Ch#84
Odellie hurriedly made excuses.
“You know the Cardell Family made up that story about my weak body since childhood to keep me confined.”
“......”
“I only vomited blood when my mana twisted. Mages experience those side effects often. I just had it a bit more frequently because my Purification Ability consumes a lot of mana.”
It was a cautious lie, mixing truth and falsehood.
‘I ended up lying after all.’
There was no room for excuses now.
But what could she do.
To prevent him from seeing her as the Blue-Eyed Woman, she had to thoroughly erase the image of someone weak and in need of protection.
“That’s a long explanation. Why ramble on with excuses like someone with a guilty conscience.”
“......”
Was it already irreversible.
At that moment, Rudvil’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Well, enough now. I’ll be thoroughly managing your health from now on anyway.”
“......”
Odellie’s lips twitched for a moment.
Above all, what must not be discovered was that she had less than five years left.
Yes, as long as that wasn’t found out, it would be fine.
So it was still okay.
After a brief silence, Odellie nodded.
“Then how about we sleep now. It’s late.”
If they kept talking, she felt like she’d end up spilling things she shouldn’t.
But Rudvil replied nonchalantly.
“I’m not sleepy.”
Then he made an unexpected request.
“Sing me a lullaby.”
“......A lullaby?”
“Didn’t you say you would.”
She had said that.
In her drunken state, she’d said, ‘There was a lullaby that man liked. Shall I sing it for you?’
Odellie looked at him with a dazed expression.
She thought he might be swallowing his anger and making a snide remark again….
But his tone was utterly serious.
“However, sing a song I like.”
“You have a favorite song too?”
“What do you take me for.”
No, weren’t you someone who didn’t particularly enjoy cultural pursuits….
Had he developed a new taste amid the notoriety of being a mad Grand Duke indulging in luxury and pleasure?
Odellie felt a bit expectant.
Finally, Rudvil had developed a personal taste unrelated to Odellie.
Even if it was just one song.
There are people who say a bard’s song changed their life.
Odellie looked up at him with an expectant expression.
“.”
“......”
“My favorite song.”
“......”
“Why the face.”
“No......”
The lullaby ‘that man’ liked was the very one you just named.
‘Of course.’
To name as his favorite the lullaby she’d often sung for him.
She truly felt their journey was far from over.
It’s fine. They’d only just gotten married, so there was plenty of time.
“Just this once. Next time, I’ll sing a different lullaby.”
“Why.”
“Didn’t you say to think only of Rudvil when beside him. I don’t want to think of someone else who likes that song.”
“......”
Rudvil seemed to understand the meaning.
He frowned deeply, looking extremely displeased.
“......I’ll find another song.”
“Yes, go ahead and look.”
Invite lots of bards to the castle. Listen to various songs….
Odellie encouraged him positively instead, flashing a gentle smile.
She neatly gathered the hem of her chemise and sat quietly at the edge of the bed.
There was space between them for another person to lie down.
Both Rudvil and Odellie kept their gazes on the ceiling.
No words were exchanged.
“......”
“......”
Suddenly singing in this atmosphere was embarrassing, but….
‘Even if I sleep now, I can barely get six hours.’
Thinking of Rudvil’s insomnia suddenly sharpened her mind.
“Under the silver leaves, sleeping wind,”
Odellie began to sing.
At first, it was almost a whisper.
But soon, it became familiar.
[Under the silver leaves, sleeping wind
Even in the winter snow, don't lose your way
Small lantern, hold it in your eyes
Even if the night is long, I'm here
When stars flow beyond the deep mountains
May a quiet song seep into your dreams
Sleep, sleep
To the land without wounds
Under the silver leaves, sleeping love
May you smile again tomorrow morning]
And very slowly, syllable by syllable, she began to hum the song softly.
The lullaby he had last heard from her in the throes of death.
The song he now requested from her again, having lost his memories.
Once the song ended, Rudvil, who had been silently savoring the afterglow, spoke.
“I can’t hear it well.”
“......”
“Your voice is too quiet.”
Shouldn’t he have said that when she started singing?
“I clearly said just once.”
Odellie made an irritated face from embarrassment, looking as if she were debating whether to throw a pillow at him.
Then Rudvil chuckled softly and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close.
The empty space between them suddenly closed until their skin nearly touched.
“If you hold me like this and whisper in my ear, I think I’ll fall asleep better.”
“Such tricks….”
“Oh dear. My eyes are already closing.”
“......”
Rudvil whispered lowly while holding her tightly.
“Sing it one more time, Madam.”
“How long are you going to call me Madam.”
Odellie showed a hint of discomfort.
It was because the regressor Rudvil had always called her Madam.
Through thousands of regressions, his wife had been only one person.
“What’s wrong with it. Contract or not, you’re my wife. There’s no clause about titles, is there? And somehow, it rolls off the tongue well….”
“......”
“Won’t you grant an encore request?”
Odellie let out a sigh.
She’d already sung it once—what difference would one or two more times make.
The song began again.
The second time, she sang it more skillfully, like a familiar habit.
That soft melody quietly filled the room.
