How to Tame My Beastly Husband — Chapter 9. Little Changes

This chapter has been re-worked by Regan, we have picked up the novel from chapter 64

Looking at the place where Raphael had been moments ago, Annette laid back down on the bed, exhausted. He hadn’t lingered for even a second. He must truly dislike her. And though she was used to his cold attitude, it still made her sad that he would abandon her immediately after such an intimate act.

But thinking back, Raphael had always hated her.

How much must he have hated her, to never once share the same bed in five years of marriage? Every time they had had sex, he had always left abruptly afterward. Just because he had indulged her once did not mean such a man would suddenly become affectionate.

Annette decided she would not let it upset her. She had gone through death and somehow come back to life; what did it matter if her husband would cold to her? If she had no expectations, she would not be disappointed. Everything would be much more comfortable if she emptied herself of all such concerns.

In her previous life, her biggest problem had not even been Raphael, but simple stress. Though she had returned to her past and improved her health a bit, Annette had always been quite delicate. The constant stress had worn her down, and in the end, she had died very young, at the age of twenty.

Annette did not want to die like that again.

There were certainly some things that were already better than before.

Her first time with Raphael had been so different. Though he had bitten and devoured her like a beast, there had been nothing like the pain of her previous life. The future could be changed. Annette had already changed it, a little at a time.

Yes. I can do it.

Annette hugged her blanket to herself, determined. In this life, she would prove her innocence, and try to mend her relationship with Raphael. And if he really hated her so much, then she would consider divorcing him. Annette was not the helpless girl she had been in her last life. She was a woman who had been given a miracle. She had experienced death, and come back to life again.

At that moment, the bedroom door creaked open, and Annette started with surprise, snatching up a blanket to cover herself. It was the man she was considering divorcing.

“Raphael?”

She was a little stunned to see him. She had never expected him to come back, and he looked angry for some reason. For a moment, she wondered if he had somehow read her thoughts.

Of course, he hadn’t. He had returned to her room for an entirely different reason. Approaching Annette, he set something on the side table with a clang. Annette glanced curiously over to find a flat bowl, filled with steaming hot water. A soft cloth had been draped over the lip of the bowl.

Oh, my God.

Annette’s eyes widened. It couldn’t be that Raphael had brought this for her? Meeting her bewildered eyes, his expression only grew more grim. When his hand stretched out toward her, at first she thought he meant to do it with her again after all. But that large hand stopped just before her nose, holding a glass of water.

“This? What’s this, Raphael?”

The ferocious look in his eyes made her take the cup reflexively.

“You said you were hurt,” he said accusingly, as if he were chewing on every syllable.

Annette’s eyes lowered to the bottom of the glass. There was a fine white powder in the bottom.

Had he brought her medicine for the pain? If so, she was grateful, though the look on his face made it seem more likely he was offering poison. His consideration was so unexpected, she was speechless for a moment.

Raphael frowned, eying her nervously. He didn’t know why he was doing this, either, but the sound of her voice saying it hurts had bothered him. Why did this beautiful woman look so weak? He had brought her some medicine, but she was just sitting there, holding the cup and staring at him. It seemed Annette Bavaria wouldn’t even accept a drink of water from him.

Why did you do such a useless thing?

It stung his pride. He reached for the cup, but Annette was one step ahead of him. Rising from the bed, she set the cup down and wrapped her arms around him.

“Thank you so much, Raphael,” she said, lifting her head to smile up at him softly. Her fine golden eyelashes fluttered, and beneath them, eyes like pink petals shone with gratitude. It was a lovely smile, like seeing a flower bloom.

Raphael realized with irritation that he still wanted the Bavaria woman.

Both the touch of the dainty hands at his waist and that dazzling smile were utterly foreign to him. Quickly, he moved to escape from this awkward embrace. He had done everything he could for her, and he meant to leave and let her rest before he somehow hurt her again. Without a backward glance, he departed.

Watching his stiff back, Annette called after him.

“Good night, Raphael!”

Of course, he didn’t answer. That was okay. After taking the medicine he had brought, Annette reached for the bowl. As she carefully washed between her legs, she felt the pain lessening. The cloth was soft, the water was warm, and Annette’s heart was comforted.

I didn’t know Raphael could do this.

Annette smiled to herself.

Well, if she thought about it, it wasn’t always bad with Raphael. In her last life, he had worked quite hard to provide her with the medical care she needed until the day she died. When she became bedridden, he had stopped arguing with her altogether, and personally waited on her. Perhaps it was because of his experiences in the war. Raphael couldn’t bear it when others were in physical pain.

Having washed, Annette laid back on the bed. The medicine began to work, and the pain slowly subsided. Lying alone in such a big bed, she felt a little cold and lonely, but it was all right. Even in the vague darkness of the future, she could see a little flame of hope, growing steadily brighter.

Unfortunately, those hopes were dashed the next morning.

She woke up earlier than usual at some commotion outside. It sounded like an argument; she could hear Raphael’s raised voice, cursing.

Rubbing her sleepy eyes, Annette looked out the window, but couldn’t see anyone there. Judging from the direction of the noise, they must be in the foyer.

Rising from her bed, Annette decided to go see what it was. She was now the wife of the Marquis of Carnesis, it was her job to know what was happening in her house. There was a slight burning pain between her legs at her first steps, but it wasn’t bad. Quickly, she dressed and then headed nervously in the direction of the discord.

Having been rigorously educated to be Crown Princess, Annette was a very patient person. As she left the room, she tried to remember anything that might have happened at this time in her previous life, but there was nothing. In her last life, Annette had already been sick and bedridden by this time.

By the beginning of their honeymoon, Raphael had already hated her. His misunderstanding made their first night excruciating, and at the time, Annette had been so proud and foolish, she could even say something as simple as, please be gentler, it hurts. If she had only said that, she would not have suffered so much afterward.

The price of her own stubbornness was three days, helpless and ill. When she had opened her eyes again, the first thing she saw was Raphael’s dark face, glaring icily at her. He had acted as if she were his enemy. He showed no remorse at all for his wife, who had been injured and taken ill because of him.

I was so sad back then…

Annette frowned at the unpleasant memories. And from then on, she hated Raphael right back. She had never understood why he hated her, why he refused to believe her when she tried to correct the misunderstandings between them. Back then, he was every bit as cold as her father, and even more cruel.

This time had been completely different. Even though Raphael had still behaved abominably, at least he had been considerate of her comfort. In this life, Annette had slept and awakened as usual, to hear this uproar.

I hope it’s nothing big…

Annette’s heart pounded faster, filled with anxiety she did not yet understand, and her steps sped. As soon as she rounded the corner of the corridor to the foyer, she heard Raphael’s voice in the distance.

“You mean the gifts I sent weren’t good enough for old man Bavaria?”

She heard him sneer, and though his voice was low and mocking, she could feel the fury in it. She didn’t have to see him to know this was Raphael at his worst. She had very rarely seen him this angry.

“I beg your pardon, Marquis. The gifts you sent were wonderful, but my master is a person of very discriminating tastes, who only uses the very finest objects. I ask your generous understanding for the differing opinions that may exist between two families.”

That was a voice Annette knew very well. It was Gerard, the butler of her family. He had a nobleman’s voice, with a light foreign accent. Gerard had always struck her as gentle, and was an exceptionally good butler.

But this time, she frowned when she saw him. The exact words Gerard had used were replaying in her mind.

He sounds a little strange today. Why is he talking to Raphael that way? It’s very rude.

Annette couldn’t understand why Gerard, her family butler, would be speaking down to Raphael.

This chapter has not been translated by NovelUtopia, we have picked up the novel from chapter 64.