Strategic Marriage with the Mad Villain - Chapter 66

“Just… take a light walk. Don’t make it too long. And even though it’s summer, don’t stay too long in the garden with a view of the sea, it’s better to go to the glass greenhouse…”

Lying still and listening to Reus’s words……

‘Doesn’t he want me to become a healthy pig to that extent?’

I was about to retort that if he was going to nag like that, he should just stick right next to me and take care of every single thing, but I quickly shut my mouth, realizing my mistake.

If I told Reus to do that, he really would……?

‘He has an unexpectedly whimsical side to him.’

Still, as his pleasant low voice flowed into my ears, drowsiness quickly set in. Perhaps the medicine was starting to take effect, as strength drained from my body and my eyes kept closing.

“Reus……”

“Do you need something?”

“No, I don’t need anything…. Can I ask you for one favor?”

“Anything, as long as it’s a simple request.”

He seemed worried that I would ask him to repay the favor with something strange again. Reus’s consistent attitude made me chuckle a little.

“When my cold is completely gone, could you… have tea time with me just once more?”

“You don’t need to ask like this. Just tell me whenever you need company.”

“But you’re busy.”

“Let’s say I’m just pretending to be busy. Call me whenever you want to.”

His nonsensical answer made me laugh again.

“Reus, you know……”

“Yes.”

“I’m a little… confused.”

“About what?”

I used to think that kindness was the greatest gift one could give to someone they cared about.

But after what happened with Casien, I came to realize something.

Kindness is just one of the many expressions of emotion that anyone can fabricate at any time, even to those they have no feelings for, like giving charity.

So there must be no great meaning or affection that I hoped for in Reus’s kindness either.

Ah, come to think of it, I had asked him once before.

[“Why are you being so nice to me……”

“Aren’t you…… my savior?”]

He didn’t answer knowing my feelings, but Reus clearly drew the line.

So I shouldn’t get carried away, have expectations, or hope that there is meaning in his common courtesy.

When he treats me this well, I unknowingly keep misunderstanding.

To Reus, I’m just a woman who coincidentally saved his life, so why am I getting confused by myself with futile expectations?

It’s really time to stop raising feelings on my own by mistaking simple kindness.

“I know it’s not really like that….. Just, all of it……”

For a moment, I couldn’t finish my words for fear that Reus would figure out my feelings.

It felt like if he found out even a little, he would tell me to leave the ducal castle right away.

Even if I had to expect and be disappointed on my own, I didn’t want the relationship we had barely built up to crumble in an instant.

But until I leave, just for a very short time, would it be okay to rely on Reus’s kindness?

As long as I don’t cross the line.

‘If I hide it well so I don’t get caught……’

Carrying a somewhat gloomy heart, I fell into a deep sleep.

* * *

After washing up and lying down on freshly changed bedding, I finally felt like I could live a little.

‘I had such a high fever, but four days seems pretty quick to recover, come to think of it.’

While I was sick, Reus hardly left the bedroom. He didn’t go to this extent even last month, so I was both grateful and sorry that he was constantly taking care of me.

Then the door opened and the servants entered the bedroom, preparing my meal in an orderly manner.

Even when I was sick, porridge and medicine were constantly brought up to the bedroom, but it still felt very unfamiliar to see the servants frequently coming in and out of the bedroom.

After finishing a light meal and trying to get out of bed, Reus handed me something as if he had been waiting. The pungent smell I had been subjected to for days pierced my nose, and I reflexively pulled back.

“Take this.”

“But what’s in here?”

I asked because I thought I should know what I was taking, but Reus didn’t answer until the end. It was suspicious, but I carefully took it, thinking his outstretched arm might get tired from staying still.

“Ugh−.”

As soon as I took it, the smell wafting up made me reflexively gag.

Judging by the color and scent, it seemed to be a tonic, but it had a more bitter and herbal smell than the medicinal ingredients I originally knew.

I looked at him as if begging not to take it today, but Reus only responded with determined eyes.

‘I don’t know why he’s making me take this when I’m all better.’

I barely finished it, closing my eyes tightly and even covering my nose. As I was shaking my head at the faintly rising nausea, a large candy suddenly entered my mouth.

Before I could be surprised by Reus’s action, I couldn’t open my mouth for a long time due to the peculiar scent mixed with the remaining medicine taste and the candy’s flavor.

And only when the candy was about half melted did I barely speak.

“So what’s in this?”

“……Is your body feeling a little better now?”

Wow. That was the most blatant evasion among all the times he had changed the subject.

It was absurd, but I began to worry about what the hell was in here that he was avoiding answering like this.

I wanted to pry and ask, but that man looked like he had no intention of answering at all.

‘I’ll have to secretly ask Dwin later.’

But for now, I answered his question.

“My body has completely recovered.”

“I’m glad you recovered faster than I thought.”

“But Reus, you don’t have to bring meals up to the bedroom anymore. I’ll go down to the dining room to eat starting from dinner.”

Honestly, I still wonder if I deserve to be treated this preciously just for a mere cold.

Of course, I was so sick on the first day that I couldn’t move, so I think it could be like that.

But perhaps because they used a slightly strong medicine, I showed improvement starting the very next day, and today I have fully recovered to the point where I can’t even think that I had a cold.

There’s no strain at all in going about my daily life, but Reus doesn’t seem to agree with my opinion very much.

“Still, it would be better to be careful for a while.”

“No, I’m really all better…”

“According to the doctor, you lost a lot of weight during those sick four days.”

He said during those four days, but somehow it sounded like the word ‘just’ was omitted in between.

But isn’t that what usually happens when you only eat porridge?

“And your complexion hasn’t completely returned to normal yet, so what if you strain your body again by living as usual?”

“No matter what, I don’t think it will interfere with my daily life…. I just need to avoid the cold wind.”

“If you want to read a book, I’ll bring it to you.”

Actually, as long as Reus was okay with it, I didn’t mind eating in the bedroom.

Rather, thanks to the servants who only brought up an appropriate amount, I was able to fill my stomach without overdoing it, which was nice.

However, I was constantly bothered by the fact that what I had intended to say kept getting delayed due to the unexpected cold.

“That’s not it, we promised to have tea time together once I got better.”

No matter how much I thought about it, it seemed that Reus was completely unaware of the hidden space in the attic.

This ring I received at the wedding ceremony was worn by previous duchesses. But when he married me, he heard about the existence of this ring from Shanette for the first time and immediately gave it to me, so shouldn’t we assume that he doesn’t know the secret hidden in the ring?

After sitting still for a while at my words, Reus said,

“I will tell them to prepare the tea.”

“Really?”

I was expecting a bit of a tug-of-war, so I never thought he would readily say that he would have tea time prepared right away.

However, I naturally thought we would spend time in the garden as usual, but the tea and refreshments were brought up to the room like the meal earlier.

As I was looking at it a little dissatisfied, Reus said,

“Didn’t you say you wanted to have tea time?”

Yeah, I did say that. But……

‘The place was the most important thing, not just the tea time itself.’

It has already been 5 months since I started living with Reus. So even if we don’t want to know, we can’t help but learn about each other’s preferences or habits.

For example, the habit of slightly raising the end of his left eyebrow when Reus lies.

[“I don’t know what Rotheo said, but there was no particular reason for the library closure. So you don’t need to feel burdened.”]

I didn’t know it then, but now I know for sure. That it was a lying expression.

Even if not for that, just thinking about Rotheo’s perplexed reaction, Shanette’s regretful reaction, and Reus almost blatantly avoiding mentioning the library was enough.

‘And besides habits, I know which spaces he feels particularly more comfortable in……’

Even within the ducal castle, there were places where Reus’s posture, tone of voice, or gaze noticeably softened depending on the space.

I don’t know about the others, but I often felt that he particularly let his guard down more in this bedroom.

So I didn’t want to mention anything that might make Reus uncomfortable in one of the few places where he felt secure.

Thinking it was really the last time, I asked once more.

“Can’t we go outside?”

“No.”

“……”

Someone is trying their best out of concern, but he refuses so firmly……

Somehow I felt hurt and unknowingly pouted. Then Reus spoke in a slightly patronizing tone.

“……Just bear with it until you’re completely better. It’s only a few days anyway.”

“Reus, I’m really fine now….”

“I understand your frustration, but didn’t the doctor say it’s best to be as careful as possible for a few days because you had a quite severe fever?”

“That’s true, but…. I’m not as fragile as you think….”

As I was trying to subtly change the subject to go out, thinking the reaction was getting a little more favorable, an adamant answer came right away.

“A person like that got a cold in the summer?”

“……”

It seems this man has no intention of letting me out of the bedroom until he thinks I’m completely recovered.