The Duke’s Substitute Bride is a Maid - Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Calming Herbs

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

At night, Irene was reading a book in her room when the door was suddenly slammed open. The strong smell of alcohol spread throughout the room.

Irene was startled and saw who it was. She flipped the book upside down on the table. Seeing that Ronald was about to fall to the ground, Irene quickly rushed forward to help him up.

Ronald was tall and burly, making Irene stumble as she helped him to the bed.

Irene loosened her grip and Ronald fell into the blanket. Irene had no choice but to pull him up, as she supported him with one hand and took off his coat with the other. “No, don’t sleep yet. You haven’t taken off your clothes.” Her grumbles were colored by a flirtatious, sweet tone that Irene herself did not notice.

Ronald seemed to have heard her words and sat down obediently, allowing Irene to change his clothes for him.

By the time she helped Ronald change into his pajamas, Irene was already drenched in sweat. Just as she was about to fall asleep, she looked at the red-faced man who reeked of alcohol. This man couldn’t be thinking of having intimate relations with her in a drunken stupor, could he?

Irene ran to the kitchen and took out the calming soup that she had prepared earlier. The black soup reflected her face. Her previous caution was gone, replaced by calmness.

Irene woke Ronald up in a low voice. “Ronald? Ronald?”

Ronald could not stand the noise in his ears. He slowly opened his eyes and saw Irene, who looked calm under the light of the bedside lamp. It was a stark contrast to last night, when she was flustered like a deer. Ronald felt his throat tighten, so he leaned over and tried to kiss her.

Irene was quick-witted. She quickly fed the soup to Ronald before he could do anything. How did he get addicted to taking advantage of her? “Drink some hangover soup before you sleep. Tell me, why did you drink so much alcohol? Drinking is bad for your health. Don’t drink like that again.”

Why did this woman talk so much? Just like, just like his mother. When he was injured when he was young, she would nag him continuously. This woman must have been sent by his mother to continue to discipline him. Since she was sent by his mother, he should treat her better. Ronald drank the calming soup one mouthful at a time. Coupled with the effect of alcohol, he finally lost the battle and fell asleep.

Irene was finally relieved. She put the empty bowl on the bed and went out to the bathroom to wash off the sticky sweat. When she came back, she carefully climbed onto the bed from the other side, afraid that she might wake up the devil.

The sun shone into the room. When Ronald opened his eyes, he saw the woman in his arms. Two nights ago, she was trembling like a rabbit seeing an eagle. Today, she crawled into his arms. He lowered his head to kiss her hair. He had fought for many years, so for the first time, he realized that living life quietly was not a bad idea either. That was, if the woman beside him was her.

Ronald trailed his kisses from her hair to her forehead, nose bridge, and to her lips with the utmost tenderness.

Irene cleaned up until midnight last night and was woken up by Ronald. Ever since she came to Croce, this was her first good sleep. She was woken up like this and could not sleep. She did not want to wake up and just stayed in bed, not wanting to move.

Ronald looked at her. The intermittent memories of last night gradually returned to his mind. He drank too much last night in the army, and then she fed herself some hangover soup. She also nagged and said a lot of things. Ronald’s voice was hoarse as he said, “I’m sorry, I drank too much last night.”

Did he apologize to her? Irene didn’t understand what was there to apologize about. Wasn’t it a wife’s duty to take care of her husband?

Wait, what was she thinking? ‘Irene! Wake Up! The one lying next to you is a murderous demon! What you need to do is run away, not accept your relationship to him as wife and husband!’

Irene looked up at Ronald. “If you really want to apologize, then make it up to me.”

This was the first time in his adult life that someone had made a request of him. Ronald raised his eyebrows and looked very interested. “Then tell me what you want me to do.”

Irene pointed out of the window. “It’s not often that the weather is so good. I want to go out and play.”

“That’s it?” Shouldn’t the compensation be jewelry and accessories? Why did his wife make such a request? It was so…

Irene couldn’t understand Ronald’s expression. Could it be that he wanted a caged bird? Did he want to lock her in a cage and forbid her from going out? She asked nervously, “Can’t I?”

Ronald sat up. “Then let’s go.” He looked down and saw Irene not moving. He bent down again and pressed himself onto her. “Why aren’t you moving, Madam? Is it because you don’t want to? If that’s the case, then let’s do something else.” As he said that, he lowered his head and went to kiss Irene’s red lips.

Only then did Irene realize that he had agreed. She pushed him away forcefully and ran into the cloakroom in a panic. “I’ll change my clothes now!”

Ronald looked at the empty space on the other pillow and smiled. It looked like he had really married a rabbit.