Chapter 13

Soon, she found herself in someone’s arms. This wasn’t a dream—it couldn’t be. Dreams didn’t carry the sensation of warmth. As she burrowed into the comforting heat, a coat was draped over her body. The warmth gradually steadied her erratic breathing. 

When Lyzbel opened her eyes, she saw a man illuminated by the moonlight. 

Could it be that Phil had come, just as I had hoped? 

But since she hadn’t called him properly, wasn’t this just an illusion or a mirage? Perhaps it was the fever making her think such strange things.

However, the warmth of the embrace and the gentle touch stroking her were unmistakably similar to his. She tried to look at his face but found it difficult to open her eyes fully. Breathing heavily in his arms, she managed to speak.

“Phil… Is it really you…? It’s the middle of the night… yet you came.”

“You called for me.”

“…”

“Just as you once helped me… I wanted to help you in any way I could.”

His gaze, filled with emotion, landed on her as he tenderly stroked her swollen cheek. They had only spent one night together, yet here he was, appearing for her even in the dead of night. She was deeply grateful.

As she shivered, he pulled the coat tighter around her, covering her up to her neck. While he finally got a clear look at her face—the one he had longed to see—his heart ached more than it rejoiced. Both her cheeks were visibly swollen from being struck, and her body burned with fever. How could she be left in such a state in this cold, damp room? He immediately realized that this dark underground confinement was far from normal.

He had been concerned about her resolve to stand up to her parents and had stayed awake, anticipating the worst. What if he had missed her call and failed to respond? Tightening his embrace, he shared his warmth with her.

Her fevered breathing showed no sign of calming. She must have been in pain, having endured both physical abuse and overexertion. There was no way he could leave her in this place.

Lost in thought for a moment, he stood up. Staying here would only worsen her condition. Soon, he infused his magical artifact with power.

It didn’t take long for the two of them to vanish from that space.

* * *

How long had she slept? Her fevered body, once heavy, now felt noticeably lighter. Having been confined to a poor-quality mattress, her body had been stiff and sore. Now, however, she felt nothing but softness, warmth, and comfort.

Perhaps someone had discovered her worsening fever during the night and moved her to a proper room. 

Could it be the Baron and Baroness? 

Perhaps they had done so because they still intended to sell her off in marriage.

But I was supposed to be punished—would they really have done that?

Soon, a familiar sound reached her ears: the sound of waves.

…Waves? 

There was no sea in the capital where she lived. Slowly opening her eyes, she found herself in an unfamiliar room. Warm air drifted in through an open window.

Blinking slowly, she looked around, but she couldn’t recognize the place. It wasn’t the home of any of her friends, nor her siblings. None of her acquaintances lived near the sea, after all.

As she turned her head to the side, her gaze froze. There, sitting on a chair with his arms crossed, was a man dozing off.

Her breath caught as she saw the man with ash-gray hair. So, it hadn’t been a dream that he was by her side that night. She had mistaken it for a feverish hallucination.

But it was real. The hand that had stroked her fevered cheek—it had been real.

Though his eyes were closed, his ash-gray hair framed a face that was strikingly handsome, even by the capital’s standards.

As she slowly sat up, Phil, who had been dozing in the chair, opened his eyes. His gaze immediately turned to her.

His light blue eyes, reminiscent of the sea, locked onto her. His tall, well-built frame hinted at someone who never neglected physical training. He quickly stood and strode toward the bed.

“Are you all right?”

“…Ah, uh…”

Her throat was dry, and she coughed lightly. Seeing this, he immediately poured water into a cup and handed it to her. The water wasn’t cold—it was lukewarm, likely prepared that way for her comfort. Grateful, she sipped it slowly, feeling her parched throat ease.

After she finished drinking, he sat on the edge of the bed.

“…You’ve been asleep for three days.”

“Three days?”

A flood of thoughts rushed through her mind. During her confinement in the underground room, the Baron and Baroness had visited her repeatedly. But now, if she had been gone for three days, they would surely have taken out their frustrations on Anne. She didn’t know where she was or what had happened, and her mind was in turmoil.

Sensing her unease, he gently patted the back of her hand and spoke.

“Allow me to introduce myself. I am Felix Mayer, the Earl of Mayer… and your husband.”

“…What? Husband?”

The word “husband” jolted her awake. 

What could have possibly happened during those three days for him to become my  husband?

As she trembled in shock, he held her hand and began to explain.

“Lyzbel, after you called for me, I brought you to this estate.”

However, your condition was so critical that I immediately summoned a doctor.

Felix recounted the events of the past three days. During her single day of confinement, Lyzbel’s health had deteriorated rapidly. She had been on the verge of pneumonia, making her situation extremely dangerous. Though the doctor had been startled by the sudden summons, he quickly assessed her condition.

When asked who she was, Felix hesitated briefly before claiming she was his lover. The Mayer estate soon became a flurry of activity.

He then called for the family’s legal representative to find a way to help her. According to imperial law, unmarried nobles were considered the property of their family. Even if Felix wanted to take her in, her family could demand her return.

That was unacceptable. The image of her swollen cheeks, fevered body, and the bleak underground room with its tiny skylight lingered in his mind.

After much deliberation with the legal representative, they arrived at a conclusion: if they couldn’t hold a proper wedding, they could at least become legally married.

‘Many people use this method—becoming legally married for a year before separating,’ the representative had said.

Becoming her legal husband… She might be furious when she found out. But even if she cursed him, Felix wanted to help her. He quickly completed the legal procedures. By instructing his aides to gather information about her family, he learned everything he needed.

Rumors about Lyzbel Ivelia were already widely known in the capital. Since she rarely appeared in public, there was little information about her appearance, making it hard to be certain. However, after persuading a servant from the Ivelia household, he learned much more. Any lingering doubts were immediately resolved.

Felix couldn’t leave her in such a place.

Some might mock him for going to such lengths for a woman he had spent only one night with. But he wanted to help her, no matter what. When he saw her again, half-dead and trying to smile despite her condition, his heart sank.

Fortunately, becoming legally married was a simple process. All it required was the signature of both parties. Holding her weakened hand, he helped her scribble her name onto the document. Once it was sent to the temple, approval came swiftly.