???????????

It had been a week since the day I was kidnapped.

Even though my wounds had completely healed thanks to the skilled doctor, the servants prevented me from taking a single step outside.

They said it was under Etienne’s orders.

<I have something important to tell Your Highness. Something really important.>

<Your Highness Etienne is currently busy, so it’s not possible to see him now. You’re still not in good health, so please rest a bit more.> 

<It’s urgent… it might be related to ‘that.’> 

I thought, remembering the name ‘Dah’ that I heard when I was kidnapped.

The ‘Dah’ they mentioned was undoubtedly my name, Dahlia. Those men who were involved in the disgraceful act must have some connection to the object, and capturing that man could lead to finding a clue.

However, there was still no news from Etienne. As a result, my impatience grew with each passing day.

What if the promised month passes by without any progress?

Could it be that Etienne deliberately isn’t showing up?

Maybe he’s regretting giving me a chance and wants me to spend the month locked up like this…..

His expression as he looked down at me flashed in my mind.

…It’s possible. It really seems like he despises me.

I lowered my head in disappointment, then quickly raised it again.

“No, that’s not it. Etienne came to rescue me, all by himself, in that dangerous place. Of course, among the people there, Etienne seemed the most dangerous… but even the thugs couldn’t lay a finger on him. He was so sexy, kyaa…”

Lost in thought, I absentmindedly touched my face. Well, anyway, the important thing was that he came to rescue me. What could that mean?

…Could it be that Etienne… is tsundere?

When I say things like “Let’s get a divorce, I don’t want to see you,” it was actually just to get your attention! Fool! Idiot! If I didn’t do something like that, Dalhia, you wouldn’t show any interest in me! Tsk, huff, hmph!

…Was that it?

I imagined Etienne running towards me, waving his hands on the side.

Sigh.

That seemed a bit far-fetched.

Well… my imagination might have gotten a bit too carried away, but at least it wasn’t a bad sign.

Whether it was because he needed something, a sense of duty as a human, or affection as a couple… If I could leverage those aspects well, I might be able to withdraw the divorce.

A tiny glimmer of hope appeared in the midst of the darkness that had surrounded me.

“But why hasn’t he come to me?”

For a whole week, I hadn’t caught a glimpse of Etienne’s hair.

I couldn’t understand what Etienne was thinking, he was worried enough to jump into enemy territory to rescue his wife, but now he was not even visiting her who was lying in bed.

“Argh, I don’t get it! What on earth is Etienne thinking?!”

The more I thought about it, the more my head hurt. Would there ever come a day when I could understand what was going on inside Etienne’s head before this life ends? I don’t know… I don’t want to think about it right now.

I buried myself back into the covers. The rustling of the sheets felt comforting.

Thanks to the combination of eating, sleeping, and resting well, drowsiness quickly overcame me.

The sunlight seeping through the thin curtains warmed my forehead.

“Hmm…”

I let out a soft sigh.

I was half lost in the world of dreams when I heard the sound of a door opening.

Thinking it was a maid, I nonchalantly buried my head deeper into the pillow.

“You look fine.”

Wait, that voice…

I snapped my eyes open. Etienne, wearing a brown vest, was looking down at me with a blank expression.

As I tried to sit up, he pressed his finger firmly against my forehead. I was easily overpowered and gently pushed back down.

“Etienne.”

I was momentarily surprised, but quickly regained my composure.

So, there’s hope for me, right? If he came to check on me even when I’m sick, it means he’s worried, doesn’t it? The more he worries, the more curious he will become, and the more curious he becomes, the more he would want to see me…! This. Is. My. Chance. To. Reconcile!

As I entertained those thoughts, my nostrils flared involuntarily. I mustered all my strength to control my mind and weakly smiled.

It might seem presumptuous to speak while lying down, but I had to say something.

“Thank you. If it weren’t for you, things would have been a disaster.”

Like a frail sickly girl, I waited for words of comfort to flow out of his mouth. However, I had to doubt my own ears when I heard Etienne’s next words.

“You’re so foolish.”

“…?”

Is he saying that to me right now? Is he sleep-talking or something?

Etienne reached out his hand and lifted my chin. With his thumb, he gently brushed against my cheek. It was a delicate touch.

“You’re insane. You’re not in your right mind.”

I blinked at the contrasting touch of his tender hand and harsh words. He lowered the hand that had been holding my chin.

Silence hung in the air. I couldn’t find the words to retort and absentmindedly scratched my nose.

This time, Etienne’s gaze shifted to my hand.

His tightly pursed upper lip twitched. It was an expression that seemed ready to yell.

Wondering if there was a problem, I checked the hand his gaze was fixed on. The hand seemed perfectly normal.

Etienne, you fool, I want a divorce. I am a thief. There was no such writing on my hand. Of course, there wouldn’t be.

So why is he angry?

“What did I do wrong?”

“What did you do wrong? You’re asking me that?”

I asked because I genuinely didn’t know.

I pondered deeply. What could it be? What did I do wrong? All I do is eat and sleep…

“Ah, is it because I ate in bed?”

???????????