When I woke up, my body, previously sore and battered, had been healed by the palace healer's magic. The maids around my bed attended to their duties with a detached efficiency, not even bothering to inquire about how I was feeling.
They wiped away my sweat as I lay in a state of shock. The abuse from the king had left me reeling, and the emotional turmoil from Livine's past—the hurt, the trauma—made me feverish and drenched in sweat.
Despite my state, I knew I had to pull myself together. I removed the cloth from my forehead and said, "Get out." The maids blinked at me in confusion. I repeated, louder this time, "I'm fine now, so please leave."
They hurriedly bowed and exited the room, leaving me alone in the silence. Clutching my head, I got off the bed and began pacing. "I need to think about this." I muttered, frustration simmering as I walked.
If I were truly stranded in this novel, what role did Livine play? The real Livine was merely an extra, a character with little significance. But what about me?
Then, a thought struck me. "To save Carden? The male lead?" I blinked and returned to the bed, rolling over in disbelief. "But that's impossible!" I grunted in frustration.
"How am I supposed to change the plot? How? Become his wife? Will that even help?" As I spoke aloud, the idea seemed to gain traction. Perhaps my unexpected marriage to Carden had a purpose. It seemed unlikely; he was still devoted to Rose. What if it went wrong? What if Carden turned on me before the wedding?
As I drowned in my confusion, the sound of my balcony door creaking open jolted me back to reality. I hesitated before walking over to investigate. When I opened the door, the warm sunlight greeted me, and the vast view stretched out before my eyes. But there was no one there.
"Huh?" I gasped as my foot brushed against something on the ground. Looking down, I saw a rolled-up letter lying there. Blinking in confusion, I picked it up. My curiosity got the better of me, despite the nagging fear that it could be a threat or, worse, a death warrant.
I unrolled the letter, my heart pounding.
It's me, your future husband. I heard you were ill, and I wonder, how could you fall sick right after I vowed to take you as my wife? So please, Princess, spare me the worry and take care of yourself.
My jaw dropped.
.・..・゜✭・.・✫・゜・..
A Moment Earlier…
Early that morning, Carden had faced the king in the throne room. Tension filled the air, and his men stood nearby, rigid and alert. The king's gaze was sharp, mocking, as it rested on Carden.
"So, Lord Carden, since you will be marrying the princess, I will grant you the title of duke, but only after the marriage," the king announced, laughing at his own words.
Carden didn't flinch. His eyes remained downcast, his expression unreadable, though his restraint was palpable.
"I appreciate the offer, Your Majesty," he replied, his voice firm and steady. "But I refuse to become a duke of this kingdom."
The king's eyes narrowed in scrutiny. He huffed and leaned back against his throne, both annoyed and oddly pleased. "And what is your reason for rejecting this honor, Lord Carden? You will marry the princess; it's only right that you should have the title."
Carden's body tensed, his fists clenched until his knuckles turned white. As if I'd let you control me, he thought, but he kept his composure.
"I would rather keep my title as Lord of Ugreum as it is. My marriage to the princess will not affect my current title, nor will it elevate me to nobility." Carden stated calmly.
The king scoffed. "How modest," he sneered, then smirked. "I wonder what the princess will think when she hears her future husband refused a dukedom? She might believe her life will be far from opulent. However..." The king's expression darkened, his eyes turning cold. "Too bad the princess is sick and can't join us in this."
A fine line formed on Carden's forehead. How could the princess, who had seemed perfectly healthy just the night before, suddenly fall ill in less than 24 hours? He suppressed his confusion and surprise, maintaining his stoic demeanor.
After being dismissed from the throne room, Carden walked down the hallway alongside some of his men and Gilbert.
He stopped suddenly, glancing toward the palace wing where the princess resided. "Do you have pen and paper?" he asked.
Gilbert and the other men panicked slightly, fumbling with their clothes. "No, Commander, we're knights. We carry swords, not pens or paper." Gilbert replied nervously.
Carden huffed. "I know," He then continued walking. "But bring me some. I need to write something."
After returning to his room and retrieving the pen and paper, Carden quickly scrawled a note and rolled it up. Donning a cloak, he slipped out of his quarters and made his way to the princess's residence. The day was still bright, and he doubted the efficacy of his actions, but he was determined to proceed.
He scaled the side of Livine's balcony, peering through the gap in the curtain to see her figure. For a moment, he paused, observing her movements.
I expected her to be bedridden, but she's rolling around like a pangolin, he thought with a scoff. He pushed the door open slightly to attract her attention and dropped the letter before quickly descending as silently as he had climbed, positioning himself behind a nearby tree. Years of training as a knight and his past as a street thief had honed his stealth.
Carden exhaled softly as he watched Livine emerge and pick up the letter. She seemed surprised, and he bit back a chuckle at her reaction.
"So, she's not seriously ill," he muttered, glancing at the grass below. "What am I doing?"
He questioned the need to check on her in this manner. As he watched her read the letter and then retreat back inside, he felt a pang of introspection. With a sigh, he turned away and walked off, his thoughts lingering on the unexpected turn of events.