I Married Because I Wanted To Live A Normal Life Chapter 77

Chapter 77

Well, he’s had a different set of experiences. Prioritizing a rational judgment of the situation over dwelling on emotions might be natural for a man who has lived as a monarch.

“…Finally, I swear that there is not a single falsehood in my statements thus far.”

With those words, Onyx fell silent. By then, only the three of us and a single knight, meant to escort Onyx away, remained in the conference hall.

Callen, with a slightly weary expression, checked the documents I handed him and nodded.

“Then I will report to His Highness as is. And Lord Onyx, it would be best for you to return to the outer palace now.”

As Callen said that and rose to his feet to signal the knight, one of his legs momentarily gave out, causing him to lose his balance and sway violently.

“Marquis!”

I quickly reached out to him. Having rushed here, he didn’t have the cane he usually carried.

Just then, Onyx, who was standing right in front of Callen, reached out a hand between us and grabbed his shoulder with a firm grip.

Thanks to him, Callen, who had managed to catch himself on the desk just before falling, looked at Onyx with a startled face. The platinum-blond man, his expression unwavering, said in a low voice.

“Your leg is trembling.”

At his observation, Callen’s brow furrowed slightly. True to his words, his leg was spasming, as it sometimes did.

Whether he didn’t notice Callen’s reaction or was ignoring it, Onyx simply stared at his face and then muttered as if to himself.

“Ah… right. No wonder you looked familiar… I’ve seen your face before. When was it… Was it when we joined forces for a monster subjugation?”

As I approached Callen, I glanced at the man. His tone was indifferent and calm, but Onyx’s demeanor, so markedly different from what he had shown in the conference hall, only amplified the sense of unease I had just felt.

“I believe you were a knight… You suffered a serious injury.”

Poor thing. His tone seemed to hide such words.

Callen spat out his words as if chewing on them.

“I appreciate the kindness, but please let go of me now.”

“Oh, my apologies.”

Onyx obediently withdrew his hand. Callen, still unable to balance on his own, was about to sway again when I caught him firmly.

The flustered state of the man I was supporting was transmitted to me through our contact, but it’s a strange human tendency to become calmer when someone else is flustered.

Onyx stroked his chin with a bony hand and said, “By the way, for one of the country’s key officials to have a bad leg.”

His gray eyes took in Callen.

“What is about to unfold from now on will be a world of power different from what has been… It must be truly regrettable that you cannot stand on the front lines.”

And I took in the man who said such things.

What should I call this? The man was not directly mocking Callen.

His tone and the content of his words, if you just listened to them, truly made it seem like he felt sorry for Callen.

But pity, when expressed by someone who doesn’t know the full story, often degenerates into unpleasant condescension.

“…..”

Had it been any other remark, Callen, who would have retorted with a smile at such subtle rudeness, seemed to be at a loss for words for a moment.

And I knew well that the man became most flustered not by any other misfortune, but when his injury was pointed out.

“Lord Onyx.”

At my call, Onyx finally turned his head to look at me.

It was a brazen act, as if he had only just noticed my presence, even though he knew full well I was right beside him.

On the other hand, the man I was supporting tensed up as if he were nervous, and my heart ached.

But I didn’t want to blame Callen for not being able to offer any rebuttal in this situation.

Everyone has at least one scar from the past that they can never quite overcome.

That’s why I knew that in this situation, I was the only one who could speak for him, not Callen himself.

“Ah, dear. I’ve been holding up an injured person for too long.”

At Onyx’s brazen words, I smiled slightly and said, “Sometimes, the courage to throw oneself into danger, knowing one will be hurt, is more valuable than a strength that avoids injury.”

“…..”

“As someone who also wields a sword, Lord Onyx, you must know this better than I.”

At my words, the man finally looked at me intently, as if recognizing me for the first time.

Was he now annoyed that I dared to contradict him? In any case, there was no reason to be intimidated by some crown prince who had run his own country into the ground and sought asylum.

I turned my head and, while steadying Callen, who was also staring at me with wide eyes, said, “Marquis, I would like to finish the report I was unable to give. It would be best for us to move before it gets any later.”

So pull yourself together now. It was that kind of gentle advice.

Since we had been eating dinner before coming here, it was safe to say that it was almost midnight now that the meeting was over.

At my words, as if he had finally calmed down, Callen’s expression changed.

“…Ah, right.”

He straightened himself. The tremor in his leg hadn’t completely subsided, but it seemed he had recovered enough to move.

With a much more relaxed expression than before, Callen smiled and met Onyx’s gaze without averting it.

“Well then, Lord Onyx. Thank you for your concern and your support. A knight will guide you on your way back.”

His tone was gentle but firm.

That’s right, there’s no need to get caught up in this. No matter how much he pretends to be superior, the other party is someone who has sought refuge here and is now in a position where he has no choice but to be escorted back to the outer palace.

“…I am grateful for your kindness.”

And Onyx, after looking at the two of us, simply finished his farewell with those words.

***

I firmly supported Callen, who still needed assistance, and left the conference room.

The door closed, and as a passing servant bowed politely and moved away, only the two of us were left in the corridor.

To be honest, I had used the excuse of finishing my report to escape the situation, but now there was no rush.

I walked slowly, matching the man’s pace. The palace, late at night, was incredibly quiet, though I could sense the presence of people.

To break the silence, I was about to talk about the rudeness I felt from Onyx Carshion or the unease in his attitude, but…

Callen spoke first.

“…Thank you for your help.”

“Are you alright now?”

Callen nodded and slowly moved away from me.

He took a step or two, stood in front of me, and then suddenly turned to look at me.

The composure he had regained just a moment ago was gone, and the man, with a slightly sunken gaze, smiled faintly and murmured to me.

“…You saw me in a sorry state. For some reason, it seems I only ever show you… this side of me.”

Did he? But wanting to cheer up the man who seemed somewhat dispirited, I said, “I don’t know. I don’t really have any memories like that. And what’s there to be sorry about? That rude man is the problem. I don’t know if he’s forgotten his own situation or what.”

“Haha.”

Not wanting to see him blame himself, I deliberately shifted the blame to Onyx, and Callen laughed out loud before looking at me silently.

…Was it just my imagination? Lately, he had been looking at me in silence more and more often.

Even while working. Even when we faced each other for a report. Just like now, he would gaze at me intently, as if engraving a scene he never wanted to forget.

“Liddell.”

He called my name, which was unusual.

“Yes.”

“…Liddell.”

His voice, calling me, grew even lower. Sensing something strange, I narrowed my eyes for a moment, and Callen spoke slowly.

“Because I was afraid it would be a burden to you… I couldn’t tell you.”

“…Yes?”

“The truth is, I… cherished you very much.”

What is this all of a sudden?

It seemed to be an extension of the conversation we had before coming here. Besides, I’ve already heard this several times…

No, why has he been praising me so much lately? Just how much more does he plan to work me that he’s trying to get on my good side?

With that thought, I was about to brush it off with a word of thanks as usual, when his expression caught my eye.

What is it?

He was a familiar man. A face I had seen countless times, a voice I had heard countless times.

And yet, in this moment, he felt like a complete stranger I was seeing for the first time. So much so that I wondered if this was the Callen Ophius I had known until now.

Was it because his golden eyes, which were always steady, seemed to be trembling slightly? Or was it because his voice, as he said those words to me, held a hesitation it never had before?

I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I couldn’t take my eyes off him.

“Truly, I cherished you very much.”

“Marquis.”

“…You were right. Perhaps my expressions were very lacking. But that was the best I could do, so there’s no use regretting it now.”

What on earth is he talking about?

But his demeanor was so serious that I couldn’t just pass it off with a joke as usual, or say something light to change the mood.

I had always thought that, contrary to his appearance, he was a very delicate person.

…I felt as if I was getting a small glimpse into his true inner self, which I had vaguely suspected might be hidden away.