Published at 10th of December 2021 04:39:56 PM

Chapter 44

His glare was terrifying. Even if I was an assassin sent to kill him, Id still have lost my voice.

Well, I, um

I wracked my head for any excuse at all.

No, but um, how did you know Im here?

Could he see through walls?

How did he know theres a person standing outside the door before opening it?

How did you know I was outside?

I couldnt stand the curiosity I was feeling.

Who do you think I am?

My husband.

At my answer, he raised an eyebrow.

Your presence could be felt outside. Knights have keen senses. Of course Id be trained to know if theres an enemy nearby or not.

Oh my. Really?

Forgetting the urgency of the situation, I was startled by what he said.

I just paced the hall outside, but he felt that?

Amoide, youre amazing!

Then it makes sense that he was once involved with the novels heroine. If only he hadnt been sick

Answer my question.

Im not here to attack you, so dont stare at me like that.

If you were in my shoes, wouldnt you think its suspicious?

Well um.

I bit my lips and hesitated.

Explain whats going on.

He looked at me pointedly again.

Please hide me.

What?

I had to go out without Mother knowing. But right now, someones in my room and I dont want to get caught. Thats why

Now youre here?

If you dont like it

I clasped my hands together and fiddled with my fingers.

Then, unintentionally, the bandage that was still wrapped over my hand caught his eye.

I could see Amoides harsh expression softening a little when he saw it.

Why did you leave at such an early hour?

I couldnt answer right away.

Should I tell you the truth or not?

But under the current circumstances, considering that I was asking for help, I couldnt help but be truthful.

Someone sent a snake to my room.

A snake?

He furrowed his brows as his eyes scoured me from head to toe.

The hand that was on my shoulder started to hurt because his grip had tightened.

Um, hey

Ah.

He loosened his grip.

Whos responsible?

You believe me?

I looked up at him, bewildered. I was a bit surprised. I thought hed ask me if Im talking nonsense or that hed doubt me until I explained properly.

Do you really believe me?

Whatever he was thinking, this was good. Im glad hes open to listening.

So I decided to be more honest.

I dont know yet. Im not sure who it was, but I found out that the snake was being raised by someone.

What are you talking about?

I mean that its a snake thats being raised by someone in the mansion.

Who would raise such a dangerous thing? Didnt you see the snake the other day?

I know. But it might be that the persons raising snakes secretly.

Knock, knock.

Suddenly, somebody from outside knocked on the door.

Your Grace, theres something I must report.

I looked up at him with frantic eyes.

He reached out and opened the door halfway.

What is it?

Well The Young Madam has disappeared without saying a word.

I looked at him earnestly, hands clasped together and mouthing the word please.

If he wouldnt cover for me, then Camilla would definitely hound me. Jean could get roped into it too since I asked for help, and he might get fired.

The maids have sent me to report to you, saying that Your Grace should know.

Amoide, who was staring down at me, finally opened his lips.

Selena is here with me.

Then, he pulled on his shirt and the buttons popped open.

Hey, w-w-what are you

You asked me to hide you.

Then, he opened a couple more buttons.

His face couldnt get more indifferent.

Why am I the only one getting embarrassed here?!

Im being served eye candy on a platter.

His opened shirt fluttered in front of me.

Oh my god.

At his loosened clothes, his collarbone was exposed then his chest.

Huh? W-What

What the hell was he talking about?

I was confused by the sight of his bare skin and exposed chest.

Dont you think we should put on a show like this?

The breath he exhaled as he spoke brushed over my hair.

He reached out and held the black robe I was still wearing over my clothes. Frozen stiff, I could only watch with my lips shut as he did this.

Slowly he untied the strap, and soon, the robe fell to the ground.

As his body got closer, it became harder for me to breathe.

Whats wrong with me?

He just took off the robe over my shoulders, but somehow, it felt as though my bare skin had been exposed.

Meanwhile, Amoide was looking intently at me.

W-Why, why, for what

As I stuttered, he reached out without hesitation and pulled on the pin holding my hair up.

My hair cascaded down, spilling down my back like a waterfall.

Thats better.

He looked at me, nodding as if he was satisfied.

I dont do things half-heartedly.

What the hell was he talking about.

What did letting my hair down have anything to do with him opening up his shirt?

Still in a daze, I watched blankly as a smile curled up on Amoides lips.

Amoide.

He leaned over and used one arm to embrace me. No, to be exact, he leaned over and opened the door.

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Trapped between him and the wall, I stared in silence as he moved.

Creak.

As I turned sideways, I saw the servant outside the door, embarrassed.

My wife is right here.

With one arm over my waist, he leaned forward with me and looked down at the servant.

The servant gulped in surprise at the suddenly heavy atmosphere.

His eyes scanned my dress, which was sticking out the door.

We were having a good time together, but you knocked on my door so tactlessly.

I-I apologize, Your Grace. I was unaware that today is the designated room sharing day.

The servant mumbled with his face bright red. My face was likely the same shadeperhaps even brighter if there was some light here to illuminate me.

A couple isnt together only on the designated days.

Amoides tone was languid. I shivered at the sound of his voice.

What a joke.

Even on the real room sharing days, he never so much as touched my fingertip. Its great that he could tell lies like this.

Laughter threatened to bubble out of my lips, but I held it in.

I I apologize, sire. Head maid Greta said that Your Grace must know about it.

Greta?

Amoides head tilted to the side.

Why did Greta say that?

His tone was pointed.

W-Well Milady disappeared in the middle of the night, so

So she thought that my wife had an affair?

Oh, n-no, Your Grace. But she said that Your Grace might be worried.

Isnt it only because she wants me to doubt my wife?

His voice became even sharper.

I didnt know Greta worried so much for me.

Um

The servant couldnt continue speaking.

Tell Greta that the Duchess is safe here with me. She doesnt need to be so concerned.

I-I understand.

Dont disturb us again. Leave.

Yes, Your Grace.

The servant scurried away with his head down.

Click.

After Amoide watched the servant leave, the door closed shut.

Again, the room was enveloped with darkness. Only the sound of our breathing and the warmth of our body temperature was vivid in the darkness.

Bdump, bdump.

My heart was beating out of my chest. My nerves were strung so tightly that it was harder to see in the dark.

Cant you move away.

His dry voice brought me back to my senses.

Only then did I realize

The fact that I was standing incredibly close to him.

I wasnt the one who hugged you first!

Why are you acting like Im clinging onto you when youre the one who pulled me in?!

As I stepped away, I grumbled, Why are you so

But then his eyes narrowed slightly and I heard him sniffing something.

What is it now?

Im already trying to pull away like you asked, so what now.

He looked at me for a long time before asking me a question in a very confused tone.

Why does it smell fishy?

Pardon?

At his words, I gawked at him.

S smelly?

Sniff, sniff.

I lifted my hand and sniffed my forearm.

What smell are you talking about

I froze in place after I raised my arm.

Its really me.

As he said, it smells. Me

Why on earth do you smell like that?

Like lightning flashing through my mind, I remembered the reason.

The carriage.

The fish in Jeans carriage came to mind.

I didnt touch the fish directly, but the smell clung to my clothes while I rode the carriage.

If you go out now, youll be loved by every cat that passes by you.

His tone was thick with sarcasm.