My Husband Picked Up a Woman - Chapter 18

Damian sat with his face contorted into a grimace, struggling with the food he had just consumed. As he looked at Briseis, he realized exactly what had happened. He knew who was responsible for the dish that was so salty it brought physiological tears to his eyes.

His gaze shifted toward his mother. The Dowager Grand Duchess looked back at him with a face full of feigned apology. Damian, acting as if he had no choice, chewed and swallowed the food.

“The cooking… is truly delicious.”

Briseis watched him, her expression suggesting she had no more disappointment left to give. Damian, on the other hand, misinterpreted her look; he thought she was gazing at him with pride. He deluded himself into thinking her mood had improved because he was mediating so well between his mother and his wife. In reality, she had only let out a short, cynical laugh because he was so pathetic.

“Eat plenty, Damian.”

“You too, Brie.”

Briseis smiled at his words and began to cut her veal steak. Strangely, her appetite had returned at the thought of him having to choke down that brine-soaked meal.

“That reminds me! I know a certain lady who used to settle arguments with her husband in the bedroom,” the Dowager said, desperately trying to change the subject.

Damian continued to slowly chew and swallow the salt-cured veal with water.

“Couples seem to have a special bond. I think I’ve often heard stories of reconciliations like that,” Delilah added, nodding in agreement.

Encouraged by Delilah’s support, the Dowager pressed on. “Of course, of course. You must win your husband’s heart while you are young. It isn’t easy once you grow old. A woman’s age is like a flower; once it withers, it loses its beauty.”

“Pfft.”

Briseis looked at the Dowager with an open sneer. “Then are you a withered flower, Mother?”

The Dowager’s face flushed as she realized her slip of the tongue. “Are you saying that I am withered?”

“When did I ever say that? You were the one who said it.”

“You always have to pick at my words, don’t you? Even though you have nothing to show for yourself.”

Briseis sighed, having no desire to continue the conversation. “I can’t stay here any longer.”

“Sit down!”

“No.”

Briseis stood up and left the table. Damian tried to say something, but his mouth was so parched from the salt that he was mid-gulp of water and couldn’t react in time.

“See you later, Brie,” Delilah called out, waving brightly.

❖ ❖ ❖

It was a day off from the Academy. Unfortunately, it was also the day Mikhail Philia came to visit.

“Have you been well, Brie?”

“Ah, Brother. How have you been?”

Mikhail was the eldest son of the House of Philia, the heir, and ten years older than Briseis. The Marchioness had conceived Briseis after three sons because she was desperate for a daughter. The large age gap was inevitable.

“Of course.”

Briseis felt uncomfortable around Mikhail. Despite being her eldest brother, the age difference was vast, and he always spoke of unpleasant things.

“Shall we walk in the garden?”

“Alright.”

They stepped out of the main building together. Briseis walked beside him, pretending not to be ill at ease. Mikhail had visited the estate several times while the Duke was away, so he knew exactly where the gardens were. He looked at the roses in full bloom as they walked.

“It seems you’ve managed the servants well, likely due to what Mother taught you.”

“I suppose so,” Briseis answered honestly. She had business savvy and a good eye for people. The only thing she had failed to see was Damian’s true character, and that was only because he had deceived her so thoroughly.

When they reached the glass greenhouse, Mikhail smiled. “May we go inside? I wonder if the hydrangeas are in bloom.”

“Very well.”

Briseis knew he wanted to go inside to ensure they weren’t overheard. The greenhouse was filled with the scent of fresh flowers.

“The hydrangeas are truly in full bloom.”

“They are.”

“Are those freesias?”

“Yes.”

Mikhail moved toward the freesias. He looked as if he were smelling the flowers, but he had clearly chosen the center of the greenhouse because he knew no one could hear them from there. Mikhail was a cautious man; he knew eavesdropping was common in the drawing rooms.

He was pretending to care for his sister, but Briseis didn’t trust him. She might have followed him when she was a child, but that had changed.

‘Gael is a disgrace to the family. Dying on the battlefield is a shameful thing.’

The moment he had reacted so coldly to Gael’s death, Mikhail had ceased to be a brother to her. She knew he viewed her as a Grand Duchess first and a sister second. He only treated her as a sister when it made her easier to manipulate.

“I hear things have been awkward since the Duke returned.”

The moment he confirmed they were alone, he got straight to the point. Briseis looked down, mocking his predictability.

“As you know, Brother, the first clause of my marriage contract was that there would be no mistresses.”

“I am aware of that.”

Hearing his tone, Briseis realized he had come to persuade her to endure it. She didn’t want to talk anymore, but there was nothing she could do. If Mikhail failed, the family might send the third brother, Elchias, who was a total ruffian.

“Even so.”

She sighed, knowing exactly what was coming.

“A man like the Duke is quite acceptable. Think about it. He was on a battlefield; isn’t this the natural course of things? It’s a place of blood and flesh. It isn’t easy to turn away a woman’s temptation there.”

“…”

“And fortunately, the mistress the Duke brought back isn’t particularly remarkable in appearance.”

Briseis wondered when he had seen Delilah. She realized he must have seen her at the victory parade she had missed.

“The Duke only favors her now because of their shared time on the battlefield.”

“Brother.”

“But he is a man with eyes. He will come to his senses soon. He will quickly tire of a plain face with no dignity.”

Briseis felt suffocated. She knew the “real” point was about to be made.

“So, have the Duke’s child as quickly as possible.”

“Mikhail.”

“If you get pregnant first and bear a son, the Duke will cast that lowly mistress aside.”

“Did Father send you?”

“Yes. He sent me because Mother was asking after you.”

Briseis sighed at the mention of the Marchioness, who was currently abroad due to her depression.

“Mother is far away, so she must be worried about you.”

“Not worried enough to come herself, I imagine.”

“Brie. Don’t act like a child. Don’t you know you should be grateful just for being raised?”

“…I understand.”

Briseis didn’t want to argue about this anymore. Nothing would change, and talking only made her hate herself for not being able to let go of this relationship.

“Keep my words in mind. We need the House of Mayze, Brie.”

“…Yes.”

“Our family will no longer remain neutral. We need the Duke’s power for that.”

“……Yes.”

“His Majesty has not yet decided who will inherit the throne.”

That was why the Empress’s faction of nobles seemed so close to the Emperor, while those who supported the Crown Prince pretended to have no interest in politics.

“We are…”

“We are going to support Calisten. We intend to make him Emperor.”

Ever since Calisten killed the Viathen Emperor and unified the two empires, Briseis had felt this was the natural order of things. He would become Emperor, just like in the original story. And Damian would choose Delilah over her. In the process, she would become the villainess.

Briseis spoke with a quiet rage, realizing that despite her efforts to change the story, the core remained the same.

“Tell Father not to worry.”

“Good. I trust you.”

Mikhail patted her shoulder encouragingly and left, having finished pressuring her into following the family’s wishes.

❖ ❖ ❖

“Do you have to see me even on a day off from the Academy?”

“Yeah. I told you, I want to see you every day.”

It was the night of Mikhail’s visit. Briseis stood with her arms crossed, looking at Calisten, who claimed he had stopped by to give her something urgent. They were in the first-floor drawing room. She sat on the sofa, clutching her teacup, wishing he would leave quickly.

“Go home. I need to study.”

“Okay, I will.”

He spoke and then sat down right on the floor in front of her.

“What are you doing?”

He leaned his head against her lap and spoke. “I worked so hard today. Tell me I did a good job.”

“I am holding hot tea. You should be careful if you’re going to talk nonsense.”

“I wouldn’t mind if you gave me a burn mark.”

Briseis remained silent. Calisten spoke up. “I heard Mikhail stopped by. Is that why you’re in such a bad mood?”

She frowned, wondering how he always knew exactly how she was feeling.

“Should I punish him for you?”