C68
Bianca was lying on the bed, sweating profusely. Her sweat-soaked hair was spread over her round white forehead.
Yvonne dampened the white linen with water and continued to wipe Bianca's sweat. Seeing Bianca in pain, Yvonne groaned in pain.
Bianca's pale green eyes fluttered under slightly closed lids. At the end of her gaze, Zachary appeared.
Since when is he standing there?
Standing in the corner, looking at her with an unfamiliar expression, he was like a god of death. A shadow fell across his black eyes, like the eyes of a reaper.
The corners of Bianca's lips lifted slightly and her lips parted. Her lips, which used to look soft and smooth, were rough and chapped.
“…We have to call the tailor.
— Call him when you feel better. I'll buy you anything you want.
Bianca's voice was weak, like a lamp about to go out. Zachary, who wondered how hard it would be to get a word out, added hastily.
Sure enough, Bianca could only get a few words out before she began to cough.
Yvonne, who had stayed behind so as not to interrupt the conversation between Bianca and Zachary, came over embarrassed. But Zachary went ahead first. When he arrived, Zachary, who was standing in the corner, took the handkerchief from Yvonne's hands and walked over to Bianca.
Zachary's rough hand could be felt through the soft silk scarf. A steady hand that was as careful as if he were holding an egg, but didn't move, as if he had hardened.
Bianca felt overwhelmed by the touch but had no energy to push it away.
How many times have you coughed? Bianca, who had just stopped coughing, looked exhausted and blinked at Zachary with a pale smile.
"Not mine, but the Count's."
—……..
Zachary's face twitched. The deep piercing eyes beneath his furrowed brows burned with anger. Zachary was angry. He was angry with himself and not with anyone else.
How poorly did she dress that Bianca would worry even while she was sick?
Until now, she hadn't cared much about her appearance, so she kept wearing what Vincent ordered, but that seems to have been a mistake.
Perhaps it was because of his attire that Bianca frowned and looked away whenever she met him?
Zachary was well versed in warfare, there was no one who could beat him and he mastered all kinds of weapons and tactics.
He had a keen eye for the territory's tax rate and understood farm work to some extent, so there were few complaints from residents.
But that was it.
What Zachary was good at was only the things of his world, but in the things of Bianca's world, he was blind.
If it hadn't been for Vincent's help, she wouldn't have been able to accomplish so much, but finding out that even Vincent was no match for Bianca, it felt like a stone had hit her chest.
It was just her mistake to think that he had tried to give her everything she wanted until now...
As Zachary reflected on his anger at himself, Bianca mistakenly thought that Zachary was angry with her.
But he couldn't understand why. She doesn't know much about Zachary, but he does know that he's not the type to get mad at a sick woman.
Is putting on new clothes so cumbersome that she can't hide her discomfort? Bianca shrugged and said cautiously.
“It can be cumbersome to put on new clothes, but…. You should have some decent clothes.
-I am not upset. I'm sorry I made you worry about it while you're sick. Don't worry about my clothes.
It was a harsh but sincere response. Finding out that he wasn't mad at her, Bianca let out a long sigh of relief.
It was very exhausting. Even more so because she is sick. Her head feels fuzzy, so she can't think quickly…. Maybe it was her hallucination of seeing Zachary angry.
However, Zachary's lack of tact didn't even give Bianca time to take a breath. Zachary sighed slowly and dropped a bomb on Bianca.
'In a few days, Blanchefort will also arrive in the capital. I hope you get better before then.
—Ah…
Zachary must have been very careful with his words, but from Bianca's point of view, it was as if he had received a blow to the back of the head.
Since the Blanchefort family is also prestigious, of course they will participate in big events like the royal wedding. Why didn't you think of that?
Seeing Bianca's dazed look, Zachary asked worriedly.
-Why?
-Nope. I never thought we'd meet.
Zachary didn't understand what caused Bianca's sour murmur. Naturally, he thought that he would be happy to meet her father, so why did he react like that?
“Is it because you are afraid that I am against it? If that's possible. After all, she is a ruthless husband who never took her to her parents' house in over ten years…”
Zachary had every reason to make excuses, but it was almost useless to Bianca, who had been away from her family for ten years. Zachary bowed his head to Bianca, as if she was apologizing for her sins.
“They are your family. Of course they can be found. Ten years have passed since you came to Arno. I'm sorry I didn't take you earlier, but how can I keep you from seeing your father?
-Nerd. Is not for you….
Bianca waved her hand in embarrassment at the sight of the
Zachary's broad shoulders shrugged in front of her. However, her forearm, which didn't have enough strength, collapsed on the bed as soon as he waved his hand a couple of times. He was out of breath because he had no energy.
"Even Count Blanchefort will want to see you."
"...is that so?"
-Of course.
"I don't have that confidence.
Bianca didn't seem happy even though she would be seeing her family for the first time in 10 years. Rather, there was only a noticeable feeling of rejection.
What makes Bianca, who wasn't kicked out by her brother like Zachary and left home at the age of seven, so reluctant to be reunited with her family?
Zachary, not understanding, raised the questions he felt in his mouth.
"Don't you want to see your father?"
-Nope. It's not that.
Zachary's question was too direct. It would be nice if he could always say something like that. Bianca laughed bitterly.
He hasn't seen his father for about ten years, and if you add up the years of his return, it would be a total of thirty years. What she felt for his father was something that could not be clearly defined.
Longing, affection, discomfort….
And the memory of being kicked out.
As she married Zachary and left the Blanchefort mansion, the words her father had strongly urged Bianca to hear echoed in her ears.
Those unforgettable words. The reason why Bianca, who was young, wanted to go back to the Blanchefort but she never did. Why the only letter she received was her family's obituary. The reason why she came back and she never visited her family….
“Now you are Arno. Don't even dream of going back to Blanchefort! I'll kick you out if you come home!
The stern cry rang in his ears. The choking sensation in her throat choked her at the thought of the voice that seemed to be pulling her out of the Blanchefort mansion.
Bianca smiled awkwardly and tilted her head at an angle. The tips of her white fingers caressed the back of her other hand for no reason.
-Single…. I don't know if she will be happy.
Bianca's confident face, which always kept her chin and neck erect, was pale and tired. Zachary knew it wasn't just because she wasn't feeling well.
Zachary's face twitched. His black eyes looked at Bianca, stained with pain. Zachary's own image was superimposed on top of his figure. Sixteen-year-old Zachary was abandoned by his older brother after his father's death.
Count Blanchefort was not a bad person. He was quite strict and insensitive, and although he had a pushy side as a noble, he was far from exploitative. He was a trustworthy lord to the local people and a loyal vassal of the royal family of Sevran.
His evaluation was not generous due to the fact that he was his father-in-law.
He was really loyal to Sevran. To the extent that he sacrificed his seven-year-old daughter to solidify the power of the 1st Prince, who had a solid reputation.
However, just because he was a good earl doesn't mean he was a good father. If he had been a good father, Bianca might not have reacted like this. Zachary was convinced.
Up close, she could even see Bianca's eyelashes twitching. The pitiful appearance set Zachary's insides on fire. And he firmly he said.
"If you don't want to, you don't have to meet."
-Even so.
"If you don't want to, you don't have to do anything.
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