A Change of Husband - Chapter 52

“It’s done, my lady.”

Asilie, who had been lost in thought about the miracle that began yesterday, finally opened her eyes at Sophia’s words that everything was ready.

Her reflection in the mirror didn’t look very different from usual—most people probably wouldn’t notice anything—but Asilie could instantly tell something had changed.

Her skin looked remarkably smooth, the dark circles under her eyes from fatigue were gone, and her hair was shiny and soft.

Now that she thought about it, even her condition today felt different.

Since the third attack, Asilie had been suffering from extreme fatigue, possibly due to the poison’s side effects.

Even on days when she stayed at the Medici Mansion without any schedule, she had constant headaches and indigestion. Sometimes, it even felt like the air itself was pressing down on her.

But today had been different from the moment she woke up.

The change was too clear to dismiss as just a good mood, so Asilie felt suspicious about her own body.

“…Good work. I’m happy with it again today.”

Noticing that Sophia was waiting for her reaction, Asilie quickly praised her work.

Sophia smiled warmly and replied, “It’s nothing, my lady. This is simply my duty. But truly, you look stunning today.”

“Me? That must be because you worked so hard for me.”

“Oh, don’t say that.”

At Asilie’s comment, Sophia widened her eyes and shook her head in disbelief.

“It’s not because of me, my lady. Your face was already glowing today. You didn’t look tired at all.”

“Really…?”

“Yes! I thought, ‘Ah, a woman who gives and receives love really does become more beautiful.’ Hohoho.”

“Me?”

“Oh my, my lady. Why are you pretending not to know? There aren’t many couples as loving as you and your husband! When I talk to others, they say there are so many noble couples who only pretend to be affectionate.”

It was true—among noble marriages made for political reasons, many kept lovers on the side while pretending to have a happy marriage.

Asilie, too, had once been ignored by Joseph in the same way, so she nodded in understanding.

As Sophia gently arranged the loose strands of her hair, she continued.

“Actually, I heard something… but I’m not sure if I should tell you.”

“What is it?”

“Well… hmm… There’s a rumor that the young Madam Bonaparte, once the darling of high society, got pregnant and married without an engagement.”

“She’s pregnant?”

Asilie tried to recall when Monica had become pregnant with Geoffrey’s child and gotten married before her return.

The exact timing would become clear after the child was born. If the birthdate matched what she remembered, it might mean Monica had married under false pretenses.

“Before I returned, I’m sure they were already lovers when I married Esperad. But now…”

Asilie was still deep in thought when Madam Marce told her that Esperad was already waiting by the carriage. She quickly stood up.

It didn’t take long for her to reach the grand carriage where Esperad stood waiting.

“Have you been waiting long?”

Asilie spoke first.

Esperad smiled and shook his head.

He was fully aware of how long a lady’s preparations could take, so he had been patient.

“I just arrived as well.”

He mentally erased the thirty minutes he had stood there waiting and replied calmly.

Asilie nodded in relief.

“I’m glad. I was worried I kept you waiting too long.”

“I had work to finish and just left the office. If I’d been any later, I would’ve made you wait.”

“If it was for work, I wouldn’t have minded waiting at all.”

“But I don’t want that, Asilie.”

Esperad said as he placed a gentle arm around her waist to help her up into the carriage.

Ever since they had confessed their feelings, Esperad had been much more open with her.

Everything he’d said before, which she had once thought was just his kind nature, now felt different knowing how he truly felt.

“Am I imagining things?”

Asilie began recalling each moment she had shared with him since they arrived at the Medici Mansion as a married couple.

Come to think of it, despite their marriage being a contract, they had always been affectionate with each other.

And they shared many memories.

She was once again amazed by the miracle her return had created.

Especially the fact that she had found true love—and was able to stay by that love’s side.

Esperad saw that Asilie was deep in thought and didn’t interrupt her.

It wasn’t until they arrived at the Grandier Duke’s estate that he finally spoke.

“What are you thinking about so deeply that you’re ignoring me?”

“Huh?”

“Are you nervous about meeting the Duke of Grandier?”

“Oh, that…”

Only then did Asilie realize she had been completely silent inside the carriage.

Just as she was about to answer, the sound of hoofbeats echoed, and a large four-horse carriage came to a sudden stop in front of the estate.

The two turned toward it.

On the carriage flew a flag with the Grandier family crest.

Asilie immediately knew who would step out.

“It has to be them.”

It would be Baron Gerard and his wife, who would inherit the title of Duke in five years. If nothing had changed, their two sons would be with them as well.

She had often met them when she was invited to birthday banquets at the duke’s home.

“That looks like Baron Gerard and his family.”

“Ah, the duke’s heir… I see the children, too.”

Esperad replied while looking at the family stepping out of the carriage.

Baron Gerard had been sent to manage a territory on the duke’s orders.

Asilie thought Esperad might not recognize them just by name, but he seemed to identify them Asilie.

She was quietly impressed and nodded.

“I’m suddenly curious about something.”

“What is it?”

“When we got married, you had a private conversation with my foster father. I’m guessing a deal was made. Can you tell me what it was, and what the exchange was?”

At her question, Esperad’s face stiffened slightly.

The deal he made with the Duke of Grandier was this: if Asilie were to die at someone else’s hands, Esperad would transfer part of the Medici family lands to the duke.

If he had known how important Asilie would become to him, he never would’ve agreed to such a cold condition.

Though she was still alive and by his side, just hearing those words now made him feel uneasy.

“It’s okay. You can tell me, Esperad.”

Strangely, Asilie could read his thoughts just by looking at his face.

Esperad sighed deeply and nodded.

“If you died, I agreed to give part of the territory to the Duke of Grandier.”

“Really?”

“But honestly, it wasn’t that big of a deal for him. It was mostly a symbolic exchange. The real agreement was about forming an alliance.”

Asilie realized that Esperad felt guilty about having made such a promise.

But she didn’t feel upset. In fact, her first thought was relief—just as he said, the exchange hadn’t been anything major.

“Then maybe we should think about changing that deal.”

“What do you mean?”

“I owe my foster father, too. So I think I should help him when he’s in trouble.”

Esperad looked at her with puzzled eyes, not understanding what she meant.

“Shall we go in now?”

Not wanting to bump into Gerard’s family before formally greeting them, Asilie urged Esperad inside.

He nodded and offered his arm to escort her.

Just like before her return, the Duke of Grandier’s birthday banquet was a small, private gathering with people seated around a table.

Before the meal began, Esperad and Asilie went to greet the duke.

“Happy birthday, Duke Grandier.”

“Happy birthday, Father.”

“Thank you for making time to come, even though you must be busy. And you… you look better than before.”

“It’s all thanks to you. I’m still grateful for your help the last time.”

The duke smiled warmly at Asilie’s reply.

He wasn’t a man of many expressions, but on his birthday, he seemed to be in a good mood.

Esperad also smiled as he respectfully handed over their gift.

“This is something she carefully chose. I hope it’s useful to you, sir.”

“Oh, thank you.”

The duke received it and passed it to the servant beside him.

Just as the servant accepted the gift, a boy came running from afar and threw himself into the duke’s arms.

“Grandfather!”

Esperad recognized the boy as the taller of the two he had seen earlier at the estate entrance—likely the older brother.

One would expect a happy reunion with a grandson he rarely saw, but the duke looked down at the boy with a cold face.

“What are you doing?”
“Huh?”

“Kael, we have guests. How can you act so carelessly? Where are your father and mother?”

As the angry voice filled the room, Baron Gerard finally appeared, out of breath.

He, too, seemed very surprised by his son’s sudden behavior.

“I’m sorry, Father. He ran off so quickly that I couldn’t stop him. Please forgive him. He was just happy to see his grandfather again after a long time.”

“Hmph, make sure he’s more careful next time.”

“Of course, Father.”

Asilie glanced at the boy, who looked small and nervous.

But if that boy understood the Grand Duke of Grandier’s feelings, he wouldn’t be pouting like that.

Once the Grand Duke of Grandier finished handing over the title to Baron Gerard and stepped down, that boy was expected to become the next heir to the Grand Duke’s family.

The reason the Grand Duke was making a big deal out of something that could have been overlooked was because he was worried that the boy, who had not received proper etiquette training while living in the territory, might act carelessly in front of others.

But just from the way the boy had run up and hugged the Grand Duke, it was clear that he was usually a kind and affectionate grandfather.

“By the way, I forgot to introduce you. This is…”

Having been focused on Kael, the Grand Duke of Grandier turned his body to introduce Esperad and Asilie, whom he had momentarily forgotten.

Exchanging awkward greetings was not unfamiliar to anyone in the room, so they all smiled politely as they greeted one another.

“And who is this boy…?”

Asilie pointed to the young boy standing next to Baron Gerard.

It was then that Baron Gerard realized he had been so distracted greeting the guests that he had forgotten his son.

“Introduce yourself, Thomas.”

The name of the Grand Duke’s second grandson was Thomas.

Compared to his older brother Kael’s earlier behavior, Thomas greeted them with perfect manners and respect.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Duke Camedici, and Duchess Camedici. I’m Thomas Gerard.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Thomas.”

Esperad smiled and offered his hand for a handshake.

In Astel, handshakes were a greeting reserved for those considered equals.

Still, he offered his hand to comfort the well-mannered little boy who had been somewhat overlooked.

Thomas, surprised by the gesture, opened his eyes wide and quickly grabbed Esperad’s hand with both of his, bowing deeply.

“It’s nice to meet you too!”

“You’re a very confident young man.”

“Haha, thank you. I’m a bit shy, but I’m known to be quite smart for my age.”

Right after Esperad and Gerard exchanged compliments about Thomas, the relatives invited by the Grand Duke all moved together to the dining hall.

Esperad and Asilie were able to enjoy their meal while having pleasant conversation in a good atmosphere.

It would have been nice to stay longer, but unfortunately, it was still not safe for Asilie.

That was why they got up from their seats earlier than everyone else.

“You were quiet today.”

Before the carriage left, Esperad spoke to her.

“Me?”

“Yes. You didn’t seem like yourself.”

“You’re really quick to notice things.”

“That’s because I’m always watching you.”

“…Are you serious?”

“I have no reason to lie.”

Hearing Esperad’s reply, Asilie found the answer to the thoughts that had been bothering her earlier in the carriage on the way to the Grand Duke’s estate.

It wasn’t that she had only just realized something she hadn’t noticed before. It was that Esperad had started expressing himself more strongly.

As the carriage began to move, Asilie pressed down on the corners of her lips that kept wanting to curl up in a smile and nodded.

“You’re right. I was deep in thought.”

“Will you share those thoughts with me?”

“Of course.”

The reason she hadn’t told Esperad at the Grand Duke’s estate wasn’t because she was hiding something, but because it wasn’t the right place for such a conversation.

Asilie thought about Thomas, Baron Gerard’s second son, whom she had seen today.

The family seemed peaceful now, but five years later, when the Grand Duke passed the title to Baron Gerard, that peace would be broken.

That was because Thomas, the second son, was far more intelligent than Kael, who was supposed to be the next heir.

The Grand Duke, who always put the family first, would eventually recognize Thomas’s talent and try to make him the heir instead.

But Baron Gerard didn’t agree.

Even worse, both Kael and Thomas would start wanting the title, and the Grand Duke’s household would fall into serious conflict.

“If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have been able to solve many of the problems we’ve faced.”

“I agree with you on that, Asilie.”

“Yes, so… I was thinking—what if we adopted Thomas as our foster son? If we register him as our child, you’ll gain succession rights to the throne.”

She noticed Esperad looking at her with wide, surprised eyes, but Asilie remained calm and continued speaking.

“This is the fastest way for us to get ahead of Count Mirk right now, Esperad.”

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