Living a Scheming Marriage with a Mad Villain - Chapter 117

After talking with Theron, I decided to stop avoiding Reus. I thought I shouldn’t make Reus suffer more because of my guilt.

But when I actually tried to approach him, it wasn’t as easy as I thought. It was hard to start the conversation, and Reus kept avoiding me before I could even speak. Whenever our eyes met, he quickly looked away, so I couldn’t find a chance to get closer.

I felt sorry for how desperately he tried to keep the promise he made to me. Theron’s words that Reus had no fault came back to my mind.

“I have to try to talk to him again today.”

I thought maybe I should try to start a quiet conversation, even in the bedroom, and focused on my work again. Then I heard a knock and soon Dywn voice.

“Your Highness, this is Dwyn. May I come in?”

“Yes, Dwyn. Come in.”

The door opened, and Dwyn entered my study. Lately, my relationship with Reus had been strained, and the only person visiting my office was Millie, so it felt like I hadn’t seen Dwyn in a long time.

“What brings you here, Dwyn?”

“I have something I want to say to Your Highness.”

I thought it was a visit for business, but it wasn’t. It didn’t seem like something to talk about at the desk, so I moved to the sofa.

“What is it?”

“Well… It might sound forward, but I have a favor to ask, Your Highness.”

“A favor?”

Dywn seemed to have made a big decision and spoke with difficulty.

“Could you please spend some time with the Duke, even if only for a little while?”

I didn’t expect this at all. Asking me to spend time with Reus was really unexpected.

“Maybe I’m just worrying too much on my own. I know it’s not my place to interfere, but… Your Highness has seemed very unstable lately.”

“So, if I may be so bold… if Your Highness could spend just a little time with him…”

He spoke with difficulty and then timidly added it only needed to be a short time.

“Okay, I will do that.”

Dwyn looked surprised as if he thought I would refuse after coming all this way.

‘I was worried about how to approach him again, but this worked out well.’

By chance, Dwyn helped me. I decided not to miss this chance to try to restore my relationship with Reus a little.

Because of Dwyn’s suggestion, I decided to have tea time with Reus. Dwyn had strongly stopped me from going to the study, so I came outside first.

While living at the Duke’s castle, this garden was the place I visited most after the library, but I hadn’t been coming here much lately.

‘It feels nice to come out after a long time.’

Then I heard the soft sound of footsteps on the grass behind me. I naturally turned around and our eyes met.

We both froze as if we had planned it. Reus’s face even turned a little pale. I knew it was because of me that he looked like that, so I couldn’t look at him without feeling uneasy.

But soon Reus spoke with difficulty.

“It’s my fault.”

“Yes?”

“I’m sorry for forcing you like this. I’ll be more careful so it won’t happen again.”

Seeing that he still avoided my gaze and didn’t come closer, I thought he didn’t come to spend time with me after all.

I turned around and urgently called to stop him as he tried to leave the garden.

“Reus…!”

Reus immediately stopped as if someone had grabbed him.

“I didn’t come by force. So please don’t go…”

He said that, but still hesitated to come closer. He seemed to struggle with whether he could really believe my words.

Finally, unable to bear the awkward atmosphere, I spoke first.

“Are you going to keep standing there…?”

I asked carefully. Reus acted as if I had ordered him and quickly sat down beside me.

It happened so fast that I just opened my eyes wide and quietly looked at him sitting next to me.

“Shall we… go back?”

He said it with a worried face, but it sounded unconvincing. Anyone could see he didn’t want to leave.

When I didn’t answer right away, Reus grew restless and couldn’t sit still. Worried he might leave again hurt, I answered quickly.

“No.”

“You can stay, Reus.”

When I said it clearly, he didn’t try to leave anymore, but his expression was still dark.

“Are you uncomfortable?”

“No.”

It didn’t seem like a true no. Because he kept glancing at me, I thought maybe he wanted to say something.

“If you have something you want to say, you can say it too.”

I said that, though I doubted he would speak suddenly when he usually avoided eye contact. But I couldn’t let him keep quiet forever either.

Reus hesitated, not knowing what to say.

“Reus?”

“A blanket.”

“Huh?”

“May I cover you with a blanket…?”

He hesitated as if about to say something serious, but all he asked was about a blanket. I laughed quietly.

It wasn’t a laugh to mock, but I felt moved by how consistently Reus was himself. But maybe he misunderstood because his expression stiffened.

“I won’t be a bother.”

“I’m not angry, Reus.”

“Really. If you want to cover me, please do.”

It hurt a little that he worried about me even in this situation. So I accepted without hesitation.

“Uh…”

Almost, I blurted out, “What is this?”

No matter how I looked, what covered me wasn’t a blanket. It wasn’t a quilt either, but it was very thick.

Reus soon looked downcast and spoke softly.

“The sea breeze is very cold…”

Even considering that, it seemed excessive. But I didn’t want to make him feel worse by saying more, so I stayed silent.

‘If I’m going to meet Reus from now on, maybe I should bring a blanket with me.’

I thought he might not even leave the room in winter because of this.

‘No way, would he really do that?’

Even Reus…

Trying to forget the thought, I felt a clear gaze on me. It was from the man who had been staring at me since earlier. Why was he sitting so quietly, paying such close attention, without anyone telling him to?

I carefully turned my head. When our eyes met, Reus stiffened briefly like before, then asked very carefully.

“Are you… a little less angry now?”

Reus, who couldn’t look at me for long, dropped his gaze and nervously moved his hands.

“I’m sorry, Reus.”

I thought I needed to apologize properly this time. But as soon as Reus heard me, he looked pale.

“Loelle.”

“I wasn’t angry at you, Reus. It was just… something unresolved inside me. I’m sorry for being stubborn and angry all this time.”

“No, I-.”

“If you want to say sorry, don’t. This is my fault. Reus did nothing wrong.”

But Reus looked uncomfortable letting it go and kept moving his lips with no words.

“I won’t act selfishly like this anymore.”

“Loelle, if you want to do something, you can do it freely. Really, anything is fine.”

“No. I just needed time to think… but now it’s over.”

Reus didn’t answer. I wondered if he was curious about what I talked with the emperor or Theron, or if he noticed some decision I made.

But Reus said nothing, so the conversation ended.

I stopped avoiding Reus. But for some reason, Reus didn’t follow me around like before, almost annoyingly.

The servants thought we had finally reconciled and looked relieved. Dwyn was also relieved, but I felt a little uneasy.

Even though we were no longer distant after that day, it still felt like there was some space between us. Besides my own worries, it seemed like Reus was deep in thought about something.

His unusual reactions worried me, but it was better than being tense all the time.

I was planning to leave the Duke’s castle soon.

I didn’t tell Reus because he would try to stop me, and he struggled when he heard I was leaving. I couldn’t repeat the same story again.

So this time, I decided to leave quietly without a word. It might sound strange, but it was not for me, but only for Reus.

But as always, life didn’t go as I wanted.

“It’s not here.”

The place where my packed bag should have been was empty. Reus must have noticed I was leaving.

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