A New Life After Divorce - Chapter 113

The bright sunlight gently touched my eyes. Squinting, I slowly opened them, only to see a sight more dazzling than the morning sun itself.

Edmund was still sound asleep.

I lay comfortably buried in the blanket, watching him closely. His tousled silver hair and perfectly chiseled features made him look like a Greek sculpture.

‘Whoever this man belongs to, he’s really handsome.’

Smiling contentedly, I traced the bridge of his nose with my fingertip. He didn’t react—he must be in a deep sleep.

Then, my eyes caught sight of a ring case placed on the headboard.

The night before, as he kissed me and pressed me into the bed, I vaguely remembered him placing something nearby. This must have been it.

I reached for it but groaned as I collapsed back onto the bed. My whole body ached, my muscles sore, making even lifting my hand a struggle.

‘Well, yesterday…’

As memories of the previous night resurfaced, my face grew hot.

As Edmund claimed, he was really… good at everything when it came to using his body.

We were entangled as one until the sky turned blue outside. I had passed out, and when I woke again, I was in the bathtub with him. Our eyes met once more, and after that… the steam and heat clouded my mind. I barely remembered anything after that.

Seeing that my body was clean and dry, he must have taken care of me afterward.

‘Oh my god. Why did I pass out like that?’

Burying my face in my hands, I curled up in embarrassment. I stayed like that for a few seconds before suddenly having an idea—I should slip the ring onto his finger while he was still asleep, making it a romantic surprise.

Shivering slightly, I picked up the ring case. Inside, there was a square-cut Lebron silver ring.

I carefully took out the ring and reached under the blanket, searching for his hand. Being extra cautious not to wake him, I slipped the ring onto his left ring finger.

Luckily, I had secretly asked Rail to measure his finger size beforehand.

Pulling his hand out from under the blanket, I grinned and admired it. His fingers were long and slender, yet firm, with visible blue veins running across the back of his hand.

‘Even his hands are beautiful.’

As I absentmindedly admired them, I noticed a faint white scar on his palm—one he got when he swore upon the Oath Stone.

My excitement settled into a more solemn feeling. I wondered if that promise—to never harm me—had become a shackle to him.

Just then, his hand gripped mine tightly. My hand, now captured, was drawn to his lips.

Softly, he pressed a light kiss onto my skin before lazily opening his cat-like eyes.

“Did you enjoy the view?”

My heart fluttered for a moment before reality hit me.

“…Since when have you been awake?”

“Before you even opened your eyes.”

Oh no. That meant he saw me fidgeting and flustering over my embarrassment?

My jaw dropped in shock. Seeing my reaction, he chuckled, running a hand through his hair as he sat up. The blanket slipped down dangerously low, barely covering his lower half.

I couldn’t help but stare at his lean, well-defined body. As I quickly averted my gaze, he gently grasped my chin, making me look back at him.

“Don’t look away anymore.”

“…”

“The past two days without you almost drove me insane.”

My heart pounded at his words. Instead of responding, I fluttered my eyelashes as if playing coy.

Sitting up, I pulled the blanket over my chest.

“Do you… like the ring?”

Edmund glanced at the ring on his finger before smirking. Though his smile was pure joy, the way it sat on his sharp features made it look dangerously seductive.

“I love it.”

“Really? How much?”

“So much that if I imagine another man wearing the same ring, I want to kill them all.”

“…”

I pursed my lips in disbelief.

…Why did I expect a sweet and innocent answer like ‘as much as the sky and earth’? That was my mistake.

Seeing my expression, Edmund chuckled, then took my hand and lightly bit my left ring finger.

“I’ll be the one to put a ring on this finger.”

He smiled slyly, his warm tongue tracing my finger before he gently sucked on it.

“Ugh—” I shuddered and gasped, instinctively tensing up. His heated gaze locked onto me.

At that moment, he suddenly said, “By the way, Etricia.”

His eyes slowly lowered before he awkwardly cleared his throat and looked away.

“…It’s all visible.”

“What is?”

Looking down, I saw that the blanket covering my chest had slipped, revealing the marks he had left all over my skin from the previous night.

“Ahh!”

I quickly pulled the blanket up, horrified. Glaring at him as if to demand an explanation, he sheepishly rubbed the back of his head and hurriedly spoke.

“Don’t worry. I have a solution.”

“…What is it?”

“To distract attention, we could go even lower—”

I clamped a hand over his mouth.

He blinked at me in confusion, as if he had no idea why that wasn’t an appropriate suggestion. This man was completely unashamed and dangerously honest about his desires.

“Ahem, it’s time for breakfast. Let’s go downstairs.”

“Do we have to?”

Edmund leaned against my shoulder with a lazy sigh, his nose brushing against my neck as he inhaled deeply. His breath sent shivers down my spine.

“I can keep the maids quiet, but if we both don’t show up, everyone will get suspicious. Besides, you have a meeting with the Imperial Search Team today, right? And I want to see Verita.”

His expression darkened, and he muttered under his breath, “I should’ve just killed him then and there.”

“…What did you say?”

“Nothing important.”

I had definitely heard him, but I let it slide, simply shaking my head.

I did want to meet Devon… but knowing how irritated Edmund would be, I decided not to bring it up.

‘It would feel great to curse him out, though.’

But Devon was already too far gone, believing that I had killed the Baroness. Talking to him would only give me a headache.

Shaking off my irritation, I changed the subject.

“Oh, about the temple—I’ll handle it myself. Only you and Lova know about my powers, so don’t worry.”

“When are you visiting?”

“I’ll go when Lova calls me.”

Edmund frowned slightly.

“Then take me with you.”

“But the temple doesn’t allow—”

“You saved me, didn’t you? So, we should move together.”

“…Alright. But just as you saved me, you need to respect that I can save you too.”

Edmund looked displeased, clearly unwilling to compromise.

“I once thought that if I couldn’t protect myself, I couldn’t protect anyone. But after loving you, I realized—I can’t live without you.”

I cupped his cheek and smiled softly.

“We live together now. We die together too. Got it?”

His tense gaze finally softened.

“I’m a little scared, though.”

I laughed, shaking my shoulders at his awkward joke. Soon, we rested our foreheads together, laughing, then lightly kissed like a breeze passing by. After staying close for a moment, gazing into each other’s eyes, we finally managed to head down to the dining room.

And I had to eat with my nose practically buried in the plate, thanks to the people grinning knowingly, as if they had picked up on the subtle change in our relationship.

I followed Edmund to the imperial palace prison and visited Verita, who was being held there.

I sat with my arms crossed in a small visitation room, waiting, and soon the door opened.

She was dragged in barefoot by a guard, her hands bound.

“S-Sister…”

She brightened when she saw me but flinched a moment later. Behind me stood knights of the Duchy with their arms behind their backs, wearing intimidating expressions. Edmund had assigned them to me, despite my repeated refusals.

“Don’t just stand there. Sit down.”

When I motioned toward the chair across from me, Verita warily sat down, glancing at the knights. Soon after, she smiled brightly and reached out her bound hands. She couldn’t reach me due to the guard’s restraint, but she looked truly glad just to be in the same room with me.

“Sister, I knew you’d come see me. I’m so happy.”

I let out a scoffing laugh.

“Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m only here to ask about the viscountess’s cause of death.”

Verita widened her eyes, muttering in a tone that carried a trace of madness.

“That’s not true. You’re such a kind person. I know you’d show mercy to someone as weak as me.”

Eventually, she beamed, tears falling down her haggard face.

“You’re angry about that day, right? I understand. Anyone would be. But you’re here because you feel sorry for me, for being tricked by Devon.”

“You’re saying you were tricked by Devon?”

“Yes, I was deceived. I was so shocked when the arrow flew—I didn’t know it would come to that. If I had known you’d be hurt, I wouldn’t have helped him.”

I let out a deep sigh and uncrossed my arms. Then I leaned in closer, bringing my face near hers.

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