WFMW 4

Chapter 4 

Three Years Passed While I Slept

2024.03.04.

Three years had passed since my regression.

Since Grisha was a trustworthy expert, he hadn’t worried about me never waking up. A coma caused by mana depletion was essentially a state where the body shut down, meaning there was no risk of hunger or illness.

The only real concern was how defenseless I’d be against external shocks.

After all, if the one they wanted to kill had fallen into a coma, wouldn’t it be like twisting a baby’s wrist—an easy chance to finish me off?

For that reason, Grisha personally warned Baron Periway’s household. I didn’t hear it myself, but it must have gone something like this:

[A magician in a coma from mana depletion will wake on their own once mana is replenished. If they die during that state, it is undeniably murder by an external party.]

In the end, it seemed Grisha’s warning kept Diana from making a move.

Well, it looks like my body’s fine.

It was stiff from not moving in so long, but thanks to steadily accumulated mana, my condition was even better than before.

Of course, it still didn’t compare to even a fraction of the mana I originally possessed.

If I had known it would come to this, I would have used offensive magic instead of time-reversal magic.

Since my research had always been on space-time magic, I had subconsciously unleashed a massive spell that rewound the entire world’s time in that moment.

But regretting the past is pointless now.

At present, I had only one question on my mind.

“I’ve answered you honestly. Won’t you answer my question now?”

I asked with a small smile.

“Who are you?”

The question was directed at the man who had approached me so naturally, striking up a conversation at my bedside.

In the dark room, the moonlight streaming in through the window traced pale lines over his profile. His silver-gray eyes were sharp as blades, with no hint of warmth.

Well, clearly he’s not someone who likes me.

To be precise, it felt more like he had no emotions toward me at all. The real issue was why a stranger would be sitting so casually in my bedchamber.

Did the world change while I was asleep for three years?

Scratching my head, I noticed his face twist as though deeply annoyed. Oddly enough, that rough expression suited his bold, strong features.

A swordsman?

The long scar running along his forearm caught my eye, as did the mark on his jaw. Yes, he definitely looked like a swordsman. Surely he didn’t carve those himself with a kitchen knife.

…Well, if it were me, I might accidentally cut myself while cooking.

Recalling my own clumsy, heavy-handed fingers, I pouted slightly.

Then came the identity he revealed—something I would never have guessed.

“First of all, I’m your husband.”

“…What?”

My mouth hung open in shock. What did he just say?

Husband?
A man who marries a woman and becomes her partner?

I stared at him as if to confirm I’d heard correctly, and he gave a small nod. His humorless face showed not a trace of a joke.

Narrowing my eyes, I reminded myself—I had an excellent memory, one worth boasting about.

“I’ve never been married. In fact, this is the first time I’ve ever seen your face.”

So don’t even think of feeding me some sloppy lie.

He sighed again, looking utterly exhausted, before answering.

“Of course. You were in a coma. The marriage happened while you were unconscious.”

“…Excuse me?”

The answer was so absurd that even my sharp mind stalled for a moment.

Had I buried myself so deeply in research at the Academy that I lost all sense of the world? A wedding with a comatose bride? How could that even be allowed?

Marriage is basically a social contract. Why marry a woman who can’t even act as a wife?

One possible reason came to mind. I asked carefully:

“…Do you have a preference for sleeping women?”

At my words, his smooth brow immediately furrowed. Oddly enough, that scowling face suited him even better.

“Don’t say something so disgusting.”

“Then why marry a woman in a coma?”

“Because I had a reason I had to marry.”

“Not because of a fetish?”

“I don’t know why you keep jumping to that conclusion. I’ve never so much as touched you, so erase that word from your mind.”

“Oh. I only thought so because you talk to me so casually, as if it were natural.”

Like a prince falling in love with Snow White after biting into the poisoned apple.

There are only two reasons for making such an inefficient contract as marriage: love, or necessity.

If it wasn’t love, then it must have been necessity. And the only necessity tied to a comatose archmage would be…

Folding my arms, I asked,

“Did you marry me for the inheritance I’ll receive as Archmage?”

Using the title of husband to stick a spoon into my estate?

Again, he frowned deeply and answered curtly.

“I already have more money than I could ever spend. I told you—there was a reason I had to marry. And for the record, it wasn’t some illegal abduction marriage. It was legal, sanctioned by His Majesty the Emperor.”

Oh my, how very rich. And even a legal marriage?

How ridiculous.

How can it be legal if the bride couldn’t even express consent? Smiling wryly, I pointed out the flaw.

“How do you exchange vows when the bride’s unconscious?”

But the answer he gave me was even more shocking.

“Your sister arranged it. She stood in for you and made the marriage vows.”

“…What?”

Diana?

“She insisted that, as your husband, she should hand over her sister’s inheritance to herself—since spouses share rights to joint property.”

As I gaped at him, he smirked. But with his sharp eyes and furrowed brow, the smirk looked more mocking than amused.

“You’ve got yourself quite the sister.”

“…Apparently.”

It seemed my sister, unable to kill me outright, had instead sold me off.

A little over a year earlier—

Cedar sat with his chin propped on one hand, gazing languidly at the trembling woman before him.

She had large, round eyes and luxuriant golden hair. Her face was soft and lovely, but her red pupils gleamed now and then like flickering candle flames.

He frowned. For over a decade, he had gripped his sword and crossed paths with countless people, cutting down many. He could tell at a glance what sort of human someone was.

And this one wore the face of greed that would drag her to hell—likely pulling others down with her.

Best not even to exchange words with someone like this.

On a battlefield, he would have scared her off immediately. Just drawing his sword would have made her flee like a rat.

But here, at a ballroom, he was bound not in steel but in finery.

Worse, this was the first birthday banquet of the newly crowned young Emperor—far too many eyes watching.

Honestly, I couldn’t care less what others think…

But that young Emperor was Cedar’s only true friend, and as heir of House Grenite, he was duty-bound to show loyalty. He had no choice but to endure to the end.

If she calculated all this and approached me anyway, then I want nothing to do with her.

Cunning, greedy, manipulative—such a woman would never fall alone, but drag down everyone she could reach.

Cedar resolved to coldly reject whatever she said and leave for the terrace.

That is, until she spoke.

“Please marry my sister!”

“…Hah?”

How many times in life does one hear something so insane? And not even for herself—her sister?

His thick brows arched high. With a cold smile, Cedar rested his chin on his hand.

“Is that some strange variation of a contract marriage?”

“Huh? Variation?”

“There have been so many girls who came to me, hoping for a contract marriage, I’ve lost count. I hear contract marriage novels are all the rage these days.”

“R-really?”

Her face finally cracked, clearly not expecting him to know even about such novels.

Still, her idea is certainly novel.

For creativity, he’d give her points. Gesturing with his chin for her to go on, he waited. She spoke nervously.

“My name is Diana Periway. My sister is Nelly Periway.”

“Periway? The Archmage’s house?”

“Yes. My sister is the Archmage.”

“Quite the remarkable person, then.”

The Archmage from the Empire was a hot topic in high society. Even the newly crowned Emperor had shown interest. The problem was that she had fallen into a state that prevented her from responding to any invitations.

“But isn’t she in a coma? I heard it’s such a rare case that Academy magicians are lining up for examinations.”

At his words, Diana’s brows knit.

“You’re well-informed.”

Of course he was, though he didn’t bother to explain why. Cedar only smiled grimly.

“How do you expect me to marry someone in a coma?”

If she wanted his attention, she had it. But he wasn’t going to waste more time on nonsense. He rose from his seat.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave.”

“Wait!”

Had Diana not stopped him, that would have been the end. But the mask of her meek demeanor dropped, replaced by a sharp, calculating expression.

“Marriage vows can be made through family on the bride’s behalf.”