We're Married, After All - Chapter 77
“Bring Danel here right now—or I’ll jump.”
Danel’s carriage had already left the estate. By now, he would have descended the hill and be far away.
But I wasn’t worried. Everyone here already thought I was a madwoman. In their minds, Danel was the only one who could fix this. They’d do whatever it took to bring him back.
Sure enough, it didn’t take long for Danel to return.
By the time he arrived, daylight had fully broken. The servants, fearing I might jump at any moment, had piled several thick blankets on the garden floor below the window. Seeing that made me think absently, Next time, I should make it clear I’ll hang myself instead. Though, I doubted there would be a next time.
The moment the carriage halted in front of the estate, Danel sprinted up the stairs. When he entered the bedroom, his face was deathly pale, devoid of a single drop of color.
His expression remained calm and composed—but beneath that rigid facade, I could feel the immense tension radiating from him. After all we’d been through, I could read him better than I cared to admit.
“…Laurea.”
He rasped out my name, almost like a plea.
For some reason, seeing the torment etched into his face made me laugh. My impulsive, reckless plan had been full of holes, yet Danel clearly hadn’t expected anything like this.
“I was going to run away today,” I confessed. “But… it’s higher than I thought. I might’ve fallen trying to climb down. I couldn’t make the rope long enough.”
“…It’s cold,” he said quietly.
“Yes, it’s colder than I expected. Seems like Petios and I both have terrible timing for these things.”
Danel’s throat bobbed as he swallowed hard, visibly suppressing something rising within him.
Is this about Petios again…?
His reaction made me laugh bitterly. It doesn’t matter where or how Petios dies… but you matter to me.
I just don’t want to see you kill someone—especially your own brother—just to possess me.
I’d told him this countless times, but Danel never listened. He just kept wounding himself with meaningless guilt. It was almost comical.
I ordered everyone—servants, knights, and maids—out of the room. The sudden drop in temperature made me shiver uncontrollably. Judging by the worried glances from the retreating maids, my lips must’ve turned a ghastly shade of blue.
Even as everyone left, Danel’s eyes never left me—not for a second.
Finally, I met his gaze. His normally composed face now held a chilling stillness. His stiff, unmoving lips made him appear frozen—but that only made me laugh again.
Why does your love always back you into a corner?
Why does loving someone make you so afraid?
How did we end up like this?
How did I come to hold you in my heart… despite everything?
Those questions made me laugh—a hollow, hopeless laugh. Perhaps I really had lost my mind.
Slowly, I moved my lips, speaking words I’d carefully prepared while waiting for him.
“Give Petios one day.”
“Just one day,” I pleaded. “Stay in the estate today—don’t leave. You and the knights both. Don’t send anyone to Lamprey Castle… and don’t set up any checkpoints in the surrounding areas. Promise me you’ll leave Petios alone for just one day.”
“… …”
Danel slowly nodded. Then, he turned and opened the door behind him, signaling the waiting knights and servants to disperse.
That’s enough. This will have to be enough…
I carefully shifted my feet on the window ledge. The moment Danel saw me move, he lunged toward the window.
His strong arms wrapped tightly around me, pulling me from the ledge.
He stepped back with measured, mechanical precision, not stopping until we were far from the window. Only then did he collapse to the floor, trembling uncontrollably. His hands shook so violently they seemed gripped by an earthquake.
His cold, trembling fingers searched my body, as if trying to share warmth—but his own body was as icy as mine. Realizing this, Danel hastily shrugged off his coat and draped it over my shoulders.
Hot tears dripped onto the top of my head.
“…Please…”
Danel’s voice quivered miserably.
“Please… please don’t gamble with your life. If you must… hold a knife to someone else’s throat. Even mine—” His voice cracked.
“Please… I’m begging you, Laurea.”
I closed my eyes, still cradled in his arms.
Would Danel have listened… if I’d done that from the start?
Even if I killed everyone in this estate, would it have mattered?
Maybe not… Maybe even the child in my womb wouldn’t mean as much as my life does to him.
But I didn’t speak those thoughts aloud. My body wouldn’t cooperate anyway.
Whether it was from the adrenaline fading or Danel’s desperate attempt to share his warmth, a fever burned through me, searing hot.
As consciousness slipped further away, I heard Danel’s near-sobbing voice, the frantic footsteps of people rushing into the room—
And I prayed.
Let the time I’ve bought be meaningful… for everyone.
