The Wicked Wife's Dark History Keeps Coming Back To Haunt Her - Chapter 207

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Lately, her husband was acting far too strange.

His manners had become impossibly polite and gentle, and—more baffling still—he made it a routine to visit her morning and night, without fail, just to greet her.

In her previous life, such a thing would have been utterly unthinkable.

And on top of that, he now reported his daily schedule to her, things she hadn’t even asked about.

“This is really… disconcerting.”

Those inexplicable words he’d said… that she had given him a chance long ago.

And ever since that night, when he had pressed a kiss to the back of her hand, whispering for her to have pleasant dreams…

She hadn’t been able to get him out of her head.

Even when they had accidentally kissed in the Imperial Palace, she hadn’t felt this tangled inside.

But now…

His sudden confession in the cabin, and then the way he’d come to her at night again, with those wistful eyes.

What was she supposed to do with all of this confusion?

“May you have a pleasant dream.”

Those warm, deliberate lips pressing down on the back of her hand.

Those ash-gray eyes reflecting the faint red of candlelight.

The memory of that night made her skin burn where he had touched her.

‘Stop thinking about useless things.’

Nina shut her eyes tightly and shook her head hard.

The foolish woman who had once fallen so completely for him that she couldn’t tell right from wrong. That woman was long dead.

No matter how much had changed, the past—their years of pain and the wounds they’d given each other—had not vanished.

Two years of marriage that had felt like war.

Wasn’t it only natural that this sudden peace between them would leave him confused?

‘Come to think of it… he’s never had a proper love life either.’

If he’d ever had a lover, the ever-chattering high society would have been full of rumors.

And as for his first kiss. She had, unintentionally, taken that from him herself.

‘…Surely he’s not planning to seduce me as part of some assassination plot, right?’

Of course not. But still, it meant one thing.

She couldn’t trust him easily.

In her previous life, during three years of marriage, he had never once allowed her near him.

Especially that night, when he had left her alone in their bedroom, humiliated and in tears.

There had been countless days when he’d passed her in the halls without a word, pretending not to see her.

And every time their eyes met, his expression had twisted as if he found her repulsive.

How could she ever forget all those moments, the rejection written in his eyes, his face, his gestures?

…He had done everything he could to shake off the wretched misfortune that was her presence in his life.

And when he finally drove her out, he must have smiled in relief.

The corner of Nina’s lips curved in a dry, fleeting smile.

Knowing exactly how her previous life had ended… could she ever truly love him again?

She didn’t resent him. It had been her own misfortune, after all.

But that didn’t mean she wanted to fall in love again.

Yes, her heart had fluttered a little, as if they were courting. But that was as far as it went.

She had no intention of letting it turn into anything deeper.

His feelings, too, were probably nothing more than confusion born of change.

So why bother agonizing over it?

“…Madam, the repairs will take several days.”

Ah. This was no time for pointless thoughts.

Nina blinked, snapping out of her reverie at Melanie’s voice.

“Were there more damages than expected?”

Melanie nodded, reading from her report.

A few cracked marble tiles, a broken section of flooring, creaking stair railings, and a problem with the wastewater pipes.

“We’ll begin by repairing the areas guests will frequent the most. The wastewater pipes in particular can’t be fixed in a single day, so we’ll need some time.”

“I see…”

Piping repairs were crucial.

If wastewater from the rooms began leaking somewhere in the mansion, it would be a disaster of mold creeping into the wooden structure, the stench spreading through every corridor.

“But is it possible to finish before the party?”

“We don’t need a full renovation right now, Madam. The problem is limited to the drainage pipes behind the rear garden, so as long as we repair that section before the party, it will be fine.”

“Then we’d better get started quickly.”

When hosting a party, most areas of the mansion were opened to guests. Except, of course, for the family’s private rooms and offices.

And the rear garden was a favorite place for guests to stroll or enjoy a quiet chat. Any unpleasant odor there would be disastrous.

“I’ve already sent requests to the five craftsmen we call on most often. The rest of the mansion’s maintenance can be finished within a day or two, so there’s no need to worry.”

“Understood. Then we’ll repair what needs repairing, touch up the interiors a little, and run one last inspection before the event.”

If Melanie’s chosen repairmen had long been employed by House Bayern, their skill could be trusted.