ITVDWBE 57

~Chapter 57~

Richard, thinking of Ancia, couldn’t hide his discomfort at his aide and steward continuing to praise Bianca.

“My wife is like that too.”

“Pardon?”

The aide, unsure whether Richard meant Ancia was lonely or bold, quickly changed the topic.

“Ah, come to think of it, I haven’t met the Duchess yet since I missed the wedding to retrieve overdue documents.”

“Then let’s go see her.”

Bianca had barely left when Richard stood up. It was better to move before that cunning commoner returned and spouted nonsense.

“But sir, there are still piles of documents to review…”

“I can review them while waiting for my wife. Bring them along.”

“Ah, then I will gladly accompany you.”

The aide gathered a mountain of reports almost too heavy for a grown man to carry.

On her way back to her room, Ancia stopped by the small private training ground.

Since she had been setting up meetings between Bianca and Richard, she needed to prepare for the final showdown.

“Madam, you hit every target again today!”

“You even look so elegant while throwing.”

For a short while, Ancia practised throwing wooden blocks about the size of a music box.

It was so she wouldn’t make mistakes at crucial moments.

The maids assumed her sudden hobby was an Eastern trend and cheered her on.

After some sweat and practice, one block finally hit the dummy’s shoulder instead of always hitting the centre.

Finally!

Ancia clenched her fist without realising but quickly straightened up as if nothing happened.

“I think that’s enough for today.”

“Yes, madam. It’s good to rest if you’re not feeling well.”

“Tomorrow you’ll hit the centre every time. Stay strong!”

Unlike the maids who pitied her, Ancia inwardly cheered at achieving control closer to what she wanted.

All the way back, the maids consoled her.

Even though Ancia explained she purposely aimed for the shoulder, they only patted her kindly, thinking she was embarrassed at missing.

Eventually, Ancia gave up explaining and walked silently to her room.

When she arrived, she paused.

Outside her half-open door stood the aide with a thick stack of reports, facing the wall. Inside, Bianca’s voice drifted out, sweet and loving.

“Duke, it’s my role to serve you until madam returns. Shall I massage your shoulders? I was the strongest in my village.”

Ancia hadn’t asked her to go this far.

She almost admired Bianca’s enthusiastic approach.

‘She’s working hard to appeal to him.’

Though she nodded in approval, Ancia was surprised by Bianca’s transparent intentions.

A maid massaging the Duke in the Duchess’s room was undeniably insulting to Ancia.

Even an ignorant commoner like Bianca would know that.

‘The innocent heroine? No. Bianca is clever enough to lie for love.’

Perhaps these efforts were needed to keep the original story on track.

Ancia could overlook such lies. She just felt tired realising she wouldn’t be able to rest as planned.

Rubbing her dry eyes lightly, she suddenly felt warm breath above her head.

Startled, she looked up, thinking the aide had come close, only to see an all too familiar chest brush past her nose.

“Is hide-and-seek over now, wife?”

Richard had approached silently, and looking up at him strained her neck.

“I wasn’t hiding. Anyway, you’re too close, please move.”

“I’m not holding you.”

True, he wasn’t holding her. She was simply trapped between him and the wall.

The dangerously close distance made her uncomfortable. She glanced up at Richard and saw the corners of his lips curl up.

‘He’s smiling again?’

As she raised her head to check, Richard pulled her into his arms.

It was a light embrace, just enough to prevent her from escaping, yet not tight enough to suffocate.

His strong chest felt stable, even comforting.

In the past few days, Richard had held his small wife many times, familiarising himself with her slender frame that fit so well in his grip.

Ancia, enveloped in his familiar scent, felt puzzled.

‘He smells like the Count’s household. Did he receive perfume among the wedding gifts I left behind?’

Perhaps a servant had sprayed it on him, but either way, she felt happy he used the Count’s gifts without prejudice.

Breathing in the nostalgic scent, she closed her eyes. But opening them again, realising this wasn’t her childhood home, left her feeling empty.

“Wife?”

Seeing Ancia sigh deeply while in his arms bothered Richard.

He wanted to see her expression but didn’t want to let go, so he bent his knees slightly to meet her gaze.

Looking into her clear, green eyes shimmering with sadness, he almost gasped.

Just moments ago, she had seemed calm despite being surprised by his sudden appearance. Why did she look so sorrowful now?

Though he didn’t understand, he wondered if it was his fault. Perhaps he should have waited until she allowed him to come.

All he could do was gently release her and step back.

“My, madam, why do you look so sad?”

No servant would dare interrupt the Duke and Duchess so intimately. Only Bianca, ignorant of such decorum, could.

“Did the Duke bother you?”

“No, Bianca.”

Ignoring Ancia’s reply, Bianca stepped in closer, making it inevitable for all three to face each other.

“Duke, your strength isn’t ordinary. While someone sturdy like me can endure, you should be careful with madam’s delicate body.”

Her words, seemingly harmless, carried multiple jabs: boasting about her own toughness, warning Richard about his strength, and subtly belittling Ancia while pretending concern.

“Hm, still immature.”

Still, it was effective enough to make Richard worry about Ancia, causing him to step back. Bianca, acting innocent, even reached out to tidy Ancia’s hair.

“Madam, you must be tired. Running away from the Duke all day must be exhausting. I feel so sorry for you.”

‘Heroine, I appreciate your efforts to drive a wedge between us, but you’re risking making the male lead angry too. That’s dangerous for me, you know?’

Suppressing her sigh, Ancia smiled.

“I wasn’t avoiding him, things just didn’t work out. Isn’t that why I sent you to him, Bianca?”

“Madam, please go rest. I’ll take care of the Duke.”

Though her comments had caused a slight inconvenience, Ancia appreciated Bianca’s initiative in creating contact with Richard.

“Yes, I need some rest.”

As Ancia moved to enter her room, Richard blocked her path.

“Wife, I’ve heated our bedroom nicely. Rest there.”

Thankfully, he didn’t look upset at Bianca’s earlier words. He reached out to Ancia, expressionless yet somewhat shameless.

Ancia stepped back slightly, answering with a smile instead of taking his hand.

“Thank you, but I really just want to rest alone today.”

“I won’t touch you. Just sleep with me.”

“Then isn’t it unnecessary to sleep together?”

“It’s necessary.”

“Why?”

Of course, no answer came. Richard wasn’t one to explain his feelings. If there was a reason, it was probably because Ancia kept sending Bianca to him, sparking jealousy or concern.

Today alone, she had sent Bianca to him several times.

Ancia just wanted to end things here for the day. Bowing slightly, she tried to retreat.

“If there’s no reason, then I’ll be going…”

“Because I’m lonely.”

Silence.

His desperate excuse froze the entire hallway. Even breathing stopped for a moment.

‘Did I just hear that right? Duke… are you breaking character right now? Look, I’ve got goosebumps.’

Ancia swallowed back all the words she couldn’t say, barely keeping her shock hidden.

The aide dropped the reports he was holding. Papers scattered across the floor like falling leaves. Every servant nearby stood frozen, eyes wide in disbelief.

Even Bianca, who always looked for opportunities to speak, was left speechless, mouth agape.

Meanwhile, Richard, who had stunned everyone, smiled softly with crescent eyes.

Then, as if nothing was unusual, he whispered to Ancia.

“Wife, let’s go together.”

Earlier that day, Bianca’s talk about his loneliness had only annoyed him. He never imagined it would become so useful.

He had never thought of himself as lonely, but if calling himself so meant he could keep his wife close, he could be as lonely as needed.

“I’m lonely without you, wife.”