The Villain's Sickly Wife Dislikes Being Overprotected - Chapter 2.5

The air was quite chilly. I tightly wrapped my cardigan before the wind could penetrate. Kyron’s brow furrowed again, seemingly bothered by something else.

“Go back inside quickly. There’s no need to come out to see me off.”

How cold.

“Alright. I wasn’t planning to stay out long anyway.”

The air is cool, so I should just go back in now. I’ve confirmed the carriage, so his departure is certain.

I waved my hand at him.

“Have a safe trip.”

And preferably come back very late.

“…Mm.”

He waved his hand casually and left a brief greeting before turning around.

Finally, it’s my world!

I inwardly rejoiced as I returned to my room.

“Are you coming back from seeing His Grace off, my lady?”

“Yes, and now I’m going out too. Let’s get ready to leave.”

“Pardon?”

Lia asked again as if doubting her ears.

“You know the list of good restaurants you gave me. Now that my husband is gone, shouldn’t we visit them one by one?”

“Today? Right now?”

I answered by looking at her with a grin and nodding.

“Will you be alright? Your condition is still…”

“I feel great.”

I cut her off abruptly, causing Lia to make a sad face.

I had already chosen the restaurant for today’s lunch. However, even with the destination decided, going out wasn’t easy.

“Is everyone determined to make me miss meal times?”

It was almost lunchtime, but I was still unable to leave the mansion.

“My lady, I think it would be better if you went out after your condition improves.”

It was because the servants were trying to dissuade me.

“The chef hasn’t even entered the kitchen yet because of what happened with my husband yesterday. He’s still in shock.”

“T-that may be true… but we could have others cook.”

“It was just yesterday that all the food in the kitchen was inspected. I feel more at ease eating outside food for a while.”

I used yesterday’s incident as an excuse.

“When you put it that way, there is some logic to it, but…”

The servants ultimately couldn’t break my stubborn will.

“Then, to prepare for any possible emergencies, we servants will stand by right next to you. Please bear with any inconvenience. And please return to the Duke’s mansion immediately after the meal.”

“I don’t mind if you stand by. Don’t worry.”

Having successfully overcome the servants’ opposition, I boarded the carriage heading to the restaurant.

I had no intention of lying in bed just because I was sick. I had already lived like that in my previous life. I didn’t want to do it twice.

The restaurant was in a hotel not far from the Duke’s mansion, so we arrived quickly. Fortunately, we arrived before my hungry stomach could start growling.

“Welcome, Duchess.”

As many as three hotel staff members bent their waists in half to greet my carriage.

“It’s an honor to have you visit our hotel restaurant.”

I entered, receiving lavish treatment from the hotel entrance.

“Welcome, Duchess.”

The staff members who were already standing along the way to the restaurant all bowed as soon as I entered the hotel.

“Give me a terrace seat.”

“Yes, my lady.”

I moved, guided by them.

The terrace was enclosed like a glass greenhouse, so there was no worry about wind blowing during the meal, and it was warm. Moreover, the view was fantastic, overlooking the river flowing through the center of the capital.

Yes, this is it. This is exactly what I wanted.

The waiter poured water with perfectly controlled movements, the beautiful tableware said to be found only in this hotel restaurant. I wanted to enjoy this luxurious life.

“I’ll prepare flowers for you, my lady.”

The waiter placed a few flowers in the vase on the table. They were even light pink, similar to the color of my eyes.

I couldn’t help but let out a sigh with every bite.

“Mmm…”

With each mouthful, an involuntary exclamation escaped my lips.

Although our Duke’s chef is excellent, he can’t compare to this place.

When I return to the mansion later, I must praise Lia for finding such an excellent restaurant.

“Is the food to your liking?”

The polite waiter didn’t forget to check my satisfaction. It was top-notch service.

“It’s wonderful. Absolutely excellent.”

“Thank you. Please enjoy your meal.”

I enjoyed the spacious terrace as if I had rented it all to myself. At least until the intruders appeared.

“My goodness, it’s the Duchess.”

“Looks like she came alone.”

Some voices disrupted my peace.

Two noble ladies talked about me as if they didn’t mind being in the same space as me. They seemed to intend to sit in the terrace area as well.

I had thought other guests might come since there were several empty tables, but I hadn’t expected those guests to openly gossip about me.

The two women continued to whisper even after taking seats at a nearby table.

“Where’s His Grace the Duke, leaving her so pitifully alone… How sad.”

Don’t you know I’m right here?

I was amazed at their boldness in openly criticizing me.

They must be able to gossip so brazenly because they know Ekette’s gentle nature. Moreover, because I’m the Duchess who’s ignored by the Duke.

It was a well-known fact that the Duke was indifferent to me. People often whispered that I was just a doll to fill a position and that the Duke would throw me out once he found a woman he truly liked.

“If she’s coming to restaurants alone, will she also attend the upcoming imperial banquet alone?”

As they were the only guests on the terrace beside me, their conversation was even more audible. Annoyingly so.

“Come on, how could she come without a partner? She probably won’t attend.”

“True, what could be more embarrassing than attending alone when you have a husband? But then again, she probably can’t persuade His Grace to attend together either.”

“His Grace isn’t interested in banquets, and he doesn’t love his wife, so he wouldn’t grant her request anyway.”

“That’s right, one shouldn’t aim for someone beyond their station, tsk tsk.”

Who says I want to go to the banquet and desperately cling to my husband?

They made it sound as if I desperately loved the Duke and barely managed to marry him, only to be treated coldly.

I’m not interested in my husband either!

“His Majesty the Emperor will probably choose the best couple at this banquet too. Well, that’s one couple out of the running. Oh, can we even call them a couple?”

“Thanks to that, we’re one step closer to the prize money.”

They snickered.

Banquet? Best couple award? Prize money?

I soon remembered what banquet they were talking about.

An imperial banquet was scheduled to be held soon. It was only a few days away.

Thanks to the Emperor’s peculiar taste, they chose things like the best couple at the banquet every year. I heard the aging Emperor’s hobby was watching romance plays in theaters, so he liked observing other people’s love.

Of course, the winners were selected based on entirely subjective criteria.

The Emperor had seen so many romance plays that he wasn’t moved by ordinary stimuli. So couples with melodramatic, almost scandalous stories tended to be selected as the best couple.

Last year, a couple who openly fought with both sets of parents at the banquet won the Best Couple award. There were rumors that it was all an act staged for the prize money.

Such an award was far removed from me.