~Chapter 16~
There was no warmth on Etienne’s face.
I started to doubt if he really came to save me.
Maybe he just came because he was bored and wanted to stretch. It didn’t look like he cared about my life at all.
The man in the black mask seemed to think the same thing as me. He shouted with a more urgent voice than before.
“Step back right now!”
He gripped the knife tighter. The blade pressed deeper into my sensitive skin. Something hot trickled down my neck.
Etienne’s eyes moved to my neck.
I remembered a cat’s big, sparkling eyes from an animation. I gave him a pleading look with all my might.
Etienne. Whether he’s a merchant boss or something else, shouldn’t you just let him go for now?
If you don’t, I think I’ll lose my head any second. My neck is thin, you know. It wouldn’t take much to cut it.
Even though he couldn’t hear my thoughts, Etienne suddenly loosened his grip.
Donin, who had been hanging in the air by his collar, dropped to the floor, shaking his wrist.
“Ugh, you bastard…!”
Even after being beaten, Donin still managed to curse as he crawled away.
Once Donin was completely gone, the man in the mask moved toward the door.
Hey, if Donin is gone, shouldn’t you let me go, too? Why are you taking me? Let me go!
But the man didn’t seem like he wanted to let me go.
Um, Etienne? I’m being dragged away over here. If it’s not too much trouble, can you help me out a little? If you started this, might as well finish it, right? By the way, I’m actually your wife.
Even if I shouted in my heart, Etienne gave no response.
So I really have to save myself in this harsh world.
I stopped in my tracks and hunched my shoulders. I let out a big, obvious groan, and the masked man looked confused.
“What? Hurry up and follow me!”
“Uuu…”
He tried to drag me out. The knife pressed into my neck and it hurt.
But I can’t give up yet… just a little more…!
I trembled my shoulders like I was in even more pain. The masked man tried to look at me closely. Not yet. Not yet.
I took a deep breath. When his face was right behind my head, I would hit him as hard as I could.
Let’s see if your face or my skull is stronger!
He got closer and closer. One, two, three…!
Holding my breath, I slammed the back of my head into his face.
Bang!
“Ugh!”
Success. He staggered back. I turned and hit him again with my elbow.
Because I’d already loosened the rope earlier, I could move.
Whack!
This time, I heard something really break.
“Aagh!”
He must have been in real pain, because his grip on me weakened.
But even though I was free… my legs were still tied!
I lost my balance and fell hard to the side. Suddenly, Etienne ran over and caught me.
I roughly pulled out the dirty gag from my mouth and pointed at the door.
“Don’t worry about me, get that guy! Catch him and beat him up!”
The masked man was running out the door, but Etienne didn’t look like he was going to chase him.
“Hurry! He’s getting away!”
“Be quiet.”
His low voice made me look up. His blue eyes looked like stormy seas at night. He seemed shaken. Why was he looking at me like that?
As if answering my question, he pressed firmly on my side. I suddenly felt pain I hadn’t noticed before. My head fell back on its own. The pain was so sharp, I couldn’t even scream.
I felt hot liquid on my side. My hand came away red. It was blood.
When I hit the masked man’s face, he must have stabbed my side.
When I realized it, the pain grew even stronger.
“That… bastard…”
Even though I was hurting, I barely managed to speak.
“Kill that… bastard for me…”
The moment I finished talking, my vision went black.
With one hand holding my side and the other gripping the bed, I sat up.
Compared to the first day, it didn’t hurt that much anymore, but it still throbbed every time I moved.
“He really stabbed me deep. That guy’s got real skill, huh?”
Grumbling, I walked over to the mirror in the room. It was less than ten steps, but that was the most exercise I’d done lately.
Oh, actually, there were a few other workouts I did. Jaw workout, stomach workout, gut workout.
Because of the “three foodie workouts,” I looked plump and healthy, like a chestnut worm that had grown in a ripe chestnut.
My skin was so smooth and shiny that anyone could tell I’d been eating well. I didn’t look anything like I did after escaping the monastery.
I checked my waist in my beige slip with lace. It looked like I even had a tiny belly now, something I didn’t have before.
“If you do nothing but eat and sleep in your room, of course you’ll gain weight. I’m all better now, so why can’t I leave?”
It had been a week since I was kidnapped.
For a whole week, I was lazy to the point of feeling guilty. My wound was healed thanks to a good doctor, but the servants still wouldn’t let me take a single step outside.
They said it was by Etienne’s order.
“I really have something important to say. Seriously. Really important.”
“Lord Etienne is busy and can’t see you right now. You’re still not fully recovered, so please rest a bit more.”
“But it’s urgent… I’m sure it’s related…”
It was because of the name “Moon” I heard when I was kidnapped.
The “Moon” they mentioned must be my name, Dahlia. Those men did shady things, so it must be related to the goods. If we catch that man, maybe we could find a clue.
But there was still no news from Etienne. I only got more anxious.
What if the promised month just goes by like this?
Maybe Etienne isn’t coming on purpose.
Did he regret giving me a chance, and just plans to keep me locked up until the month is over?
I remembered the look he gave me.
…It’s possible. He really does seem to hate me.
Feeling gloomy, I lowered my head, then suddenly lifted it again.
“No. Etienne came to save me. All by himself, in that dangerous place. Sure, out of everyone there, Etienne looked like the scariest one… Those big guys were nothing to him. He was kind of sexy, too…”
I zoned out thinking about that day, then shook my head. Ahem, anyway, the point is, he came to save me. What does that mean?
…Could it be that Etienne is… tsundere?
Maybe when he said he wanted a divorce or hated me, he was just trying to get my attention! Fool! Fool! He only acts that way because otherwise Dahlia wouldn’t notice him! Hmph!
…Is that it?
I imagined Etienne running toward me, arms waving.
Ugh.
No, that’s not it.
Well… Maybe I was just overthinking, but at least it wasn’t a bad sign.
Whether he needed something, felt responsible, or had some feelings as my husband… If I used that, maybe I could stop the divorce.
There was a tiny bit of hope in my once dark future.
“But why hasn’t he come to see me?”
For a week, I hadn’t seen a single hair of Etienne.
He rushed into enemy territory alone to save me, but now that I’m home, hurt and in bed, he doesn’t visit even once?
“Ahhh, I don’t get it! What is Etienne even thinking?!”
The more I thought about it, the more my head hurt. Will I ever understand what’s going on in Etienne’s mind before I die? I give up… I won’t think about it for now.
I burrowed back under the blanket. The crinkly sheets felt nice.
Because I was so used to eating and sleeping, I immediately felt sleepy.
The sunlight coming through the thin curtains warmed my forehead.
“Mmm…”
I was halfway to dreamland when I heard the door open.
I thought it was just a maid, so I pushed my head deeper into the pillow.
“You look fine.”
Wait, that voice.
I opened my eyes wide. Etienne, wearing a brown vest, was looking down at me.
When I tried to sit up, he pressed my forehead with his finger. I flopped back down easily.
“Etienne.”
I was surprised for a second but pulled myself together.
He visited me in bed—doesn’t that mean he cares? If he worries, he gets curious, and if he gets curious, he wants to see me, and then… No more divorce!
Thinking that made my nose twitch. I tried hard to control myself and gave a weak smile.
It felt a bit rude to talk while lying down, but I had to say something.
“Thank you. If it wasn’t for you, something terrible could have happened.”
I tried to look weak and sweet, hoping for some kind words. But what Etienne said next made me doubt my ears.
“Idiot.”
“…?”
Was he talking to me? He’s not sleep-talking, is he?
Etienne reached out, grabbed my chin, and lifted it. He brushed my cheek gently with his thumb. His touch was careful.
“You’re crazy. You’re not in your right mind.”
His gentle touch and harsh words made me blink in confusion. He let go of my chin.
There was a long silence. I scratched my nose, not sure how to reply.
Then Etienne looked at my hand.
His lips twitched. He looked like he wanted to yell.
Was there something wrong with my hand? I checked it. It looked totally normal.
There weren’t any words like “Etienne is dumb, I want a divorce, I’m a thief” written on it.
So why was he angry?
“Did I do something wrong?”
“You don’t know what you did?”
I really didn’t know.
I thought hard. What did I do wrong? All I’ve done is eat and sleep…
“Ah, was it eating in bed?”
