Regardless of Sidney’s mood, Logan’s explanation continued.

“What I want from you is to live by my side as my wife, sharing the same bed.”

“I…”

“It’s a long-standing tradition in the Redford family for a married couple to share the same bed.”

Before Sidney could utter a word, Logan preempted her, cunningly invoking tradition.

She wanted to refute him, asking where in the world such a tradition existed, but if she rashly spoke without properly checking, a merciless tirade would surely fly at her.

Instead of repeating the same mistake and getting beaten, Sidney protested with her eyes.

‘Where does such a tradition exist?’

‘Here.’

‘Evil practices should be abolished.’

A conversation along those lines occurred. Logan’s lines were merely her imagination, but based on his expression and context, it wouldn’t be much different.

Thus, the staring contest initiated by Sidney ended when Logan opened his mouth.

“While sharing the same bed, have I ever, even once, forced or coerced you to do anything against your will?”

It wouldn’t be more shocking even if a boulder the size of a house fell into a calm lake.

Logan’s abruptly thrown question created ripples that spread across the lake, scattering Sidney’s argument like the splash of water.

As Logan Redford said.

He persistently seduced Sidney, but he respected the line until she gave her permission.

If Sidney had refused firmly or to the end, Logan would have withdrawn obediently.

In the end, the problem wasn’t the bed or Logan, but Sidney herself.

Her face felt hot with belated realization and shame. She wanted to find a mouse hole to crawl into, that’s how embarrassed she was.

“Now, it’s your turn to answer my question.”

After stirring people up like this, he takes care of his own interests…

Yes, that’s the kind of person Logan Redford was.

To avoid being swayed, she had to pull herself together.

Sidney put strength into her eyes and straightened her back. As if not giving any leeway, Logan’s question flew at her.

“Tell me the mistake I can’t remember.”

“…!”

“Judging from your words that you dislike a marriage made through a ‘deal’ and an emotionless bed, I suppose my explanation is needed for that mistake.”

Until today, the fourth day, Sidney had desperately wanted an explanation for the problem that had been distressingly troubling her mind.

But what good would it do when Logan wanted to exclude emotions from a marriage made through a deal?

Shaking her head, Sidney said,

“No apology or explanation is necessary.”

“Why? If it made you stay away from me and agonize for four days…”

“On what basis are you saying that?”

“What?”

“Didn’t you say that if an investigator blindly trusts their head… they could miss something really important? Did Logan check what he saw two or three times?”

“…Those are my words. But why bring that up here…”

Before he could pour out his sharp words, Sidney added,

“I wanted to throw it back at you at least once, even if it doesn’t fit the situation.”

“If you remember my words verbatim and can throw them back at me, I suppose you must have developed some feelings for me. Could it be that I mistakenly denied those feelings…”

“Who knows.”

Sidney drained the Borgia in one gulp without affirming or denying.

The fierce, hot flames of the firewater rushed through, clawing in all directions along the path of the liquor. Pain made her shoulders shrink involuntarily, and a groan burst out.

“Ugh.”

“Drink some water.”

She could tell the glass of water Logan handed her appeared double.

I’m drunk.

Ding, ding… The temple bell signaling eleven o’clock stopped ringing.

Logan Redford’s eyes swept over the Borgia bottles lined up side by side on the table.

One was empty, and the other was about half full.

Sidney Warden had drunk most of one and a half bottles of that potent liquor. Thanks to that, he was sober like this.

Stroking Sidney’s head resting on the table, Logan whispered softly,

“What are you so desperate to hide that you drank until you got this drunk?”

There was no answer from the soundly sleeping Sidney. Logan rested his chin on the table and muttered to himself,

“I knew you were heartless, but you’re even infuriating.”

She had the nerve to say no apology or explanation was necessary.

Sidney claimed that the nights she spent with him were merely pleasure without any emotional exchange, and that she didn’t even want to share the same bed.

He felt like dying just recalling that moment, but Sidney was sleeping with such a serene face.

Logan placed Sidney’s left arm around his neck as she lay on the table. Then, he placed his arm behind her knees and slowly stood up.

“Mmm.”

As her body tilted, Sidney let out a soft moan and buried her face in Logan’s chest.

Logan paused in his steps and slowly lowered his gaze.

Just then, Sidney’s lips parted with a faint smile, like a baby bird finding its mother’s embrace.

At that sight, the layers of hurt and resentment that had accumulated with her every word melted away like snow.

Logan carefully laid Sidney on the bed, and the uncomfortable-looking dress caught his eye.

Calling a maid might wake Sidney, and she would push him away, but trying to undress her himself…

The intricate-looking laces looked daunting, sobering him up.

Lost in thought, Logan suddenly exclaimed “Ah!” and turned abruptly, walking towards the door.

He pulled out a dagger firmly embedded in the bedroom door and returned to the bed.

About to climb onto the bed, Logan flinched at his own shadow looming over Sidney. It looked exactly like an assassin who had come to take her life.

This doesn’t seem right. But it’s a rare moment with just the two of them…

His hesitation didn’t last long. Logan approached the sleeping Sidney and spoke to her.

“Bear with it for a moment, Sidney. I’ll finish as quickly as possible.”

Then he swiftly cut the laces compressing her chest with the dagger.

Having cut the knots in an instant, Logan made a perplexed expression.

To remove the cumbersome dress, he had no choice but to move Sidney’s body.

“Should I just tear it all off?”

It was just a thoughtlessly uttered remark.

However, even though she wore an underdress, seeing Sidney’s disheveled appearance with the front of her bodice completely untied, and adding the word “tear” to it…

Logan Redford’s eyes couldn’t help but waver aimlessly.

“Mmm…”

Sidney opened her eyes, suffering from a splitting headache that felt like it was wringing her brain. Just as she was having a hard time, the sunlight piercing her eyes made her roll over.

Opening her eyes slightly at the refreshing citrus scent, she saw a broad chest covered in thick muscles before her.

What? Yesterday, I drank alcohol and…

No, why am I in bed with Logan?

Sidney pulled the blanket up to her chin and tried to recall the memories of last night.

While her memory was hazy about how the drinking session ended and how she got to the bedroom, she clearly remembered agreeing to share the same bed with Logan according to her wishes.

In other words, after making such a fuss, she was the one who wanted it.

Oh my goodness. Sidney closed her eyes tightly and muttered curses under her breath.

By the time she had spat out all the curses she knew, a low chuckle was heard above her head.

“What a hobby, cursing as soon as you wake up.”

“It was directed at myself.”

Logan made a low, husky nasal sound, signaling he understood, and reached out his arm to embrace her shoulders. As a result, she was trapped in his arms, unable to move an inch.

Sidney was about to look up at Logan with narrowed eyes but was startled.

Because Logan was smiling from ear to ear, directly receiving the morning sunlight.

Not stopping there, he carefully arranged Sidney’s tousled hair with his long fingers and affectionately called her name.

“Sidney.”

“…”

Why is he suddenly being so affectionate? And how long is he going to keep smiling?

He looks handsome even with a frown on his fine face, but smiling like that makes him even more dashing.

By the way, why is my heart beating so fast?

Sidney frowned and pressed her fist firmly against her pounding heart.

Logan’s fingertips lightly brushed past her earrings and gently lifted her chin, making her look into his eyes. And then…

“It doesn’t change anything even if you don’t remember.”

“Are you twisting my words from yesterday when I asked why you apologized for something I don’t remember? Or is it literally a notification that what has already happened is unrelated to my memory?”

“I mean it literally. What has already happened can’t be undone, right?”

Combining this situation, Logan’s reaction, and all those words… It must have been a very satisfying time for Logan.

This is tricky. It’s awkward to just guess and move on, but it’s also awkward to ask Logan…

Anyway, since it was an action done under the influence of alcohol, Sidney apologized first, sincerely, just as Logan had done regarding the past.

“I’m sorry, Logan.”

“Knowing what happened.”

“For not remembering, for making Logan…”

“Happy with my mistake?”

Sidney was at a loss for words at Logan’s pointed addition.

Sidney made Logan happy? That was no different from saying she had seduced Logan.

“So make sure to remember. How beautiful you were.”

Watching Logan smile brightly, Sidney inwardly questioned.

What on earth did she do yesterday, and why is he saying she was beautiful?