I Became The Wife Of The Cursed Grand Duke Chapter 97

As Charlotte pondered the complexities of the situation, a faint suspicion flickered across her face.

 

“Why did you hide the cemetery from your son? Is there something here that must be protected…”

 

Evelyn’s question about whether there was something hidden in the catacombs made Charlotte snort as if it were an abomination.

 

She assumed that Evelyn must have said that because she had seen something glowing on the corpse.

 

But as she watched Evelyn steadily heal her wounds, regardless of the damage to her own body, Charlotte reconsidered.

 

Besides, Evelyn was too far away from the coffin to have witnessed the light.

 

The light wasn’t strong enough to be noticed from a distance.

 

Moreover, Benedict had said that the word among the Templars was that the grand duchess was a true saint.

 

…If so.

 

Charlotte’s eyes darkened as she looked at herself in the mirror.

 

 

* * *

 

 

That evening, Kalian and Evelyn dined together in the common dining hall, which was crowded with knights.

 

It seemed like they had only been in the Grand Duchy for a short time, but the wedding was only five days away.

 

He sliced the reindeer steak from the dinner into good-sized pieces and placed them on Evelyn’s plate.

 

“I hear it’s customary these days for couples to take a trip as soon as the wedding is over.”

 

“Lucy told me once, too,” Evelyn said, “that it’s fashionable to lock yourself away in a cottage for a month and share honey liquor.”

 

There are weird fads, she replied nonchalantly, and then added, just in case he cared.

 

“I feel like I’m traveling every day these days, so you shouldn’t mind, and it’s not like I’m idle enough to take the time to go somewhere.”

 

Her casual response made Kalian feel both apologetic and a little bitter. It was true, as she said, that he didn’t have much time.

 

Especially lately, he’s had to leave Evelyn alone a lot to deal with the demon colonies.

 

Although she seems to be spending her time well, it doesn’t make him feel any better.

 

Moreover, the cleansing of Bellatra Dungeon was approaching, and after the wedding, he would have to prepare to leave immediately.

 

A low breath escaped from the tip of his nose.

 

“Bellatra is one of the most beautiful landscapes in the Empire. It’s a pity we didn’t have a snow yogi on our way out.”

 

“Has the contaminated land… not been purified yet?”

 

Evelyn shook her head, remembering Ines’s mention of a holy woman being sent to the tainted land.

 

“I heard she performed a purification ritual, but I can’t believe it didn’t work…”

 

Evelyn trailed off, and Kalian stared at her worriedly.

 

“Newspapers with articles about the saint were obviously forbidden to be brought in, so who gave you the news?”

 

Embarrassed by the question, Evelyn blinked lazily instead of answering.

 

His golden eyes hovered over her face as he watched her breathlessly, seeming to gauge her inner thoughts.

 

“It was Ines.”

 

Whether or not that’s true, Evelyn lifted her gaze to meet Kalian’s, questioning his words.

 

“Why did you not allow me to bring in the newspaper with the article about the saint? Because of me?”

 

Evelyn knew that Kalian thought she was special.

 

But she didn’t think she had to make him sensitive.

 

As she’d once said, Kalian should never relive his past life, and he didn’t need her presence in the way of that.

 

Even now, the saint’s presence didn’t bother him that much.

 

Of course, he might feel differently if he could actually see her.

 

“If that’s true, then please don’t do that in the future, because you’re bothering with such things… only makes it harder for me.”

 

With that, Evelyn casually took a bite of the meat on her plate and popped it into her mouth.

 

But Kalian was disturbed by the look on her face as she feigned nonchalance.

 

“I don’t see why this is bothering you.”

 

She swallowed the food with a grimy mouthful and leaned over to whisper in a low voice.

 

“Because I want to stay with you as long as possible.”

 

His dark eyebrows twitched.

 

She was speaking lightly, as if to tease him, but the answer sent a shiver down his spine as he vividly remembered the consequences of refusing her trust.

 

He shook his head, reminded once again that overcaring could put her in danger.

 

“Well, if you say so, I suppose I should. But…”

 

That didn’t deter him completely. Evelyn is the woman he must protect in this life.

 

“I don’t want you to get too close to Ines either.”

 

“What about Ines?”

 

Evelyn’s voice trailed off again. Kalian knew he was being too sensitive.

 

“I know she’s been a great help to you.”

 

But Ines knew too much, too much to be called a sage.

 

There were things he didn’t want Evelyn to know.

 

And while Ines shouldn’t be running her mouth, Kalian didn’t want to complicate Evelyn’s feelings with unnecessary words.

 

“Like I said, wizards are cunning. They may smile and seem nice on the outside, but there’s no telling what lies beneath the surface.”

 

It’s not like he can put a human on the other end of the line to monitor their conversations.

 

“Moreover, given your status, you should be mindful of your behavior, even if it’s a little annoying. You never know when or how one of your words could be used against you.”

 

“…ah.”

 

So he instilled just the slightest bit of responsibility and doubt in Evelyn, lest she become completely dependent on Ines.

 

“I hadn’t thought of that.”

 

Fortunately, Evelyn nodded quickly, as if she understood what he meant.

 

“But… I can still use her help until I hone my offensive magic, right?”

 

Being close to Ines had opened Evelyn’s eyes to a new world she didn’t know.

 

She was so energetic as she practiced in and out of the magic guild every day that he inwardly cheered her on.

 

While he had no intention of stopping her, Kalian felt that it would be reassuring to have everything under his control.

 

He nodded, still.

 

“Okay, but don’t keep secrets from me.”

 

 

* * *

 

 

After they finished eating, Kalian came upstairs to the bedroom, looking quite agitated.

 

His breathing was more ragged than usual, and there was a faint scent of alcohol on his breath.

 

At the end of the meal, he had gotten carried away and had a quick drink with the Templars.

 

As soon as the bedroom door closed behind them, Kalian pulled off his shirt, tossing it haphazardly to the floor, and grabbed Evelyn.

 

His arms seized her, and she was pulled away, trapped between the bedroom door and his body.

 

Kalian wrapped his arms around Evelyn’s waist and held her close, cupping her face in his large hands.

 

“What you said to me earlier, I want you to say it again.”

 

They were close enough that their breaths touched. Evelyn looked up at him nervously.

 

“What do you mean…?”

 

Evelyn’s cheeks and the nape of her neck were burning from the wine she’d had.

 

It wasn’t much compared to what she’d gulped down like water, but she was the type of person who blushed at the mere touch of alcohol.

 

There was a fierce possessiveness and lust in Kalian’s eyes as he gazed down at his wife, ripe as a tempting fruit.

 

“I thought it was a woman’s natural instinct to want to strip a man naked and eat him, and today I’d like to check out your lowly hobby.”

 

With that, Kalian plunged his hands deep into Evelyn’s hair, grabbed her by the nape of the neck, and pulled her to him.

 

Then he tilted his face and captured her lips with his own.

 

He pressed his lips against the soft flesh, and the hand at the back of her neck pressed deeper.

 

“…Mmm.”

 

He thrust into her with such terrifying force that she could only cling to him with every fiber of her being.

 

“Kal, you’re so hard.”

 

As if to quench his rising desire, Kalian pressed his body against hers, planting a deep kiss on the nape of her neck.

 

“Why, I don’t look so appetizing today, do I?”

 

“It’s not that, er, that…”

 

“Shame I gave you a reason to get excited and now you’re backing out.”

 

Firmly aroused, he slid his thigh between Evelyn’s legs.

 

A moan escaped Evelyn’s mouth at the pleasurable pressure.

 

“Ah…”

 

Taking the low gasp as his cue, Kalian’s lips swallowed her ear in a mouthful, sucking on it before trailing down the long line of her neck.

 

Then he nibbled at the straight, upturned collarbone before sliding his tongue slowly downward.

 

It was like he was being chased by something. Her heart pounded in her throat as she craved his touch as he pulled her clothes off.

 

Naked in the blink of an eye, she cried out as she pushed against his chest, his thrusts unusually rough today.

 

“It’s, uh, so, so, hard to stand, I’d rather go to bed, okay?”

 

But he wouldn’t budge. His voice was husky as he stroked her bare skin.

 

“What’s so hard?”

 

“My heart is racing like it’s running all over my body, and I’m so dizzy.”

 

A bit of alcohol had seeped into her exhausted body from being on the stage all day and the Godmother’s treatment.

 

Combine that with intense pleasure, and Evelyn’s eyes are white as if she’s about to black out.

 

“Hold still and I’ll take care of it, and…”

 

But he didn’t give her the time of day.

 

“You’re banned from the training grounds from now on.”

 

“Awww…!”

 

Kalian whispered in her ear, his savage, beastly gaze all over Evelyn’s face.

 

“I’m going to give you a private practice area, and you’re going to practice there, and don’t set eyes on any other man or any reason.”

 

Evelyn felt like she was going to lose her mind. The heat, stronger than ever, coursed through her body, robbing her of the ability to respond.

 

“…hhhh.”

 

Kalian’s eyes dug into hers with a wildness that made her vision flicker.

 

“You see?”

 

Evelyn shuddered, clawing at his backbone.

 

The shivers that began to spread indiscriminately over her body and the way he looked at her, the way he looked at the one he truly loved, melted away all reason.

 

“Answer me.”

 

Evelyn nodded, barely able to contain herself as she kissed the man’s lips that threatened to pierce her insides.