Sick Husband's Contract Wife - Chapter 49

I slammed ‘his’ door open.

“Amoide.”

A voice full of affection reverberated across the room, it even made the hairs on my arm perk up.

“Why are you here again?”

As soon as he saw me, he questioned me dryly.

Seriously? Even after I arrived with a big smile on my face? I guess he’d be more pleased to see something he hasn’t seen in a long time rather than this.

“We already went for a walk earlier.”

He sighed deeply, as if troubled.

“Can’t I come again?”

While Amoide had been ill with his cold, I basically lived in his room.

“We’re not going for another walk.”

I approached him quietly. Amoide, who had been throwing me a distorted stare, slid his gaze to the stack of books in my hands.

“Let’s read some books together.”

I placed the books I’d brought onto the table.

“Books?”

He examined the books strewn across the table sternly. It’s not like I delivered poop to him, but his face was priceless.

One of the books was already in his palm. Merely by looking at it, I could see it was a book that was hefty and full of dull information.

“Hey, let’s not read that one, let’s read something fun.”

I grabbed the book from his grasp. He handed it over without a fight, despite his confusion.

“What exactly did you bring?”

His gaze was riveted on the book I was holding.

“It’s a recipe book. However, I can’t read the letters…”

“It’s written in the script of the Ludes Kingdom.”

Of course, he knew what it was at first glance.

“Ludes? Ah! The country is well-known for its cuisine?”

I’d heard it’s surrounded on three sides by the sea and has a moderate temperature, so it’s bountiful in fruits, vegetables, and fish.

“That’s correct; it was brought over to the empire by chefs from Ludes.”

Due to the geography, the two kingdoms had many opportunities for interaction, and so, some cooks from Ludes took the chance to move across to the empire.

“But.”

He had been staring at the book when suddenly his face became solemn.

“What’s wrong?”

I paid close attention to his expression, as I wondered what had disturbed him this time.

“…Do you really want to know?”

“Of course.”

“A Hundred Dishes for a Passionate Night with Your Beloved Honey.”

“…”

He reached for the next book.

“Extraordinary Recipes to Increase Stamina on a Hot Night.”

I squeezed my lips shut and listened as he continued.

“And then there’s this one…”

Amoide lifted another book and read the title aloud.

“How I Turned My Husband Into a Beast.”

“…”

“Shall I continue?”

The corners of his lips crinkled fiercely.

“Tell me if you want me to keep going.”

“No, I think that’s enough.”

I shook my head stiffly.

“Why? I’d like to read more.”

His head slanted to one side.

“It’s okay.”

He quickly drew his hand up and away from me as I reached for the cookbook.

“Don’t you want to know the recipes?”

“No, I’m good.”

I shook my head more adamantly in an attempt to dissuade him from continuing.

“Come on, since you’re here already, it’s a good time to learn something.”

He lifted the cookbook out of my reach yet again. Even after standing, I couldn’t reach it since his arms were so long.

“Give it back!”

I jumped up and down, anxiously trying to grab the book, but it was still well out of my reach.

“Are you truly refusing my generous offer of assistance?”

He joked, and with a cheeky smile, he raised his hand even higher.

‘Ah, so devious.’

It’s much worse when he teases me with that lovely face.

“Give it here, give it here, give it… huh?”

I lost my balance and fell forward as I stretched my arm out with all my might.

“…”

Despite what I expected to be a harsh landing on the floor, I found myself in a reasonably safe location.

Warm, silky… and firm.

It was directly on his chest.

Gulp.

The sound of me swallowing was uncomfortably loud.

Amoide was caught between the window sill and me. He had to have caught me just as I was going to fall to the floor.

Thump, thump, thump.

Perhaps it was because I was lying directly on top of his chest that I could hear his heart beating so intensely. As I attempted to stand up, the arm wrapped around my waist gripped me more securely, making it difficult for me to escape.

He pressed my body into his, whispering.

“You.”

His voice was no longer as lighthearted as it had been.

“Why are you going to such lengths?”

“Why… am I?”

Thump, thump, thump.

‘Slow down, heart.’

I was afraid he might hear it, so I attempted to calm my heart by repeating a prayer in my head.

“Why are you pretending to be sincere?”

If it’s genuine, it’s genuine. What does he mean by pretending? In my surprise, I glanced up at him.

“Do you still have doubts about me? Skepticism is a sickness, my goodness.”

It really wasn’t normal. 

Feeling encouraged, I spoke up again.

“Raymond told me that mental health is directly related to physical health.”

I cleared my throat and went on.

“Instead of being suspicious, you should eat what I give you and consider getting healthy by going for walks together.”

I’m only asking you to live a long and healthy life so that I can leave this mansion securely.

“…”

Even after saying all that, he didn’t seem to want to let me go.

I had no other option at that point.

Slap

I smacked his chest hard enough to make a sound.

“…”

His piercing blue eyes flashed with astonishment.

So that elicited a response. I slapped his chest a few more times. My hands were indeed performing miracles. Perhaps sufficiently surprised, his grasp on my waist loosened somewhat, and I swiftly escaped from his arms. But I hadn’t even taken a complete step away from him before he caught me again.

“Kyaa.”

He stood up and forced me against the wall next to the window.

“Answer me.”

He was being quite persistent. He should really just stop at this point and accept my intentions…

“What exactly do I have to say? For you to believe me…”

“Tell me.”

There was agitation in his tone. I couldn’t tell whether the intensity came from rage or something else. Juxtaposing his cool, gleaming eyes with his fiery speech felt like alternating between a steaming hot and freezing cold bath.

This man was bizarre. When I needed help, a man who appeared to specialize in delivering guarded stares and speaking in a harsh tone surfaced. For example, when I stole away at daybreak and came to him to hide, or when he gallantly appeared in my fight against Greta.

But how come he can’t trust me two seconds later? His lack of ability to trust in me seems to be making him restless.

Which of his sides can I believe in?

“Because I, because I am…”

“You are, what?”

He got so close that I thought he was going to push me up against the wall. It was getting difficult for me to breathe. 

Why is he suddenly being like this?

Thud.

As I tried to twist my body to flee, he extended out his arm to block my path.

“I, you…”

I had nowhere else to go. I was entirely barricaded by his arms.

I’d successfully avoided this question numerous times before, but it seemed my luck had run out. Still, why did he have to bombard me like this?

“Tell me.”

He, too, seemed to have reached his limit. Perhaps this impasse could only be breached if I spoke to him.

“I, so…”

I was feverishly racking my brain under this smothering strain.

What might I have done to avoid this situation? What could I say that would explain what I had done for him?

If I were Amoide, I would be skeptical if my distant wife suddenly began caring about my health. So, I just had to find something plausible he could understand.

But how?

My thoughts went numb as I stared into his penetrating deep blue eyes. Everything came to a halt, and only one solution came to me.

There’s that.

‘Destiny’ is the key word that can connect all of this gibberish in one fell swoop. The word that has rescued humanity, the fathomless depths that no one has ever deciphered. The object that, no matter how many times it is conquered, always remains enigmatic.

“I’m in love with you!”

I yelled, my eyes tightly shut.

It is, indeed, love. The heart.

Suddenly, a tune started playing in my ears.

♪ ♬ Love, love, love…. ♫ ♬ ♩

Yes, love has always been able to save everything.

So it may also save me. At least to the man who is staring at me as if I’m insane.