I Married a Sick Husband - Chapter 37

After a long time, Meredith, who was in Theodore’s arms, became embarrassed.

 

‘I was swept up by the mood and cried in his arms….’

 

She felt that she had made too many mistakes.

 

This was the first time they had touched like this which wasn’t for the purpose of transferring life force.

 

‘In fact, the hug itself..… Isn’t it the first time?’

 

Meredith cleared her throat and spoke to Theodore.

 

“…Thank you for comforting me.”

 

“You don’t even have to say thank you.… Because it was nothing.”

 

“For me… It was such a warm consolation.”

 

As if to show she meant it, Meredith smiled faintly.

 

“It was definitely enough.”

 

Even that smile seemed pitiful now, and Theodore couldn’t say anything in reply.

 

“… so.”

 

He changed the subject to lighten the mood.

 

“Have you thought about what to do with the Duchess?”

 

“She insulted the empress in front of everyone.”

 

Meredith said firmly.

 

“It is a serious sin. I will give her a fair punishment.”

 

“What punishment did you think?”

 

“Well. Even if it’s hard, shouldn’t she go into exile?”

 

“Unexpected.”

 

“… Is it too harsh of a punishment?”

 

“No. I thought you would think about the death penalty.”

 

It was Meredith who was taken aback by the level of punishment that far exceeded her expectations.

 

“I don’t have the heart to kill someone for a slap on the cheek.”

 

“You can do it if you want. You are the empress of this empire.”

 

“There was no such purpose in planning this in the first place….”

 

“Okay, got it.”

 

Theodore calmed Meredith with a slight smile.

 

“So, lighten up a bit. It’s too pale.”

 

“Ah…”

 

“You seem like a very nice person.”

 

“You’re talking about me?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I never thought the person who planned this was good.”

 

“You’re a good person for thinking like that.”

 

Theodore let out an incomprehensible laugh.

 

“I don’t think I will ever be able to forgive the person who did that.”

 

“…..”

 

“I don’t think I would be able to let go of such an opportunity.”

 

“Anyway, I’m satisfied with exile, Your Majesty.”

 

“Alright. I’ll take care of it.”

 

“But the Duke of Schwartz certainly won’t just leave this situation as it is.”

 

“Of course. As soon as he understood the situation, he must have visited the Empress Dowager to save him from this predicament.”

 

Theodore nodded his head with a faint smile.

 

“But don’t worry. Everything will go your way.”

 

That word was strangely comforting, and Meredith smiled unconsciously.

 

 

***

 

 

The news that had reached Theodore had also arrived at the Empress’ Palace.

 

“Your Majesty, you have arrived.”

 

After leaving the Central Palace and returning to the Empress Palace, Yulia greeted Meredith politely as usual.

 

“Did anything unusual happen while I was gone?”

 

Upon hearing Meredith’s question, Yulia was a little taken aback.

 

Wasn’t it rather she who had something unusual happen?

 

“Nothing happened at the empress’ palace. By the way… I was told that something unpleasant occured at the Duchess of Schwartz’s party.”

 

“….. ah.”

 

Meredith opened her mouth, putting on a strange expression.

 

“Then, now Yulia knows too. Why I was quite perplexed to learn of His Majesty’s condition on the first day of our marriage.”

 

“… I apologize, Your Majesty.”

 

“It’s not something Yulia should apologize for. Rather, I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you the truth until now.”

 

“No, Your Majesty. You never need to have such sentiments towards me.”

 

At Meredith’s words, Yulia promptly shook her head and replied appreciatively.

 

“I don’t know what happened, but I’m always on Your Majesty’s side no matter what. I would like you to know that.”

 

“……”

 

“I don’t think Your Majesty deliberately hid your birth.”

 

“…. Thank you for understanding.”

 

“You’re welcome. I am someone serves Your Majesty.”

 

Yulia smiled slightly and said.

 

“My understanding is all yours.”

 

Those words brought about a different impression and comfort to Theodore’s.

 

‘You’re on my side here.’

 

Theodore, and Yulia too.

 

It felt as if a ray of light had fallen on her life, which had been painfully lonely.

 

 

***

 

 

The next morning, Meredith, as always, visited Blair.

 

“Mother, did you spend the night comfortably?”

 

“Dear, I was very comfortable last night.”

 

After she finished speaking, Blair’s face turned sharply dark and she asked Meredith.

 

“But I’m afraid you wouldn’t have. Didn’t something big happen at Duchess Schwarz’s birthday party yesterday?”

 

Of course, I knew this topic would be brought up.

 

Meredith replied, her face equally darkened.

 

“I’m sorry, mother.”

 

“No, why does my dear have to apologize for? I heard that you were slapped on the cheek.”

 

“I have never told my mother exactly about my birth.”

 

Meredith spoke in a quiet voice.

 

“I couldn’t sleep well because I was afraid that you might think that I had deceived mother about yesterday.”

 

“Deceit, that’s an unreasonable thought!”

 

“But… ”

 

“I never thought that you had deceived me, even after hearing all the facts. Just…”

 

Here, Blair paused her words for a moment, like someone deep in thought.

 

“I felt sorry towards you.”

 

“….”

 

“That’s all.”

 

After hearing what she said after a while, Meredith felt sorry for herself.

 

‘… I was almost moved by the comfort of Her Highness, Empress Dowager.’

 

It must have been that her heart was weakened by the warm consolation she had received one after another yesterday.

 

‘There’s no way, Her Highness, the Empress Dowager could truly comfort me. Wake up, Meredith.’

 

She laughed awkwardly as she thought she had to harden her heart.

 

“When you say that, I feel like my heart has completely healed.”

 

“Im telling you. Sometimes, I seem to see me of the past in you. In every way.”

 

“You mean me?”

 

“Yes. We resemble each other.”

 

Blair let out an incomprehensible grin.

 

“That’s why sometimes I act affectionate.”

 

Meredith couldn’t understand Blair’s words at all.

 

Why does she think she resembles her?

 

In her opinion, there was not a single resemblance between them.

 

“Anyway, the Duchess of Schwartz must be severely punished. How dare she insult the imperial empress like that.”

 

“Yes, mother. Even His Majesty, the Emperor, has promised he would punish her when the trial is held.”

 

“Yes, of course he should.”

 

“What is mother thinking?”

 

“Does my opinion matter?”

 

As if Blair hadn’t expected to hear such a question, she thought for a moment with a look of surprise.

 

“If I had suffered the same thing as you, I would have ordered for the head of the Duchess of Schwartz to be cut. Of course.”

 

“……”

 

“How dare she hit the imperial empress on the cheek. It is unforgivable even if the said person is the mother of the child.”

 

“Okay….”

 

Meredith had to swallow dry saliva involuntarily as she felt a chill at the moment.

 

‘… Am I soft?’

 

Theodore and Blair all agreed to the death penalty, so she wondered if the punishment she thought of, was too weak.

 

‘Or do they all change drastically like this when they live in the imperial palace…?’

 

However, she still felt that the death penalty was too much for a slap on the cheek.

 

“Did you happen to tell His Majesty to put the Duchess to death?”

 

Seeing Blair ask with her eyes shining, Meredith felt a bit uneasy.

 

“The punishment of criminals has always been the right of His Majesty the Emperor.”

 

Meredith refrained from revealing her intentions as much as possible.

 

“I have never commented on any punishment in particular.”

 

“Why? Occasionally mention the death penalty.”

 

“That is also a matter for His Majesty to decide.”

 

“Hmm….”

 

After hearing Meredith’s words and thinking for a moment, Blair opened her mouth.

 

“My dear is too nice.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Maybe that’s why I like you. And yet, I don’t know if I like you.”

 

“…..”

 

“I don’t know.”

 

Blair didn’t know what to say until the end.