As My Husband Said, I Brought in a Lover Chapter 220

“Why?”

 

“I think it would be best if you just went back today.”

 

“But it’s raining outside.”

 

“I’ll hold the umbrella for you.”

 

Terion picked up the umbrella with a grim expression. But Ellena stopped him.

 

“Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?”

 

“…”

 

“Terion…”

 

As Ellena looked up at him in distress, Terion closed his eyes as if in pain. When he opened them again, his deep green eyes were dark.

 

“May I be honest with you?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I have feelings for you, Milady.” Terion spoke seriously. “I’m saying I see you as a woman. When we’re alone in the same space, my heart races, and I want to touch you. I’ve managed to control myself so far, but… when you come here soaked like this, it becomes much harder for me to hold back.”

 

“…”

 

“And on top of that, a marriage? To someone thirty years older? Even if he’s a marquis, isn’t that insane? You’re young enough to be his child.”

 

“…I heard his children are older than I am.”

 

“This is driving me crazy.”

 

Terion cursed under his breath, and Ellena, surprised by his rough tone, looked at him.

 

“This is who I really am. I’m an uneducated commoner who knows nothing about etiquette. But at least I know better than to marry someone thirty years younger. No matter how uneducated I am, I know what’s right.”

 

“…”

 

“I always knew I’d have to let you go eventually, but not like this. Don’t marry such a strange man.” He pulled Ellena into his arms and hugged her tightly.

 

Her wet dress clung to the thin cotton of his summer shirt, the moisture soaking into his shirt as well. Their body heat was transferred to each other, intense and unmistakable. His heart was pounding loudly.

 

Ellena placed her hands on his waist, clutching the fabric tightly. “Then… what about you?”

 

“…”

 

“I’ve heard commoners are poor. I’m used to going without food, so I don’t eat much. When there’s something important coming up, I can even survive on just salad for a whole week. I can manage that.”

 

“…”

 

“I’ve never done hard labor before, but I’m a quick learner, so I’ll work hard. Terion, I don’t want to marry that marquis. I’m happy with you, and when I’m with you, I forget about all the painful things. I even sleep well on your old bed. So what do you think about us?” There was a hint of excitement in Ellena’s voice. “What do you think?”

 

Terion released her from his embrace and met her gaze. “Are you serious?”

 

“Yes.”

 

His hand brushed against Ellena’s face, his thumb lingering at the corner of her mouth. His gaze, filled with deep heat, rested on her lips.

 

“Milady.”

 

“You can call me by my name. Please, do that.”

 

“…Ellena.”

 

“Yes, Terion.”

 

Their lips met.

 

That day, Ellena and Terion became lovers.

 

* * *

The baron’s enraged voice echoed through the mansion.

 

“Are you out of your mind? To behave like that in front of the marquis! That was no dinner; it was like watching a pig gobbling up slop!”

 

“I’m sorry. I was just so hungry that day…”

 

“And on top of that! I told you to pretend not to know anything, yet you beat the marquis at his own game? Are you playing with me?”

 

“But I couldn’t pretend not to know something I already did.”

 

“Ha, I told you how important that meeting was. Now that the marquis is out of the picture, you must head to the capital immediately.”

 

“…What?”

 

“You must debut in society. I don’t know if you’ll survive there, but staying there until another opportunity arises will be more favorable for your marriage prospects.”

 

“…”

 

“Why are you hesitating to answer?”

 

“…Yes.”

 

Ellena was sent to the capital that very day. The angry baron put her in a carriage and sent her off without giving her a chance to say goodbye to Terion. As the carriage slowly departed, Ellena’s eyes met Terion’s as he stood motionless in the garden, watching the carriage leave.

 

Wait for me. Leaving those words behind, she was sent to the capital. That day, in the carriage headed for the capital, Ellena cried for the first time since she was ten years old.

 

Determined not to attract any attention in the capital’s social circles, she quietly took her place along the walls at events. Fortunately, she was able to return to the estate sooner than expected.

 

The Dayelon family, despite its long history, was not wealthy, and they quickly found it difficult to sustain life in the capital. As soon as she returned to the Dayelon estate, Ellena rushed to find Terion.

 

“Terion, I’m back!”

 

“…Ellena.”

 

He had been tending the garden, but as soon as he saw her, he swept her up in his arms and carried her to the shed, where he kissed her.

 

After a long kiss, Terion held her by the shoulders, meeting her gaze as he spoke. “Ellena, let’s leave this place.”

 

“…Leave?”

 

“I’ve saved up almost everything we need. I’ve contacted my village too. If we settle there, you’ll never go hungry, and we’ll never have to part like this again.”

 

“Are you sure? I thought you left because you liked a free life.”

 

“A life with you feels like freedom to me. When you were gone… it felt like I couldn’t breathe. I kept worrying that you’d meet some noble in the capital, fall in love, and forget about me. It was like my blood was drying up every day. I don’t want to be apart from you anymore.” Terion lowered his head, his face filled with anguish.

 

“… Let’s do it. I missed you so much too. You have no idea how hard I tried to come back.” Ellena embraced him.

 

“Ellena, will you really leave with me?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Do you swear?”

 

“I swear.”

 

“Then give yourself to me.”

 

When their eyes met again, his gaze was a turbulent mix of fear, possessiveness, love, and obsession. Seeing it reassured Ellena. It confirmed that he had longed for her as much as she had for him, that he still loved her.

 

“Alright.”

 

With that, she felt she could give up everything else.

 

* * *

Her period stopped. Given that her cycles were always irregular if she didn’t eat properly, it took some time before she realized something was wrong. The healer noticed during a routine checkup and reported it to the baron, who flew into a rage and interrogated Ellena.

 

It was only three days before the date they had planned to leave.

 

“The child was conceived in the capital. It was a masquerade ball, so I don’t know who the father is. I drank a lot… It was a ball attended only by the sons of good families.”

 

“Damn it!”

 

Ellena thought this lie would take the baron more than three days to investigate. But the baron was more meticulous than she expected. While he was checking on the capital ball she mentioned, he also began to investigate the household staff.

 

“Now that you mention it, Lady Ellena did spend an unusually long time in the garden. I also saw her talking to Terion a few times—you know, that young and handsome gardener.”

 

Upon hearing the maid’s words, the baron immediately issued an order to the knight. The knight responded promptly and left.

 

The morning before she was supposed to leave, Ellena woke up with a smile but was startled when she asked the servant a question.

 

“Did I sleep all day yesterday? Does that mean a whole day has passed?”

 

She placed a hand on her lower abdomen. They say pregnancy makes you sleepy, and it seems to be true. With the estate in such disarray, she hadn’t gone to see Terion, and she thought he must be very worried.

 

Ellena immediately went outside and headed for the rose garden. Although the roses had already wilted, they still met there as if by habit.

 

“Terion? Are you in the shed?”

 

Even though it was his working hours, he wasn’t in the garden, so she walked toward the shed. But he wasn’t there either.

 

“What could have happened?”

 

“As expected. It was him.”

 

The familiar voice behind her sent chills down her spine. When she turned around, she saw Baron Dayelon standing there, his face filled with anger.

 

“Are you looking for Terion?”

 

“Father, what did you do to him…?”

 

“Ha! So you’ve been impregnated by a commoner.” Tsk. He clicked his tongue. “He’s gone.”

 

“Then I’ll leave with him.”

 

“It seems you’re deeply attached.”

 

“…If you’re going to expel me from the family, I’ll accept it.”

 

“No, that won’t be necessary. I’ve invested too much in you to let you go so easily. It would be more beneficial if you learned your lesson and became more obedient.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“That guy is gone. To be precise, he’s dead. I killed him and threw him to the crows.”

 

“Liar.”

 

“Liar? Do you think I’d let some commoner who could be a threat to you live?”

 

“A threat? He… Terion wasn’t a threat to me. Father, please…”

 

“Hahahahaha!” The baron laughed loudly as Ellena’s face twisted in pain. “If you don’t obey me from now on, everything you care about will meet the same fate.”

 

“No… It can’t be…”

 

“That child will be killed as soon as it’s born. After that, with proper care, there should be no problem with your marriage. I’ll have to get more holy water from the temple.” The baron spoke calmly.

 

Ellena, who had been staring blankly at him, slowly moved her lips. “…Devil.”

 

“What?”

 

“Father must be a devil. Go to hell!” Ellena lunged at the baron, but his guards immediately restrained her.

 

“Hell? Ellena, nobles don’t go to hell.” The baron sneered.