Chapter 3
The protagonist possessed by her husband, Episode 3
'A man is always what a woman makes of him.' Since you are not being friendly, isn't Alex keeping his distance as well?’
‘…….Yes, yes.
It's my fault that I can't even see the stars, let alone have a child, mother-in-law...
Shortly after I resigned myself to accepting marriage.
I started to pay attention to things other than having intercourse with my husband or getting pregnant.
Just because I desperately want it doesn't mean he will suddenly change; I was thinking of waiting for him slowly while we both put in the effort.
I heard from the maid that in fact, Alex had no intention of getting married either.
She had given up on marriage because she already knew well the things that were impossible for her.
However, the mother-in-law, who was desperate for a daughter-in-law, could not find one in the Rilt Empire, so she searched in other countries and found me.
Everyone acknowledged Alex's appearance, but no one wanted to marry him for fear of being targeted by the tyrant.
Alex could not stop the marriage that his mother hastily arranged.
'Okay. Alex is also suffering from an unwanted marriage. It might get better someday.'He is the only man I have fallen in love with at first sight throughout my past and present lives.'
Where else would I meet a man like this?
Encouraging myself like that, I gradually planned to adapt as his wife and the Duchess of Brent.
The place where I spent the most time in the early days of my marriage was the study of Brent Ducal House.
Anyway, since I learned the language of the Rilt Empire from a young age, I had no difficulty reading books or communicating.
The writer's study was as spacious as two or three ordinary reception rooms combined.
The memory of the first time I accidentally ran into my husband in that study is still vivid.
I made an effort to approach him first at that time.
I was asked to introduce a book because I wanted to know about the Rilt Empire I moved to.
I am trying to study about my husband's country. Now it is also my country.He seemed a little surprised.
Just a few days ago, I was alone crying, regretting my marriage, so it must have been quite unexpected for him.
Soon he introduced me to several books.
That day, I occasionally received recommendations for various books on different topics from him in the study.
Naturally, the time spent drinking tea together or having conversations increased, and I often admired his extensive knowledge.
This man, I thought he was just good-looking, but he's smart and kind too...It was so pitiful that I couldn't even find a bride in the empire due to being treated with such disdain.
It's all that guy's fault.Every time I went to the palace, I stared at Emperor Axen as if I were glaring at him.
A dark red eye that seems to swirl like lava.
A forehead and nose bridge that resemble a sheer cliff, and a jawline that is sharply angled in a square shape.
The rough, golden hair seemed to shimmer like the sun, and the arrogant gaze was rooted in the unique pride of a human who had an empire beneath their feet.
The tyrant did not hesitate to mock me, who had become the Duchess of Brent.
When they first saw me, they stared for a while and then burst into laughter.
"Who would marry such a fool, and it turns out there was also a flashy idiot with just a pretty exterior."'Penny pincher?'
I've never heard such words since I was born.
My stepmother has never called me a fool.
In front of so many nobles, being a fool was undeniably shameful, but surprisingly, I felt indifferent.
They say that a couple is like one body, but compared to the lifetime of derogatory remarks that Alex has endured, what I have experienced is nothing more than a scratch.
However, after that day, Alex refused to go to the palace.
Even though I knew well what would happen if I refused the royal invitation, I did not respond to the tyrant's call.
In the end, the tyrant's army stormed the Duke's residence, and he was taken away.
My mother-in-law blamed and criticized me, saying that Alex was about to die because of me, but before her complaints were even finished, I grabbed my outerwear and went outside.
Facing the tyrant was a frightening thing, but I couldn't just stand by.
I knelt before the tyrant.
I plead for you to release my husband. I was just feeling unwell, which is why my preparation was delayed. If you forgive me this one time, I swear that I will never be late for the palace's invitation again.I could not bear to look into the tyrant's eyes.
I really didn't want to see it.
It was humiliating to beg for one's life from such a cruel tyrant.
The tyrant laughed at me.
That's funny. According to the duke, he said he would never come to the palace again and would rather be killed.’
‘…….'Still, if the Duchess looks me in the eye and speaks clearly, I might believe her at least once. Your apology is not sincere. Look into my eyes and express your true feelings."What a uselessly perceptive emperor..."
I raised my head with the feeling of swallowing a bitter medicine that I really didn't want to take.
I looked straight into the brilliant yet treacherous red eyes.
I couldn't understand why I was being told to look; just making eye contact made me feel like I was going to vomit.
On the outside, she politely saved her husband again, but on the inside, she cursed the tyrant.
You foolish little emperor.
Do you know how difficult my marriage life is?
If I can't even have a baby, would taking away my husband make me feel better?
After finishing my words of leniency, I stared intently at the tyrant.
It was as if he could hear my inner thoughts, as the tyrant's gaze became somewhat unpleasantly rigid.
Fortunately, the emperor released Alex.
Go and tell your husband. If you defy me again, you will really lose your head. This is the last time I will spare your life out of respect for the duke.'On the way to finally getting him out of prison, I couldn't help but blame him.
Don't do that again. Why is that really? It wasn't just for a day or two that the emperor was doing that...However, words came out of his mouth that were unimaginable.
'I, I can handle anything that happens to me, it's okay. Ha, but Luise, you, are being treated like that...'...Could it be that you didn't want to go to the palace because of me?
I was overwhelmed with the feeling that I wanted to slap his back.
Instead of being grateful, I was on the verge of tears.
‘Alex. I don't care what the emperor says. The emperor called me a fool, but that doesn't mean I really am one. For me, living happily is the most important thing, regardless of that kind of person.He just lowered his head without saying a word.
He felt very sorry for the fact that he had become a laughingstock because of himself.
I just held his hand first.
Who can understand the heart that has suffered for so long?
'Have you been holding on alone until now? From now on, let's endure together. We only have a brief nightmare when we are with the emperor...’
‘……."Nightmares are something you can easily forget once you turn away..."I reached out to gently hug him, but then quickly pulled my hand back.
His broad shoulders could never fit entirely in my fragile embrace.
After all, we had no choice but to endure.
Like other nobles, I hated the idea of trying to please the tyrant, and I did not have the strength to stand up against him.
A storm-like time swept through like that.
A few days later, I saw him correcting his pronunciation with the therapist through the open door.
It was something like a daily routine for him.
It seemed that he was quite tired, perhaps because he had been practicing for a while.
However, something grabbed my foot as I was about to pass by.
'Lu, Louis...'Lu. This. Article. Please pronounce each word again, Your Excellency.'Lu. Lu, Lu...It's okay. Again.'Louis, Lou...’
‘…….'Were you practicing my name just now?
Why is he practicing so desperately just to say my name?
You can just call me however you want...
I stood there with my eyes wide open, unable to take my gaze off Alex for a long time.
Since then, Alex continued to practice my name. The seasons have changed several times.
Later, the exhausted therapist even suggested giving up, questioning whether it was really necessary to pronounce the name of the Duchess of Peacock correctly.
For a while, I watched him practice without pretending to know.
Who would call my name so earnestly?
Is there anyone else in this world who wants to call my name so desperately?
A deep impression and shock were engraved in my heart.
However, despite making that effort, Alex was unable to pronounce my name correctly for over two years.
No.
Now I realize that he called me by my name correctly just that one time.
Although it took a long time, he finally called my name in one go.
‘Luise.Before taking rat poison at the inn.
"I, I will, in the next life, love you much more perfectly than I do now."’
“…….And he, who was thought to be dead, has awakened.
