Chapter 148

How to Tame My Beastly Husband — Chapter 148. New Butler (1)

Raphael didn’t remember much after that. Annette started humming as she stroked his hair, her voice as soothing as birdsong. He wanted to listen more, but he felt strangely heavy, and soon he collapsed.

His eyes closed. He could feel his consciousness sinking into some deep place, and lay asleep, heavy as a stone.

Noon the next day.

What the fuck?!

He couldn’t believe he had fallen asleep like that. Without knowing Annette’s magic, Raphael could only hate himself for being so weak. By the time he woke at noon, Annette was nowhere to be seen, and he bolted out of the room without even buttoning up his shirt, grabbing the first maid he saw.

“Where is Annette?” He demanded. “Where is she now?”

“Her Ladyship went out, my lord,” the maid replied, her voice trembling. Raphael was not an especially demanding master, but it was intimidating when he shouted in her face like that.

Of course, the fact that his face was beautiful was liable to give her a heart attack for another reason. Frightening. Frightening all around.

“When did she leave? Did she say where she was going?”

“I-I’m sorry, my lord, I don’t know…”

At her reply, Raphael rubbed his forehead, silent.

Remembering what Annette had said last night made him bite his lower lip with frustration, and then was surprised at the tang of blood in his mouth. His own behavior shocked him. Why was he so panicked now? Was he afraid at the thought that she might leave him?

He covered his face with his hands.

He had finally heard her secret thoughts, and he didn’t understand them at all.

That was driving him absolutely crazy. He wanted to track her down at once, and ask her what she had meant. He wanted to know if she really wanted to leave him. But he knew better than anyone that he had no right to do so. He was the one that had held her at arm’s length from the beginning.

Now he was paying the price for his stupid, stubborn pride. Caught in a prison of his own making. Raphael headed for his room. He couldn’t stay home like this, pacing like a dog waiting anxiously for its master.

My family hates her? Why would she say something like that?

His family consisted of only two people: King Selgratis, and his uncle, who Raphael wouldn’t even have called his family. So Annette must have meant the king.

But he couldn’t imagine why. She hadn’t even seen the King since she and Raphael were married, and there had never been any argument between them. As far as Raphael knew, their relationship until now had been quite good. Otherwise, King Selgratis would not have insisted on the wedding in the first place.

Frowning, Raphael buttoned up his shirt. Fortunately, there was someone else he could turn to at a time like this. Hamilton, who had been a member of the King’s secret service. If anyone knew anything about it, he would.

* * *

“Miss…I mean, Marchioness, here are more scones! Would you like some pudding?”

“Or a piece of cake? We have just contracted a new fruit supplier, who has some very sweet green grapes. They taste delicious with cream.”

Annette hadn’t seen the maids in her father’s house for a while, but they were being very friendly. Maybe it was just that it was the first time she had come home since she had been married. Maybe they thought she had missed the cuisine. Having eaten a very filling breakfast, Annette broke into a sweat as the desserts piled up in front of her.

“Thank you all,” she said. “I suppose my father must be very busy. It doesn’t seem as if he’s going to come down.”

“The butler informed him before you arrived, my lady, but we don’t know what happened otherwise. I’m very sorry.”

Annette remembered the unfamiliar face she had seen in the grand entry of the house. Gerard, the old butler, had returned to his hometown. They must have hired a new one. Ronald, a tall and modest-looking man with brown hair. A man of classic tastes, the sort of employee Bavaria preferred.

She wondered what her father had said when Ronald reported her imminent visit.

“It’s all right. I’ll wait a little longer.”

It was so predictable, she smiled bitterly. But then, she had never expected it to be easy to win her father’s time.

Allamand made her wait another three hours.

But then, it wasn’t as if she could leave.