WFMW 30

Chapter 30

This Is Why I Got Married

March 30, 2024

‘Well… I can’t really blame them for thinking that way.’

If there were a woman living in a mansion with the doors always locked and no one ever seeing her face, I’d suspect she was dead, too.

It wasn’t unreasonable — that’s what I thought.
But it wasn’t me who got upset. It was Sidor.

Like a beast baring its fangs, he warned his mother sharply.

“Even if you’re my mother, I won’t stand by if you speak ill of her like that.”

My eyes widened.

‘Huh?’

I’d thought we’d gotten closer while living together in this house.
It even made me wonder if this was what having a friend felt like — something I’d never had before.

‘But to defend me like that…’

My heart began to race.
My face heated up, my palms grew clammy.

‘Ugh, I was already dizzy, and now I’m getting feverish.’

I lost my balance and caught myself with a hand on the ground.

That touching declaration, however, seemed to only offend Sidor’s mother.

Arms crossed, she tilted her chin up and glared fiercely at her son.

“Her? Who the hell are you calling her? Who do you think spread the rumor that you were so madly in love you just had to make her your wife?”

“I never asked anyone to do that.”

“Men are all the same. Never do a damn thing, but plenty of talk. You don’t even know whose efforts keep your world running smoothly.”

Sidor gave a derisive snort through his nose.

I worried his mother might actually lunge at him again, but thankfully she didn’t.

“Tomorrow, I’ll deal with your ridiculous marriage and that cursed wife of yours. So you’d better be ready.”

“Don’t come. My stance won’t change.”

“Tomorrow, then. I’ve said my piece.”

With that one-sided declaration, she climbed into her carriage — and vanished as swiftly as she’d appeared.

“Haa…”

As the tension drained out of me, I let out a long sigh of relief. My heart was still pounding from the ordeal.

‘Good thing I stayed hidden. If she’d seen me, she would’ve made a scene.’

I was far too timid to handle that woman — even Sidor barely could.

‘Time to sneak back to my room.’

Sidor probably didn’t want me seeing him like this.
If he did, he would’ve said so. That’s just the kind of person he was.

‘Ah, but now that it’s over, my legs feel weak.’

The dizziness that came after using magic was still bothering me.

I stayed crouched, breathing slowly — ha, hoo — knowing I’d probably just collapse again if I tried to stand.

That’s when a low voice fell over my head.

“You’re the one who blocked the keyhole, right? Well done.”

“Ah…”

I’d tried to slip away without Sidor noticing — but he was already standing behind me.

I hadn’t heard the door open, so he must have just vaulted right over the wall.

Caught completely off guard, I could barely form words.

“H-how did you… know I was here?”

A pair of black boots entered my vision, followed by silver-gray eyes tinged faintly blue meeting mine at eye level — he’d crouched down in front of me.

The sudden closeness made me blink rapidly.

Sidor shrugged.

“If I couldn’t sense you from that close, I’d be dead by now.”

Even his curt reply sounded a bit like teasing.

Maybe the earlier argument still had him on edge.

Fidgeting with my fingers, I carefully asked,

“Your, um… your mother didn’t notice, did she?”

“Don’t call her mother-in-law. Call her Madam Briar.”

So her name was Madam Briar.
I etched it firmly into my memory just in case.

After watching me silently mutter Madam Briar several times under my breath, Sidor gave a weary smile.

“That’s why I want to keep this marriage.”

His voice was low and heavy — unlike him.
His silver-gray eyes dimmed as he looked down.

I could tell from his expression that his pride had already taken quite a blow.
He was forcing a bright tone just to pretend he was fine.

“My mother sees me as nothing but breeding stock. She’s desperate for me to marry and have children as soon as possible.”

I nodded calmly.

“Ah, I see.”

“…That’s all you’re going to say?”

“It must be hard.”

“Why did that sound like a question?”

“Because it’s not something I can understand firsthand.”

I pursed my lips slightly.

Of course I sympathized with Sidor’s personal pain — but that was all.

‘I’m not exactly in a position to pity anyone else.’

No one lives without hardship.
Everyone has some darkness they’d rather hide.

“If it’s something I need to know, I’ll remember it. If not, I’ll forget — so don’t worry.”

Sidor just stared at me silently for a moment.
Then he turned his head away with a grumble.

“At times like this, you’re supposed to say ‘it must’ve been hard for you,’ you clueless woman.”

“It must’ve been hard for you. You’ve worked hard.”

I quickly corrected myself.

He let out a small chuckle — kuk.

Since I’d barely ever seen him smile, I looked up in surprise.
But his face was already back to its usual blank, stoic expression.

He brushed the dirt from my palms and asked,

“Why are you touching dirt directly? Where’s Hael?”

“He was too fidgety around me, so I told him to go back. Didn’t he return to the Order?”

“That idiot…”

Apparently, Sidor had told him to stay at the mansion, but since I’d told him to go, poor Hael must’ve been caught in between.

‘Sorry, Hael.’

Judging from Sidor grinding his teeth, he’d scold the knight later anyway.

But I hadn’t told Hael to go play, just to return to his duties — so I kept quiet.

Sidor brushed the remaining specks of dirt from between my fingers as he scolded,

“Didn’t I tell you not to touch soil? What if your fever gets worse?”

“I only do one row a day. I’m not overexerting myself.”

“Still.”

For some reason dissatisfied, he frowned as he held my hands.
Then, suddenly —

He leaned forward and pressed his forehead to mine.

“Wh-what are you doing?!”

The sharp, clean scent that always lingered around him brushed past my nose as our faces grew dangerously close.

Startled, I squeaked — but his brow only furrowed deeper.

“You’ve got a fever.”

“Huh? That can’t be.”

“Oh, it can. Your forehead’s burning.”

His hand returned to my forehead, cool and steady.
The touch carried a faint chill that cleared my head.

Without thinking, I leaned into his palm and closed my eyes.

“Maybe it’s just that your hands are cold?”

“They’re not. And my body temperature’s higher than average, actually. The heat’s coming from you.”

But as soon as I seemed to enjoy the cool touch, Sidor flinched and pulled his hand back like he’d been burned.

I pouted.

If I really had a fever, I knew the reason.

‘It’s probably from using magic.’

That strange emptiness — like every trace of mana had been drained from me.
A feeling I’d never known before.

‘Too cruel a price to pay for surviving.’

I was alive, yes, but like a fish that couldn’t swim anymore — was that really survival?

As I smiled bitterly to myself, Sidor suddenly grabbed my arms and lifted me easily to my feet.

Having been sitting on the ground, I found myself standing before I realized it — as light as if I weighed nothing.

He took my hand and said urgently,

“Come inside, now.”

Not long ago, he wouldn’t even come home or give explanations — now here he was, worrying about me like this. It felt strange.

I pushed his hand away.

“Leave me alone.”

“What?”

He frowned, glaring down at me.

Brushing the dirt from my skirt, I said,

“You’re busy. I can take care of myself. There’s nothing more to do.”

His face darkened instantly.

“You’ve got a fever.”

He was clearly angry — though I had no idea why.

“I’ll take medicine and rest. You’re too busy to even eat properly, aren’t you?”

“You…”

His handsome face twisted in frustration.
He stared straight at me, eyes unblinking, then muttered harshly:

“…Are you scolding me right now?”

“Pardon?”

Scolding? Me? You?

Before I could process it, Sidor suddenly scooped me up in his arms.

“Eek!”

My body floated before I could react, and in surprise, I clung to his neck.

Hard muscle met my arms — like hugging a solid tree trunk.

As he strode toward the mansion, Sidor said:

“You can hit me, yell at me, whatever. But I’m not leaving you alone while you’re sick. If you don’t like that, then don’t get sick.”

His next words were muttered too softly for me to catch, but I thought I heard something like—

“It’s not like I want to meddle like this either…”

Through the thin fabric of his shirt, I could feel his heart pounding — fast and strong, betraying his own unease.

As if echoing exactly how I felt.

Except—

Why are you the one flustered right now?
I’m the one being carried!