WFMW 36

Chapter 36

Only One Reason

April 5, 2024

Cedar was still shouting loudly from outside the room.

“I planted all the seedlings you bought in the garden, so you don’t have to worry about them! And don’t even think about stepping out of that room!”

“Hiccup!”

I tried to answer him, but all that came out were hiccups.

At my ridiculous response, the corners of Cedar’s sharp eyes finally softened.

“Get plenty of rest. I’m worried about you.”

He was back to his usual self—gruff, but gentle in his own way.

I let out a small sigh of relief.

“And another thing!”

“Hiccup?!”

Again?

At this point, I was starting to think his goal was to keep startling me.

I’d gotten the hiccups earlier from being surprised, and now the second surprise had somehow made them go backward.

Feeling like I’d swallowed a gulp of air the wrong way, I pressed my palm to my lips. Cedar’s face turned bright red as he shouted—

“I have no intention of divorcing you!”

Then he slammed the door shut and stormed off.

“……?”

That’s it? Was that the real end this time?

‘So that’s what he wanted to say.’

He said he doesn’t want a divorce—meaning, he wants to keep the contract marriage going.

‘Well, it’s not like that puts him at a disadvantage. It’s a reasonable decision.’

But then… why did that make me feel so happy?

Without meaning to, the corners of my lips curled up.

I pressed both hands to my cheeks—they felt strange and warm.

‘I guess… I really do like this mansion more than I thought.’

Otherwise, why would I be so reluctant about the idea of leaving?

‘I just planted those herbs for my potions, didn’t I? If I leave now, I’d have to give them all up.’

And besides, Cedar had planted the rest of the seedlings for me—everything except for the two rows I managed myself.

Walking away now would be trampling on his kindness.

So I kept reminding myself over and over again of the very good reasons why I shouldn’t divorce him yet.

Then suddenly, my eyes widened.

‘Ah, so that’s why he smelled like soil yesterday!’

When Cedar had saved me from the assassin, his usual clean scent had been mixed with the earthy smell of wet soil.

At the time, I’d thought it strange—Cedar was the last person who’d smell like dirt. But now it made sense. He must’ve been planting seedlings.

‘Don’t tell me he was late saving me because he was planting them?’

The image of Cedar from last night flashed vividly in my mind—his strong arms pulling me close, his heavy breathing, the faint tremor running through his body.

“…He’s such a weird man.”

I threw the blanket over my head.

Mostly to hide the heat that was spreading across my face.

Outside Nellie’s room, Cedar bit his lip as he walked down the stairs.

‘I didn’t expect my mother to go that far.’

Cedar’s mother—Lady Briar.

A stunning woman with dazzling silver hair.

But like a tropical fish hiding deadly poison beneath its beauty, her delicate appearance only masked her venomous nature.

Cedar had seen it all from childhood—the cruel things she would do without hesitation to satisfy her ambitions.

That was why he’d left the Duke of Granite’s mansion and built a separate estate of his own.

He didn’t want to be controlled by her any longer.

Lady Briar had one goal: for Cedar to become the Duke of Granite.

That’s why she was constantly pushing him to produce an heir as soon as possible.

‘She’d quieted down for a while after I married Nellie.’

She must’ve been shocked—her son, marrying a woman in a coma, just to defy her orders.

Maybe she’d needed time to decide what to do next.

Still, Cedar hadn’t thought she’d go this far.

‘I figured she’d try to annul the marriage or force a divorce, not send assassins.’

That had been a miscalculation.

He could understand now why Nellie wanted to reconsider their contract.

In fact, seeing that meek-looking woman so serious about her own survival… it almost made him proud.

‘Maybe divorcing her really would be the right thing for her.’

But even if she escaped his mother’s reach, she still wouldn’t be safe—from the threat of her own brother.

Cedar had once thought, if she wants to leave, I’ll let her.

That was when he believed she could protect herself.

‘The lock had been melted by magic—that much was clear.’

But when she’d faced the assassin, Nellie hadn’t used magic at all.

Not because she was too scared or panicked to think of it.

‘No, her mana flow was strange that night.’

Cedar couldn’t see mana like Nellie could, but as a Swordmaster, he could feel its movement.

And her mana had been… off.

For a mage, converting mana into magic was as natural as a Swordmaster channeling aura through a blade.

But that night, her mana had been nearly empty—almost nonexistent.

She’d been weaker than an ordinary person.

Then, as if her heart were seizing from the strain, she’d collapsed in pain and lost consciousness.

‘If she can’t use magic, everything changes.’

How could a woman under threat from her own brother live on her own? How would she protect herself?

So Cedar had asked her directly if she couldn’t use magic.

And she had blinked her soft green eyes, completely calm, and said:

[I can’t say.]

Remembering that, Cedar rubbed his face roughly, frustration burning inside him.

Anger? No—something a little different.

He was mad that she wouldn’t just be honest with him. That she was keeping secrets.

So it wasn’t just anger—it was frustration, and maybe… a pinch of hurt.

‘I thought we were at least friends by now! And yet she keeps secrets like this.’

And saying “I can’t say” was basically the same as admitting it anyway!

‘That woman is infuriating.’

Unable to contain himself, Cedar ran a hand through his hair, making a mess of it.

“She can’t use magic, she can’t cook, so how does she plan to live after divorcing me? Does she think acting clever will solve everything?”

She could’ve just said, Please protect me.
Told him she couldn’t use magic right now and asked for help.

[Or what—was she planning to have my child instead?]

“…Why the hell did I say that?”

Still muttering to himself, Cedar sighed deeply.

The moment those words had left his mouth, he’d realized what they meant.

He’d been denying it all this time, but now it was painfully clear.

The reason her talk of divorce irritated him so much,
The reason her secrets bothered him,
The reason he hated that she wouldn’t rely on him—

There was only one reason.

‘I like her.’

Cedar covered his face with his hand.

Meanwhile, I was sprawled out on the bed, rolling around lazily—until I suddenly sat up like a meerkat.

‘Someone just triggered the magic circle.’

Cedar never set off the alarm when he came or went, which meant it wasn’t him.

‘An assassin in broad daylight? No way.’

Then it must be someone I knew.

Playing detective, I waited with my heart thumping until—

Knock knock.

A familiar, polite voice followed.

“Good morning, my lady. You guessed it was me?”

Sure enough, it was Sir Heil.

He entered carefully, carrying a tray of food.

I beamed at him.

“My husband’s footsteps sound different.”

(Well, actually, it was the magic circle that gave him away—but no need to explain that.)

Still, I couldn’t help thinking again—

‘Cedar really is considerate.’

He must’ve noticed the circle on the floor, yet he always avoided stepping on it—just so I wouldn’t have to redraw it.

‘The more I learn about him, the less I know how to act around him.’

Anyway, I had three days to think things through—to come up with a solution that would be good for both of us.

Just as I decided that, my stomach growled loudly.

Heil chuckled and offered me the tray.

“Perfect timing, it seems. Please enjoy your meal.”

It was a thick sandwich stuffed with fresh green vegetables—probably made by Cedar.

Normally, I would’ve scrunched my face at all that green, but today my eyes were drawn to Heil’s face instead.

Up close, I noticed a deep bluish bruise on his cheek.

“Your face… had an interesting encounter with the ground, perhaps?”

Of course, it looked like he’d been punched, but asking a knight if someone hit him felt rude.

Heil rubbed the bruise with an awkward smile.

“Haha, thank you for putting it that way.”

Maybe my earlier detective success had boosted my confidence, because my brain started piecing things together quickly.

Heil had been hit → The person who hit him must outrank him—either in status or strength.

And I knew someone who fit that description perfectly.

I tilted my head and asked carefully—

“Was it my husband?”

“……”

Heil stayed silent. Which meant yes.

Thinking about it, I could easily imagine why Cedar might’ve been angry.

Yesterday, when Lady Briar had visited, Cedar had been furious that Heil wasn’t at the estate.

He must’ve scolded him afterward for not being there when things got dangerous.

After all, Cedar had told him to guard the mansion—but because I’d said I felt uncomfortable with him around, Heil had left.

So in the end, he’d been punished… for that.