I Was Meant to Be the Evil Wife, But the Cold Marquis Fell for Me - Chapter 17

—Something was wrong with his wife.

When Leivis saw Liliana in her dress at the queen’s tea party, he caught his breath. From the first time they met, he had thought her appearance delicate and charming, but that day she truly looked like a fairy—so much so that he found himself momentarily entranced.

But upon closer inspection afterward, he realized her magical power was spilling out of her body.

That magic was like thick, sweet honey.
It gave off a fragrance that lured men.

—Most likely…
Until now, her magic had remained stable within her body, but it had suddenly bloomed outward, like a flower opening. The moment Leivis saw Liliana radiating such rich magic, what he felt was both desire and alarm.

This state was far too dangerous.
If a man with strong magic saw her now, he would lose himself, drawn irresistibly to her. His reason would be stripped away by the temptation.

The cause was likely the magical training Leivis had given her.

Normally, such training is done in childhood, guided by a skilled mentor, to awaken one’s magic. It is rare to attempt it once grown.

Stimulated by Liliana’s eagerness, and driven by a spark of curiosity and research interest, Leivis had tried it and in doing so, destabilized what had been balanced, allowing it to leak outward.

Perhaps embroidery was also a key. Concentrated handwork can unconsciously channel magic. Sometimes it produces great works of art, miraculous magical tools, or even dreadful cursed objects—but that is another matter.

—In any case.
The training had caused Liliana’s hidden flower to bloom, releasing a fragrance irresistible to men.

Too dangerous.

Especially to men of high magic but even without that, her delicate beauty, her faintly fragile air, her seeming as though she might break at any moment yet still showing inner strength. All of it stirred a man’s protective instincts, regardless of magic.

She was beautiful, fragile, possessed of great magic within, and utterly defenseless.

—Yet, after careful observation, he saw her gradually settle. So, it was best not to stimulate her magic further.

With continued training, she would eventually learn to control her own magic. But until then, her safety could not be guaranteed.

And it was better not to tell her about this.

Liliana already feared men. If she learned she was the target of men’s base desires, she would only grow more afraid.

He didn’t want to frighten her.
He wanted to protect her peace.

She had only just married him, was still adjusting to a new life, and was suffering mistreatment from her siblings. He didn’t want to burden her further.

—But.
The greatest problem was himself.

He spoke of protecting her, of not frightening her. Yet the most dangerous man to her was himself.

In truth, he wanted to touch her.
To kiss her beautiful hair.
To hold her soft body, touch her white skin, mark her as his own.
To pluck the delicate flower and drink the overflowing nectar.
To make her bear his child.

“…Monstrous…”

His low murmur of self-loathing echoed in his ears.

He opened his eyes to see the familiar room.

Leivis was in his research chamber at the royal castle, lying on the couch for naps. He had worked hard today, and even joined the king’s combat training, so he had slept well.

He sat up. The room was empty.
In the dark, only the pillar atop the small model glowed.

Alone in the research chamber, he sighed.

Lately, he had shut himself away here. He wanted to keep his distance from Liliana.

Otherwise, he didn’t know what he might do.
Just recalling her appearance, her fragrance, made his chest ache and his impulses surge. He didn’t want to face her directly.

(I said I would wait until she was ready…)

Yet his beastly desire threatened to break that promise.

If Liliana learned of this hunger, she would surely be terrified.

But she likely wouldn’t refuse. Shocked by betrayal, frightened and hurt, she would still endure. Marriage, her family ties. These left her no choice but to stay. She would suffer silently, hide her tears, and reject him only in her heart.

—That, he could not bear.

To avoid committing such a sin, to keep his ugliness hidden, Leivis avoided her.

But each time, Liliana’s sad expression swelled his guilt.

He was making the one he should protect suffer.

—He recalled the king’s words: that conversation is essential in married life.

Leivis sighed deeply.

He resolved to face Liliana properly.
—But his ugliness must never be revealed. Liliana was someone to protect, not someone to unleash filthy desire upon.

Otherwise, she would be betrayed by the very one meant to protect her, wounded, and left truly alone.

—Humans have reason. Self-control.
To be ruled by the beast and harm the one most precious is unforgivable.

—Unforgivable, yet… could he truly restrain himself? Her magic was so strong, he doubted his ability to suppress it.

“…I’ll bind myself…”

Leivis decided to impose magical restraints upon himself.

It was shameful to rely on such a thing, but he had no choice.

—Only her hand, and places she permitted.
And unless in emergencies, he would not touch her of his own accord.

He bound both his hands tightly with magical chains.