Chapter 41

“…What does that have to do with Your Highness?”

“Why wouldn’t it concern me? Bri is my family.”

Callisten glared at Demian with a warning tone. Briseyes thought Callisten was doing this deliberately.

She needed to see the doctor before completing discharge procedures.

For that reason, a doctor and nurse were approaching from the corridor.

“Is a mistress family too? Is that why you didn’t come while your wife was hospitalized with allergies?”

“…This is a family matter. It’s not something for Your Highness to interfere with. Besides, Your Highness isn’t even real family.”

Briseyes stared blankly at Callisten. Strangely, even though they had only slept together for two nights, his behavior didn’t bother her.

Before, it would have felt threatening, like behavior she should be wary of.

Now it just felt familiar. Callisten had always been this kind of person.

Yet realizing she shouldn’t invest more feelings in him, she said:

“Cal and I grew up together since childhood. It’s natural for him to be concerned. Gael…”

He was someone who would abandon her the moment he possessed her.

“Gael told Cal to take care of me.”

She wondered why her dead brother would ask Callisten to take care of her.

‘Sister, I don’t want to stop you from getting engaged to Grand Duke Mays. But honestly, I’m not sure.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I thought you didn’t like Grand Duke Mays. Maybe that’s why. It feels awkward.’

Briseyes unconsciously darkened her expression as she recalled the still youthful Gael.

“Still, I think interfering in a married couple’s affairs crosses a line.”

“You’re saying that while letting a mistress interfere in your marital affairs?”

“What’s wrong with having a mistress? Everyone has them even if they don’t talk about it!”

“So you brought in a courtesan right after getting married?”

“Dili is not some courtesan. She’s my most trusted subordinate and my… second most beloved woman.”

Perhaps because of Demian’s words, Viscount Melvia and the nurses who were about to enter stopped in the corridor.

This was a VIP room, and there were only two rooms on this floor. Perhaps that’s why the surroundings were very quiet.

Their conversation was being heard by all the doctors and nurses too.

“Oh, really? Was your second most beloved woman sick too? Your legal wife was hospitalized, but you didn’t even show your face?”

“We just didn’t have time alone, so we spent some intimate time together.”

“Intimate time while your legal wife was sick? I wonder if you lack conscience or intelligence.”

When Callisten sneered, Demian’s face reddened with anger.

“Cal, that’s enough. If you’re not going to carry luggage, leave.”

“I’ll carry the luggage.”

“What kind of luggage carrier is the Crown Prince? I’m telling you to leave.”

“Why can’t I carry luggage? In the battlefield, I carried loads and fixed things too.”

Briseyes laughed involuntarily at Callisten’s words, and seeing her laugh, Callisten’s expression softened.

“I understand Your Highness’s words. From now on, I’ll pay more attention to ‘my wife.'”

Briseyes looked at Demian as if she were moved. Callisten, seeing that she was acting from her tightly closed lips and forced smile, felt a strange bitterness in his mouth.

He sighed involuntarily.

“Um, I’m here for the examination.”

“Go ahead.”

Callisten entered and checked Briseyes’s belongings.

Demian was also packing luggage as if not to be outdone.

“Where’s Ella?”

“Ella went out briefly after being called to Marquis Philia’s house. And I didn’t call any servants because I wanted to come personally.”

“I see. Thank you.”

Briseyes bit her lip as she was about to say something she didn’t mean.

“Is she really okay to be discharged?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Show me the chart.”

When Callisten demanded it, Viscount Melvia handed it over even though he knew he shouldn’t, because he feared Callisten.

For him, this job was one he couldn’t afford to lose, and if he lost it, he would have to go back to the battlefield and suffer hardships.

Though he knew it was wrong, he deliberately pretended not to know and remained still.

“Why is the Arpen prescription only for one day?”

“It’s not good if it builds up in the body. And I didn’t think painkillers would be necessary after the fever subsided, so I prescribed it that way.”

Briseyes looked at him in surprise at those words.

It was strange. So her weakness toward Callisten wasn’t because of the Arpen painkiller.

“I’d like to take some medication and emergency injections in case something similar happens.”

“Yes, understood. As for where to inject…”

“I know.”

Callisten said this and returned the chart.

With that, Briseyes was able to be discharged.

The three of them had to ride in the carriage together.

⁕⁕⁕

“Your Highness has your own carriage.”

“I’m worried about Bri. Last time I saw many bruises on her body.”

“Are you suggesting I abused her?”

“Forcibly dragging someone is also abuse, Grand Duke.”

Callisten glared at Demian with disgust, recalling how Demian had grabbed her arm and tried to drag her to the bedroom with brute force.

“If you have any complaints about what I’m saying, challenge me to a duel.”

“…I wouldn’t dare. I understand that Your Highness especially cherishes ‘my wife.'”

Demian said this, but in reality, he didn’t want to resolve things through a duel.

He didn’t want to get entangled with Callisten in war or fighting.

Anyone who had seen Callisten on the battlefield would think the same. He was a monster who cut people down tirelessly, making one wonder if he really was the Battlefield Demon who consumed blood as rumored.

It was no wonder that opponents in the jousting tournament forfeited whenever they faced Callisten.

He was a monster who wielded a lance like a rapier.

Even in armor, being hit by his lance would shatter all the bones in your body. You were lucky if you died instantly.

“How are you feeling, Bri?”

“You’re asking that now? Pathetic.”

“You be quiet.”

Briseyes needed to pretend to be affectionate, but Callisten kept criticizing Demian before she could say anything.

In truth, what he said was quite satisfying.

“I’m fine. Actually, it’s fortunate you didn’t come, Demian. My body was very swollen… and even I found it a bit disgusting. I didn’t want to show you that appearance.”

“What swelling? You were cute like a rabbit shedding its fur.”

“Please be quiet.”

When Briseyes looked directly at Callisten and spoke, his cold expression softened as his ears turned red.

“I appreciate your concern, but don’t go that far with my husband.”

“……Alright.”

Callisten answered reluctantly, but he didn’t seem displeased.

—Squeak.

‘We’ve arrived.’

At the coachman’s words, Callisten got out first. Then Demian got out too.

When Briseyes bent down to get out and looked outside.

Both men’s hands were extended.

Briseyes deliberately took Demian’s hand, and Callisten snatched her hand away, saying:

“Get down carefully.”

She looked at him and tried to pull her hand away, but when Demian withdrew his hand first with displeasure, she came down still holding Callisten’s hand.

“With Your Highness acting like this, I feel like I’m living with my in-laws.”

“That’s a good feeling. Get used to it because it will continue.”

Demian frowned and snorted at those words, showing his anger. Briseyes looked up at Demian while linking arms with him.

“How do I look today? I’m concerned because my makeup is light.”

She glanced at the servants lined up around the carriage and said this.

“Now that the swelling has gone down, you look like the original Bri.”

“That’s a relief.”

When Briseyes leaned on him as if depending on him, Demian exhaled with pleasure and looked at Callisten. Callisten was smiling. However, now that Demian also knew that his smile with such an expression wasn’t genuine, he felt strange.

“While Bri was hospitalized, I spent some time with Delilah. Were you upset?”

“Why would I be upset?”

When I didn’t expect anything.

Briseyes swallowed those words and continued with something else.

“I told you. I would have hated showing you such an unsightly appearance even more.”

Callisten tried to interject, but Briseyes was giving him a look telling him not to, so he remained quiet.

“Your Highness should leave now. Thank you for escorting us.”

Demian wanted to return to the room and be with Briseyes, so he intended to send Callisten away.

“Sorry, but I’m going to watch Bri sleep properly today before I leave.”

“It’s only 4 o’clock now. She won’t sleep until evening…”

“Yes, I’ll be here until then.”

Callisten said this first and then entered the main mansion.

As he could be seen climbing the stairs from outside the door, Demian let out a heavy sigh.

Briseyes deliberately hugged Demian’s arm and said:

“I’m glad you came to pick me up, Demian. Really.”

“It’s… nothing.”

She had to wait until Demian, who was embracing her and smelling her scent, let go.

“You seem to be using the body wash His Highness brought. Your scents are similar.”

“Yes.”

Briseyes said this and had to walk with Demian as he escorted her to her room.

When she finally arrived at her room, she dismissed the maids around her, went inside, and closed the door.

“Since you’re here, take the key.”

She said this, recalling the piece of metal that had tightly bound his lower body the previous night.

“Unlock it for me, Bri.”

Callisten was approaching her with an ecstatic expression.