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Chapter 19
Is he not happy?
Rishua tilted her head in confusion.
Like herself, Bellio was a side character among side characters—someone who briefly appeared at the beginning of the original story before disappearing.
The reason Bellio became a minor character was Rishua herself.
In the original story, Bellio fell in love with Rishua and, as a result, gave up on his dreams.
But the current Rishua had no desire whatsoever to ruin Bellio’s life.
As someone who had once been a reader, she wanted more than anyone to support his dreams and future.
But… was her encouragement misguided?
At his unexpected reaction, Rishua scratched the back of her neck and laughed awkwardly.
“Then I’ll be going.”
If she stayed any longer, she felt like she’d die of awkwardness.
Just as Rishua turned to leave, Bellio finally snapped back to his senses and hurriedly stopped her.
“Milady.”
“Yes?”
“If it’s not rude, may I ask why you are granting me such favor?”
He couldn’t understand it.
Because of his own carelessness and inadequacy, she had nearly come to harm.
It would have been natural for her to be angry at him.
So why was she instead giving him a better opportunity and telling him she would support him?
“I promised, didn’t I? That if you granted my request, I’d recommend you to the Hyrant Elite Order.”
“I failed to properly protect you, milady.”
“I already apologized earlier, saying that wasn’t your fault but mine…”
“I’m sorry. I don’t deserve your recommendation, so please reconsider.”
That again. Every time I say something, he tells me to reconsider.
Rishua thought that the Bellio she knew and the Bellio standing in front of her now must truly be completely different people.
“How can I take back a promise I’ve already made? Don’t decline—enter the Elite Order and become a wonderful knight.”
Afraid he might refuse again, Rishua hurriedly left the spot.
Bellio watched her retreating figure for a long time.
Had something changed in his heart?
With a resolute expression, Bellio turned his steps toward the knight order’s headquarters.
“Vice Commander Edail, I will also be joining the expedition to the capital.”
“Didn’t you say you’d remain here? What made you change your mind?”
“To protect.”
To protect her once again.
Correcting one’s mistakes was also the duty of a knight.
My plan for this trip to the capital was as follows:
Plan A: Break the curse no matter what, before Kahinel meets Hayley.
Plan B: Break the curse quickly before the two fall in love and I get divorced.
Either way, the conclusion was the same—escape the curse.
Hayley will attend the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet.
After all, she was the empire’s saintess.
“I’m doomed. I see absolutely no hope here.”
I couldn’t exactly cancel the Crown Prince’s birthday party on a whim, so Plan A was hopeless from the start.
Then let’s say we go with Plan B, where the two meet at the party and fall in love at first sight.
In that situation, how am I supposed to break my curse?
Kahinel already pushes me away as it is—if he falls for Hayley, won’t he push me away even harder?
“I’m really doomed, aren’t I?”
Then Plan B is hopeless too.
Unless I gouge out Kahinel’s eyes so he can’t fall in love at first sight, there was no answer.
Still, I planted myself firmly in my seat and continued thinking deeply.
Then, as I recalled something I had recently realized, a thought naturally followed.
“What if I sleep together with Kahinel before the party?”
The most promising way to break the curse was physical contact, and I currently had two working hypotheses.
Staying in the same space as Kahinel for a long time.
Or spending the night in the same space as Kahinel.
Spending the night together meant sleeping together.
Naturally, I wanted to put more weight on the latter.
I had already tried staying in the same space for long periods several times, but the healthy vitality I’d felt in the cave at the Northern Wall never returned.
If so, the hypothesis with more weight was sleeping together with Kahinel in the same space.
“Let’s test it.”
If my guess turned out to be true, I’d have found the answer to breaking the curse.
If not, I’d have to diligently search for another solution.
“I should ask to sleep together tonight.”
Of course, the probability of being rejected was 1,010%.
But I couldn’t just sit around doing nothing.
More than anything, seeing the Crown Prince’s birthday ball suddenly take place made me anxious—it felt like the original story was gradually going off track.
It would be great if my death was delayed, but what if it was brought forward?
I had to move even more diligently than before.
I went down to the kitchen, prepared a bribe—apple-carrot juice—and went to see Kahinel.
“Good morning.”
“……”
“Won’t you greet me?”
“…Good morning to you too, madam.”
It wasn’t exactly a warm greeting, but I was satisfied.
When I handed him the juice, Kahinel drank it without suspicion, as he had lately.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Yes.”
When he cut off the conversation with a curt reply, I narrowed my eyes and glared at him.
“…Did you sleep well too, madam?”
That’s right. This is how give-and-take should work.
“No. Since coming to the capital, I haven’t been sleeping deeply. Being alone at night makes me anxious.”
“Then it would be best for you to return to the North.”
“With you here, where would I even go?”
He pressed his lips tightly shut.
Those dark crimson eyes staring at me wavered uneasily, like the wind before a storm.
I was just as uneasy.
Judging by how the conversation was going, this didn’t seem like the best timing—but I didn’t delay any longer.
“I think I’ll need your help if I’m going to sleep soundly.”
“Help?”
“We’re married in name, aren’t we? How about we start sleeping together from today?”
“……”
A cold silence passed before Kahinel finally spoke.
Naturally, no pleasant words came out.
“Are you insane?”
“A married couple sleeping in the same room isn’t exactly insane, is it?”
“I think you’re seriously misunderstanding something, so let me be clear.”
He didn’t bother to hide his threatening presence.
“We are not that kind of couple like everyone else.”
I know that too.
That’s why I’m trying so hard to become that kind of couple, you know?
He set the juice glass down with a sharp clink.
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear what you just said.”
See? I told you the rejection rate was 1,0100%.
“I won’t do anything weird—just sleep—”
I couldn’t finish my sentence.
Seeing his razor-sharp gaze that looked like he might kill someone at any moment, I hastily decided to retreat.
I wasn’t chickening out.
It was a strategic retreat.
As I dragged my feet toward the door, Kahinel’s question came flying at my back.
“By the way, are you also planning to attend the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet?”
I nodded confidently.
“I was invited too, wasn’t I? Of course I’m going.”
“With me?”
“Wouldn’t it be stranger if we went separately?”
“We’ve always gone separately.”
Though they were husband and wife, the two had never attended anything together.
As Kahinel said, it would look more natural to others if we acted separately.
No—more realistically, it would make more sense for Rishua to not appear at all.
But I’m not the Rishua who was at odds with Kahinel anymore.
I had a very clear reason to get along with him now.
And for that goal, I was willing to do anything.
“That was before. From now on, we don’t have to be like that, right?”
Kahinel’s piercing gaze wavered.
“Madam.”
“I’m saying this clearly—I’m attending the party with you. That’s how I understand it!”
Before one of Kahinel’s trademark scolding barrages could fly my way, I hurried out of the room.
No take-backs now!
Lately, Marquis Dale hadn’t been sleeping well.
Because of Rishua, who refused to obey him.
He had raised her as a dog loyal to his house, yet that dog was trying to snap its leash and run away.
The marquis had no intention of granting freedom to a dog he’d painstakingly trained.
If it wouldn’t obey him, it would be better to kill it instead.
“My lord, news has arrived.”
“Yes. They’ve come to the capital, haven’t they?”
“I saw the duke’s carriage enter the Hyrant townhouse. And…”
As the subordinate hesitated, the marquis narrowed his eyes.
“What now?”
“The duchess came with him as well.”
“Rishua?”
She had brazenly ignored his messages, and now she’d come to the capital with the duke?
“Yes.”
After marrying, Rishua had never once accompanied the duke anywhere.
She didn’t engage in social activities either.
That was why the marquis disliked her.
He had ordered her to keep watch over Kahinel, but from the moment she married, Rishua had failed to carry out that command.
Even when he sent threatening letters, the replies were always full of excuses about circumstances.
Still, the marquis had kept her, believing she was still a usable piece.
But now, she had completely changed.
Not only had she deliberately ignored his contact, but she had even come to the capital with the duke—an unprecedented move.
It was clear to him now.
Rishua was abandoning Dale.
“I’ve been far too lenient.”
He would have to re-educate her so she wouldn’t entertain foolish thoughts.
As a dog loyal to Dale.
