I Have A Terminally Ill Duke As My Husband - Chapter 43

“No, don’t apologize. The apology you’re making now seems to be for your own peace of mind, not for me. Anyway, thank you. Thank you for saying you love me, someone so unattractive and without anything. And thank you for desperately searching for me. But when you died in front of me, our relationship ended. So please go back now. To where you belong… And find a suitable noblewoman to marry.”

It was the first time.

That words coming from someone’s mouth could be this frightening, terrifying, and painful… more than a sharp sword piercing the heart.

Every word coming from Mercian’s mouth felt like a sharp sword stabbing Ruan’s heart.

What on earth have I done to you, who is kind and lovely?

Because every word Mercian said was correct, Ruan couldn’t refute or make any excuses.

Or more precisely, countless excuses came to mind, but contrary to his thoughts, his mouth was stuck as if glued shut, and no words came out.

When he decided to deceive Mercian, he remembered Olivia and Tablo’s words saying he would regret it, that he should tell Mercian if no one else, and realized how foolish and stupid his choice had been.

Ruan left Mercian’s house without being able to say anything more.

Sob…

Mercian, who had been standing with a cold expression until Ruan left, collapsed as soon as Ruan was out of the house.

Why did his face, gradually despairing as he listened to her words, his hand that couldn’t grab her and stopped mid-air, and his back as he turned away without saying anything, look so pitiful…

No, Mercian, you did well.

She had resolved never to return when she left the capital.

That’s the same even if Ruan is alive. I’ll just live here as Rosalyn.

Mercian slowly got up, tidied the unfolded newspaper, and pushed it deep into the chair.

After saying such harsh words, even the little affection left would have disappeared. He won’t come looking anymore.

It’s really over now.

I’ll never see him again, right?

Ah, come to think of it, I didn’t ask why his insomnia got worse…

I didn’t get to ask if he knows that medicine can really kill him if he takes too much…

Whether the curse is really completely gone or if there’s a chance it might come back…

I should have asked how Charles, Clea, Ed, and the people at the Duke’s house and aunt are doing…

I was curious about… all of them.

Mercian got up abruptly and walked towards the door, then sat back down.

Haa, I must be crazy. After coldly telling a man who just confessed his love to me that I won’t forgive him and drawing a line saying we should never meet again, now I’m worrying about whom?

Yes, let’s forget everything.

I’m no longer Mercian Canoloup or Mercian Beanoman, but Rosalyn now.

Let’s stay strong!

Mercian wiped away the tears that kept falling against her will and did a thorough cleaning until late at night to get rid of the lingering thoughts.

The next day.

Mercian hesitated in front of the door, unable to go out.

Surely he won’t be outside when I open the door?

Yes, after what I said yesterday, he must have left.

What if he’s taking that medicine again because he can’t sleep?

Should I go check if he’s taken the medicine and fallen asleep?

Come to think of it, did he eat after waking up yesterday?

Mercian, what are you doing?

Standing in front of the door saying you’re going to work, but can’t even open it…

Really, you’re hopeless, just as Lucienne said.

Woof woof.

“Sorry, Ruan, I lingered too long in front of the door? Okay, I got it, I’m going out…”

Looking at Ruan barking as if asking her to open the door quickly, Mercian took a deep breath and opened the door slightly to look outside.

He won’t be there, right?

When Mercian opened the door and came out, contrary to her expectations, Ruan was nowhere to be seen.

Huh? He’s not here? Is he sleeping? Or did he go back?

Mercian approached the house in front and was about to put her hand on the door to open it, but turned back and went to work.

After that day, Ruan was no longer seen.

As if he had never existed from the beginning…

It seems he left after hearing my words. That’s good. Now he can live his own life.

“Sigh.”

“Rosalyn, do you think the ground will cave in if you keep doing that?”

“Pardon?”

“Your husband, no, the Duke seems to have left?”

“Ah… yes.”

“I thought there was a dark shadow on your face for days and you kept sighing, so it was because the Duke left?”

“Ah. No. It’s just that business seems to be not doing well these days.”

“What are you talking about? Yesterday and today were the best-selling days this month.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Hearing Zelda’s words, Mercian looked embarrassed and started wiping the tables in the store with a dishcloth.

“Rosalyn, do you really have no feelings left for the Duke?”

Mercian looked at Zelda, who asked with a serious expression, and said while wiping the table with the dishcloth as if it was obvious.

“Of. Of course. When I left the Duke’s house that day, I left everything behind. I even left my name there to forget him.”

“Then why have you been sighing for days? The Duke left as you wanted, and business is really good now. You used to be happy and joyful when business was this good before the Duke appeared.”

“Zelda, I’m happy now too.”

“You look like you’re about to cry from happiness twice.”

“Zelda, no. I’m really fine, I tell you?”

“Rosalyn, don’t be like that and be honest with me. Do you really have no feelings for the Duke? Do you really want that man to forget you and meet someone else?”

Mercian nodded as if it was obvious to Zelda’s words.

“Of course. Actually, Ruan married me because he was terminally ill, otherwise I would have been someone he couldn’t even dream of, right? Now that he’s fully recovered, he should find someone who really suits him.”

“Really? But Rosalyn, looking at your face now, it doesn’t seem that way?”

“… Honestly, I’m not sure. I sincerely hope he finds a lady suitable for his position and marries her to be happy. No, I thought I did. He left as I said, but I don’t know why my heart is so unsettled. Zelda, I’ve been quick to give up on things that aren’t mine since I was young. Good things were always my sister’s. My mother always said it was a great wrong if I wanted something. Especially after my father passed away and our family fortunes declined, mother always said my pretty sister would marry into a good family when she grew up and raise our family, so everything good had to go to my sister unconditionally.”

“That’s absurd, how can that be? How can a birth mother do that? What’s wrong with you, Rosalyn.”

“Huh, compared to my sister, I was really ugly. And I was fat too. Mother always said so, and my sister thought good things were naturally hers. So once I thought something wasn’t mine, I never even lingered on it, but why can’t I do that now? When he was terminally ill, I didn’t think much about being by Ruan’s side because he was someone who would leave anyway. But now it’s different, right? He’s a Duke and a hero of the empire, but I’m no longer even a noble of a viscount family, just a commoner. How could someone like me stand by his side? When I think like that, it seems right to let him go like this, but why doesn’t it work out as I think? I really hate myself for being like this.”

Hearing Mercian’s words, Zelda hugged her with all her might and then patted her back, saying,

“Rosalyn, your mother and sister were really bad people. How could they raise children favoring only one? Even if your sister was the prettiest person in the empire and married into a really good family to raise your family, they shouldn’t have done that to you. If I had known when we were in the capital, I wouldn’t have let those two off. And from my experience of living a bit longer than you, what does position or condition matter when people love each other? Right? Moreover, the Duke is the one clinging to you now, isn’t he? And what’s wrong with you? Like I said, I don’t know about the capital, but all the bachelors in Phenomenon village like you. Do you know how many young men have asked me to introduce you?”

“Zelda…”

Mercian couldn’t help but tear up at Zelda’s words warmly comforting her.

Zelda patted Mercian even more gently and said,

“I think love has timing too. If you really can’t forgive the Duke no matter what, I can’t say anything more, but if not, give him a chance.”

He doesn’t want such a chance.

He’s already left this place.

No. We’re already over?

Mercian mumbled weakly at Zelda’s words.

“Oh my? It’s already this late. Miss Sandwich Shop Owner, stop frowning and go home to sleep after cleaning up. Who knows, maybe that Duke will come looking for you again tomorrow morning to confess his love.”

“Zelda!”

As Mercian glared at Zelda’s words, Zelda smiled and said,

“If I’m right, really give him a chance once, okay? Well then, poor me who can’t even get courted by anyone is leaving now. See you tomorrow.”

“Thank you, Zelda.”

After Zelda left, Mercian sat there for a long time before getting up.

The next day.

Am I dreaming right now?

Why are these people here?

Mercian came out at the noisy sound and blankly stared at Charles, Clea, and Edward, who were busily unpacking luggage in the house across.

.

.

.

Imperial Fencing Hall.

“Oops, I’m so sorry, are you alright? My arm lost strength.”

“Ruan! You’re now…”

Harman was startled by the coldness of the sword brushing past his neck and looked at Ruan, who apologized with a really unapologetic expression and helped him up.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, I’m really sorry. The curse is completely broken, but maybe as an aftereffect, sometimes my arm loses strength and the sword falls on its own.”

Haa, that damn Duke…

It had been a week already.

After Daemond was dealt with, Ruan, who had been running around like a half-madman saying he was desperately searching for Mercian, suddenly appeared clean and tidy, declared he would hand over all his current work to Tablo and Cassel, which was rejected, and then unexpectedly came into the class instead of Tablo saying he would teach fencing, and had been giving this kind of trouble disguised as not trouble.

Not only in fencing classes, but in all the work Ruan did, he was pretending to make mistakes and silently threatening to be fired unconditionally because he could only do work this poorly.

I heard from Tablo that Mercian openly rejected Ruan for deceiving her…

Yet he still hasn’t given up on his wife?

Harman raised his hand to the knights and servants rushing over in surprise, signaling them not to come, and Ruan took that hand and helped Harman up.

“I’m really sorry. Even when the curse is broken, it still causes trouble like this. Now, the most basic thing when using sword technique…”

“Go…”

“… Pardon?”

“I’ll process your leave, so go to your wife. But you must return within 6 months. That’s my condition for letting you go.”

“Thank you, Your Highness. Then I’ll see you in 6 months.”

At Harman’s words, Ruan handed the sword to Tablo, who was watching anxiously from the side, and then disappeared from the fencing hall like the wind.