If I Disobey the Duke

Why Did You Do That? (1)

Lily’s breath was like fire for three days.

Her fever was so high that she wondered absently if her brain was boiling, and she groaned in pain constantly.

It wasn’t until the dawn when she regained her strength did Ivan slump onto the chair.

His dirty blonde hair mixed with gray was more coarse today. Ivan rubbed his tired eyes. “Her fever will no longer rise. However, she lost a lot of energy, so when she wakes up, she needs to rest for a while.”

“How long will it take, exactly?” Vlad’s tone was deeper than usual.

“Nobody knows. If we only talk about physical health, she can start walking around tomorrow. As you know, that’s normal.” Ivan could tell the state of his superior just by looking at the back of his head.

Vlad also stayed by her side without sleeping for three days.

Ivan sighed and leaned back against the backrest. “Treatments always work but it takes time to heal weak people…”

“Ivan.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t be rude. My wife isn’t weak.”

Realizing the mistake, Ivan coughed. “…I’m sorry.”

Vlad leaned his shoulders against the wall, still keeping his gaze fixed on Lily. His gray eyes sank like a dark river.

He knew her natural temperament.

Lily was a strong and clever person.

He could tell just by her talking to Count Valks, or by her noticing the strangeness of her old friend.

Now the very wary knights followed her like baby ducks.

He let out a weary sigh.

Was it so hard for her to tell me she didn’t like it? Did she feel so uncomfortable to the point that she finally said it?

At first, it was something that she wouldn’t say no matter what.

Ivan glanced up at the back of his lord who couldn’t take his eyes off the bed.

“During the last war of conquest. Do you remember the gladiator slaves from the Middle Kingdom?”

The priest shuddered at the terrifying memory that came to mind. “Can I ever forget it? After breaking the chains and giving them freedom, they attacked us again to avenge their master. Especially the older ones…” Ivan’s eyes narrowed when he realized his superior’s intentions. His throat felt tight.

Vlad continued speaking, still without looking back at him. “You need to drag yourself out before you get chained again.”

Ivan licked his lips awkwardly. “Hmmm… Madam will be waking up soon, so I will take my leave.” Without waiting for permission, he silently walked out of the bedroom.

Vlad’s eyes were tied to his sleeping wife.

Although she had been ill for several days and was completely ill, she was still dazzling, reminiscent of small leaves on the surface of a snowy field. Clear green eyes and white skin. A small nose, lips that were always bright red like a rose even when nothing was applied.

She was like something that had blossomed on a frozen wasteland.

He stared at her like she made life brighter.

It was as if a dark cave suddenly collapsed and the light poured in all at once. It was so brilliant that his eyes couldn’t take it, but it felt like there was no way he could stop looking at it.

Even just looking at her, his mouth was dry and his heart was pounding. A ticklish, fluttering feeling even took root in his ribcage.

How did I not know that Lily thought that of herself every day?

“Which wife is locked up in a tower and waiting all night for her husband, but doesn’t even know what her husband looks like…? I hate everyone who thinks that I’m cursed, I just want to die…”

Vlad’s heart nearly ripped out of his chest when he remembered the slender face streaming with tears.

Should I have listened to Ivan this time?

He raised his face.

What’s the point of thinking about this now?

Regret was a waste of time. What had passed cannot be undone.

As if dreaming, her long eyelashes twitched irregularly.

She’s waking up.

It didn’t seem like a nightmare. She must have been exhausted from lying sick for several days so he didn’t wake her up.

At least she was no longer deathly pale. It was fortunate that she didn’t die.

What would I have felt if she died in front of me?

At that moment, he realized that the old metaphor of the sky falling wasn’t so unlikely.

Even just thinking about it, his heart dropped to the floor. It was something he never wanted to experience.

It would be more terrifying and heartbreaking than anything he had ever seen in his life.

“Ugh…”

He opened his eyes at the faint groan from the bed.

* * *

“Lily. Have you come to your senses?”

Lily stared at him, blinking hazily.

His usual neat, jet-black hair was on his forehead. The collar of his shirt was untied, revealing a long neck with prominent tendons and the hollows of his clavicles. His gray eyes were closed and his wan complexion made it look like he had been suffering for a few days.

It was quite strange to see a man with such handsome features look like that.

“Look at me, Lily.”

Ah. This man is my husband.

The husband who hid himself from her.

Vlad stroked her lips with a large hand. The bells in her mind rang loudly as she nervously swallowed sticky saliva.

When there was no reaction, he got up as if he was trying to close the distance. “Lily, are you…?”

“Ah…” Lily’s whole body stiffened.

Vlad stopped at the instinctive rejection.

A bit of bitterness passed through his gray eyes.

It was funny. Despite being angry at her resistance, only relief came. The strong reaction was proof that she had regained consciousness.