I Refuse To Be A Character In A Novel - Chapter 22

“I heard you were sick. Are you feeling better?”

Zachary asked as he laid his hand on her forehead.

Only then did he furrow his eyebrows.

Unlike what her pale skin indicated, her body was burning up with a fever.

The doctor’s words made him think of it as a small matter, but she was in a far worse condition than he assumed.

“What’s going on? The doctor said you should be fine by now. Did you skip your medication?”

Unlike his calm voice, the expression on his face was slightly stirred.

‘Are you concerned?’

‘Now?’

Erna stared at him blankly as she wondered.

It was usually the case with men like him.

You could only get his attention if you were sick or dying.

I don’t want your sympathy.

It would be better if you ignored me as you always have.

“Thank you for your concern. I feel much better than I did a few days ago.”

Erna shook off the hand that laid on her forehead.

The hand that seemed unlikely to budge, was easily brushed off at the slight touch of her fingertips.

Erna’s gaze followed the hand that slowly descended to rest on her knee as Zachary squatted down in front of her.

“Erna.”

Only when he called her did she face him again.

The name she hadn’t heard for 8 years was coming out his lips so naturally.

Erna.

That’s right.

That’s my name.

“What’s wrong?”

Unlike his earlier tone, Zachary sounded sincere.

Perhaps it was because he sat at a lower level from her eyes, he also looked much less intimidating.

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Thinking rationally, Erna knew she was being needlessly stubborn.

Even if Zachary was the epithet of an indifferent husband, Charlotte wasn’t much different.

She wasn’t the kind of wife that would complain about her husband’s absence nor did she look for him.

One of the reasons Erna felt wary of the duke, was the fact that she knew next to nothing about him.

Aside from the years Zachary spent away in war, there were hardly any memories of the two of them together.

Zachary was a man of few words who didn’t bother getting to know his own wife, and Charlotte enjoyed a luxurious life spending her abundant budget, ignorant of her surroundings.

The two of them were perfect for each other.

Perfectly convenient partners.

Even though Erna didn’t approve of such a lifestyle, she had decided to keep up the same act until she got a divorce.

However, facing the reality, she couldn’t help it.

She was scared.

She was also angry.

Very angry at her situation.

And she needed someone to vent her anger on.

Mielle was too nice for her to do so, and the beautiful child she had met was too innocent to blame.

Thus, the duke who came at a ‘bad timing’ became the target of her pent up emotions.

“Erna.”

When Zachary urged again, Erna breathed a sigh of surrender.

The thought ‘Why do you care’ that crossed her mind, sounded awfully childish to say out loud.

Erna forced a tired smile on her face and softened her tone.

“I’m sorry, I have a headache and I want to rest. Can we talk later?”

‘Just go away’

Zachary didn’t answer.

He stared calmly into her eyes to the point where she feared he could read her thoughts.

No.

Maybe that would’ve been better.

Because Erna wasn’t sure that there would ever come a time where she would say the words ‘I am not the person you married’ out loud.

Let’s just get a safe divorce and part ways.

As Zachary stood from his place, Erna released all tension from her body.

She only said so as an excuse but now she was really coming with a headache.

“Ack! What are you doing?”

Just when she thought she could finally have time to revise her plan to save whatever was left from her life, a hand that slipped behind her waist caught her in surprise.

“You said you wanted to rest.”

With his other hand behind her knees, Zachary easily carried her from the couch.

“I can walk. Put me down!”

Erna flailed her hands and legs flustered by the sudden contact.

She never thought the duke would do such a thing.

“That hurt.”

Zachary complained with a blank expression.

The small fist that landed on his chest felt like nothing more than a tap.

“Liar.”

Embarrassed by her ineffective punch, Erna retorted begrudgingly.

“Not only your health, but your manners have also deteriorated from sickness. It seems the doctor was a quack.”

His voice sounded rather amused for someone who was scolding her.

Zachary walked towards the other side of the room where her bed was, carrying her in his hands despite her reluctant behavior.