I Am Trying to Divorce My Villain Husband, But We Had a Child - chapter 22

Chapter 22

 

 

 

Elisa, who was staring blankly at the man in front of her, uttered a name that had become unfamiliar over the past seven years.

 

 

 

“…….Richard?”

 

 

 

However, the moment Elisa uttered the name as if to confirm it, she realized it was a foolish question. There was only one person on the continent who could use flight magic.

 

 

 

Instead of answering, he continued to stare down. He was already taller than her, but now the height difference seemed even more awkward.

 

 

 

Avoiding the dangerously glowing red eyes, Elisa felt a sudden chill.

 

 

 

“Yes, did I come earlier than expected?”

 

 

 

“Because I wanted to see you.”

 

 

 

Even though she averted her gaze, the intense look made Elisa uneasy. The appearance of the room had changed a lot in the seven years. Nevertheless, to Richard, it seemed unchanged.

 

 

 

‘It’s awkward! It’s uncomfortably awkward!’

 

 

 

Elisa felt the urge to wriggle her body in awkwardness.

 

 

 

Seven years ago, Richard was taciturn, and he remained the same now. Why did it feel so different from back then?

 

 

 

Richard took off his coat. As he removed the two layers, his upper body in a shirt was revealed.

 

 

 

Even when he had the coat on, the contours of his muscles were vaguely visible, but without the coat, the outlines became even clearer through the thin shirt.

 

 

 

Wide chest, broad shoulders, slender waist, and muscles that displayed a clear presence even with a slight fold of the arms.

 

 

 

It was the body of a perfect man.

 

 

 

Elisa, who was staring absentmindedly, met Richard’s eyes and was startled. It seemed like he noticed her admiring gaze with his dark, intense eyes. 

 

 

 

“Well, shall I prepare a bath?”

 

 

 

Just as Elisa was about to call a maid in haste, Richard’s voice stopped her.

 

 

 

“I already took one.”

 

 

 

“Oh… really?”

 

 

 

“Want to touch?”

 

 

 

Richard approached with an unbuttoned shirt.

 

 

 

Elisa, who had been focused on Richard’s body, was suddenly surprised by the shortened distance and jumped as if startled.

 

 

 

“Oh, no! Wh-what do you want me to touch?”

 

 

 

But what Richard presented was his head.

 

 

 

“It’s not fully dried yet.”

 

 

 

Ah… he meant touching his hair.

 

 

 

Elisa felt like banging her head against a plate of water. Please, may Richard not have noticed my dark thoughts, she prayed, turning her attention away.

 

 

 

“Uh, should I prepare for sleep?”

 

 

 

Elisa’s attempt to call a maid was interrupted by Richard’s voice.

 

 

 

“I already did.”

 

 

 

“Oh… really?”

 

 

 

“Shall I cuddle you?”

 

 

 

Elisa was momentarily speechless at his question.

 

 

 

‘Adult men and women sleeping together on the same bed might be a bit awkward… But we’re a married couple, so it shouldn’t be strange… But still…’

 

 

 

Seeing Richard lying on the bed, unbuttoning two more buttons of his shirt, and looking up at her, she felt like crossing a forbidden line.

 

 

 

However, Richard subtly requested to sleep together, mentioning something Elisa had said before.

 

 

 

“I won’t bite.”

 

 

 

After hesitating for a moment, Elisa finally lay down on the bed. Maintaining a certain distance, just like before.

 

 

 

Staring blankly at the ceiling, Elisa sneakily glanced at Richard.

 

 

 

Seeming tired, Richard closed his eyes as if falling asleep quickly.

 

 

 

‘Closing his eyes makes him look just like when he was a child.’

 

 

 

As the unfamiliar face transformed into a familiar one in her memories, the awkward emotions gradually faded away. Only then did a welcoming and affectionate feeling arise.

 

 

 

Elisa, feeling grateful for his return, belatedly offered the greeting she had wanted to give.

 

 

 

“Welcome back, Richard. Thank you for your hard work.”

 

 

 

“…”

 

 

 

“Sleep well.”

 

 

 

Elisa’s eyes, which were fixed on Richard, slowly closed when the peaceful sound of his sleeping breath became audible.

 

 

 

As soon as the sound of his sleeping breath was heard, Richard opened his closed eyes. Turning to lie on his side, he propped his chin and gazed at Elisa’s sleeping face.

 

 

 

For the past seven years, it was a face he had longed to see. Although some of the childish features had disappeared as he grew older, the essence remained the same.

 

 

 

Looking at that face, he thought that returning to life was a good decision for the first time.

 

 

 

“…Now she sleeps peacefully.”

 

 

 

Lying still and observing the sleeping Elisa, Richard mumbled with a somewhat regretful tone in his voice.

 

 

 

*

 

 

 

The next morning, Elisa, awakened from sleep, looked at the empty space next to her in surprise.

 

 

 

“…Richard?”

 

 

 

There was no sign of Richard, who had fallen asleep together.

 

 

 

It was hard to believe that he went to wash. And the coat that had been hanging on the sofa was also missing.

 

 

 

Elisa pulled the cord to call Anne.

 

 

 

“Anne, where’s Richard?”

 

 

 

“He is on his way to the castle right now. It seems you need to hurry with your preparations.”

 

 

 

Elisa was dumbfounded by Anne’s response.

 

 

 

‘Then what about Richard I met last night?’

 

 

 

It felt too vivid to be a dream.

 

 

 

Elisa, harboring unresolved questions, prepared to welcome Richard along with the knights of Rubellin.

 

 

 

“Young mistress, the knights of Rubellin and the master have returned.”

 

 

 

The knights of Rubellin arrived at the castle just in time.

 

 

 

Elisa immediately went downstairs to greet them, accompanied by maids and servants.

 

 

 

Finally, the castle gate opened, and the knights of Rubellin entered. Richard was at the center.

 

 

 

He looked exactly the same as the night before. Even though it seemed identical to the previous night, seeing him under the sunlight gave a different impression.

 

 

 

The handsome face that felt somewhat eerie in the darkness now exuded a mysteriously enchanting atmosphere in the sunlight.

 

 

 

“Congratulations on your safe return, Lord Richard.”

 

 

 

The servants and maids bowed their heads in unison, showing respect to Richard.

 

 

 

Richard passed them and approached Elisa directly.

 

 

 

Unable to say anything, Elisa looked up at him.

 

 

 

If last night was a dream, she should ask if he had a good rest. If it wasn’t a dream…

 

 

 

‘What should I say?’

 

 

 

In the midst of confusion, Richard lightly pulled Elisa into an embrace. His large and firm body touched hers.

 

 

 

Her startled heart raced. The sudden closeness felt awkward.

 

 

 

Even though it was just a family greeting after a long time, Richard’s voice echoed in Elisa’s ears.

 

 

 

“Good morning, Elisa.”

 

 

 

It was a voice that seemed barely audible to others.

 

 

 

Only then did Elisa realize that the events of last night were not a dream.

 

 

 

Before Elisa could respond, Richard gently released her and Aaron approached him.

 

 

 

“Please come inside, Lord Richard. His Excellency is waiting for you.”

 

 

 

“…Understood.”

 

 

 

Ignoring the welcoming knights and servants, Richard headed to Albert’s bedroom.

 

 

 

The bedroom was filled with the pungent smell of potent medicine, but to Richard, who had experienced more intense odors on the battlefield, it was nothing. With an indifferent expression, he entered.

 

 

 

In the bed, Albert, with a much-changed face, was lying down.

 

 

 

“I’m back.”

 

 

 

Even turning his head seemed to require effort, but Albert managed to look at Richard.

 

 

 

Everything about him had changed, but his eyes, burning with desire, remained the same.

 

 

 

“Why… didn’t you… take those women? Aren’t they under your control in your castle?”

 

 

 

It was the first thing he said after coughing out a dry cough, his lips cracking.

 

 

 

Richard understood that the “women” Albert mentioned were the ones he had sent to the battlefield.

 

 

 

As Albert’s illness worsened, he sent women to Richard’s castle. If things were normal, he wouldn’t dare to mix their blood with that of the lower beings. But seeing him send them hinted that Albert was anxious and in a hurry, probably about his succession.

 

 

 

“Is that not the case?… Do you have any successors with those women?”

 

 

 

“It’s still the same.”

 

 

 

Horrible. Even after several years, it was always the same topic of conversation. Richard neither got angry nor rebelled anymore. He just looked at his life-long adversary, now dying, with indifferent eyes. Just staring at the man who was fading away. After all, his grandfather would die soon.

 

 

 

Now that the knights had returned as war heroes instead of Albert, they would follow Richard’s will. So, no matter how much Albert tried to influence him, it was futile.

 

 

 

But Albert continued to speak as if he could only think about his succession.

 

 

 

“Now that you’re back, you should look for a successor from those women. After finding one, you can do as you please…”

 

 

 

It was madness disguised as desire. Staring at him with cold eyes, Richard turned away. At that moment, Albert, who was still talking behind him, uttered something about those women having a special power.