The Wicked Wife's Dark History Keeps Coming Back To Haunt Her - Chapter 195
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Ian’s mother, the former Duchess, passed away from puerperal fever after giving birth.
The late Duke never remarried, and even the servants’ quarters were strictly divided by gender, so Ian having his own room was only natural.
However, married couples traditionally share a bedchamber.
Because no one ever spoke about this obvious fact, this new piece of knowledge Ian had acquired could not help but stir many thoughts.
“…Sleeping alone?”
“You and Uncle always sleep separately.”
Nina’s blue eyes blinked slowly.
Why was this child asking something like this with such a serious expression?
Until now, there had been no mention of their separate rooms, so she hadn’t expected such a sudden question.
If Ian asked her directly about the rumors surrounding her, she had planned to tell him the truth, albeit in softened words.
Once Ian truly began participating in high society, it would become inevitable that he’d learn of it anyway.
But this question made her unsure whether this was the right moment to be so honest.
‘Is he asking because he knows the rumors about Ash and me, or because he doesn’t?’
It was a question that could have been asked either way.
Still, to explain why she and Ash slept in separate rooms, she would need to explain the broader marital discord that spanned their entire relationship.
So before that, she wanted to know why this child had suddenly become curious about such a thing.
“Hmm… Can I ask why you suddenly became curious about that?”
Since he’d hesitated to ask, she feared he might hesitate to answer.
Nina purposely smiled gently and met his eyes.
After a moment of thought, Ian spoke.
“…A while ago, Richard told me something. He said it would be bad for me if Uncle and Aunt had a child.”
Richard. He was that boy who had punched Ian.
“Maybe that’s why you and Uncle sleep separately, so something like that doesn’t happen.”
“……”
“Uncle would definitely just deny it. But if it’s true… if that really is what Uncle is thinking, I’d like you to be honest with me. Then I’ll try to convince him myself.”
“You’ll convince him yourself…?”
Ian smiled as if to reassure her that there was no need to worry.
“I’ll manage somehow.”
For a moment, Nina was speechless.
Had she been underestimating Ian, thinking of him as only a child?
She had considered him mature for his age, but she had never imagined his thoughts would stretch this far.
…’Convince him’, huh.
Could it be he was even willing to give up his inheritance rights?
Nina gently pulled the boy, whose head only came up to her chest, into her arms.
How deeply had he been hurt by all the lawsuits swirling around him?
Watching his relatives hurl accusations in a shouting match in court must have left countless scars on this young heart. The thought made her sigh.
‘…And I was one of the hands that helped cause that.’
My past self… go hit your head on the floor and reflect.
A heavy, damp fog of guilt seemed to settle in her chest, sinking her spirits.
“I never realized you’d been thinking about things like that…”
Pat, pat.
As Nina patted his back, Ian relaxed in her arms, resting his forehead on her shoulder.
She felt only pity as she wondered how many days this small child had been wrestling with such worries.
He must have been silently blaming himself all this time.
“The reason we sleep in separate rooms… is because Aunt has terrible sleeping habits.”
“Sleeping habits?”
“Mm. And even if there is discord between us, it has nothing to do with you, Ian. So don’t ever think that way, okay?”
That was true.
Even in her previous life, Ian’s existence had never been an obstacle to her.
Saying this made her feel like trash.
‘No, I guess I really was trash.’
Back then, she had even thought Ian was a fine shackle, something that could hold her husband back.
When Count Azelot had come to her, offering an aphrodisiac and mentioning Ian, she had never once felt hatred for Ian.
She had only been tempted by the Count’s words that having a child might bring her and her husband closer together.
Because she had cared for no one but her husband.
But regardless, Ian had never been the cause of discord. Not then, and not now.
‘But… will this explanation be enough?’
Ian seemed to be a child with many thoughts.
Would this small excuse be enough to put his mind at ease?
At ten years old, he should have been running around and playing.
But cooped up at home with only books to read, it was no wonder he was full of heavy thoughts.
“Ian, how about we spend the whole day playing today?”
“The whole day?”
“Mm-hmm.”
It’s often said that the best way to chase away worries is to move your body.
Looking into his gray eyes, which held a faint glimmer of hope, Nina smiled brightly.
