To My Husband's Mistress - Chapter 1 Part 7

It was awkward. Leticia awkwardly smiled and looked at the princes.

Prince Calix had a sympathetic expression as he looked at her. But Prince Sionian… Well, it was hard to tell if he was angry or finding it amusing.

Either way, they didn’t come here for this. Even if Clarissa had pushed her forward, the decision was theirs.

So, she should take responsibility for it.

“I apologize. It is an honor just to have you here, and yet we have inconvenienced you with our selfish desires. Please enjoy yourselves without any worries.”

Leticia spoke calmly, kneeling down and bowing her head. The hem of her pristine wedding dress trailed on the floor, gathering dust.

“Lady Violet, there’s no need for this on such a beautiful day…”

Calix, hearing him reflexively calling her by her unmarried name, had a perplexed expression. On the other hand, Prince Sionian remained seated, chin resting on his hand, not even blinking.

“There is one congratulatory message I can offer you.”

“Yes?”

Surprised by the unexpected offer, Leticia looked up. The prince, with eyes bluer than the most precious sapphire, stared at her intently before whispering mischievously.

“Run away.”

“Run away…? What do you mean?”

“Exactly what it means. Run away from that fool, Miss Bride.”

As far as possible. Sionian’s red lips parted, revealing his white teeth as he spoke.

He watched Leticia as if she were a goldfish gobbling up food without knowing its stomach was about to burst. She couldn’t help but sigh at the feeling of being mocked once again.

“If you allow me, I shall take my leave.”

It was the first time she had seen a man more arrogant than Aster Winchester. This was her first impression of Sionian Sol Meyer.

‘It doesn’t matter. After all, we won’t see each other again.’

Or so she believed, as Sionian lay beside her, sneering. His god-blessed body on full display.

***

“How can the well-known healing power of the ‘Sol’ be like this?”

Leticia, who was reluctantly drawn to Sionian, murmured. It was uncomfortable for her to lie with the arm of a foreign man, especially a Prince of the Sacred Empire, wrapped around her.

But there was no other way.

“Do we really have to be in such close contact for the treatment?”

“The effect is better seen with the eyes than with words, don’t you think?”

His hand naturally slipped between Leticia’s parted lips. After untangling the bandages several times a day to check the wound, she no longer felt any embarrassment.

Still, Leticia turned her head away, feeling conflicted.

“Why, are you ashamed?”

“…Yes.”

“It’s a medical procedure; there’s no need to feel ashamed.”

You’re being overly self-conscious. Seeing his red lips that seemed to be mocking her, Leticia felt the urge to talk back to him in a way that was uncharacteristic of her.

“How can I not be ashamed? It is truly regrettable to show something so disgraceful to your esteemed body.”

“I’m aware of the subject. But endure it anyway.”

Even without saying it, she had already thought of doing so. Leticia knew well that it was a miracle that she had survived.

If she hadn’t met Sionian called the ‘Sol’, she would surely have died. But even though he saved Leticia’s life, he kept scratching her as if he was going to kill her with high blood pressure.

“To think that I would be staring at the br*ast of the woman I gave a congratulatory message to. Such opportunities are rare.”

“What are you talking about… No, can you even call that a congratulatory message in the first place?”

She knew she shouldn’t dwell on trivial matters, but Leticia couldn’t help but ask. It was because his words were so astonishing.

A man telling the bride on her wedding day to run away!

“Isn’t it a perfect congratulatory message? You’re already in such a state, yet you lack enlightenment even after all this.”

Unfortunately, his words were right on the mark.

What if she had listened to Sionian’s words back then? What if she had said she couldn’t go through with the wedding and clung to her father’s chest, and cried until she couldn’t anymore? It would have been better if she just ran away from the ceremony altogether.

‘Then I wouldn’t have faced rejection like this or experienced such devastation.’

As she thought that, a loose tear finally burst forth from her eyes.

“Are you crying?”

She didn’t want to answer. She stubbornly turned her head away and let the tears trickle down her cheeks and pool on her chin.

Seeing this, Sionian chuckled instead of offering comfort.

“I like foolish people like you. Do you know why?”

“…Is it amusing to you?”

“Well, I won’t deny that. But fundamentally, it’s out of curiosity.”

What curiosity is he talking about? Leticia’s eyes seemed to be asking him.

“You walk willingly into the path of destruction. I’ve seen you make foolish choices repeatedly, ones I would never make. I want to see how far you’ll go, and when you’ll finally realize.”

His tone was reminiscent of observing a swarm of ants. Her misfortune was nothing more than a small amusement to Sionian. Knowing this well, Leticia couldn’t help but ask.

“Why did you save me?”

God blessed him, but humanity did not exist for Sionian. He could have easily let her die.

“Is this the beginning of annoying questions?”

“If it’s bothersome, I apologize. I should just be grateful that you saved my life…”

“No, it’s fine. But let me ask first.”

Both in terms of status and morality, it was right for him to question her. After gracefully ignoring her question, Sionian opened his mouth.

“If you’re grateful, why not say it? Leticia Violet Winchester.”

Despite his lack of interest, he remembered her name accurately. It sent shivers down her spine, as if she was being addressed by a judge.

“You are the sole daughter of Count Violet and the daughter-in-law of Marquis Winchester. How did you end up getting stabbed and washed away in the river?”

Sionian questioned her, mentioning both of her families in turn. Meeting his stern gaze felt like being pierced by a blade.

Frightened, Leticia involuntarily shrank back.

“Oh dear.”

Sionian furrowed his brow. He still had one hand on Leticia’s wound.

Because she suddenly crouched down, his firm fingertips accidentally scratched the wound. As a tingling pain shot through her, she bowed her head, revealing the bright red bandages.

“Ouch.”

“You’re quick to feel pain.”

Sionian remarked as if it were absurd and reached out his hand.

“I barely managed to stop the bleeding. Quite the feat, if I say so myself. But if you want to stay in bed with me a little longer, just say so.”

His low voice seemed both angry and sensual. Before Leticia could even deny it, his hand tightly grasped her br*ast and gently squeezed it.

“Ah.”

A cruel smile suddenly appeared on his face as he stopped the bleeding.

“You’re erect.”