How to Get a Stolen Husband Back - Chapter 33
What on earth is this woman…?
Aiden found it difficult to keep up with Systea’s thoughts and stared blankly for a while. Suddenly, he recalled the sympathetic glances her guards had given him.
Now he felt he understood the reason a little better. The unpredictable actions of their master must be a daily occurrence for them. Yet, because they can’t predict them until they happen, they must always be on edge.
‘Even so, to make such a bold proposal after only meeting twice…’
He thought it was absurd, but honestly, he was tempted. He was conflicted.
Looking back, he had never truly escaped from under his father’s shadow.
He thought accepting his father’s anger was a form of atonement he could offer. No matter how unfair or harsh that anger was.
But what if, by any chance, going to another country could cure his condition…?
“Then, I might actually…”
Just as his mouth opened on its own, hinting at acceptance, Aristie came to mind. His dear sister, who was also under pressure from all sides.
Though he was only a burden to her by staying, he couldn’t leave Aristie behind. At the very least, he wanted to protect her until the wedding, as an older brother should.
“N-not right now, it’s… difficult. Maybe if there’s an o-opportunity later…”
It was at that moment.
As Aiden was gently declining, a loud noise erupted nearby, swallowing his words. A group of men, clearly tipsy from daytime drinking, were passing by.
Aiden and Systea both fell silent. They intended to wait quietly until the men moved away.
But the men weren’t just making noise. They seemed to be getting into a light quarrel, and suddenly, they started throwing punches at each other!
“What did you say, punk? Say it again!”
“Are you crazy? Who are you ordering around?”
“Yeah! You wanna go?”
The fight among the men grew more intense. It looked like they might get caught up in it.
‘Let’s get out of here.’
Aiden mouthed the words as he helped Systea up.
But just then, one of the men, hit by a punch, staggered heavily and fell towards Systea. She had no time to dodge.
‘No!’
Aiden instinctively shielded Systea, taking the full brunt of the impact on his back. As a groan escaped him, Systea’s scream echoed in the air.
The man who collided with Aiden crashed heavily to the ground. Everything happened in an instant.
“Are you okay!?”
Systea asked in a worried voice about Aiden’s condition.
“I-I’m fine.”
Aiden stood up, trying to appear unbothered.
Fortunately, he didn’t seem to have any serious injuries, but his chest was thoroughly soaked from the drinks they had been holding.
“Oh my, your clothes…!”
Systea quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe him off. But for Aiden, leaving the place was more urgent than his clothes.
His judgment was correct, but unfortunately, it was a moment too late. The man who had rolled on the ground got up, dusted himself off, and started hurling insults at Aiden, demanding why he bumped into him.
“Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black? Instead of apologizing, you’re swearing at him?”
Systea raised her voice in anger. The man waved his hand dismissively at her.
“Hey, pretty lady, stay out of this! I have business with this wimp here.”
“Who are you telling to stay out? I’m the one with business with you, you bandit-looking guy!”
“What, bandit? This woman, really! I was going to let it slide!”
“P-Princess. I’m f-fine, so let’s just g-go over th-there…”
Aiden wedged himself between Systea and the men, desperately trying to stop her. But despite his efforts, the situation only grew more heated.
“Hmph! Princess, my foot. Just because a man is doting on you, you think you’re something?”
“What about you? I’m something, but you’re nothing with that face.”
“What did you say? Should I make your face even worse?”
“Go ahead and try if you can.”
“E-everyone, just s-stop! Let’s just g-go our s-separate ways…”
“Oh? Look at this guy stuttering.”
“Oh? Now that you mention it?”
The men’s attention shifted from Systea back to Aiden the moment they heard his stammering voice.
Weren’t they the ones who couldn’t find an excuse to fight and ended up brawling among themselves? Now that they finally had a target, the thugs all had a look of having caught something.
“Hahaha! Look at this guy, he’s a stutterer, isn’t he?”
“He looks fine on the outside, but he’s a fool inside? Hahaha.”
The thugs laughed uproariously, mocking Aiden as if he were a snack to chew on. Saying things like what a fool he was, and how did he manage to woo a woman with that mouth.
Aiden’s expression, which he had been suppressing, gradually grew cold. If the ridicule had been directed solely at him, he would have endured it to the end.
But eventually, he turned to face the men with an icy expression. It was when one of them jeered, “Is he good in bed? Hey, brown-haired lady! Are you satisfied with him?”
“Shut up.”
Aiden spoke in a voice as cold as ice.
It was a voice no one around had ever heard, one he himself had never used before.
It was quiet, yet chilling.
Despite the ominous change in atmosphere, the thugs, who had only ever fought in back alleys, just kept babbling to maintain control.
“What did you say, you fool?”
“I said shut up.”
“Oh, look at this? The cat’s hiding its claws?”
“Keh, a cat? More like a rat…!”
Suddenly, Aiden’s center of gravity shifted forward, and he shot out between the men. The man who had called him a rat let out a squeak as he was launched into the air.
And it wasn’t just him. All the men were suddenly screaming and flying backward. They didn’t even realize where they’d been hit until they were already sprawled on the ground.
Crash!
“Aiden, are you okay…?”
Systea’s eyes widened in shock. Aiden’s skill in subduing six thugs in an instant was beyond just being impressive.
It was undoubtedly the result of long, thorough training as a warrior.
Each strike was so precise that it even conveyed a sense of restraint, as if he was deliberately avoiding lethal blows.
“Wow! Amazing!”
Systea belatedly clapped her hands in admiration. Then she asked Aiden, who was pulling her away from the scene.
“Are you sure it’s okay not to hand them over to the military police?”
“Let’s leave them. I don’t like drawing attention by escalating the situation.”
“Oh, right. You’re not one for…”
…Huh?
Only then did Systea notice something odd.
“Aiden, you weren’t stuttering at all just now?”
“What? I-I wasn’t?”
“Now that I think about it, you weren’t stuttering during the fight either! Didn’t you notice?”
“I-I didn’t. I wasn’t p-paying attention to that…”
Hearing Aiden’s returned stammering, Systea felt both regret and curiosity.
Could it be that when his anger reaches a peak and all his focus is on that, his speech becomes normal? But why didn’t he notice?
Could it be because he’s never truly gotten angry before…?
“Aiden.”
Systea called Aiden with a voice of realization.
“Even if it’s temporary, I’ve found a way to solve your condition.”
“……?”
“Get really, really angry! Don’t hold back, and let your anger explode!”
Systea encouraged Aiden, shaking her clenched fists in the air.
Just then, one of the thugs, who had barely managed to stand, pulled out a dagger from his pocket and charged at Systea.
“Damn woman!”
He wanted to attack Aiden, but he didn’t dare, so he aimed to hurt Aiden’s woman instead.
“Princess!”
Aiden moved to block him, but Systea acted a split second faster.
“Can’t you take a hint? Just stay down quietly!”
Thwack!
“……”
This time, Aiden’s eyes widened. Systea’s right foot, which had spun around to strike the man’s chin, was extended straight up towards the sky.
“Ah, dresses are so inconvenient.”
As she slowly lowered her leg and adjusted her skirt, Aiden recalled the warnings given by her guards.
—Please refrain from accidentally injuring others.
—Especially breaking things! Try to resolve it with words, if possible.
So this was it. This was real.
“Oh dear!”
Realizing Aiden’s gaze, Systea scrunched up her nose and then smiled sheepishly.
“You know, sometimes there are people you just can’t reason with, haha.”
* * *
“Ahhh, Miss! What’s all this?”
“I’ve never seen so many gifts received at once. No, I’ve never even heard of it!”
“They won’t all fit in the dressing room, will they? We might need to add another room.”
After Khalid left, the maids screamed and made a fuss over the pile of gifts that had been moved indoors.
Aristie understood their feelings.
Even her eyes, which were accustomed to lavish things, were surprised, so how much more so for the maids.
It wouldn’t matter if one of them was her father’s spy. The news of the immense gifts sent by the Emperor would bring great satisfaction to her father.
He would also be reassured about the family’s standing.
“Could you organize these? If there’s not enough space, you can clear the next room and set it up as a room.”
