The Wicked Wife's Dark History Keeps Coming Back To Haunt Her - Chapter 156
Nina began to sob pitifully, curled up like a wounded small animal.
Seeing his once-brave wife, who had become like a different person lately, now so fragile moved Ash deeply.
“…I’ll be right back, so please wait for me.”
When he said this in a strained voice, Nina shook her head and buried her face in his palms.
The feverish heat radiating through his hands was intense.
Ash clenched his jaw so tightly his teeth ground together.
Because, in that moment, he suddenly understood what her symptoms were.
He bit back a curse and grabbed the glass of water on the nightstand.
“No matter how hard it is, you have to swallow this. Do you understand?”
The way she wailed and cried, completely out of her senses, made it clear her rationality was nearly gone, but if she didn’t want the imperial physician called, there was no other choice for now.
He parted Nina’s lips and pressed on both her cheeks.
Her lips opened plumply, like a fish, but when he brought the cup to them, the water only spilled out the sides instead of being swallowed.
…If he called for the imperial physician, word would spread that something had happened to his wife, and whoever had targeted her would seize the opportunity to start rumors.
Rumors.
He remembered how Nina used to shrink away and suffer under the weight of other people’s eyes.
If scandal started to spread, she would be hurt all over again.
His ashen eyes grew even darker.
“……My wife, I didn’t want our first time to be like this, but.”
He only hoped she would understand that this was nothing but emergency first aid.
Looking at her gasping and dazed, Ash gazed at her with a complicated expression, then took some water into his mouth.
“……”
He lowered his head and gently covered her lips with his.
He let the water slowly trickle into her mouth, reddened with fever.
Knowing she wouldn’t be able to swallow properly, he pressed her tongue down to help her get the water down.
This was just an emergency measure.
He reminded himself of that fact, taking more water into his mouth and repeating the process…
Again and again, over and over,
Until her ragged breathing finally began to return to normal.
* * *
Nina came to herself in the pitch-black darkness.
“Ah…”
Why am I like this here?
The hunt. What about the hunt…?
Staring blankly at the ceiling, Nina suddenly recalled what had happened before she lost consciousness and shuddered.
The pain that had gnawed at her entire body until she blacked out had stopped, but instead, her whole body felt stiff and sore.
And she was so drained it was hard to move even a single finger.
“Are you awake?”
“Ah……”
Nina turned her head.
Ash was sitting in a chair by the bed, his gaze full of complicated emotions.
From the slight crumple of his eyes, he seemed more conflicted than ever…
“…Did you…not win?”
Surely he didn’t lose the winner’s title to the likes of Duke Nord?
She seemed to remember the prize was a red diamond jewelry set.
“Is that really what matters right now?”
“Of course it does! Do you know how much that prize is worth…!”
“…Don’t worry. Of course I won, and I’ve already attended the awards ceremony.”
He let out a quiet sigh, lowering his eyes and rubbing his chin.
Why does he look so unnecessarily attractive right now?
Wait…
‘But why am I like this here?’
As she pondered, she suddenly realized she’d been drugged and abruptly sat up.
“The culprit. Did you catch the culprit?”
“We haven’t caught them yet, but we will soon.”
The culprit was probably one of the maids who set the tea service at the tea party.
Ash had quietly reported the incident to His Majesty the Emperor and requested a discreet investigation.
“…When I drank it, I smelled rosemary. Whatever I took, it was probably that Angel stuff.”
“Do you feel any discomfort?”
“Other than being tired, not really…”
“Then that’s fine.”
As she watched him stand abruptly, she awkwardly scratched her cheek.
“……?”
An impossible memory suddenly flashed through her mind.
‘What is this memory…?’
“……My wife, I didn’t want our first time to be like this, but.”
That unbearably pained, regretful voice.
The lukewarm water gently filling her mouth, the lips that pressed against hers again and again and then drew away…
As the absurd memory flooded her, her once-pale cheeks began to gradually turn red.
ReadingRainbow9266
How wonderful. It’s a shame their first kiss happened while she was completely out of it, but this will definitely push ash to want her even more. I’m annoyed that Nord ONCE AGAIN got away Scott free. When will they shove her into the dirt?!