STVWDTD Chapter 14

The Proposal Was Stolen

"Robert."

"Yes. You called?"

An old man with white hair, dressed in an impeccable tailcoat, placed his white-gloved hand over his chest and bowed to Felice.

"Report on the rat list. And make sure everyone keeps their mouths shut about Sister-in-law. Especially your grandson."

The attendant who'd first learned Diana was a Beatus lady was this old man's grandson.

Almost caused a disaster with his loose tongue again. The old man swallowed a sigh internally. He must have lost to that curiosity again and asked questions.

"Don't worry. I'll make sure everyone's silent."

"Filter them out. Maids, attendants—doesn't matter. Brother's calm now, but his mood's foul. Don't know when he'll draw his sword."

Worrying about his brother again. But the old man's assumption was beautifully wrong.

"What if Sister-in-law hates the smell of blood?"

That cool face with that soft smile—it was chilling.

Felice, who'd always maintained a smiling face, now chose his smiles selectively. He had more and more days without expression, like his brother.

"Oh, and call the jeweler and the tailor. Brother's not in the mental state to think about these things. Prepare everything perfectly so Sister-in-law won't be uncomfortable whenever she wakes."

"Understood."

Watching the future head of the family walk away, the old man removed his glasses and polished them, suppressing his exhaustion.

What on earth had happened to these brothers? Both of them had changed.

From the moment Rodrick stepped out of the carriage, everyone in Schwartz Castle could only be shocked.

Setting aside the identity of the woman he held so preciously in his arms—that Rodrick Schwartz had returned with a woman.

Having abandoned his subordinates somewhere, Rodrick had the best guest room prepared and locked himself in with the woman.

Rodrick dismissed the maids and servants and personally nursed the woman. Rumors spread in an instant.

The man who'd been half-mad with slaughter was now clinging to a woman.

His behavior was even more unbelievable.

Many didn't believe it even seeing it, so those who'd only heard the rumors couldn't resist their curiosity and lurked around the guest room.

'It is time for a purge.'

Squeak— The old man polished the lenses until they squeaked, then put his glasses back on and moved to do his job, expression hardened.

"Why won't she wake up?"

His voice carried a nervous edge. Noel responded sulkily.

"She will wake up."

Noel was sprawled on one side of the enormous bed where Diana lay, holding her hand tightly.

"Her recovery's slow. She absorbed too much curse—she needs stabilization."

"You said you could see mana too."

The red eyes fixed on Diana's face turned toward Rodrick.

Rodrick's gaze was also fixed on Diana.

Don't wanna tell him. Small lips pouted.

There'd been no choice from the start—Diana had to absorb his curse. But he didn't like it.

Somehow, being around this man felt like Diana would get hurt more. He had that premonition.

"Too much medicine becomes poison."

Feeling irritated for no reason, Noel deflected.

"Curses based on mana are just lumps of mana to begin with. Normal people can't hold more than a certain amount of mana. That's why you go mad too, mister."

"..."

He stared at Diana with eyes that revealed nothing of his thoughts.

Noel puffed his cheeks out and turned his head away with a hmph.

Not gonna tell him Sis is wandering in dreams. Or that she'll be back soon.

The spiteful child didn't last long before Felice grabbed him and hauled him out, telling him not to disturb the two.

Resistance was useless.

When she opened her eyes, what she feared most was always pain.

Thinking about the agony up until the moment of death—she could only thrash around, shuddering with revulsion.

Everything around her had crumbled and been swallowed by darkness, and all she could think was that she had to wake up now.

Please let there be no pain this time. She closed her eyes in the dream.

When she woke, instead of pain, what flooded in was a scent so soft and refreshing it was captivating.

The familiar fragrance at the tip of her nose—her eyelids trembled and pink eyes were revealed beneath them.

Morning.

The room where sunlight streamed was plunged into soft darkness by tightly drawn curtains.

Huh. What's this?

Blocked by a thick wall, Diana frowned. Groping and fumbling at something solid, her hand was caught by a larger one.

"First thing you do when you wake up is grope me?"

Her blurry vision corrected itself. Diana blinked slowly.

Sharp jawline, sculpted features—her dazed mind snapped into focus.

"Rodrick?"

"Yeah. Thought I was some other guy?"

Not a particularly funny joke. She didn't have the mental capacity to respond. She let out an exclamation between her slightly parted lips.

What. What is this glorious sight I wake up to?

His entire upper body was flesh-colored scenery. Large, solid build. A magnificently trained, muscular body filled her vision to bursting.

"Done looking?"

An intensely piercing gaze stabbed into her face. Mm, stared too much?

She awkwardly turned her eyes away and nodded. Then she took stock of her current situation.

On the bed. A half-naked man. She wore only a nightgown dress so thin it was practically transparent. And she was pressed so close to him she was practically in his arms.

"Did we sleep together?"

"We only slept? We did more than that."

"What do you— ngh."

Diana tried to sit up. Screamed internally at the aching pain throughout her entire body.

"Careful."

Rodrick lifted her up with practiced ease, then propped high pillows behind her back.

The naturalness of it—Diana didn't find it strange.

"Why do I hurt so much?"

I hate hurting. At her muttered words, Rodrick's expression hardened.

Come to think of it, his face looked haggard somehow.

What. Curse aftereffects? But I should've absorbed it all.

She reached out and touched his gaunt cheek.

"Were you hurting too?"

"..."

His eyes rippled darkly—whatever he was thinking. He didn't answer. Instead, he answered her other question.

"You slept for over ten days straight. Your body probably stiffened up."

Ten days. The vague number felt unreal.

"What?!"

What does that even mean? I'm sure I woke up right after the nosebleed and fainting.

When she tried to pull her hand away in shock, Rodrick quickly caught it.

"Rodrick?"

Warm. The voice she barely caught sounded relieved.

Diana, thinking nothing of it as usual, turned her eyes from Rodrick and surveyed the room.

Plush bed. Luxurious interior—all unfamiliar and new.

"Where is this?"

"The North. Schwartz Castle."

Wow, when did we even get here. Moving around while I slept—comfortable, at least. My body feels clean, so they must've bathed me. The clothes are new too.

Having roughly figured things out, Diana asked the biggest question.

"But why are we both naked? In the same bed?"

Rodrick, who'd been fiddling with her fingers, answered without blinking.

"Aren't we that kind of relationship? Us."

His low voice lingered densely at her ear. Goosebumps.

Pink eyes couldn't look at blue ones and rolled aside.

"What... kind of relationship were we again?"

"You know perfectly well."

Searching for an answer, her eyes rolled around before she barely squeezed out a response.

"Um, life-and-death stakes relationship?"

Why did his attitude change so much? But his behavior's gentle, so that's good, right?

Ah! Is this the moment? Proposal timing.

If she was going to stay here anyway, she needed justification.

"Um, Rodrick."

"Diana."

"..."

At her own name from Rodrick's mouth, Diana's breath caught short.

"...Did you just... call my name?"

Her pink eyes flew wide open. She looked like a rabbit surprised by an unexpected carrot.

He smiled faintly. What's the big deal about calling your name.

"You said you can only survive by staying in contact with me. Right?"

The atmosphere loosened mysteriously, his lips curving lazily—that smile was practically violent.

Diana, staring at Rodrick's face as if enchanted, could only answer half a beat late.

"R-right?"

"And you can remove my curse."

"Yes."

"Then we'll have to stay stuck together."

Diana listened quietly to the conclusion Rodrick reached. Her face bloomed.

Finally, you understand! You live, I live. Let's survive together, extras who die in the original story.

"That's right, Rodrick! So about that, we should—"

"Should we get engaged?"

Diana froze, still wearing her moved expression.

Uh... the proposal was stolen.

"We'll think about marriage after the engagement. If your illness is cured and you still haven't changed your mind."

"Why, why are you like this? Who are you?"

"What?"

"You're not the Rodrick I knew! The Rodrick I knew said 'no' like he ate bread for breakfast—a man with principles! Who are you?! Who possessed my cure?!"

She wanted to grab him by the collar and shake him, but there was nothing to grab on bare skin.

"Hah, my lady."

Ah. In an instant, Rodrick shifted and climbed over Diana's body. Trapped between his solid forearms, Diana's face lay beneath Rodrick's.

"You prefer rough treatment?"

"Wh... what?"

He lowered his head. Bonk—forehead met forehead.

"No fever."

Come to think of it, the body that had been screaming in pain didn't hurt anymore. As expected, my cure.

"Guess it doesn't hurt when I'm stuck to you."

She smiled prettily, beaming.

"..."

He was silent for a long moment. Unable to bear the awkwardness, she brought up something else.

"You didn't contact my family, did you?"

"Before contacting them, I looked into it—apparently you're supposed to be at the capital residence."

Ah. Rodrick's words confirmed it. If they still thought she was in the capital, then the people who'd kidnapped and imprisoned her were definitely from her own family.

The mage who'd dropped Rodrick in the water also had red eyes—the Beatus family trait.

Can't go back right away. She'd have to stay here and watch the situation develop.

"Your brother is still listed as missing."

"We can stay here longer, right?"

Rodrick, who'd been looking down at her silently, took her hand with his ungloved one and lifted it.

He raised her hand and pressed a deep kiss to her palm.

"Where would you go, leaving me behind?"

He tilted his head slightly and smiled.

That strangely suggestive smile—she felt like her soul might leave her body.