Tamed Monster - Chapter 10

“I don’t mean to overstep, but you really should get a proper examination.”

During the tense exchange between the doctor and her husband, she dared not interrupt. Now that he was in a state of near stupor, he showed no hostility toward her.

But his attitude could change at any moment. Deep down, her husband despised her. Sylvia recalled the conversation between her husband and the doctor earlier.

“Do you have any injuries?”

“Why are you asking that?”

“Well, because I’m a doctor…”

“Where are you from? How old are you? I know my own body well enough. So get out now.”

Waving him off like chasing away a pigeon, and when the doctor still didn’t leave, he used the same evasive tactics with every question, shutting him down in the most curt manner.

Sylvia felt her world darken at her husband’s utterly uncouth words, which lacked even a trace of elegance. It seemed best for him to avoid going out for a while.

“I’ll get a proper checkup next time.”

Kuinan muttered. He looked at the woman watching him with pity in her eyes.

Who was worrying about whom? The unfortunate one doomed to be killed by his own hand the moment the matter was done was none other than this woman.

“Your mother will be angry.”

“Let her be angry.”

That woman, Rossa, was at least dozens of times more annoying. He had a faint fondness for Sylvia. But Rossa looked childish, trailing after her son endlessly despite the age, nagging at his wife. Even monsters weren’t usually that rude.

“That’s enough of that…”

“Let’s just sleep, Wife. I’m tired.”

He cut off his wife’s words abruptly.

From what he had heard about the late Duke, this woman seemed to be of lower status than himself, so acting like this wouldn’t pose much of a problem. So was this Lancart fellow royalty or nobility? With everyone using different titles, it was impossible to tell.

“You know…”

He thought about asking his wife once, but then recalled the reaction of the humans who had brought him to the Duke’s castle and decided against it.

When Kuinan asked exactly what his status was, the guy they called ‘Captain’ had gone pale. “Don’t you even remember that?” he’d said, then sent a pigeon flying into the sky.

‘Probably reporting to the Crown Prince.’

Determined to avoid being exposed, he waved his hand at his wife, who was looking at him with a curious “Huh?” expression.

“It’s nothing.”

He then beckoned the hesitant wife over to the bed.

“Lie down beside me.”

He patted the soft sheets with his palm, prompting his wife to make a reluctant face.

“What? Don’t want to?”

“…It’s still early.”

“I’m tired. Sleepy. After struggling so much in the swamp, I finally made it home. What’s wrong with going to bed early for once?”

This was the Duke’s house. No matter the established etiquette, he could break most rules as he pleased. Whether he lounged about during the day or at night, no one could really reprimand him. Not even his mother, Lady Rossa, would dare to intrude here.

“Come on, now.”

With a faint hint of irritation in his voice, he urged her, and only then did Sylvia slowly walk over unwillingly. The monster sensed the truth. Why Sylvia was telling such flimsy lies just to share a bed with him.

She wanted a child, didn’t she? Pitifully, that would never happen.

“Ah—this is comfortable.”

With a flop, he stretched out fully, while Sylvia climbed onto the bed with a stiff expression, like livestock moments before slaughter. Kuinan glanced at his pale wife’s face and let out a soft sigh.

“…”

“Don’t tremble, Wife. You’re shaking the bed.”

Being a monster, his senses were several times sharper than a human’s, and he was a light sleeper. Used to falling asleep half-submerged in the swamp, Kuinan didn’t like the feeling of the bed rocking now.

As Sylvia worked hard to steady her breathing, his expression eased slightly.

“Um…”

“Shh, quiet. Don’t talk anymore.”

He had no energy left to tease his wife. In his 300 years, he had met humans only a dozen times or so, but in just a few days, he’d encountered several times that number. Seriously needing rest, Kuinan gave a stern warning before closing his eyes.

Feeling his wife subtly turn her head to stare intently at his cheek, Kuinan, annoyed by the gaze, finally drifted into a brief sleep.