How to Get a Stolen Husband Back - Chapter 32

But inside, she felt nothing but discomfort.

Her emotions were like boiling over, then burnt out leaving only ashes, then festering again. Until she could identify the nature of these uncontrollable emotions, Aristie honestly didn’t want to meet Khalid.

‘Please let some important state affairs come up so he can’t make it…’

Despite her inner wishes, Khalid arrived at the Duke’s house right on time. And he didn’t come alone.

It was strange enough that six large imperial carriages arrived, but then the attendants started unloading boxes into the garden like ants carrying food.

An enormous number of gift boxes. It was more like they had been swept up rather than carefully selected.

“What is all this?”

When Aristie asked in a bewildered tone, Khalid smiled faintly.

“Just some gifts. With the wedding coming up and several events scheduled, there will be many places to show your face. I thought they might be nice to wear on such occasions.”

As he spoke, the attendants began to open the lids of the boxes one by one.

Out came dresses in various colors, necklaces, earrings, rings, shoes, hairpins, tiaras, and all sorts of accessories.

There weren’t just ordinary dresses.

There were even three white wedding dresses adorned with diamonds and pearls.

“Ah, those… I picked them just in case.”

Seeing Aristie’s gaze fixed on the wedding dresses, Khalid spoke awkwardly.

“I couldn’t choose just one because I liked all three. If you don’t have a wedding dress you like, you can choose from these. Of course, it’s your choice.”

Aristie was at a loss for words.

Even though the Yentrice ducal family had lost some of its wealth, it was still a family with immense financial power. Therefore, Aristie was not particularly materialistic.

She could buy whatever she needed without worry. She never felt desperate for anything.

But for the first time in a while, she was tempted.

Everything that appeared was so beautiful that just looking at them felt luxurious.

“When did you prepare all these…?”

A sense of overwhelming emotion washed over her, and she spoke almost like a sigh. Khalid’s voice carried a hint of bitterness as he answered.

“I’ve been picking them out myself while walking around the streets in my spare time lately. The last purchase was two days ago.”

The moment she heard ‘two days ago,’ the image of Khalid riding through the streets in a carriage flashed in her memory.

In short, Khalid had gone out incognito to buy gifts for Aristie and ended up witnessing her with another man.

‘Is that why he showed such signs of agitation…’

Knowing the circumstances, she suddenly felt sorry. But it was an awkward situation to apologize for, and an inexplicable emotion continued to churn inside Aristie.

Like an unresolved sediment, it cruelly whispered in her ear even at this moment when she was moved by Khalid.

If he treats you this well, imagine how well he must treat Estelle, whom he chose.

Probably incomparable, right?

Admit it. You’ve lost him.

“I’ll gratefully… accept them.”

Aristie suppressed her surging emotions and maintained her courtesy. Unlike her, who was putting on a smiling face, Khalid’s smile slowly faded.

Even if he didn’t know his fiancée’s inner feelings, having watched her for nearly 20 years, he could at least tell that she wasn’t happy.

Sure enough.

“But since I’ve received so much already, there’s no need to give me more in the future.”

With an answer that was almost a rejection, Khalid looked at Aristie with sad eyes.

He had hoped that after putting in so much effort, she might open her heart a little…

“Aristie.”

Khalid quietly called out to Aristie.

The tips of Aristie’s fingers, closing the box lids, trembled slightly.

“…Do you dislike me that much?”

The words escaped Khalid’s lips, carrying the heart that had been wounded for so long. His voice, which should have resonated with strength, was pathetically weak.

“No, Your Majesty. How could that be?”

“Then why do you always keep your distance from me?”

“Your Majesty…?”

“Lately, it seems even more so. Why is that… Is it because I didn’t trust your words? Or because I revealed the existence of Estelle to you?”

“……”

“No, I understand that part. For whatever reason, it wouldn’t feel good for someone about to be your partner to talk about another woman.”

“……”

Aristie didn’t know what to say, so she just bit her lip. Words piled up inside her, surging, only to be crushed at the tip of her tongue and swallowed back down.

She couldn’t be sure if her feelings were jealousy or not, and even if they were, it was an emotion that an Empress should never reveal.

In truth, she wanted to ask too.

Why did you end up with Estelle?

Is it because I’m as hard as stone, and Estelle is as soft as cotton candy, so you were drawn to her?

Is that truly the kind of woman you subconsciously desired?

Even if she’s not a villainess, I don’t like her.

But I can’t even say that.

You’re greedy.

You have another woman in your heart, yet you don’t want to lose the familiarity of ‘me.’

If only, even until the wedding, you hadn’t known Estelle.

If you hadn’t fallen for her schemes.

If you had just waited a little longer for the moment when I, who had been a caterpillar for 18 years, finally became a butterfly.

If that had been the case, many things would be different now…

“If only I didn’t know Estelle, would you be different now…?”

As Aristie was trying to suppress her thoughts, she faintly heard Khalid’s soliloquy. In that moment, feeling as if her thoughts had been read, Aristie’s eyelids flickered open.

And she met Khalid’s gaze head-on.

“……”

“……”

An eternity seemed to pass in that moment.

What they confirmed was that their eyes held the same emotions.

But neither of them spoke it aloud. It felt like the moment they did, that emotion would vanish like a mirage.

“Estelle is…”

Instead, Khalid spoke of something else.

“I haven’t been meeting her separately these days. To avoid any blemish on your honor as the wedding approaches.”

Well, would that really change anything?

“There’s no need for that. After all, there are already rumors about Your Majesty having a woman.”

“……”

Khalid remained silent, staring at Aristie. Then he spoke briefly.

“Is that so.”

He didn’t smile. It was better to remain expressionless than to force a twisted smile.

“The tea will get cold. Let’s talk while drinking it.”

“Let’s do that.”

After finishing the unboxing of the gifts, they drank tea and continued their conversation on other topics.

But outwardly, they were merely being polite. Inwardly, neither was truly listening to the other’s words.

* * *

Meanwhile, after finishing their meal, Aiden and Systea sat on a quiet park bench, each holding a drink.

They had planned to go to a café after leaving the restaurant, but since Aiden disliked crowded places, they chose the park instead.

As they enjoyed the peaceful scene of sunlight dappling through the leaves, Systea said something surprising.

“Actually, my sister also had a stutter when she was young.”

Aiden nearly choked on his drink.

“W-what?”

“So I took the liberty of asking you uncomfortable questions. The therapist who treated my sister often led conversations in that manner.”

“Ah…”

“My sister’s condition was also psychogenic. The palace was in an uproar when her symptoms began, and every possible method was employed for her treatment.”

Hearing the story, Aiden’s face was filled with mixed emotions. He, too, had many therapists challenge themselves with his treatment since childhood.

However, many of the treatments were coercive or extreme. They forced meditation, administered drugs, and even inflicted physical harm.

These haphazard treatments not only worsened his stutter but also made him distrustful of people. One female therapist even tried to hypnotize him to psychologically manipulate him.

“H… how is y-your sister n-now?”

“Oh, she’s recovered. A long time ago, actually.”

Systea answered so lightly that it was almost anticlimactic.

“It turned out that the cause of her stutter was the pressure of having to succeed the throne as the crown princess. Eventually, for her treatment, our parents made a decision. They told her she could give up her position and live freely far away if she wanted.”

They gave her a year and sent her off with only a nanny and a few knight escorts, and her symptoms improved in less than six months. When she returned, she no longer showed signs of being burdened, Systea explained.

“So, I was thinking, Lord Aiden, how about going on a long-term retreat for your treatment?”

“I’ve already t-tried that m-method. But it was of l-little use.”

“Did your father or therapist accompany you at that time?”

“Y-yes, they did.”

“Then it’s no wonder it didn’t work.”

Systea made the bombshell remark with a smiling face.

“I’m talking about a retreat in my country, the Shatra Kingdom, which is completely isolated from your current environment. It’s a place with no anxiety factors.”

“Shatra… K-Kingdom?”

“Why not take this opportunity to visit? I’ll take full responsibility for everything.”