I Married a Sick Husband

Meredith came out of the Empress Dowager’s Palace and headed straight to the Central Palace.

 

“Your Majesty, what’s going on from the morning?”

 

Felix had a look of surprise. 

 

“Unfortunately, His Majesty is not here right now.”

 

“Ah, where did he go?”

 

“He’ll be back from the meeting regarding the current political affairs soon. Please wait inside.”

 

“Thank you, Sir Felix.”

 

Méredith, who smiled, entered Theodore’s room.

 

Then she waited for him to come while drinking tea.

 

“His Majesty is entering.”

 

Not long after, Meredith got up from her seat at the sound.

 

The door opened, revealing Theodore, who was walking inside with considerable difficulty.

 

“Your Majesty.”

 

Meredith hurried up to him. 

 

“Are you okay?” 

 

“It’s okay. There’s nothing to make a fuss about.” 

 

As he said this, the door was closed and Theodore looked more energized than he was before. 

 

Only then did Meredith notice that it was all acting. 

 

“You’re amazing.”

 

With such acting skills, he would have done well even if he had been an actor.

 

“What happened in the morning?”

 

“Ah…….”

 

“What happened in the Empress Dowager’s Palace?”

 

“It’s not that it didn’t happen, but it isn’t because of that.”

 

“Then?”

 

“I have something I didn’t tell you yesterday.”

 

Theodore looked at Meredith with a look of what it was.

 

Meredith smiled and bowed her head to him.

 

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

 

“…Suddenly again?”

 

“I should have told you yesterday, but you sent dessert to a tea party.”

 

“……Ah.”

 

“I forgot to say thank you. I wasn’t in a good mood. Please forgive my rudeness.”

 

“No. I forgot too.”

 

And after a moment of silence, Theodore asked.

 

 “… Are you okay?”

 

“You must have heard the report.”

 

She smiled broadly as if her mouth hurt even when she said it.

 

“The response has been very good. Everyone praised His Majesty for his kindness.”

 

“Okay. I know.”

 

“Also, the desserts were very tasty. Everyone liked it.”

 

“Empress.”

 

But that didn’t seem to be the answer he wanted. 

 

Meredith, who was called, looked at Theodore still. 

 

“That’s not what I’m curious about.” 

 

“What..?” 

 

“Your thoughts, your feelings.” 

 

Theodore said. 

 

“I’m curious about your heart.” 

 

“……..”

 

When she first heard that, she was confused for a moment. 

 

‘I didn’t know you would ask this question…’ 

 

This was because the event he held yesterday was not a pure purpose to please his beloved lover. 

 

It’s a show-off event. 

 

Intended and well-organized to arouse the envy of others 

 

So my thoughts and feelings can’t be important… 

 

“How was it?” 

 

While she couldn’t say anything out of embarrassment, Theodore’s voice came out.

 

Meredith looked at him. 

 

“I don’t know if you were satisfied.” 

 

…. Oh. 

 

“Was it like that?” 

 

Now I felt like my question was solved.

 

“You’re asking if yesterday’s event was enough to show others.” 

 

I almost took the question strangely. 

 

It was only then that she looked comfortable. 

 

“It’s my first time doing that. Is there anything that it lacked…“

 

“No, Your Majesty. Not at all.” 

 

Meredith shook her head quickly and stepped in. 

 

“It was great. Just as everyone was satisfied, so was I. It was very good.” 

 

“…Really?” 

 

“Yes. To the point of being surprised.” 

 

Meredith smiled brightly and nodded. 

 

“So you don’t have to worry about that.” 

 

“…I’m glad you liked it.” 

 

Only then did Theodore’s face become more comfortable. 

 

“What about the empress dowager? Did you have a safe trip?” 

 

“Yes. The Empress Dowager has agreed to dinner with His Majesty.” 

 

“I knew it.” 

 

“Your Majesty agrees, right?” 

 

“That conversation is already closed.” 

 

“I was wondering if you changed your mind.” 

 

Meredith smiled and predicted. 

 

“It’s going to be a great time.”

 

* * * 

 

The next day, Meredith, who went to greet the Empress Dowager in the morning, delivered the answer from Theodore that she had heard yesterday.

 

“His Majesty happily accepted it.”

 

“That’s great.”

 

Indeed, Blair was not as happy as the answer.

 

Instead, she told Blair with a happy face.

 

“I think it’s a great thing that you two get to be together.”

 

Blair looked at Meredith with a face asking what it meant.

 

“In fact, I was disappointed that your relationship was not as close as I thought.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Of course. Since you’re both a mother and a son.”

 

“Mother and son…”

 

Blair opened his mouth with a slightly sad face.

 

“Actually, even if he hates me, I have nothing to say.”

 

“…….”

 

“Because I’m not his real mother.”

 

“Don’t say that.”

 

Meredith shook her head quickly and denied it.

 

“I know very well how much his majesty thinks of you and how much you care about His Majesty.”

 

“Really?”

 

“You’re always worried about His Majesty in front of me. And wish him good health.”

 

Even if the heart was not sincere, Blair was at least doing so on the outside. 

 

“So I hope His Majesty will take this opportunity to know more about your heart.” 

 

“…Yeah. Maybe there was a misunderstanding between us.” 

 

 “…… ” 

 

“How did this happen?” 

 

Blair muttered as if lamenting. 

 

“But when he was young, we were pretty close.” 

 

At some point, they became distant, but Blair muttered sadly. 

 

“Come to think of it,…” 

 

I’ve never heard of Blair from Theodore. 

 

‘What happened in the time I didn’t know?’

 

I was curious, but I decided not to ask. 

 

‘It’s off-topic.’

 

All you have to do is do your job well. 

 

Whatever the past is, Empress Blair is now Theodore’s biggest enemy. 

 

‘As long as Prince Fabien is alive, that fact will not change.’

 

Therefore, other emotional stories will not be necessary. 

 

Also, it might be an unpleasant question in itself for Theodore. 

 

“You’re not asking.”

 

Then Blair’s voice was heard.

 

Meredith looked at Blair as if she meant what it meant.

 

“At this point, I was curious, so I thought you would ask what he was like when he was young.”

 

“I don’t think it’s something I can ask.” 

 

Meredith opened her mouth with a thin smile. 

 

“What’s important is that this dinner will help make your relationship better.” 

 

“Okay. That would be great.” 

 

“In that sense.” 

 

Meredith asked while looking at Blair. 

 

“Your Majesty, why don’t you prepare dinner?” 

 

“Me?” 

 

“Yes. I was thinking of doing it at first, but I thought it would erase the meaning of this dinner.” 

 

Meredith added with a small smile. 

 

“I think I’d better be into it as much as possible.” 

 

“You have a point.” 

 

Soon after, however, an awkward sound came out of Blair’s mouth. 

 

“But I don’t even know what His Majesty likes.” 

 

“He likes seafood.” 

 

Meredith replied right away. 

 

“I remember hearing it from my servant.” 

 

“Okay, dear. Let’s do that.” 

 

Blair said with joy.

 

“I get a lot of help from you in many ways.” 

 

“You’re welcome. It’s something I have to help.”

 

Meredith replied as if this was nothing. 

 

“If you need anything, please let me know.”

 

* * * 

 

After greeting the dowager, Meredith was on her way back from the Empress Dowager Palace to the Empress Palace. 

 

‘….Ah?’

 

She ran into an unexpected figure. 

 

Meredith stopped walking without realizing it. 

 

The man who found Meredith also stopped in front of her. 

 

“It’s been a while, Empress.” 

 

“Yes. It’s been a while.” 

 

Meredith was greeted with an expressionless face.

 

“Duke Schwartz.” 

 

It was her father. 

 

‘I don’t want to call you Father.’

 

Meredith was convinced that Duke Schwartz was clearly involved in the death of her biological mother, Meryll. 

 

He would not have actively killed Meryll, but he must have been looking at the death with his hands free.* 

(t/n: without dirtying his hands)

 

As always, when Meryll was beaten, he pretended not to know and allowed the situation. 

 

The reason that she was carrying his child, wasn’t enough to abandon his wife from an aristocratic family.

 

When she thought about it, her blood cooled down. 

 

Duchess Schwartz, who killed her mother, or Duke Schwartz, who watched it on the sidelines. 

 

They were all the same enemies for Meredith.

 

….Unforgivable.

 

 “You entered early in the morning.” 

 

“There is a meeting.” 

 

“Yes. then.”

 

It was when Meredith was about to leave after a short greeting. 

 

“Hold on, Your Majesty.” 

 

Duke Schwartz called Meredith. 

 

Meredith turned her head and looked at him. 

 

“It’s my wife’s birthday soon.” 

 

“……”

 

“You didn’t forget, did you?” 

 

… At most, everything.

 

Meredith was obstructed. 

 

The duke was smiling meanly. 

 

Meredith couldn’t overcome her anger and held her dress tightly. 

 

“I hope you’ll attend as a daughter.” 

 

“I’m the empress of the empire.” 

 

Meredith flatly refused.

 

“Even a mother can attend a private aristocratic party.”

 

“It’s not unprecedented.”

 

Duke Schwartz shrugged with a face that he didn’t care at all. 

 

“So, it completely depends on Your Majesty’s will.”

 

“…….” 

 

“We will send you the invitation soon, Your Majesty.” 

 

Leaving those words behind, Duke Schwartz passed by Meredith. 

 

“….. “

 

Meredith stood still there for a long time. 

 

“Because it’s my mother’s birthday.”

 

At that moment, a thought ran through her mind.

 

The corners of Meredith’s lips rose.

 

“Yes, father. I will congratulate you as your daughter. Of course.”