MCDD 03

Chapter 03

“Shaite!”

I tried to rush in but nearly stepped on shards of glass.

Startled, I looked around.

Around Shaite, glass fragments were scattered everywhere, and an unidentified liquid had pooled in several spots.

It looked like substances he had been researching.

I needed to clear the glass to check on him, but the unknown liquid coating it made that dangerous.

I couldn’t touch it with my bare hands.

The moment I made that judgment, I grabbed a pillow and used it to sweep the glass aside before moving closer to Shaite.

“Shaite! Snap out of it, Shaite!”

I called loudly and shook his shoulder, but he didn’t even let out a groan.

He seemed completely unconscious.

Or perhaps…

I bit my lip and checked his pulse.

My fingertips were shaking so badly I couldn’t properly feel anything.

I clenched my fist once, then exhaled and placed my hand on his neck again.

There was a faint pulse.

But his skin was ice-cold, and there was no sign of breathing.

I have to save him.

That was the only thought in my mind.

I pushed his shoulders down to lay him flat, tilted his chin up, and gave rescue breaths.

His chest rose and fell.

After repeating it several times, his breathing gradually returned.

The moment I confirmed it, I collapsed onto the floor in exhaustion. Only then did I notice his clothes.

They were soaked with rainwater, but the blood on his coat was unmistakable.

There must be a serious wound underneath.

We need a doctor immediately—!

Just as I reached for the lamp to get up—

A strong force grabbed my wrist and yanked me back.

“Eek!”

The lantern slipped from my hand and rolled across the floor.

My body tilted backward. A massive shadow filled my vision.

Large hands seized my struggling wrists one by one and pinned them beside my face.

BOOM!

Thunder and lightning struck simultaneously.

Light flashed, revealing Shaite’s silhouette for an instant before plunging back into darkness.

His usually dull, unfocused eyes were now sharp.

And filled with unmistakable hostility—as if he might draw a weapon at any moment.

A chill ran down my spine.

I struggled to break free from beneath him, but it was useless.

The more I moved, the tighter his grip became.

Was he always this strong?

I looked up at him in shock.

He tilted his head slightly and murmured as if talking to himself.

“What is going on here?”

“That’s… that’s exactly what I want to ask! I came in because I was worried, and now you’re pinning me down—”

“Worried?”

Shaite tilted his head, looking genuinely puzzled.

He studied my face for a long time, as if scrutinizing me.

“I don’t recognize your face. Are you a maid?”

“Me? A maid?”

“Or perhaps an assassin?”

An assassin? What is he talking about?

I stared at him in disbelief before answering.

“I’m your wife.”

“Poor investigation. Calling yourself a wife when I’m not even married.”

“What are you talking about? We’ve been married for a year.”

“You and I?”

“Yes. You even took a huge dowry.”

“So you’re saying you married a man for his money?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Why else? Because of Melverne Empire’s ridiculous inheritance laws!”

That’s right.

Under Melverne law, a woman could inherit only if she met one of three conditions:

First, becoming the head of the family.

Second, inheriting the family business.

Third, marriage.

And the third option was especially absurd.

If a woman divorced without children, she had to return the inheritance.

There was only one reason I chose to risk that system and marry:

I didn’t want to live like my parents.

I didn’t want to spend my entire life working only to die meaninglessly.

“You were only interested in my money, not me. I married you because that was convenient.”

Shaite and I had a contractual marriage.

I paid him a large dowry and living expenses, and he maintained the marriage.

No divorce allowed, and no interference in each other’s private lives.

A cold relationship without even the duties of a married couple.

But still…

“How can you not recognize your own wife’s face?”

“Hm.”

Shaite released my wrist and straightened up.

The pressure on my chest eased slightly.

This was my chance.

I pushed against his thigh, trying to escape, but his body was like a boulder.

How can someone who barely leaves his room be this solid?!

His seemingly thin frame was actually densely muscular.

If he wanted to hurt me, he probably could.

For the first time, I felt that he was dangerous.

Tension stiffened my body.

Don’t provoke him.

I forced a gentle smile and soothed him.

“Let’s not do this lying on top of me. We can talk normally, you know.”

I relaxed my body completely, signaling I wouldn’t resist.

But Shaite still didn’t move.

He brushed his long bangs back and looked down at me.

That posture felt strangely familiar…

…unlike Shaite.

He looked like a completely different person.

I couldn’t predict his next move at all.

I swallowed nervously.

A vein stood out at his temple, tracing down his sharp jawline.

He wiped his chin with the back of his hand.

Then a new kind of smile appeared on his face—one I had never seen before.

“I haven’t heard your identity yet.”

“I already told you. I’m your wife.”

“If you don’t answer properly, you’ll regret it.”

He let out a cold laugh.

Then, as if giving me time to think, he remained silent while still pinning me down.

I was speechless.

As I opened and closed my mouth helplessly, his attitude suddenly changed.

His smile softened, and his tone became polite—almost courteous.

“Well then, Madam. Why don’t you tell me who you are? And while you’re at it, it would be even better if you told me who hired you.”

Was he joking?

But his expression was too serious.

None of this made sense.

As I blinked, a drop of blood fell onto my cheek.

Shaite’s forehead was cut open—he must have hit the edge of a drawer when he fell.

So that’s why his mind is acting strange.

To confirm, I asked seriously.

“You really don’t remember who I am?”

“From the way you woke me with a kiss, are you some princess from a fairy tale?”

I sighed before I could stop myself.

That ridiculous answer confirmed it.

“Shaite. You hit your head when you fell, didn’t you? Did you lose your memory? Or are you mentally confused? Do you even know who you are?”

At my serious tone, Shaite frowned and tilted his head.

His ash-gray hair slid with the motion, and his brown eyes turned cold.

He reached as if to brush away the strands in front of him—but stopped.

Then he slowly looked around.

His usually composed face began to tighten.

Soon, his gaze stopped completely.

His eyes widened, revealing his full brown irises.

What is he seeing that shocks him so much?

Following his gaze, I looked back.

I thought he had discovered something incredible—but he was just staring at a plain mirror.

A ghost or something?

I narrowed my eyes and looked into the mirror again.

Nothing had changed.

Only Shaite—and me pinned beneath him.

Meanwhile, Shaite stood up as if entranced and walked toward the mirror.

He examined his reflection from different angles, frowning.

He touched his face, then suddenly grabbed the edge of the mirror and leaned in close.

At this rate, he’s going to kiss the mirror.

As expected—he had definitely hit his head and gone strange.