Chapter 12.6

Liam let Yvonne into the room and closed the door. He locked it as a precaution, having seen servants act frivolously several times.

Yvonne watched his actions without much interest and asked.

“Is this the room you used?”

“Yes. It’s been my room since childhood.”

“I see.”

Naturally, it was much larger and more luxurious than the room Yvonne stayed in, with elegant wallpaper and sophisticated furniture. The view of the Marquis’ garden from the window was beautiful.

Yvonne felt the gap between her and Liam’s upbringing anew. While she lived in a small cabin with her parents as a child, Liam stayed here and received an education.

When Yvonne grew older and worked as a maid at the Rivette Estate, Liam enjoyed all sorts of lavish living at the Marquis’ mansion.

“You grew up in a wonderful place.”

It was a genuine admiration. She could understand, even slightly, why Liam had looked down on her as a country maid who could never reach the Conrad family’s heir.

Compared to this place, even Philip, who grew up at the Rivette Estate, treated her carelessly. How much more trivial must she have seemed to Liam?

He probably feared nothing in the world. Not that it was something Yvonne needed to consider anyway.

“It’s a place that doesn’t matter to me now. You must have heard.”

“What did I hear?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know. You must have heard I was expelled from the family.”

Liam brushed his disheveled bangs upward as he spoke. Honestly, it felt humiliating to reveal his shortcomings to Yvonne. But he felt there was nothing left to hide.

“I’m hearing it for the first time.”

Until Yvonne said so.

“Really. I didn’t know you were expelled.”

“No one told you?”

Yvonne just nodded silently. Liam realized he had been quite hasty and let out a hollow laugh.

“D*mn. This stupid… No, I wasn’t swearing at you. I’m just embarrassed. Because of this situation.”

“It doesn’t matter. Anyway, didn’t you work hard so Claude could receive treatment? I’m grateful.”

“No need to thank me. I’m the child’s parent too. I just did what a parent should do.”

“I see.”

Yvonne murmured dryly. It was a bit amusing to hear a man who lacked responsibility talk about parental duty. And she disliked it. Who was he to impose himself on the child?

“More importantly, what do you want to do now? Will you stay here longer?”

“I don’t care wherever I stay.”

Yvonne grasped one arm and slightly turned her head, adding.

“I followed your brother because I thought it would help visit the clinic. It was quite helpful. But are you okay?”

“What?”

“He said you were sick. Earlier, your brother mentioned you still have a fever.”

“Uh, yeah. I’m fine.”

“Really?”

Is she worried about me now?

Liam thought as he looked at Yvonne. It’s natural to worry when someone is sick. Despite knowing this simple fact, Liam felt a strange thrill in his chest.

Perhaps he was sensitive because he felt his wife’s attitude had become oddly cold lately.

She was clearly by his side, and they were intimate, yet he felt a sense of detachment instead of comfort.

Maybe now was the chance to break this awkwardness.

“Actually, I’m still sick.”

Liam murmured as he rested his face gently on Yvonne’s shoulder. Despite the weak man leaning against her, Yvonne frowned but didn’t push him away.

“Are you very sick? Should I call a doctor?”

“Not a doctor…”

Slowly lifting his head, Liam openly stared at Yvonne’s lips.

“I think a kiss from you would make me feel better.”

Only then did Yvonne realize Liam was joking. She nodded resignedly as she looked at the man’s playful smile.

“Alright.”

Then she lifted herself on her toes, cupped Liam’s face, and kissed him. Liam stiffened at the touch of her lips.

He had joked hoping for improvement between them, but hadn’t expected her to kiss him so willingly. Yet, he couldn’t remain idle due to surprise.

Liam embraced Yvonne’s waist and kissed her passionately. Their lips met, intertwining their breaths deeply. It seemed intense, but Liam found everything about this moment sweet.

He recalled his postponed proposal plan. Claude’s treatment had started smoothly, and Yvonne seemed much softer toward him. The Marquis’ mansion’s scenery was perfect for a proposal.

Yes. I’ll apologize and ask her to marry me again when we return to Arthus.

Though Julie de Rozier had told him not to apologize, he knew he should because he was wrong.

No, before that, I should go to the city and order a bouquet. A beautiful, large bouquet. And propose before the day after tomorrow.

Liam thought intensely while entangling Yvonne’s soft tongue. His mind was filled with happiness as he planned the proposal and indulged in Yvonne.

Their breaths grew heavier. Yvonne was the first to press against his chest, pushing him away. Liam obediently parted his lips.

“Haa…”

Yvonne’s chest heaved as if she was quite breathless. Liam’s face was equally flushed as he breathed heavily.

Once their breaths calmed, Yvonne touched his shoulder and lowered her gaze.

“Shall we go to bed?”

“Are you serious?”

“Wasn’t that what you wanted?”

“Well, of course I want to, but…”

Liam’s words trailed off. Even with mere words of temptation, his body reacted quickly, growing hard. Though his lower body was painfully tense, Liam clenched his teeth to endure.

“Not in broad daylight… I mean, it’s strange for me to be shy, but this isn’t our house… You understand, right?”

“I understand. I’ll come back in the evening.”

“Huh? Oh. No, I meant it might be difficult in this mansion, unlike the inn. But if you really want to, I’m welcome…”

“…”

Liam, who was babbling, suddenly felt a sense of discomfort.

Come to think of it, had his wife ever directly said she wanted to be with him?

“Yvonne.”

“Yes.”

“You want to, right…?”

Liam knew he was asking a ridiculous question. Surely she wanted to, as she had kissed him and suggested going to bed.

She had come to see him last time, too. Surely she wanted to then. Yet he couldn’t understand why he felt so uneasy.

“Right? You do?”

“…”

“Why… Won’t you answer?”

“Is that important?”

“Are you calling that a question? Of course it’s important.”

“I didn’t know you cared about such things.”

Her voice was flat and emotionless, causing Liam to pause. The thoroughly emotionless tone bothered him, but realizing what Yvonne was implying was more significant.

“To you, my value is just my face and our intimacy, isn’t it?”

“No, no. I don’t know why you think that…”

“Is it my misunderstanding? It was your words.”

“That’s not it… At that time, I… I wasn’t in my right mind.”

“Only at that time?”

Liam couldn’t continue and swept his face with his hand. His face, which had been mischievously smiling, was now twisted.

No matter what he said, it was all excuses. There was nothing he could say.

“Don’t worry. I wasn’t perfect either. I used you to avoid marriage with Earl Marlon. So I understand.”

“Understand what?”

“That I’d be angry if I were you. Thinking I was a virgin, only to find out I had someone else’s child… Isn’t that right?”

“It’s not someone else’s child.”

“But at that time, it was someone else’s child to you. Isn’t that so?”

The conversation returned to the same point like a broken record, and Liam fell silent. He couldn’t say anything. Nothing…

Liam gripped Yvonne’s arm tightly. He couldn’t control his strength because of his intense emotions.

Despite the painful grip, Yvonne flinched but didn’t avoid his touch. She simply endured.

Liam couldn’t fail to notice Yvonne’s endurance. Seeing her endure something terrible and painful brought him a late realization.

Yet he desperately denied his suspicion.

“Before coming to the capital, you came to my room willingly, right? You came because you wanted to be with me, didn’t you?”

“…”

“Say you did.”

“…”

“Please.”

As silence stretched, Liam’s eyes reddened. His eyes felt hot, as if tears would fall at any moment. He felt his heart tearing from betrayal. Why did he feel this way?

He knew he didn’t deserve it, and his situation was laughable, but he couldn’t suppress the rising resentment.

“You love me.”

“…”

“You said you loved me…”

The strength in Liam’s grip on Yvonne’s arms gradually weakened. Tears finally fell from his reddened eyes.

“Why, why won’t you say anything… You love me, right?”

Yvonne remained unresponsive. Even as he pleaded and cried, she was unchanged. She simply observed him quietly before speaking.

“I loved you. I was sorry too.”

It was all in the past tense.

“Back then, I thought you were Arthus. I didn’t know you were a Conrad, who ruined my life and took everything.”

Despite understanding the truth in her words, he couldn’t help but ask again.

“So, you don’t love me now?”

“Did you think I could love you, Conrad? You, who ruined my life and took everything?”

“If you don’t love me, why did you come to me that night? If you hate me so much, why did you come and do that…?”

“Because that’s all I can give you.”

In the end, Liam let go of Yvonne’s arms weakly. His heart felt like it had fallen and shattered on the ground.

Liam’s focus blurred. He looked at Yvonne but didn’t see her, like someone in a daze. Yvonne slowly backed away from him and added.

“If you need a woman to satisfy your desire, just tell me. I’ll repay you for helping Claude get treatment.”

“…”

“If there’s nothing more to say, I’ll leave.”

Yvonne, having finished coldly, walked to the door and unlocked it. Liam couldn’t bring himself to stop her.