The Abandoned and Terminally Ill Lady Married a Monster - Chapter 114

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“We have to toast,” he said, tilting his glass. I vaguely knew what that meant from books. We were supposed to clink our glasses together. I tentatively angled my glass, and Daykin, with a soft clink, tapped his against mine.

A clear, bright sound rang from the crystal.

Wary of the unfamiliar, I studied the contents of the glass. Daykin’s eyes gently urged me to try it. He really seemed determined to have me experience everything.

Why was I so nervous about having a drink?

I brought the glass to my lips. A sweet aroma reached me before the champagne touched my tongue. I took a small sip, holding it in my mouth before swallowing slowly.

“How is it?” Daykin asked, having not yet touched his own.

It tasted of honey and vanilla, and something else I couldn’t quite place, a hint of fruit. It was surprisingly good.

I had been nervous because it was alcohol, but I couldn’t feel much of a difference from a regular beverage. If I had to find a distinction, it would be the slightly bitter and sour aftertaste. But it wasn’t pronounced enough that I would have noticed if I didn’t know it was alcohol. I might have even mistaken it for juice.

“It’s delicious.”

“Then how about another glass at home later?”

I knew it was too good to be true. I didn’t answer and quietly sipped my champagne. The second sip was easier than the first. I realized alcohol was no big deal.

One sip, then two. I drank in small gulps, and before I knew it, the glass was empty. They say people turn into dogs when they’re drunk, but I guess that’s not always the case. I had expected some dramatic change after drinking. Then again, I supposed I shouldn’t get drunk after just one glass.

“…Don’t tell me you’re drunk after one glass? Ailee?”

“I’m not drunk…”

Daykin looked horrified as he took the glass from my hand. I propped my arms on the railing and rested my face on them. I just suddenly felt the urge to curl up.

Daykin mumbled something beside me, but I couldn’t hear him. A sigh kept escaping my lips. My eyes had been fixed on a group of young nobles gathered together for a while now.

Strange. Was it because the alcohol had loosened my inhibitions? Even in the deepest corners of my heart, I had never been honest with myself, but now I was unabashedly directing my jealousy toward them.

I’m so envious.

They could play and have fun without a care in the world. They seemed to have so many friends. In this entire ballroom, the only person I knew was Daykin. They were in the bright lights, clapping and dancing and enjoying themselves.

Daykin started to touch the ends of my hair. He tilted his head, trying to see what I was looking at.

“What are you looking at so intently?”

I slowly turned my head. My eyes fell on my lover, the one I was clinging to so desperately, not even knowing if he was a rotten rope. If I saved you, you should have just brushed it all off and gone to live a bright and happy life among people like them. Why are you trying so hard to keep me by your side, you fool?

I tried so hard not to even remember your name because I didn’t want to drag you down with me. Whenever I heard a nobleman’s name that sounded similar to yours, I would deny it and erase it from my mind.

I wanted to send Daykin down there, into the light. Ah, come to think of it, the reason I wanted to come here in the first place was to help him meet someone nice.

I didn’t have the ability to introduce him to a good person, but at least if he socialized with those people, he would realize. Ah, I should have married someone like them. Someone who, even if not outstanding, is at least normal. Then I wouldn’t have to live a life of constantly catering to someone else, and we could actually communicate. That’s what he would think.

Then he would start to get annoyed with me and my suffocating presence. Well, even if he didn’t get annoyed… I needed to make Daykin realize for himself how terrible it would be to spend his entire life married to someone like me.

…Ah, it wouldn’t be his entire life, would it? I would be gone before then. I wasn’t sick now, but considering how I had been groaning with aches just the other day, I could die tomorrow, or even on the way back to the Count’s estate.

This is driving me crazy.

A wave of inferiority washed over me. I let out a long sigh and opened my mouth.

“It looks like all those people over there know each other well.”

At my gesture, Daykin finally understood where my gaze had been fixed. He shrugged and answered nonchalantly.

“People who come to these parties often would probably recognize each other right away, even with masks on. That’s probably why they’re having so much fun.”

“…You should go, too.”

“What?”

“When we were downstairs, it looked like they wanted to talk to you.”

“Why would you say that?”

The hand that was touching my hair stopped. My head felt strangely fuzzy, but even so, I could tell that Daykin was subtly angry. I stopped talking.

“I’m not going anywhere but by your side.”

A terrible thing to say. I didn’t respond and slowly lifted my head. I had been resting my chin on my arm for a long time, and a red mark remained.

I slowly took Daykin’s hand. Hmm, I wasn’t sure if it was slow or fast. I shouldn’t have had that drink. I frowned slightly, then took his hand and pulled him forward. Daykin followed, taken aback, and asked where we were going.

“Let’s go get some food from downstairs.”

“…You’re walking just fine.”

Daykin was worried I would stumble and fall. He took my hand from his, placed it on his own arm, and had me link arms with him. It was definitely easier to walk with something sturdy to lean on. I didn’t refuse and walked downstairs with renewed energy.

Daykin paid no mind to the stares of the others. In fact, he seemed desperate to announce that I was the Grand Duchess. It seemed he also wanted to show everyone just how kindly the Grand Duke treated his wife.

This is why I’m worried about you.

He picked up a plate and asked me what I wanted to eat, pointing to each dish.

“This? Or this?”

“I don’t want that.”

“Then how about this? You like salmon.”

“That one… is okay.”

Daykin grinned foolishly and piled salmon onto the plate. Anyone watching would think he was a salmon merchant who was delighted to have sold a large catch.