I'm So Tired Because of My Contract-Breaking Husband - Chapter 7
Chapter 7
ย
โWhat. It seems you’ve grown fond of each other while fighting.โย ย
Marquis Stephan looked at Duke Lexion with a startled expression at his joke.ย ย
Seeing Lexion continuously gazing out the window, perhaps contemplating something, Stephan shook his head slightly, then returned to a serious expression.ย ย
โBut, if Princess Isabelle marries you, Duke, your life will no longer be needed afterward.โย ย
โI know. As long as she gets pregnant with anyone’s child, that’s all that matters.โย ย
At Stephan’s worried words, Lexion replied cynically.ย ย
What Emperor Grain and Isabelle needed was legitimacy. The legitimacy that Isabelle’s child inherited Ernst’s bloodline. Once they married, no one would dare question whether the child was Lexion’s or not.ย ย
โStill. Thanks to that, there will be fewer assassins for a while.โย ย
โThat will be the case. They need to keep you alive to get you married.โย ย
โI have no value even as a stud.โย ย
โThat’s right… They just need a legal name.โย ย
โRidiculous.โย ย
ย
Lexion’s gaze turned back outside the window. In the street, already shrouded in darkness, mist from the lake began to settle low. As horses ran through the mist, it scattered in surprise, only to quickly cover the tracks as if nothing had happened.ย ย
โThis street is always so dazzling.โย ย
โYes. All these lights are probably someone’s tears of blood.โย ย
As the carriage entered Emerald Street, rows of brilliant lighting stones illuminated the street, as if to forever showcase Petrus’s prosperity. Shops too flaunted their splendor, keeping their lights on until this late hour.ย ย
Their radiant lights were the result of exploiting the occupied territories.ย ย
โDuke… Is there another lady you wish to marry? If so, you could use her as a shield.โย ย
Seeing women elegantly dressed, strolling the streets despite the late hour, Stephan subtly asked.ย ย
โStephan. For someone who knows me better than I do to say such a thing.โย ย
However, as expected, Lexion’s words were exactly as Stephan had anticipated.ย ย
“Right… I just asked out of frustration… I’ll try to find a lady from the Duchy of Ernst.”
“No need. Could that woman even cross the sea? She’d probably die in an accident on the way… don’t cause an innocent woman’s death.”
Lexion spoke, keeping his gaze outside the window. It would be futile. Emperor Grain was someone who would drown all women trying to leave Ernst in the sea.ย ย
Just like he drowned his nanny and attendants in the sea ten years ago.ย ย
โTrust me.โย ย
Stephan said in a deliberately bright voice. Encouraged by his words, the carriage sped up, heading towards the eastern region where the high nobility resided.ย ย
At the lakeside of the Duchy of Ernst, the last remaining swan family was sleeping amidst the mist of the dark night. By tomorrow, these swans too would leave the lake and head to the Duchy of Ernst.ย ย
Stephan blew a small whistle in the mist. A sound that people could not hear resonated through the night air over the lake.ย ย
A large swan approached him, wrapping its neck around his waist and rubbing its face against him.ย ย
โReturn safely.โย ย
Stephan tied a short white tie sling around the swan’s neck. Inside the small pendant made of white sealing wax was a piece of white paper.ย ย
ย
+++
ย
Lexion had a simple glass of eau-de-vie with Stephan in the small reception room located in the left-wing on the second floor.ย ย
โIt’s cherry eau-de-vie, Duke.โย ย
โIt must have been hard to obtain.โย ย
โThank you for noticing.โย ย
Eau-de-vie refers to the spirit distilled from wine before it ages. Usually made from grapes or apples, in the Ernst region, it was specially made from cherries.ย ย
ย
After Stephan left, Lexion entered the room where Adelina was. Having moved his bedroom daily, staying here for several days made this room feel familiar.ย ย
As if someone was waiting for his return.ย ย
โDarling~ Darling~. There’s another crack here. Fix it here~โย
As soon as Lexion entered, Adelina fussed, pointing out the cracked spot.ย ย
โA mirror that requires a lot of care.โย ย
Lexion turned on the room’s lighting and took resin from the drawer, applying it to the new crack in the mirror. Then, he frowned at his reflection in the mirror.ย ย
โMirror…โย ย
In a sighing voice, he placed his hands on either side of the mirror. There was no one in this vast mansion with whom he could openly converse.ย ย
โWhy? Darling? Was today tough again?โ
Adelina, noticing Lexion’s slightly reddened eyes from the alcohol, pretended to gently stroke his hair as it was reflected on the mirror’s wall.ย ย
โWhat are the odds of being able to kill the strongest one right now?โย ย
Feeling frustrated, Lexion just voiced his inner thoughts.ย ย
ย
<โLess than 10%. In other words, not even remotely possible.โ>ย ย
ย
Hearing Adelina’s voice clearly, Lexion withdrew his hand from the wall and stared intently at the mirror.ย ย
โWhat? What? Darling~ That wasn’t my thought! It just came out on its own!โ
Adelina was momentarily flustered. As soon as Lexion asked the question, the answer popped into her mind, and she involuntarily responded.ย ย
“I need to go kill him immediately.”
ย
<โHey! Itโs less than 10%! You should be cautious! Prepare for next time!โ>ย ย
ย
As Lexion drew his sword as if he were going to kill him right away, Adelina was startled and clung to the mirror wall, shouting loudly.ย ย
Crack-. A new crack formed in the mirror.ย ย
Lexion’s eyebrows twitched slightly as he glared sharply at that spot.ย ย
ย
+++
ย
When Lexion entered the bathroom wearing his shirt and trousers, Adelina began to grumble, looking at the new crack.ย ย
โWhy enter the bathroom with clothes on? Are you suddenly feeling modest?โย
The best part of becoming a mirror was now gone, and it was truly disappointing.ย ย
โStill… cracks keep forming… Should I look for another house?โย
Somehow… it seemed that the deity had given her the mirror without questions or conditions, and she was thrilled, but it turned out to be shoddy construction. Whether in the human world or the mirror world, shoddy construction seemed rampant.
ย
โHuh? Why are you wearing that outfit?โย ย
After finishing his bath, Lexion came out wearing navy pajamas instead of his usual shower gown.ย ย
โDarling~. Here… there’s another crack…โย ย
Adelina called Lexion cautiously. With these cracks constantly appearing, it seemed like this handsome man might soon throw the mirror away.ย ย
As if already knowing, Lexion applied resin to the new crack and lay down on the bed.ย ย
Not wanting to sleep early, Lexion leaned against the headboard, reading a book a little longer before placing it on the headboard. After taking off his pajama top, he lay down on the bed.ย
ย
Moonlight and starlight streamed through the slightly ajar terrace curtains.ย ย
โHaa… haa…โย ย
Lexion breathed heavily, frowning deeply as he broke out in a cold sweat.ย ย
Once a year, around the date of Rose’s death, Lexion had nightmares.ย ย
Nightmares where the knights who fell protecting him ten years ago called out to him, shedding tears of blood.ย ย
ย
-โPrince… Prince Lexion…โ –ย ย
ย
Nightmares where the loved ones who sank into the cold sea, unable to return to Ernst, called out to him.ย ย
In the dream, they rode the mist of the mansion’s lake into his room and grabbed his ankle.ย ย
ย
-โSister. Sister!โ-ย ย
-โLexion! You’ll get hurt if you run around like that.โ-ย ย
-โCome here! Our Imperial Knight Order caught two wyverns!โ-ย ย
-โThat’s amazing.โ-ย ย
-โWhen I grow up, I’ll become part of the Imperial Knight Order. Then I’ll protect you, Sister!โ-ย ย
-โYes, Lexion. You can protect me and this kingdom.โ-ย ย
ย
In the dream, Rose laughed softly, ruffling young Lexion’s hair. But that smile soon turned into a stream of tears, disappearing into the mist.ย ย
โMirror…โย ย
Unconsciously, Lexion called out to the mirror. As a child, he had seen Rose smile happily at that mirror. He wanted to see that smile again. It felt like he could see Rose’s smile again if he chanted the spell.ย ย
โDarling… what’s wrong? Are you very tired?โย ย
Adelina looked at Lexion, relying on the moonlight that barely distinguished objects.ย ย
She wanted to comfort him, who couldn’t even sleep peacefully. She wanted to wipe the sweat from his forehead.ย ย
โOh… again?โย ย
Her body, which had been clinging to the mirror wall watching Lexion, suddenly slipped out of the mirror.ย ย
โOuch…โย ย
Falling to the floor again, she grasped her aching wrists and stood up.ย ย
Still in her scantily clad form when she fell, she found herself dressed in the white chemise dress she had worn before as time passed.ย ย
โIt’s this outfit again… Is there no other clothes?โย ย
Adelina took a clean towel from the bedside table drawer and sniffed it.ย ย
She had seen the maid spray poison on the towels in the other drawer, so she checked if this one was poisoned too.ย ย
โWhat is this? What’s this pale thing?โย ย
Her long silver hair flowed down on either side of Adelina’s face as she bent her head to sniff.ย ย
She grabbed a handful of it, pulling out a strand.ย ย
โOuch!โย ย
It stung.ย ย
โWhat… am I a grandmother now? Did I call this man darling~ as a grandmother?โย ย
Not only that… she acted cute… even though it was artificial, her lips… and tongue…ย ย
Adelina shuddered at her audacity.ย ย
โHaa… haa…โย ย
โOh no. This is not the time for this!โย ย
Seeing Lexion’s labored breathing, Adelina sat on the bed and wiped the sweat from his forehead.ย ย
The bed was so wide that it was hard to wipe him while sitting, so she eventually climbed onto the bed and settled comfortably beside Lexion.ย ย
โSince I’m a grandmother, I’ll pat you too.โย ย
Lying down facing Lexion, she gently patted his chest with her hand. Though knowing she shouldn’t, examining his bare chest muscles closely was… instinctual.ย ย
ย
+++
ย
Lexion was awake, sensing a presence. He was a soldier. Even in the midst of a nightmare, he was someone who could immediately react to a small presence and draw his sword.ย ย
โWho is it? A maid?โย ย
He let her actions be, as she didn’t exude hostility. After all, he could easily kill this small body if he wished.ย ย
โIt’s refreshing.โย ย
And… this was the main reason he remained still. Lexion’s body, always hot due to the long-term effects of poison, felt cooled by the refreshing energy Adelina provided.ย ย
As if she was about to stop, her small movements ceased. He sensed her trying to get up from the bed.ย ย
โWhere are you going!โย ย
Lexion immediately opened his eyes, grabbing Adelina’s wrist and pulling her back onto the bed.ย ย
โMm!โย ย
When he covered the mouth of the woman trapped beneath him to prevent her from screaming, her golden eyes widened and trembled fiercely.ย ย
โYou.โย ย
It was the angel he had seen in his dreams. He thought it was a dream, but perhaps this woman had given him an antidote. That too. With her. Lips. And. Tongue.
ย