My Husband was Switched - Chapter 22

Clang.

I saw it clearly. Isabelle deliberately placed the fork precariously at the edge of the table!

I even witnessed her elbowing it off.

‘She’s trying so hard.’

Whatever she was planning, it was clear she had impure intentions.

Even though the table was wide, there are those scenarios where someone stretches their legs to seduce a man after checking their position.

I couldn’t rule out such an absurd situation. I had some idea of how desperate Isabelle was. But surely, she wouldn’t go that far? Just as I was about to put food in my mouth—

“Oh my, the fork has fallen.”

Isabelle casually remarked.

Swoosh.

Seeing Isabelle about to bend down, I quickly tapped the table. Startled, Isabelle straightened up immediately. I ignored her sharp, glaring eyes.

“Isabelle, you’re not thinking of picking that up, are you?”

I immediately gestured to a maid.

“Sister, it’s fine. I can…….”

“Bring a new fork here.”

I naturally ignored Isabelle’s words as if I hadn’t heard anything. The maid promptly brought a new fork and picked up the fallen one.

“Be careful not to drop it. That way, you won’t have to trouble anyone over such things.”

“You’re right……. Maybe I’m weak from the long carriage ride.”

“It’s best to go to your room and rest early today. How about visiting the garden tomorrow?”

“But I’m so curious.”

Isabelle fidgeted with her hands and looked at me. Doesn’t she look like someone who was being told not to go?

“If you’re curious, go ahead. But I don’t think I can accompany you today.”

“It’s scary to go to the garden alone at night……”

She glanced at Cedric. Then, with a sorrowful expression, she carefully spoke.

“Your Highness the Grand Duke, if it’s alright, could you accompany me?”

Cedric wiped his mouth with a napkin. Then, with an indifferent expression, he replied.

“I’m sorry. I don’t think I can.”

“……What?”

Isabelle blinked, seemingly not wanting to acknowledge the rejection she heard.

“My wife is ill, so I need to take care of her. I’ll send someone else with you.”

I couldn’t help but smile at Cedric’s impenetrable wall.

Isabelle, thinking he was making excuses, furrowed her brows and put down her knife and fork.

“I feel more comfortable if Your Highness the Grand Duke accompanies me.”

“Oh, do you? But I’m not comfortable with that, so I refuse.”

“……Please reconsider.”

Isabelle smiled sweetly and stared at Cedric. I waited for Cedric’s response.

“No matter how I reconsider, it won’t change. Butler, call Sir Kaven immediately.”

“Yes, understood.”

Isabelle’s face twisted as Cedric acted without a moment’s hesitation. Ignoring her reaction, Cedric addressed Kaven, who had arrived in the drawing-room.

“The princess wishes to see the garden. Please guide her.”

“Yes, understood.”

Kaven didn’t ask any questions. He simply waited for Isabelle to stand up, as Cedric instructed.

“Are you finished, wife?”

“Yes, I’m full.”

“Then let’s get up. Since she’s going to see the garden, there’s no need for us to stay.”

“Shall we?”

Cedric stood up and pulled out my chair, helping me up. He didn’t spare a glance at Isabelle, focusing solely on me.

As I leaned into Cedric’s embrace, I gave Isabelle a confident smile.

It was my perfect victory.

❖ ❖ ❖

Isabelle clenched her fists and glared. Kaven stepped outside, telling her to come out when she’s ready.

She trembled, suppressing her boiling anger.

“They can’t do this to me.”

She was a princess of the empire. No one should look down on or ignore her.

But the two of them were thoroughly ignoring her.

Isabelle had never experienced such humiliation. She couldn’t think of how else to react but to be angry.

She thought Cedric would have some regrets about not marrying her, but he showed no signs of it.

That hurt Isabelle’s pride.

If the two had been as distant as the rumors suggested, it might have been different.

But they seemed to get along too well.

‘Sister must have known beforehand.’

She was the only one who told me that the rumors were different when I said I didn’t want to marry Cedric.

If I had listened then, I might be the one smiling now.

She was confident that having powers meant she wouldn’t be sold off to someone else.

She never imagined her Father would sell her off to another country despite her powers.

To think he would receive compensation and have her replace the king’s deceased wife.

‘Father must have thought that once the old king dies, that country would become his.’

If she had known he thought that way, she would have married Grand Duke Cedric.

Isabelle clenched her dress tightly.

“Just wait. I won’t sit still.”

So she came up with a plan. The only one who could drive a wedge between Claire and Grand Duke Cedric was Father.

It wasn’t a difficult plan.

What if she could send Claire back to the palace, where she hated being more than anything?

A smile suddenly spread across Isabelle’s face.

❖ ❖ ❖

I returned to the room with Cedric.

I was worried. Provoking Isabelle wouldn’t be good, and if it put him in a difficult situation because of me……

“Cedric, I’m worried. You won’t be in trouble because of me, will you?”

“It’s fine. There’s no need to worry.”

He seemed to reassure me as he laid me on the bed and patted me.

“But if Isabelle stays here, Zeno won’t stay quiet.”

Zeno had to return here. Since we were contracted, we couldn’t stay apart for long. Even temporarily, I could feel the connection.

If Isabelle and Zeno met, she would recognize his power. If she found Zeno, it was inevitable that news of my powers would reach Father.

“Don’t worry. The princess will leave soon. I have one question. Answer honestly.”

“Alright.”

“Are you really anxious because you don’t want the divine beast to fall into the hands of the imperial family?”

He seemed curious about why I was so attached to Zeno.

Could I tell him everything?

I hadn’t told him about my powers, so everything felt twisted.

But I couldn’t tell him. Because of Father’s power.

Father could find out whatever he was curious about. With his power.

If he found out about my powers, he would dig into Cedric’s heart. Then, my powers would be completely exposed.

I realized it when I saw Isabelle’s powers today. Why she ended up going to another country.

Her powers could be used anywhere, so Father thought it didn’t matter if she was in another country.

He likely used her powers as a bargaining chip without revealing them.

The more I thought about it, the more disgusting the old man seemed.

That’s why Isabelle came here so determined. She didn’t care about the divine beast.

“If the divine beast belongs to the North, it will be a great strength for Your Highness.”

I awkwardly smiled and controlled my expression. It wasn’t the right time yet. Once I was more secure from Father’s eyes……

Then, I could tell him about my powers. I felt like I could trust Cedric a little more now.

Cedric smiled more deeply and patted me.

It sounded like he was saying he would wait for me, no matter what.

“Rest well. Don’t think about anything else.”

When his large hand covered my eyes, my vision instantly darkened.

“It seems like you need rest.”

“I’m not sleepy yet.”

“It’s better to sleep.”

“……Why?”

Cedric leaned in closer. I flinched and curled up.

His scent filled my nose at that distance.

“If you can’t sleep, I can help. Though you might stay awake all night.”

At his words, I quickly closed my eyes tightly.

Haha.

Cedric’s low laugh tickled my ears.

‘Ugh! He’s too much.’

He was definitely teasing me. But if I opened my eyes, he would act on his words.

It was something I realized in our short time together. He didn’t make empty promises.

“I’ll stay until you fall asleep.”

“……You really are a good actor, Your Highness.”

With a complicated expression, he smiled faintly and said.

“When the act is over, you must grant my wish.”

“I will. Though I don’t know if it’s something I can do……”

I closed my eyes and tried to sleep. At that moment, Cedric’s faint laughter reached my ears.

I opened my eyes slightly and met Cedric’s gaze directly.