HPMC 04

Chapter 04

“Alex!”

My husband opened his eyes.

He had swallowed an entire bottle of rat poison—infamous for its extreme toxicity—yet, surprisingly, he regained consciousness quickly.

“You’re awake! Are you okay?!”

I didn’t even realize that tears were streaming down my face or that I had grabbed him by the collar.

Smack!

“Have you lost your mind?”

My mother-in-law suddenly slapped the back of my hand.

“Let go of him and step aside!”

Despite her frail body, she shoved me so hard I nearly fell off the chair.

Even my sister-in-law was too stunned by his extreme act to say anything, blinking in confusion.

“Alex! You’re finally conscious? The doctor said you digested the poison like it was water. I don’t know if that even makes sense, but thank goodness. You almost died! How could you do such a thing to your mother…!”

“……”

My husband stared blankly at the ceiling, blinking.

Then I remembered what he had said last night.

‘I’ll be… reborn… and again… re… reborn…’

So that’s what he meant? He was trying to die?

Of course, I was relieved he hadn’t died—but at the same time, I felt betrayed.

Then again, I could understand why he might not have wanted to keep living.

With complicated emotions I couldn’t put into words, I watched him anxiously.

He still wasn’t looking at me or anyone else, as if he couldn’t hear anything.

‘Is he really back to his senses…?’

Maybe it was a side effect of the poison…

“I’ve been a doctor for decades, but I’ve never seen a constitution like yours, sir. This is a miracle…! Can you hear me? Ah—no, Alexis Myers?”

“……”

He gave no response to the doctor.

Swallowing nervously, I called him again.

“Honey…?”

Then, as if he had heard something shocking, he murmured:

“…Honey?”

It was like he was repeating my words exactly.

His pitch-black eyes slowly turned toward me. They were wide open, unblinking.

When our eyes met, they widened even more.

“…!”

I held my breath.

Facing him like this felt strangely unfamiliar.

Not just because he had drunk poison—his gaze toward me was far too pure.

As if he were looking at a stranger for the first time.

Did he lose his memory?

Trying to shake off the unsettling thought, I quickly spoke.

“Honey! You’re conscious, right? Do you remember drinking poison?”

“……”

His gaze remained fixed on me.

After what felt like an eternity, his eyes slowly moved to the others in the room—his mother, the doctor, and his sister Eloi.

Everyone held their breath, tense.

Something about him felt very off.

We just wanted him to say something—anything.

Like, ‘I’m fine, don’t worry.’

“Honey…”

“Your Grace…”

“Alex…”

When we finally called out to him—

“Ugh.”

He frowned deeply as if in pain and pressed his hand to his forehead.

“Honey!”

Startled, both my mother-in-law and I jumped to our feet.

* * *

“Please don’t worry too much, madam. His Grace—ah, no, Alexis Myers—will recover soon.”

The doctor quickly corrected himself, likely wary of being overheard near the inn.

Right… he’s not a duke anymore…

And I’m no longer a duchess.

But right now, titles didn’t matter.

What mattered was that he was alive.

If he had truly died… I… I don’t know what would have become of me.

Just imagining him gone left me numb.

Even if he wasn’t much use beyond his looks…

He was still a good person.

I had come to trust him over the past three years…

“Thank you, Dave. I feel much more relieved.”

“Yes, madam. Then I’ll take my leave.”

“Please, travel safely.”

The doctor tipped his hat and left the inn.

After watching his retreating figure for a moment, I turned and walked inside. I raised my hand to knock on the door of my husband’s room.

But I hesitated.

How should I face him?

I felt resentful that he tried to escape alone in this bleak situation.

At the same time, I was grateful he survived.

Letting out a complicated sigh, I finally knocked.

There was no answer, but I slowly opened the door.

“Honey?”

“……”

He was sitting on the bed and looked at me.

He was drinking water from a large bowl, his shirt completely unbuttoned.

‘?’

My husband had always hated exposing his body.

Even when alone or sick, he obsessively covered himself.

But now…

My eyes unconsciously scanned his body.

His overwhelming physique—broad chest casting deep shadows, perfectly defined muscles like a sculpture.

It was hard to believe he had just nearly died.

His flawless, pale skin stretched over his powerful frame.

Then I looked back at his face.

“……”

He was still staring at me in shock.

Again, that unfamiliar feeling.

I had never seen this expression on him before.

His sharp features seemed even more intense now.

There was confusion in his eyes—and even a hint of wariness toward me.

Pushing aside the strange feeling, I stepped closer.

“You’re okay, right, Alex?”

“……”

He carefully lowered the bowl but said nothing.

I examined his face.

Despite nearly dying, he still looked breathtakingly beautiful.

Maybe a bit paler than usual—but otherwise fine.

Yes… it must have been so hard for him to reach that decision…

Instead of scolding him, I decided to comfort him.

But why was my chest tightening?

“I almost started to resent you.”

“……”

“Even after losing the mansion and my title as a duchess, I was trying to endure it.”

“……”

“But hearing that my husband tried to die… do you know how I feel right now?”

Tears welled up as I spoke.

“You said you’d be the perfect husband and love me, but in three years of marriage, you never once said that. So why say something like that if you were just going to die?”

“……”

His eyes darted around.

Maybe I pushed too hard.

He’s always been timid…

“Anyway…”

Feeling suddenly guilty, I lowered my head slightly and moved closer.

I sat beside him and wrapped my arms around his arm. His thick muscles twitched.

I was always the one to approach him first.

He used to get shy every time.

But now, he just stared at me stiffly.

Was he surprised that I was worried about him dying?

“Thank you for staying alive. Don’t ever think like that again. If you do, I’ll really be angry.”

After speaking, I closed my eyes and lifted my chin.

I wanted to comfort him… maybe kiss his cheek—

“—Pfft!”

“……”

Cold droplets suddenly splashed all over my face.

Slowly, I opened my eyes.

“Cough! Cough!”

He was coughing violently.

“……”

It seemed he hadn’t finished swallowing the water.

* * *

Meanwhile, inside the room after Louise left—

Alex ran his hands over his face in bewilderment.

The woman who claimed to be his wife had told him to rest and left.

His heart was pounding uncontrollably.

Was it because he had almost been kissed for the first time in his life?

That was part of it—but more than anything…

‘Where the hell am I?’

He looked around the unfamiliar inn.

Something strange had happened to him.

This was not the world he had lived in.

The interior looked like something out of a BBC historical drama, along with the clothes, the unfamiliar name “Alex,” and these strangers calling themselves his family.

Did I… get transported to another dimension? Why all of a sudden?

In his 27 years of life, he had experienced all kinds of chaos—but nothing like this.

He hurriedly searched for a mirror.

Fortunately, there was an old one hanging on the wall.