Chapter 32

Larissa needs a psychiatrist.

I could treat her like my niece, but I don’t even know what else I can do for her.

I really need the advice of a psychiatrist.

Fabian loosened his clenched fists, then tapped the table a few times with his finger.

“I don’t know if there is such a doctor. A doctor who treats heart wounds, I’ve never heard of it.”

Ah…… As expected, the medical science of this world was not developed enough.

– Maybe a witch rather than a doctor……?

Fabian looked into the air as if thinking about something and murmured.

No, his mouth did not move.

It was his inner voice. But he looked like he felt a deep sense of disgust as he thought about it.

My heart was pounding.

A witch? A witch rather than a doctor?

“If it is such a doctor, I’ll look for him first. Until then, I will appoint the doctor of the Laurent family.”

He said in a business tone. He didn’t even let out the word ‘witch’ that he had previously thought of.

‘Come to think of it, it was said that his mother who died early was a witch.’

Perhaps he knew something about a witch.

But what made his life difficult is also the witch’s bloodline.

‘I shouldn’t ask.’

I swallowed back the excitement that rose to my throat.

It was self-evident that he did not think positively about witchcraft.

So, at this point, there was no point in poking out his wounds.

‘More than anything else, I can’t talk about what he thinks but he doesn’t say.’

It is an unwritten rule that Marcia has kept until now.

‘When we get to know each other a little later, shall we talk a little bit?’

But will such a day ever come……?

I sighed lightly and said, “It has to be someone with a heavy mouth.”

“Mr. Bellman is a trustworthy person.”

It’s just not enough to be a trustworthy person.

Even if Larissa showed tears during the treatment, he had to be someone who would keep it a secret.

“Can you swear?”

When I asked to confirm, he kept silent.

Then he looked at me as if to guess something.

As he tilted his head slightly, the sunlight from the window shone in his eyes.

He said in a low voice, “What are you hiding?”

I thought I would stop breathing for a moment.

“What? Why do I have to hide something?”

I answered as calmly as possible, not even moving.

Was it obvious that I was hiding something?

I didn’t reply too quickly, did I?

Should I laugh? If I laugh, will it seem like I’m not hiding anything?

‘No, that would be even more awkward……’

Fabian stared at me and then sighed.

“Don’t be so nervous. I’m not interrogating you.”

Nervous? ……did I get nervous?

Realizing that his shoulders were full of strength, he exhaled and stretched his arms.

He rubbed his temple with one hand. Then he ruffled his black hair.

His eyes still had a business-like light.

Fabian tidied up the scattered documents on the table and stood up.

“Let’s go to the next room. This room is not suitable for talking with a lady.”

My title went one step further from wife to lady.

As if to prove that, he politely escorted me to the next room.

It’s the perfect manner to treat a lady you meet for the first time in a social world.

The connected room was a small drawing-room.

He seated me on a comfy chair and then called the maid to bring tea and refreshments.

After creating a comfortable atmosphere, he said overbearingly, “Now, tell me.”

“Tell what?”

I have nothing to hide except for one thing.

One thing that will never come out of my mouth.

What should I do? I have no choice but to pretend I have nothing to hide.

Fabian laughed, raising one corner of his mouth. His mouth smiled, but his eyes were cold.

‘You’re not laughing at me right now, are you?’

“You don’t have to say it, but I do need to point out one thing.”

“What is it?”

“I’m guessing about Miss Larissa’s secret.”

“……”

I managed not to drop the teacup.

I had to buy time to answer.

I took a sip of the tea as casually as I could and carefully put it down.

But before I could say anything, Fabian spoke quietly, “Abuse, right?”

Oh.

I was secretly relieved.

Of course, abuse is a very serious matter, and it’s better to keep it a secret, but it’s not as bad as a fairy’s tears.

‘Did you hear this from the doctor who took care of Larissa?’

After all, a young child had bruises all over her body, there was no way he could not talk to his master.

“That’s why I want someone with a heavy mouth.”

As I spoke carefully, Fabian shook his head.

“The doctor didn’t tell me, I knew from the first time I saw her.”

……from the first time?

“A father who lies when he opens his mouth and daughters who run away from him. The younger sister was shaking so badly that she couldn’t even speak a word, and the first thing the older sister did as soon as she had a place to rest was to get medicine for trauma treatment.”

Was it something that could be summarized in a few words so easily?

‘It was a runaway that risked our lives in our own way.’

I felt frustrated.

I got thirsty and reached for the teacup again.

Fabian continued, casting a deep shadow between his eyebrows.

“I’m not asking you to believe me. If it’s a secret you don’t want to tell, you can keep it. But……”

He looked straight at me.

“It’s helpful to be open about things you can’t handle on your own.”

“……”

“I’m the kind of person who can provide practical help.”

I looked at his face again and again.

He had a beautiful face that would make people go crazy.

White skin contrasting with black hair, eyes of a beautiful color somewhere inhuman.

A jawline that looks like a sculpture of masculinity and a broad and firm shoulder.

‘Since when did beauty equal persuasion?’

When Fabian looked at me with serious eyes, it made me want to trust him and tell him everything.

In the end, I asked as if possessed, “Are you saying that if it’s practical help, you’ll do more than just provide a doctor?”

“You are now my wife. I will do the duties of a husband.”

“……”

“A husband should be ready to do anything for his wife.”

Whoa, why is this guy like this?

I forgot to drink tea for a moment and swallowed dry saliva.

It was a very romantic line, but there was no affection on his face.

Unsurprisingly, the words that came out of his mouth in the next moment were extremely businesslike, “You must not have forgotten our contract.”

“……ah.”

A contract to remain married to Fabian for at least one year.

I nodded.

“I am trying to make sure that there is no threat to your life during the contract period.”

Haha. What? Well, that’s true. I was nervous for no reason.

So when Fabian said he would do anything for his wife, he meant that he would do anything to keep me alive for the next year.

That way, his status will be guaranteed.

‘I was almost swayed by a single word by him.’

Then I felt much more at ease.

He simply said the solution, “I will deal with those who abused Miss Larissa.”

“……!”

It was a very tempting offer.

Doesn’t that mean that Larissa no longer needs to be afraid of Igor and Villain?

It was enough to imprison the two of them, or at least prevent them from coming to the Laurent estate.

Then I won’t have to wait until the next three years, right?

I got a little excited and asked, “How do you deal with it?”

He leaned back and crossed his legs.

His right leg, which rested on his left knee, stretched out in a long diagonal line.

“I can clean it up without any fuss. I won’t make it as sloppy as someone else did on the day of the funeral.”

It had been a few days since he was shot, and he calmly spoke as if it were someone else’s business.

It was a very confident attitude.

‘But why suddenly bring up the attempted murder case at the funeral back then?’

My heart froze in an instant and fell to the bottom of the cliff.

No way……

“What do you……”

“It’s an assassination.”

Oh my God. No! You can’t!

Of course, personally, I want to agree immediately.

Someone who torments a young child like that, by my standards, deserves the death penalty.

But even if they are sentenced to death, they have to face it in a public trial, and I shouldn’t let people’s lives be dictated by my personal thoughts.

Besides, there was another scary thing.

‘If you’re going to send an assassin to the family that abused Larissa, won’t that assassin come to me as well?’