Angelus Carduus

Chapter 38: Valeria, my dear wife

Valeria and Aelius were sitting around the dining table with the food placed in front of them. As they began to eat, Valeria heard Coyedian's voice ringing in her head.

"Hey! Get that for me too!"

"Oh don't forget that other dish too! That looks delicious."

"Oi master, don't ignore me!!"

'I'm not your master, Coyedian.'

"At least don't ignore me!"

Valeria had an indifferent look on her face as she took a bite out of her meal, her cheeks puffed up, 'I'll bring it later, don't bother me now.'

"Tch, you just want to be left alone with your husband. Fine! I'll leave you be, hmph!"

Valeria nearly spat out her food after hearing Coyedian's words. She wouldn't have realised that fact if it weren't for Coyedian. She covered up her near blunter by wiping her lips with a napkin.

'At least this dinner is going normally.'

"Wife, I have something to ask you." Aelius spoke softly, placing down his utensils as he had finished his meal.

"Go on," she replied back, taking the last bite of her meal.

"Do you want to sleep with me?"

The sound of utensils falling to the table echoed along with soft gasps from the servants nearby.

Did she hear him wrong? Sleep? With him?

"What?"

"I heard from Keith that your body is always cold. When I held you, you were almost as cold as ice so I thought it would be better for you if we slept in the same room," Aelius explained, bringing relief to Valeria.

"Oh you also seem to sleep better when you are warm and if anything happens to you, I will be right by your side," he added on.

Valeria nodded at his explanation, nearly heaving a relieved sigh, "If you think it's for the best, go ahead. I don't mind anything."

She thought her answer was good enough and would satisfy him but she saw him frowning. He brushed his hand against hers, warmth enveloping it.

"No, do you think it's best for you? Do you want this? If you don't, it is fine. Your opinion is important. I will not do anything that makes you uncomfortable." Aelius spoke, looking at her straight in the eye as he squeezed her hand gently.

"My opinion?"

Has she ever properly spoken up about what she wanted and what not? She was sure she has been doing so-

No. She hasn't. She had to agree with anything and everything no matter what. Even if she didn't want the medication, she had to take it. The needles that were long and thick, about to be inserted into her body when she was afraid of them, she had no say in it.

She didn't even have the say or rights about wanting to be reincarnated into this sickly body.

In her mind, she had a realisation. Aelius truly cared about her.

Valeria squeezed his hand back before replying back, "Yes, I'm alright with it. I want to sleep with you."

-

'I...I should not have worded it that way.' Valeria thought to herself.

Every time she remembered her words, she could feel a surge of embarrassment inside her. She was back in her room for now whilst Myra and the other maids were packing her stuff to be brought into the shared master bedroom.