Sickly? Husband’s Contractual Wife - Chapter 53

“Amoide!”

I couldn’t move away because of the heavy, strong weight pushing me down.

Like prey caught by a predator, I was completely trapped lying down on this bed because he was above me.

My struggles against him had no effect due to the difference in our strength.

What the hell is wrong with you?!

I wanted to cry.

“W-Why, what, why what are you doing? Why are you being like this?”

Powerless against his terrifying gaze, I desperately asked back as I tried to push away his body.

“It’s because you keep trying to run away. I wanted to talk to you.”

His voice became amiable, now as sweet as honey.

The sudden difference in tone sent chills down my spine.

“We can’t talk—like this. Please stop playing this joke now and just—”

“Didn’t you hear me? I’m tired of that now. I’m tired of being spun around by your silver tongue.”

His fingers swept down my lips.

“So play with me this time.”

Amoide reached up with his free hand and completely untied the cord keeping his own robe closed.

Shhhp.

When the cord was undone, I took in a sharp breath.

“……”

As his clothes fell off, I was faced with the sight of his solid muscles.

He was too close.

As he leaned into me, his chest and my chest weren’t very far apart.

I could feel his opened shirt passing over my chest.

‘Oh my gosh.’

The cool, soft texture of the fabric touched my bare skin, making me sensitive to each sensation that passed over my body.

Somehow itchy, painful, but at the same time, I keep thinking that his chest was so wide…

“W-Why, your lips, why are you smiling?”

‘Good for you for being so flippant about this!’

I wanted to cry even more.

“I just wanted to talk impartially and in a relaxed manner.”

His words brought me back to my senses.

I shook my head from side to side, trying to ignore his chest in front of me or even the image of it in my mind.

But as I looked down at it again, I felt Amoide’s gaze becoming crooked, like he was misunderstanding me.

“…However, you didn’t want to sit down and talk. All I did was introduce a new position.”

He gently tightened his grip over my wrists.

Then, with a flash of inspiration, I thought of something.

“Hand, my hand, it hurts.”

I pointed my gaze upward at my hand that was still wrapped in bandages.

“You don’t have to worry.”

And as he said this, he grabbed the wrist of my bandaged hand and raised it higher.

Then, he fixed it to a spot as though it was nailed there.

“This hand won’t be used.”

Not using it… What the hell, just what is he saying about a hand that I should be deciding whether to move or not?

I was thrown into an even deeper state of confusion because I couldn’t understand what he meant.

“Shall we talk now?”

I wanted to ask why we had to do it in this strange position, but my lips remained mute.

“I heard that I couldn’t do that properly.”

“Huh?”

“Everyone was talking about why exactly I haven’t been able to fulfill my duties as a husband.”

“……Who?”

“Who do you think?”

The first one who came to mind was Camilla, followed by Jean and Raymond.

There were already three candidates in my mind. However, there were plenty of reasons why I couldn’t bring them up.

Would Camilla have taken the initiative to mention her son’s potential problems in that department? Or would the family doctor start criticizing his patient? Or would a chef even mention something like that when he’s confined to the kitchen?

All three people had no reason to say that directly to Amoide.

Camilla warned me several times to be careful of what I say for fear that even her son would be discouraged.

What would Raymond have to say? He’s such a quiet person.

Jean was also a person who’s practically living in the kitchen. He wasn’t free enough to meet Amoide separately and say such useless things.

“I… I never said that.”

I stuck out my tongue to lick my dry lips.

“Mother and Raymond, too, they didn’t say anything. And Jean… Why would any of us say that?”

“Mother, Raymond? Jean?”

Damn it.

The moment I said something, he narrowed his eyes, making my back shudder.

‘I said what was on my mind.’

I wanted to bite my lower lip until it bled, but it seemed it already happened.

“Talk.”

He put pressure over my wrists and leaned down. There was no escape for me.

“Why those three people? Why is that going around, that I’m impotent? That I couldn’t even get it up because I don’t have the energy for it?”

There was a dangerous air around him, and I tried to make up excuses in a hurry.

“No, I-I just…”

But I couldn’t say anything because there was nothing to say.

Because he was right.

It was my words that made this situation spiral into a crisis.

Those careless words were said as a means for me to save him, but it was a mistake that won’t be erased so easily.

“I thought you gave up. It was a little doubtful at first, but you soon acted like you’ve given up on carrying my child.”

“That hasn’t changed. I just want you to be…”

“To be healthy? Is that all?”

He stared at me with narrowed eyes. They were full of contempt.

‘Why all of a sudden?’

We’ve been getting along better lately. We took strolls together and even ate together. He even helped me knock Greta down a peg! It was fake, but we had a surprise confession! We had fun talking with each other!

“I told you—I, I, towards you—”

“You love me?”

The breath of his silent laughter swept over my forehead.

“Then what other reason do I have?” I said with determination.

“…Then prove it.”

His fingers stroked my cheeks, making me shudder as I avoided his touch.

“Seduce me. Don’t be so relaxed. I don’t have a hobby of holding a quivering woman.”

“I-I think there’s a misunderstanding.”

I tried to convince him desperately, but the more I tried, the stronger the pressure he held over me to push me down.

“You said you fell for me.”

Then, he leaned lower—closer to me.

“You said you love me.”

I felt something hot and damp over my earlobe.

“Amoide!”

I yelled as his lips came down over my neck and stayed near my collarbone.

“Why? Isn’t this what you wanted?”

I flinched as I felt his hot breath.

His lips were now close, hovering over my breasts.

“You have to do that with me in order to give birth to my child.”

His breath swept over my chest as he smiled slightly, and my body shivered.

“Then why? Have you changed your mind?”

“N-No, that’s not it—”

Why is my wish to make him healthy being so twisted up like this?

I was so flustered that I couldn’t speak properly.

“Give birth to my child and become the mother of the Duchy’s heir. You shouldn’t be a Duchess in name only like it is now. If you want to revel in such luxury, try to think of something better. Don’t use the same shallow tricks.”

His languid voice became lower.

“Once I die, you’ll be the Duke’s mother. You’ll have the same power to control the Duchy just like my mother.”

My mind went blank as he continued to speak.

“Then you should have come directly to me, rather than winning over the people around me.”

I wrap my head around what was being said to me.

“You should have taken off your clothes and jumped straight to this bed. All you have is your body, right? Shouldn’t you use it properly?”

“……”

“Seduce me with this body of yours so you can have my child.”

“Amoide, there’s—there’s a misunderstanding…”

“If you want to enjoy luxury, then use your head a little more.”

“……”

Use my head.

This was what sounded the most insulting amongst everything he said just now. At least in this situation.

“What… do you mean.”

“It means it’s not enough. Stop doing such useless things. If you want to increase your power in this family, shouldn’t you have my child first?”

“……”

His cold gaze left me speechless.

In the meantime, Amoide leaned down and pressed over my nape.

At the unfamiliar touch, I twisted away with a small scream leaving my lips.

“I don’t want to. I don’t…”

“Is this a ploy, too?”

A spiteful laugh rang out.

“Now that it’s like this, being coy won’t be enough.”

He easily took control over my body.

As he moved boldly over me, there was a stark sensation of his lips over my chest.

I felt like I was a fish placed on a cutting board, left with my belly hacked open even as I was still alive.

“Hiic…”

No matter how much I tried to struggle, it wasn’t enough to overcome his strength. I couldn’t find a way out. I was scared. Everything was frightening.

“I don’t… I don’t want to… hiic…”

Tears finally flowed down my cheeks.

Even though I knew it was useless, I couldn’t stop struggling.

Amoide only looked down at me with unfeeling eyes as I twisted around.

Why… Why was he looking at me with those eyes.

At that moment, I felt his grip relax slightly over my wrists.

I quickly pulled out one of my hands to push away his chest.

“Get off me. Get…”

Thump, thwack.

I hit his chest and pushed him away as hard as I could, but he wouldn’t budge.

He didn’t move away from me, but at the same time, he didn’t stop me from hitting him.

At some point, I realized that I was struggling just by myself.

Tak.

Something was strange. The moment I thought about this, my hand was caught.

“I guess this doesn’t hurt anymore.”

“……”

My bandaged hand was held hostage by his large hand.