“So, it’s better not to entertain such thoughts.” A man with fists clenched in front of his chest tilts his head slightly and grins.

As she contemplates whether to nod or shake her head, she furrows her brows.

… Somehow, it feels stifling.

“Now, it seems like it’s time to talk about something else.”

A serious voice, instantly changing the atmosphere, is heard.

“Who was the person who confined you there yesterday?”

The laughter lines on the husband’s face disappear.

“Heter, or Zion?”

“Zion,” Lamain replies with an undoubting gaze.

“Heter doesn’t want any disturbances in what he already has. For the sake of his ambitions, he hopes I live quietly.”

“If that’s the case, why does Zion want to harm you?”

After a moment of contemplation, Lamain smiles bitterly. “As you expected, because he regarded me as his plaything.”

She forces a deep laugh. “Just like, isn’t my wife a plaything of Zion?”

Cedric, realizing why he had desperately clung to her at the hunting competition and why he said such things, looks serious.

“Thank you.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Just… for saying that to me and saving me that day.”

Although thoughts of gratitude and sudden joy crossed her mind, she didn’t express them.

Watching her, Cedric twists his features as if he dislikes her reaction.

“Words of gratitude are something you’d want to hear after slitting the throat of that trash-like guy.”

… I want to kill him.

Cedric’s eyes flash as he speaks.

“Anyway, the person who has been tormenting me since I was a child, living in the hell of a family that always abused me. On the day I was beaten by Heter, he tormented me even more cruelly.”

Lamain speaks in a calm voice.

“A toy that was played with more cruelly than what happened to myself.”

“…”

“An infant who always had to cry under his control.”

Cedric’s tightly closed lips tremble.

The consistently indifferent voice makes her heart ache even more.

However, she smoothes her expression to hide it.

“Did Zion confine you in the warehouse?”

“No. A woman named Clara Gardner lured me.”

“Clara Gardner?”

It was an unfamiliar name.

“Yes. She introduced herself to me like that. But she probably deceived me. There were also two big men with her.”

“Understood for now.”

With a heavy voice, Cedric’s eyes flicker ominously.

Watching him, Lamain slowly raises her eyebrows.

“Cedric, are you planning something?”

In a worried tone.

“What actions should I avoid doing?”

Cedric asks with an indignant tone, wondering what the problem is.
“Cedric, you’re not planning something, are you?” In a worried tone.

“What actions should I avoid doing?” Cedric asked with an indignant tone, wondering what the problem is.

In the eyes of her husband, who seems capable of anything, worries suddenly flooded her.

“Cedric! Don’t do anything unnecessary…”

“If your identity is exposed, it could endanger me and my family. I’ve heard that annoyingly enough to remember it now.”

Lamain, whose words were cut off, immediately closed her slightly open lips.

“I know what you’re worried about. So, don’t worry.”

Cedric reassures her with a calm gaze as if to say, “You can relax.”

She, who had let out a short sigh, nodded her head.

Knock, knock.

At that moment, Roberto entered the room.

“The Marquis. The Duke would like to see you briefly.”

“Understood. I’ll be there soon.”

“Yes.”

Roberto left the room, and Lamain got up from her seat.

“I think it’s better to end the conversation here today.”

Cedric nodded as if agreeing.

“Then, I’ll go back to my room.”

“Please do so.”

Cedric, who smiled lightly, watched Lamain head for the door and sat up on the bed.

“Cedric…”

She, who suddenly stopped walking, turned her head.

“Yes. What is it?”

Wondering what she was going to say, she tilted her head slightly.

“I think it’s better to rest a little more for the next few days.”

Now even frightening words echo as if they might come out of her dreams.

“No… Yesterday, you had a high fever.”

Perhaps she felt it was a bit excessive, as she made a slightly awkward expression while denying it.

“Then, rest.”

Lamain, who turned her head quickly, opened the door.

“Wait, Lamain.”

The quiet voice grabbed her as she was about to leave.

“…Yes?”

With half of her body leaning on the door crack, she met her husband’s gaze.

“Do you have anything else to tell me?”

“What do you mean?”

While wondering what he was going to say, Cedric, with eyes filled with a smiling expression, gently raised his lips.

He stared at her for a while as if giving her time.

What should I say?

Eyes that seem to ask such a question sparkle prettily.

“Words like… saying you love me…”

Anticipating her reaction.

As the eyes filled with expectation slowly moved her lips.

Thud.

“….!”

Before the words were finished, the wife disappeared in front of him.

… Was she such a fast woman?

Staring blankly, he laughed softly, looking at the firmly closed door.

“Yeah. If I’m too greedy, she might run away even more.”

The feelings poured out all at once might be burdensome.

No, it’s probably burdensome.