See if this marriage have some hope

"My lady's pulse is weak." Doctor Carlton furrowed his brows as he pressed his fingers against my wrist. He had already done a full body check-up and asked me quite a long list of questions. 

"Am I dying?" I inquired when he released my hand.

Doctor Carlton gazed at me worriedly before shifting his attention to Luis, who was sitting around the table near the window. Why did the quack have to look at him instead of answering me?

"Your pulse is weak and your health is deteriorating. However, there is something that is bothering me. I still can't say what exactly caused your bleeding coughs and nosebleed. I need further research. My apologies." The doctor let out a deep sigh as he stared at me straight in the eye. "For now, I will prescribe you some medicine for nausea."

"I see." I gazed down while massaging my wrist. It seemed all the rest I did since entering this body only helped a little. Damn... why bother giving me a second chance in life if this body was so feeble?

"Also, I advised you to rest as much as possible. Avoid straining your body; that includes traveling too much, running, lifting heavy objects, sleeping late..." The doctor went on and on, but his voice faded in the background as I pondered how to solve this myself.

I didn't realize that Doctor Carlton had already left the room. I only knew about it when Luis sat beside me on the edge of the mattress, snapping me out of my trance.

Luis planted his palm on the bed, leaning back with his head turned on me. "Did you listen to the doctor's advice? Whatever that's going in your head, forget it."

"I can't entrust my life in that quack and wait for him to find whatever my problem is!" I jumped on the bed to face him aggressively. "There's no way I will just idle while I wither away!"

"He never said you will die."

"Verbally! He didn't say it verbally, but his eyes told me otherwise!" I ground my teeth, losing my composure at the useless result I got. "This won't do. I can't just stay here!"

Without a second hesitation, I pushed myself out of the bed only to get stopped by him. He held my wrist and pulled me back onto the bed.

"What the!" My eyes went wide, casting him an eye full of disbelief.

Luis cocked his head to me as he bats his eyes lazily. "Don't wait for me to chain you in here."

"Hah! Am I being held captive?"

"Yes, you are," he answered with disinterest, while his palm covered my eyes. "Take a deep breath and calm down."

I clicked my tongue in irritation, but I still instinctively followed his advice. Be it because of his soothing, deep voice or the warmth of his hand, I didn't know why I was listening to him. But one thing was for sure, it was effective.

"Calm now?" he inquired, before withdrawing his hand away from me.

My eyes slowly opened, setting them on the ceiling. "Yes, thank you."

"You're welcome."

"Why?" I asked under my breath. "Why did you get me checked?"

"I think you have smarter questions to ask," He muttered with a lack of emotion in his tone. "I met my fiance deep in the hedge garden in the temple, passed out. Not to mention, I've witnessed her nosebleed. Who wouldn't worry?"

"Just because of that, you assumed I kept it a secret and asked someone to examine me?" I turned my head to him while he gazed down at me.

"I'm always a curious person and I don't want to be a widow." He shrugged indifferently. "I won't let you die because I don't want to go through the hassle of marrying for the second time."

I studying the lack of emotion on his straight face. I didn't know whether I should feel moved upon hearing his reasonings or get annoyed. He was helping me either way.

"Thank you," I expressed, and he raised his brows, stunned. "I might be a two-faced woman, but I know when to be grateful, my fiance."

"That's a little surprising."

"Don't you have expectations from me?" my face twitched at this disappointing reaction from him.

"I expect you to not die."

"That's all?" 

He nodded. "Do you want me to have expectations from you?"

"Of course! I am your fiance and your future wife! You should expect something from me other than not dying." I rolled my eyes. How could I disappoint him if he didn't have expectations of me?

"I don't want to get disappointed." He shook his head lightly. "I think you're the type of person who will purposely disappoint people to spite them. I won't fall for that cheap trick."

Goodness. How sharp could he be?

"So, what now, Your Grace?" I cleared my throat after a prolonged silence. "Do you plan on keeping me in here when you are hosting a banquet? We're not married yet and we've been locked up in this room alone."

"So, what? It's not like you and I mind what other people think." His brow arched as he assessed me. He was correct, but doing nothing when I expected too much would kill me before whatever disease I had could.

"If a stupid rumor gets out, I'd rather want it to be half of the truth. Come, let's kiss and see if this marriage has some hope." I crooked a finger with little change in my expression.

To my surprise, my fiance planted his palm on my side and bent over. My eyes instantly went wide as his face leaned closer until it was palm length away from mine. 

"Wa — wait, hold on…"