← Previous Chapter | Chapter Index | Next Chapter →

Our White Marriage Is in Its Third Year: In Other Words, There Are Only Seven Days Left Until I Can Legally Leave You, My Lord

Six days left until I can leave you, My Lord. (Part 2)

Translated by: ME

Treat me to a Ko-Fi to give me more motivation!!!

*****

H-h-h-huh?! He’s made it a fixed decision!

Even though he was just saying in his head that he was going to take paid leave! Even now, I can hear his inner voice shouting things that are making me pull back in disbelief. Within that chaos, a few very concerning keywords popped up.

「I-if you want a quick resolution, wouldn't a divorce be much faster?」

「...As I said before, I will not grant a divorce. If you intend to use a white marriage as your shield, then I shall simply ensure those conditions are no longer met.」

「—! That’s...」

(In other words, he’s going to force himself on me?!)

The moment I instinctively braced myself:

{AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH—What on earth am I saying?! Now it sounds like I only want to embrace her because I don't want a divorce! Though I want to hold her so badly it hurts, and if anything, I want to redo our wedding night over and over again! No, even if I wanted to redo it, I can't because I'm cursed in the first place!!}

(Cursed?)

Come to think of it, he mentioned *that* "manifesting" earlier, didn't he?

In this world, magic and curses are commonplace. People get cursed relatively easily. Fickle witches are known to scatter romance-related curses indiscriminately just to kill time. Could it be that Lord Dominic is...?

But normally, if you're cursed by a witch, wouldn't you ask for help or at least talk about it?

「Lord Dominic. If you are keeping secrets from me, tell me right now. About the 'next wife,' as well.」

{There is no next wife... I only have eyes for my wife... Is it because of how I’ve acted that she won't believe me...?}

「If you won't speak, I’ll change the way I ask. ...Is your frequenting of the entertainment district not to meet with a favorite prostitute?」

「!」

At my words, Lord Dominic sharply knit his brows and glared at me.

The pressure was incredible. If I hadn't been able to hear his inner voice, my body might have frozen up, and I would have found it difficult to keep eye contact. I mean, he was emitting an aura like a final boss—practically with "RUMBLE!" sound effects in the background!

「That was because I was hunting a witch.」

「(I knew it, a witch!) ...Were you perhaps looking for a medicine? Or were you having trouble with something witch-related?」

「.................I was looking for a way to break a curse.」

「My! A curse... Husband, how did you end up cursed? Was it an attack from a political rival?」

If you’re hunting for a witch, information circulates much faster in the entertainment district than in the castle town. Does that mean there really hasn't been another woman in his life?

Feeling a small sense of relief, I maintained my posture, determined not to let my guard down enough to call off the divorce. Now, I wonder what kind of excuses are playing out in his head.

{I-I can't say it! I can't say that a letter addressed to that idiot Crown Prince was on my desk, and I carelessly touched the envelope—! 'Maybe it’s from my wife?' I thought like a fool! I couldn't help it! I was busy with the fiscal closing, embezzlements were popping up left and right, and dealing with all of it... I’d pulled three all-nighters...}

Wh... what on earth?

He was cursed for a reason that's actually kind of cute?! T-to think he was giddy thinking it was a letter from me... I-it’s not like I’m happy about it or anything. It’s too late for that. ...Now that I think about it, two years ago, he began staying at the Royal Castle because of scandals in the finance department. And I *had* sent my husband several letters... So he let his guard down and touched a letter?

Back then, I’d bought trendy stationery, trying to be supportive of the busy Dominic. So I was, in no small part, a factor in him getting cursed... Come to think of it, Lotus had told me looking rather awkward that I should refrain from sending letters for a while.

At the time, I thought I was being a nuisance... and it depressed me.

Normally, it would be a trivial thing. But even when we had the chance to talk, it was just me talking one-sidedly; it never became a conversation. I thought I was reaching out. But he’s been cursed since then? Even if that were the case, he wasn't that busy during the first year. ...Wait, but I remember him falling ill on the way back from an inspection and working while recuperating at our estate... didn't he?

「The curse... I received it... by mistake.」

「Did you perhaps... suspect that I was the one who cursed you? Is that why you kept your distance?」

「No...」

「Are you hiding anything else? Or did you distance yourself from me because of the curse?」

「That is...」

He bit his lower lip hard, hesitating. He looked like he might actually cut the corner of his mouth if he bit any harder. Hmm, his inner voice is just a cacophony of agonizing screams, and I can't make head or tail of it... Even with the ability to hear his heart, I need the insight and observation skills of a detective novelist!

{If *that* is found out... my wife will hate me. But if I don't say anything, she really will divorce me. I don't want that. But when the healers and nuns saw *that*, they all screamed and fainted. If... if my wife were to look at me with those same eyes, full of contempt, fear, and rejection, it would be better to keep it hidden! I won't divorce her. I’m certain I’d die if I did. ...But if I don't confess it, I can't break the witch's curse... My wife's cooperation is essential to breaking it. But... ah, ugh.}

(What is *that*?)

That’s the biggest mystery of all. He wasn't just keeping the curse a secret; he had considered talking about it. But for some reason, he feared I would hate him, so he couldn't bring it up?

Ugh. Yeah, I’m just not cut out for playing detective!

「Lord Dominic. What are you hiding? If you don't tell me within the next ten seconds, I will assume there is no hope for this discussion and leave.」

「!」

His gaze became even sharper, but I wasn't scared. His internal screaming was leaking out everywhere. Besides, for just a moment, he looked like he was about to cry... Ugh, I absolutely do *not* think his moping face is a little bit cute. He’s been silent for three years! I am furious!

「Ten, nine, eight...」

「Ah—」

「Seven, six, fi-ve, fo-ur, three, two—」

「—Wait, didn't you suddenly start counting faster?!」

「One, ze—」

「**I—on our wedding day—experienced a throwback to my Divine Dragon ancestor!**」

「Eh?」

With a sudden *poof* of a bursting sound, a change came over my husband's appearance. Two twisted white horns sprouted, his white skin became even paler, silver scales appeared on his cheeks, the whites of his eyes turned black, his pupils glowed emerald green, and a thick, lizard-like tail the size of a thigh swished behind him.

No matter how you looked at it, he now bore the heavy characteristics of the Dragonoid race.

「My goodness.」

「—!」

Dominic’s face went deathly pale. It seemed he had reverted to his true form regardless of his own will.

{I-I’ve done it now...! Even though I trained so hard to freeze my emotions and prevent them from wavering, I’m hopeless in front of my wife... And I managed to keep it hidden for three years...}

Oh. His tail is drooping limply. It’s actually kind of cute, like a dog’s tail.

The blood of Divine Beasts often skips generations, and it’s said that more than half of this country carries it. These days, because the blood has thinned, awakenings almost never happen. Most of all, throwbacks to the Silver Divine Dragon are rare; while there are "Options" like parts of the body resembling a beast or the ability to temporarily transform, their outward appearance usually remains human.

{...Ah, there’s nothing left but divorce... Surely this appearance must be disgusting to her.}

Oh. I see.

It’s not that Lord Dominic had been a throwback since he was a child. He suddenly awakened three years ago, on our wedding night. It took time for him to accept his own unfamiliar, monstrous form, so of course he struggled with whether to tell me. Between the time it took for him to calm down after awakening and the time he spent worrying about how to handle me, he got cursed... and he just never found the right moment to say anything until now.

Looking back, he had very few expressions on our wedding day, and while he didn't say much, he was kind. Besides, the servants of the Ångström household were all such good people. We were just completely out of sync.

「Lord Dominic. Um... may I touch... your cheek?」

「I suppose it can't be helped if you find this skin hideou—Eh? EH?!」

「May I touch it?」

I took the opportunity to close the distance. Overwhelmed by my momentum, Dominic actually looked dazed for once. He hasn't finished processing the information yet. This is the best time to press on!

「Lord... Do-mi-nic?」

「Eh, ah, yes? Yes??」

Taking that as consent, I placed my hand firmly against his cheek. It felt a bit cool, but the texture was softer than I expected. When I gave his tail a little touch, it started wagging back and forth like a dog's. It was adorable. And the tail was softer than I expected, too. Dominic was already frozen with a bright red face.

His inner voice was nothing but screams, so I ignored it.

Yes. What I’ve learned from touching him is that while his visuals alone are exactly my type, this squishy texture is just the best. Right now, could I perhaps use my title as his wife to my advantage—no, would it be legally acceptable to hug him?

I was unpopular in my previous life, and I haven't been hugged by the opposite sex in this life either!

As for Lord Dominic, it doesn't seem like he hates being touched—

{M-m-m-my wife is touching, *touching* me in this form?! S-she’s not afraid??? Eh, what? This is too good to be true...! Ah, I want her to keep touching me like this forever.}

Yep, looks like it’s fine!

In that moment, I was so happy that Dominic hadn't rejected me that I grew a bit overbold. Normally, I never would have hugged him of my own accord.

「Hyah!」

「!?」

Because I hugged him with more force than intended, I ended up pinning Dominic down. Though he’s a desk worker, his shoulders are broad and his chest is thick like a knight’s.

When I hugged him, he smelled unexpectedly good. It was a refreshing scent, like mint.

{HYAA%NGH, &%@*€8%◆AH◇⌘⇒〜〜〜!?}

Yeah, that wasn't even language anymore. I thought this might finally change his expression, but the iron mask remained! It’s as if he’s got a mask glued on with superglue.

Oh, but his heartbeat is so fast. ...Now I’m starting to get nervous, too! Um, this "pinning him down" situation is also a bit much, isn't it?! If any of the servants were to see us like this—

「I've brought a refill for the tea—oh my.」

「「!?」」

Lotus, who had been thoughtful enough to bring more tea, was standing there. He looked back and forth between Dominic and me, placed the teapot on the table, and left without a word.

Wait, I think he was jogging. That was fast?!

「—Wait, Lotus!」

「Tonight shall be a feast! I shall see to it!」

「You’ve got it wrong!」

I reached out, trying to chase after him, but I was blocked by Lord Dominic.

*****

Note: Relax, she is not a dragon furry. He's still human, with tail, horn and scales.

Thank you for reading. If you want to help my hobby please download and install LDP9 with my link down below. Just Click the small yellow LDPlayer Banner.