The Villain's Sickly Wife Dislikes Being Overprotected - Chapter 3.6

***

After leaving the cave, Allis and I continued to explore the village a bit more. She was still talkative, but perhaps because time had passed and I had gotten used to it, I started to become adept at listening with one ear and letting it go out the other.

We looked around the village’s shopping street. Though calling it a shopping street was a bit of an exaggeration for such a small village, as there were only three or four shops in total.

Still, I bought some snacks there that were said to be unique to Pierce. There was chocolate made in the shape of the old temple building and the village’s famous jam.

There were snacks that every villager ate, and some expensive ones aimed at wealthy visitors.

Whether expensive or cheap, being able to buy as much as I wanted freely – this is what life should be like.

I gave some of the snacks I bought to Allis.

“You said your family has five members, right? It’s time to go home now, so take these and share them with your family.”

Of course, I didn’t buy all these snacks just for myself. I planned to give some to Allis and some to my servants as well.

Naturally, I didn’t think of giving any to Kyron. He wouldn’t like such snacks anyway, and I didn’t want to take care of him.

“What? Are you giving these to me?”

Allis’s eyes widened. Her already round face became even cuter with her round eyes.

I answered with a smile.

“Yes.”

“Wow, thank you so much!”

Allis bowed deeply several times, repeatedly expressing her gratitude.

“My mom will love these so much! As a token of gratitude, I’ll bring my mom’s special soup tomorrow! I’m sure it’ll suit your taste too, Duchess!”

Excited Allis chattered on endlessly.

Aren’t you going home?

“It’s a soup with onions and vegetables, and even though it uses ordinary ingredients when you dip bread in it, the taste is incredible. Everyone in the neighborhood acknowledges my mom’s soup as the best…”

“Alright, alright. I’ll have the soup for breakfast when you bring it tomorrow. Now, go home and rest.”

I quickly cut off her story, fearing she might go on about the soup for half a day. Allis didn’t seem offended by the interruption and remained as cheerful as ever.

“Yes! I’ll see you tomorrow!”

“Okay, okay. Take care on your way home.”

After parting with Allis near the hotel, I returned to the hotel.

The sky was already darkening. Perhaps due to the season, or because this village was near the mountains, the sun seemed to set particularly early here.

“Did you have fun?”

Lia welcomed me as I entered the hotel.

“Yes, I saw a lot of things. The hot springs were nice too.”

It had been a satisfying first day of the trip. Despite some surprising moments and Allis’s overwhelming chatter.

“It’s supposed to snow from tonight until tomorrow.”

“Snow? Oh, the snow-covered scenery must be beautiful.”

“You’ll need to dress more warmly when you go out tomorrow. Make sure to wear a scarf and gloves too.”

“Alright.”

“Would you like me to prepare some warm mulled wine after you change your clothes?”

“Yes, that sounds good. Oh, what about my husband? What’s he doing?”

“The master went out and just returned a little while ago.”

It seems he went out to do his own business and has just come back.

It’s comfortable since we’re a couple that doesn’t interfere in each other’s lives anyway. There’s no need to see each other’s faces.

I can enjoy this recuperation-c*m-trip as I please, and Kyron will manage on his own.

With an unburdened heart, I simply passed by Kyron’s room and headed to my own.

I changed from my outdoor clothes into indoor wear and drank the warm mulled wine Lia had prepared. My room was warm thanks to the fireplace.

I gazed blankly at the fire in the fireplace while sipping the mulled wine.

Ah, the luxury of fully enjoying this warmth and coziness indoors on a cold winter day!

While it’s nice to indulge in the luxurious life of the capital with ultra-high-end services, this simple coziness wasn’t bad either.

This kind of life had its own pleasures. It might be nice to come on trips to rural areas like this occasionally in the future.

‘I’m satisfied.’

Life after the possession was quite to my liking.

Of course, the biggest flaw was the illness that came like an uninvited guest.

The recurring illness that I couldn’t resolve with my will or the medicine here meant that the best I could do was to enjoy the moments when I wasn’t sick.

Fortunately, the illness hadn’t manifested since coming to Pierce. It would be nice if it stayed this way until we returned.

I took another sip of mulled wine while staring blankly at the fire.

That’s how the second evening in Pierce was passing.

Outside the window, as Lia had said, snow was starting to pile up softly. It was quite a romantic scene.

“Beautiful.”

I muttered to myself.

Snow was accumulating white on the roofs of the small houses below the mountain.

It was truly like a painting.

I gazed outside with a faint, satisfied smile.

However… that romance lasted only until that night.

The next morning, when I opened my eyes, it was no longer romantic, but a disaster.

***

I woke up early in the morning, washed up, changed my clothes, and left my room.

But the atmosphere among the hotel staff was strange. They were all gathered in small groups, talking with serious faces.

What’s going on?

Just as I was about to grab someone to ask, Allis appeared.

She opened the log door of the hotel and entered… looking like a veritable snowman.

“Allis…?!”

Her head was covered in snow as if she was wearing a hat made of snow, and her clothes were completely covered in snow. Snow was also clinging to her hair and eyebrows.

“Allis, why do you look like that? Are you alright?”

However, instead of answering about her appearance, she brightly held up a pot in front of me. Despite her tired face, she was smiling broadly.

“I… brought the soup!”

She had indeed brought the soup she promised yesterday. Through this snow bomb.

Behind her, holding up the pot of soup, I could see the outside world where snow was falling heavily. The cold wind pushing into the lobby was an added bonus.

Did she come through this snowfall?

I gaped in astonishment.

One of the hotel staff rushed to Allis in shock.

“My goodness, you came all the way here through this heavy snowfall?”

“I… had to deliver this soup to the Duchess no matter what.”

Her voice, which had been so cheerful before, now lacked energy, showing how much she had struggled to get here.

Looking at her, I felt tears welling up. I felt both sorry for her and grateful.

“Allis, come to the fireplace and warm yourself up first.”

I handed the pot of soup to a kitchen staff member and quickly led her to the fireplace in the lobby.

I removed her snow-covered and wet coat, replacing it with a blanket. I also had a servant prepare some warm tea for her to drink.

Even as she was warming up in front of the fireplace, Allis was still shivering, her teeth chattering as she spoke. What she said was like a bolt from the blue to me.