My Husband Caught Me Having an Affair - Chapter 85

Elodie stared blankly up at Ethan.

‘Is he… not angry?’

She had been so engrossed in reading her book that realizing the Duke was standing right in front of her had shocked her to the point of near fainting.

Ethan’s shadow completely engulfed Elodie’s small frame. He was far taller than any adult Elodie had ever known.

The silvery eyes staring down at her were chillingly cold.

To make matters worse, the Duchess wasn’t present. Elodie wondered if the Duke misunderstood and thought she had entered on her own and taken a book without permission. Perhaps that was why he seemed upset.

Fearing the worst, she had hastily apologized.

Even when they first met at the bookstore, Ethan had seemed displeased with her. He remained silent throughout, offering curt, one-word replies to the Duchess even when she spoke to him, all while casting cold glances at Elodie.

That was why Elodie had been dreading meeting the Duke today.

‘Was I mistaken?’

Although his expression remained stern, the Duke’s words a moment ago were surprisingly kind. If Elodie hadn’t misheard, that is.

Ethan cleared his throat uncomfortably.

“Anyway, you may continue reading your book.”

“Yes? Oh, yes. Thank you.”

Although she replied, Elodie couldn’t bring herself to pick up the book again with the Duke standing before her. She clasped her hands together nervously, unsure of what to do.

“Don’t just stand there. Sit back down.”

“Y-yes!”

Elodie quickly sat back in her seat.

“…Camille is late,” Ethan muttered in a low voice.

“……”

“……”

The silence was stifling.

Elodie involuntarily swallowed hard. All she could think was how much she wished the Duchess would return soon.

***

‘…What’s going on with those two?’

I was watching Ethan and Elodie from behind a bookshelf.

I had excused myself earlier under the pretense of going to the restroom, knowing that Ethan would arrive soon. Then, I found a suitable hiding spot to observe.

Elodie had looked slightly uneasy after I left, but as expected, she quickly became absorbed in her book.

The book I had chosen for her, The Chronicles of Havrosa, was one that Ethan had gifted to Elodie’s orphanage in the original story.

Among the many books, Elodie found The Chronicles of Havrosa the most enjoyable. When she wrote a thank-you letter to Ethan, much of it consisted of her impressions of the book.

Ethan, who had also loved the book as a child, read Elodie’s letter with great delight. Without realizing it, he even smiled, leaving Victor wide-eyed in shock. It was one of my favorite moments from the early chapters of the original story.

‘I failed to recreate their first meeting last time due to unforeseen circumstances, but… this time should be fine. With this book, Ethan won’t be able to resist talking to Elodie.’

The plan was simple: use The Chronicles of Havrosa to initiate a conversation and help them bond.

Initially, it seemed my plan was going smoothly. Ethan had even asked Elodie, “Is the book interesting?”

But for some reason, Elodie appeared deeply nervous, as though she were afraid of Ethan. Despite his attempts to reassure her, her demeanor didn’t improve.

Instead of having a conversation, the two were now stuck in awkward silence, not even making eye contact.

In the original story, Elodie had been wary of Ethan during their first meeting as well. His cold demeanor and blunt tone made her worry he might scold her.

However, they quickly resolved the misunderstanding through a discussion about books.

‘It must be because of their last encounter. Ethan’s silence and uncomfortable presence didn’t help… Honestly, he’s so useless sometimes.’

It was clear that continuing to observe wouldn’t improve the situation. Seeing Elodie so timid and withdrawn tugged at my heart.

Reluctantly, I stepped out from behind the bookshelf and approached them.

“Oh my, Ethan. When did you get here?”

At my voice, both Ethan and Elodie turned to look at me simultaneously.

Elodie’s face lit up with relief, while Ethan’s reaction was surprisingly similar.

“Just now. Victor said you wanted me to come here.”

“Yes, that’s right. Oh, have you introduced yourself to Elodie?”

“…Yes. Earlier.”

Ethan’s response was oddly awkward and uneasy.

“Thank you for inviting me today, Duke.”

Elodie quickly said, clenching her small fists as if mustering all her courage.

Ethan, however, replied in his usual curt and indifferent tone.

“There’s no need to thank me. Camille is the one who invited you.”

“…Oh, yes. Okay.”

Elodie lowered her head, her cheeks turning slightly red.

‘How dare you embarrass her…!’

I felt a surge of anger flare up within me. Narrowing my eyes, I glared at Ethan, who squinted back at me.

“…What?”

Maintaining my composure, I forced a smile.

“Technically, I extended the invitation, but you’re the one who approved it. Elodie was expressing her gratitude to you for that. Isn’t that right, Elodie?”

“Oh, um… yes, that’s right,” Elodie stammered, unsure of what to say.

I jabbed Ethan lightly with my elbow. He furrowed his brow but eventually spoke quietly.

“…Welcome to the Dumont Estate. Feel free to make yourself at home today.”

“Oh, thank you, Duke.”

Even after exchanging those words, the atmosphere between them remained as awkward as ever.

I sighed internally.

‘There’s still a long way to go…’

Though things hadn’t gone as I hoped, I wasn’t ready to give up yet. There were still plenty of opportunities for them to bond throughout the day.

“So, why did you want me to come to the library?”

“Well, I thought you could recommend a book to Elodie. Since you’re here, why not suggest something she might enjoy?”

I turned to Elodie and continued, “As I mentioned earlier, the Duke is well-known for his love of books. He’s read nearly everything in this library.”

“Wow… really?” Elodie looked up in awe.

Ethan muttered under his breath, slightly embarrassed, “No, I haven’t read everything…”

“Regardless, you’re far more knowledgeable than I am. You should choose a book for her, one that she’d find enjoyable.”

Ethan shrugged. “I’m not sure what kinds of books girls like. Wouldn’t it be better if you chose?”

“Oh, come on. I’ve read nowhere near as many books as you. You’re the expert here.”

Before Ethan could respond, Elodie chimed in. “That’s not true! All the books the Duchess recommended earlier looked so interesting. Especially The Chronicles of Havrosa, which was so exciting right from the start that I couldn’t stop reading.”

“Oh… Is that so? Thank you. Speaking of that book, actually, the Duke here is…”

“That’s right. At first glance, it might not seem like it, but Camille is quite an avid reader too. Being a woman herself, she’s probably much better at picking books that suit you than I am.”

At Ethan’s comment, Elodie’s eyes lit up for the first time in a while.

“I thought so too! Whenever the Duchess read picture books to us at the orphanage, she made them so fun with her expressions and voice. I knew then that she must really love books.”

“You have a keen eye. You’re absolutely right.”

Ethan nodded approvingly, and Elodie blushed, smiling shyly.

‘…What’s going on here?’

The two suddenly seemed to click, creating a warm atmosphere. It was hard to believe they had been so awkward moments ago.

“And that’s not all. The Duchess is amazing at embroidery too. She’s so beautiful, kind, and graceful. Even with her high status, she always plays with the orphanage children. She’s like an angel.”

“What? No…”

I was caught off guard, feeling my face grow hot from the unexpected barrage of compliments.

To my astonishment, Ethan nodded in agreement. “As the Duchess of Dumont, that’s only natural. Nobility must always set an example.”

“Wow… that’s incredible.”

Elodie murmured, gazing at me with admiration, while Ethan looked oddly proud.

I stared at them, dumbfounded.

‘The conversation is flowing well, but… why are they talking about me instead of books?’