Chapter 16

Twelve times a day, her mind would change. 

Should I tell him, or not? Should I tell him, or not?

This indecisiveness worsened after her conversation with Peter Escael. Marie seriously contemplated it. She always did, but this time it was genuine. The courage to speak the truth was rising up to her throat, and her mind was filled entirely with thoughts of him, ready to confess at any moment.

If only she hadn’t met the Marquis, she might have just gone along with the situation. But because he asked, not for anything else, but as a favor, her anxious conscience had awakened. It urged her to tell the truth.

In fact, it was difficult to say anything bad, as Kalik had been so straightforward in expressing his affection that she couldn’t bring herself to tell him he was being deceived.

Thanks to her acting as a well-behaved lady, it wasn’t difficult to play along. Moreover, she had a feeling that perhaps, deep down, she had been hoping for something like this.

Isn’t this what a normal relationship between two families without resentment should look like?

However, Marie had reached her limit. She couldn’t endure it any longer. It wasn’t the overwhelming affection she wanted to let go of, but the thin lie she had held onto all this time. The mistake of boasting about being in love with him.

It was like a chick mistaking someone else for its mother after hatching. Kalik, the chick, was caught up in that coincidence, thinking of Marie as his mother. How betrayed would he feel once he learned the truth? It could escalate into another conflict between the families, not just a divorce issue. Of course, that was nothing compared to the future where he might hate her.

At this moment, not just now, but lately, she had been thinking more and more that she had nothing to do with her parents’ grudges. This feeling was the moderate tone she sometimes sensed in Kalik’s words and actions.

Perhaps he, too, was feeling disillusioned with this childish cycle, just like her.

So Marie decided to confess her mistake honestly, to prove that she was different.

“Let’s talk!”

She energetically opened the study door. She thought about knocking but didn’t have the luxury of time for that. She feared her mind would change while waiting for permission to enter.

Kalik was just moving the book cart to an empty wall.

“Talk? Sure.”

Marie hesitated when she saw him greet her with a smile despite her rude behavior, then focused on the cart. It seemed he was organizing books, a fresh sight for her.

“You organize the books yourself?”

“I enjoy it, and it’s a way to relax.”

“I didn’t know you had such a hobby.”

Come to think of it, there was no study in the annex. There was a room set up like a study, but since Marie, who used the annex, didn’t use it, the bookshelves were mostly empty.

But now, every bookshelf was filled with books.

Kalik noticed her gaze and quickly added.

“Oh, they’re my books. I brought them over.”

“Was there not enough space in the main house?”

“No, I plan to live here now.”

“What?”

“I’ll keep bringing more.”

Marie didn’t know where to start, but she thought her business should come first. Once she dealt with that, whether he moved books or houses would resolve itself.

“Oh, there’s something I want to talk about.”

“It’s late, are you sure it’s alright?”

“It’s important.”

“Then let’s go to the room.”

She followed him obediently. More precisely, she walked alongside him. Kalik deliberately widened his stride. To prevent her from thinking about anything else. As expected, only the sound of breathing was heard until they reached the room.

On the way, Marie wondered what “then let’s go to the room” meant in response to her saying it would be quick, but that question faded as she tried to keep up with his pace.

It wasn’t until she heard a thud behind her that she realized the situation was progressing strangely.

When she turned around, she found herself in the middle of the room. Kalik had placed the book he brought from the study on the nightstand and was closing the window he had opened for ventilation.

It was a private conversation, but it could have been done somewhere else, not necessarily in the room.

So she grabbed the doorknob. She thought it best to leave the room for now.

“Uh… should I come back tomorrow? It’s not something that needs such a setting.”

“You said it was important.”

“Now that I think about it, it might not be that important.”

For some reason, she felt a chill running down her neck. The lighting was appropriately bright, the temperature pleasantly cool, and aside from the heavy conversation topic, it was an ordinary summer night.

“I’ll talk tomorrow. Goodnight.”

“Recklessly.”

Kalik was faster than Marie in leaving. He strode over and removed her hand from the doorknob. Holding her hand, he moved it away from the door, towards his chest.

“You shouldn’t recklessly enter a man’s room.”

Marie, suddenly criticized for her lack of caution, retorted in a flash. She forgot that he had blocked the door.

“Recklessly? It’s my husband’s room.”

“Right.”

“?”

Even when his face approached hers, she didn’t realize what was happening. She felt herself tilt, and by the time she came to her senses, she was already in his arms. More precisely, she was perched on his arm.

Kalik looked at Marie intently and asked.

“What is the important thing?”

“Well…”

Isn’t this a very strange position to confess a mistake?

Marie closed her mouth. Her courage hadn’t considered such a situation. She thought she could just speak and wait for the consequences. She didn’t expect not to be able to say anything at all.

“First, please let me down. I’ll talk after I get down.”

“I haven’t covered your mouth yet. So speak.”

“…….”

Yet.

Marie covered her mouth with a frightened expression. She had just heard the most unsettling words. Saying he hadn’t covered her mouth yet! 

Did that mean he would cover it soon?

She leaned back as much as possible to avoid contact with him. As a result, her upper body swayed as if it might fall.

“Ah.”

“Careful.”

His arm firmly supported Marie’s back.

“I’ll hold you, so go ahead.”

“I… have done something wrong.”

“Other than coming into a man’s room at this hour.”

“No! It’s not that kind of mistake!”

Marie’s voice gained strength. She thought he was taking her words as a joke, so she got a little angry.

“I’m speaking seriously!”

“I’m listening seriously too.”

“I deceived you……”

Finally, Kalik looked directly at Marie’s face. A brief silence fell between them. Her heart pounded. Marie, tense, looked down and continued.

“Regardless of my intentions, it was a lie, so even if it’s late, I’m telling you now.”

For some reason, it felt a bit cold. Though there was no wind, her exposed arms and especially her upper body felt chilly, causing her shoulders to hunch. Marie, looking at the focused Kalik, mumbled the main point.

But he occasionally glanced elsewhere.

“Are you listening?”

Marie waved a hand in front of Kalik’s eyes. His gaze was angled downward several times. Her gaze followed his.

At the end was her chest.

“It smells nice.”

Kalik buried his face in Marie’s chest, which was fully exposed due to the low-cut nightgown. Only then did Marie realize that the chill she felt earlier was due to her disheveled attire.

“Uh, the conversation isn’t over yet!”

“I don’t think I need to hear it.”

He buried his nose in the cleavage and inhaled deeply. Mixed with the thick scent of perfume was a faint scent of skin. Moreover, the soft br*ast was pleasantly cool.

“Your lie is probably something like secretly eating a piece of cake.”

How did he know?

“…That’s true, but… what I meant was.”

“Marie.”

Kalik gently laid her on the bed. Then, before she could struggle, he swiftly climbed over her.

“I don’t care what you said to me. As long as you don’t leave.”

“That’s a fleeting promise. At least listen and decide.”

“I woke up a month ago.”

“What?”

“I’m fully recovered, both physically and mentally.”

Marie was pushed halfway down by Kalik, who was getting closer.

“Let’s do something that couples do.”

Her mind froze. She desperately tried to understand what he had just said.

Something that couples do.

Eating together, sleeping together, having affectionate conversations, what else could there be? Since they didn’t have children, it couldn’t be about parenting or similar hardships.

His hand naturally slipped off the gown hanging on her arm and toyed with the fallen shoulder strap next.

“Do you like this outfit?”

“Ah… uh… not really.”

“I’ll buy you something prettier.”

And before she could answer, he tore off the strap. The nightgown, which had been loose at the chest, quickly fell to her waist, exposing her bare skin.