Chapter 241 â Headstone (2)
Translator: Atlas / Editor: Regan
Raphaelâs brusque manner had gradually evaporated over her long illness. Annette spent more and more time in bed, her beautiful face suddenly hollow, her voice gradually weakening. In the end, there had only been a cold silence.
This woman had seemed so small to him in life, and occupied only this small space after death. She was a woman without greed.
What was he doing here? Raphael wondered as he looked at the tombstone that marked the place where she lay. There was no reason for him to be standing in the snow in a cemetery. He had fulfilled all of his duties as a husband, and laid his wife to her eternal sleep. So why was he still haunting her tombstone? He couldnât understand it.
He had been a heartless husband. It had taken him a long time to understand that his wife was very ill. He hadnât realized how serious it was until the day he had come suddenly into the room to catch Annette vomiting.
He had been shocked. He had slapped her hard on the back to help her get it out, and she had shoved him away.
âGo away. This is disgusting.â
âDoes it matter? Shut up and throw up.â
Raphael felt a strange bitterness, but despite his harsh voice, his hand softened, patting her back. He was amazed at how thin she was. It felt as if she might break if he pounded her any harder.
Once she was done vomiting, she lay down on her bed. Her face was very white, and her eyes, which had been beautiful as spring, now looked lifeless. It shocked him that she looked so ill.
He had not expected it to affect him so much.
Raphael never spent much time at home. He excused it with his training to become Master of Swords, but it was also just to escape. He didnât like his conversations with Annette. He always ended up saying nasty things to her.
But that cowardly decision had consequences. Annette turned her body away from him on the bed. Without a word, she made her wishes clear. She wanted him out of the room as soon as possible.
Raphael did not want to leave, but the first thing he did was to hunt down Annetteâs doctor. The woman could not even look him in the eye.
âI did try to send you a report the other day, my lord, but I couldnât find youâŚâ She began, excusing herself.
He frowned. His servants had tried to tell him several times, but he had angrily dismissed them. He wanted to become Master of Swords as soon as possible, and he did not care about any of the trifling business of the Carnesis mansion.
He was regretting this foolishness now.
âSo, whatâs wrong with her?â He asked.
âHer internal organs have suffered significant damage,â she replied. âIf it had been detected earlier, perhaps it could have been prevented. But Iâm afraid we discovered it too lateâŚâ
Raphaelâs heart dropped.
He had never imagined that her life was in danger. He had always assumed she got sick all the time because her body was so fragile.
âThereâs nothing? Medicines, or foreign treatmentsâŚâ
The doctor shook her head. Her face was grim.
âShe doesnât have long. I estimate two years at most. PleaseâŚtake care of her, my lord.â
Raphael couldnât speak. The moment he heard those words, he couldnât breathe.