A Change of Husband - Chapter 19

Asilie had never enjoyed a play this much in her entire life.
The play The Empress and the Beast, recommended by Esperad, was light-hearted and focused on humor.
It was the first time she had ever seen a play like this.

 

At the Count Bonaparte’s house, plays were usually watched just to show off how elegant their cultural life was.

 

So Asilie always felt suffocated in the quiet atmosphere.
She hadn’t even known that a fun and cheerful play like this existed.

 

Would The Violet Saint, which they planned to watch next week, be as fun as this one?

 

“Do you like it?”
During a scene change, when the theater briefly went dark, Esperad whispered in her ear.
“It’s really fun.”
“Really?”
When he asked again, Asilie let out a small giggle and whispered back,
“Really.”
“That’s a relief. I was worried it might not be your taste.”
“There’s no way I wouldn’t like it. If I get a chance like this again, I want to come back. I’m really enjoying it. Thank you, Esperad.”

 

Actually, Esperad wasn’t someone who particularly enjoyed watching plays.
But seeing Asilie laugh sincerely made him feel good too.
She had shown preferences before, but this was the first time she had clearly shown she liked something.
If she liked it this much, he could bring her again, even several times.

 

Esperad smiled as he thought that he wanted moments like this to become part of her everyday life, not just rare opportunities.

 

Just then, the stage lights came back on, revealing Asilie’s face which had been hidden in the dark.

 

“You there! Didn’t that woman act wickedly toward you?
Fine, let’s say it’s hard to admit, but let’s say a man did commit a horrible act.
Then how could a woman who was forced into it use that man’s power as a shield?
Isn’t that right, Sir Knight? Or what do you say, all of you? Speak the truth now!”

 

“It’s true… but…”
“She caused a commotion under my authority.
Your Highness, Grand Duchess, please look clearly at the real criminal.
It is that lying woman’s tongue that deserves punishment!
She is the wicked one who truly deserves to be punished!”

 

“What does her personality have to do with this incident?”
“…”
“Baron Vernon, the victim doesn’t always have to be morally perfect.
Especially when you are a worm who can’t even speak of morality.”

 

Asilie looked up at the actors on stage with sparkling eyes, clearly enjoying the play as it resumed.

 

“Cut off his manhood so he can never harm a woman again.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Cut it twice.”
“Excuse me?”
“Once vertically, and once horizontally.”
“Oh my!”

 

Asilie gasped and quickly covered her eyes with her small hands.
But judging by the smile on her face, she seemed to be really enjoying herself.

 

As the scene changed and she lowered her hands just a bit, only to quickly cover them again in surprise.
Esperad, watching her, felt like he had been hit in the head.
He had already forgotten the contents of the play completely.

 

What is this?
He was extremely flustered.
Just what is with this woman…

 

Her smooth forehead was slightly raised, her straight nose was well-shaped, and her red lips shimmered as if they held water.
Her long lashes were pretty, her amber eyes curved when she smiled were pretty,
and her clear, spotless skin was smooth and flawless.

 

It was strange.
There wasn’t a single part of her that wasn’t beautiful.

 

He knew objectively that his wife was considered beautiful,
but this was the first time he truly felt how beautiful she was.

 

Asilie turned her head curiously, noticing Esperad’s dazed gaze.
“Hmm? Aren’t you watching the play?”
Only then did Esperad snap out of it and shake his head.
“I’m watching. I’ll keep watching.”
“Did I look funny because I was so focused?”
“No, not at all.”
“Not at all? You were totally watching me.”

 

Though she said it with a little pout, Asilie didn’t feel bad about him looking at her.
As if trying to make an excuse, she whispered quietly into his ear.
“I can’t help it. It’s so fun.”

 

Esperad’s situation was growing more serious.
She had leaned in close enough that their skin could almost touch, and the sweet scent coming from her tickled his nose.
Already frozen in place, his face stiffened even more.

 

He felt strange. Very strange.
Esperad was confused because he couldn’t figure out what this feeling, what this emotion was.

 

He felt like he should move away from Asilie.
But he didn’t truly want to move away.

 

In the end, even when the first act ended, he remained trapped in that whirlwind of confusion, unable to escape.

 

When the curtain came down, Asilie turned to him.
Maybe the room was too warm—Esperad’s face was flushed red.
Unlike her, wearing an open dress, he even had his jacket on, so he must have felt stuffy. She only realized that now.

 

“Esperad.”
“Y-Yes?”

 

He answered a little late, lost in thought.
But Asilie didn’t notice anything strange and smiled as she made a suggestion.

 

“Shall we get a bit of fresh air?”
“That sounds good.”

 

Esperad stood up first and reached out his hand to her.
Asilie took it naturally, as if it were something she was now used to.

 

Until now, he had always thought it would be nice if Asilie accepted his kindness as something natural.
He was sure of it.

 

But when she took his hand without hesitation, he felt a strange emotion.
No—he felt a bit upset.

 

Why…?

 

His hand was trembling from the warmth he felt in hers—
but she remained so calm.

 

Esperad tried to suppress his strange irritation as he escorted Asilie toward the large terrace.

 

Just then, someone spoke to him.

 

“You look happy.”

 

The tone was anything but kind, and the voice clearly carried a mocking edge.

 

Esperad recognized the voice.
That made him want to avoid turning around even more.
He didn’t want to face him. Especially not in front of Asilie.

 

“Are you pretending not to hear me now?”

 

“…Albert.”

 

But he couldn’t completely ignore it. Because he owed him a debt of the heart.

 

Esperad eventually turned around with a stiff face.

 

The man who spoke to him was Albert Gariburn, his old friend who had recently inherited the title of count.

 

“Looks like Violeta is completely forgotten, huh? Now you’re even bringing your wife to the theater.”

 

“We’ll talk later.”

 

“Later? Do you think there will be a later?”

 

Count Gariburn gave a bitter snort, as if he couldn’t believe it.

 

He shouted, eyes burning with anger, as he stared at Esperad.

 

“This is ridiculous. You may say it’s over because it is for you, but it’s not over for our family. It can’t be over!”

 

Only then did Asilie realize who the man was.

 

He was the older brother of Count Gariburn’s daughter, who had been Esperad’s third fiancée.

 

“I tried to understand you, but I just couldn’t. It wasn’t enough that you let her die, you even got married without any mourning period. The only fool left is poor Violeta. Don’t you see? Our family is the one that ended up a joke!”

 

“That’s not it, Albert. Please, just listen to me once—”

 

“Shut up! After she died, my mother’s illness got worse, and my father fell sick in bed. And yet you walk around so shamelessly with your head held high after ruining our family.”

 

Esperad couldn’t say anything.

 

He also knew how bad things had gotten within the Gariburn family after his fiancée’s death.

 

He had sent many letters of apology and tried several times to arrange a meeting, but Count Gariburn had ignored every attempt.

 

It was probably because he had decided to marry Asilie without observing a mourning period.

 

“I really envy you. While we’re living in hell, you’re just going on with life like nothing happened—without even a bit of guilt—with your new wife.”

 

“That’s not true. I tried to talk to you, but you refused every time I came.”

 

“So I was supposed to greet the man who caused my sister’s death with a smile?”

 

Esperad’s face twisted in pain.

 

Asilie realized that he was suffering from guilt and had just barely managed to lift his head.

 

She hoped Count Gariburn would stop now, but it seemed his anger hadn’t run out yet.

 

“You broke the promise you made to protect Violeta. I bet you made the same promise to the other fiancées too, didn’t you?”

 

“Please…”

 

“You broke that desperate promise three times and still want to live happily? I’ll be watching to see just how well your life turns out. I’ll watch with my own two eyes!”

 

Asilie felt heartache for both Esperad and Count Gariburn, who was shouting in anguish.

 

She couldn’t blame either of them.

 

But Count Gariburn was making a mistake.

 

The one he should be angry at wasn’t Esperad, but an unknown enemy.

 

Blinded by the grief of losing his sister, he was no longer thinking clearly.

 

“Oh, right. I heard you brought Lord Bonaparte before the Nobility Council. It made me feel strange. If only you had been that active in Violeta’s case… maybe she’d still be alive.”

 

“Albert.”

 

“I regret it. Trusting you and letting my sister get engaged to you. I regret it so much, it’s driving me mad…!”

 

Esperad closed his eyes tightly, as if he couldn’t bear to hear anymore.

 

“Please… stop.”

 

But at Asilie’s voice, he opened his eyes again.

 

And he saw her small body trembling as she stood in front of him.

 

Then he saw Albert’s face, now colored with surprise—as if he never expected her to step forward.

 

“I know I don’t have the right to speak freely to you, Count. But even you must know this man never wanted such an outcome.”

 

“Asilie, please step aside.”

 

Esperad grabbed her arm, but she stood her ground, firmly and upright.

 

“And he wasn’t the one who asked to get married first. Please don’t misunderstand his intentions. You don’t know… what we as a couple are enduring, or what we’re trying to overcome…”

 

Count Gariburn had plenty of reason to blame Esperad, but he had no intention of blaming Asilie.

 

Still, that didn’t mean he wanted to hear her defend the woman who had taken his sister’s place.

 

This situation felt absurd.

 

“Hah.”

 

He curled his lip bitterly.

 

“This is just… pathetic.”

 

Count Gariburn, now drained of energy to argue, brushed past the two of them.

 

As the confrontation ended, the nearby nobles, who had been watching with interest, scattered away on their own paths.

 

Only then did Asilie turn and walk close to him.

 

“Esperad, are you alright?”

 

His face still held the deep pain from earlier.

 

She couldn’t hide the pity on her face as she leaned toward him.

 

She wanted to comfort him. Even if it was too forward—she just wanted to.

 

“Why did you do that, Asilie?”

 

“I’m sorry. I just… I didn’t want people to misunderstand you.”

 

“I know. But even so, I don’t want you to get involved in this.”

 

“No, I can’t do that.”

 

“Why not? It’s enough if I alone take the blame.”

 

“That’s what I hate. It’s not right. They’re blaming the wrong person. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

 

“What I did wrong was dragging them into my misfortune. That’s a sin I’ll carry for the rest of my life.”

 

She felt like crying.

 

She had married him quickly, thinking he could help her escape her difficult situation.

 

That made her feel guilty—as if she had used his pain for her own sake.

 

Her heart ached. It hurt so badly it felt like it might break.

 

“That’s not fair. If you really have to carry everything related to their deaths forever… then I have to carry it with you.”

 

Asilie grabbed his shoulders tightly.

 

Esperad looked up at her.

 

In her warm amber eyes, he was the only one reflected.

 

“Because we’re a team.”

 

 

The play had three acts in total.

 

After the second act ended, Asilie stood up, stretching her stiff body.

 

“Where are you going?”

 

“Just to the lounge for a bit.”

 

“I’ll go with you.”

 

“No, Esperad. I can go alone.”

 

She wanted to rest for just a moment.

 

Because of what had happened earlier, she had been tense and watching Esperad the whole time. Even though the first act had been funny enough to make her laugh out loud, she couldn’t enjoy the play properly after that. Her lower back also ached.

 

And since the play was longer than expected, she needed to fix her makeup in case it had smudged.

 

“I’ll be back soon. Just sit and relax.”

 

Asilie hurried toward the lounge, wanting to sink into a soft sofa.

 

“Did you see Count Gariburn earlier?”

 

But just as she reached the ladies’ lounge, she heard voices from inside and stopped.

 

It would create an awkward situation if she walked in now.

 

Unaware that Asilie was outside, the noble ladies chatted cheerfully, enjoying their juicy topic.

 

“It’s such a shame. It’s not the Duke of Camédici’s fault, but I think I’d resent him too.”

 

“Count Gariburn was a bit harsh, but you can’t say he was completely wrong.”

 

“Exactly. And I heard his sister was really close to the Duke of Camédici, unlike his previous fiancées.”

 

At that, Asilie held her breath for a moment.

 

It was the first time she had heard that Count Gariburn’s daughter and Esperad had been unusually close.

 

Come to think of it, before her return, after Count Gariburn’s daughter died, he never discussed marriage with any other family.

 

Even if his fiancées kept dying, even if people said he was a cursed duke, he was still a noble with royal blood. There had to be families who would’ve considered it anyway.

 

She had thought he stopped trying because of the shock of losing so many fiancées—but maybe he gave up on marriage because she was the only one he truly loved.

 

“Now that you mention it, I also saw them going on dates several times. Since Count Gariburn and the Duke were close friends, they had many chances to meet.”

 

“Such a tragedy. Count Gariburn lost his sister, but imagine how heartbroken the Duke must have been after losing the woman he loved.”

 

“But didn’t he get married too soon after?”

 

“It was the Grandier family that rushed it. They had nothing to lose.”

 

“Well, it worked out anyway. The duchess is still alive, after all.”

 

“I disagree. Maybe the Duke just rushed into marriage to forget his sorrow over losing the one he truly loved.”

 

It was a story that made sense.

 

It should have made sense.

 

But for some reason, Asilie couldn’t accept it.

 

The more she listened, the colder her heart felt—and she didn’t know why.

 

It was strange. So very strange.