TSMMT Ch 82

A Strange Cruelty

Waking up, a heavy ache consumed her entire body. The pain was not blinding, but intense muscle soreness made moving her arms difficult. Her body creaked like an un-oiled machine. Moving her legs proved difficult, causing her to bite her lip.

How many times did he do it……?

Dianna let out a long sigh. Guiscard had pushed on relentlessly. She understood his anger over the matter with the Grand Duke, but did he define this as her drawing close to "another man"?

Why had he transformed into such a beast? To Dianna, a knight like Logaple and the Grand Duke were the same……

Guiscard clung to her with absolute persistence. Whenever she resisted, he soothed her with gentle kisses. Like a relentless chant, he whispered over and over, demanding that she look only at him.

This marked a clear departure from the past life. Back then, Guiscard left the bed immediately after the act to sleep in another room, refusing to touch her. Sometimes he stayed, but only to begin a second coupling.

Last night, however, he craved constant contact, kissing her skin, invading her body, and desperately pressing deeper. Dianna knew with absolute certainty that he was entirely consumed by a maddening desire for her body.

[Dianna] "Ah, please stop……!"

[Guiscard] "No."

Staring at her exhausted, dazed face, Guiscard bit her ear, neck, and chest. Dianna could only twitch in response. The pleasure turned into a sharp ache, and her vision blurred.

[Guiscard] "My lady, do you know this? You are beautiful."

He whispered the word "my lady" once more. Obsessing over that title, he claimed her flesh repeatedly.

[Guiscard] "My lady."

He stroked her damp hair with a tender touch, acting as if he were still a slave in the Duke's estate.

[Guiscard] "Are you awake?"

Dianna turned at the sound of his voice.

Guiscard stood by the window, wearing nothing but a loosely draped shirt. The morning sun illuminated his lean, muscled physique.

She knew he possessed a broad frame, but his mature, muscular body differed from any other man's. Shadows sculpted his perfect form; without the faint scars on his skin, Guiscard would look non-human. His dark hair, contrasting with his skin, gleamed in the light.

Dianna watched the man who had held her all night, her thoughts cold and detached.

With the magic of the night gone, the heat cooled, and reason returned.

Reason……

Dianna quickly looked away. It felt as though she was the only one who had regained reason. Seeing that his desire remained unchanged from the night before, she instinctively pulled the sheet over her head.

Why is he acting like that? In this life, is he this energetic because he was a virgin, unlike the past timeline?

She flushed, remembering his solemn declaration of virginity.

Puzzled by Dianna's cold rejection, he looked down at his own body.

[Guiscard] "……I will not do it."

[Dianna] "Yes, Your Majesty. I beg you."

Dianna spoke. Suddenly, she noticed her arms, which gripped the sheet tightly, were covered in red marks.

Even though Dianna had refused, he furrowed his brows in disappointment.

[Guiscard] "Dianna."

For some reason, the name sounded heavy, as if torn from his chest.

When she turned her head, Guiscard had already put on trousers, concealing the sight that had shocked her. She forced herself to look away.

[Guiscard] "Are you in a lot of pain?"

[Dianna] "……No, I am fine."

She replied stiffly.

[Guiscard] "I lost my reason last night."

Was he attempting to apologize?

Dianna studied his face. His gaze dropped to her neck, a quiet heat returning to his eyes. What a sincere apology. Finding the situation amusing, she offered a sharp smile.

[Dianna] "It is a wife's duty to accept her husband."

At those words, the warmth vanished instantly, as if a window had flown open.

She wondered if she had made a mistake. She had spoken only to ease his guilt. However, Guiscard glared at her with freezing eyes before twisting his lips into a smile.

[Guiscard] "Correct. Keep acting exactly like that from now on."

Dianna nodded. A sense of regret lingered, telling her she had spoken wrongly.

Guiscard remained silent for a long moment, then raised his gaze.

[Guiscard] "But don't go near Grand Duke Blake."

What was he saying so suddenly? She stared at him without answering.

[Guiscard] "Why do you not answer?"

After a long silence, this was his response?

Dianna froze.

Had the Grand Duke committed a crime?

During the audience ceremony, Guiscard had offered her no protection. Dianna knew that without the Grand Duke, the nobles would never have shown her even basic respect.

Guiscard had done nothing. Yet he demanded that she avoid the only man who had helped her?

[Dianna] "Why? The Blake Ducal House poses no political threat to you, Your Majesty……"

Guiscard remained silent.

[Dianna] "I know this is not entirely because Grand Duke Blake is a man."

He offered no reaction.

[Dianna] "You hate the thought of me finding comfort without your permission, do you not?"

Jealousy was out of the question for a man like Guiscard. This stemmed from a deeper, more calculated cruelty.

In the past timeline, he had forced her to become his wife, claimed her body, and watched her wither away in absolute misery. Though Guiscard showed a softer side in this life, his core nature remained unchanged. He fundamentally desired her suffering.

What a strange cruelty.

[Guiscard] "Yes."

He answered through gritted teeth, his violet eyes darkening.

Seeing his cold expression, Dianna found relief. This was the husband from the past timeline—the monster she remembered.

[Guiscard] "You must not find comfort so easily, Dianna Brianne."

He let out a breath that sounded like a sigh.

[Guiscard] "Comfort is a luxury you can't afford. Don't expect such luck."

[Dianna] "If that is the case, you should execute me or lock me in a dungeon instead."

[Guiscard] "I am afraid my tastes are not quite that wicked."

She wondered if Guiscard failed to realize that this psychological torment was far worse.

Revealing his true nature, he laughed.

[Guiscard] "You must never receive help from anyone. Just accept your reality exactly as it is. You are my wife, and you must stay by my side."

Guiscard approached Dianna and leaned over the bed. As he raised his hand, she instinctively flinched. His eyes deepened.

[Guiscard] "It is only three years. Endure that much. Remain entirely as my wife, just like that……"

He lowered the hand that had reached for her cheek. Instead, he pressed his face against her slender neck, placing a kiss on her skin before biting down sharply.

[Dianna] "Ah!"

He bit and sucked at her neck for a long moment. Dianna knew without looking that a dark mark would remain on her skin.

Locking his eyes onto hers, he spoke.

[Guiscard] "Dianna Brianne. Therefore, don't meet him."

The magic of the night had vanished completely.

[Dianna] "Yes, I will keep that in mind."

Implicated guilt was a terrible thing. The sins of her wretched father would remain etched in his mind forever.

---

Dianna watched Alexa, who sat sipping tea. Today was the day Alexa returned home.

[Alexa] "Lodbrog Palace is dull. There is nothing to see, and the food is terrible."

[Dianna] "You must not speak that way."

[Alexa] "Why? Are you defending it because it is your home now?"

Alexa giggled, completely unbothered. Dianna stole a tense glance at the maids standing behind her.

[Dianna] "Many things differ from Panborough. If you have friends here, you can find plenty of entertainment. This applies to any kingdom, not just Lodbrog. Don't speak so carelessly."

As Dianna took a sip of tea, Alexa pouted.

[Alexa] "Hmph. You only scold me, even though we have not met in so long. You refused to see me for days, too."

Dianna's heart softened. She had expected Alexa to cry or throw a tantrum. Though she cared for her, a flurry of events had kept her from visiting Alexa.

[Alexa] "Actually, the people here suit me better than the exhausting, overly formal Panborough nobles. They keep their word about time, too. They feel more disciplined than the people back home…… You are right. If I had friends, there would be plenty of games to play. I judged too quickly."

Hearing those words, Dianna's expression softened. Alexa had matured slightly. Though she remained ignorant of Dianna's precarious position, at least no rumors would spread claiming Alexa insulted Lodbrog.

[Alexa] "So, does my brother-in-law treat you well?"

Dianna widened her eyes at the sudden shift in topic.

[Alexa] "He is not seeking revenge, is he?"

[Dianna] "He doesn't do such things. He is not that kind of person."

[Alexa] "What a relief."

Alexa smiled brightly. Right then, Mable spoke.

[Mable] "His Majesty has arrived."

Dianna and Alexa rose from their seats to greet him. She cast a worried glance at Alexa.

[Dianna and Alexa] "We greet Your Majesty."

They were the daughters of a criminal. Dianna wondered what thoughts crossed his mind as her looked at them.

How would Alexa react? Would she blurt out an insult?

Discomfort gripped her.

Guiscard sat in a prepared chair, his gaze fixed on a teacup.

[Alexa] "Thank you for inviting me. Seeing my sister brings me peace of mind."

She offered a calm smile as she spoke to him.

Dianna kept her gaze lowered. She had assumed Guiscard would track Alexa down, and now she stood exposed before him.

[Alexa] "You must not treat my sister the way you treated me. Then again, you have always had a soft spot for her, Your Majesty."

The way he treated her?

Dianna wondered what had occurred when Guiscard stayed at their estate.

Alexa smiled.

Strange as it was, Dianna detected no hatred radiating from Alexa.

Guiscard nodded.

Was he attempting to play the part of a loving husband? Why was he nodding?

Dianna felt astounded, seeing him act as if he had forgotten their conversation from this morning.

[Alexa] "Uh……"

After hesitating briefly, she spoke.

[Alexa] "Ah, before that…… should I greet you properly first? What should I say…… Thank you for killing my wretched father."

Alexa bowed politely after delivering those words.

Dianna stood frozen in absolute shock. Such words were entirely unsuited for Alexa's elegant face. Furthermore, the respectful bow felt completely bizarre.

[Alexa] "I bear absolutely no hatred toward you, Your Majesty. I never chose to be born to such a father. So please, stop hating my sister and me."

Dianna felt as though her mind might explode at this shocking declaration. Why did Alexa despise their father so deeply?

Guiscard looked equally bewildered. Dianna could tell that he had no idea how to respond at this exact moment.

[Alexa] "Ah, Sister, should I call him brother-in-law instead of Your Majesty?"

She questioned Dianna urgently, seeking confirmation.

[Guiscard] "Yes."

He interjected, answering in Dianna's place once again.

---

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