Chapter 321 - Only reason why

Chapter 321: Chapter 321 - Only reason why

A few days passed after the poisoning.

Eric’s condition slowly improved, although he was still nowhere near fully recovered. He could finally walk around on his own now, at least for short distances, though every step reminded him that nearly dying was apparently not something the body simply forgot about. His entire body remained sore and painful, especially whenever he moved too quickly or tried to do anything remotely strenuous.

Still, compared to lying unconscious and spitting blood all over himself, he considered being able to walk a great improvement.

Every day, Ryan came to visit him.

At first, he had assumed the man was simply checking whether he was still alive. After all, if he died inside Ryan’s residence, the Emperor would probably make the man answer for it. It was only reasonable for him to keep an eye on his inconvenient new wife.

But as the days passed, he began noticing that Ryan seemed to spend more time with him than necessary.

He would personally bring him his medicine and make sure he drank every last drop of the horrible bitter liquid. Every single time he finished it, Ryan would give him a few hawthorn candies afterward to get rid of the awful taste.

The first time it happened, he had stared at the candies in surprise.

The second time, he had accepted them without complaint.

By the third day, he was already waiting for them.

Now, as he sat on the edge of the bed, he looked at the familiar little stick of hawthorn candies beside his empty medicine cup. The candies had been eaten down to the last piece, leaving only the bare wooden stick in his fingers.

Eric stared at it for a moment before a small smile appeared on his face.

This man...

He really was too soft-hearted.

It was almost ridiculous.

Ryan looked so much like Aaron that sometimes he found himself staring at him a little longer than he should. The same quiet presence, the same way of looking at people without saying too much, and now even this strangely gentle habit of taking care of him after he had been poisoned.

He was beginning to understand why his heart kept feeling so strange around him.

Perhaps Ryan really was his beloved man.

Just as he was thinking about that, the door opened.

He looked up and saw Ryan walk in carrying a small wooden box.

His eyes immediately narrowed with curiosity.

Ryan didn’t say anything. He simply walked over to the table and placed the box down before opening it.

Eric leaned forward curiously. "What is that?"

His husband of his lifted the lid of the box without a word.

Inside was a small bowl filled with peeled lychees. A few ice cubes had been placed around the bowl to keep the fruit cold, and tiny droplets of condensation had gathered along the edges. The white flesh of the lychees looked fresh and juicy, practically glowing against the simple bowl.

Eric’s eyes immediately brightened. "Oh my god!"

He reached for the bowl without waiting a second. "where did you get these!"

"these were a tribute from the south." He whispered softly.

"hmm mnnn this is da bomb..." The lychees disappeared into his mouth almost instantly one after another.

The sweet juice burst across his tongue, and his expression immediately softened with satisfaction. After being forced to survive on bland food and bitter medicine for days, something sweet and refreshing felt like heaven.

Ryan simply sat there and watched him.

In just a few fraction of minutes he had finshed a whole bowl of the juicy fruit without realising it. Gazing at the ice cubes floating around he bit his lips slightly. "...There aren’t any more?"

Ryan shook his head slightly.

Eric sighed deeply, as though he had just suffered another great tragedy. "What a cruel world."

Ryan’s lips twitched faintly, with a flick of his wrist he suddenly wiped the corner of his mouth with his sleeve. "I’ll find some more soon. Wait a bit." He mumbled.

Eric sat there feeling the soft fabric on his face. For a second he did not know why but his heart was racing wildly in his chest.

"Why are you so nice to me?"

He looked at Ryan for a moment asking the question that had been sitting in his mind for the past few days.

Ryan peered at him softly as he continued gently wiping the corner of his mouth with his sleeve.

"Because you are my wife."

Eric froze. For some reason, that answer made the smile disappear from his face.

He hadn’t known what he had been expecting.

Perhaps something more?

A confession, maybe.

Something like because I care about you or because I was worried about you.

Instead, Ryan had given him the simplest answer possible. Because you are my wife.

Eric’s eyes lowered slightly.

This man had been kind only because they were married. He had bought him sweets, brought him fruit, made sure he took his medicine, and watched over him because he was responsible for his wife.

There was nothing more to it.

Eric slowly placed the empty bowl aside and leaned back against the bed.

His eyes narrowed as he looked at Ryan.

So that was it.

This guy was simply making sure he stayed alive so the Emperor wouldn’t blame him if his newly acquired wife dropped dead inside his residence.

How wonderfully unromantic.

Eric scoffed quietly and turned his face away.

"Fine."

He pulled the blanket over himself and settled back onto the bed.

"Leave. I want to rest."

Ryan remained silent for a moment.

Eric kept his back toward him, stubbornly refusing to look over.

He wasn’t sure why he suddenly felt annoyed.

So he closed his eyes and decided that the best thing to do was sleep.

After all, if his husband only cared about keeping him alive, then there was no reason for him to sit there looking at him either.