What’s Wrong With My Marriage? I Was Bought as a Wife, Yet My Husband Is Madly in Love With Me! - Chapter 42

As I waited outside the room with Nora, I heard an angry voice from outside demanding to know why no one was there. My body instinctively stiffened at the sound of that familiar voice.

(Why is he here?!)

“…Lord Riekel.”

“So, you came quietly. Hey, where’s the man who brought you? Is he in the back?”

Despite my stunned silence, Henrik Riekel attempted to push past toward the back room with an irritated look on his face.

“W-why?”

“Why? Because I’m going out of my way to take you in. You should be grateful.”

(Take me in? What is he talking about?)

“Madam, please step back.”

Nora stepped between Riekel and me, standing firm to protect me. However, Riekel looked at Nora and scoffed.

“Are you another one who got fired? I didn’t hear anything about taking in two of you. Look, I’ll give you some money, so get lost. I’m only here to pick up the woman over there, the one who was divorced.”

“Divorced?!”

I couldn’t make sense of it. I hadn’t divorced Klaus, and the idea of remarrying Riekel was an absolute impossibility.

“How did this story even start?”

“Cassandra bowed her head and begged me to save her poor little sister. After she went that far, I had no choice, did I?”

I had no idea how any of this qualified as “having no choice.”

(Cassandra? Did my sister call this man here? Did she go so far as to lie and say I was divorced?)

“Well, whatever. Just get in the carriage outside. I’m taking you to my estate.”

“Don’t touch me!”

Physiological revulsion flared as he reached out. When I cried out, Riekel made no effort to hide his irritation and raised his hand.

“…You little—”

(He’s going to hit me!)

I steeled myself; even if he struck me, I would never do as he said.

But the impact never came.

The door to the back room flew open, and a burly man came flying toward Riekel.

With a muffled groan, Riekel and the burly man both sprawled out onto the floor.

“I would appreciate it if you would stop trying to touch my wife with your filthy hands.”

“W-why are you here?! Weren’t you two divorced?!”

Klaus knit his brows at Riekel’s shouting.

“I have no idea what logic leads to such a misunderstanding. But I have only one thing to say to you. …Get out.”

From my position, I could only see Klaus’s back. I saw Riekel’s face turn pale as he lay on the floor.

However, Riekel didn’t back down. Pointing a finger at Klaus, he screamed that Klaus was nothing but a weakling who couldn’t do anything without guards.

(…Guards?)

“I’ve heard all about you! At that school you went to, you were at the bottom of the barrel—barely passing swordsmanship and horsemanship! You’re just a bluffing show-off. Why don’t I just challenge you to a duel right here and now?!”

“…Heh.”

Klaus’s voice was remarkably low.

He crouched down in front of Riekel and grabbed the finger that was pointed at him.

And then—

Nora covered my eyes.

Only the sound—the dull, sickening sound of something snapping—echoed through the room.

“Unfortunately, I was never much for refined things like swordsmanship or horsemanship. But when it comes to a brawl, I’ve never lost to anyone.”

Throwing those words at the groaning Riekel who was clutching his hand, Klaus stood up and came to my side.

“…Let’s go, Luce.”

Klaus offered his hand, but then hesitated, starting to pull it back.

Hurriedly, I reached out and squeezed it tight.

(I must not let go of this hand.)

I knew that instinctively.

“…Let’s go, Klaus.”

When I smiled at him, Klaus’s expression softened into a smile, though his brow remained slightly furrowed. Together, we walked out of the building, with Nora following close behind.

“…You! Do you think you’ll be forgiven for this?! Luce Orlov!!”

At the very last second, Riekel’s voice screamed after us.

In the past, if someone had yelled at me like that, I would have cowered in silence. But not today.

Even if I was someone who had to borrow the strength of another, still…

I was done wearing myself out for people like that.

“I believe you have me mistaken for someone else. I am not a member of the House of Orlov.”

I threw those words back at him and never looked back.