The Wicked Wife's Dark History Keeps Coming Back To Haunt Her - Chapter 88
âOh, y-youâre awake?â
Ash, who had just woken up, looked at her incredulously, his hair tousled and a faint frown on his face.
âWhatâs going on?â
Momentarily captivated by his slightly disheveled yet somehow even more attractive appearance, Nina found herself mumbling in a barely audible voice,
ââŚGood morning.â
From his seat on the floor, he looked at her with an expression that was anything but amused. âGood morningâ was probably the last thing he was thinking.
After a deep breath, Nina composed herself and tried to explain.
âSo, I was really tired yesterday, I guess. Iâm pretty sure I fell asleep on the sofa, but⌠somehow, I woke up in bed. I donât really know how that happened.â
Ash stared at her for a moment before letting out a short sigh.
Given her track record, she felt an odd tension from his silence, as if he were a judge carefully weighing his verdict.
âI know it sounds unbelievable, but I really donât remember anythingâŚâ
Why did things always seem to go sideways for her at the worst possible moments? She sighed despondently.
âDid it ever occur to you that I might have moved you to the bed?â
âHuhâŚ?â
âDo you think Iâm the sort of petty person who would let an exhausted person sleep on the sofa?â
âNo, of course not! I justâŚâ
âJust what?â
ââŚItâs just, thatâs not what I thought.â
Itâs just⌠she couldnât imagine it. She knew all too well how much he disliked physical contact with her.
And yet, here he was, having chosen to sleep on the cramped sofa instead of the large bed that could easily accommodate three people.
Seeing the fatigue under his eyes made her feel a pang of guilt.
âI mean, Iâm small enough to sleep comfortably on the sofa, butâŚâ
Imagining how uncomfortable he must have been crammed onto the sofa, she wondered if perhaps tonight she should suggest they both use the bed.
If he didnât trust her, they could always build a barrier out of pillows or luggage.
***
The charity event was held across the central square, the central park, and a few buildings that the imperial family had lent. It was set to run for four days, with free meals at noon, tea parties, and lectures in the afternoon.
Due to the eventâs size, each area had a designated supervisor, with Bayernâs household in charge of the central square.
As soon as Nina arrived at the square, she got to work, checking everything with the overseers, reassuring the complaining nobles, and even serving stew to the people, ladle in hand.
In her previous life, sheâd been content to sit in the shade and be waited on, which had earned her plenty of scorn. But this time, she was fully participating.
ââŚThank goodness we didnât have to handle the ingredient prep ourselves. Otherwise, Iâd be completely worn out.â
Fortunately, the imperial family had hired laborers to handle food prep and cooking. The Emperor hadnât insisted on nobles doing those tasks, as it would have led to half of them refusing to attend.
Even just serving stew under the late-summer sun for two hours had left her sore and aching.
âYou could have taken it easy, you know. No one would have judged you for it.â
Seeing her massage her sore arm with a pained expression, Ash let out a cold chuckle, clearly thinking she was putting on a show.
âIf Iâm going to do something, I might as well do it properly.â
Besides, someone somewhere was bound to be watching, keeping an eye on her as an agent of the Empress.
ââŚAnd I see everyoneâs dressed up nicely, too.â
The nobles relaxing in the shade were mostly dressed in clothes with cheerful colors, if not overly elaborate ones. In contrast, Nina wore a dark brown dress.
While the high-quality fabric was evenly dyed without a stain, the dark color might have seemed plain if not for her hat and emerald brooch, which added a touch of elegance.
âThis is just right. Itâs not like Iâm here for leisure.â
Dressing extravagantly today wouldâve made her look like she was here to idle about, like in her previous life, drawing resentful looks and the disapproval of the imperial family.
And, of course, bright clothes show every little stain, likeâŚ
âŚLike that lady over there.
