I Married a Sick Husband

Chapter 10 : I Married a Sick Husband

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“We’re in the same boat now.”

 

“The same boat?”

 

“I remember I told you yesterday. You think so too, don’t you?”

 

Meredith asked carefully.

 

“…I don’t know.”

 

“Because it is for me. There is only one Emperor in this palace.”

 

If the Duke of Schwartz has truly sided with the Empress Dowager, as the Emperor believes, she has no chance of protecting herself.

 

‘It’s probably safer to stick to the Emperor’s side.’

 

Of course, depending on who wins, probabilities could be meaningless, but at least for now she would be unharmed.

 

“And Your Majesty should think so, too.”

 

“…”

 

“At least I can treat you right now.”

 

“You said you couldn’t cure it yet.”

 

“I’ll be able to do it soon.”

 

Meredith responded immediately.

 

“And you have to believe I can do it.”

 

“As I said yesterday, if you can’t save me…”

 

The Emperor looked at Meredith with a dark expression and continued.

 

“I also have no reason to keep you alive.”

 

“That’s why we’re on the same side.”

 

After responding, Meredith closed her mouth as she felt she was acting desperate to reassure the Emperor.

 

‘—Actually, I am desperately begging for my life…’

 

But at least she was past the critical stage, so she decided to be more confident.

 

“Anyway, I’m leaving. I’ll call Sir Felix when I leave, Your Majesty.”

 

“…”

 

The Emperor did not reply.

 

Still, she bowed as she left, not knowing whether he noticed or not.

 

The room stained with blood from last night was pristine, as if nothing had ever happened.

 

But she still felt uncomfortable as goosebumps appeared on her skin from being in the room.

 

“Your Majesty the Empress.”

 

Standing outside the room, Felix bowed in formal greeting, then fixed Meredith with an intense stare.

 

She could read his thoughts: she shared blood with the Duke of Schwartz.

 

Felix didn’t know she was an illegitimate child, but she had no intention of using that to change his mind about her.

 

It’s the Emperor’s opinion that mattered, anyway.

 

“Sir Felix, did you have a comfortable night?”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty, thanks to you.”

 

Meredith only said what was necessary, exchanging simple words of perfunctory greeting.

 

“By the way, His Majesty has been coughing. You should go in.”

 

“…About what happened last night.”

 

“I’ve already spoken to His Majesty. I’ll pretend I don’t know anything.”

 

“…”

 

“His Majesty decided against revealing last night’s occurrence.”

 

Meredith responded briefly and then glanced at him.

 

“See you again, Sir Felix.”

 

After speaking, she left the Central Palace without looking back.

 

*****

 

The lantern that Meredith had brought along with her last night was completely useless in the daylight.

 

When she arrived at the Empress Palace residency, the maids welcomed her.

 

“Your Majesty the Empress, you’ve returned.”

 

“Yulia.”

 

“Your Majesty, you were unattended to, returning to the Empress Place without sending word.”

 

Yulia said with a slightly exasperated tone.

 

“…Well, it slipped from my mind.”

 

Too much had happened last night to care about such a trivial matter.

 

‘You can’t imagine what I went through last night.’

 

Meredith parted her lips, looking at the women in the palace who were oblivious to what had happened.

 

“I shall visit the Empress Dowager’s palace.”

 

“Are you preparing to leave now?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“The bath will—”

 

“—I don’t need it.”

 

“But…”

 

Meredith gave a pointed look to the tactless Yulia.

 

Only then did Yulia quieten, realizing that the Emperor and Empress did not consummate on their first night.

 

‘Oh my… what did you expect?’

 

It was absurd to expect it without knowing the truth of the Emperor’s condition.

 

Meredith breathed deeply and said to Yulia, who was apologetic.

 

“You’re more optimistic than I thought, Yulia.”

 

“…Just in case.”

 

“Did Her Majesty the Empress Dowager cough?”

 

“She always coughs in the morning.”

 

The evil are diligent, as Meredith recalled her biological father would also wake up early around the same time.

 

‘They appear similar in many ways.’

 

Thinking of their shared traits, she was reluctant to meet with the Dowager.

 

“Then I shall leave right away.”

 

Despite her thoughts, it was time to face her.

 

*****

 

Fortunately, the Empress Dowager’s palace was quite far from her own, which would prevent unnecessary run-ins with each other.

 

‘It’s extravagant.’

 

That was Meredith’s first thought upon arriving at the reception room, looking around the splendid palace that was comparable to the Empress Palace.

 

“I’ll get the tea, Your Majesty. Please wait here for a moment.”

 

The maid spoke politely to Meredith, while she sat waiting absent-mindedly.

 

Unexpectedly, she wasn’t nervous at all.

 

‘Maybe it’s because I went through so much last night.’

 

After being threatened with her life, she didn’t think she could be afraid of anything easily.

 

At that moment, she heard footsteps along the hall.

 

Meredith looked up in surprise at the sound.

 

“I was wondering who was here.”

 

An elegant voice rang out.

 

“My daughter-in-law has arrived.”

 

Soft, pink wavy hair and bright red eyes; such distinct features and height that emphasised her beauty.

 

The woman who proudly walked into the reception room was, of course, none other than the Empress Dowager.

 

Blaire Baltic Jane.

 

Widow of the late emperor, and stepmother to the current emperor.

 

She was also the mother of Prince Fabian, the first in line to the throne.

 

Despite not hailing from a prestigious family, she had risen to obtain power and status within the royal family.

 

“Your Majesty the Empress Dowager.”

 

“Oh, my child. Sit, sit down.”

 

Meredith felt awkward.

 

This was the first time that the two had met, yet the Empress Dowager acted in a familiar manner, as if they had known each other for a long time.

 

To be called ‘child’ was also a rather embarrassing name for a grown woman, despite being her daughter-in-law.

 

Meredith was reminded to refrain from becoming comfortable.

 

Ironically, the intimate tone heightened Meredith’s forgotten tension.

 

“You had a hard time coming here. Colla, bring something sweet.”

 

“It’s the morning, so it’s all right, Your Majesty.”

 

“Even in the morning, dessert can be served. It would be inappropriate to send you back without feeding you anything during the first meeting. You understand, don’t you?”

 

“…Of course, if you say so.”

 

As soon as the Empress Dowager spoke, Blaire’s maid brought a plate prepared with colorful macarons.

 

Although Meredith liked sweet food, it was too much to eat so early in the day.

 

Nevertheless, the sincerity of the Empress Dowager could not be rejected.

 

Meredith bit into the macaron, diluting the sweetness with as much tea as she could.

 

“Tell me, how was your first night?”

 

There were hard questions from the beginning.

 

Meredith looked at Blaire with a perplexed expression on her face from the sudden question.

 

The Empress Dowager’s face was so young that she found it hard to believe she was in her 50s.

 

“What’s wrong, dear?”

 

With a thin smile, Blaire questioned.

 

“Ah, that’s…”

 

“Don’t be ashamed, child. I’m old enough to know everything.”

 

“I apologize, but I don’t think I can give you the answer you’d expect.”

 

“I don’t like people who talk back.”

 

From the first question, it seemed so.

 

Meredith had a strained expression.

 

“Did you not have your first night last night?”

 

“…Yes.”

 

“You did it or not?”

 

Even when faced with such straightforward questions, Meredith avoided answering directly.

 

“His Majesty is very ill, so—”

 

“—I heard you said you wouldn’t go to the Central Palace last night.”

 

“At first, it was like that. The Emperor was not in such a good condition.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

“But I belatedly realized that was a mistake and went to the Central Palace.”

 

“Ah, I see.”

 

Blaire nodded as if now understanding.

 

Unsurprisingly, there was no mention of the assassins.

 

‘…Well, that’s to be expected.’

 

With the Emperor not releasing news of last night, it would be foolish to bring it up first.

 

It would be the same as admitting responsibility.

 

Meredith also followed along with pretending not to know.

 

It should appear as if only the Emperor knew.

 

“Yes, I thought about it well. Please forgive me for yesterday’s rudeness, Your Majesty.”

 

Meredith apologized as politely as she could.

 

“I made a mistake because I have limited knowledge and I’m not yet familiar with court manners.”

 

“No, no. I’m sure you had His Majesty’s best interests at heart.”

 

Blaire smiled and looked at Meredith.

 

“You had good intentions, correct?”

 

“…Yes.”

 

“I worry His Majesty is not in good health, so you may have a lot of heartache.”

 

“…Of course, I’m sorry.”

 

‘You placed the curse first, and then you’re worried.’

 

Meredith was dumbfounded by the pretence of the Empress Dowager.

 

‘She is certainly similar to the Duke of Schwartz’

 

“Since I have become His Majesty’s empress, I will serve him with all my heart.”

 

“How nice of you, my daughter-in-law.”

 

Blaire stared at Meredith with an eerie smile.

 

“What was your name again?”

 

“Meredith Schwartz.”

 

“Now it’s Meredith Baltic Jane.”

 

Blaire laughed and corrected Meredith’s answer.

 

“Welcome to Baltic Jane royal family, Meredith.”

 

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“I’m honored, Your Majesty.”

 

“Your father told me a lot about you.”

 

Meredith winced slightly from the words.