I Married a Sick Husband

“Your Majesty the Empress.”

 

Unexpectedly, the person who woke up Meredith was Yulia.

 

Meredith, who had been in a light sleep, suddenly opened her eyes.

 

“… Oh, I fell asleep.”

 

Meredith apologised to Fabian with an embarrassed look on her face.

 

“Excuse me, Your Highness.”

 

“No, it’s okay, Your Majesty.”

 

“Thank you for waking me up, Yulia.”

 

“Well, that…”

 

But Yulia hadn’t awoken Meredith for no reason.

 

“A guest has arrived.”

 

“Now? Who…?”

 

“His Majesty the Emperor.”

 

Meredith asked with a puzzled look on her face at the unexpected news, “Why has His Majesty suddenly come to visit us?”

 

“He didn’t reveal that.”

 

“Ohhh.”

 

“What should I do?”

 

“Please bring him inside first.”

 

After answering, Meredith immediately asked Fabian.

 

“It’s okay, right?”

 

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

 

But it was a somewhat shaky voice.

 

A moment later, Theodore appeared in the drawing room.

 

Meredith quickly stood up and greeted him.

 

“Greetings to the Imperial Sun, Your Majesty the Emperor.”

 

“Did I interrupt you?”

 

“No, Your Majesty.”

 

Meredith smiled and shook her head.

 

“I just happened to wake up from a nap. But may I know what you are doing here?”

 

Meredith glanced towards Fabian and then added.

 

“You don’t look very good. How are you feeling?”

 

“I feel much better than in the morning. You don’t have to worry too much.”

 

“Then I’m glad.”

 

“That’s why I came here at such a short notice—”

 

Theodore glanced at Fabian as he got to the point.

 

“It’s to fulfil the promise I made to the Empress.”

 

“What promise…?”

 

Had he really promised her anything?

 

When Meredith looked at Theodore with a puzzled expression, Theodore responded by asking if she had already forgotten about it.

 

“Yes. I decided to paint your portrait now.”

 

Meredith was dumbfounded for the first time in her life as she heard his statement.

 

“When…”

 

She inadvertently opened her mouth to ask, but immediately fell silent.

 

‘What are you thinking?’

 

Maybe she didn’t know what he was planning on his own without even letting her know.

 

‘I don’t even know what the situation is.’

 

Anyway, the two were on the same side.

 

Meredith was willing to cooperate.

 

“… Oh, that’s right.”

 

Meredith quickly changed her expression and spoke to Fabian.

 

“Actually, last night after hearing that His Highness the Prince had decided to paint my portrait, His Majesty also decided to one for me.”

 

“… Brother?”

 

In response to Meredith’s explanation, Fabian asked Theodore with looking as if he had heard something wrong, “Are you serious?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Amazing.”

 

Fabian’s expression did not lie.

 

“I didn’t know you would pick up the pa

intbrush again.”

 

“…..”

 

“I thought you had abandoned it forever.”

 

At those words, Meredith felt something strange.

 

‘Is there something else I don’t know about?’

 

The nuance of Fabian’s words was significant.

 

Meredith was very curious about what Fabian was speaking about, but she couldn’t help but want to keep her mouth shut.

 

‘Looking at the tense atmosphere… it’s definitely a very serious story.’

 

However, if she could break this tense atmosphere, it was worth a try.

 

“Your Majesty, has it been a while since you picked up a brush?”

 

She asked innocently.

 

“…..”

 

Theodore, who was looking at Meredith blankly, opened his mouth.

 

“It has been a while.”

 

“Ah, is there any story behind that…?”

 

“There is nothing like that.”

 

Theodore answered indifferently.

 

“I just lost interest. That’s it.”

 

But she couldn’t quite believe what he said.

 

‘Does that mean you don’t want to talk about it?’

 

Or at least, it could be something he didn’t want to say in front of Fabian.

 

‘I’ll have to try asking once again when we’re alone.’

 

Meredith quickly changed her mood.

 

“But no matter how long it has been I believe Your Majesty will paint me well.”

 

“Of course.”

 

The corners of Theodore’s mouth rose slightly.

 

“You are my Empress, after all.”

 

“…..”

 

“I plan to paint you with great care.”

 

With those words, Theodore gently wrapped his arms around Meredith’s shoulders.

 

Meredith was momentarily taken aback by the sudden action.

 

However, she did not show it and instead smiled.

 

“Thank you, Your Majesty. But is it okay if you stay here for a long time?”

 

“I don’t plan on staying long.”

 

Theodore responded as if telling her not to worry.

 

“I plan to spend an hour here every day from now on.”

 

“What? Are you sure?”

 

“Yes. With Fabian.”

 

“But it must be difficult… You must be busy too.”

 

“It’s fine.”

 

Theodore grinned and made eye contact with Meredith.

 

“After all, the subject is the most beautiful in the empire.”

 

“…..”

 

“So I don’t think it will be that difficult. I think I’ll feel better if I use this excuse to see you for an extra hour a day.”

 

His words, his actions…

 

They were obviously not very good for her health.

 

At that moment, the smile he gave her made her heart drop.

 

‘… It’s probably just a charade.’

 

Her heart felt like it was swaying like a reed.

 

‘… But it’s a smile you can’t help but sway for.’

 

It was a smile too beautiful to be a pretence

.

 

Eventually, he asked Fabian.

 

“Will you be okay with that, Fabian? I think it would be a waste to have the Empress waste her time on this matter twice.”

 

“… Of course, Your Majesty.”

 

Fabian tried to answer calmly.

 

“I guess I won’t be that bored either.”

 

“Right?”

 

“Yes. It will feel like we have returned to the old days.”

 

“….”

 

At his words, Theodore’s expression hardened for an instant.

 

But it was just for an instant.

 

“Sir Felix, help me prepare.”

 

Felix, who received Theodore’s instructions, hurriedly brought over a chair and set up the tools.

 

After a while, Theodore, who had finished preparing everything, sat down next to Fabian.

 

As a result, the three people sat in a right triangle configuration.

 

‘… This strangely bothers me.’

 

When she was with Fabian, she only had to focus on him.

 

But with Theodore in the room, she found herself clueless on where to focus her attention.

 

For now, Meredith decided to focus her gaze straight ahead to where Fabian was seated.

 

-Scritch Scritch

 

-Scritch Scritch

 

The sound of sketching became stronger.

 

But unlike before, this time, she didn’t feel sleepy at all.

 

‘… On the contrary, it makes me nervous.’

 

She didn’t know why, but it became difficult for her to sit comfortably.

 

As a result, Meredith sat stiffly like a plaster statue, waiting for the time to pass quickly.

 

How long has it been?

 

“Your Majesty the Empress.”

 

Suddenly Fabian called out to Meredith.

 

Meredith looked at Fabian with a puzzled look.

 

“I’m sorry, but could you please tilt your hand in a little more?”

 

“Hand? You mean my right hand?”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

“Is this enough?”

 

As Meredith slowly moved her hand to the side, Fabian looked at her with narrowed eyes.

 

It seemed he didn’t like it.

 

Meredith asked, moving her hand a little further in.

 

“Then like this…?”

 

But judging by his expression, it seemed like he still didn’t like it.

 

“No. Don’t do that, go a little further ahead…”

 

Finally, Fabian stood up.

 

“I will make adjustments. Please stay still.”

 

Then he came closer to Meredith.

 

“Excuse me for a moment.”

 

That was when Fabian was about to take Meredith’s hand, leaving a quiet word.

 

“… wait a minute.”

 

Theodore, who had been quietly observing the situation, intervened before it was too late.

 

Both Meredith and Fabian stared at him.

 

“I’ll could do it.”

 

“What?”

 

“I will help you, Fabian. That way, we will be able to see the Empress more objectively.”

 

“….”

 

“Go back to your seat and watch.”

 

“It’s okay, Your Majesty. It’s better to look at something up close to make a better judgment.”

 

“But I’ll do it anyway.”

 

Theodore waved him off with a somewhat annoyed expression.

 Chapter sponsored by tsurara19