Chapter 7

She wiped her tear-streaked eyes and entered the room. As Dawson had said, Kalik was wide awake, sitting upright with a pillow propped behind him.

Seeing that peaceful scene made Marie clench her fists in anger.

But seeing his pale complexion brought her back to her senses. No matter how much she disliked him, she wasn’t low enough to torment him without reason.

Marie cleared her throat and called out to him.

“Um…”

Before she could finish, Kalik met her gaze and interrupted.

“Who are you?”

“…?”

Marie paused for a moment, then tilted her head and replied.

“Uh… Marie Odillia. Your wife.”

Fortunately, she had heard that he might still be groggy, having just regained consciousness. If she hadn’t known, she might have called him crazy.

“You’re saying you’re my… my wife?”

“Yes. It might not be to your liking, but ah…”

“No, that can’t be!”

“What?”

When Marie looked at Dawson, he left the room, suggesting they have a private conversation. It seemed he was simply avoiding dealing with this incomprehensible situation.

Left alone, Marie couldn’t understand what strange play Kalik was performing, but her pride as a member of the Odillia family wouldn’t allow her to be the first to break the silence.

So she decided to play along with his tune for a while.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine. Except for a slight headache, I think I’ll be completely better in two or three days.”

“That’s a relief. Then let’s talk about our unresolved issues then.”

“I heard you visited every day while I was lying down.”

“What? Yes… of course.”

Because we need to divorce.

But how could visiting to check his condition get so misconstrued?

“I heard you personally took care of me.”

“Well… that…”

Does he not remember being pinched and hit when I checked if he was really in a coma or just pretending?

She did it because she thought stimulating him might wake him up. It was never something considerate enough to move this man.

“How should I express my gratitude… Ugh!”

Kalik, who had been moving awkwardly, clutched his head. He groaned in pain and writhed, seemingly in extreme discomfort.

Marie, experiencing this for the first time, was flustered and pulled him into her embrace. Her body reacted instinctively, fearing he might fall off the bed.

After a moment, Kalik calmed down, panting heavily, and clung tightly to Marie.

“Miss Marie…?”

“…?”

“No, I should call you, my wife…”

“Uh… huh?!”

Marie, who had been listening blankly, snapped back to her senses and raised her voice. She recalled that it was the first time she had raised her voice and closed her mouth. Because usually, Kalik addressed her with extreme caution, either as Lady Odillia or Miss Marie.

“Can I ask about you…?”

“About me?”

“Yes… I want to know about you. What kind of couple we were…”

How much medicine did he take?

Marie pondered how to interpret his words of wanting to know. She knew that Kalik was always careful with his words when dealing with her, just as she was when dealing with him.

So, was this to be taken literally or was there another hidden meaning?

After thinking for a while, Marie decided to interpret it as a demand to confess her sins and decided to feign ignorance.

She had heard before that when a high-ranking official in a certain country fell ill, he pretended to be mentally unstable to discern loyalists from traitors.

Perhaps this low-level conversation had a similar intent. Kalik Escael was a boring and conventional man, so the most he could come up with was this childish prank.

“Oh ho, what kind of couple indeed! We had a very harmonious relationship. You loved me very much.”

“…!”

A light of realization appeared on Kalik’s face. He listened to Marie’s fantastical tale with utmost seriousness.

No matter what, they always had dinner together – though only once a week.

They used formal language to respect each other – a choice made to avoid any faults.

They kept boundaries to avoid indebting each other – again, a stubbornness to not lose.

They loved each other so much that after three years of marriage, they had only kissed – and that kiss was only at the wedding.

Now, after saying all this, he should be outraged, claiming he never said such nonsense!

Then, she would seize the opportunity to sign the divorce papers.

Marie awaited Kalik’s response with a triumphant expression.

Kalik, who had been silently listening until then, suddenly expressed admiration.

“As expected… just as I thought.”

“What… what do you mean, just as you thought?”

Something was going wrong.

Marie felt a sense of fear at the unexpected turn of events. The past time she spent thinking everything would return to normal once this man opened his eyes seemed to vanish into thin air.

“Hey.”

She addressed him as she usually did. ‘Hey, you, or Sir.’

But Kalik looked as if he had been insulted, wearing a hurt expression.

“I’m sorry. I don’t remember…”

“What on earth are you talking about…”

“Still, I’ll try to regain my memory as soon as possible.”

“No, right now…”

“So please don’t leave me.”

Marie’s eyes darted around. It didn’t seem like this man was joking – he wasn’t the type to joke, but it didn’t seem genuine either.

It felt like someone else had entered Kalik Escael’s body and was speaking on his behalf.

“You’re not doing this to get back at me for twisting my words and embarrassing you, are you?”

“Huh? Embarrassed… you did that to me?”

“Well… no…”

Marie wracked her brain desperately. Her mind knew she should answer “yes.” But her heart put on the brakes. Admitting it here would mean acknowledging that she had spoken with such intent, and this detestable man would reveal his true colors, claiming he had been waiting for this moment.

She couldn’t lose to Kalik, no matter what.

So Marie swallowed dryly and shook her head.

“…It was just once when I was upset… it never happened…”

“I thought so. Just imagining that such a beautiful and elegant wife would do such a thing pains my heart.”

“Beautiful…”

Who?

Marie’s expression turned pale. It was around this time that she realized something was amiss.

If she stopped here, she could pass it off as a joke. Although she showed a stuttering clumsiness, she could argue that he was the one who started the joke.

“Anyway, it’s a relief you’re awake. If you had died, I wouldn’t have been able to see your beautiful face anymore.”

“That…”

But this man didn’t seem to have any intention of ending the joke. It was doubtful if this was even a joke, given how perfectly he was acting.

Marie hugged her goosebump-covered arms. She couldn’t endure it any longer.

“Stop it.”

“Huh?”

“I was wrong, so stop.”

To be honest, it wasn’t pure hostility. To put it bluntly, he was satisfying to hit. Though he often called Marie refined or elegant, the truth was that his side, which never raised its voice and calmly responded no matter what was said, suited the word elegant better.

Ironically, it was fun to tease him. As a man hailed as a model noble with knighthood to boot, he couldn’t choose to ignore her. How could she stop when he always took the bait?

But she didn’t expect such a reaction.

“I was the one who was wrong. Such a beaut…”

“St-stop!”

Kalik didn’t back down.

“Beautiful…”

“Who are you!”

Finally unable to bear it, Marie jumped up and shouted. Kalik, who hadn’t finished his sentence, blinked, then seemed to realize something and reached out to grab her hand as she was about to fall.

“Let go of my hand…”

“Wife!”

The sudden address made Marie’s body stiffen.

She glanced at the door with a startled face. It felt like Natalie would burst in at any moment to save her. But no one came in, and Kalik, now emboldened, tightened his grip on her hand, preventing her from escaping.

“W-what do you mean ‘wife’!”

“Then… Miss Marie!”

“Don’t call me that either!”

“Wife!”

“I said don’t call me that!”

Marie, unaware of the tears welling up from extreme embarrassment, anxiety, and fear, pressed down on Kalik’s hand with her own.

“Let go of me!”

“I’ll let go if you promise not to leave me.”

“I’m not leaving you…”

“Please, don’t leave.”

“No, I’m just trying to leave the room…”

“Please…”