Chapter 10

Chapter 10

“You’re not thinking that you’ve really become Amoide’s wife, aren’t you?”

“Then, am I not?”

“What?”

“Since I came to this mansion, Mother has been reminding me that I am the duchess and Duke Amoide’s wife.”

Camilla didn’t treat me respectfully even though my position was the duchess. Since the madam of the house did that, the employees also did not regard me, the new duchess, highly too.

In front of me, they would treat me respectfully, but when I turned around, they would make me a subject of ridicule. It was the expected outcome since I wasn’t loved by my husband. No, he didn’t even acknowledge me as his wife in the first place.

“Although we got married because of the contract, I still have the right to take care of my husband.” His death. My false charge. I need to prevent them at all costs.

“Raymond will still remain as his personal physician. Even if I take over the duty to take care of Amoide’s health, Mother will be reported to regularly about it anyway. I just want to lighten Mother’s burden.”

I felt like there were pointed thorns sprouting from my seat. I could only move on to the next part of my plan after Camilla accepted my suggestion. If she declined it now…

“You’ve changed, haven’t you? It feels like someone else’s soul is possessing your body…”

I clenched my hands tightly at Camilla’s words. “People change all the time.” Only then could we survive.

Camilla narrowed her eyes while looking at me. She looked like she really couldn’t understand the situation. “Why are you doing this all of a sudden?”

The answer was simple. To live. I really wanted to live. So, everything around me started to appear scary to me. Nevertheless, I decided to make full use of what I had. I was officially Amoide’s wife, although it was just a contractual marriage. I was the rightful person to take care of him and protect him closely.

“I do not have any other intention. I just want to be more proactive in making efforts to achieve our mutual goal.” A perfectly peaceful divorce. Biding each other farewell beautifully without holding either side accountable.

After reading the contract between Camilla and me over and over again for the past two weeks, I realized that there was only one way to end this contract safely without breaking the clauses. I needed to make Camilla nullify the contract on her own. If she did that, she wouldn’t ask me to pay for the penalty. And to make that happen…

‘Amoide needs to become healthy again.’ Even if it wasn’t me, there would be many other women who would willingly marry him when he becomes healthy. He could just choose any noble lady from a more dignified family. He wouldn’t need me anymore.

I made eye contact with Camilla. For a while, neither Camilla nor I said anything.

“……We’ll see how it goes.”

I heaved a sigh of relief inwardly when Camilla barely gave her permission.

“I’m glad.”

“But if Amoide’s condition worsens or it turns out to be useless, I’ll never let it slide.” Camilla added in a cold voice.

‘Of course, you won’t.’ I didn’t expect Camilla to willingly give me the full authority to take care of her son’s health. Anyway, since Camilla had given me a chance, I must try my best to save him. It was obviously a gamble, a perilous gamble with my life at stake. If I succeed, I could save my life and my money, but if I fail…

‘Let’s not think about that.’ It was a terrible habit to start thinking about ominous things before I even started. I sighed inwardly and answered back. “…Yes.”

Drrrrr… The chair was pushed back as I raised myself. “Since we are done talking about this…I’m going to see Amoide now.”

I looked down at Camilla as I stood. Oh, this felt new. The feeling of looking down at the other person with a higher position was certainly different. Though it was just due to the height differences. Before this, I never look at Camilla from this point of view because I always had to bow my head in front of her.

“What are you looking at?”

“No, nothing.” Instead of bowing my head, I looked straight at Camilla’s face. I decided not to do it anymore. Because even if I did that, it wouldn’t save me from losing my neck and dying.

Rather, it was better to just do what I want. Since even if I did that, I wouldn’t get into big trouble. Based on the original story, Camilla would start to become vicious towards me after Amoide’s death. Before the tragedy, she would just ignore me, but she never intended to harm me. Believing this, I decided to just walk out of the room. With Camilla’s permission to take care of his health, it was time for me to take the next step according to my plan.

“What did Madam say? Did Madam give her permission to Milady?” Rona asked a series of questions in a row as soon as I closed the door and came out, as if she was going insane waiting for my answer.

I started walking lightly instead of answering.

“Milady, where are you going?” Rona asked as she was hastily following my steps.

“Where else? I’m going to meet my great husband.”

“To meet the Master?”

“Yeah.”

At the same time, our footsteps echoed in the hallway.

“Why does Milady suddenly…” Rona looked at me with a puzzled look.

It was worth seeing. Up until now, I rarely spent time with Amoide. Except on the recommended days when we needed to share the bed. Just like a well-bred stallion who needed to pass his excellent genes to future generations. As many as possible.

“Why else? To fulfill my duties as a wife.”

“Pardon?”

“From now on, I’m going to become closer to my husband…no, we’re going to be a loving couple.”

“Oh my god!” Rona smiled brightly as if it was her own business. “What a great thought!”

However, her bright smile faded at the next moment. “But how……?” She asked with a puzzled look.

Clack. *sound when the continuous footsteps stopped

“The weather is nice today.” I stopped walking and looked out of the window. The bright sunlight caught my eye. “From now on, I’m going to take a walk with him regularly.”

*****

“What brings Milady here?”

In front of his room, I ran into a maid who looked at me sharply. I just came to see my husband, but strangely, it felt like I was going to see the mob boss in a dungeon.

“I’m here to see my husband.” I told the fierce gatekeeper who was guarding the boss’s room.

“Master is taking a rest right now.” Emma said without batting an eye. She seemed unwilling to get out of my way.

“Really? I have something to tell him though.”

“Master hates to be disturbed by anyone during his rest.”

She sounded like she wouldn’t even allow a needle to pass through, but I didn’t want to back down either. Because behind that door, there would be a fiercer monster waiting, so I had to defeat this ferocious gatekeeper without much effort.

“Emma, I want to see my husband. Is a wife regarded as just ‘anyone’ too?”

“….” Emma’s brows crumpled in disapproval, but she didn’t refute my words.

“I come here because I’m worried about my husband. I wonder if he’s still sick, so I want to check his condition.”

Emma rolled her eyes around as if she was thinking for a moment.

In the end, I had no choice but to add. “I’ll tell Mother that you’re blocking my way.”

“Madam…?” The maid, who was standing with her arms crossed, looked at me with wide eyes as she was shocked by my words.

‘You’re not afraid of me at all. But when I mention Camilla, you immediately cower.’ It was a cheap shot, but I couldn’t help it. It seemed like I could only rely on Camilla’s authority. “Mother asked me to take care of Amoide’s health.”

“Is that true…?”

“If you don’t believe me, go ask her yourself.”

Emma just bit her lips without saying anything.

“Now that you know about it, get out of my way.” I shoved Emma and knocked on the thick oak door.

Knock knock.

“Come in.”

I opened the door and stepped inside when the short answer was heard. I immediately raised my hand to cover my eyes at the sudden bright glow of light.

Sparkle sparkle. Massive light shone upon me. Was the sunlight this bright before? As I looked ahead with half-open eyes, I could see the source of that light.

“……”

Amoide was sitting on the window sill as he looked at me. It was one of the windows designed to have a wide sill for people to sit on it. And he did just that. But why does the sight of him sitting there look like a famous painting that could only be seen in the art museum?

His sitting posture also looked quite comfortable. He placed his left hand on his bent leg on the window sill. Meanwhile, his other long leg was stretched comfortably.

His legs were really long. It took me a considerable amount of time to move my eyes from the edge of his pelvis to the tip of his toes. The moderate muscles and outstretched lines of his long legs looked exceptionally masculine.

Overall, he was a bit thin but his body frame was extraordinary. Even with such a great body, he was often sick. I could imagine how far his self-esteem would’ve fallen.

“Why are you here?” He frowned at me.

Because of that, I quickly got out of my stupor. “……”

“What’s the matter?” He didn’t seem pleased with my visit. To be exact, he seemed suspicious of me. Unless something happened or for some special reason, I was someone who wouldn’t come near him.

He would hate it if I approached him within a radius of a few meters. And he would stare at me warily as if he was worried that he would get sick if I touched him even the slightest bit. Seriously, what did I do so wrong?

All of sudden, I got emotional and almost burst into tears as my nose felt stuffy. Why did I live such a pitiful life? I did marry him for money, but I had my reasons as well. You didn’t have to hate me that much. It was such a poor life. Selena was even falsely accused of murdering her husband after being mistreated like this.

I courageously took a step forward and opened my mouth. “Amoide.”

“……” He looked at me confusedly as if he misheard something.

So, I called him again. “Amoide, what were you doing?”

His body was completely turned toward me. “What did you say?”

“What were you doing?”

“Not that part.”

“Amoide. Duke Amoide Efret. It’s your name.”

One, two. I counted as I walked toward him.

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