My Husband was Switched - Chapter 23

“If we make eye contact one more time, I will consider it as you not needing sleep.”

“……What, what happens then?”

Swoosh.

He reached his hand towards the pillow beside me. Blinking, I looked down at him, fully receiving his gaze as I was trapped in his embrace.

“Are you curious?”

“No. I think I know.”

I awkwardly laughed and tightly closed my eyes. I could feel his hand still lingering beside me.

My heart started pounding loudly.

‘Calm down……. He’ll hear it.’

I imagined a gentle breeze and frolicking animals. As I pictured these calming images, my heartbeat gradually slowed.

And like a lie, drowsiness washed over me.

❖ ❖ ❖

Cedric only left the room after confirming Claire had fallen asleep.

In truth, he desperately wanted to lie beside her. Though it was an act, Cedric was more sincere than anyone else.

He didn’t know when it started, but Claire had taken root in his heart and was growing in size.

He stopped in the hallway, ran his hand through his hair, and gazed out the window. He frowned at the sight of the garden.

“What on earth is she thinking?”

He noticed Isabelle walking with Kaven.

It wasn’t just her sudden, rude visit. Her gaze towards Claire was also unpleasant.

Her arrogant, condescending look, as if she were looking at a servant, was extremely irritating.

Until now, Cedric hadn’t understood Claire’s anxiety.

But seeing Isabelle’s attitude towards Claire, everything clicked into place.

‘So that’s why she was so uneasy.’

It had been strange since the Emperor’s visit was announced. Her subtly anxious expression, her busy behavior, and the way she seemed to be running from someone all bothered him.

‘She wasn’t worried about her Father, but about her younger sister.’

His expression hardened as he thought about Claire, who kept looking at him and smiling. He couldn’t just sit by and watch someone openly disrespect his wife.

So he accepted everything Claire did. He was pleased she was acting that way. As long as she no longer mentioned divorce, he was satisfied.

In fact, he thought it might be good if Isabelle stayed a bit longer. Wouldn’t that bring him closer to Claire?

“That’s just my selfish desire.”

Cedric shook his head.

He didn’t want to see her struggle. Since Isabelle arrived, Claire had been pushing herself.

So what should he do?

There was only one answer.

He had to quickly address the reason Claire had fled.

Cedric headed straight to his office. If he didn’t resolve this quickly, Claire would suffer.

He immediately wrote a letter to the imperial family.

He told them to come and take their beloved princess away.

❖ ❖ ❖

Meanwhile, Isabelle, who had come to the garden with Kaven, couldn’t hide her amazement.

It was surprising enough that there was a garden in the cold North, but she didn’t expect it to be this well-maintained.

In the fragrant garden, Isabelle’s irritation grew.

“Is this…… the garden?”

“Yes, there’s nothing special about it.”

No, the garden itself was special.

The scale was different from other noble gardens. Even the environment was set up so animals could rest comfortably, which was unique.

Isabelle slowly walked through the garden, furrowing her brows.

“To think this is possible in the North.”

“It’s all thanks to Her Highness the Grand Duchess’s dedication.”

“I see. It seems like animals could live well here, but I don’t see any?”

“……Is that so? I wouldn’t know. I’ve been away from the grand ducal residence for so long due to being conscripted for the war.”

Kaven tilted his head.

Now that he thought about it, it was strange. Just a few days ago, there were animals running around the residence, but now there wasn’t a single one.

Even the animals he had brought on His Highness’s orders could easily fill two carriages. But there was no need to inform an outsider about every detail of the Grand Duke’s residence.

‘What face does someone who rejected His Highness and sent her sister here have to come now?’

Kaven didn’t like Isabelle.

Though he didn’t show it, he found her sudden intrusion rude.

No matter if she was a princess, could she really do as she pleased?

Isabelle reached out to touch a flower and then snapped it off.

“It’s weak. Maybe because it’s an artificially created environment?”

“…….”

Kaven’s expression subtly twisted.

“Oh, dear. Flowers are rare in the North, aren’t they? If I stay here, you won’t have to worry about that.”

Isabelle turned around, looking at Kaven with a smile as she dropped the flower to the ground.

“My powers are very useful in the North. So, do all the people in the Grand Duke’s residence follow my sister well?”

“I don’t understand your intention in saying this.”

“Do you really not know?”

Kaven stared at Isabelle with an indifferent expression. She waved her hand dismissively, her interest waning.

“It’s a joke. There’s no need to be so serious. I was just asking since this was originally supposed to be my place. You know my father, the Emperor, is coming here, right?”

“……I am aware.”

“My father will probably take my sister back with him.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Well. You’ll find out soon enough.”

She laughed gleefully.

❖ ❖ ❖

Cedric’s eyes snapped open.

He immediately got up from bed. He felt refreshed after sleeping.

Glancing to the side, he saw Claire still asleep.

‘It feels like I slept well for the first time in a while.’

He hadn’t slept so comfortably without any distracting thoughts in a long time. After sending the letter to the imperial family, he had finished his work and returned to the room. He must have fallen asleep while watching Claire sleep peacefully.

He placed his hand on her forehead. She had no fever, and her complexion was good.

Cedric slowly got up, careful not to wake Claire. Feeling a bit warm, he moved to open the window—

Thud, thud.

With a dull sound, a fierce cold wind blew through the open window.

Startled, he looked up at the sky. It had been calm, but now a strong cold wind and hail were pouring down so hard he couldn’t keep his eyes open.

“What the…….”

Sensing something was wrong, Cedric headed straight for the mansion’s door.

“Your Highness. The weather is bad, so you shouldn’t go out now.”

The butler, noticing him, shook his head and tried to stop him.

“Hail? This has never happened in the North. Snow, maybe, but hail?”

Come to think of it, had Isabelle returned from the garden?

Cedric bit his lip and headed straight for Isabelle’s room. He didn’t know what powers she had, so all possibilities were open.

Though he was reluctant, it was best for both of them to confirm.

If this had happened frequently, he wouldn’t have been suspicious, but since it started after Isabelle arrived, he couldn’t help but doubt.

Bang, bang, bang.

“Princess Isabelle, are you in your room?”

“…….”

No answer. Cedric signaled the maid to open the door.

“I just need to confirm.”

The maid nodded and opened the door.

When the door opened, Isabelle, who shouldn’t have been there, rubbed her eyes and got up from the bed.

“Huh. Your Highness the Grand Duke? Barging in like this…….”

“Oh…… You were in your room.”

Cedric looked at Isabelle in disbelief. She nodded, looking puzzled.

“Did you come to see me at this hour?”

She was wearing a thin slip. Isabelle, who had gotten up from the bed, gestured to the maid.

“Leave us. It seems he has something important to say.”

“There’s no need for that. She can stay.”

“Didn’t you come to say something?”

Isabelle blinked and approached him with a smile. She reached out and lightly brushed his arm, tilting her head.

“Are you going to keep standing there?”

The maid, unsure of what to do, fidgeted.

“You should re-educate your servants. They don’t listen when their superiors speak.”

Isabelle frowned and pushed the maid. She then tried to close the door.

Thud.

Cedric caught the closing door and opened it wide again. He held the door in place and spoke to Isabelle.

“There’s no need to close the door. Speak from there.”

“With this cold wind blowing, will you take responsibility if I catch a cold?”

Isabelle moved closer to Cedric, lifting her head. She didn’t back down despite his cold stare.

To avoid touching her, he took another step back and gently placed his foot in the door to keep it open.

“I just came to check if you were in your room.”

“At this hour?”

Cedric’s frown deepened. He felt like he had stepped into a trap.

“Yes, that’s all.”

He thought it best to leave quickly and opened the door to turn away.

“Then sleep well. Since it’s hailing outside, it’s best not to go out for a while.”

“Oh, are you worried about me?”

Isabelle reached out and grabbed Cedric’s collar.

Through the thin shirt, his firm muscles were clearly visible. He let out a short breath as his clothes were suddenly pulled.

“……Cedric?”