TDSWM Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Gasp…

Why… why are you here?

In this situation, caught red-handed and too late to run, what on earth was I supposed to do?

First, I quietly lowered the fist and leg I had thrown into the air and folded my hands meekly in front of me.

And then, in this deadlock, the only thing left for me to do was… move forward.

But my feet refused to take that first step, tangled up as I was in a ball of thoughts, like knotted threads.

He already suspected me of everything under the sun, hadn’t he even threatened to kill me, going so far as to imprison me?

And here I was—on my very first outing—having deceived him and shaken off his surveillance. I was doomed.

As if reading my mind, Gerald, still hugging that teddy bear dressed in a frilly gown, wiggled its little paw at me as if urging me to hurry.

My once-lively steps grew heavy, like soaked cotton.

What was with that triumphant air of his?!

Step by step, I inched forward.

But then—

“What’s amusing you so much?”

Eek!

I staggered, startled, because he had suddenly appeared right in front of me and whispered the words.

Of course—he was a sorcerer.

Could it be that the real demon in this book wasn’t Theodore… but Gerald?

With one corner of my mouth twisting into a bitter half-smile, I looked at him with a terrified expression as he gazed at me coldly.

Clip-clop, clip-clop.

Silence.

Clip-clop, rattle.

A solemn silence.

Still silence.

It was hard to even breathe. Even swallowing the saliva pooling in my mouth felt dangerous. My heart, pounding in terror, thudded so loudly it filled the air.

I felt like a convict locked up inside a cramped capsule drifting in the middle of a dark universe.

Compared to the capital, the distance from the castle to the guild was truly short, and yet now it felt as far as the sun from the earth.

I was terrified. Why hadn’t Gerald told anyone that I had slipped out of the prayer room?

Back there, he had only handed me the teddy bear, then waited quietly outside.

When I opened the prayer room door, he smiled brightly and offered his arm to escort me.

It unsettled me.

What was he thinking, to not question me, not even search for me, but simply wait?

Even as we left the monastery, his smile never faltered.

Why didn’t he ask?

How I’d found the secret passage, where I had gone.

In front of the monastery, a carriage and knights were waiting.

Unaware of any of this, Ariel mounted her horse with loyalty and took her place as escort.

Why didn’t Gerald reprimand her for failing to keep me under watch?

Why hadn’t he ordered the knights to seize me?

Dean Bayden of the Dyson guild and the priests saw us off with courtesy, asking us to visit often.

And then—

“We shall present your request to the High Priest. Our parish will do everything in its power to support this.”

Bayden bowed deeply to us.

“Please do so.”

Gerald, embodying a grand duke’s dignity, nodded with elegance, smiling sincerely at the dean and priests until our carriage departed.

And thus, my impulsive outing to the Dyson parish ended in apparent peace and grace—Gerald the devoted husband, and I the pious wife.

But once we were out of sight, his lips flattened, and he simply stared out the window in silence.

Was this the calm before the storm?

Or had I stumbled into the storm’s very eye?

Surely he wasn’t about to take me somewhere strange instead of back to Schlesien Castle?

Or transport us elsewhere with spatial magic right inside this carriage?

No… his magic didn’t affect me. Was that a relief?

Feigning interest in the scenery outside, I sneaked glances at him.

I felt like a student caught by her homeroom teacher after sneaking out of night study to eat tteokbokki, now cornered in the counseling office.

Normally, one would confess quickly and vow never to repeat it…

But how was I supposed to admit I had gone to meet Count Asra—the man reduced to slavery?

And if I told him I’d agreed to inherit the Count’s belongings, wouldn’t Gerald slice my head off first?

Count Asra was well-known: a man who threw himself recklessly into inventions, brimming with genius and tinged with madness, whose countless experiments had devastated entire neighborhoods.

The idea of bringing his belongings into our household would look threatening and insolent to any loyal imperial subject.

That would only earn me more suspicion, wouldn’t it?

But… what if I said it was to cure Theodore’s health? Would he believe me?

No, probably not.

All I’d shown so far were distilled water and carbonated water.

Could those things be pushing me further into a corner?

What if I were branded a witch?

I didn’t even want to imagine what would happen next.

Gerald.

Somehow, he now held my life and death in his hands—an absolute, unshakable power.

Perhaps I should win over his heart first.

That way, maybe it would be easier to lift Theodore’s curse.

Instinctively, I folded my legs demurely and clasped my hands together, waiting meekly for his judgment.

Even with his gaze fixed vacantly on the scenery outside, his entire being radiated sparks of anger, crackling red-hot like embers flaking away.

Each time the confined space between us quivered, those shards of fury struck me, raising goosebumps, my hair standing on end.

Then, with his legs crossed and still staring out the window, he tossed out a line:

“How long are you going to keep sneaking glances at me?”

“Ah…”

My cheeks burned as if seared, and I quickly turned away. His eyes had been blazing.

There was no avoiding it anymore. Better to face it head-on. For the future’s sake.

“Thank you. For not asking where I went, or who I met.”

“Because it would be pathetic.”

“…?”

Pathetic?

Why would he call himself pathetic? Shouldn’t I be the pathetic one?

Biting his lip, Gerald glared at me, then turned back to the window, muttering low:

“If the scene were discovered, neither you nor he would leave alive.”

“…!”

Could it be—he knew I had met Count Asra?

But how?!

A shiver ran through me.

“Did you… did you put some kind of eavesdropping or tracking spell on me?”

“Heh. Didn’t you say my magic doesn’t work on you?”

His glare cut sharp.

“…True.”

“You don’t want to be caught, is that it?”

“Uh… yes.”

“You must’ve enjoyed dressing as a man for him, then?”

“He was surprised, at least.”

Well, since it had come to this, honesty was my only option.

“I’ll be bringing back the items he gave me soon.”

Instantly, Gerald’s face darkened.

“What?”

“They’re things I absolutely need.”

“How can you say that so brazenly? Shameless… tch…”

He caught himself, realizing his temper had spiked, and drew a steadying breath.

“They’ll be useful to me later.”

“Ha… useful to you, perhaps.”

“If they’re useful to me, won’t they also be useful to Theodore—and to you?”

Gerald, who had been raising his voice, froze at my reply. His breath grew ragged, but he bit his lip, pressing his brow against the carriage window frame, and looked back outside.

“You said until the curse is lifted, yes? That was the condition for our marriage?”

‘Why bring that up now?’

“Wasn’t it?”

“…Yes.”

“Then shouldn’t you refrain from doing such things?”

‘What is he talking about?’

“Why meddle in my mother’s confinement when you’ll be leaving me?”

“That’s—”

I tried to answer, but he cut me off.

“Why reshape the running of Schlesien Castle to your own liking?”

“Because—”

Again he interrupted.

“Why steal Theodore’s heart for yourself?”

He wasn’t waiting for my replies.

The weight of his low, insistent questions forced me to consider their true meaning.

“The people of the castle, me, Theodore—you won’t even take responsibility for any of us in the end…”

I froze.

“Why take on responsibilities you won’t bear?”

“…!”

Straightening, Gerald locked eyes with me. My head buzzed as if I’d been struck.

“I’ll grant you divorce. If leaving your family was your goal, it’s achieved. So go.”

At that moment—

The carriage jolted.

Stunned by his words, I lost balance and fell into his arms.

Our shoulders collided.

“Ah!”

Jolt!

The carriage rocked again.

As I nearly tumbled back, Gerald caught my back with both arms. His startled breath grazed my nose.

A shiver ran through me.

But then—I heard it. His pounding heartbeat. And the heat searing from his palm against my back.

Startled, I looked up at him. His emerald eyes wavered.

Suddenly, he released me, and I fell hard onto the carriage floor.

“Ow!”

I tried to sit back up, but—was it downhill?

“Waaah!”

I slid right into his knees.

It hurt.

Gerald quickly reached out to lift me.

Jolt!

This time my head slammed into his chin.

“Urgh!”

“Ah…”

I collapsed onto the floor again, eyes stinging with tears until they spilled.

Divorce…

The word stung worse than the pain.

And worse still—it was the truth.

Had I been utterly selfish all along?

“Ha…”

I tried to regain composure, but couldn’t.

Then—

As if it were nothing, Gerald swept me up.

He was so strong that before I knew it, I was seated on his lap.

His face was right before mine, his heated breath mingling with mine.

His emerald gaze burned me alive, leaving me flustered, my eyes darting for escape.

Why was his body burning up?

Then—Jolt!

The carriage rocked once more.

I stumbled backward, and Gerald too lost balance.

I crashed back into my seat, while he toppled over me, his forehead nearly touching mine. His breath brushed across my cheek.

My heart thundered wildly.

But then—I saw it. Blood trickled from his lips. He must’ve split it when we collided earlier.

Oh dear…

My hand reached toward his face, but he turned away.

So I reached again and turned his face back.

Pulling out my handkerchief, I pressed it firmly against his lips.

He stared straight into my eyes, his emerald irises blazing like copper—element Cu, atomic number 29—fiery and molten.

And my heart… began racing madly, just like it had when his gaze had shaken me on our wedding day.