Chapter 36

Lariana’s eyes snapped open at the mention of ‘stubbornness’ and there stood Cain, his upper garment removed, arms crossed, gazing at her. She neatly folded the blanket she had been covering herself with and placed it on the chair, then with a slight limp in her steps, she moved towards the bed.

“Tsk.”

Seeing her state, Cain clicked his tongue briefly. He was now approaching Lariana, who was seated at the end of the bed. With a defensive stance, Lariana looked up at her husband standing in front of her. Cain, sinking to the floor, placed his hands beneath the hem of her skirt. Taken aback by this unexpected action, Lariana pushed him away, her nails grazing his cheek.

“Ah!”

Cain caught hold of Lariana’s injured ankle and pulled her towards him. As he did, she grabbed his shoulders and left a faint scratch on his face. Eyes and ears were watching and listening, including Marcella, his stepmother. If Lariana even showed a hint of limping, suspicions about their marital relationship would surely arise.

“Is it hurting anywhere?”

He gently prodded Lariana’s ankle in various places, as if confirming her injuries. Unexpectedly tender in his touch, Lariana simply nodded her head, and an awkward silence followed. Under her lush ivory skirt, her delicate, slender ankle was revealed. The peach-hued skin peeked out, delicate and exposed.

Even though she wore stockings, her feet and ankles appeared too small. Without thinking, Cain’s face flushed. Trying to appear unfazed, he stood up.

Approaching the bed, Cain retrieved a few vials of medicine. He gently lifted Lariana’s entire body and then sat on the bed himself. His sequence of actions flowed naturally, like the movement of water.

Cain gently lifted the hem of her skirt, carefully held her ankle, and applied the ointment. Massaging her feet, ankles, and calves, easing the surprised muscles.

Lulled by his tender touch, Lariana gradually relaxed, her eyelids drooping. The night seemed to pass peacefully, with Cain’s actions appearing fluid and effortless.

“Ah!”

Suddenly startled as if struck by lightning, Lariana let out a scream, but it was silenced by Cain’s massive hand. Trapped on the bed with Cain’s body, she struggled.

“I apologize. I miscalculated my strength.”

Terrified, Lariana squirmed. It was certainly not a momentary lapse of control. The force exerted on her ankle was enough to shatter it. Or perhaps, it was already fractured.

“Shh… I will summon Demian for treatment, so please remain calm. If the sound gets out, it won’t bode well for you either.”

The carriage experience had taught Cain a lesson. This time, he endeavored to delicately console Lariana. However, her mind was teetering on the edge of a precipice, and his gentle efforts were insufficient to dispel it.

“I’m frightened. I’m frightened of you…”

“Shh… I apologize. Just calm down.”

Cain reassured Lariana, embracing her waist as he sat on the bed. Lariana, trembling with fear for hours, eventually succumbed to exhaustion and fell asleep as if collapsing.

Cain carefully withdrew his hand from the sleeping Lariana and sat up.

Clearly, it was his mistake. Cain suddenly wondered how he would feel if he were to inadvertently fracture that delicate ankle within his hand. The thought, coupled with an impulsive surge, almost drove him to break Lariana’s ankle unintentionally.

The ankle, which had always been beside him, suddenly revealed itself at an unexpected moment. Lariana was undoubtedly someone he hated and detested, yet simultaneously pitied. A marital life where the spouse aimed to kill the other was beyond comprehension.

As if in a nightmare, the sleeping Lariana curled her body into a round shape. Cain, who had been sitting on the bed, lay down beside her. He cautiously pulled her into his embrace from behind.

He wasn’t sure why he was doing this. But one thing was clear – whether in love or not, she was his wife.

Lariana’s body touched Lejandro’s in her sleep. This, even more than her hate, was difficult for Cain to endure. He had to erase Lejandro’s mark from her body, at least.

In her unconscious state, Lariana turned her body, facing Cain. Habitually, she sought his shoulder, rubbing her face against it. He didn’t push her away. Pushing her away was not an option; Lariana was petite and delicate, especially now, in her softness.

Perhaps, just once… perhaps, for once, they could sleep like any other couple.

Trying to rationalize, Cain ardently held his wife, who nestled fervently against his chest, and closed his eyes.

* * *

When she opened her eyes, Lariana had to exert considerable effort to comprehend the surreal situation she was currently experiencing. She found herself nestled within Cain’s bare arms. The necklace, a pre-marriage gift symbolizing victory wishes, gleamed before her eyes. For a while, she struggled to find a comfortable position within her husband’s embrace.

Some time later, Cain also woke from slumber. Without delay, he sought out the family physician, Demian. He entrusted him with the emergency treatment of his injured hand and the care for Lariana’s ankle…

“Ensure the Duchess can walk soundly by noon,” he instructed Demian.

Whether that was feasible or not, Demian flatly stated it was beyond his capacity. He deemed the request beyond his skill set.

After completing the treatments, Demian opposed Cain’s participation in the hunting competition right until the moment Cain was about to leave the mansion. Lariana shared the same sentiment.

“…Jenox said you might die in the hunt.”

Perhaps due to the pain in his hand, Cain scowled and tightened his leather gauntlets.

“If he can, why don’t he try killing me?”

“Cain. Jenox is… more sinister than you think.”

“Not only sinister but also deceitful.”

“I know that well! So, can’t you at least grasp the seriousness and the sense of danger a bit more?”

“Lariana Delacroix. You’re becoming more presumptuous by the day. Do you dare to lecture me?”

Cain cut off Lariana’s incessant nagging. Though Lariana was momentarily silenced by his imposing demeanor, her resignation was short-lived.

“Hayden. Dame Ester, please, try to dissuade the Duke.”

Seeing that Cain had no intention of listening, Lariana implored not only Hayden, the aide, but also Ester, the head of the family’s knights. However, neither could thwart the Duke’s decision.

With awkward expressions, they could only convey their plea for salvation to Cain through their eyes.

“Don’t you trust your husband that much?”

As Hayden helped Cain put on his armor, Cain sighed and addressed Lariana. Limping due to her injured ankle, she approached Cain uncomfortably.

Taking the helmet from Hayden, Lariana looked up at him. Her gaze, solemn and direct, met Cain’s.

“If you go through with this injury, wouldn’t that make you more respectable?”

* * *

As the hunting competition began, Lariana found herself within the mansion along with Jena. Noble ladies and man were required to gather under the awning in front of the Witch’s Forest to cheer on the participants. It had been quite a predicament due to her injured leg, but Cain resolved the issue with ease.

He had informed Marcella, who was having tea time, that they had engaged in a quarrel that escalated to Lariana breaking her leg. The news was met with shock by Marcella and the other noblewomen present. This arrangement granted Lariana an opportunity to stay alone, as Marcella’s entry to the mansion was restricted for her safety. Hayden was stationed outside to ensure that no trouble occurred.

Cain’s unilateral decision-making was never easy to adapt to. However, their reputation in society was already at rock bottom, and there was little dignity left to lose. She had even come to a point where she considered her injury fortunate, as it meant she could avoid the social event accompanying the hunting competition.

And so, she patiently awaited Cain’s safe return.

“My lord!”

Hayden’s urgent voice reached them from outside the mansion.

Startled by Hayden’s voice, Lariana struggled to get up from the bed. Jenna, taken aback, helped her.

“Madam, be careful.”

At that moment, Cain entered the lodging. Blood was trickling down his forehead. He tossed his blood-stained helmet onto the dirt floor. Cain collapsed onto the plush wool carpet in the middle of the lodge, exhaustedly catching his breath.

“Hayden, summon Demian.”

Startled, Hayden rushed to find the family physician, Demian.

“I have already sent for a knight.”

“Madam, your leg is uncomfortable, I shall assist my lord.”

“No, I will do it. Bring me a basin and a towel.”

Approaching Cain, Lariana brought a towel soaked in water to his bleeding forehead. She had to bite her lips to prevent tears from spilling.

“Jenox’s doing, isn’t it?”

“You seem to view your cousin as omnipotent.”

The leather gauntlet brushed against the edge of Lariana’s lips.

“I told you not to wet your lips.”

Lariana crumbled under his brusque tone. Once the dam broke, her crying seemed relentless. Sobbing, she cleaned Cain’s breastplate with the help of the knight’s assistance.

It was a sight she had never seen after their marriage. Cain, in such a state of exhaustion.

Soon, the family physician, Demian, arrived and treated him. Marcella, who had come along to check on his condition, was concerned that Cain might not be fit for the hunting competition.

“Mother, it’s dangerous for the Duke to participate in the hunt in his current state.”

“Be quiet. You don’t know anything.”

Marcella glared at Lariana.

“It’s said that Duke Estelle is closely tailing Cain. I’ve known that he was foolish and dull-witted, so we should show him. If the Princess faction doesn’t win the hunting competition, His Majesty the Emperor might start doubting Princess Sonia’s abilities. Do I have to explain every single thing?”

“But if Cain becomes endangered in the process…”

“Don’t you dare mouth off! Who do you think you are?”

Marcella’s slap silenced Lariana. Despite the presence of the family physician Demian, Hayden the aide, Knight Commander Ester, and even Jena, Marcella’s actions were unreserved.

More than the pain or ache from the slap, the humiliation before her husband’s subordinates stung Lariana’s pride. She clenched her skirt hem to maintain her composure. Cain, who had been trying to take a break, got up and sat down.

“Mother, what are you doing? Apologize to my wife.”

All eyes turned to Cain. Lariana began to doubt her own ears. It was hard to believe what Cain, not in his sound state, had just said.

“What?”

“Apologize to my wife immediately.”

Read ahead here.