The Villain's Sickly Wife Dislikes Being Overprotected - Chapter 3.1

The next day, I woke up refreshed.

In the morning, I opened the box of gold coins. Indeed, it wasn’t a dream.

These shimmering entities are entirely mine. Not my husband’s.

I put my hand in the box, swirling the gold coins around, before leaving the bedroom.

Kyron was waiting in the dining room, saying we should have breakfast together.

That’s unusual.

“How are you?”

He abruptly asked, omitting the latter part of “How are you feeling?” Couldn’t he ask in a softer, kinder tone?

“I’m perfectly fine as if yesterday’s illness was just a dream.”

I replied as if I were a subordinate reporting to a superior.

“That’s good. Get examined later. I’ve called for a doctor.”

His words were brief.

By the way, not much time had passed since the party ended, yet he had already called for a doctor. This, at least, I was grateful for.

“That’s unexpected. Thank you.”

“…I just did what needed to be done.”

He’s right, I suppose. Most ordinary people would call a doctor if they saw their wife suffering like I did yesterday.

Of course, most people wouldn’t abandon their wife right after marriage either.

In other words, Kyron doesn’t really fall into the category of “most people” when it comes to relationships, especially marital ones.

“You weren’t the type to take care of these things one by one. That’s why it’s unexpected.”

“…”

He didn’t answer. He just paused his fork-work for a moment after hearing my words.

The conversation ended there. We just chewed our food in silence.

Wondering if my husband’s mood had soured, I glanced at his face. I briefly experienced how Ekette must have felt, always watching Kyron’s mood whenever he returned to the ducal residence.

I decided to stop paying attention to him.

Why should I care about his mood?

I munched on my meal, and Kyron continued eating slowly and elegantly.

Then, breaking the silence, Kyron spoke first.

“Lady Stober is currently locked up in the underground prison. The servant too.”

Ah, Lady Stober was caught too. Thinking about her being locked up somehow gave me chills. She must be somewhere beneath my feet.

“I found out various things overnight.”

I raised my head in surprise at his words.

So, did Kyron not sleep last night? Come to think of it, his eyes look dark.

“What did you find out? How?”

“Several things. First, I found out the content of the instructions that woman gave to the servant and the amount she promised to pay. I also found out where she got the drug. Ah, I sent someone to find out the composition of the drug from the black market shop where that woman got it. Once we know the composition, we can check for any harmful effects it might have on you.”

I listened to his words silently.

“Right now, we’re trying to find out the motive behind yesterday’s act, but she’s not opening her mouth about this question.”

His tone seemed to mock Lady Stober, as if the very idea was preposterous.

“She won’t be able to hold out for long and will soon spill everything.”

I felt a chill at his confident words.

What is he planning to do that he can be so sure?

But if I knew the details of what was happening beneath my feet, I might throw up all the breakfast I just ate.

“Since she’s already confessed to the crime, I’m thinking of dealing with her according to imperial law once we’ve gathered enough necessary information, but is there anything you’d like done? I can use my influence to that extent.”

Surprised by the ominousness of the word ‘deal’, I understood his question a beat late.

He’s saying he’ll do whatever I ask. If I say kill her, he’ll kill her.

“Ah, no. Just follow the law.”

I was suddenly reminded of what kind of person my husband was.

He was someone who would stop at nothing once he set a goal. Someone who didn’t hesitate to kill even his own half-brother.

Even if I don’t ask for a severe punishment, Lady Stober’s honor has already hit rock bottom. Drugging someone was a serious crime even by imperial law. So there was no need for me to ask for anything more.

But this is just an excuse… I was just a little scared of Kyron right now.

“Alright. Then we’ll just follow imperial law.”

“Yes.”

We continued our meal quietly.

Suddenly, an important fact came to mind.

Come to think of it, now that the party is over… the period he said he would stay at the ducal residence is over too.

It wouldn’t be strange for him to stay as long as he wants since it’s his house, but it is strange for someone who was always out to suddenly come and stay.

After hesitating a bit, I opened my mouth.

“By the way.”

“Yes?”

“When are you planning to leave?”

Our relationship wasn’t one where we needed to ask such questions carefully. I asked bluntly.

“When you leave this time, you’ll be gone for a long while, right?”

The second question was closer to revealing my own hopes. I wanted him to leave quickly.

Kyron froze upon hearing these two consecutive questions. Moreover, his expression turned cold.

Did I say something wrong…?

Was it presumptuous to ask when he was leaving? But that’s a very natural and light question between spouses.

As Kyron stared at me intently, I felt as if I had made a verbal mistake.

Well, it’s not surprising.

Kyron is someone who has never looked at his wife with warm eyes, so this cold gaze isn’t unfamiliar.

I must not be to his liking.

Why did he marry me in the first place if this is how it would be? If I’m so displeasing to him.

Just as my thoughts reached this point, he opened his mouth.

“Do you want me to leave?”

A question in return. And the nuance of that question was subtle. Kyron’s inquiry sounded like ‘Do you wish for me to leave?’ The twisted expression on his face was an added bonus.

It seems I did make an unintended verbal mistake, or his mood suddenly soured.

I wanted to smooth over this situation with an appropriate response. Creating friction in a loveless marriage is a waste of time. It’s rather more comfortable to have a thoroughly indifferent and dry relationship.

“Well… I always support you in doing your work well. Of course, I don’t know even a speck about what you do. So… um, I asked because I was worried it might interfere with your work.”

I rambled on with excuses.

“I see.”

His response was excessively short compared to my long-winded nonsense.

He lowered his eyelids. The gaze that seemed to be interrogating me changed slightly when he lowered his eyes.

Beyond his eyes, which had always been like unbreakable ice, an inexplicable darkness was visible. It was the first time I had discovered anything in his eyes.

He ate silently for a while, then added a few words.

“I was planning to leave once Lady Stober’s matter is settled. I have a lot of work to do.”

Judging by how Lady Stober had spilled everything overnight, this incident seemed likely to be wrapped up soon. Kyron is quite capable in these matters, after all. A frightening fact, but true.

Then, there were probably only a few days left until his departure.