Chapter 17

Haah. Alberto let out a sigh, glanced irritably at the floor, then looked down at her injured feet. She hadn’t even run barefoot, yet the tops of her feet were covered in cuts.

Alberto felt his temper flare again.

“So why did you have to go into that forest and get hurt?”

“……”

“Is waiting really that hard?”

At his scolding, Rabiana bit her lip. She had no idea what to say. Telling him frankly that Scarlett claimed he had called for her felt like it would only drive them further apart.

As Alberto had said, a married couple didn’t need to share every acquaintance. And if she spoke ill of Scarlett, Alberto might think poorly of Rabiana herself.

She would rather take the blame than grow distant from him.

“I-I’m sorry for the trouble. It won’t happen again.”

Alberto let out a low sigh.

“From now on, I intend to keep you hidden away at my estate, so something like this won’t happen even if you try.”

“…”

“First, we need to do something about this hand.”

Each word from Alberto made her feel he found her pathetic. Yet instead of hurling more harsh words and leaving, he brought a first-aid kit and dressed her hand.

He remarked that, since he hunted so often, he could manage simple treatment like this. Somehow, that made Rabiana feel as if—just for a moment—they were an ordinary couple: treating injuries, preparing meals, worrying for one another.

“Lift your skirt.”

“Pardon?”

Her thoughts were cut off by Alberto’s strange demand. Why her skirt? While she hesitated, unsure what to do, Alberto abruptly hitched it up. Startled, she couldn’t even scream as he took hold of her ankle.

“In a situation like this, you’re supposed to kick.”

“…..”

It wasn’t something someone who had just rudely lifted her skirt should be saying, but Rabiana pressed her lips tightly together.

Soon, something cool touched the top of her foot. It was more watery than a solid, gently spread across her skin. The stinging pain made her realize—yes, she was injured.

He’s treating me.

The fact that she was surrendering her foot so easily to him felt unreal. The way his hand grazed her skin, the place where he held her ankle—he was too close. So close, she thought his breath might brush her.

Rabiana clenched her teeth, but the tingling pain was hard to bear.

“Hhh…”

Alberto’s hand paused.

Rabiana felt her face flush with shame. It felt like his gaze was lingering beyond her foot, onto her exposed calf. She quickly yanked her leg back.

But Alberto’s eyes didn’t move. His quiet breath brushed against her ankle. He pulled her leg back toward him and resumed applying the medicine, just like before.

Then, with no comment, he snatched the pasta bowl. Twirling the noodles with a fork, he brought it to her lips.

Rabiana, sensing something approach her, was confused—until Alberto spoke, though clearly reluctant to actually say the words aloud.

“Ah.”

Dazed by his voice, Rabiana instinctively opened her mouth. Her lips were small, just big enough for the fork to fit. Alberto’s eyes sharpened slightly as he watched.

Click.

As Rabiana chewed slowly, a bit of sauce smeared near the corner of her mouth.

Alberto reflexively wiped the spot with his finger—then, before realizing, licked it off.

The moment he became aware of what he’d done, his face froze in shock.

“I think I’ve had enough…”

“Eat more.”

She had only eaten a few bites before refusing the rest. Seeing that she lived off what seemed like bird feed infuriated Alberto. His tone became stern.

“You need to eat to stay on your feet. If you pass out again in bed, I’m the one who suffers.”

The noodles that had been going down smoothly caught in her throat. Startled, Rabiana began to cough, and Alberto calmly poured her water.

He tilted the cup helpfully to make it easier for her to drink without spilling—but her face was flushed as if it would explode.

“I’ve thought it before, but you’re far too thin.”

“I-I just don’t enjoy eating much…”

“Well, make it a hobby now.”

Rabiana, knowing exactly what he meant by that, felt almost dizzy. Yes, they were husband and wife, and yes, the goal was to have a child—but it was still embarrassing.

Alberto was her first man, and hearing words that made her ears burn—from him, no less—left her utterly defenseless.

In the end, Rabiana could only eat as Alberto fed her. Any refusal or added remark would bring a retort so sharp it made her head throb.

***

Alberto began visiting Rabiana often. Using her injured hand as an excuse, he took charge of her meals.

Not only did he bring her breakfast, lunch, and dinner, he even fed her personally. The servants watching wondered what on earth had happened at the Robinson estate to make the duke so attentive, but Alberto’s behavior wasn’t kindness.

“My Lady, you truly are a handful.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Could you stop saying you’re sorry all the time?”

From a distance, he might have looked like a devoted husband, but Rabiana—already feeling guilty—could only watch his mood. Even when she was full, he insisted she eat more, leaving her stomach unsettled.

“Julia, I need a walk.”

“All right. I’ll go with you.”

Fortunately, once his own tasks were finished, Alberto went straight to his study, giving Rabiana a little breathing room. Pressing a hand to her bloated chest, she took Julia’s arm and headed for the garden path.

‘Don’t come here at this hour.’

She recalled Alberto’s warning, but it wasn’t his usual walking time, so it should be fine—or so she thought.

Yet, as Rabiana stepped onto the path, a gaze fixed on her from above.

On the third floor, in the study, Alberto—who had been reviewing documents—looked up at the sound of voices and glared at the sight of Rabiana outside.

‘I don’t know why she keeps getting on my nerves. I thought staying close might trigger some memories…’

“Why is she even going there?”

It hadn’t been long since she got stranded in the forest, and yet she was heading back there with only a single maid. That didn’t sit well with him.

“She could’ve at least asked me to go with her.”

“Then why don’t you go with her?”

Alberto’s frown deepened at his secretary Pell’s immediate response.

“Why would I abandon my work for that?”

“Because you’re worried.”

“Worried?”

“I know you, even if no one else does. They said it was chaos at the Robinson estate.”

“Who’s spreading such nonsense?”

Alberto scoffed. It was just a blind woman getting lost in the mountains. Going after her wasn’t something special—it was simply the decent thing to do as a human being, not necessarily as her husband. And yet, everyone acted like it was some huge ordeal for him.

It had been a serious matter—for Rabiana.

And yet, that woman, with no apparent learning ability and no fear, was venturing into the woods again.

Alberto told himself to ignore it and picked up his pen. But the image of Rabiana trembling wouldn’t leave his mind.

With a sigh, he stood up. He intended to give her a sharp warning and be done with it, so he headed toward the path she had taken.

It didn’t take long to find her. She hadn’t gone deep—just hovered nearby.

With her back to the entrance, she stood by a tree, calling for Julia. Birds chirped noisily around them.

“Julia. What’s over here?”

“A nest fell down, Madam.”

“A nest?”

Chicks, likely searching for their mother, cried out loudly. Rabiana paced nervously.

“What should we do? Can’t we put it back?”

Julia looked up at the tree and grimaced.

“I’ve never climbed a tree in my life… If we leave it, someone else might find it and return it. Or we could call someone after the walk is over.”

Julia couldn’t leave Rabiana alone again, not after what had happened at the Robinson estate. But Rabiana couldn’t seem to move on either, clearly still bothered.

The foolish woman bent her knees and crouched down, reaching toward the sound of the chicks.

Alberto, approaching in haste, grabbed her hand.

“If you touch it, the mother bird will abandon it.”