I Had No Complaints About This Marriage - Chapter 68

Herman, uncharacteristically, let his prey slip away. Even though the Duke had deliberately wounded the beast beforehand to minimize risk to the other guests.

Most likely, his mind had been too preoccupied with Esina. Because as he left, he saw that vermin casually sidle up to her.

From that moment, Herman’s focus wasn’t on the hunt—it was entirely fixed on Esina behind him. He wanted to sprint over, tear that creature away from his wife, and snarl at him to get the hell away.

Meanwhile, the hunting party erupted into chaos.

“Oh no, the wolf got away!”

“We’ll have to deal with that…”

“It’s wounded, yet it still runs so well.”

Never mind that injuring prey beforehand made for an unfair hunt—a wounded wolf was still dangerous.

“…I’ll handle it.”

“Truly, the eldest son of Telloien!”

Herman seized the opportunity, stepping forward to personally pursue the wolf.

As luck would have it, the direction the wolf fled was straight toward where Esina was.

I can’t just leave Esina hurt, so I’ll quickly deal with the wolf and, while I’m at it, remove that vermin from Esina’s side. After that, this feeling should improve.

Moreover, I’ll even lie that there are still other wolves lurking around, then hold the worried Esina and carry her straight to the bedroom.

Just imagining Esina’s wide-eyed surprise as I embraced her made my boiling head gradually calm down.

Since we haven’t been able to spend much time together these past few days, I should stay close and claim my compensation. I’ll savor Esina’s sweet scent.

I’ve held back enough.

The patience I had promised the Duke had long since run out. Herman’s nerves were entirely focused on Esina. The speed of his words accelerated just as much.

And at the end of that rush, he heard.

“What if my husband ends up divorcing me?”

“How will you take responsibility?”

Esina’s words, mentioning divorce and demanding he take responsibility.

“I’ve also heard all the rumors about the young Duke of Telloien. The whispers among people.”

“With someone like that… There’s no way you could be happy.”

“If you’re looking for a future spouse or someone to rely on…”

And then, hearing the vermin actively respond to her—

The very disaster he had feared and anticipated was unfolding before his eyes. It was truly horrifying.

Herman nearly blew a hole through the man’s head.

The only reason he didn’t…

Shockingly, it was because he didn’t want to kill a man Esina might have feelings for in front of her and earn her hatred.

‘I’ve already earned your hatred instead of your affection.’

But if I were to be hated even more here—I don’t think I could bear that.

Herman’s wavering eyes caught sight of prey rushing from behind. The wolf he had missed stood there, bleeding.

And, as if making one last desperate move, it was targeting Esina from behind.

Bang!

The moment he saw it, Herman immediately fired. The bullet, slightly off-target to avoid hitting Esina, pierced the tree next to the vermin. The frenzied wolf lunged straight at Herman.

And in the process, it pounced on Esina.

‘No!’

“Agh! Grr!”

The wolf’s sharp claws tore into his body, but he felt no pain. The only thing in Herman’s sight was Esina, knocked to the ground by the wolf, motionless.

“Gyaaak!”

While Xenon flailed in panic, Herman shoved the gun barrel into the wolf’s mouth and fired. Even as blood gushed out, he cradled Esina like a madman and rushed to find a doctor, already having lost all reason.

“The young lady is fine, Your Grace.”

“That can’t be. She’s completely unconscious…”

“She only lost consciousness from the impact. Rather, the one who needs treatment right now is…”

The words that Esina was barely injured and that he was the one who needed treatment didn’t even properly register in his ears.

Even as he received emergency treatment, every second of watching Esina with her eyes closed felt like it would drive him insane. The fear that she might leave him like this—

Even if she were to wake up…

‘With that vermin.’

She might say she’s leaving.

Would she change her mind if she became pregnant before then? How on earth could he keep her from leaving?

‘Esina.’