A Change of Husband - Chapter 7

At first glance, it seemed to mean “spending the night together.” But that couldn’t be it.

 

Esperad immediately dismissed the idea and tried to interpret Asilie’s words more accurately.

 

However, as time passed without her saying anything else, he realized that perhaps his initial understanding hadn’t been so far off.

 

Asilie’s large eyes were filled with worry, fear, curiosity, and anticipation—all at once.

 

So, Esperad couldn’t help but seriously consider the question.

 

“Why is she asking something like this?”

 

Between husband and wife, physical intimacy was only natural.

 

Esperad had never questioned the idea that the two of them would share a bed that night. To him, it was practically a duty.

 

But then, she asked him with a trembling voice.

 

Her hesitant question made him feel conflicted. He realized it might not be right to go forward without any thought.

 

In conservative Astel, matters of sex were treated with strict propriety. People who approached the topic more openly were shunned and branded as immoral.

 

Esperad concluded that maybe Asilie feared the unknown because of that societal pressure.

 

“…I…”

 

If his guess was right, then he wanted to be as considerate as possible.

 

After all, Asilie was now his partner in life.

 

“No, it’s fine.”

 

Just as he was gathering his thoughts to respond, Asilie quickly cut him off.

 

While Esperad tried to read her thoughts, Asilie was also observing him closely.

 

He clearly hadn’t expected her to ask such a question. After a long pause, he seemed ready to speak, having sorted through his thoughts.

 

Asilie realized that he hadn’t even considered the idea of physical intimacy with her.

 

There were many ways she could interpret that, but she took it to mean that he’d never planned on being intimate with her in the first place.

 

“I know what you were going to say.”

 

“Huh?”

 

He looked startled, but Asilie couldn’t bring herself to voice what she believed he was thinking.

 

So instead, she quickly changed the subject.

 

“Um, shall we sleep? We’ve both had a long, exhausting day.”

 

“…Yes, let’s do that.”

 

It seemed the night would pass without incident.

 

Esperad was about to say he would wait if she wasn’t ready, and he wondered how Asilie knew what he was thinking. But he didn’t ask, worried it might make things more awkward. He simply set down the damp towel he was holding.

 

The teacup on the tray bumped against the towel with a clink.

 

Their eyes naturally shifted to the slightly rattling tray.

 

It was the tea Lady Marce had left to help them relax.

 

He hadn’t thought much of it before, but now that he considered it, he understood the implication of serving “relaxing” tea on a couple’s wedding night.

 

“…It’s tea, in case we get thirsty in the night.”

 

Before Esperad could get too curious, Asilie quickly explained.

 

Without questioning it further, he climbed into bed.

 

The bed was so large that even lying side by side, they didn’t so much as brush against each other.

 

“I’ll leave the light on.”

 

“Do you usually sleep with the light on?”

 

“Not really… but I thought you might wake up in the night looking for water and get hurt.”

 

“Oh…”

 

Asilie thought everything about this was so different from when she married Joseph. Even something as simple as keeping the light on, just in case she got hurt, was so thoughtful.

 

“Thank you, Esperad.”

 

Though the unfamiliarity of this new situation felt strange, her heart fluttered at the thought that this was the result of her actions and choices changing the course of events.

 

Maybe—just maybe—if things continued this way…

 

“It’s only natural.”

 

Perhaps because the tension that had built up all day was finally lifting, Asilie began to feel drowsy at the sound of his soft voice.

 

Sharing a bed with a stranger in an unfamiliar place.

 

She had thought she wouldn’t be able to sleep at all. But fatigue took over, and her eyes closed without her realizing it.

 

And so, darkness fell.

 

 

Waaah, waaah, waaah!

 

A heartbreaking wail pierced her ears, loud enough to be deafening.

 

Waaah, waaah, waaah!

 

The sound of a crying baby, clear and close—so close it felt like the child was right beside her.

 

But slowly, the cries faded. Bit by bit.

 

And yet, they still felt near.

 

As if all she had to do was reach out a hand.

 

Waaah, waaah, waaah!

 

Her heart ached. She didn’t know why. Only one question came to mind:

 

Who is it, and why are they crying with such sorrow?

 

Why does that crying tear at her heart like this?

 

“Asilie!”

 

At the urgent shout, her eyes flew open.

 

Clang!

 

A blade, sharpened to a fine edge, clashed against something just above her chest.

 

“Ahhh!”

 

A piercing scream followed. Then, silence. The clash of steel was gone.

 

She didn’t know what had just happened, but it seemed—for the moment—the danger had passed.

 

“Are you all right? Are you hurt?”

 

A pair of large hands shook her shoulders, and only then did Asilie start to come back to her senses. At the same time, the metallic stench of blood, which she had been too stunned to notice, filled her nose.

 

“Ugh…”

 

She gagged and quickly covered her nose and mouth.

 

She had smelled this before.

 

It was unmistakable—indistinguishable, even.

 

The same scent as the blood she had coughed up when she had died from poisoning.

 

“Asilie? Are you okay?”

 

“I-I’m fine… The smell is just too awful…”

 

She fought back the urge to gag and sat up.

 

There were bodies scattered across the room. It was hard to tell in the dim candlelight, but there were at least five.

 

“Assassins.”

 

“They… were targeting me, weren’t they?”

 

Esperad turned to her in surprise.

 

She had only asked the question half-seriously, but from the look on his face, she knew she had guessed right.

 

As soon as she’d opened her eyes, she had seen a blade flying toward her chest.

 

If Esperad hadn’t blocked it with his sword, she would’ve been dead.

 

There would’ve been no reason to aim for a woman who was still half-asleep and didn’t even know how to wield a weapon.

 

Unless she had been the intended target all along.

 

“So that’s what it was.”

 

“I’m not sure.”

 

“Maybe that’s the clearest answer.”

 

“Asilie…”

 

“All your past fiancées died under mysterious circumstances. The difference this time is that I was attacked right in front of you…”

 

She quietly stepped out of bed.

 

Her foot squished against something soft in her slipper, but she didn’t bother to check what it was. Instead, she grabbed the candleholder and lit the remaining candles.

 

“Until now, they moved secretly, careful not to get caught. But this time, they sent assassins even with you sleeping right beside me.”

 

“…”

 

“That means they’re getting desperate. Maybe they think there isn’t enough time left to kill your partner. Or maybe…”

 

Asilie hesitated, uncertain whether she should be more cautious or consider every possibility.

 

“Or maybe?”

 

“Maybe they think there’s no need to be careful anymore.”

 

She turned after lighting the last candle.

 

“Maybe they believe you’ve already figured out why they’ve been trying to eliminate your partner.”

 

“That’s possible. Despite the deaths and the rumors of a curse, I didn’t give up on marriage—I went ahead with a secret wedding instead.”

 

She nodded and counted the bodies scattered across the now brightly lit room.

 

There were seven. While she had been asleep, Esperad had noticed the assassins’ approach and defeated them all.

 

If he killed seven assassins like that, then surely…

 

Suddenly alarmed, she rushed to him.

 

“Are you okay? You’re not hurt?”

 

“I’m fine.”

 

“You’re not lying?”

 

“There’s no need for lies between us. Not now, not ever.”

 

“But still…”

 

“It’s true.”

 

He raised his hands to show her, revealing his shirt stained with a few splashes of blood—but no injuries.

 

Despite fighting in a dark room with only one candle for light, he had emerged without a scratch.

 

Asilie was impressed by his skill.

 

“…You’re amazing.”

 

“I’m not usually like this. It was strange—I just woke up, and strength surged through me. Like I had to protect you. Like I couldn’t let anyone else die because of me.”

 

Hearing that, Asilie realized he was thinking of his late fiancées.

 

“Their deaths weren’t your fault, Esperad.”

 

“I was the reason. They died because I failed to protect them. Asilie, you can’t even imagine…”

 

He let out a dry chuckle.

 

“…how relieved I am that I was able to protect you.”

 

His guilt over their deaths ran deeper than she could ever understand.

 

She wanted to comfort him, but in the end, she said nothing. She felt it wasn’t her place.

 

“We should move rooms.”

 

After a long silence, he finally spoke.

 

“It’ll be hard to sleep here. I’ll have our bedroom moved entirely. It’ll take a day at most.”

 

“No, I don’t think that’s the best idea.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Let’s change rooms every night. Rather than staying in one place. It might be safer that way—until they realize these attacks are useless.”

 

Esperad agreed that her idea was better for her protection and nodded.

 

“Good thinking. For now, let’s leave. I’ll escort you.”

 

“That’s not nec—”

 

She couldn’t finish.

 

In one swift motion, he picked her up.

 

“I can’t let you step in blood again.”

 

At that, an odd thought crossed her mind.

 

A life constantly under threat, yet filled with respect and care.

 

Or a life free from danger, but treated like she wasn’t even human—always ignored and mistreated.

 

Some might choose the latter. But now that she had tasted this warmth, Asilie knew she never would.

 

Not even after experiencing such a terrifying death.

 

“Thank you.”

 

At her soft whisper, Esperad looked like he was about to reply, but instead just held her tighter as she nestled into his arms.

 

Even though they had fallen asleep together, they had never woken up together. Not even once.

 

The morning after Joseph had forced himself on her, he had leapt out of bed in a hurry, unable to hide the look of disgust on his face, as if he couldn’t believe he had shared a bed with something like her.

 

Asilie comforted herself.

 

As the heir to a count’s family, there was no way he could afford the luxury of greeting the morning sun together with someone else.

 

She told herself she should be grateful that he hadn’t forgotten her completely and had still come to her.

 

After all, he was always a busy man.

 

Sometimes, on the nights when Geoffrey, the second son, went to the countryside for family matters, Asilie had noticed that Joseph would head to the room of Monica, his sister-in-law.

 

He was a man who wouldn’t even share a single warm word with her, but she worked hard to convince herself that, as the heir to the family, he might be trying to comfort someone who felt uneasy in her husband’s absence.

 

And she kept blaming herself again and again.

 

She told herself nothing could have happened.

 

How could she torment herself with such ugly thoughts? Didn’t she have to trust the man she loved?

 

Joseph was the heir to the Bonaparte count’s family. Normally, someone like her couldn’t even dream of being with someone like him, and yet he had become her husband.

 

She shouldn’t doubt him.

 

As someone who was lacking, deeply lacking, she had no right to feel envy or jealousy.

 

And yet, whenever she saw Monica’s mocking smile, or whenever she made cryptic remarks about her relationship with Joseph, Asilie couldn’t stop the pain and hatred from rising inside her.

 

“Ah…”

 

At the humiliating memories of the past, tears began to fall from Asilie’s eyes.

 

Her skin felt sticky with warmth, and the unpleasant sensation made her open her eyes with a heavy feeling.

 

Her vision was blurry. She must have dozed off. She didn’t know exactly when.

 

It had been another gloomy dawn where she thought she wouldn’t be able to sleep as usual, yet lying beside Esperad, who had tried to comfort her, she had unknowingly drifted into slumber.

 

Asilie wiped away the tears that had fallen and slowly turned her head.

 

As expected, Esperad wasn’t beside her. It seemed that, just like other men, he wasn’t one to greet the morning together either.

 

Creak—

 

She heard the door open.

 

And at the same time, the scent of herbs reached her nose, making her think Lady Marce had brought breakfast, and she started to sit up.

 

“Are you awake?”

 

“Esperad?”

 

But the one who entered the room was Esperad. In his hands was a tray with a teapot and teacups.

 

“I thought tea would be good in the morning, so I prepared it. Is that all right?”

 

“You went to the kitchen yourself?”

 

Asilie asked in surprise.

 

“I sent a maid. I was just out in the hallway because I was worried she might not find the room properly after we changed it so suddenly last night.”

 

“I see. But… aren’t you busy?”

 

At her question, he asked back, looking puzzled.

 

“Are you asking if I’m not busy? Ah, if it’s about what happened last night, I’ve already taken care of it. There’s no need to worry.”

 

“No, that’s not it. I meant…”

 

Asilie hesitated, trying to figure out how to phrase her question, then finally managed to ask.

 

“You’re the head of House Camedici. I was asking if you’re not too busy because of your responsibilities.”

 

“I am busy, of course, but it’s fine.”

 

“It’s fine?”

 

“Unless it’s a particularly busy period, I always have enough time to have breakfast with you and enjoy a simple conversation.”

 

“…I see.”

 

It was an answer she had never even imagined.

 

The way she nodded, as if the wind had been taken out of her sails, made him feel a bit awkward.

 

“Is this time uncomfortable for you?”

 

“No, it’s not that. I just find it surprising.”

 

“Surprising?”

 

“Because I thought you’d be busy. I mean, you are the head of a noble house…”

 

Esperad laughed at her hesitant reply.

 

Asilie hadn’t been in the capital for very long, and her time receiving education as a noble hadn’t been long either.

 

She seemed to be overestimating the duties of a noble.

 

“As far as family duties go, things get busy in May, when we have to submit reports to the kingdom, and in September and October, during the harvest. Other than that, there’s not much that requires constant attention.”

 

“What about politics?”

 

“There are things I need to attend to, but aside from the meetings held every Monday at the royal palace, I’m not particularly pressed for time. If something does come up, I’ll tell you in advance.”

 

What Esperad said was completely different from what she had believed until now, but Asilie suppressed her surprise and accepted the cup of tea he offered.

 

The pleasant scent of herbs warming the whole room felt nice.

 

“Come to think of it, there’s something I should tell you.”

 

Just as Asilie was thinking she should let the tea cool a little and placed the teacup on her lap, Esperad spoke up as if something had just occurred to him.

 

“To me?”

 

“Yes. We’ve found the whereabouts of your younger sister.”