I Married the Mad Duke Who Killed My Husband - Chapter 103 - Side Story 3

The impression of our first marital fight was, well…

“…Why did we fight?”

Is this also due to pregnancy hormones or something? Even after a night, my childish remark of “Rest well or whatever” didn’t fade away, and I kept kicking the innocent blanket.

“Stop shaking off the dust and get up, Madam. You’re not going to eat separately for breakfast too, are you?”

“…Pia, do you know?”

“Everyone in the Duke’s mansion knows.”

Since Pia took away the blanket I was kicking, I started thumping the pillow I was hugging, but soon that was taken away too.

The fact of my pregnancy and our couple’s first fight had spread throughout the Duke’s mansion.

“Ah, I just want to eat breakfast in my room.”

“If you want to kick the blanket again tomorrow, go ahead. By the way, His Grace has been circling around the dining table for quite some time now, just so you know.”

“Cassion is already down there?!”

“The first servant who came out in the morning almost fainted when they saw His Grace sitting at the dark dining table.”

Despite feeling embarrassed about yesterday’s childish and one-sided fight, I felt my lips curling up. Seeing my peculiar expression, Pia clicked her tongue and helped me change clothes.

The outfit was more focused on adornment than comfort for a breakfast attire, but I bit my lip and pretended not to notice as I put it on.

“Ahem… He must have waited for a long time. Well, I should go down too.”

“Yes, yes. Shall I braid your hair?”

“Braid it up. It’s okay to put in some small pins, too, right?”

“His Grace wouldn’t notice even if you put in jewels bigger than your fist, he’ll be too busy watching your expression.”

To be honest, I was a bit worried, too. It wasn’t really a fight, more like me yelling one-sidedly, wasn’t it? What if, just what if, Cassion decided not to come to our usual shared meal out of consideration for me… It seemed he had the same thought.

I was feeling too embarrassed and unusually sleepy, so I considered just having a simple meal in the bedroom, but after hearing that, I couldn’t not go down.

“It’s almost done, so stop fidgeting and be careful on the stairs.”

“You think I’m a child or something?”

“You’re not a child, but looking at you now, it seems like you’re about to run down.”

Was it that obvious? But thinking of Cassion, who had been waiting since daw,n made me anxious. When I first woke up, I was too embarrassed to even feel a bit depressed, but now my heart is fluttering.

Unaware of my capricious emotions, I jumped up as soon as Pia finished putting in the last pin and quickly left the room.

“Oh my…”

Ignoring Pia, who now just sighed instead of telling me to be careful, I headed towards the dining room at a fast pace that was just short of ‘running’ down the stairs. I think I heard some servants cry out in alarm, telling me to slow down.

“Whew.”

Only when I was close did I catch my breath, arrange my dress, and listen for any sounds from inside. Indeed, I could hear the voices of the butler and Cassion. Occasionally, there was also the clinking of dishes as if food was being set out.

“Oh, come on, I told you the Madam will come down! Stop tapping on the table!”

“…She might not come.”

“It’s not even late yet! Don’t you think you came down too early, Your Grace? And what’s wrong with eating one meal separately? Please stop looking at me like you’re going to kill someone.”

“I must have pushed her too hard. Asilia… Asil slept separately and… breakfast too…”

“Why are you so anxious? With Madam’s personality, it surely won’t last long, and everyone in the Duke’s mansion, not to mention most of the Empire’s citizens, knows how much she cares for you!”

“……”

Oh my, that person must be thinking about the contract.

Cassion remained silent, but I could guess the words buried in that silence. Unlike me, who wanted to keep it as a memento of the old days, he wanted to burn it somehow.

“I was planning to show it to our baby when they ask how mom and dad met…”

I unconsciously rubbed my still-flat belly while muttering. Still, if Cassion is this anxious, maybe it would be better to get rid of it.

But why is it so quiet now?

“…Asilia!”

Somehow, hearing that small mutter, Cassion, who was just sitting at the dining table moments ago, suddenly burst out and was now staring at me! I could see his red eyes swirling with relief, tension, and anxiety.

“I… just came down for breakfast.”

“Yes! Yes. This way. Will you come?”

Well, what else would I be coming to the dining room for at this hour if not for breakfast? Did he think I came to paint a picture or something? I said something so obvious out of awkwardness, but Cassion beamed and pulled out the chair next to where he was sitting.

Due to the screeching sound from his hasty movement, he checked my reaction again, but I pretended not to notice and slowly took my seat in the chair he pulled out. The butler and servants who quietly watched us took a few steps back.

The atmosphere isn’t bad.

We’ll naturally apologize while eating, make up, and return to our usual selves.

“Asilia, I…”

“The appetizer is mushroom cream soup.”

Perfect timing.

I should bring up the conversation during the meal, going with the flow. The servant who rushed over quickly interrupted Cassion as he tried to start a formal conversation right after sitting down.

While placing small, covered dishes of soup in front of each of us, the servant’s actions were quite reliable, ignoring Cassion’s glaring eyes as they poured water.

“Asil…”

“I’m hungry. A warm cream soup will settle my stomach.”

Cutting off Cassion’s second attempt, I opened the lid to reveal steaming soup. Being breakfast and just an appetizer, the portion wasn’t large. Hmm, it smells good.

“Aren’t you eating?”

“I’ll, eat. Since you’re hungry, let’s start right away.”

Finally taking the hint, Cassion hurriedly picked up his utensils and opened his lid. The rich aroma in the dining room grew stronger. I’m not just saying this, but it really does smell delicious. While taking a large spoonful of soup, I glanced at Cassion from the corner of my eye.

“Wasn’t it cold sleeping alo… Blegh.”

I was trying to restore our relationship by hinting that it was lonely and cold sleeping alone, but…

“Asilia!”

“Urgh.”

No, this is too disgusting. I’m embarrassed. I quickly lowered my head and gestured to the servants to bring anything that could cover up my mess.

But Cassion, not understanding my signals, firmly grabbed my flailing hands and knelt in front of me, trying to see my lowered face.

“What’s wrong, Asil?! Call the physician!”

“Ugh, no. Get, away. Urgh.”

The smell definitely suggested it would be delicious. But the moment the soup went down my throat, an unbearable wave of nausea surged up. The servants rushed over with a cloth larger than the napkin on my lap, but Cassion was blocking them, so in my urgency, I pushed him away.

“Asilia…”

During another bout of retching, I must have unconsciously grabbed a servant’s clothes in my distress. The quick-witted servant rushed out to clean up my mess, and the physician, whom we used to tease for neglecting her duties, was already running down the stairs.

And in all this chaos, Cassion stood there with a blank expression, pushed aside by my hand.

I think I made a mistake.

“It’s morning sickness, Madam. Don’t force yourself to eat.”

“Ah, um. No, I think I’m fine now. I’ll just…”

“Please don’t force yourself. We should remove strongly scented foods for now. Try some lukewarm water first.”

Who would want to show such an unsightly appearance to their loved one? Besides, I only pushed him away because the nausea came so suddenly, but why did he have to look so hurt?

Rather flustered myself, I tried to sit back down and pick up my spoon, but the quick-acting mansion staff had already cleared the table completely.

“Asil… if eating is uncomfortable because of me, I can leave…”

No, that’s not it! This person is really having a huge misunderstanding. Didn’t they just announce loud enough for everyone to hear that it’s morning sickness?

“Madam, I’ve brought water. Please try to drink a little, even if it’s difficult.”

This is driving me crazy, really.