A Change of Husband - Chapter 5

Duke Grandier looked momentarily unsure of how to interpret the phrase “a relationship where much has been shared.”

 

Ignoring the two people left flustered and speechless, Esperad calmly took a seat next to her.

 

“It’s good to see you again.”

 

“Ah, yes. It’s really… an honor.”

 

Asilie fumbled over her words, unsure how to express herself properly.

 

“…Nice, I suppose.”

 

“I feel the same.”

 

Feel the same about what, exactly?

 

From the moment she lied about love at first sight, Asilie’s mind had been in a mess. She tried hard to stop overthinking and kept her eyes focused on the plate in front of her.

 

Whether he noticed or not, Esperad turned to Duke Grandier and greeted him calmly, starting a conversation.

 

“I assume the sudden marriage proposal must have been surprising.”

 

“Hm, it wasn’t exactly expected.”

 

“I believed that in order to protect the young lady, it was best to proceed with the marriage quickly and quietly.”

 

“That’s also a valid point, though…”

 

There was much he wanted to say, but Duke Grandier chose his words carefully.

 

He felt Asilie already knew far too much. Though she had been taken in as an adopted daughter, she was not truly of the Grandier household, and she would soon take on a new surname. It wasn’t wise to give her too much information.

 

“For now, let’s put the complicated talk aside and eat.”

 

No particularly meaningful conversation occurred during the meal.

 

Esperad took a sip of wine and glanced sideways at Asilie.

 

Gone was the bold woman who had come to the Medici mansion to ask for marriage. Now, she sat quietly with her gaze lowered, eating politely, as if that boldness had been a lie.

 

“Fell in love at first sight?”

 

He let out a dry chuckle.

 

It was such an obvious lie. Duke Grandier surely hadn’t believed her either.

 

For a woman confessing love at first sight, Asilie’s tone had been far too stiff and businesslike.

 

From start to finish—what an intriguing woman.

 

After she left, Esperad had spent quite a while thinking things over.

 

No matter how he looked at it, Asilie’s proposal had no real downside. In fact, he had nothing to lose.

 

She also clearly understood the risks she’d be taking on by doing this, and yet she still stepped forward—making her someone essential in the current situation.

 

What troubled him was how perfectly suited she was for the role, appearing at exactly the right moment, like fate.

 

He had looked into her background and found nothing suspicious.

 

She had lost her father due to debt collectors and had been taken in by Duke Grandier. It was true she had a younger sister, though it seemed Asilie didn’t yet know the girl had gone missing.

 

Esperad had already given orders to search for her sister. That order alone suggested he had decided to accept the marriage, but even so, he remained on alert.

 

“Where do you plan to hold the wedding?” asked Duke Grandier.

 

Snapping out of his thoughts, Esperad replied, “Quietly and simply, at the Pezula Temple on the outskirts of the capital. On the wedding day, the young lady’s name will be added to the Camedici family register.”

 

“You intend to keep the marriage a secret until all the formalities are complete?”

 

“More accurately, we plan to announce the marriage only after everything is finalized.”

 

“I’ll leave the wedding arrangements entirely to you. However, we’ll need to discuss matters unrelated to the marriage.”

 

Duke Grandier gave a subtle nod toward Asilie as he spoke.

 

“Of course,” Esperad replied, meeting her gaze.

 

As Asilie was about to rise from her seat, she felt his eyes on her and turned her head. Their eyes met closely—his and her amber ones.

 

Suddenly, he recalled how she had once tried to persuade him with such desperate sincerity that she hadn’t even noticed her voice was trembling.

 

She had looked so earnest, but it was clear that she wasn’t used to expressing her opinions so openly in front of others.

 

Maybe that’s why, despite all his doubts, he had agreed to such an absurd arrangement.

 

“It’s getting late. Please return safely,” she said.

 

Esperad nodded in return. “Have a good night.”

 

A good night, indeed. It already was. For the first time in her life, she had dared to try something—and she was seeing the result.

 

Asilie stepped out of the dining room, regretting only that she hadn’t told him how truly grateful she was.

 

Esperad, meanwhile, watched her retreating figure for a long time.

 

Long enough that even Duke Grandier found it odd.

 

 

As planned, the wedding was held at Pezula Temple.

 

The witnesses were Duke Grandier and Esperad’s close friend, Sir Edgar Villian. Amusingly, they were also the only guests.

 

With no elaborate lead-up, the ceremony began as soon as the bride, groom, and witnesses were present.

 

“Esperad Camedici, do you swear to take Asilie Grandier as your partner and spend your life together?”

 

“I do.”

 

“Asilie Grandier, do you swear to take Esperad Camedici as your partner and spend your life together?”

 

“…Yes.”

 

For Asilie, this was her second vow.

 

But she didn’t believe in the vow at all.

 

Had she not married Esperad, she would have once again become the wife of Joseph Bonaparte—the man who had stood before God on their wedding day and made a vow with utmost pride.

 

Yet instead of staying with her for life, he had mercilessly killed her.

 

A vow before God held no power.

 

It was just a ceremonial act. At best, a way to soothe human hearts and justify choices.

 

“From this moment, know that God is watching over this union.”

 

That was laughable.

 

If God had really been watching, He would not have abandoned her to the cruelty of the Bonaparte family.

 

Even as she listened to the priest’s blessings, Asilie continued her sacrilegious thoughts without remorse.

 

“…Seal your true vow with a kiss before the Lord.”

 

At the word “kiss,” she was snapped out of her thoughts.

 

Esperad gently lifted her veil.

 

Asilie raised her eyes to meet his.

 

It wasn’t the first time she had looked into blue eyes—Joseph had them too.

 

But somehow, this man’s eyes were different.

 

So different, in fact, that it felt absurd to even compare them. Joseph’s held disdain and contempt, while Esperad’s were steady, filled with a strange weight—

 

Responsibility.

 

Asilie realized he was looking at her with a deep sense of duty.

 

Responsibility… Had anyone ever looked at her with that before?

 

“Why…”

 

She tried to speak but stopped when she heard the trembling in her own voice.

 

But Esperad had heard it too.

 

Asilie, who had so confidently proposed marriage, was suddenly overcome with emotion, and he was taken aback.

 

Was she having second thoughts?

 

It was possible. Marrying him meant living under constant threat.

 

If that was the case, he wanted to give her an out.

 

“If you think you’ll regret this, you can still walk away. It’s not too late.”

 

“No.”

 

Realizing his misunderstanding, Asilie quickly responded.

 

Though her voice still quivered with emotion, she couldn’t leave things unclear.

 

Swallowing down the tears rising in her throat, she whispered softly,

 

“Truly, I think I would regret not becoming your wife.”

 

She believed this with all her heart.

 

Even if it was a marriage of convenience, she felt certain that it wouldn’t fail—with a man like him, who carried such a strong sense of responsibility.

 

“From this moment, I am your wife.”

 

Her confident words stirred something in Esperad.

 

He held her gaze for a moment before finally replying, just in time.

 

“…And I am your husband from this moment on.”

 

Then he gently pressed his lips to hers.

 

“This marriage is now complete, witnessed by myself, the officiant, and our Lord. From this moment, you are husband and wife.”

 

Asilie closed her eyes as the priest’s voice echoed.

 

This bond as husband and wife would be the beginning of many changes.

 

And one thing was certain—she would face every moment of it by his side.

 

“Since the day you came to the duchy, this is our first time having a conversation alone, isn’t it?”

 

“It is.”

 

Maybe that’s why—despite having already kissed—Asilie felt extremely awkward sitting in the same carriage with this man.

 

“Um, first, once we arrive at the Medici Mansion, I’ll give you a tour. I’ve also prepared the room we’ll be staying in together. I’m not sure if it’s to your taste, but…”

 

“You did it yourself, Your Grace?”

 

“Well, not entirely. I got help from Madame Marce. She’s the head maid at Medici Mansion…”

 

“No, I meant, you’re personally giving me the tour?”

 

“Yes, is that strange?”

 

“Not exactly… I just assumed you’d be busy. Since you’re running a whole duchy, I thought you’d have a lot on your plate.”

 

At that, Esperad shook his head.

 

“I’m not so busy that I can’t spare a little time for my wife. Also, I think it’s time we settled how we’ll address each other.”

 

“Um, how we address each other?”

 

“Yes. I’m not used to special titles, so how about we start by calling each other by name, to grow more familiar? After all, we’re married now. You can’t keep calling me ‘Your Grace the Duke.'”

 

Asilie looked at him for a moment, unable to respond right away.

 

“Is it awkward?”

 

“No, it’s not that…”

 

It’s just… so strange.

 

Since coming to the capital, no one had called her by her name.

 

In the Grandier Duchy, she was always just “Young Lady.” After marrying Joseph, he never addressed her by any name or title. Outside, she was simply called “Countess Bonaparte.”

 

As if the name “Asilie” had been erased from the world, her name had vanished.

 

She had thought it would be the same this time too.

 

At best, she assumed she might be addressed as “Madam”…

 

“Then what is it?”

 

“I like it.”

 

“Excuse me?”

 

“I think I really like it.”

 

Asilie said with a bright smile.

 

“Being called by my name, I mean.”

 

It was strange.

 

No, not just strange—truly bizarre.

 

Esperad had never experienced anything like this with anyone before.

 

Looking at her smiling face, he felt like light was pouring out of it.

 

And for the first time, he thought she was beautiful.

 

There was no better word than “beautiful.” Yet he knew it wasn’t just her physical appearance he was thinking about.

 

Maybe it was because, until now, she’d always worn a serious or tense expression, and this was the first time she looked truly relaxed?

 

He didn’t know the reason, but what was clear was that her smiling face was far more pleasant to look at than when she was stiff or expressionless.

 

“…I’m glad you’re pleased.”

 

Esperad, who had been momentarily distracted, finally answered, realizing he had made her wait too long.

 

But Asilie didn’t seem to mind his delayed response. Instead, she nodded cheerfully.

 

“Of course! Then, I’ll call you ‘Esperad,’ right?”

 

He didn’t know exactly what she was so happy about, but Asilie looked genuinely delighted.

 

Esperad found her excitement rather cute and nodded.

 

“Yes, and I’ll call you Asilie.”

 

“Let’s do that then… Esperad.”

 

 

When they arrived at the Medici Mansion, the first thing they did was change clothes.

 

Their wedding attire—a dress and a tuxedo—was too uncomfortable for touring the mansion right away.

 

“We’re going together, right?”

 

“Sorry?”

 

Esperad asked back, looking confused by Asilie’s question.

 

“I meant, about the room.”

 

“What about it…?”

 

“Since we’re married, don’t we share a bedroom?”

 

At that, Esperad realized a mistake he had almost made. Out of habit, he had been about to head to his old room, leaving her behind.

 

Asilie understood everything just by looking at his face but pretended not to notice and held out her hand. Esperad breathed a sigh of relief and guided her.

 

“You’ve got a capable staff. The mansion is very clean.”

 

On the way to the master bedroom, Asilie could tell from a glance that the Medici Mansion was exceptionally well-maintained.

 

Although today was the day she officially became the mistress of the house, all preparations had to be completed within a week.

 

Even so, not a speck of dust could be found on high window sills or tall statues.

 

Such a sight would be impossible without diligent and meticulous housekeepers.

 

“The one who oversees the interior is Madame Marce, whom I mentioned earlier. She’s a reliable person—you’ll grow fond of her, I’m sure. And…”

 

Esperad stopped in front of a large door and turned to Asilie.

 

Then, he suddenly grabbed her hand and placed it on the doorknob.

 

“Esperad?”

 

“This is our bedroom. We should open it together, don’t you think?”

 

When their hands turned the knob together, sunlight poured in from the windows ahead, revealing a spacious and beautiful bedroom.

 

Asilie silently looked around the room.

 

She was satisfied. No, it wasn’t just satisfactory—it was impressive.

 

In the grand bedroom stood a bed larger than anything Asilie had ever seen in her life, and beside it was a lovely table where the two could enjoy light meals or tea together.

 

The decorations, the flower vases placed here and there, the paintings on the walls, the beige curtains that matched the room’s tones, the bedding that looked soft and plush even at a glance…

 

Everything was perfect—there was nothing she didn’t like.

 

“…It’s truly magnificent.”

 

Esperad, who had been anxiously waiting for her opinion, finally smiled.

 

“That’s a relief. I was worried it might feel lacking since it was put together in a hurry.”

 

“That’s impossible. It’s absolutely perfect.”

 

It reminded her of the stuffy, dark room she had lived in at the Bonaparte estate.

 

She hadn’t even been allowed to share a bedroom with Joseph and was instead confined to a tiny room on the top floor, usually reserved for maids.

 

She had tried to convince herself that was normal, but deep down, she knew it was unjust treatment.

 

That’s why she had asked Esperad earlier if they would be sharing a room—because she was afraid of being treated that way again.

 

“Let’s finish up our tour of the bedroom here and explore the Medici Mansion before it gets dark.”

 

At Esperad’s words, Asilie snapped out of her thoughts.

 

Since the busy duke had offered to give her a personal tour of the mansion, she couldn’t waste any more time.

 

“Then, I think I’ll need a bit of help.”

 

“What kind of help?”

 

“I think it’ll be hard to undo the buttons by myself.”

 

“Buttons…?”

 

Esperad looked over her white dress.

 

But no matter how closely he looked, the only buttons on it were the ones down her back—undoing them would make the dress slide right off.

 

Esperad looked at her again, as if trying to confirm what he was thinking.

 

But she nodded with a calm, composed face, as if it was nothing at all.

 

“Yes, I mean the ones that go all the way down to my hips.”