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Chapter 47
“Phew.”
Serellet let out a deep sigh.
It was exactly the fifth day since her marriage.
Her father had returned to Mocially, Jeremy had gone back to Surfy, and even Lady Oxenbury had gone home. With everyone gone, the mansion had grown quiet again.
Now that the once-bustling mansion was silent, it felt a little lonely.
“Ah, this isn’t the time for that.”
This wasn’t the time to be wallowing in loneliness. Serellet quickly turned off the light in her room and lay down on the bed.
She had been avoiding Yuan with various excuses all this time. The very next day after the wedding, Yuan had come home at dawn, even though he had said they’d spend the night together.
She had been grateful, but honestly, she was also dumbfounded. What kind of newlywed husband spends the night out?
Yuan had said it was due to business problems, but she didn’t quite believe him. For all she knew, he might have just spent the whole night with Lydia.
Still, ever since that day, he had come home without being late, and they always ate dinner together. Thanks to that, it had become harder and harder to find excuses to avoid him.
She had used excuses like wanting to spend time with her father, being unwell, or wanting lessons from her aunt, but today there was no father, no aunt. And she couldn’t claim she was sick when she had eaten so much turkey at dinner—so much that Yuan had asked if it was really that delicious.
“Should I pretend I’ve got indigestion?”
No, that wouldn’t do. He might call for Dr. Kane again.
On the night she had pretended to have a headache, Yuan had stubbornly insisted on summoning Dr. Kane, and the stress had given her a real headache in the end.
After that, she had vowed never again to use illness as an excuse.
“Today, I’ll just pretend to be asleep. He’ll let it go if I do that.”
Too tired to think up more excuses, Serellet lay down and closed her eyes.
Not long after, Yuan entered the bedroom. Hearing his footsteps, Serellet’s heartbeat quickened.
Please, just let it go. Please. She chanted silently, hyperaware of every movement he made.
Before long, Yuan came over to the bed and naturally lay down beside her.
Feeling his presence so close made her tense. Even her breathing felt too loud.
“Already asleep?”
His low voice brushed against the silence.
Serellet cracked her eyes open just a little. Not that it mattered; in the dark, he wouldn’t see clearly anyway.
“Seems a bit early for sleep, though.”
“…”
“I was wondering what excuse you’d use to avoid me today. Pretending to sleep, is it?”
Yuan chuckled softly as he spoke.
Busted. He must have noticed she was only pretending. To be fair, it was far too early to be asleep.
In the end, Serellet sat up.
“I was trying to pretend, but I guess I failed.”
“Then perhaps we need to talk.”
Yuan got out of bed and switched on the light. The room brightened, and under the glow, Serellet and Yuan faced each other.
Their gazes tangled. Time itself seemed to slow down.
The look in Yuan’s eyes was so alluring it made her stomach flutter uncomfortably. Flustered, she scrambled out of bed, avoiding his gaze.
When she moved toward the tea table, Yuan followed. They sat facing each other with the table between them.
“Please give me some time, Your Grace.”
Serellet spoke firmly, meeting his eyes.
Of course, she couldn’t say, I can’t sleep with you because I can’t give you children. Nor could she admit, I refuse to be used in your disgusting plans.
So the only role she could play was that of a timid, unready young bride. It wasn’t a perfect solution, but it was all she had.
“Will time even solve this problem?”
Yuan’s expression turned slightly crooked.
Of course he wouldn’t like it. He wanted an heir from her as quickly as possible. Avoiding his sharp gaze, Serellet lowered her eyes.
“…To be honest, I’m afraid. I’ve heard it’s very painful.”
She blushed, feigning the innocence of a maiden.
Yuan sighed quietly. He pushed back his hair, leaned against the chair, and folded his arms, looking at her intently as if to say, Go on.
“I need time. Time to prepare myself.”
Lifting her gaze again, she met his eyes and continued.
“How much time do you need to prepare?”
“A year?”
Serellet said it with a brazen face.
At that, Yuan let out a short laugh, then his eyes narrowed sharply on her.
“A year…”
His voice dropped low, heavy with meaning.
“Can you give me that much?”
“So you must have some plan for after that year, then?” His tone was edged.
“In a year, I’ll be more mature, won’t I?”
I do have a plan. Divorce and escape. Serellet smiled.
“You’re telling me to kill my instincts as a man for a whole year while I wait for my wife to ‘mature’?”
“You can take a mistress if you’d like. I won’t mind.”
Her face was all innocence. In fact, she would welcome it. If Yuan took a lover, that would only help her.
“Hah.”
Yuan gave a dry, incredulous laugh.
“Plenty of people live like that, don’t they? Keeping mistresses, sneaking away for secret affairs…”
“And why would a newlywed bride encourage her husband to be unfaithful?”
His voice was low and cold. The icy tone made Serellet flinch.
Avoiding his storm-gray eyes, which looked as though they could cut, she stammered out an excuse.
“I’m not encouraging it, I’m only thinking of Your Grace—”
“Because you feel no affection for me?”
His low voice cut her off. His hardened face looked fierce, and his gray eyes were sharp as blades. Serellet swallowed without realizing it.
“…”
“Otherwise, there’d be no reason for this.”
He was still cold as he stared at her.
“Do you want my affection, then?”
“Doesn’t a wife have the duty to respect and love her husband?”
Yuan’s gaze bore into hers as he spoke.
At that, Serellet nearly laughed. Beyond laughter, anger welled up.
Respect and love weren’t duties only for wives.
How dare he, who had never once respected or loved her, stand here and demand it? Her face hardened.
“Most couples, yes—but not us. Our marriage isn’t built on affection. I learned that marriage isn’t about love.”
She forced her voice to stay calm, concealing her fury.
“…”
“You taught me that yourself, didn’t you, Your Grace? When you proposed, you made it clear. Unless I remember wrong?”
“No. You’re right. You remember well.”
“For a man, maybe it’s different. But for a woman to accept a man she doesn’t love, it takes courage. That’s why I need time.”
She spoke her mind clearly, but tears pricked at her eyes.
In her past life, she hadn’t needed courage. All she had needed was that he was Yuan Prechtuster. That had been enough. Enough to endure the fear and pain.
And it was you who made me this way. You broke me until I could never love again.
Yuan, watching her quietly, finally spoke.
“…Fine. I’ll give my wife some time.”
“Since you’re willing to wait, I should thank you.”
“But there’s one thing you must remember.”
“…”
She looked at him questioningly.
“Refusing the marital bed can itself be grounds for divorce.”
“…Divorce grounds?”
Her eyes wavered at his words.
“If we were to divorce this way, the at-fault spouse would be you, Serellet Prechtuster. Not me.”
“That’s…”
Her voice trailed off.
He wasn’t wrong, and she couldn’t hide her dismay. She hadn’t thought of that. She couldn’t afford even the smallest fault.
“So try to find your courage soon, Serellet.”
He rose as he spoke.
Serellet looked up at him silently. For a long moment, their eyes locked, testing each other.
Yuan sighed faintly and, with his large hand, stroked the back of her head. Then he bent down and pressed his lips lightly to her forehead.
“I trust you’ll at least permit a goodnight kiss, my lady.”
He pulled back and spoke.
“Of course, Your Grace.”
She answered steadily, meeting his eyes. He gave a slight nod and left her room.
Once he was gone, Serellet let out her breath. She would need to come up with another plan in case her divorce scheme failed.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
As he flipped through documents, Yuan set his pen down harshly and leaned back in his chair. The squeaking sound of the chair tilted back echoed slightly.
“For a woman, to accept a man she doesn’t love takes courage. That’s why I need time.”
Serellet’s words from the night before echoed relentlessly in his mind.
The claim that she needed courage to accept a man she didn’t love made him chuckle bitterly.
It was nothing new. From the moment she had thrown a fit demanding to break off the engagement, she had been saying it all along—that she did not love him.
It wasn’t a wound, nor was it something that should wound him. Yet here he was, mulling it over again and again, looking foolish.
Yuan looked up at the ceiling, measuring his own patience. Just how long could he wait for a wife who openly said she didn’t love him?
At that moment, a knock sounded. He straightened.
“Yes.”
At his reply, his secretary entered.
“His Grace, the Grand Duke of Popplewell, has arrived.”
“Show him in.”
Yuan nodded slightly.
As the secretary stepped aside, Regan entered with a bright smile.
