The Duke's Obsession With His Wife — Chapter 33

WHETHER I FALL ILL,

OR END UP IN SOME DANGEROUS SITUATION...

IN THE END, I'M SOMEONE WHO WILL SIMPLY DISAPPEAR FROM YOUR LIFE ONE DAY.

YOU'RE NOT EVEN MY REAL HUSBAND.

WHY DO YOU CARE SO MUCH ABOUT ME?

EDWIN WASN'T LIKE THIS IN THE ORIGINAL STORY.

HE WAS MUCH COLDER, MORE INDIFFERENT...

SO WHY IS HE BEHAVING LIKE HE'S GENUINELY WORRIED ABOUT ME?

SO SHE'S WONDERING WHY I CARE EVEN THOUGH OUR MARRIAGE ISN'T... REAL?

I SIMPLY DON'T FIND IT PLEASANT FOR RUMORS TO SPREAD AT THE START OF OUR MARRIAGE.

AND I'M NOT AS HEARTLESS AS YOU SEEM TO THINK.

I DO CARE ABOUT YOU.

BUT YOU'RE ALWAYS SUSPICIOUS OF MY KINDNESS, ANRI.

SO, ON THE CONTRARY, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT I AM THE ONE WHO DOES NOT UNDERSTAND YOU.

...UNLESS YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO PUSH ME AWAY, THAT IS.

MY LORD...

IT'S NOT THAT I DISLIKE YOU.

IT'S JUST... I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU CARE ABOUT ME SO MUCH.

DOES THE REASON MATTER?

IT DOES. I HAVEN'T EXACTLY BEEN POLITE TOWARD YOU, NOR EVEN WELL-BEHAVED.

IN FACT, I'VE EVEN ACTED LIKE A COMPLETE NUISANCE AT TIMES.

SO WHEN YOU TREAT ME WITH MORE KINDNESS THAN I DESERVE, I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER WHY.

ANRI.

THE REASON IS VERY SIMPLE.

IT'S BECAUSE I NEED YOU.

NOT QUITE A LOVER'S QUARREL... (3)

THE NEXT DAY

DAY 6 OF HOUSE CONFINEMENT

I'M RELIEVED TO SEE YOU LOOKING WELL.

I APOLOGIZE THAT WE HAVE NOT COME TO SEE YOU.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT. I KNOW YOU MUST HAVE HAD A LOT ON YOUR MIND.

ALLEN TOLD ME WHAT HAPPENED.

ALLEN

I ALMOST CAME OVER IMMEDIATELY, BUT INSTEAD I'VE BEEN KEEPING AN EYE ON HOW THINGS WERE GOING.

HEARING RUMORS OF UNREST IMMEDIATELY AFTER HER SON'S WEDDING...

SHE CAN'T BE HAPPY ABOUT THAT...

EDWIN—

YOUR HUSBAND—

THERE WILL BE MANY TIMES WHEN YOU WON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND HIM.

AND I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY YOU MIGHT FEEL UPSET.

HERE IT COMES... I KNEW SHE'D SAY SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

BUT YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO SET ANSWER WHEN IT COMES TO RELATIONSHIPS.

SURE, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU MUST CONTEST THE MATTER OF RIGHT AND WRONG.

BUT IT CAN ALSO BE WISE TO ACCEPT SOMEONE WHEN THEIR HEART IS REACHING OUT TO YOU.

EVEN IF YOU DON'T FULLY UNDERSTAND RIGHT AWAY,

BEING WILLING TO HOLD OUT YOUR HAND IN THOSE MOMENTS... THAT'S HOW YOU KEEP RELATIONSHIPS GOING.

...I'LL KEEP THAT IN MIND, YOUR GRACE.

HEH HEH. PERHAPS THAT WAS A BIT UNPLEASANT TO HEAR...

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING, DEAR.

NO, NOT AT ALL! I DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING TO BE DISAGREEABLE!

I THINK EDWIN WAS SHOCKED AT THE THOUGHT HE MIGHT LOSE YOU. I ALSO FRETTED...

I REALLY WAS RATHER WORRIED.

I'M SORRY FOR WORRYING YOU.

SHE REALLY IS... SO WARM-HEARTED.

AND... THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND WORDS TODAY.

YOU'RE FEELING WELL ENOUGH TO LEAVE YOUR ROOM— THAT'S GOOD.

YES, THANKS TO SOMEONE.

ABOUT YESTERDAY... I'M SORRY.

FOR WHAT?

I WAS BEING UNREASONABLE.

HONESTLY...

I SPOKE SO SHARPLY BECAUSE I WAS FEELING UPSET.

THINK NOTHING OF IT.

I WASN'T EXACTLY BEING MATURE EITHER.

ANYWAY...

YOU FIRST.

WHAT IS THIS...?

PLEASE READ IT.

A-AND PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR DECISION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!

PICNIC PROPOSAL

Subject: An Outing to Lake Mavelo, Tomorrow Purpose: To Improve Marital Relations

I hereby propose an outing to nearby Lake Mavelo.

propose an outing to nearby Lake Mavelo. The goal is to create a relaxed atmosphere, engage in open and honest conversation, and ease any lingering tension. In so doing, the contractual parties may advance toward a better relationship as husband and wife.

Your approval is kindly requested.

DAY 7 OF HOUSE CONFINEMENT

COME IN.

MY LORD!

WHAT IS IT?

WELL, THERE WAS A LETTER ADDRESSED TO HER GRACE...

AND THERE'S A NAME ON IT THAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION.

I THOUGHT YOU SHOULD SEE IT.

Earl Evans Brawrene

Anriette Ascar Duchess Bristo

EVANS BRAWRENE...

...WELL, WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT.