Married into the enemy family - chapter 9

‘I thought Duke Leofric was exactly like that…’

It was a marriage neither side desired. But they eventually acquiesced. Because, in the end, there was something for each of them to gain.
He didn’t know exactly what Callion intended to gain, but he wouldn’t have accepted this marriage empty-handed. Because he was precisely that ‘Leofric’.
More important than Leofric’s swaying heart, which was like a reed, was resolving the current situation. Ronin opened his mouth.

“Pam, don’t worry. This matter…”

However, an unexpected worry suddenly surfaced, preventing him from finishing his sentence.

‘Alistair… How disappointed will Father be in me this time.’

What would his disappointed father do next? It was difficult to keep his thoughts straight due to the anxiety, but Ronin barely managed to summon his courage.

“I will take responsibility for this matter. Pam, you won’t have to suffer any trouble. So please, calm down…”

Unfortunately, the words he barely managed to speak did not reach Pam.

“Hah! Calm down?”

Ronin Alistair had to be an absolute fool. As if that venomous snake of a Marquis would let this slide generously! And what about the greedy Emperor!
Pam barely held back the urge to spew curses right then and there.

‘Do you know what I went through to get here! I can’t be kicked out this meaninglessly! Think, I need to think of a way to resolve this!’

Like an addict searching for drugs, Pam’s eyes darted around greedily. Anything, as long as there was some way out of this predicament!
Then, something caught Pam’s eye. There was no more time to hesitate. The sun was already beginning to rise in the distance.
Pam picked up a fruit knife resting on the table.
An observant and cultured noble would have recognized that the embossing on the handle of this fruit knife was of Ebonian style, but Pam cared nothing for such things.
Her only interest was how much blood would flow when she stabbed her own thigh with it.

Stab!

“Ugh!”

With an unhesitating motion, blood seeped from Pam’s thigh. She thought she had controlled her strength well, but perhaps she was unlucky, as more blood flowed out than she expected.
Seeing that happen right in front of him, Ronin felt as though he would faint.

‘Blood and wounds…!’

Ronin squeezed his eyes shut. Blood and wounds were the perfect things to assault Ronin’s fragile mental state.
Taking a deep, ragged breath, Ronin barely managed to open his eyes. Regardless, he had to treat the girl.

“Pam! W-What is this…! We, we need to call a doctor right away…”

Ronin fluttered about in a panic, his face paler than parchment. He even stuttered, which was unusual for him. Seeing him in such a state, the resentment Pam had been holding onto finally dissolved.

‘Hmph, serves him right!’

As a commoner, mocking a noble was a deeply delightful thing. It was so delightful that, despite blood dripping from her thigh, a chuckle escaped her lips.
Satisfied, Pam limped closer to the bed. Then, smearing the blood on her thigh with her palm, she rubbed her reddened hands onto the bedsheets. Astonishingly, an adequately satisfactory picture was drawn.

‘It’s a bit lacking, but I think I can somehow cover up the rest! I can just make up an excuse like he finished inside…’

Having completed all that was necessary, Pam washed her hands in the basin beside the bed. Now clean, Pam proceeded to do the final thing she needed to.

“Lord Ronin, listen carefully to what I am about to say.”
“Y-Yes, yes… I’ll listen closely to what you say, so let’s treat you first…”
“I said listen!”

Ronin still hadn’t collected his wits. Seeing someone else bleeding brought back memories of when he had bled himself.
Pam pressed Ronin until he was barely composed enough to converse, then spoke clearly and deliberately.

“I am going to take this as the proof of the first night. What Lord Ronin needs to do is, when Duke Leofric arrives later, ask him to match his story with ours.”
“Proof…”
“Yes! You can’t just die like this, right? Whether you fall to your knees and beg, or wail and plead, it doesn’t matter, so do whatever it takes to make Duke Leofric cooperate!”

At those words, focus returned to Ronin’s sky-blue eyes. Only then did Ronin realize what Pam had done.

‘She fabricated the proof of the first night. By cutting her thigh, she made it look like the blood that comes out when… performing that act.’

Ronin’s gaze moved to Pam’s thigh. More accurately, to a drop of blood trickling down her thigh.
Bright red blood. Life slowly draining away… The ensuing thoughts clouded his mind.

‘No, I need to get a grip.’

Ronin squeezed his eyes shut and opened them again. Fortunately, a little bit of reason returned to him.

‘This is deceiving the Temple.’

As a citizen of the Empire who believed in the gods, it made him deeply uncomfortable. Yet, words like ‘we must not deceive the Temple’ did not leave his lips. Because Ronin, too, wanted to live.

“Yes…! I will do that. I’ll do as you say, Pam, so please, just let me stop the bleeding before you go. You’re still bleeding…”

He was in much better condition than before, but Ronin’s voice was still trembling. Seeing him in such agony meant Pam couldn’t just enjoy the situation indefinitely.

“Well, if it’s just that…”

Pretending to yield, Pam sat on the edge of the bed. Fearing Pam might change her mind, Ronin moved swiftly.
He immediately brought herbs, clean water, and cotton cloth, then knelt before Pam. When the startled Pam flinched, Ronin spoke in a gentle voice.

“It might sting a little. Still, you have to endure it so it doesn’t scar.”

It seemed he genuinely didn’t know why Pam was startled.

‘What a fool.’

No noble kneels to treat a commoner. Furthermore, in a situation like this, it was far more natural for the commoner to kneel before the noble. Most commoners couldn’t afford proper medical treatment anyway.
She had planned to just roughly treat it herself once she returned to her quarters. Having a scar was better than getting kicked out of this mansion.

‘What’s a scar on a commoner wench’s thigh matter anyway. Only a fool like you would care about that.’

Moreover, contrary to his warning, the herbs didn’t sting at all. Medicine is truly fascinating, she thought as the treatment finished quickly.

“I’ve applied a hemostatic herb, but the best thing for it is not to move.”

Ronin smiled as he said that. Looking at a smile so transparent, her face flushed hot for no reason.
Without a word in response, Pam disappeared with the proof. Although he knew Pam, who scurried away with short steps, wouldn’t be able to heed his advice, Ronin’s mood wasn’t so bad. In fact, it was quite good.

‘Still, I was of help…’

The things Ronin, who was raised to be an Omega, could learn were limited. Medicine was one of them, but unfortunately, he had never had the opportunity to use it until now.
Not only was it far better to be treated by the Alistair family’s physician than by Ronin’s amateur skills, but they had strictly forbidden Ronin, the future Empress, from performing such trivial tasks.
While cleaning up the rest of the mess, Ronin happened to glance at the mirror in the room. There, a Beta with flushed cheeks was staring blankly back at him.
Only after seeing his own elated face did Ronin snap back to reality.

‘Get a grip. This is nothing to be happy about…’

What on earth had he done? Not only had he caused a young maid to wound herself, but to be happy about it.

‘And that wound happened because of me. …I pray it doesn’t leave a scar.’

One worry bred another worry.

‘Will Pam be okay? Was the proof delivered to the Temple on time? How will Father react when he finds out? Why on earth did Leofric change his mind at the very last moment? As expected, could he just not bring himself to marry a half-wit like me?’

Lost in such thoughts, he lost track of how much time had passed. Judging by the sun visible through the partially open curtains, he could only guess a considerable amount of time had gone by.
Just then, he heard the sound of the door opening from outside. From the sound alone, Ronin guessed who the visitor was.

Click—

As expected. The one who opened the door to the bedroom where Ronin stayed and entered was none other than…

“You have arrived, Lord Leofric.”

It was Callion.