But before our lips parted, I felt something slightly different touch. Hot and slippery…… Was it my imagination? I unconsciously touched my lips. The sensation was so vivid.

‘I’m glad it’s dark.’

Just as I couldn’t see his face clearly, he probably couldn’t see mine either.

How should I answer? What should I say? My lips wouldn’t part, as if there was a thorn stuck in my throat.

But his hand was still wrapped around my waist, and his eyes seemed to be staring at me.

It was too late to take back my words now that things had already happened. I feigned the calmest voice I could muster.

“……Yes. This way they won’t be suspicious.”

This was unavoidable, I told myself. We did it once at the wedding ceremony in front of people too, right? I answered like that, ignoring the pounding sound of my heart.

“That’s a relief.”

His voice was the same as always. His face used to flush so easily. I felt uneasy since I couldn’t see it well in the darkness.

It was as if he was answering like he had fulfilled an obligation. Did I… answer with such feelings too? With the intention of not being suspected about our marital relationship, without any ulterior motives?

My conscience pricked me. I felt confused, as if I had somehow used him. But what would this innocent man say?

“If you do the same to me, my lady, we won’t be suspected.”

If I do the same, we won’t be suspected? I don’t know where to start correcting what’s wrong. If he acts like this with other women, he’ll be eaten alive in no time. Is this really okay?

What should I do with this harmless man?

“I suppose so…… If I do the same, we won’t be suspected.”

I debated whether I should scold him next. To treat his body more preciously. That if he acts so kindly after our contract ends, he’ll be completely devoured by a woman with ill intentions.

But as if my reason was paralyzed, my face moved closer to his. My hands rested on his shoulders. I could hear his breathing up close. The loud thumping of a heart was intense.

‘It must be my heartbeat. Why does it sound so loud?’

With that question, I touched him just as he had touched me. I felt a soft, pudding-like texture. I pressed firmly like stamping a seal. Our noses touched for an instant. I suddenly thought his nose bridge was quite high.

It was a bit strange to have such an observation. Now that we’ve kissed, we should part, right? My tense body kept pressing down on his lips. I felt a little short of breath. As I tried to breathe for a moment, a strange sound came from me.

“Mmm……”

Startled, I pulled my lips away, and his hand around my waist tightened. The hand gripping my waist felt so explicit that I unconsciously cried out.

“Y-your hand!”

Flustered, my voice cracked. As I hurriedly covered my mouth with both hands, Yezar, who had been still, let out a laugh.

“Ah….. Heh. Hahaha.”

“W-why are you laughing!”

“It’s nothing. Nothing at all.”

He said that, but it was clear he burst out laughing after hearing my voice.

‘Ugh…… Of all times, why did my voice come out like that.’

Feeling my cheeks redden, I tried to move away from him. But Yezar’s hand around my waist was still firmly in place.

“Why won’t you let go……! We should sleep now!”

“I’m sorry, my lady.”

There was laughter mixed in his voice as he answered. My whole body naturally heated up. I was really thankful it was dark around us.

As soon as I felt the grip on my waist loosen, I headed for the edge of the bed. I wanted to get away from him quickly because I felt embarrassed.

“Why are you running away?”

“W-who’s running away?”

“It seems like you’re avoiding me by going over there, my lady.”

It was a sharp remark that hit the nail on the head.

“I’m not!”

“Then, won’t you come back over here?”

To prove that I absolutely wasn’t avoiding him out of embarrassment, I reluctantly went back to his side. Before he could ask anything else, I quickly slipped under the covers.

Then I heard him laugh again. Ah. I wish tomorrow would come soon. So I could forget everything that happened today.

As I closed my eyes tightly, wishing earnestly, he lay down beside me. Usually, he keeps a proper distance. But today, he lay down right next to me.

“Yezar…… I have bad sleeping habits……”

If he lay this close, my arms or legs might hit him while I toss and turn in my sleep. But he was nonchalant.

“It’s alright. Besides, affectionate couples sleep close together.”

“You don’t have to be so mindful of my little brother. Though it’s true that affectionate couples do sleep close together.”

I added that since what Yezar said wasn’t wrong, but after saying it, I felt like I shouldn’t have added anything.

Seeing Yezar stick close to me with no sign of moving away, I felt even more so. He bid me goodnight.

“Yes, my lady. Then have sweet dreams.”

“You too, Yezar.”

Though I answered that I would sleep, I couldn’t fall asleep at all. Why did he go along with what I said? Usually, he would have blushed and said he couldn’t kiss me, flustered. Was he being considerate since it was our wedding night? Or did the bedroom the maids prepared somehow affect people strangely?

Seeing how I said things to Yezar that I would never say normally, both possibilities seemed likely. Just then, the sleeping Yezar hugged me tightly. His warm body temperature enveloped me comfortably.

‘But isn’t this too close?’

Even while thinking that, I didn’t leave his embrace. Because the warmth was so cozy.

‘Right. When sleeping close together, we might end up hugging like this. Considering how bad my sleeping habits are, this much is rather cute.’

I turned my head slightly to look at Yezar’s face. Because it was dark, I could only vaguely see the outline of his eyes, nose, and mouth. I carefully pressed my finger on his face.

Seeing him sleep so deeply that he wouldn’t notice if someone carried him away made me more worried. Really, could I live peacefully after divorcing this rabbit-like man? What if he gets involved with some viper-like woman and even loses his innocence?

Promising myself to help him find a good match as much as possible, I closed my eyes, unable to resist the approaching drowsiness.

***

As he heard the even breathing, Yezar opened his eyes that had been closed. A worried sigh escaped his lips.

‘Why is my lady so pure……’

From the moment he first entered this bedroom, the scene he witnessed had bewildered him.

A sweet scent tickled his nose and soft candlelight illuminated the room. Red petals the color of her hair were scattered on the pristine white bed sheets, and in the center was Julieta, looking at him with the ties of her robe undone.

From that moment on, Yezar tried his best to endure. To not lay a hand on his lady. He desperately tried to resist, pinching his thigh where Julieta couldn’t see.

But the moment Julieta came close, her scent made his endurance run out. Why did his lady have such a lovely fragrance? Why was everything she did so adorable?

And why didn’t she realize it herself? It was all so frustrating.

‘How much contact should I have with my lady to show we’re on good terms?’

Even thinking about it now, it was a question that revealed his true intentions. Would his lady despise him for this? Would she draw the line again?

He tried to take back what he said after blurting it out, but her answer snapped the patience he had been desperately holding onto.

‘Shouldn’t we do what we did at the wedding ceremony?’

When he came to his senses again, a silk-soft sensation was touching his lips. How could her exhaled breath be so sweet? How intoxicating was the feeling of contact?

Without realizing it, he traced her lower lip as he pulled away. He couldn’t tell how she would react. He couldn’t see her face in the darkness. Naturally, he became anxious.

While angry at himself for committing such an audacious act towards his innocent lady, he was also desperate to touch her more.

He clenched and unclenched his fists, trying to calm his heated body in response to this unfamiliar craving.

Without realizing it, he was yearning to seduce her and touch her more. But unaware of his dark intentions, his lady’s pure innocence as she approached made him sigh involuntarily.

His body tensed up on its own. Even though he wielded a sword like that, feeling her delicate waist unlike men’s, he bit his tongue and tried not to kiss her again.

The voice that came from his startled lady next was unbearably cute. If only it had been a little brighter. Then he could have seen her reddened face, flushed ears, and all her startled, struggling movements.

Such perverted thoughts flashed through his mind. Yezar carefully brushed aside Julieta’s hair as she slept soundly and whispered.

“What do you know, my lady? Not realizing my dark intentions like this.”

The more he looked at her sleeping so peacefully in his arms, the more worried he became.