My Contract Husband is Going Crazy Because of My Iron Wall - Chapter 40.1
Chapter 40.1
In the midst of the massage, Reinhardt abruptly stopped my hands and pulled the covers over his body.
“…I think we should stop here.”
He spoke with a face that looked somehow strained.
“Why?”
“Well… I think I’m okay now.”
When I placed my hand on his forehead, his fever seemed to have subsided significantly.
…But why did his face look even more strained than before? He was someone who was good at hiding his pain.
Was he perhaps embarrassed because he thought I was treating him like a child?
* * *
Reinhardt woke up at noon and felt refreshed for the first time in a long time.
“You’ve slept in late for once.”
He rang the bell to call for his attendant, but it was Jade, not the attendant, who entered the bedroom. Judging by the way he immediately began his report, it seemed he had been waiting for Reinhardt to wake up.
“The soldiers who were dispatched to the north have returned.”
“They’re late.”
“His Excellency the Grand Duke must have arrived too early… Cough!”
Jade coughed as he spoke, and he seemed to have caught a cold, as he was also sniffling.
“If you have a cold, you should rest in your quarters instead of working. You just got your fever down, so don’t pass it on to me.”
“That’s harsh. I’ve worked with His Excellency the Grand Duke for years, and yet you speak to me so coldly?”
“Double pay during your leave.”
“Oh, such warm words… I think I’m falling in love!”
When Jade imitated Irovel’s way of speaking, Reinhardt considered revoking his leave and making it unpaid. Then, his gaze suddenly fell on the empty bed.
“Where’s Irovel?”
“She’s preparing for the trial that starts tomorrow.”
He recalled the words Irovel had spoken to him the previous night.
When he asked her what she planned to do, she refused to tell him, saying he would find out later. Now, he was curious about what she was up to.
“She’s in the kitchen.”
“Why is she in the kitchen?”
“Well, I only saw her briefly giving instructions to the chef, so I’m not sure.”
Perhaps she simply wanted to eat something unrelated to the trial. He couldn’t help but smile slightly as he imagined her looking forward to the completion of her meal with shining eyes.
Jade, who had been watching the scene with interest, asked.
“It seems you’re really feeling better now. Oh? But why did you recover so quickly? It usually takes longer for you to get better.”
“That’s just how it is.”
Reinhardt recalled Irovel’s hands massaging his calves the previous night and avoided Jade’s gaze. He felt his muscles tensing up all over again.
“When you say, ‘That’s just how it is,’ I can’t help but want to ask how! What did you do?”
“Be quiet. Go and rest.”
Even though Jade continued to press him, when he threatened to change his leave to unpaid, he obediently left. Reinhardt then left the bedroom and headed for the kitchen.
As Jade had said, Irovel was giving instructions to the chef.
“The particles are still too coarse. Please make sure the lumps are almost completely broken down.”
Curious about what she was having made, Reinhardt approached them. However, at that moment, a pungent smell hit his nostrils. Then, his eyes fell on the unidentified food before him. It was food that looked unappetizing at first glance.
He looked at the food in amazement and asked.
“…What is this?”
“Oh. Reinhardt. Good morning. No, it’s already noon. Those are…”
Irovel pointed to the food on the table one by one and went on.
“Tuna and chicken mince, and soup.”
“I see… Did you used to like this kind of food?”
“It’s not for me, it’s for a cat.”
A cat? What was she talking about all of a sudden? As far as Reinhardt knew, she had never met a cat.
“But I’m not sure if it’s something a cat would like. Oh, that’s right. Do you remember that cat you mentioned last time? Why don’t we give it some?”
“Excuse me?”
Actually, that cat was Irovel herself…
Reinhardt said nothing and simply averted his gaze. Meanwhile, Irovel handed the food to Reinhardt and hurriedly ran out of the kitchen.
“Please, Reinhardt! I have to go and see if Catherine has found new feathers and rope!”
Reinhardt stared blankly at Irovel as she walked away and then at the food in his hand.
‘What am I going to do…’
* * *
“Jade.”
“What is it.”
Jade answered Reinhardt, who had come to his bedroom, in a sullen tone. It was a small grudge he held for the threat of unpaid leave.
“Do you know anyone who has a cat?”
“You’re going to come all the way to my bedroom to ask me that, even though you gave me a vacation?”
“You’re the only one I can ask about this. Answer me before I really do change it to unpaid leave.”
“No, I don’t. The people I know are all servants who live in other people’s houses, so how could they have cats?”
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