I Became the Only Cure for My Dying Husband - Chapter 9
Chapter 5.1
It had been two weeks since Edith arrived at the mansion.
To her surprise, these had been the most peaceful days of her life.
Everyone had been kind and considerate, worried about how a young girl might struggle to adjust to a new environment.
Everyone, except for Lucion—the one person who mattered most.
“He’s not here again today?”
“I’m sorry, Miss Edith.”
Oscar, standing guard outside Lucion’s door, bowed his head apologetically.
“It’s okay, Oscar. You don’t need to apologize.”
“I’ll make sure to let Master Lucion know you were looking for him when he returns.”
Not that Lucion would care.
Since that day, Lucion had been avoiding her entirely, and a bitter smile crossed Eidth’s face.
“See you later.”
It was obvious he was deliberately avoiding her, but Edith decided not to push things.
No matter how much he resisted, she believed that, in time, he would come around.
Still, she hadn’t expected to run into him so soon.
“So, this is where you’ve been hiding.”
Edith muttered softly in defeat as she spotted Lucion curled up on a sofa in the far corner of the library.
“I’ve come to the library so many times.”
He was literally, “hiding in plain sight.”
Edith reached out toward Lucion’s sleeping form but quickly pulled her hand back.
She didn’t want to upset him by touching him without permission again.
Instead, she draped a blanket over him as he shivered from the cold, then settled down beside him.
“It’s gotten worse.”
Edith glanced at the dark circles under his eyes, which seemed even darker than before. After some thought, she pulled out a sheet of paper and started writing.
She wasn’t sure how much time had passed when she heard movement beside her. Without looking up from her book, she spoke.
“Did you sleep well?”
“…What the—? How did you find me here?”
Lucion bolted upright as soon as he opened his eyes and saw her familiar silver hair.
“I came here to read. I just happened to find you and thought I’d wait to talk.”
“I have nothing to say to you.”
Lucion briefly paused when he noticed the blanket covering him, but then roughly kicked it off and brushed past her.
“Do you hate me that much, young master?”
Lucion froze at Edith’s question. When he turned to face her, his expression was ice cold.
“Yeah, I do.”
“Why?”
Lucion scoffed at her.
“Would you be happy about being forced to marry someone you’ve never met? Treated like some breeding animal? And how do I know you’re not here with some ulterior motive?”
Edith nodded, acknowledging the truth in his words.
“You’re right. I wouldn’t want that either.”
Lucion arched an eyebrow, surprised by how easily she agreed with him.
“But even if you refuse, the marriage will still proceed as planned.”
“So what?”
“So, why don’t we set some conditions?”
“There won’t be any need for conditions if we just don’t get married.”
Ignoring his protest, Edith raised one finger.
Lucion glared at her, thinking, What is she on about?
“First, the contract will last six years. After that, we’ll divorce, and I’ll leave on my own.”
At twenty, the age when her fate would be sealed.
If she succeeded, she’d leave with no regrets. If she failed, the marriage would end with her death.
“If that’s your plan, then why bother getting married in the first place?”
Lucion was baffled, shocked to hear her talk about divorce before they were even married.
“That’s not an option. I want this marriage.”
Edith shook her head and put up a second finger.
“Second, aside from treatment, I won’t make any contact with you. Even if we share a room, I’ll keep my distance.”
“That goes without saying.”
If they didn’t have children in the future, Edith would take the blame, making the divorce easier.
Having already planned everything, Edith raised a third and final finger.
“Third, I won’t ask for anything in return from the duke’s household.”
Lucion, who had been listening quietly until now, suddenly interrupted.
“Fourth, don’t expect love. Don’t even think I’ll fall in love with you. That will never happen, not in a million years.”
“Don’t worry, that’ll never be an issue.”
Love? Edith had never even dreamed of it.
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