Chapter 341
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Ash opened his eyes.
What greeted his mind as it sank up out of sleep was the faint dawn, and a soft, cozy warmth.
Suddenly, whipped cream came to mind.
The sweetest and softest thing among all the things he knew.
There was no part of his wife’s body that wasn’t sweet, so if he had to find something that perfectly resembled Nina, whipped cream seemed right.
At the thought so unlike him, the corners of his lips drew a faint arc.
The sleeping face of his wife, who had fallen asleep using his arm as a pillow, was as gentle as a baby’s.
Seeing the red, swollen corners of her eyes made him feel guilty, and even he found himself detestable.
The one who had tormented her until she could barely breathe was none other than himself.
Ash cupped the back of Nina’s head and pressed his lips to her forehead.
…His wife had said so last night.
That she would remain by his side.
As he recalled her voice, he pulled the woman’s body into his arms.
He should have been grateful even for the mercy she had bestowed as if granting him a favor.
Yet he harbored greed without even knowing his place.
‘…Judging by the way I’m complaining of thirst because this much isn’t enough.’
He remembered his wife from back then, who had been tenacious enough to make him shudder, and so strong in her desire to possess him that he wondered if she had gone mad.
The past, when she had been so absorbed in him that she had even forgotten her dignity.
So for a long time—no, perhaps for the rest of his life—he might have to suffer from thirst, but this was a blessed worry.
His wife’s heart had collapsed and shattered by his side dozens of times over.
“…Know that you will not get anything you desire from me.”
Under the pretext of keeping the promise he had made to his wife before their marriage, how coldly had he treated her?
Even so, she had said she would remain by his side, so he ought to be satisfied with merely having the opportunity to crave her affection and submit like a loyal dog.
Chu— He kissed her forehead with an audible sound, then dressed himself neatly and left the bedroom.
“Ah, good morning, Your Grace.”
Marsha greeted him in front of the door with a somewhat cautious expression.
Seeing how she kept stealing glances at his face, she seemed to be concerned about the marital relationship that had sunk into silence for the past few days.
“My wife has not woken yet, so come back later. It will probably be enough to check on her around noon.”
“Yes.”
Asleep without a care in the world, his wife would likely only open her eyes when the sun had risen high in the sky.
“Oh, and prepare a red bean pouch in advance, since she may have muscle aches.”
Perhaps realizing that the estranged relationship between husband and wife had been mended, Marsha’s face immediately brightened.
“Yes! Then I’ll take my leave.”
“Wait.”
Then, suddenly, at a question that crossed his mind, he hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth.
“By any chance, did my wife ever…”
Marsha was a maid who had served by his wife’s side for a long time.
Perhaps she knew things even her family did not, but he was cautious because it might seem like he was investigating her behind her back.
It would be right to ask his wife directly, but the truth was, he was worried about provoking her trauma.
“My wife seems to be extremely sensitive to the cold. Has she always been that way?”
“She did dislike cold days even before, but this year, it is especially severe.”
It did not show much indoors, where it was warm, but outside, she was so particular that it would not be an exaggeration to call it a fuss.
She herself dressed in layers and tried to defend her entire body perfectly, except for her eyes, nose, and mouth, but it was as though she even monitored what other people wore.
“But why do you ask…?”
Ash shook his head, saying it was nothing.
If even Marsha, his wife’s hands and feet, did not know, then perhaps it was only his misunderstanding.
“After I finish the inquiries, I will stop by the palace to meet my grandfather-in-law before returning. I will not be back late, so when my wife wakes, tell her I said we should have dinner together.”
After saying what he needed to say, Ash strode away and thought of the young lady of House Barrington.
‘Catherine Barrington…’
As repayment for saving his wife, he had been secretly supporting the Barrington newspaper.
‘And since she was helpful again this time, I should repay her.’
Thanks to Catherine, they had been able to prepare for the danger, at any rate.
Also, thanks to Catherine’s intel from her paper, they had been able to easily trace the rumors circulating in the slums backward.
‘…I should be able to catch the tail soon.’
The eyes of the Imperial Family were currently watching Marquis Crewe and Duchess Nord like an iron fortress.
They themselves would know that fact, so they probably would not move rashly, but before long, they would take the bait.
As he left the villa, a sharp edge rose in his narrowed eyes.
