. I’m certain she was in the correct room.
“Pomeranian!”
When he called out the name, his eyes glowed in the darkness and the spirit Pomeranian appeared.
[Yes?]
“Why is my wife sleeping here!?”
[Aah, it seems she woke up some time after and wanted to talk to you about something so she came here.]
“And she went back to sleep like that?”
[She probably couldn’t wait for you.]
Apparently, Violette came to his room in cat form and turned back to human just as she dozed off. Snow White seemed to not have noticed when her master left and continued to sleep— just like a house cat.
[Well, that’s how it is. Go to sleep already.]
“Oi, where am I going to sleep then!?”
[Isn’t the spot beside her open?]
“Haaah!?”
Hydrangea’s bed was big enough to fit three people including himself, so there was no problem even if Violette slept on it.
[Rest well.]
“Like hell I will!”
As he shouted, Pomeranian had already melted into the darkness and disappeared.
“Pomeranian!”
No response. Looks like he won’t come tonight no matter how much I call him.
Hydrangea lost strength and fell to his knees, wondering how it had come to this.
“Nnngh…”
An anguished cry came out from Violette as she wrinkled her brows and bit her lip, a grim expression on her face.
What in the world is she dreaming about?
Hydrangea sat on the bed and touched Violette’s cheek, thinking it might be more comfortable if she were in cat form rather than human.
However, she did not change.
It seemed her shifting into a cat only activated when Violette was conscious.
This isn’t a curse after all. It’s a shield she uses to protect herself.
Violette held on to his finger just as he began to move his hand away.
“Don’t leave me…”
With her eyes still closed, Violette pleaded as a tear rolled out from the corner of her eye.
She doesn’t seem to be awake.
When he squeezed her hand in return, Violette’s expression became peaceful, as if she were relieved.
She had abandoned her human form and turned into a cat.
Just how did Violette come to learn such a technique?
Considering her father’s impatience back then, something must have happened.
If I knew what it was, I would be able to get closer to Violette and protect not just her body but also her heart.
Hydrangea’s gut clenched as he looked down at their intertwined hands.
He decided to try a mind interference technique to investigate her past.
He would slip into her past and look into events 10 years ago when she first began to turn into a cat. After reciting a spell, a magic circle appeared on the floor and his staff, the Crystal Rod, appeared. Holding it, Hydrangea recited another spell.
Mind interference-type magic was incredibly dangerous. In its long history, only a handful of individuals are able to use it and Prince Magnolia was one of the people who specialized in it within the country.
In ancient times, back when magic was commonplace— there were many who were unable to return because they had entered another person’s consciousness.
With this magic, damage to both parties would be inflicted if they did not share a deep emotional bond. But compared to before, Hydrangea understood Violette and vice versa.
Although it was a loveless marriage, they had formed a trusting relationship by living together as husband and wife.
It should be fine now. Surely, Violette would not reject me.
After the spell was completed, a small magic circle appeared in Hydrangea’s hand which he used to gently touch Violette’s forehead.
Then, he felt as if someone was strongly pulling his hand.
Hydrangea lost consciousness and collapsed on the bed.
◇◇◇
When he woke up with a start, Hydrangea was in a gray-colored world.
He was inside a mansion, standing on a carpeted hallway.
Looking around, he found something familiar. It was a portrait of the noblewoman who looked like Violette. It seemed like he was in Count Northpole’s estate, Violette’s home.
He heard the sound of steady footsteps. The butler passed in front of Hydrangea.
Nobody could see Hydrangea while he was in another person’s consciousness.
The next person to arrive was Violette’s father Syran.
He was hunched over like always, his ghastly pale face carrying no malice. Then, the person calling out to him appeared.
“Father!!”
Beautiful almond-shaped eyes and plump, full lips. She was as lovely as a doll, more beautiful than any girl he had ever seen. Her golden hair, tied in two, swung vigorously as she ran.
Running briskly towards them was a 9 year-old Violette.
“Fath— hm?”
Violette stopped in front of Hydrangea and looked quizzically at him. At that moment, Hydrangea’s heart thumped fiercely in his chest, thinking that she could see him.
It is said that children could see things that adults could not.
Is it possible for such a thing to happen even inside a memory?
“Something wrong, Vy?”
“No. I just thought I saw a stain on the wall, but it must have been my imagination.”
“I see.”
“……”
For the first time in his life, Hydrangea was treated like a stain on the wall.
