I instinctively moved my hand.

Then I felt warm body heat and firm skin. As if it were reality, not a dream.

But it couldn’t be real. There’s no way I would ever be lying in bed next to Edan.

And yet…

Why does it feel so real? The texture, the elasticity, everything.

Since Edan had removed his upper clothing, I unintentionally focused all my attention on his chest and abdomen in my hazy state.

“The scars…”

I hadn’t noticed before since there were no scars on his face, but upon closer inspection, there were several cut marks on his arms and perfectly sculpted abs.

Though not unsightly, the numerous traces of large and small wounds made me realize he truly was a warrior who had fought in wars for a long time.

“That must have hurt. But thankfully there are no scars on your handsome face.”

Muttering to myself as I traced the scars, I unconsciously raised my head and shifted my gaze to Edan’s face.

And I found myself staring directly into Edan’s red eyes.

The clear gaze looking at me made me feel like I was suddenly wide awake.

But I still hadn’t fully regained my sense of reality when Edan’s arm moved under my head. I sprang up from my position like a broken toy spring.

“Eek!”

I’m crazy! It wasn’t a dream but real. I had even been clinging to Edan while using his arm as a pillow.

Letting out a huge scream, I forgot I was on a bed and hurriedly backed away.

My body immediately reached the edge of the bed and as I lost my balance and was about to fall to the floor, Edan reached out to me.

“What are you doing.”

With an indifferent expression, Edan grabbed my arm and pulled me back towards the bed. In an instant, I was back in my original spot.

“Oof!”

Though it seemed like a light tug, I ended up bumping my face right into his chest.

I squinted at the tingling sensation.

And as I slowly opened my eyes, there was Edan in the same position as before, offering his arm as a pillow.

Unable to fully comprehend the situation, I rolled my eyes around.

Looking at the window and ceiling moldings, I could tell this wasn’t my room.

The castle wasn’t originally very fancy, but I had decorated my room with small yellow curtains. This room, however, had nothing on the windows and no decorations at all – just a bed and one nightstand in a very bleak space.

Is this Edan’s room?

I remember going to the north last night and seeing Hillstain… I recall seeing snowflakes falling from the black sky filled with auroras, beautiful yet eerie, but…

Why, why am I in the same bed as this man?

I wanted to properly get up and look around, but I couldn’t move.

Because Edan was holding my arm and staring at me intently.

It’s really agonizing not knowing how to react at times like this. I had no choice but to speak first.

“Did, did you sleep well?”

I barely managed to say those words while trying to act as calm as possible and observing his reaction carefully, but Edan lazily closed and opened his eyes.

“Breakfast.”

“What?”

I quickly responded out of confusion, then immediately regretted it. I should have first questioned why my name had become “breakfast.”

Edan, seemingly unconcerned about such things, continued speaking.

“Do you remember what happened last night?”

What happened? Did something happen between us? No, no. Many things happened.

But since I couldn’t grasp exactly what part of last night Edan was referring to, I shook my head.

“I don’t really remember…”

“Really? Then I guess you don’t remember trying to run away, getting caught, crying your eyes out, and agreeing to work under me for life.”

Where is he selling this nonsense? When did I ever do that? I didn’t cry, nor did I agree to work under him for life!

“I remember EXACTLY going to the north with you, master. I was doing calisthenics under the moonlight when you suddenly dragged me away.”

Only then did Edan chuckle. When he’s expressionless, he’s really scary like an ice wall, but when he smiles, he looks a bit more alive. I unconsciously thought it would be nice if he smiled more often.

“So that’s how you’re going to play it? Then what happened next?”

“After that… I saw Sir Ruben, and monsters… and Knight Commander Hillstain… Eek?!”

As I was mumbling on, Edan suddenly grabbed my waist and swiftly turned our positions.

“Wh-what…!”

My heart and face were about to explode.

Edan’s hands were grasping my waist, and before I could do anything, I found myself on top of Edan’s stomach as he lay on his back.

When I hurriedly tried to get off, Edan’s hands around my waist tightened.

“Don’t move.”

“But… this is…”

“You asked me not to let you go, remember?”

“What? When did I?”

“Last night.”

“I don’t remember that!”

My voice rose along with my embarrassment, and Edan released one hand to brush back his hair.

“Playing dumb because it’s disadvantageous to you?”

“I really don’t remember.”

“Remember. That’s an order.”

You crazy bastard. How am I supposed to remember something I don’t recall!

I bit my lower lip hard. And the moment I looked at my hands resting on Edan’s chest, everything came back to me, making my previous irritation meaningless.

‘Cold.’

Edan had carried me into the castle while I was in a half-dazed state with a fever. It must have been around the time when the surrounding air felt a bit warmer and Edan’s embrace felt cozy.

When Edan tried to put me down on the bed, I had hugged him tightly and said,

‘Hold me. Don’t let go. I’m cold.’

Shit! I’m crazy! Recalling up to that point, I widened my eyes, my complexion turning pale from the shock.

How could I have said such things without drinking a single drop of alcohol?

I was cold. I really was cold. I had been staying in warm places all along and suddenly went to the north in that outfit. I was also in a very tense state.

But still, I should have kept my wits about me. Why did I say such things!

“Let me make this clear, you were the one who clung to me first and begged. Even now, your hands are still on my chest.”

Edan said teasingly, raising one corner of his mouth, noticing that I had remembered.

“Eek! I’m sorry!”

I quickly removed my hands from his chest and raised both arms in alarm.

I swear it wasn’t intentional, but given the position and everything, I felt like a pervert who had pounced on a handsome man.

However, Edan, who seemed to be on the receiving end, was laughing as if amused, while I, the one who had supposedly pounced, was tearing at my hair. As I lowered my head, I suddenly noticed another oddity.

“…My clothes.”

I was definitely wearing my outdoor clothes yesterday, but now my state was…

I looked at Edan in bewilderment, silently asking what was going on.

“What.”

Edan asked dryly, and his overly confident attitude threw me off a bit.

“No… it’s just… the clothes…”

“What about them.”

“I was wearing different clothes yesterday…”

I was using ambiguous language, too embarrassed to directly ask if he had changed my clothes, when Edan spoke as if he was doing me a great favor.

“No need to thank me. You’re small, so it didn’t take long to change you.”

“Change… You did it yourself? You personally changed my clothes?”

“Yes.”

So you’re saying you saw me naked, right? Is that right?!

All sorts of thoughts exploded in my head like bombs.

But Edan was so brazen and confident that I was the only one blushing furiously with embarrassment.

It’s extremely mortifying, but judging from Edan’s reaction, he seemed to think of it as no different from changing a puppy’s clothes. If I make a fuss about it, I might end up looking like more of a pervert.

But still, I can’t just let this slide.

“You’re crazy!”

In the end, I shouted, punching his chest with my fist.

“Why would you! Just! Like that! As you please! Ha! Really!”

I was so dumbfounded that I could barely speak properly. Honestly, I was a bit scared, so I took a deep breath before barely managing to speak.

But Edan wasn’t affected at all by my punch and spoke as if he was annoyed, looking at me like he didn’t understand what I was saying.

“What. What are you trying to say?”

“Apologize!”

“Why should I.”

“You saw me naked without permission! I’ve never shown anyone before!”

At those words, a strange light suddenly flashed in Edan’s eyes.

“What. It was your first time?”

I nodded with a bright red face. Of course it was the first time, who else would have undressed me?

Even Jenald, who had nursed me when I almost died falling from the carriage, had never done anything like this.

“Ha. Really?”

Edan let out a light sneer.

I had told him to apologize, so I thought he would at least show some sign of remorse, if not actually say sorry, but he’s laughing? I was so dumbfounded that I froze.

And as if he liked my reaction even more, Edan smoothly raised his lips in a smile, as if to show off.

With a slightly amused expression.

“It’s okay. It was my first time too.”

“What?”

“It was your first time, and it was my first time too. So it’s fine.”

I really can’t understand how this person’s mind works.

It doesn’t make sense to try to understand a madman anyway.

“That’s not the point!”

“Then what is.”

After finishing his words, Edan swiftly moved me to the side of the bed and got up. And then,

“For your information, I haven’t touched your chest yet.”

“…”

“But you touched mine.”

“…”

“You’re the first woman to touch my chest, so keep that in mind too.”

That… that was a mistake…

The sensation of his chest was still on my fingertips, and the words “first time” made me feel like I had stolen the purity of his chest, leaving me at a loss for words.

Is this calculation correct? He’s so confident that I can’t even argue.

I just glared at Edan’s broad back while fuming. But suddenly, Edan turned around and met my eyes.

“But well, if you’re disappointed, you can look too.”

Edan chuckled softly and slightly hooked his fingers into the waistband of his pants.

Very slowly, the pants began to slide down, revealing the tightly woven muscles extending from his abs to his hipbones.

“I’m quite confident.”

No way, you crazy bastard.