Oliviel first showed me the room where I would stay.
"This is your bedroom."
The room was better than I thought. Rather, it was bigger and more lavish than my room in the duchy. I heard that he had a lot of money, but I never knew how rich he was. However, as I looked around, I've come to believe that he has tremendous wealth beyond measure.
"I have stationed maids outside, so if you need anything, you can ring the bell by the bedside."
I nodded as I listened to Oliviel's explanation. The treatment I experienced up till now was not bad for someone who's getting married without a dowry.
Suddenly, I realized something strange about what Oliviel had said and looked back at her.
"My bedroom...?”
"Ah." Oliviel quickly understood what I meant and laughed.
"The master's bedroom is just across this room. Our manor had separate master's bedrooms unless it's necessary for a couple to have a shared bedroom."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
I don't know if I should be grateful or not.
It was fortunate that I wouldn't have to spend the first night with someone I don't know. However, it was not a good idea to draw a line in this manner
"Where is the Earl if I may ask? I shall meet him to give my greetings."
We didn't even hold a wedding, but I couldn't just walk around without saying hello on the first day.
"He's in the office right now. Shall I guide you there, Madam?"
"Yes, please."
It was better to hurry up now if I had to say hello. It would be hard to find another opportunity to greet him if I delay it. Of course, I don't have any intentions other than greeting him. Earl Theodore won't even be interested in me anyway.
"Please come this way."
I followed Oliviel to the office.
After she knocked lightly on the door, a low voice came from inside, saying, "Come in."
Oliviel opened the door and smiled at me. It was a signal to go in.
Before I entered the office, I swallowed without knowing.
The first to welcome me was the smell of stale paper and ink. As I turned to look around, I saw that the desk was placed at the front of the door and near the window.
There were stacks of papers piled up on the desk, and in the middle of that was a man with black hair reading the papers.
There's no doubt that this man is my husband, Richard Theodore.
Whether it was because of the setting of being one of the male leads or because of the buff of a villain, he had an extraordinarily handsome face that was a sight for sore eyes.
I couldn't take my eyes off of him as he was deeply immersed in his work.
"Are you Diana Tristan?"
Earl Theodore asked me without looking away from his papers.
Instead of answering right away, I stared at Earl Theodore. I felt uncomfortable with his arrogant attitude.
"Aren't you inviting me to sit first?”
Only then did Earl Theodore raised his head and looked at me, piercing me with his cold blue eyes.
He raised his hand and swept his hair as we looked at each other without avoiding our gazes.
He seemed a little annoyed.
Earl Theodore stood up from his seat before pointing to a nearby couch and said, "Sit there."
After I sat in the place where he was pointing, I straighten my back and looked at him in the eye. Earl Theodore waited for me to sit down before sitting across me.
"As you already know, I'm Richard Theodore."
Earl Theodore greeted me with his legs crossed. He looked rather rude, but it wasn't a topic I should tackle him on.
"I'm Diana Tristan. Though it's going to be Diana Theodore from today onwards."
"Yes. Also, I welcome you as the new lady of House Theodore."
Welcome?
Earl Theodore, who lies with a straight face, was quite funny.
I nodded, holding back not to snort.
"I'm glad I'm welcomed."
"I'd love to have tea with you, but unfortunately, I'm busy at the moment so I hope you understand.”
"……I understand. We skipped the wedding, so it didn't matter if we skip having tea too.”
With that said, Earl Theodore flinched and furrowed his brows.
"First of all, Duke Tristan didn't keep his word, so it's reasonable that I do so as well and cancel the wedding ceremony."
"That..."
He was right.
It was Father who failed to comply with their deal first by sending me instead of my step-sister, Cecilia, who Earl Theodore initially asked for.
Furthermore, it would be a disgrace to the Earl of Theodore since he had been tricked into marrying the wrong daughter.
"I have nothing to say about that matter."
Does he want me to thank him for welcoming an unwanted wife?
My situation was really pathetic.
Even with Duke Tristan, and here, with Earl Theodore, I would be treated poorly.
"My apologies, it's not Cecilia that you married."
That's all I could say to him.
"I only came to give my greetings, so I'll go first."
Earl Theodore saw me off to the door.
"Then we'll see each other again in the evening. Take a rest for now."
"Alright."
As a courtesy, I broke into a smile which was quite forced before I went straight for my bedroom.
I just want to lay down on the bed. I was already exhausted because I had been riding in the carriage for hours.
* * *
"Madam? May I go inside?"
Oliviel's voice was kind of muffled and seemed distant.
My mind was somewhere between dreamland and wakefulness and it felt like I was submerged underwater with weights strapped to my body. My consciousness becomes clear as time passes.
"Madam?"
Then all of a sudden, my stomach hurts that I twisted my body from the pain, causing me to fall off the bed.
After I hit the floor, I coughed several times as the pain spreads throughout my entire body. A sharp pain pierces my lungs with every cough.
I even heard the terrible sound in my lungs as I clutched my chest. My coughing fit didn't stop, and it continued until the beating in my eardrums became deafening.
There seemed to be a banging sound at the door and it also seemed like there wasn't.
After a long dreadful fit, the hazy vision began to return. The stench of iron tickled the tip of my nose.
As I wiped the sticky fluid on my nose and took a look at it, the color red came into my tearful sight.
It was blood.
For now, I leaned against the bed and breathed hard. Whenever I breathed in and out, there was a throbbing sound and the feeling of my lungs ripping apart.
The rough sound of my terrible wheezing revealed my condition without a filter.
With trembling hands, I touched my forehead, which was as cold as an ice sheet, but my headache seemed to fade.
"Madam? I'm sorry, but I'm going in!"
The urgency in Oliviel's voice could be heard and soon the door opened.
I wanted to tell her not to come in, but I couldn't speak properly because I was out of breath.
"Madam!"
Oliviel found me sprawled on the floor and immediately ran to me in fright.
"Are you all right?!"
I waived my hand at Oliviel who was asking me with a terrified look.
From the first day, I was already found out to be ill.
If this information came into Earl Theodore's ears, there's no doubt that I will be dealt with immediately by him—he, whom I know, lacks sympathy towards useless people.
The ease of my distress came out late.
"It's okay, I'm fine."
I'm fine.
I whispered the words I hoped to be true.
I'm fine. It's going to be okay.
It's already been five years. It has often happened since the time I was diagnosed with the almost incurable disease.
Usually, I used to wake up during the night when I felt sick. The only thing I couldn't stand with all honesty is the exhaustion.
It could have been that I was tired today because of riding in the carriage all day long.
"Do you have a handkerchief?”
"Yes, here." Oliviel replied as she quickly handed me a handkerchief.
I first wiped the blood off my mouth before I sighed loudly. There was still this bloody stench in my breath.
"I'm sorry but can you help me up?”
"Of course, Madam."
Oliviel helped me sit on the bed. I still felt nauseous. I clenched my fist and pounded my chest a few times in frustration.
Oliviel didn't know what to do and just looked at me anxiously.
"Madam... Does this happen to you often?” With concern, Oliviel asked me.
"...... Yes."
I couldn't lie about not being sick after I'm seen right now. I immediately looked up at Oliviel.
"Don't tell the Earl about this."
"But Madam..."
"I'll tell him when the time comes."
"Alright…." Oliviel replied with a reluctant nod.
“…….”
Oliviel was opening and closing her mouth as if she was holding back what she wanted to say.
"Shall I call for a physician?”
"No, don't call anyone today."
I was worried that the Earl of Theodore would find out that a doctor was requested on my first day here.
"So, what's your reason for coming here?"
When I asked Oliviel, subtly changing the subject, she hesitated.
"I...I'm here to tell you that dinner is ready."
"……Oh, I don't think I have an appetite right now."
"Then I'll relay your message to the Master. You don't have to overdo it, Madam."
Her response was different from those working in the duke's manor.
I only got a mandatory answer from my previous servants, but Oliviel was genuinely concerned about me.
It didn't feel unpleasant.
I stared at Oliviel and smiled at her.
"No, I'm coming. It's my first meal with the Earl so I can't miss it."
"Madam…."
"I'm fine. Can you prepare some water for me?”
"Yes, please wait a moment."
It didn't take long before Oliviel brought a washbin filled with warm water.
When I began to wash my face on the basin, the heavy feeling in my head felt much lighter.
I smiled at Oliviel, who carefully prepared a towel before I got up from my seat.
"Well then, can you show me where the dining hall is?"
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