The Wicked Wife's Dark History Keeps Coming Back To Haunt Her - Chapter 260

“Even if you don’t finish all of that today, it’s not like something terrible will happen. Stop and rest.”

When Nina tried to push the documents aside, he stopped her and said,

“I was only planning to take care of the ones that need immediate approval. I’ll be done soon.”

Done soon, he says, when the stack of papers looked at least a finger joint thick.

“Why didn’t you just get another room, or ask me to let you sleep here. Why did you spend the night wandering outside?”

When Nina scolded him, he gave a dry smile.

“…We agreed to act like a harmonious couple outside. If I got another room, rumors would start, and if I stayed with you, I thought you’d be uncomfortable.”

No matter that he had written House Bayern’s name at check-in, it wasn’t weather to wander around without even a coat.

“Still, you should’ve been more flexible. I’m more uncomfortable knowing you were wandering around in the freezing night. You even caught a cold like this…”

Of course, as he said, being in the same space with him would have been uncomfortable.

Because of the waves he stirred in her heart, she had barely slept that night.

“I’m sorry for making you say such things.”

The man’s pained eyes, when he said he was sorry for hurting her because he couldn’t hold back his jealousy.

The fingertips that traced along the red marks.

Even a heart that hadn’t wavered when he asked for marital duty couldn’t help but drop at that moment.

“…But are you really okay?”

When Ash asked worriedly in a low, hoarse voice, Nina squeezed her eyes shut and brushed her hair back.

She was already going crazy because she kept thinking about it.

His careful yet subtly persistent touch, as if he couldn’t tolerate traces left by another.

Even if she’d set aside feelings like love, he was a man whose physical presence could drag her in like a beast without reason.

And for such a man to touch her skin late at night with eyes soaked in melancholy… of course her heart would be unsettled.

But more than anything, what complicated her feelings was,

“Please stop.”

The expression he had when he took her hand.

The blazing passion that scattered in an instant from his ashen eyes, and the way his gaze twisted as if in pain.

Just for a moment, but he had looked wounded.

Thinking of how she’d tossed and turned all night because of that, it was true that she worried whether it was really alright to share a bed in this state…

When Nina stayed silent with her eyes tightly shut, Ash smiled bitterly and said,

“If you’re uncomfortable, we don’t have to share a bed. No, let’s just pretend we are.”

“…No, if we do that, people among the servants will talk again.”

If they hadn’t merged rooms at all, that would be one thing.

But deciding to share a bed and then going back to separate rooms would inevitably spark gossip.

Once a decision was made, there was no choice but to push through.

“Anyway, stop thinking about work and get proper rest today. Consider these documents confiscated.”

Nina took the papers from Ash, laid him down on the bed, and left the annex.

She’d received Melanie’s report, taken work away from Ash, and had the bedroom reorganized.

‘Now I should look over the letters that came for me.’

After being away for several days, there would surely be a pile waiting.

“As expected… there’s a lot to read today too.”

On the sitting room table in her room, letters Melanie had sorted over several days were stacked neatly.

Even after Melanie had filtered them once, there were this many.

Thinking it would take half a day to read them all, Nina picked up the top letter and widened her eyes.

“Hm?”

At her reaction, Marsha asked with a puzzled expression,

“Where is it from?”

“House Lambert.”

The timing was remarkably unfortunate.

She’d just been thinking she should tell them about the swindler she’d met in Count Conwell’s territory.

“Hm…”

Could this be about that?

Marchioness Lambert had publicly said she would help settle Nina’s scandal.

‘If that really happens, I couldn’t ask for more…’

With a fluttering heart, she opened the letter.

As Nina quickly skimmed the marchioness’s elegant handwriting, the corners of her lips curved upward.

“Marsha, I need to write a letter.”

Marchioness Lambert, former head maid of the Empress’s palace, and a woman who held high society in the palm of her hand from the shadows.

She was hosting a grand charity party ahead of winter.

‘Perfect.’

Nina had already been thinking she needed to restore the ruined reputation of Count Bernard’s daughter, Sophia, as soon as possible.

Now, a perfect opportunity had presented itself.

For the first time in a while, Nina picked up her quill with genuine pleasure.

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