Living a Scheming Marriage with a Mad Villain - Chapter 47

Before I could even say such a thing, Shanette unusually scolded Reus.

 

“No matter how busy you are, Reus, you shouldn’t let Loelle eat alone. How would Loelle feel eating alone every time?”

 

“I’m really fine…”

 

“From now on, you also have to eat properly at the dining hall on time. Don’t just have meals in your office every day. Understand?”

 

Listening to her endless loving nagging, we soon arrived at the dining hall.

 

Shanette sat at the seat of honor, and Reus and I sat side by side.

 

Sitting like this reminded me of the first time I came to the Grand Duke’s castle.

 

The seats and people were clearly the same as last time, but the atmosphere inside the dining hall today was quite different.

 

“Roel, why are you eating so little? You said you didn’t eat much for breakfast. Would you like to try this?”

 

Shanette…

 

‘Do you realize you’ve already said the same thing more than ten times?’

 

My stomach had been full for a long time, but knowing that Shanette was genuinely worried, I kept eating the food she pushed toward me.

 

Then I really reached my limit. Seeing Shanette looking for more food to push toward me, I quickly looked at Reus.

 

‘Don’t just watch, help me…!’

 

There was no way this sharp man didn’t understand what I was trying to say with my eyes. But Reus cheekily said, “Please eat a lot,” and then turned his head as if pretending not to notice.

 

“Loelle, the plate is too far, so you didn’t eat much of this, right? Try this too.”

 

A nearly untouched smoked salmon steak was placed in front of me. Shanette looked at me with an expression that was almost overwhelming.

 

For Shanette’s sake, I wanted to take at least one bite, but just looking at it now made me feel sick, so I decided to refuse this time.

 

“I’m a little full now…”

 

“Then just eat this. Okay? Really, just this.”

 

Is pushing someone to eat also hereditary?

 

Shanette’s behavior and Reus’s expression every morning, looking dissatisfied and urging me to take another bite, overlapped in my mind for a moment.

 

Looking at this man sitting silently beside me…

 

‘Maybe it is hereditary.’

 

Anyway, I really thought I couldn’t eat any more this time.

 

So, I quickly reached under the table and grabbed Reus’s hand somewhat desperately.

 

‘Help me…!’

 

But he didn’t seem to care at all, so this time I grabbed one finger and shook it. Only then did Reus speak.

 

“By the way, didn’t you say there was a dessert you really wanted to give to Loel?”

 

“Oh, right. I almost forgot.”

 

But why does it always have to lead back to food?

 

After the meal ended, Reus went straight to the office to work, and Shanette and I went to the garden overlooking the sea for tea time.

 

But she only mentioned macarons…

 

The table was filled with various desserts.

 

‘Surely she doesn’t plan to make me eat all this?’

 

While thinking that, Shanette started talking.

 

“Is there anything uncomfortable living in the Grand Duke’s castle? You suddenly moved from Ivelle, didn’t you? That’s always been on my mind.”

 

But it was fine.

 

Still, not knowing my feelings, Shanette continued with an apologetic expression.

 

“As you know, Reus isn’t very attentive in these things. So if there’s anything uncomfortable or you need anything, feel free to tell me.”

 

“No… really, there’s nothing. Everyone treats me very well… and Reus also treats me well.”

 

“I’m glad he’s trying more than I worried, but seeing you eat alone sometimes makes me think there’s still a long way to go.”

 

Reus tries to accommodate me in everything he can. Eating alone was the only thing lacking, but Shanette seemed unhappy about that first.

 

“Still, Reus must love Loelle a lot. I heard from Loteo that he opened the library.”

 

“Ah…”

 

“Reus goes everywhere else fine, but the library was different. After it was closed once, no one was allowed inside. Probably because it was a place he spent almost every day with my parents.”

 

Thinking of her late brother and his wife, a faint sadness passed over Shanette’s face. After a while, she quickly changed the subject.

 

“By the way, how is Reus these days? Does he seem to be sleeping well?”

 

When we were preparing for the wedding, Shanette told me about Reus’s insomnia.

 

Since the accident where the Grand Duke couple passed away, he couldn’t sleep well and often had nightmares.

 

“Hmm… He doesn’t sleep as badly as when we first married, but he doesn’t seem to sleep deeply either.”

 

“I thought he might have changed a bit since he seems more stable now… but that worries me.”

 

Suddenly, Shanette’s eyes brightened as if she had a good idea.

 

“How about Loelle tries to help a little?”

 

“Uh… If there’s anything I can do, I want to try.”

 

I felt a little hopeful that maybe she had a good idea from her bright expression.

 

“When he was young, stroking his hair helped him fall asleep easily. Why don’t you try doing that?”

 

“Stroking his hair…”

 

He would hate it so much.

 

He even hated when I touched his wounds and pushed my hand away hard. Would he let me touch his hair?

 

“Since sleep aids and scents don’t work well, I think it’s mostly psychological.”

 

I just nodded at Shanette’s words that Reus needs more emotional stability.

 

Unlike what I expected that she would stay for a few days, Shanette left the Grand Duke’s castle after only staying until evening.

 

Before, I might have felt a little sad.

 

But after dealing with Shanette’s fuss about feeding me all day and finally gaining freedom… I was a little glad to say goodbye today.

 

After seeing Shanette off and arriving in the bedroom, Reus went straight to the bathroom. I lay down carelessly on the bed.

 

‘My stomach is still full.’

 

How can someone keep feeding me nonstop like that?

 

This was so different from the Ivelle Count family.

 

Even my father, who didn’t hate me, secretly felt satisfied when Shanette starved me.

 

But Shanette and Reus acted as if they didn’t care if I gained weight, which was a bit surprising.

 

‘Reus will probably come out soon.’

 

Holding onto the thought that I had to wash up and sleep, I barely kept my mind together, but the more time passed, the more my body and mind felt separated.

 

Just as I struggled to keep my eyes open, I heard the bathroom door open.

 

‘Time to get up.’

 

But my body didn’t move on its own. The footsteps that seemed to go to the dressing room gradually got closer to the bed.

 

When I opened my eyes, I saw Reus bending one knee to match my eye level.

 

Usually, I would have been shocked and immediately sat up, but now it took me quite some time just to recognize what I was seeing.

 

“Why are you so weak again?”

 

“I’m not weak… my stomach is too full. I’m just a little sleepy.”

 

“You ate a little.”

 

“A little…? I ate all day long…”

 

Even as I said that, sleepiness came over me. It wasn’t a normal amount of food. Only Shanette and Reus seemed unaware, which was quite unfair.

 

“Shouldn’t you change your clothes and sleep?”

 

“No, I’m going to wash up…”

 

“How can you wash up when you can’t even open your eyes properly?”

 

“Just five more minutes lying down—”

 

Suddenly, I felt like I was floating and stopped talking. As I swayed, my mind gradually cleared. By the time my eyes fully opened, Reus had placed me in the center of the dressing room.

 

“Just change your clothes and come out.”

 

“I’m really awake now.”

 

“Your eyes are still half-closed.”

 

“No, I really can wash…”

 

“Don’t fall asleep while washing and cause trouble.”

 

That wouldn’t happen, but for some reason, I was at a loss for words.

 

“Hurry and change and come to the bedroom.”

 

From the day after Shanette left, each day passed very quickly.

 

Because my outings were all canceled due to what happened at the Pillaren Viscount estate, and the servants came to visit the Grand Duke’s castle one by one.

 

For Reus, inviting outsiders to the Grand Duke’s castle was a very unusual decision.

 

I heard that even the family meetings held quarterly had a separate place in the Grand Duchy.

 

I told him it wasn’t necessary to make such a troublesome decision just for me, but Reus strangely didn’t change his mind.

 

So today, another guest arrived at the Grand Duke’s castle.

 

The guests today were the Gretion Baron and Baroness from the capital.

 

“Nice to meet you, Your Highness. I’m Michael Gretion.”

 

“Thank you for inviting us. I’m Yulia Gretion.”

 

I was glad to see the Gretion couple, who were about my age, since I usually only met older people.

 

After a more enjoyable lunch than expected, I came to my favorite garden with Yulia.

 

We were talking and lost track of time.

 

I saw Loteo approaching me across the garden from afar.

 

“Your Highness, excuse me…”

 

He looked a little troubled for some reason.

 

“Can you excuse me for a moment, Yulia?”

 

“Of course! Don’t worry about me, Your Highness.”

 

Leaving a smiling Yulia behind, I walked a bit away.

 

“Did something happen?”

 

“Not exactly something happened… a guest has arrived.”

 

“A guest?”

 

Other than the Gretion couple, no one else was supposed to visit the Grand Duke’s castle. Who could it be…

 

Then Loteo gave an answer I didn’t expect at all.

 

“The Countess of Ivelle has just arrived at the Grand Duke’s castle.”