I’m In Trouble Because My Husband Is So Cute - Chapter 23

It’s bad for her to feel that the sound of him washing his body is suggestive. She struggled to calm her mind.

Moments later, Zachary came out with a towel draped over his head. Heat seeped through the thin clothes he is wearing.

Iellie placed the first aid kit next to her and beckoned to him.

“Zachary, you promised to come without getting hurt.”

There were small scars left on Zachary’s body. It wasn’t like the big wound that wrapped around his body when he was young, though the scratches and cuts were also upsetting.

Zachary politely apologized.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t just only lead the knights.”

“Didn’t it hurt to wash? Lie down first.”

At her words, he immediately laid down.

Iellie carefully applied the ointment over the wounds in every corner of his body. The bandaging fingertips were much faster than before. He gazed at it and smiled a little.

“Now you can bandage well.”

“Thanks to someone, I practiced a lot.”

“Because of me?”

“Of course.”

After all of his wounds were treated and bandaged, she threw the medicines into the first aid kit. Zachary then grabbed her hand.

“Len. That—?”

“That?”

“Lullaby.”

“….”

Did he really mean it? Iellie gazed at Zachary with a disapproving expression.

Looking at her reaction, he soon whined.”You said you’d do it, but you’re not going to do it now?”

“No… that’s okay.”

Iellie narrowed her brow, but Zachary never showed any sign of backing down. She let out a long sigh, grabbed her collar, and cleared her neck before sitting down next to him.

“The black night comes, and the moon smiles brightly. The moonlight blanket is so cozy…”

“…”

It was a lovely lullaby

She sang her song and glanced down at Zachary. Hearing the colorful breaths, perhaps he was tired, so he fell into a deep sleep.

A defenseless look. Iellie already knew that such a figure was only shown to her.

She smiled and whispered softly.

“…Thank you so much for today.”

‘For taking my side…’

Iellie lightly brushed the ruffled hair above Zachary’s forehead. His silver hair gently intertwined between her fingers. Long silver eyelashes closed silently. She concluded her words.

“Good night, have a good dream.”

With the first aid kit, she carefully pushed open the door.

Click.

After a while. The door closed quietly.

Hearing that, Zachary gently lifted his eyelids. The finely closed-door and Iellie, who disappeared without a trace. Still, there was a faint scent of asha flowers fluttering from where she left.

Her sweet voice penetrates deep into his ears.

“…Len.”

Zachary whispered softly and buried his head in the pillow. His ears were stained bright red.

***

Meanwhile, Countess Laurent went straight to the Duke’s office. While the Duke was in the midst of reviewing the documents, he met her.

The Countess came into him with tears and made pleas towards the Duke.

“The Heir Apparent has beaten me to protect Lady Hessenweitz!”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, that’s right!”

“I see.”

At that, he answered with an expressionless face.

The Countess glanced at the Duke. The relationship between the Duke and the Heir Apparent is not so good, it is a fact that most northerners know. Naturally, having heard this news, the Countess was expecting that the Duke would somehow punish Zachary.

However,

“Is that all you have to say?”

“…Pardon?”

As the Duke asked the Countess in a rather calm voice, her pupils shook violently.

“It’s true I hate him, but he’s not a low-minded kid.”

“Your Excellency…?”

The Duke put his pen down and it made a thud. The pale blue eyes that he passed on to Zachary stare at the Countess quietly.

Without realizing it, she hardened her shoulders.

There was no warmth on the Duke’s face.

“I’ve heard that you have been disrespectful to Iellie?”

“That is not true, Your Excellency! I have been respectful!”

“It is natural for a husband to protect his wife.”

Having said that, the Duke got up. The gesture of looking back at the Countess resembled that of his son.

“So, I don’t think it’s my business.”

“Your Excellency!”

“Besides, how dare you enter my wife’s room?”

His eyes were dyed deep blue when he said that. The Countess flinched, too.

“I didn’t mean to…!”

“It seems that Iellie was trying to cover it up somehow, but I have an ear as well.”

Saying so, the Duke tilted his chair back in a relaxed manner. At those words, she felt the nape of his neck rested.

“You are Zachary’s aunt, not of the same blood, but a relative of my wife.”

Although the Duke’s voice was relaxed, the Countess could read it from his voice.

…That voice, that attitude. What the hell is this?

What the hell is that guy? Her whole body is shaking uncontrollably.

“So, I’ve only been tolerant so far.”

“Your, Your…”

“There will also be opposition from Zachary. So, for the time being, step down from the education position and rest.”

His eyes, as cold as the winter sea, stared straight at the Countess. She clenched her molars.

‘What the hell is this, the monster’s father must also be a monster!’

However, if she is expelled as she is, the Imperial Palace side that pushed her into the Duchy will not stand up.

She suddenly remembered the Crown prince’s face. Instead of the emperor suffering from illness, the young and beautiful Crown Prince took all the real power. Those snake-like eyes…

Moments after, the Duke opened his lips, asking as if really curious.

“Aren’t you leaving?”

“Your Excellency, I…”

No, if she goes on like this, she may lose the Crown Prince’s trust. Nonetheless, the Duke was relentless.

“If you want to be dragged out by the knights, then do whatever you want.”

The Countess flinched.

The Duke’s words were sincere. As though passing the time alone, on a beautiful day, not even a single smile remained as a courtesy.

Eventually, the Countess was forced to step out of the office.

Thus, Countess Laurent was expelled after less than a month. Countess Laurent allowed herself to enter the Duke’s castle on the premise that she was the Duke’s relative and the face of the Imperial Family.

But, for the time being, she won’t be able to even come close to the Duke’s family.

Iellie, who was enjoying the peace that had come for a long time, had a satisfied expression.

“You like it that much?”

“Of course. Countess Laurent… she’s not very good at her job.”

She pouted her lips. Countess Laurent was so annoying that staying still was more helpful. Meanwhile, a fierce north wind rattled and shook the window.

She glanced at the window and said.

“Wow, the weather has turned quite cold?”

“Now is the time for winter to gradually pick up steam.”

Zachary nodded his head slightly.

Winters in the north are much longer and colder than in other parts of the Empire.

“Because it’s time for a heavy snowfall.”

“That’s right. It snowed a lot in the north.”

Iellie chimed in. Having lived in the north for several years, the winter in the north was completely dyed white.

Personally, it wasn’t that bad.

Even though it was cold, winter was the season that reminded her of Zachary.

Iellie spoke her words to her husband, lying in front of the fireplace where she had lit the fire over the tiger skin that Zachary had caught.

“When it snows, the whole world turns white.”

“Right?”

“That’s the color of your hair.”

Iellie smiled softly. Raising her hand, she stroked his hair. His fine hair, sparkling in pure white silver, glowed pink in the light of the fireplace. She spoke happily.

“So I guess winter is good.”

“…Really?”

Zachary glanced back at Iellie with a new expression on his face. Winter is good, she said. He had never thought of that. The cold and cool season reminds him of a sad childhood when he was imprisoned.

“Yeah. Before I met you, I thought it was just cold and not a good season.”

Hearing his words, she slowly blinked her eyes. As she did a brief yawn, she rubbed her eyelids and as he continued.

“Now, it was because I think of you in winter.”

On the other hand, Iellie suddenly felt her eyelids become heavy. Seeing her crouching down, Zachary asked.

“Hey, are you sleepy?”

“Yes…”

He didn’t ask anymore. Gazing at Iellie, who was dozing off, he quickly held his wife in his arms. She had fallen into a deep sleep, and the whole time she lay on the bed, she didn’t even open her eyes.

He puts the duvet up to her neck, and she makes a purring sound like a cat before smiling a little.

“Sleep well, Len.”

Zachary wiped Iellie’s forehead as she dug into the blanket after a small nod of her head.

“You know what?”

Asleep, she doesn’t answer.

Zachary peered down at her calm face and murmured slowly. “Of all the seasons, I like spring the most.”

“….”

“Among the flowers, the Asha flower is the best.”

Zachary, who continued whispering, gazed down.

Her well-closed pink eyelashes were as bright as the leaves of an asha flower. He used to not like the asha flower, the symbol of the Duchy. However, it was only thanks to her that he changed like this.

“If it resembles you and if it reminds you of you… then, anything is fine.”

A colorful breath was heard.

Zachary laughed as she listened to the regular breathing of the deep asleep girl.

“…Because you’re the only one who can change me.”

‘You made me happy, taught me the reason for living, and gave me strength to live.’

“So, I… if you like winter, I think I can like winter, too.”

As he kissed her forehead briefly, Iellie whined a little.

Putting out a laugh, he got up. After turning off all the lights, Zachary crept out of the room to not make the footsteps heard.

***

The next morning.

As she slept early last night, she woke up early and saw the heavy snow of the North.

“…Oh, my God, look at the snow.”

Iellie stood close to the window and gave a bewildered expression. The whole world she could see was dyed white. It was the first snow of the year.

Just then, Mary entered her room and opened her mouth with a lively voice.

“It snowed all night.”

“Is that so? Where is the Heir Apparent?”

She asked Mary, who was rolling up the curtains. She looked back and smiled. “It’s snowing a lot, so he went out to have a look around the estate.”

“Really? Well… I guess it’s nice to work.”

Still, it would be nice to say hello before leaving. The way he works hard is so like Zachary.

She narrowed her brow. Iellie glanced out the window again. Strangely, her conscience is stabbed.

“…if I had known that it would snow so much.”

For Zachary to go around the estate, she should get up early to see him off. It seems that somehow she was disqualified as a wife.

She let out a long sigh.

Then, Mary added her words to Iellie, who opened her eyes wide.

“That’s why the Young Master stopped by the Lady’s room this morning and left.”

“Huh? Really?”

“Yes. But, he told me not to wake you up and to let you sleep.”

Mary uttered with a smile.

Is that so…? Nodding her head, she felt a little regretful.

The whole day, it snowed heavily.

Zachary didn’t come back until late that afternoon. Even after brushing off the snow, he still had snow marks all over his body.

Iellie, who had been sitting in her seat, jumped up.

“Zachary, why are you so late?”

“That’s because it’s snowing so much that there’s so much to see.”

She put down the sketchbook and pencil she was holding in her hands. Seeing so, he asked with a puzzled face.

“What sketchbook is this?”

“I think it’s been a while since I’ve been painting. Painting is a lady’s culture, isn’t it?”

***

Annyeong! 3 chapters were released all at once because this novel got a manhwa adaptation! Woohoo! For that same reason, another 3 will be released all at once next week, but the week after that, we’ll be back to uploading 1 chapter per week. As always, thank you for reading our releases!