SHBVH 03

Chapter 03

Let’s Get Divorced

“Madam! Are you alright?”

Jane rushed over in shock, holding a handkerchief.

Why a nosebleed at a time like this…

Even she found it absurd. A person like her, who had no immunity to handsome men.

But still, why would I get a double nosebleed…

…Where did the person who had been calling him “nothing special” go? Embarrassment flooded in after the visual shock, and Lamein’s face flushed red.

“Bl—blood!”

“Give it to me. I’ll handle it.”

She quickly took the handkerchief Jane handed her and pressed it to her nose.

Ah. Has the nosebleed already stopped?

Only the blood that had already flowed stained the handkerchief; no more was dripping. As Lamein stared at it, her eyelids twitched. She could feel a gaze—an extremely sharp one. The blue eyes of her handsome husband, whom she had met for the first time today, were fixed precisely on the area beneath her nose.

Why is he looking at me like that?

Feeling as if a hole might be bored under her nose, her upper lip twitched reflexively. Her already flushed face began to burn even hotter.

“Oh my! What should we do! It seems Madam’s vitality has greatly weakened because of the poisonous herb!”

Jane’s worried voice echoed through the quiet room. …Please let that man in front of her think so too. With a brief wish, she awkwardly lowered her gaze, then lifted it again—only to meet Cedric’s eyes.

Damn. Looking again, he was not only handsome but also sexy. To prevent the unfortunate incident of another nosebleed, she nearly stuffed the handkerchief into her nose. Just as she was watching to see how he would react—

“Lamein. I heard that you had awakened, so I rushed here immediately.”

…What nonsense is this? The husband who had clearly gone about his business spoke in a voice overflowing with emotion, as if there were no greater joy than this.

…Wait? What’s with him?

The corner of her eyes twitched.

“No matter how much I say it, my wife, you cannot possibly understand how heartbroken I was.”

Like an opera singer on stage, the man spread his arms gracefully and approached the bed as if to embrace her. The man’s chest, covered by a silk shirt, was so broad one could practically play on it. And that wasn’t all.

“Lamein. No matter how I say it, you would never understand.”

With every word he spoke, the muscles of his chest seemed to ripple vividly before her eyes.

That kind of chest muscle should be protected by the nation. Shouldn’t the medical field create a vaccine so chest muscles never die?

Her professional instinct activated in the strangest way. Just as she was unintentionally contributing to national concerns—

“…Lamein?”

Those blue eyes pierced into her dazed gaze, as if her soul had been stolen by his body.

Wait. This isn’t what’s important right now.

He claimed to be heartbroken, yet he had been sword-playing, eating, and even relaxing in the bath.

Then why is he acting like this?

As she analyzed Cedric’s strange behavior, she soon nodded inwardly.

Well… they aren’t a normal couple, are they?

His gaze was so earnest that she almost forgot the truth and fell for it. Lamein glanced at Jane. She concluded that this was an act for someone’s benefit. Just as she barely suppressed a scoff—

“Haah…”

With a sigh deep enough to make the ground sink, the man stepped closer and leaned forward with his arms open.

What— is he really going to hug me?

As his shadow began to cover half her face, she swallowed dryly.

A soft lavender scent spread gently. Through the slightly open shirt, his chest muscles were barely visible. As expected of a noble— even his chest muscles seemed to exude elegance. Her eyes wavered as if caught in a breeze. Such deep physical contact with a man she had just met was extremely flustering.

Should I push him away? No… there’s no need, right?

Even if they had just met today, he was her husband.

Right. It’s just for show. And when else would I ever get held by a man like this?

As she resolved to go with the flow, striking a compromise between reason and instinct—

“No, no. My thinking was too shallow.”

Suddenly, Cedric pulled his upper body far away.

“I very much wish to hold you, but I fear that if I do, your body might break.”

…Then why did I even prepare myself? It was obvious from the start that he had no intention of hugging her. He shook his head, offering a flimsy excuse.

“Sniff… sob…”

That wasn’t Lamein crying.

Why is she crying now…?

Lamein stared blankly as Jane used the handkerchief—originally meant to wipe her nosebleed—to dab her own tears.

“Haah. Lamein.”

Meanwhile, Cedric let out another sorrowful sigh. Lamein’s eyes twitched as she stared blankly. If a third party saw this situation, it would look like a devoted husband, unable to even embrace his beloved wife for fear of hurting her, sighing in anguish—an utterly tragic and beautiful scene.

What are these two even doing right now?

According to the original story, this man would soon ruthlessly drive her out of this mansion. And her maid, unaware of that, was gazing at him with tearful admiration. Watching them, she found herself speechless.

Should I cry too?

With a bitter look, Lamein alternated her gaze between the two before casually picking at her ear.

“My life without you is like a world without light.”

She then looked at her husband, who was delivering a performance worthy of an Academy Award for Best Actor, with a sorrowful gaze. Cedric continued to spout lines that made one’s fingers curl—something about a single rose, something about a lonely poet blinded by lost love. She almost stood up to applaud.

Cedric, who had been watching her, glanced at Jane.

“Jane.”

“Yes, Master!”

Perhaps having run out of lines—

“I would like to be alone with Lamein.”

He spoke, neatly composing his overly emotional expression.

“Oh my! I was being insensitive. I’m sorry!”

Jane, who had been watching with tearful eyes, jerked her shoulders.

“Then I shall take my leave!”

With a bright smile, Jane left the room.

“……”

“……”

With only the two of them remaining, the atmosphere in the room completely changed. Silence fell so heavily that even their breathing could be heard. Cedric, who had erased all traces of his earlier emotion, now wore a sharp, cutting gaze.

Is it starting now?

Lamein tensed. She expected Cedric to interrogate her about the poisoning incident. Perhaps after this moment, she would never lie in this soft bed again. Nor would she remain the wife of the handsome man before her for much longer.

She watched him carefully—the man who, in the original story, had coldly cast Lamein out. His blue eyes traced from her round forehead down past her eyes, nose, and lips, then fell onto her thigh covered by the blanket. Following his gaze, Lamein looked down at the bloodstained handkerchief where his eyes had stopped.

It must have fallen when she had scoffed at his ridiculous words.

When she looked back up, his serious and sensitive blue eyes slowly followed hers, then began examining her face thoroughly again.

What exactly is he trying to say?

She stared at him without letting her guard down. He said nothing, his lips tightly pressed together. As the silence stretched, irritation began to creep in.

Just say something already, husband…

Just as the words nearly escaped her—

“Are you feeling alright?”

Unexpectedly, he asked something entirely different. But his tone made it obvious it was mere courtesy.

“In thanks to your concern.”

Recalling his earlier dramatic act, she gave a fitting response. Though not because of him, she actually did feel fine—aside from the lingering grassy taste in her mouth, her body felt lighter than when she had been in the emergency room.

“That is truly a relief.”

…Where did your soul go? As expected, Cedric’s voice carried not a shred of emotion. The corners of his smooth lips curved lazily. She nearly let out another groan.

Why did someone have to make a person look like that?

She almost lost herself in his dazzling appearance—one that erased all thought—but quickly regained her senses.

“Rest well today. Let us have breakfast together tomorrow.”

He spoke as if he were about to leave the room.

Huh? What?

Why wasn’t he asking anything? His unexpected behavior left Lamein flustered. Watching her, Cedric wore a faint smile.

Just as I expected.

After piercing her with a deep gaze, he straightened his expression.

“Then I shall take my leave.”

He lightly turned his body—

“Cedric! Wait a moment!”

Lamein’s voice stopped him. He slowly turned back.

“Lamein. Do you have something to say to me?”

His eyes gleamed as if he had been waiting for this.

“Yes. I do.”

“Is it related to today’s incident?”

His smooth voice and relaxed gaze exuded elegance, yet his blue eyes seemed to pierce straight through her. She was a woman he couldn’t read. Many incidents had surrounded her before, yet whenever questioned, she neither confirmed nor denied anything. It was strange—she seemed like someone who wouldn’t care even if everything was pinned on her. Perhaps that was why he had never pressed further.

But this time was different.

So, now that I’ve shown no interest, she’s reacting instead?

Given that her life had nearly been in danger, her silence was stranger than anything. He watched her closely as she finally chose to speak first.

Let’s see what she says.

Just as he stared at her with a mix of anticipation and suspicion—

“Today’s incident is related, but it doesn’t seem that important. There’s actually a bigger problem.”

…What?

Today’s incident isn’t important? A bigger problem? What problem could that be?

He looked at her, momentarily stunned.

“Cedric.”

Her voice was unbelievably clear for someone speaking of a serious issue.

What is this? Even if her voice is like that, why does her expression look so bright?

Slightly taken aback by her oddly excited demeanor—

“Let’s get divorced.”

The words that slipped from her slightly upturned lips were—

“I can’t live with a man like you anymore.”

In other words—

You are the problem.