I Married a Sick Husband

If there was one thing that was fortunate for Meredith, it was that this was not her first time visiting the secret library.

 

When she first visited the secret library, she had organized the books into those she had read and those she had not read, so this time she only had to go through the ones she had not read.

 

‘Of course, the amount is still huge…’

 

She didn’t feel as overwhelmed as when she first came here.

 

Arriving at the secret library with only a lantern, Meredith selected books with titles that seemed like they would provide the information she needed and placed them next to her.

 

And she began reading the books as quickly as she could.

 

How much time had passed?

 

Meredith looked around to relieve her tired eyes in this fruitless situation.

 

‘… It’s so quiet.’

 

She felt lonely as she searched for information alone in the secret library where no one was present.

 

‘I don’t think I felt lonely when I first came here.’

 

As she thought about the differences between then and now, Meredith quickly came up with an answer.

 

‘Ah, His Majesty was by my side back then.’

 

We barely spoke and focused on our tasks, but there was still an inexplicable sense of stability and reliance back then.

 

He would take out books that were too high to reach, and we would check on each other’s conditions and cheer each other on.

 

‘On the last day, he even lent me his shoulder when I fell asleep.’

 

Compared to that time, she felt lonely and desolate now that she was here alone.

 

At that moment, Meredith suddenly missed Theodore.

 

She wanted to see him smiling healthily again and speaking to her in his indifferent but affectionate tone.

 

‘His Majesty’s absence has given me a greater sense of loss than I thought.’

 

She didn’t think they had been together that long, but her subconscious seemed to have already accepted him as a familiar relationship.

 

A colleague like family who will continue to be with her in the future.

 

‘I’m the problem because I gave my affection too quickly.’

 

Not only Theodore, but also Yulia, who had always been loyal to her, Jerome, who acted as her medical mentor, and Felix, who had been quite reliable even though he acted cold, she seemed to miss them a lot.

 

Meredith’s eyes, which had been gloomy for a while, turned red without her noticing.

 

Then, she felt a tingling sensation in her nose and was startled.

 

‘Look at my mind. This is not the time to be feeling this way.’

 

She had to figure out a way to find the sorcerer quickly.

 

Meredith decided to put that thought aside and turned her eyes back to her book.

 

Until the dark sky brightened and the sun rose again in the east, Meredith did not move from where she was sitting.

 

***

 

The next day, Meredith officially announced that Theodore’s sudden fainting was due to overwork.

 

It is also predicted that this situation was temporary and that Theodore would wake up within a few days.

 

Everyone was taken aback by the sudden situation, but since Theodore’s health had been known to be on the fragile side, there was no great confusion.

 

The fact that Meredith had reported the situation quite calmly also played a part.

 

And while she waited for Theodore to wake up, she shared her vitality with Theodore during the day and took care of the affairs of the inner palace, and at night, she secretly searched for a way to lift the curse.

 

Since her natural rest time was extremely short and she was sharing her life force with Theodore, Meredith’s body became weaker as time passed.

 

It would not be an exaggeration to say that she was surviving on the fatigue reliever that Jerome had made, a nutritious diet, and occasional naps.

 

Meredith’s close associates were worried about her condition, but she herself reassured everyone by saying that it would only last a few days.

 

That was five days after Theodore collapsed.

 

“… Ah.”

 

Finally, Meredith found a clue to lift Theodore’s curse.

 

But a clue was just a clue.

 

“… hmm.”

 

A look of embarrassment crossed Meredith’s expression.

 

“I guess I should postpone leaving for the time being…”

 

***

 

While Meredith was away, Felix went to Theodore’s room to check on his condition and was surprised.

 

“… Your Majesty the Empress?”

 

Meredith, who should have been in the library, was lying face down next to Theodore, sound asleep.

 

Meredith, who had been in a light sleep, opened her eyes and sat up at Felix’s voice.

 

“Oh, Sir Felix.”

 

“What are you doing here? Didn’t you go to the secret library?”

 

Felix, who had been asking in a dumbfounded voice, soon found the answer.

 

“No way…!”

 

“I think I found a clue.”

 

However, Felix asked with a nervous expression, as her expression did not seem so cheerful as she answered.

 

“Maybe… there is a way, but it is absolutely impossible to implement at the moment?”

 

“Not to that extent… but it is almost the same.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“I got a clue to find the black sorcerer who cursed His Majesty.”

 

Meredith hesitated and continued.

 

“I wonder if this can be called a method… I would like to ask Sir Felix for advice.”

 

“Anything you want.”

 

“Is there a way to get the blood of all the people living in the capital?”

 

Felix doubted his own ears for a moment.

 

“… yes?”

 

“Is there a way to get the blood of all the imperial citizens of the capital?”

 

“Blood? What is this about, all of a sudden…”

 

“If you mix the blood of the black magician who cast the black magic on His Majesty with His Majesty’s blood, it will turn purple.”

 

Meredith explained.

 

“And that is the only reaction that occurs between the caster and the target of the black magic.”

 

“You mean… mixing the blood of all the people of the empire with His Majesty’s?”

 

“We don’t need much. Just one drop is enough. The reaction occurs even with bloodstains.”

 

“But… even if that is possible, there is a possibility that the black magician is not in Valtejain.”

 

“No. They must be in Valtejain.”

 

Meredith shook her head firmly.

 

“Otherwise, the remaining afflicted curse cannot be exercised now, as per given.”

 

“Ah…”

 

“It’s already neutralized, so at least the black magician who cast the magic must be in the same area to exert influence again.”

 

“I see. Then I guess we just need to get the blood of the imperial citizens living in the capital.”

 

“Regardless of social status. Is there a way?”

 

“I’ll look into it. It’s a small amount, so it shouldn’t be too difficult.”

 

“Yes. It’ll take a long time, but for now, that’s the best we can do.”

 

“Your Majesty the Emperor is not affected anyway, so that’s fortunate. I’ll find a way as quickly as I can.”

 

“Yes. Thank you…”

 

At that moment, Meredith stopped talking without realizing it.

 

At the same time, her eyes quickly widened.

 

This was because Theodore slowly opened his eyes and came into view.

 

“… Your Majesty.”

 

At Meredith’s voice, Felix’s gaze quickly turned to the bed where Theodore was lying.

 

Both of them hurriedly ran to Theodore.

 

“Your Majesty, are you awake?”

 

“Can you hear me?”

 

Both of them asked Theodore questions in urgent voices.

 

In reality, Theodore just stared blankly at Meredith without saying anything.

 

‘You look fine…’

 

Why aren’t you saying anything?

 

When she saw him staring at her instead of answering her question, she suddenly got scared.

 

‘Maybe you have amnesia…’

 

It wouldn’t be such a ridiculous development, would it?

 

‘Is he showing such symptoms? In fact, this disease itself is caused by a curse, so it might not be completely absurd…’

 

Meredith was thinking about all sorts of things and racking her brain.

 

“Meredith.”

 

Fortunately, it didn’t seem to be amnesia.

 

Meredith quickly asked.

 

“Your Majesty, do you know who I am?”

 

“Of course.”

 

He answered with a faint smile.

 

“You’re my empress.”

 

“… Ah.”

 

“You haven’t left yet.”

 

He added in a slightly trembling voice.

 

“I thought you had left.”

 

“Where would I go when Your Majesty is lying down like this?”

 

“… Really?”

 

“Yes. Didn’t I promise you at the beginning? I would cure Your Majesty’s disease. But it has relapsed like this… Oh, Your Majesty, how did this happen…”

 

“Sir Felix.”

 

At that moment, Theodore interrupted Meredith and called Felix.

 

Felix, who had been silent, answered belatedly.

 

“Oh, yes. Your Majesty, please continue.”

 

“Did anything bad happen while I was asleep?”

 

“Luckily there wasn’t, Your Majesty.”

 

“That’s fortunate.”

 

Theodore said to Felix after answering.

 

“Then go out for a moment. I have something to say to the Empress.”

 

“Yes? Oh, yes… I understand.”

 

Felix nodded, embarrassed, but he thought that if he had something to say as soon as he regained consciousness, it would be something very important.

 

“Then I’ll step aside, so if you need anything, call me anytime.”

 

With that, Felix went out.

 

“……”

 

“……”

 

Now, only Meredith and Theodore were left in the room.

 

T/n: Sorry for the late upload, facing some issues with the website. In case such issues persist, I’ll be posting on

blackcattranslations . wordpress . com  Also do check out the other novels on there!