IMLB 04

Chapter : 4

“Mmm……”

Yerin’s delicate brows were tightly furrowed.

It seemed the heavy ceremonial wig and wedding robes were making her uncomfortable.

This won’t do.

Unable to watch any longer, Doyul reached out.

One by one, he removed the ornaments from her hair before carefully lifting off the heavy wig.

“…Mm.”

Only then did the young girl’s expression visibly relax.

Watching her with quiet satisfaction, Doyul suddenly froze.

His gaze was fixed on the crown of Yerin’s head.

Earlier… she said her head hurt.

She had said one of the maids had struck her with a comb.

Apparently, it had been true.

A small bump had formed on the top of her head.

Pressing his lips into a thin line, Doyul reached out and gently removed Yerin’s silk outer robe.

Then—

“Ha… honestly…”

An incredulous sigh escaped his lips.

As the sleeve slipped down, it revealed an arm as thin as a withered branch.

Her pale skin, which should have been flawless, was covered in bruises that coiled around it like snakes, leaving ugly purple and blue marks everywhere.

“……”

Doyul’s gaze turned ice-cold.

Chirp, chirp.

The cheerful songs of birds echoed noisily outside.

Warm sunlight shone through her closed eyelids.

It must be morning.

Yerin frowned deeply.

Ugh… I’m dying…

Her head throbbed as though someone were pounding it with a hammer.

Trying to escape the relentless sunlight, she pulled the blanket over her head and curled into a ball.

It would be perfect if I could sleep just a little longer.

The problem was the terrible hangover—and the unbearable thirst.

Not only did her head ache, but her dry throat was screaming for water.

I can’t take it anymore. I should at least get up and have a drink.

Yerin slowly opened her eyes.

The blurry world gradually came into focus.

She had hoped that after passing out, she’d wake up back in the cozy bedroom of the Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace.

Instead, she was still staring at a ceiling.

“……”

…Wait.

No.

There was no way the neglected room of an unwanted illegitimate daughter would have luxurious wallpaper embroidered with gold thread.

Then where was she?

The moment the question crossed her mind, all the color drained from her face.

W-Wait. What happened yesterday?

Frantically, Yerin searched through her memories.

She had definitely gotten married yesterday.

After the ceremony, she and Doyul had shared the ceremonial wedding wine.

“A little alcohol like this won’t even affect me!”

She clearly remembered confidently drinking it.

Oh no… I’m screwed!

Yerin barely managed to swallow the curse that nearly burst from her lips.

She remembered rambling endlessly in front of Doyul about “Back in my day…”

She remembered bursting into tears because she suddenly felt miserable after being hit with a comb by a maid.

She even remembered stubbornly shouting,

“Do you think I wanted to marry you in the first place?!”

Every embarrassing moment came flooding back with crystal-clear clarity.

What do I do?! I was a complete disaster!

The one who had dealt with her emotional roller coaster—crying one moment and laughing the next—had been Doyul.

The last thing she remembered was him laying her down on the bed while looking at her with complicated eyes.

Should I apologize first…?

As she agonized over what to do…

Something suddenly felt strange.

…Come to think of it, the room is awfully quiet.

Even if she wanted to apologize, the other person had to actually be in the room.

Then another terrifying thought struck her.

W-Wait… don’t tell me he got so angry after watching me make a fool of myself that he left me here and walked out?!

Her heart nearly stopped.

She was already destined to be killed by the male protagonist.

Had she just raised another death flag?

No! Anything but that!

Looking as though she might faint, Yerin cautiously poked her head out from under the blanket.

And then—

“You’re awake?”

She came face-to-face with Doyul’s exhausted expression.

“Eek!”

Startled, Yerin instinctively scrambled backward.

Doyul looked at her with an indifferent expression.

“You don’t have to scream like that. I’m not going to eat you.”

Sneaking a glance at him from the corner of her eye, Yerin immediately squeezed her eyes shut.

…I’m completely doomed.

Dark circles hung beneath Doyul’s eyes.

Just how much trouble had she caused him last night?

“L-Lord!”

The weight of her guilt nearly crushed her.

She immediately lowered her head.

“I’m so sorry!”

Who cared about preserving her ancestors’ dignity?

If things followed the original novel, this kind of bad impression would eventually get her executed!

“…Miss Yerin.”

“N-No, I really didn’t mean to act like that! I just drank too much last night, and I said some ridiculous things…”

As she desperately tried to explain herself, Yerin looked ready to cry.

What am I supposed to do?!

“I swear I’ll never drink another drop of alcohol again! So please don’t be angry…!”

“I’m not angry.”

“…Right? Of course anyone would be furious if they were me—… Huh?”

Yerin, who had been pouring out apology after apology, cautiously raised her head.

“Y-You’re really not angry?”

“Why would I lie to you?”

“I… suppose that’s true.”

She carefully studied his expression.

Well, if he wasn’t angry, that was a relief…

Fortunately for her, Doyul looked as calm as ever.

There was just one problem.

Why does he keep staring at me?

Ever since he’d said he wasn’t angry, Doyul hadn’t taken his eyes off her.

It was as though he wanted to say something.

“Um…”

Unable to bear it any longer, the guilty Yerin cautiously spoke.

“Is… is there something you wanted to tell me?”

Instead of answering, Doyul merely raised an eyebrow.

That dissatisfied look made Yerin’s heart sink.

…What does that expression mean?

Did I say something wrong?

Should I have just ignored the fact that the male protagonist kept staring at me?

“W-Well… you’ve been looking at me this whole time…”

“Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere? Or are you in pain?”

“In pain…? Huh?”

Caught completely off guard, Yerin blinked.

Doyul repeated himself clearly.

“I asked if anything hurts.”

“Ah… well…”

As she instinctively opened her mouth to answer, she noticed his gaze drifting downward.

Huh?

Following his line of sight, she looked down herself.

His eyes were fixed on—

Oh no.

Because she’d moved, the blanket had slipped back, exposing her wrist.

Showing her wrist wasn’t the problem.

The problem was—

The bruises…!

Her arm was covered in angry red and purple marks.

Yerin hurriedly pulled her sleeve down to hide them before carefully glancing at Doyul.

What if this offended his pride?

From Doyul’s perspective, he had every reason to feel insulted.

If this had been a respectable family, they would have at least been careful not to leave visible marks on the bride before the wedding night.

The groom would inevitably see them.

But the Sichuan Tang Clan hadn’t cared.

Instead, they had deliberately covered Yerin’s body in bruises.

…It was their way of insulting both the North Sea Ice Palace and Doyul.

“You have no choice but to take this worthless girl, treated like trash by the Tang Clan, as your wife.”

That was essentially the message they had sent.

Yerin hurriedly apologized.

“I’m sorry.”

However, after hearing those words, Doyul’s expression seemed to darken slightly.

“What are you apologizing for?”

Tilting his head, he asked quietly.

Yerin found herself speechless.

“W-Well…”

Why does he suddenly seem upset?

She was confused.

His dark eyes, fixed on her, had become noticeably sharper.

Still, since he’d asked, she had to answer.

“An illegitimate daughter looked down upon even by her own family becoming the mistress of the North Sea Ice Palace…”

“That doesn’t matter in the slightest.”

Doyul shook his head firmly.

“Miss Yerin, you are more than worthy of becoming the mistress of the North Sea Ice Palace.”

Huh?

Yerin’s eyes widened.

Doyul continued without hesitation.

“The ones in the wrong are those who treat others so cruelly.”

“…Do you really mean that?”

“Why would you ask something so obvious?”

Doyul gave a small shrug.

“You are the victim, Miss Yerin. So I hope you won’t speak so poorly of yourself again.”

Of all people, those words came from Doyul—the man who himself had been forced into a humiliating marriage by the Sichuan Tang Clan.

She had never imagined he would say something like that.

I’m… happy.

Her heart fluttered as though someone were brushing it with a feather.

And yet…

For some reason…

Another part of her heart felt strangely cold, as though she’d swallowed a large piece of ice.

The reason was simple.

Miss Yerin.

Doyul was still calling her “Miss.”

Even though they had already become husband and wife through marriage, he should have been calling her “wife.”

…Well, it’s fine.

Yerin quietly tried to reassure herself.