I Married a Sick Husband

Catarina shouted.

 

“Why don’t you take me with you? I have enough of this!”

 

“Well, it was only a few days.”

 

Duke Schwartz said coldly.

 

“You have only experienced the monastery for a few days. So, will there be a rumor that you have changed?”

 

“Father, I have changed enough! I feel like I’ll die if I stay here even one more day!”

 

“No. It’s still not enough. I need to stay here a little longer.”

 

“Yes? Then how long have you been thinking about it?”

 

“Well? Even if you can’t do it, a month?”

 

“A month even if I can’t do it?”

 

Catarina was astonished by her father’s answer.

 

Not a day, but a month?

 

“You are planning to kill me!”

 

“Don’t worry, honey. People don’t die that easily.”

 

Unlike Catarina, who was struggling with horror, Duke Schwartz was very calm.

 

“Besides, the nuns are living well here.”

 

“Am I like those things? I am a noble, a nobleman! How can a noble survive in a place like this for a month? Eating tasteless salt-pickled herring heads!”

 

Catarina couldn’t control her emotions and shouted with a grim look.

 

“I can’t stay here any longer! I don’t want to wipe the poop again! I don’t like hard-grain bread, and I’m sick of praying three times a day for an hour!”

 

“Can’t you be quiet, Catarina? They will be able to listen to everything from outside.”

 

In fact, they had already heard everything.

 

However, she continued to scream as if she knew that.

 

“Please take me with you, Father. I don’t want to live here! Or at least take shifts!”

 

Catarina burst out in exasperation.

 

“You’re saying it so easily because father has never lived here! Why on earth do I have to be the only one here?”

 

“Well, you are the one who caused a stir in the social world, not me. Have you already forgotten what you did to get here and how our family fell?”

 

“But…!”

 

“You should also think about your mother who is in exile.”

 

Catarina paused unconsciously as she heard Duchess Schwartz mentioned for the first time in a long time.

 

“If you last just one month here, your reputation will definitely improve beyond words.”

 

“How confident are you of that?”

 

“No matter what, everyone will think you won’t be able to last a month here with your personality.”

 

And that was actually the case.

 

“They’d be convinced at least that you really converted. So hold on just a little longer.”

 

However, one month was too long a time to use the expression ‘just a little bit’.

 

Catarina was crying.

 

“But, but… !”

 

“I guess I’ll just have to go. I have to reach the next schedule.”

 

“Father, are you really going to leave like this?”

 

“Yes. By the way, Meredith’s birthday banquet will be held soon, so don’t worry about that. Because I already told them you aren’t going.”

 

“Why? Why can’t I go? I can at least attend the birthday banquet!”

 

“No. You need to reflect on yourself and show remorse now.”

 

Duke Schwartz spoke firmly.

 

“You must remain as quiet as possible and not reveal yourself. Wouldn’t that make everyone curious about what you’re up to? That’s good for you too.”

 

“No matter what, it’s the Empress’s birthday banquet, and I, the Empress’s older sister, am missing out!”

 

“Don’t worry too much. “If you tell them you’re in a monastery, everyone will understand.”

 

“Father!”

 

“I’ll come back and tell you what happened at the birthday banquet.”

 

It’s not that she was worried, Catarina just wanted to escape from this shitty place for a few days, or even just for a day.

 

“Then I hope you take care of yourself, Catarina.”

 

In the end, Duke Schwartz left the monastery without leaving anything but a notice.

 

“Ah, how can this be…?” 

 

And as she was left alone, Catarina cried out that she would have to stay in this horrible place for ‘at least’ another month.

 

“What on earth did I do wrong! What did I do wrong that I have to be punished here, ah!”

 

“The monastery is not a place for punishment. It is a place where we practice monasticism

1

while obeying God’s will.”

1

: Monasticism, also called monachism or monkhood, is a religious way of life in which one renounces worldly pursuits to devote oneself fully to spiritual work.

 

At that time, the nun in charge of her appeared and spoke harshly to Catarina.

 

“Now, please stand up. I have something to do next, sister.”

 

“…..”

 

Catarina looked at her nun in charge with a puzzled look on her face.

 

‘I thought I wouldn’t see you again, so I said all kinds of bad things and left.’

 

This means that she will have to continue living here from now on…?

 

A chill ran down Catarina’s spine.

 

“Please try not to make me appear strict during the month here, sister.”

 

… Ruined.

 

“I’m not a strict person by nature, but when I see sister’s behavior, I can’t help but nag her.”

 

“…..”

 

“I guess everyone here feels the same way as me.”

 

Catarina swallowed her dry saliva.

 

“Anyway, since you are planning to stay longer than expected, I believe you will follow our monastery’s rules well from now on.”

 

The face of the nun in charge smiling while saying those words could not have looked so creepy.

 

***

 

Anyway, while Catarina was going through the most painful and terrible time of her life, the Imperial palace was extremely peaceful.

 

Theodore was getting healthier, and Meredith was now somewhat familiar with the palace duties, so she was able to handle them more easily than before.

 

She still had a good relationship with Blair.

 

Everything was going well.

 

“It’s like the calm before the storm.”

 

To the point where Meredith was secretly feeling anxious.

 

“It is said that the sea before a typhoon is the calmest.”

 

“Of course, you might think that, but it would simply be unfounded.”

 

Diane reassured Meredith not to worry too much.

 

“You haven’t had many days in your life that were so peaceful and uneventful.”

 

“That’s right.”

 

Meredith agreed.

 

“There has rarely been a quiet day in my life.”

 

“Is it so? You may just feel that way because you are not used to this type of situation.”

 

“I really hope that’s the case.”

 

“More than anything, tomorrow is your birthday!”

 

Diane shouted, deliberately raising her voice.

 

“Stop thinking negatively. Life is short enough to just think about happy thoughts.”

 

“Are you saying only the right things today?”

 

“I always say the right things.”

 

“That’s right. What are you going to wear tomorrow? I’m worried because it’s an important position.”

 

“There is no need to worry. We’ve already discussed it among ourselves and selected it all. It’s a dress that suits Your Majesty very well.”

 

“What dress to wear tomorrow? Really? What?”

 

‘Yes. But I’m not going to show you now.”

 

“What. Why?”

 

“It’s no fun if you know in advance.”

 

With those words, Diane smiled meaningfully.

 

***

 

It wasn’t until the next day that Meredith learned the meaning of Diane’s smile.

 

Her birthday banquet, like Theodore’s, was held in the evening, and after Meredith finished lunch, she immediately began preparations.

 

Several hours passed like that.

 

“Your Majesty, this is Felix.”

 

“Come in.”

 

Felix went inside without thinking and was momentarily taken aback by the sight he encountered.

 

‘… As expected. You were born with good looks.’

 

Theodore had finished preparing to attend Meredith’s birthday banquet.

 

The finished look was just like a painting hanging in a museum. It was also painstakingly drawn by a master craftsman.

 

‘No, if you look at the nose bridge, would calling him a sculpture be more appropriate than painting?’

 

Originally, Theodore made the hearts of many young children flutter with his beautiful appearance, sturdy physique, and tall height.

 

Felix thought he had gotten used to his beauty enough in the more than ten years he served by his side, but…

 

‘Sometimes I get surprised, too.’

 

To the point where he almost uttered an ugly exclamation.

 

As expected, it was too surreal beauty to adapt perfectly.

 

Felix himself thought he was handsome, but he thought he couldn’t even compare to Theodore.

 

“What’s wrong with you?”

 

“……It’s nothing.”

 

Felix didn’t bother to tell the truth.

 

However,  he only expressed a lump of his personal thoughts.

 

“You’re just kind of cool today.”

 

“Really?”

 

Theodore asked.

 

“My wife wouldn’t be embarassed of me, would she?”

 

“… embarassed. What kind of wife would be embarassed of a husband like Your Majesty?”

 

“Well, that’s true.”

 

Theodore never thought of himself as ugly, because he also had eyes.

 

He answered calmly and then immediately asked.

 

“What about the gift? Where did you put it?”

 

“Ah, I brought it just now…”

 

“Your Majesty the Emperor, Her Majesty the Empress has arrived.”

 

It was amazing timing.

 

‘Why did you come here now?’

 

Theodore looked at what Felix had brought with a puzzled face.

 

“The Empress shouldn’t see it now.”

 

“I will hide it well, Your Majesty.”

 

Felix hurriedly disappeared into the room.

 

Theodore opened his mouth calmly, pretending that nothing had happened.

 

“Let her inside.”

 

A moment later, he heard Meredith walking inside.

 

“Empress, come…”

 

Theodore, who had been looking into the room to see if Felix was hiding it well, slowly turned around.

 

“….”

 

And then, he froze like ice.

 

“I meet you, the Imperial Sun, Your Majesty the Emperor.”

 

Meredith stood in front of Theodore after getting dressed.

 

Theodore froze when he saw that.

 

He seemed quite perplexed.

 

But Meredith didn’t notice that yet.

 

“You’ve already finished preparing.”

 

“….”

 

“Your Majesty always comes to me, and today I came here.”

 

But even as Meredith continued to speak, Theodore was still  as ice.

 

“We are going to the banquet hall together. Are you okay?”

 

“…..”

 

“Your Majesty?”

 

Meredith looked at Theodore with a worried look on her face, wondering if he was in pain.

 

But Theodore wasn’t sick, he just went back in time for a moment.

 

***

 

A few months ago, on his wedding day.

 

“Your Majesty, how are you feeling?”

 

Before entering the ceremony hall, Felix asked Theodore.

 

“Is there anything that makes you uncomfortable?”

 

“… It’s all uncomfortable.”

 

Theodore managed to answer with a face that it was difficult to even open his mouth.

 

“Because I couldn’t sleep, my head hurts more, my stomach hurts, and my muscle pain is worse than yesterday. When I sit down and get up, my eyes keep spinning and my chest feels a little stiff. Oh, I think I’m also getting a little fever. I’m sweating a little.”

 

“… That’s a big deal.”

 

Felix asked seriously.

 

“Would you be able to enter the wedding hall?”

 

“I can’t not go in.”

 

He couldn’t believe he couldn’t attend his own wedding.

 

It was nonsense.

 

“Even if I collapse there, I have to go in.”

 

Then, suddenly, Theodore saw his reflection in the mirror.

 

“…

sigh

.”

 

He looked so haggard and pale that it wouldn’t be surprising if he died soon.

 

No matter how the talented maids applied makeup, it seemed like they couldn’t hide the essential problem.

 

Of course, it was ironic that even that mixed with his exquisite beauty gave off a decadent atmosphere.

 

He muttered in a hoarse voice, roughly as if he was chewing and spitting out.

 

“These damn shadows under my eyes never seem to go away.”

The chapter length for the next 7-8 chapter isn't consistent as I don't have the chapter wise raws. So apologies if the some chapters are longer than the others.