Angelus Carduus

Chapter 24: Say My Name Again

Valeria blocked out Coyedian's voice and turned to Aelius, "Duke,"

He lifted his head up, his hands stopping mid-way, "Yes wife?"

She paused a bit as she wondered how to ask him. She shot a look at the servants and they immediately dismissed themselves, leaving only two of them.

'I'll ask him nicely.'

"Why are you acting like this?"

'Wait that wasn't how it should go.'

Aelius looked around, his eyes never falling on her, "I thought I should be a better husband."

"Better husband?"

He nodded and placed his utensils down, eventually looking at her, "I haven't been a good husband so I have read up on how to be better."

His answer was firm and serious, his eyes weren't showing that it was a joke and that it was all true. Valeria cleared her throat, ignoring the warm feeling in her chest.

"You don't need to go that far. You have been a good husband this whole time." Valeria replied back.

She noticed how his eyes had a small shimmer in them after she spoke.

"Really?"

"Yes, in fact I think it should be me who needs to be a better wife."

Aelius hurriedly shook his head, "No wife is the best!"

Valeria looked down at her now empty plate and waved her hand, "No you don't need to say that.."

"I am telling the truth, you have been the best since the beginning."

"Stop-"

"Even if wife doesn't often speak, I still think you are the best."

"Du-"

"Wife has always been considerate and kind to me so how can you not have been a good wife?"

"Aelius please stop!"

Valeria finally had enough of Aelius' compliments and praises. She could feel her face heating up from embarrassment. Aelius stopped speaking and his shoulders slightly deflated.

"Sorry wife..."

She covered her face with her hand and took a deep breath.

"It's fine, just please stop praising me for absolutely nothing."

"But wife it's true..."

Valeria felt like she was seeing downturned puppy ears on Aelius. She looked back down before replying back to him.

"...Anyway, as I said before this, you don't need to push yourself. Duke has been a good husband this whole time."

"If wife says so..."

Valeria let out a relieved sigh when Aelius complied, "Yes."

"Wife, I have one request to ask you," he suddenly said, lifting his head up.

"..What is it?"

"Could you say my name again?"

"...Aelius." she softly muttered his name, puzzled by his request.

Aelius smiled. It wasn't a small or brief smile but an actual bright smile. A smile she had never seen in the game and until now. It was bright and created an alluring charm around him.

She also noticed the tips of his ears were red as he smiled.

Valeria quickly looked away.

She felt that if she kept looking she might have said something she didn't mean to.

"Can wife continue calling me that instead of duke?" he gently asked, not wanting to go over the line.

She slowly nodded. It was just his name, no big deal for her however it seemed like it was to him as the smile never left his face.

"Thank you, wife."

Dinner was already done when the two of them finished eating, so Valeria got up from her seat and bid goodnight to Aelius, heading back to her room to rest. She paused her footsteps and glanced around until she found a servant. She mumbled something over to the servant before leaving.

She returned back to her room and found Coyedian lying across her bed. She frowned, kicking him off the bed before laying down.

"Why are you not in your cat form? Change back before your food comes." Valeria ordered.

Coyedian listened and returned back to his cat form before sitting on her lap. He patted her before saying,

"I saw everything. Who knew he was that kind of man."

Valeria didn't want to think about what happened at the dining hall but thanks to Coyedian, the memory of it resurfaced. She sighed, running her fingers through her hair.

Then Myra came into her room with the steak she had asked the servant previously. Myra set it down on the table.

"Your Grace, it's great to see you eat more than usual!" she beamed happily but Valeria shot her happiness down with her words.

"No it's for Coy. Don't give him cat food anymore, he can eat any type of food."

Myra brought her gaze over to the cat who kept eyeing on the steak. She sighed and nodded, not questioning Valeria any further. She bid her good night and left her room.

Coyedian switched forms again and quickly finished the steak. Valeria quietly watched him eat as she drifted off into her own thoughts.

Remembering the incident, her mind was muddled. She couldn't understand why Aelius was so kind towards her. She recalls how she never tried to speak to him when they walked past one another. Even while they were engaged.

Valeria blinked. That's right, when did she and Aelius get engaged? A small frown formed between her brows until she finally found the memory.

They were fifteen when they got engaged. Her family and his were talking to one another but she couldn't remember the contents of it. The whole memory was fuzzy and had many timeskips in it.

Throughout those three years while they were engaged, they did spend time together however it was always brief and short before she would dismiss herself and leave. Sometimes it was her own family who interfered.

Valeria didn't think much of it as her family knew about her illness and took care of her until she was married to Aelius. One thing she found odd was how these memories with Aelius before they got married were fuzzy and almost just a blur.

Perhaps it could be the side effects from switching souls or Valeria simply didn't think these memories were important.

However as Valeria tried to recall her memories from the past, it was mostly a blur except a few memories including her times with Julius which she deemed was important.

Valeria pursed her lips. She did want to find out the reason why her past memories were mostly a blur but fatigue soon caught up to her.

Valeria let out a small yawn. She turned to Coyedian to find him already back in his cat form, asleep on the bed they got for him.

Seeing how comfortable he was, she too decided to head to bed, telling herself she would think more thoroughly about this matter another time.

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Author's note: i might come back and change a few things but for now i think it will stay like this!