Chapter 3

Tuk.

As soon as his tangled fingers were released, he retracted his hand and rubbed his hands vigorously as if he had touched something bad. He was still giving me that disgusted look.

Get lost, he repeated. It seemed like if he had the energy to get out of bed, he would've lifted me and thrown me out of the window.

I took another breath. 'This man is sick.'

Looking at his temper, he never seemed like a sick person, but I knew very well that he wasn't faking his illness.

For now, his health came first. He must not collapse again. I decided to appease him calmly. Amoide, you must take absolute rest. Raymond advised that you should not be shocked or angry.

Still talking? Get lost. His lips that looked like a painting moved and once again uttered harsh words.

Listening to him interrupting my words harshly, I bit my lips. Yeah, this is how I've been living. I clenched my teeth. This is not the first or second time I've been treated like this, yet I still couldn't help but feel aggrieved.

No matter how hard you try, you won't get what you want from me. Don't even dream about it.

But these words were a bit upsetting.

Who told you that?

I saw his eyebrows twitching at my abrupt retort. His eyes widened as he stared at me. I knew the reason. I've never reacted this way before. Come to think of it, I didn't have to suppress the dark energy creeping up in my mind. My mother-in-law, Camilla was not here, so no one in this room could restrict my behavior.

Behind my back, I could feel the nervousness of the maids. They had never seen me acting like this before. The image of me, Selena, acting confidently like the former duchess, Camilla.

What did you say? As if he was dumbfounded, he looked at me with wide eyes. Thus, his deep blue eyes became more visible.

I suddenly remembered Camilla's words saying that it was hard to find the right color to match those blue eyes when painting portraits. I didn't know whether she was boasting or lamenting when she said it.

What did I say? Why are you so angry as soon as you wake up? You must have a lot of extra energy.

I was doing something I've never done before. I smiled with heartfelt satisfaction. As the corners of my mouth went up, Amoide frowned even deeper.

I heard that you were out of your mind, are you really crazy?

Yeah. Just try putting yourself in my shoes. You would be just as out of your mind as I am.

As he fiercely glared at me, I benevolently smiled at him. There's no use glaring like that. You're good-looking. No matter what expression a good-looking person makes, their inherent beauty will always be unblemished. With a face that would make him live conveniently, I can't believe that he only used it that way. Out of pity, I smiled pathetically at him.

Maybe, I readily accepted his accusation that I was crazy.

At my answer, Amoide's face became a bit more oddly distorted. Well, I understand. From his point of view, it was absolutely strange to see a woman, who usually shrinks like a snail from his glare, suddenly talking back at him. (t/n: lol why snail? I don't know either haha. e/n: The snail analogy refers to how snails shrink back when they are approached or poked)

I could somewhat understand his awful personality. It is as the saying goes, a sound mind in a healthy body. Living with a sickly body and suffering the illness that triggered unexplainable seizures, his personality became very twisted.

Then one day, a woman, whose face he had never seen before, sat down beside him, saying she was his wife. His mother continuously urged him to sire a successor as soon as possible in case he dies, and his wife faithfully attempts to follow his mother's order. The only purpose of his existence was to continue the noble lineage of the dukedom. How could he possibly endure that without losing his mind? What's the point of having great wealth, high position, and superior status?

All of a sudden, a feeling of compassion rose. So, I decided to try to empathize with him. Above all, nothing good would happen to me if Amoide dies soon. He must live a long life and die naturally when his time comes, just like a normal person. He really should do thatplease

Don't look at me like that, he frowned again.

What did I do?

You look at me like you're looking at a sick puppy nearing its death.

(t/n: yeah Amoide, you are a handsome puppy.)

I got caught. I must have given him a doleful look unconsciously. I immediately turned my eyes away. It would greatly hurt the pride of this sickly, lordly duke to receive hasty sympathy. Having nothing else to say, I rolled my eyes.

Suddenly, he took the medicine from my hand like an eagle snatching a chick.

(t/n: now that handsome puppy becomes an eagle haha. e/n: this author really likes animals. We should start a zoo)

Uh

As I was stunned, Amoide poured the medicine into his mouth in a flash and drank the water. He pulled up his loose sleeve and wiped off the trickling water from his mouth.

Good job, I clapped my hands as if to praise a child's behavior.

Amoide, who was watching my action, froze like a statue, and his hand, which was wiping off the water around his mouth, stopped.

The maids also looked at each other as if they could not understand what was going on. One of them carefully lifted her index finger and twirled it around next to her head.

Anyway, I looked at him with a gracious smile, and he said with a face full of anger. We are done now, right?

Yes.'

Then get out of here.

I stood up without saying a word. Get some rest, then, I bowed to him and left the room without looking back. I could feel his persistent gaze on my back, but until the end, I didn't look back.

Tak. As soon as the door closed, I heaved a long sigh. I felt like the battle was over. My head ached and I felt dizzy.

Are you alright? asked Rona, who followed me as she usually does.

It is not like I haven't gone through it before, I replied with a shrug. Reallyit wasn't just once or twice. Amoide had always treated me like this since I married him and entered this family.

I even felt goose bumps at his consistently rude attitude. He didn't even show the desire to touch, look or be near meHuh?

Panicked, I quickly leaned against the wall. Do I smell bad?

Pardon? Rona opened her eyes wide at my sudden question.

I pulled a handful of hair draped over my back and smelled it. However, no matter how much I smelled it, I could detect any bad odor because I took care of my hair with all my heart.

This time, I raised my arm and smelled it. The scents of fragrant soap and the moderately sprayed perfume were the only scents that I could detect. This wasn't the problem either. The real main reason was that he hates me. I knew it.

Master is too harsh sometimes.

I can't help it. If I was him, I wouldn't like myself either.

But Rona clenched her hand helplessly.

You can just pretend that you don't know anything. Aren't the other maids doing the same? They call me 'The Surrogate Duchess.'

(t/n: like a surrogate mother for the dying duke's heir)

At the last words from my mouth, Rona's face paled. Milady, I, I, I swear

I know. You never did. Except for you, I'm sure everyone else calls me that.

My casual response made Rona's complexion paler.

I'm fine, just let me be, I waved my hands nonchalantly. Now, it doesn't matter anymore.

As Rona looked at my hand waving in front of her, her expression became worried. Oh no, your hand, it is okay? Rona freaked out at the sight of my hand.

Ah, that was when I saw the hand that had been tightly clasped by him earlier. He grasped my hand so tightly that red marks appeared and my hands felt numb. In addition, it was quite swollen and it seemed like it would bruise soon.

Yeah, it's okay. Maybe one of the bones was broken somewhere, but it's okay since it still can move. It doesn't matter, compared to the future ahead.

Milady is such a devoted wife.

Prick.

Master doesn't even know about this.

Prick.

Every time Rona spoke, I felt like my heart was pricked, somewhere.

Even so, I felt glad. For the past two weeks, my master has been ill, and Milady also seemed out of place. On the verge of tears, Rona bit her lips and her voice was barely heard. I, I just

I let out a deep sigh as I saw Rona muttering with a flushed face. I understandwhy they can treat me like that. 'Because I deserved it.'

Yes? It was Rona who was surprised at my straightforward acceptance.

I did seem like a crazy person. I recalled what I've done in the last two weeks, one by one.