I Have A Terminally Ill Duke As My Husband - Chapter 27

Lucienne, who was so surprised by Ruan’s sudden appearance, was seen sitting down on the spot.

“Young lady, I really tried to be patient as much as I could. Whatever the reason, I endured many times because she is your elder sister and your family. But when they touched your body last time, you should have been prepared. You should not ask for my mercy anymore. I believe you heard well what my aunt said earlier. If I had heard this story first, I would have taken back everything I gave, but since my aunt has a more benevolent side than I thought, there’s nothing I can do. So, without further ado, go and do as my aunt said.”

Unlike when speaking to Mercian, his gaze was so cold and chilling that Lucienne’s whole body trembled with fear, as if Ruan would draw his sword and swing it at her at any moment.

“Du… Duke, there’s some misunderstanding… I mean…”

“Misunderstanding, young lady, my patience is not that great. So, disappear from my sight now. And one more thing, don’t contact my wife from now on. As my wife said, she is now a person who has nothing to do with the Beano Viscount family. From now on, she is a person of the Canoloup Duke family. Whether I live or die, it doesn’t matter. Do you understand?”

Is this man really going to die in a few months?

Lucienne realized for the first time that she could feel the fear of death just by listening without a sword.

With a thin figure that made it surprising he could even walk and pale skin, yet the gaze looking down at her was filled with tremendous killing intent.

Lucienne was so scared of Ruan’s voice, which spoke to her without any emotion, that she couldn’t hear anything he was saying.

Only the thought that she needed to escape from here right now, that she had to get out of here, filled her mind.

“Do you understand?”

Lucienne nodded and answered to Ruan’s last warning-like words.

“Yes. Yes… Th-Then I’ll…”

Lucienne crawled out of the room on all fours.

Now that I’ve cleared away the bug, I can spend time with my wife after a long while.

Ruan deliberately frowned a little and turned around, thinking he wanted to see more of Mercian’s face worried about his well-being.

“My wife?”

Contrary to his expectation that she would rush to him and worry about him like before, Mercian was being examined all over by Olivia with a worried look.

“Oh my, what if this pretty face got hurt? Are you really not hurt anywhere?”

“Aunt, I’m fine. It’s not me who’s the problem, Ruan took the teapot hit instead of me, so I wasn’t hurt. By the way, you must have been very surprised, right?”

Mercian spoke worriedly, looking at Ruan who was watching her, as Olivia carefully examined her dress here and there, showing little interest in Ruan’s well-being.

“No, rather than being surprised, that guy was late because he was dawdling, and you almost got into big trouble for nothing. And don’t worry about that guy. He’s going to die in 4 months anyway, what difference does it make if he dies a little earlier? And what difference does it make if there’s a burn mark on the face of someone who’s about to die? It’s you I’m worried about.”

What is this?

Clearly, it was he who was hit by the teapot and he who drove out that bug-like Lucienne, but why is no one paying attention to him?

Moreover, I’m a patient and a person who will die in 4 months. Isn’t this too much?

And were Aunt and my wife this close?

“Aunt, even so, I almost got burned.”

At Ruan’s words, Olivia looked him up and down with an insincere expression and said,

“In conclusion, you didn’t get burned, did you? Well, when I looked closely earlier, that viscount’s daughter had no strength in her hands, so the teapot didn’t even get near Mercian and fell to the ground, so what’s the big deal? Actually, Mercian sat up right away, so there was no chance of getting hit by the teapot in the first place, but acting like you saved her. Tsk tsk. I was trying to let it slide, but… What burn? Mer, let’s go down now. Let’s go look at the dishes and I’ll buy dinner tonight.”

“Ah. Yes, Aunt. Ruan, you come down too.”

Ruan felt resentful towards Olivia for the first time in his life as he watched Mercian being led down by Olivia’s hand.

Mercian and Olivia, who had come down to the first floor, chose dishes and plates while listening to the explanations of Clea and the shop owner.

“Aunt, I can pay for it.”

“No, I can afford this much. Have this sent to the duke’s mansion.”

“Yes. Yes, madam, and I’m really sorry for my slip of the tongue earlier.”

As the shop owner apologized repeatedly to Mercian, remembering his slip of the tongue to Clea, Mercian smiled and replied.

“It’s alright. Although we all came here with my aunt today and bought dishes from this place, I don’t plan to use this place next time.”

“Oh my, madam, I’m really sorry.”

Despite the shop owner’s apology, Mercian left the shop without any response.

Clea and Charles went back to the duke’s mansion with the dishes, while Mercian, Olivia, and Ruan went to a nearby restaurant for dinner.

“Welcome, madam, it’s been a long time. Duke, it’s been a long time too.”

As they entered the restaurant, the owner himself came out and greeted Olivia, Ruan, and Mercian.

“This must be the duchess. Nice to meet you for the first time. I’m Jeff, the owner of this restaurant.”

“Yes, nice to meet you.”

“Well, this way please.”

Jeff led the three people into a room inside the restaurant with a bright smile.

“Jeff, bring what I ordered earlier.”

“Yes, madam.”

After Jeff left, the food started to come in shortly after.

“Mer, I prepared the food you usually like, I’m not sure if it will suit your taste.”

At Olivia’s words, Mercian smiled at the incoming food and replied.

“Thank you, Aunt.”

When all the food was served, Ruan cut the meat and placed it in front of Olivia and Mercian, saying,

“The meat is tender and soft, good to eat.”

“Thank you, Ruan.”

Olivia, who was looking at Ruan and Mercian with a pleased expression, poured wine for Mercian and said,

“Mer, listen carefully. You are now a person of our family.”

“What?”

“Even if that guy dies, it doesn’t change that you are a person of our family.”

“But…”

“So, never let yourself be intimidated or shrink your shoulders no matter what others say when you go somewhere. You are our family now. Don’t forget that you have the Canoloup Duke family behind you. Forget about those people from that viscount family. If you need parents, I’ll be them for you.”

“Au-Aunt.”

“Forget everything that Susan and your sister said earlier. They’re like that because they don’t know your true worth. Appearance is just a shell when it comes to people. That’s not to say you’re ugly or unsightly. You might not believe it, but in my eyes, you’re just lovely and pretty.”

At Olivia’s words, Mercian suddenly felt something hot rising inside her.

It was the words she had so wanted to hear from Penelope and Lucienne.

Who would have thought she would hear them from Olivia, whom she had known for barely two months, not from them.

“Shh. Don’t cry, my wife. As my aunt said, we are your family now. So we’ll make sure no one dares to touch you carelessly. Do you understand?”

“Aunt and Ruan, thank you so much.”

Mercian wanted to forget at this moment that these people were ones she would have to part with in 4 months.

She wanted to truly feel the real family that had just formed for her, too grateful for these two people’s hearts to nitpick about such a future…

That evening dinner was an incredibly happy and enjoyable mealtime for Mercian.

***

Prince Harmen safely returned to the capital, and as Ruan had said, the emperor ordered Prince Harmen to marry Princess Patricia, the princess of the Kingdom of Alromand.

As Ruan had said, since it was a marriage with a powerless kingdom’s princess not long after the war ended, there wasn’t much opposition from the nobles supporting the empress, and the marriage proceeded smoothly.

Two weeks passed, and Prince Harmen set off with envoys to bring the bride from the Kingdom of Alromand.

Peaceful days also passed in the Canoloup Duke’s mansion.

Whether Olivia’s warning had worked or not, Susan didn’t tell anyone about what happened at the dish store, and there were no particular rumors about Mercian in the empire.

Well, even if rumors spread, Mercian wouldn’t care since she wouldn’t have any reason to go outside anyway…

As another two weeks passed, the home party approached to just a few days away.

“Madam, all the food for the home party has been decided.”

Mercian nodded at the butler’s words and said,

“This home party will be for all of us in the duke’s family to gather with Aunt, so include food that the servants like as well.”

“Yes, I understand, Madam.”

.

.

.

The last day of December arrived, and the first home party was held at the Canoloup Duke’s mansion.

Olivia, Ruan, and all the people of the duke’s family had a good time eating dinner together and talking about the events of the year.

“Now, we agreed to forget everything today and have a good time, so let’s forget all the sad things and think only of happy things.”

At Edward’s words, everyone raised their wine glasses high, toasted, and drank.

“Wow, this wine is really delicious!”

Mercian, who usually didn’t enjoy alcohol, was surprised by the sweet taste of the wine with little sourness. Then Ruan smiled and said,

“My wife, don’t drink too much just because it’s delicious. This wine has a higher alcohol content than you might think.”

“Ah. Yes…”

After the meal time ended, Olivia left the duke’s mansion early, saying she was tired.

The people of the duke’s family also returned to the servants’ quarters with wine, saying they would continue to enjoy themselves.

“Oh? Everyone’s gone? But Ruan, why do I see two of you?”

“Oh no. My wife, I told you this has a high alcohol content, but did you drink a whole bottle?”

“Did I? Oh my! I thought I only had two glasses. So, one glass with Clea, one glass with Charles, one glass with Aunt, and one glass with Ed and the butler. Oh. Come to think of it, I did drink quite a bit. Hehe…”

“My wife, let’s get up now.”

As Ruan tried to help Mercian up, she pushed his arm away and said,

“Ruan, don’t worry. I can go by myself. So don’t worry about me. Oh. Oh?”

Mercian stood up to walk but sat right back down on the floor.

“Ruan, this is strange. The floor is coming up. Ah. Really Ruan, which one is the real Ruan?”

Ah. This is driving me crazy. I shouldn’t laugh.

Ruan found Mercian’s drunken staggering and rolling on the floor so cute that he wanted to laugh.

I want to watch a little more. But if I leave her like this, she might catch a cold, so I should take her to her room now.

Ruan picked up Mercian and carried her into the room, setting her down on the bed.

“Ruan, I’m really curious. Why are you so nice to me?”

“Well. I wonder why?”

“Don’t be so nice to me. It makes me keep giving my heart to you. We’re not supposed to be like that. You’ll be gone from here in just 3 months. So. Don’t. Be nice to me.”

“What if I’m still here after 3 months. Then is it okay for me to be nice to you?”

“What?”

“If I don’t leave your side, then can you love me?”

“What do you mean.”

“So, my wife, if I don’t leave your side after 3 months, is it okay if I kiss you now?”