Jihyuk’s gaze shifted as he noticed Yeocheong’s noticeably pale complexion. Yeocheong tried to raise the corners of his mouth, hoping he wouldn’t look strange.

“Are you all right?”

“Yes. It’s just a moment of dizziness.”

He knew that this tea wasn’t the same one that had paralysed his ut*rus before. This tea was from Sowol, one of his trusted servants, and it was something he had grown accustomed to drinking since his time in Yeon.

However, the moment he began to feel uneasy, the once clear colour of the tea began to fade and the discomfort quickly spread.

Though he forced a smile and tried to act as if nothing was wrong, his pale face and trembling hands betrayed him.

“Are you sure you’re all right? Wouldn’t it be better to call the palace doctor?”

“I’m fine. I am just embarrassed to keep showing up like this. I’ve never thought of myself as fragile, but…”

Since arriving in Yeon, Yeocheong’s health had deteriorated, but it wasn’t as if any problems had arisen the moment he entered the kingdom. Therefore, his current condition couldn’t simply be attributed to health problems.

‘How pathetic.’

Even if he had returned to the past with nothing but this weak, helpless body, every moment felt like a struggle and a crisis. What could he possibly achieve in this state?

Yeocheong bit his lip hard, consumed by intense self-disgust.

“Just a moment.”

While Yeocheong was lost in thought, Jihyuk reached for his lips. Surprised, Yeocheong parted his mouth slightly.

“I don’t think that’s a good habit. Your lips will be damaged.”

Jihyuk’s careful touch brushed lightly across Yeocheong’s lips. Even though his hand wasn’t fully outstretched, it was large enough to cover most of Yeocheong’s face, and the heat radiating from it was so intense that it almost felt like burning.

He had once liked this hand. After their unofficial marriage nights, it would often stroke his hair or tenderly caress his cheek while he slept.

‘Stop thinking these pointless thoughts. You know it was all just a performance.’

Even though he was fully aware that the owner of this hand, who was hiding his true intentions, was the cause of his current discomfort, Yeocheong couldn’t help but feel a momentary sense of comfort when the familiar hand touched him. It made him feel pitiful again.

“I understand that you’re still afraid of life in Yeon and that you’re unsure about me. In a way, it’s all my fault, so it’s only natural that you feel this way.”

For the moment, Jihyuk seemed to interpret Yeocheong’s anxiety as the discomfort of a crown princess far from home, but there was no guarantee that this would always be the case. Hiding his trembling hands under his sleeves, Yeocheong replied.

“How could it be otherwise? It’s just my own inadequacy.”

“And even if it was your fault, now that we’re married, it’s also my responsibility. So there’s no need to feel embarrassed or apologise.”

A whirlwind of emotions swept over Yeocheong. Despite the pain he had endured, the moment that hand touched him, he felt a fleeting sense of reassurance, and even though he knew it was all just a meaningless act, he still found those words comforting. He hated himself for feeling that way.

He’d thought that only hatred and contempt for himself was deeply rooted in him, and that was the way it should be.

“…Your Highness, you truly are kind.”

Even though it was a fleeting feeling, Yeocheong realised that a part of his feelings for Jihyuk still remained inside him.

‘This madness was more than enough for this moment.’

Yeocheong scoffed at his own weakness. He lifted his trembling hand and gently took Jihyuk’s, slowly pulling it away from his lips as he spoke.

“With you treating me so kindly, how could I suffer for so long? I’m sure I’ll get used to it soon.”

The more Jihyuk showed him kindness, the more Yeocheong would understand how insidious his behaviour could be. Even he, no matter how foolish, wouldn’t stay in this state forever.

Though his words were calm, the trembling in his hand had spread to his shoulders. Yeocheong smiled weakly and continued.

“I’m sure I will…”

Jihyuk watched him quietly. After a short pause, staring down at his teacup, he stood up.

‘Is he going to leave?’

Just as he had refrained from touching Yeocheong the night before, Jihyuk would probably leave now, respecting Yeocheong’s wish not to feel burdened. With this thought in mind, Yeocheong felt reassured and got up to see him off.

“Just a moment.”

But Yeocheong’s assumption was quickly proven wrong. Stepping closer, Jihyuk carefully wrapped his arms around Yeocheong’s small frame.

“W-what are you doing?”

“You seem so afraid of me.”

“Still, this…”

It wasn’t a loving embrace, more like a gentle hug around his shoulders than a real hug.

“I just wanted to do this. I know I don’t mean much to you yet, but the warmth of someone’s body can be the most effective way to calm fears, don’t you think?”

It wasn’t an entirely inaccurate statement. In moments of fear and exhaustion, sometimes all a person really needs is the comfort of being held by someone.

The light tap on his shoulder felt as if it soothed the pounding of his heart.

“Besides, we’re not strangers, we’re married. We should be the ones most used to physical contact.”

“……”

“Isn’t that right?”

His tone was playful, almost teasing. Though it was a bit different from last night, Yeocheong understood that it was also a form of consideration on his part.

“Your Highness is right. If I continue to avoid it, nothing will change.”

“I will never force you to do anything you don’t want to do, but as my wife, avoiding even the slightest touch could provide fodder for gossip.”

Yeocheong knew better than anyone that this was a truth he knew only too well.

‘Stop overthinking. Feelings from the past don’t matter. I know better than anyone that it was all a lie.’

Unlike Jihyuk, who remained cruel to the end, Yeocheong had truly loved him until the moment his eyes closed. That small, habitual feeling, deeply rooted in him, continued to tug at his chest and unsettle him.

It was probably because of this that the embrace and warmth he should have despised still gave him some comfort. Yeocheong laid his head gently on Jihyuk’s chest.

“For your sake and for my own selfish reasons, you’ll have to get used to this.”

“How could I not get used to it when His Royal Highness treats me so kindly?”

It would have been easier if he had been as cold as when he pointed a knife at him, but wherever they touched it was warm and intense.

“I believe your words, but I am a small man.”

“Excuse me?”

“I am thinking of visiting Yeon every day from now on, so that you will get so used to me that you will eventually get tired of it. We will continue to be close, just as we are now.”

“You must be very busy, how can you manage to visit me every day?”

“Yesterday I tried to behave a bit properly, but I am still a man. I can’t spend every night like yesterday.”

Yeocheong winced at the mention of the wedding night. In order to conceive, they would have to meet on auspicious days, both during and outside their designated intimate hours.

Although it was clear that these nights would not produce a child, not many people knew this, so it would remain an unavoidable public duty.

“On those nights, I can’t let you sleep alone and then spend the night apart, can I? It would look like I’m taking advantage of you. You’ll have to get used to it.”

“Your Highness is right…”

“Shall we consider it practice? Tomorrow we’ll be a little closer than today, and the day after that even closer than today.”

Jihyuk gently tightened his arm around Yeocheong before immediately loosening it and taking a step back.

“Then maybe you’ll be able to let go of your fear.”

Jihyuk didn’t need to reassure Yeocheong. As Yeocheong’s husband and the Crown Prince of Yeon, no one would criticise him for treating Yeocheong’s body roughly, planting his seed without any f*replay or care, not even using a perfume to soften the moment.

However, Jihyuk seemed to really want to make a good impression on Yeocheong, offering this method as if he really meant it, his eyes shining with sincerity, as if his claim of falling in love at first sight was completely genuine.

“Why are you trying so hard for me?”

Yeocheong silently looked into Jihyuk’s eyes before asking. Although he already knew the reason, he was curious to hear what Jihyuk would say.

“Even if you didn’t care so much, the wedding night would still happen, and with time, I would naturally get used to being here.”

No matter what Jihyuk answered, it would be a lie. But Yeocheong wanted to hear it anyway. Looking into Jihyuk’s eyes, he couldn’t shake the strange feeling that even though he knew the truth, he still wanted to believe the lie.