Duke, Please Stop Because it Hurts

Molitia was groaning at her husband, who was only increasing much of her worries, when she called for a suggestion.

“But I’ll take a rest today. Therefore, I won’t be sick.”

“Is that something you can promise?”

“Really, I won’t be sick. Promise.”

Molitia stuck her little finger out, looking as lovely as ever—especially to Raven. He then held his eyes sharp, trying to hold back on his desires to listen to almost anything.

“What are you going to do if you get sick?”

“Are you really going to keep on saying that to me?”

Even though he grumbled, Molitia, herself, was quite serious in regard to the assumption that had followed. It was all because of her past behavior that Raven didn’t listen to her with the utmost sincerity.

“…how about this, then? When Raven comes home from work today and if it hurts more than it is now, I will grant you a wish.”

“Are you going to grant me any kind of wishes?”

“I am.”

“Really? Any wish?”

Molitia’s eyes immediately narrowed when she realized that Raven’s words had a sudden unusual energy to them.

“…what wish are you trying to make?”

“To make my wife look incredibly sexy.”

“You, really!”

When she straight away complained to him with a surprised look painted on her face, Raven just pretended not to know about it.

“As I asked before, so shouldn’t you be answering that sincerely? Besides, if it’s a suggestion that I’m attracted to, I’ll be more motivated to participate in the bet itself.”

“…I know. If it hurts much more then, I’ll listen to you. So, please stop that now and go to work—Duke.”

“Let’s do that, then.”

While being barely away from her, he still lifted himself up. Unlike Molitia, who was all decked up in thick clothes, his body was without a single thread on and he was in an absolutely perfect shape.

After getting ready for work, he then went out alone. Molitia had already prepared herself lightly as she waited before seeing him out.

Then, Raven placed a brief kiss on her forehead.

“I’ll be back.”

“Goodbye.”

“You’ve said so earlier, but still, you should prioritize not to get sick at all. You know that, don’t you?”

“Of course. Don’t you worry and go now.”

Raven began to move after leaving behind his wife, who was waving her hand. For some reason, his feet were trudging heavily towards the Imperial Palace for today.

———————

A strange sensation seemed to linger even when he had arrived in the Imperial City. After he had finished working in the Capital, he simply didn’t feel any sense of relief and even after he had eventually reached the knights’ training camp as well.

“My Lord, you seem to be in a terrible condition today.”

“Lyndon!”

Terrance quickly tried to drive his Lord’s eyes away. However, the unchanging behavior of his Master had even made Terrance heave a deep sigh.

“You need to get rid of your worries.”

“What the hell is even going on?”

“The Duchess says that she’s quite sick.”

“I heard she had the flu.”

Raven’s pensive expression had altered due to Molitia’s condition that was quite a bit from the truth.

“Isn’t that a big deal, then? She was seriously sick last time, too.”

“I mean—I understand that the Duke is worried. I do too…”

But, aren’t you being too worried? Terrance could only gulp down those words into his own mouth. He was still working quite well, but he never knew when an unexpected situation might happen at any time.

The office was completely filled with much pressure. Anyone who was working there would definitely have some kind of intuition.

We’d just have to keep on going in this manner for another day, then!

“Well, My Lord.”

“What is it?”

“I’d like you to sign the papers, sir.”

“Oh, just leave them in front of me. I’ll take care of them soon.”

Raven shook his hand before lowering his head mechanically towards the document. His hands were moving swiftly, but he still felt uneasy as he glanced over the door for every 10 minutes. He didn’t really know when he would be leaving the office early.

Eventually, the people who were in the office had chosen one person to move furtively without Raven’s knowledge. One gesture that had secretly mixed amidst other people’s joy and sorrow.