I Didn’t Know I Had Two Husbands - Chapter 33

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Feeling so happy that she could barely remember how harshly he had punished her the day before, Elaria felt as if she might float away. Spending the languid afternoon outside with him made her incredibly happy.

Occasionally bringing up memories from the past, the two enjoyed their time together before heading to the Luna Theater, where the opera would be held. Since the noble district was structured with the capital’s key buildings gathered together, they were able to reach it easily on foot.

Several noble couples who were just getting out of their carriages recognized Lucian and Elaria. He deliberately wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her tightly against him. His large frame completely hid her.

The more perceptive nobles refrained from approaching to greet them, but a few less tactful ones lingered nearby, hoping for a chance to offer their greetings.

“Welcome, Your Graces. I will guide you to your seats.”

Their reserved seats were a private box on the second floor of the theater. After arriving under the usher’s guidance, Elaria looked around in order at the sofa set close together, the small table laid with light refreshments, and the opera glasses.

Led by his hand, she sat on the sofa and let out a small exclamation as she looked at the stage in front of them.

“The stage is very large.”

“It’s a famous theater, after all.”

“Even I know <The Husband with Two Faces>. Oh, right. Have you already seen it, Lucian? What’s it about?”

At her bright question, Lucian lightly scratched his chin with his fingertips. His eyes took on a dark glint.

“…It’s about a wife struggling because her husband’s personality changes between day and night, I think.”

“Really? How different is he?”

“Hmm… a complete personality wreck?”

“Oh, it must be quite a provocative story.”

As her questions continued, his expression changed subtly. With a face that held both anticipation and unease, he carefully studied her.

“…If it’s a husband with two faces, it still means there’s only one husband, right?”

He didn’t bother to respond to her words, which she had murmured almost to herself. Lucian and Noctis had made an agreement. Until Elaria realized it herself, they wouldn’t give her even a hint.

Of course, the two of them had already been revealing their true personalities little by little. A more perceptive person would have noticed long ago. But Elaria was dense by nature, and when it came to anything related to him, she tended to overlook everything and believe without question, which made things difficult.

“That’s what makes you cute, though…”

“Hm?”

“It’s nothing. It’s about to start.”

He placed the opera glasses in her hands and relaxed his posture. He was already looking forward to hearing her impressions after the performance.

* * *

The performance, which lasted nearly four hours, came to an end. Even with an intermission, it had been quite long, and Elaria let out a small sigh. Moreover, because the opera’s content was complex and she had watched it with full concentration, her eyes felt sore.

<The Husband with Two Faces> began with the story of Lydia, a beautiful noble lady who marries Alex, a perfect gentleman. During the day, he was a sweet and devoted husband, but at night he became a cold and cruel master.

There were some suggestive scenes that startled her, but more than that, the idea of two souls fighting over a single body was what surprised her. Lydia loved both souls, but since only one could remain in the body, she was ultimately forced to choose.

The soul she chose was the husband of the day. Sweet and devoted.

It was easy to see why the story had been so popular. But the reason Elaria looked serious was something else. The husband with two faces in the opera very much resembled Lucian to her.

The gentle Lucian felt like the husband of the day, while the cold Lucian resembled the husband of the night.

She had known since childhood that his moods changed easily. That was why she had naturally come to distinguish between his gentle side and his cold side.

After their marriage, the difference had become even clearer. Daytime Lucian was gentle but teasing, while nighttime Lucian was cold yet attentive. She had found that strange, but had tried not to think too deeply about it.

Until yesterday.

She recalled once again the unease she had felt the day before. Was it really just a matter of his personality being changeable?

That unease hadn’t appeared only yesterday. Since they began living together, she had occasionally felt a strange discomfort whose source she couldn’t identify. The scent of damp wind clinging to him when he should have been in his study all day, or the way he sometimes seemed unaware of conversations they had already had.

Besides that, small discomforts, like tiny thorns, had continued to accumulate. Even the faint presence she had sensed last night, as if someone other than him had been there…