I Married a Sick Husband – Vol. 4 Chapter 101

Author: Ann

A few hours later, in the morning.

“Your Majesty, you look exhausted today.”

“…..”

“Should I call the palace doctor?”

Meredith shook her head and answered weakly when she heard Yulia’s question.

“No. It’s just… I had trouble sleeping.”

“You had trouble sleeping?”

Yulia asked with a surprised face.

“But didn’t you say that His Majesty woke up safely?”

“That’s right.”

“Then was there something bothering you?”

“….”

That was the answer.

She doesn’t know if Theodore slept well yesterday while hugging her, but Meredith couldn’t sleep properly even for a single second.

‘How could I sleep?’

When her heart was beating so hard.

‘I thought I was going to die of embarrassment.’

She told Theodore that her heartbeat was quite fast, and fortunately he didn’t ask her any more about it.

And while she lay in bed, Meredith kept thinking about one thing.

‘Do I like His Majesty?’

She had several reasons for thinking so.

First, her heart beat abnormally fast whenever she was near him.

This had happened many times before, and she experienced it again yesterday.

Second, she liked being with him, and she didn’t hate or feel unpleasant when she was near him.

She thought about what it would have been like if the person who had hugged her yesterday had been Sir Felix.

‘… not so good.’

Her heart felt like it would have frozen hard instead of beating fast.

The last, and the third one.

‘This is something I realized when His Majesty collapsed in front of me this time…’

When Ishe thought she almost lost him, when she thought she might have done something wrong.

Her heart felt like it was being torn apart and the sky felt like it was falling.

‘No matter how close His Majesty’s relationship with you is, that feeling… is absolutely not normal.’

Then, judging from these three points… ….

‘Do I like His Majesty?’

Oh my God.

‘Then that would be a big deal.’

She had harbored feelings that she shouldn’t have harbored.

“…..”

In that moment, the content of the dream she had last time flashed through Meredith’s mind.

Meredith quickly made up her mind.

‘… Let’s quit.’

It wasn’t too late.

It was her thought, but it didn’t seem like her feelings had developed to the point where she could cross a river of no return.

‘It’s just a shallow feeling.’

If it was a case where camaraderie developed into affection, then maybe she was just confused.

Even if it wasn’t, she could sort it out quickly.

‘And as soon as this is over, I have to leave the palace as quickly as possible.’

She had to end this whole situation before she starts to dream in vain.

‘I should avoid getting closer to His Majesty as much as possible. Sharing vitality can be done just by holding hands.’

Yesterday’s incident was fine because she was able to figure out what was on her mind.

Meredith finally felt her heart at ease.

‘And when the banquet is held, I should find a suitable young lady to be the next empress.’

It might feel a little bitter, but this would definitely be the best way for everyone.

Meredith had absolutely no intention of coveting a position that was not appropriate for her position.

***

With Theodore healthy and Blair gone, peace came to the palace for the first time in a while.

Meredith spent her time busy living her usual life.

“I’ve figured out a way to collect all the blood of the capital’s residents!”

The task she had asked Felix to do soon paid off.

“I was thinking about this while talking to Sir Jerome. We should conduct a mandatory general health checkup for the residents of the capital. Blood collection will be very easy during the process.”

“That’s a very good idea, Sir Felix. If there are no problems after checking the budget, we’ll do it right away.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. But His Majesty’s blood needs to be collected… Is that okay?”

“It’s not for something else, it’s just to get healthy. Of course.”

“If you’re weak from having too much blood drawn…”

“You don’t have to worry because it won’t be drawn so frequently.”

Jerome, who was listening, said something, and Theodore added, sounding unconcerned.

“Besides, the Empress gives me vitality every day.”

Theodore made eye contact with Meredith as he spoke with great pride.

Meredith awkwardly raised the corners of her lips, greatly embarrassed by the unexpected eye contact.

‘… I thought my heart was going to drop.’

It was a side effect of being aware of her feelings.

Whatever he did, it looked cool and exciting.

In fact, even when he was not in the mood, his beauty was as perfect as a statue.

Anyway, thanks to Meredith maintaining her rationality, even if her heart was not in its right mind, her actions seemed extremely calm.

“But Your Majesty, I wonder if the nobles who usually receive medical checkups will cooperate. As you know, they are quite uncooperative in such matters… Also, our intentions may be suspected.”

“Oh, I have a plan for that.”

Meredith hurriedly offered her opinion.

“We will use the upcoming masquerade ball.”

“Masquerade ball?”

“Yes. We will have them write their names in their blood on the invitation and submit it.”

“Isn’t that a little creepy?”

“That’s why it’s only possible at a masquerade ball. The attendees might like the unique and bizarre atmosphere.”

In Valtejain, masquerade balls were synonymous with secrecy and strangeness.

Since they were balls where people hid their faces, they were the most vulnerable to the dignity of being nobles.

That’s why masquerade balls, unlike other elegant banquets, often had various themes.

“It’s the most natural and simple way to collect the blood of nobles.”

Meredith coughed involuntarily because it felt eerie after saying it.

“As for the nobles who didn’t attend… we can find a way when we get there. But as you know, the attendance rate at masquerade balls is quite high.”

“That seems like a good idea.”

“But are there really any nobles we’re looking for?”

Felix asked with a serious expression.

Meredith nodded as if she understood.

“I’m here too, you know.”

“Then that means you’re plotting a rebellion with the Empress Dowager?”

“That’s right. But actually… … even if there is, it’s still strange.”

“What?”

“Her Highness. How on earth did she find a dark magician?”

It was a question she had from the beginning.

After the mass execution of magicians in Valtejain, the few magicians who barely survived completely erased their existence from society.

They never talked about being magicians, and they never made money from it, except for working as doctors.

“So no matter how much I think about it, I’m curious about how she saved them.”

“Well, wasn’t there a way?”

Felix shrugged and answered casually.

“A dark way that good people like us can’t think of.”

“Well, I guess so. I don’t know everything about that world.”

“Anyway, let’s end our conversation here today, and Sir Jerome, it would be best for you to go now. It’s gotten quite long.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Then I’ll see you again.”

Everyone dispersed, and Meredith was about to return to the Empress’s Palace.

“Empress.”

Suddenly, Theodore grabbed her.

Meredith swallowed dryly and turned around without realizing it.

She saw him staring blankly at her.

‘… I think I’m crazy.’

Meredith felt sorry for herself because even the sight of him staring blankly without doing anything looked cool.

‘He’s really got his mind set on it.’

Please, I want to get this matter resolved and get out of the palace as soon as possible.

It was really dangerous to stay here for too long.

“What is it, Your Majesty?”

“This masquerade ball.”

“Oh, yes.”

“Are you thinking of attending?”

“I am thinking of doing so…?”

“….”

“Is there a problem?”

… there was, a problem.

All sorts of acts took place at masquerade balls, taking advantage of the power of anonymity.

It was a place for a no-consequence one-night stand for single men and women, but it was also a hotbed of adultery for married couples.

Perhaps because the latter seemed more forbidden, the attendance rate of married men and women was significantly higher than that of single men and women at masquerade balls.

… And they were also married.

‘Of course, not everyone attends for that purpose.’

Theodore asked Meredith with a slightly uncomfortable expression.

“Do you really have to attend?”

“I’ve never attended one before.”

Meredith smiled innocently.

“I thought it would be fun, so I wanted to attend at least once.”

“If you were single, I wouldn’t really stop you.”

Theodore awkwardly raised the corners of his mouth.

“You do remember that we’re married and that your acting as my spouse.”

“Yes? Ah… Your Majesty, too. I have no intention of doing anything foolish.”

Only then did Meredith realize what Theodore was worried about, and reassured him in a bewildered manner.