I Married a Sick Husband

“After all, it’s impossible to let an outsider hold the Empress’ hand.”

 

“Your Majesty… Did you say I’m an outsider?”

 

Fabian was taken aback.

 

“The Empress and I are definitely family.”

 

“And, most of all, I am married to the Empress.”

 

Theodore countered.

 

“Considering this, wouldn’t it be better for me to do it?”

 

“Well, Your Majesty, I understand what you’re worried about, but it seems like you’re taking this matter too far.”

 

“Worried? What?”

 

“As you said, you two are husband and wife, and now Her Majesty the Empress is in front of His Majesty the Emperor.”

 

Fabian raised the corners of his mouth and finished speaking.

 

“If something happened here, there won’t be any gossip, right?”

 

“… so?”

 

“In order to maximise my artistic sense, I have to personally adjust every detail. No matter how well Her Majesty listens to my request, there are limits. Just like right now.”

 

“…..”

 

“So don’t worry too much, just watch what I do.”

 

Fabian grinned and successfully defeated Theodore’s rebut.

 

“It’s okay, Your Highness.”

 

At that time, Meredith, who had been silent, intervened.

 

Both the men looked at her.

 

“Just proceed as per His Majesty’s wishes.”

 

“Your Majesty, but…”

 

“I know you care about me.”

 

Meredith interrupted Fabian in a soft voice.

 

“However, I do not intend to paint a portrait while disregarding His Majesty’s concerns. In fact, 210I agree with His Majesty to a certain extent.”

 

“…..”

 

“So please just proceed, Your Highness.”

 

“… All right.”

 

When Meredith stepped forward with her opinion, Fabian was left with no choice.

 

Theodore then held Meredith’s hand with a satisfied face.

 

Meredith looked at Theodore with a slightly awkward smile.

 

Maybe it was because his hands were warmer than she expected, or maybe it was because she was a little embarrassed in front of Fabian.

 

‘… I don’t know if there is another reason or not.’

 

While the situation was tense, Meredith didn’t think it was too bad.

 

“Tell me, Prince. Do I do it like this?”

 

“….”

 

Fabian looked at the affectionate appearance of the two people with incredulous eyes and opened his mouth.

 

“Yes. I think that’s enough.”

 

His voice sounded drier than before.

 

“So I think you can go back to your seat and continue to draw now, Your Majesty.”

 

“Of course. Seeing how quickly it was handled, it doesn’t seem as difficult as I thought.”

 

Theodore answered leisurely and then returned to his original position.

 

“….”

 

And Fabian didn’t say a word after that.

 

***

 

About an hour later.

 

“Thank you for your hard work, Your Highness.”

 

The time set for today had ended.

 

Meredith praised Fabian with a smile.

 

“I don’t know if I have cooperated well with His Highness the Prince.”

 

“You did a great job, Your Majesty.”

 

Fabian smiled sweetly and responded.

 

“Your Majesty, thank you for your hard work today as well.”

 

“It was His Highness the Prince who suffered more than me. Thank you.”

 

It was finally time when the two people were talking friendly.

 

“… I also worked pretty hard.”

 

Theodore also said something.

 

It was only then that Meredith realised that she had not yet said a word to Theodore, and she hurriedly opened her mouth.

 

“Of course, Your Majesty, you worked hard today keeping up your promise to me… Thank you for coming all the way here.”

 

“I wanted to fulfil my promise as quickly as possible.”

 

“… I see.”

 

Meredith asked as she laughed awkwardly.

 

“How are you feeling?”

 

“Umm…”

 

Theodore’s brow narrowed quickly at Meredith’s question.

 

Meredith asked in surprise when she saw his expression.

 

“Are you unwell?”

 

“… I feel like my head suddenly hurts.”

 

“Oh my god, should I call the physician?”

 

“No. It’s not serious to that extent.”

 

Theodore gently declined and then offered an alternative.

 

“Rather than that, I want the Empress to help me all the way to the central palace.”

 

“Ah yes. All right.”

 

Meredith nodded her head quickly and then spoke to Fabian.

 

“Then I will see you again tomorrow, Your Highness. Please return safely.”

 

“… Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”

 

“Your Majesty, let’s go quickly. Hold on to me tight.”

 

“

Sigh

… I suddenly feel dizzy. It’s as if my head is spinning.”

 

Theodore looked sickly and leaned close to Meredith.

 

“….”

 

Fabian looked at Theodore’s back with his eyebrows slightly furrowed.

 

***

 

On the way to the central palace. Meredith asked worriedly, “Your Majesty, is it really alright to not call the royal physician?”

 

“You even look very tired.”

 

“… Does it really look like that?”

 

“… Isn’t it true?”

 

Theodore grinned, and Meredith looked bewildered.

 

“No matter what I think about it, Your Majesty should have become an actor.”

 

“I will take that as a compliment.”

 

“Yes, you did well. You deliberately used your trump card in front of His Highness the Prince.”

 

“….”

 

Theodore smiled unexpectedly.

 

Of course, Meredith’s guess was correct.

 

Because Theodore couldn’t show his good health in front of Fabian.

 

But there was a reason bigger than that.

 

“I don’t want to see the two of you together.”

 

“What?”

 

“So, I wanted to get out of there quickly.”

 

“But it wasn’t just His Royal Highness and I present there. Wasn’t His Majesty the Emperor also present there with us?”

 

It was the same even when Fabian was with her.

 

“I still hate it.”

 

Of course, it was much better than being alone with Fabian.

 

“Especially having a friendly conversation.”

 

“… Your Majesty, no way now.”

 

Meredith asked with a shocked look on her face, “Are you worried that I might change my mind and defect to his side?”

 

“… hmm.”

 

Of course, Meredith expected the answer to be yes.

 

“… well. I’ve never thought about it that way.”

 

But it wasn’t.

 

Meredith looked at Theodore with a slightly surprised expression.

 

“I just don’t want the two of you alone in the same room.”

 

“… Your Majesty, what you are saying now is…”

 

Meredith asked, looking a little happy.

 

“Does this mean you trust me?”

 

“… trust?”

 

“Isn’t that so? Since you trust me, don’t you think I won’t betray you?”

 

Meredith clapped her hands as if she had  finally understood.

 

But Theodore looked like he wasn’t sure.

 

“… Is it something like that?”

 

“You don’t think Sir Felix or Sir Jerome will defect. Isn’t that right?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“That’s the proof that you trust them.”

 

Meredith answered, unable to hide her excitement.

 

“And in that rank, finally! I’m in it, too!”

 

“…..”

 

“And do you really dislike Sir Felix and Sir Jerome being with His Highness the Prince?”

 

“I don’t feel very pleasant about it. But not more than you being with him.”

 

“Why?”

 

“That…”

 

Theodore hesitated for a moment, but eventually decided to speak.

 

It seemed like it would be better for Meredith to know about it.

 

“Because Fabian doesn’t like those two.”

 

“You mean…?”

 

“It seems to me that the prince may harbour evil intentions towards you.”

 

“What?”

 

Meredith asked with a very surprised look on her face.

 

“Evil intentions? His Highness?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“No, why do you think like that…?”

 

Meredith said with a puzzled look on her face.

 

“I didn’t notice anything like that at all.”

 

“That’s because you’re dull.”

 

“N-no matter how dull I am…”

 

“I was suspicious because of the way he acted too friendly at my birthday celebration, but it became clear to me at your birthday celebration.”

 

Theodore recited his rational reasoning.

 

“Based on common sense, would it be possible to selflessly gift that precious and expensive jewel to you?”

 

“Maybe he was trying to tempt you to defect.”

 

But Meredith was sceptical.

 

“I don’t think that’s the case. I think you’ve gone too far.”

 

“A man knows a man well. If he has selfish intentions, it’s clearly visible.”

 

“Umm…”

 

Meredith still found it difficult to agree with Theodore’s words.

 

But she thought his hypothesis was not entirely absurd.

 

“I understand it.”

 

Meredith nodded her head.

 

“I promise I will not disregard your doubts. But, I still don’t quite think that that’s the case, but I can’t be too sure about it until your doubts are confirmed.”

 

“….”

 

“However, now, I completely understand why His Majesty is reluctant to leave me alone with His Highness the Prince.”

 

“… yes.”

 

Funny enough, Theodore looked like he had finally found the answer.

 

“That’s probably why I did it.”

Early release chapters ahead