Chapter 12 – The Cheese’s Nightmare and the Missing Husband
That night, I had a ridiculous dream.
A giant golden hamster was staring down at me as I lay in bed.
Beside it stood a graceful woman — none other than Lady Lilac, the retired Duchess.
She pointed at me and said to the hamster,
“Here, Cartiman. I’ve prepared your favorite sunflower seeds. Eat as much as you like.”
But the hamster snorted.
“Mother, that’s cheese.”
“Cheese, sunflower seeds — what’s the difference?”
“I like sweet, delicious sunflower seeds. This cheese does nothing for me… unless it’s an evil cheese.”
“But you brought it here yourself! At least take a bite.”
“Cheese tastes terrible. I refuse.”
“Then should we throw it out?”
“Yes. Throw it away.”
That was when I snapped.
“Just eat what you’re given, you oversized furball!”
I shot up in bed, drenched in cold sweat.
The sun was just rising, the room was silent, and I was completely alone.
The bed was enormous, and somehow, that made me feel even lonelier.
***
“What kind of dream was that? Ugh… must be because of that dinner last night.”
I leaned against the headboard, trying to calm down.
“…He’s not here.”
Cartiman hadn’t shown up — not last night, not at all.
He’d said there was important business to handle, but after the rushed marriage, I expected at least a brief appearance.
I mean, sure, it was a contract marriage, but still — a husband completely skipping the wedding night?
If he wasn’t going to come, why bother putting that “shared room” clause in the contract?
I opened the door and immediately caught the awkward stares of several maids.
***
“Tangent.”
“Yes, my lady?”
“Where’s Tangent?”
“I’ll fetch her right away.”
Moments later, Tangent came running.
“My lady, what happened—oh?”
She stopped mid-sentence, then dragged me back into the room.
After lifting my nightgown hem and glancing around the room like a detective, she clapped a hand to her forehead.
“So the Duke didn’t come back last night, huh?”
“Yep.”
“Unbelievable.”
She cursed under her breath like she was channeling Cartiman himself.
That was so unlike her that I couldn’t help but laugh.
“My lady! How can you laugh right now?!”
“Call me Madam. I’m a married woman now.”
“I refuse! What kind of husband abandons his bride on the first night? You deserve better!”
“Ha ha.”
“Ha ha?! This isn’t funny! My heart is breaking for you!”
“Relax. I’m just surprised you already know. The gossip’s spread, huh?”
Tangent gave me a pointed look and nodded.
No wonder the maids had been giving me strange glances — the rumor probably already reached the stablehands by now.
Next thing I knew, even the horses would be neighing gossip about me.
***
After getting dressed, I headed straight to the Duke’s office.
Time to see that shameless face of his.
When I entered, Cartiman only glanced up briefly before focusing back on his documents.
“You’re supposed to knock before entering.”
“Sorry, I assumed this was how people behave here — since you clearly have no manners. So, why didn’t you come last night? You should’ve just stayed in your own room.”
“Were you… expecting me?”
“With a face like yours? Of course I was expecting you.”
“Wha—!”
The one who gasped wasn’t Cartiman but the woman beside him.
When I turned toward her, she immediately changed her expression to one of professional calm.
“The Duke was occupied with urgent matters last night,” she said. “There was nothing he could do.”
“And you are?” I asked sharply. “Were you the urgent matter, then?”
Cartiman cut in coldly. “She’s just the head maid, Bella. You’ll see her often, so remember her name.”
“So you spent the night with her?”
“She came in briefly to replace my cold tea. That’s all. Leave us.”
He dismissed her, but not before Bella shot me a glare that could’ve melted steel.
Great. Another enemy.
***
“She seems… intense,” I muttered.
“She’s been with the family for years,” Cartiman replied. “She knows how to separate work from emotion. She won’t cause you trouble.”
“I really hope so.”
He sighed. “I didn’t stay away on purpose.”
Oh? A justification? This should be good.
“I had too much work.”
“That’s your excuse? How much could there possibly be—”
He didn’t answer, just gestured toward the mountain of parchment covering his desk.
Okay, fair. Still annoying.
“You always have this much work?”
“Other houses might not. My parents retired early, so I handle most of it myself.”
“Now that you mention it, you did inherit the title young. Was something wrong with your father?”
“He’s ill. A chronic condition.”
“Can’t he be treated? You’re a Duke. You can afford it.”
“I tried. But the wound was caused by black magic — no remedy works.”
“Black magic?”
He nodded.
“There was a war in this land long before we were born. My father was injured while driving out a dark sorcerer. The wound worsens every year.”
He paused, then added quietly,
“There are still a few commoners who worship that sorcerer. Fanatics. They sometimes attack anyone connected to the Duchy. So stay inside the estate for now.”
“Wow. You could’ve just said, ‘Don’t go outside, it’s dangerous.’”
***
I shrugged and walked closer.
He finally looked up, and for the first time, I noticed the dark shadows under his eyes.
Still handsome, though.
Seriously, how did his skin look that good after an all-nighter?
I was studying his face when he smirked.
“This reminds me of before.”
“Before?”
“There’s a forest path between our families’ territories. The first time we met, you begged to visit the Duchy. Well, now you have. How does it feel?”
Instead of answering, I grabbed one of the cookies from his desk and started eating it.
He stared at me, incredulous.
“If you’re going to eat, do it elsewhere. I’m working.”
“Can I take these grape jam ones too? Oh, and the raisin cookies?”
“Did you skip dinner?”
“No, it just tastes better when it’s yours.”
“…Fine. Take them all.”
I grinned, packing them up.
“And make sure you actually come to our room tonight. If you keep avoiding me, it won’t just hurt my reputation. People will start whispering about you too.”
“What do you think they’ll say about a man who won’t go to his bride’s room?”
His face tightened with irritation.
Perfect. I grabbed my cookie stash and bolted for the door.
Just before leaving, I turned back.
“Oh, you asked earlier how it feels to be here?”
“…”
“It’s less impressive than I thought.”
And for the first time, he actually reacted.
A faint smile — not anger, but something like amusement.
He was enjoying this.
***
That night, I had another nightmare.
Aileen, you never legally became head of the house. It’s time I reclaim my property. Thanks for paying off my debts.
“Damn it, Father!”
I jolted awake, drenched in sweat again.
Another nightmare. What was wrong with this mansion?
The bed beside me was cold — still empty.
“That damn husband.”
Days passed.
At first, I called him “Cartiman the Benefactor.”
Now, he was just “that damn Cartiman.”
Apparently, it wasn’t unusual for him to stay up for days at a time — Tangent explained that bandits were active this season, and Cartiman often led the subjugation teams himself.
But honestly? Not my problem.
‘That’s it. I’m marching into that office again today.’
I’d yell at him, steal more cookies, and give that death-glare head maid another reason to hate me.
Perfect plan.
***
“Ugh, my head…”
Waking from yet another nightmare left my throat dry.
I rang the bell — hard enough to make it sound like a symphony — but no one came.
“Tangent?”
Silence.
Fine. Guess I was dressing myself today.
I looked out the window, sighing.
If I didn’t get to the dining hall soon, breakfast would be over. The thought nearly brought me to tears.
Then — knock, knock.
Someone was at the door.
And just like that, my morning — and maybe my sanity — took another turn.
