“And if all a human needs is water and bread, what distinguishes us from animals? Everyone has the right to strive for a better life. Are you going to take that right away from me?”

Benjamin’s eyes darkened at her words.

“To think someone so immature would even dare say such things.”

His voice dropped lower, heavier.

“A single sip of clean water, a piece of soft bread, a handful of warm sunlight – you have no idea how many people in this country live without even that. If you really thought about those people, the idea of asking for rosewater wouldn’t even cross your mind.”

“Benjamin Ishpern.”

Helena didn’t back down – her voice was clear and firm.

“You treat me like a naive, foolish woman who knows nothing of the world, but that’s only because you don’t know me.”

“At least I’ve lived my life fulfilling my duties. Unlike a certain Count who’s shirked all responsibility, spouting lofty nonsense while letting his inherited estate fall into ruin.”

At her words, Benjamin’s pale forehead furrowed, a long vertical crease forming along the bridge of his otherwise straight nose.

But he didn’t seem to have any real objections.

Helena didn’t miss her chance.

Like a goddess of war raising her banner in triumph, she raised her chin in pride and declared:

“So far, you seem to be running this place like a complete madman – but now that I’m here, I’m not going to let it stay that way.”

Then, with swift finality, she climbed onto the bed and lay down flat in its centre.

“Oh, right – surely the noble Count Ishpern wouldn’t want to share a bed with a spoiled little brat, would he? So the bed is for the brat. The noble count can sleep wherever he likes – or not at all, for all I care.”

Having said that, Helena stubbornly closed her eyes.

Benjamin, staring at her in disbelief, finally replied in an irritated voice.

“Do what you want. I don’t sleep in beds anyway.”

Helena’s eyes snapped open.

“Well, would you look at that? You have at least one redeeming quality. I’m going to sleep in this bed, so don’t come near me. If you do, I won’t let it slide.”

Then, as if she couldn’t stand the sight of him, she turned her back to him and lay down.

Benjamin stared at her small back for a moment, then picked up his papers.

“…”

But she didn’t stay averted for long.

Soon Helena began to wriggle and shift restlessly.

The rustling of the sheets made Benjamin look up from his papers to see what she was doing.

Helena fumbled with her hands as if searching for something – and then stared at the bedside table with a completely dejected expression.

Unable to bear the distraction any longer, Benjamin finally asked.

“What is it now?”

Helena shot him down immediately.

“None of your business.”

Then she began to scan the room with a sombre expression on her face.

Benjamin really didn’t want to get involved.

But to see the same woman who had spat fire during their earlier argument now looking so sulky and defeated – he couldn’t bring himself to ignore it.

With a sigh, he gave up reading his papers and got up to walk over to her.

“What the hell’s the problem?”

Helena pointed to the bedside table.

“That.”

“Something wrong with the table?”

“Why… why is there a table here? Why not a bedside table?”

“I have no idea.”

He said, suppressing the irritation bubbling under his voice.

“This table has always been here.”

“Now that you’re done asking for rosewater, do you want a bedside table?”

“Not that I need a bedside table.”

Helena lifted her sparkling emerald eyes and looked up at him – her gaze filled with quiet desperation.

Eventually, all the venom had drained from her face, leaving her looking lost, like a child without direction. Benjamin hesitated.

She reached out and pressed her hand into the empty space between the bed and the table.

“How am I supposed to sleep, if I have nowhere to wedge my hand?”

Only then did Benjamin realise what she meant.

He nodded slowly.

“If there was a bedside table here, you could wedge your hand between it and the bed.”

“Exactly.”

“But with a table, there’s nowhere to put it.”

“That’s right.”

Benjamin spoke calmly.

“Don’t be ridiculous. We can’t rearrange the furniture in the middle of the night. Just close your eyes and count sheep. I’m sure you’ll be asleep before ten.”

“There it is again!”

Helena snapped sharply.

“You don’t know anything about me, and yet you keep making assumptions as if you do. I’m sick of it – so stop!”

Benjamin’s brow furrowed sharply at the word ‘sick of it’.

“I was trying to be considerate…”

But the desperation in her face stopped him. With a deep, strained sigh, he tilted his head back and stared at the ceiling, forcing himself to calm down.

When he finally regained his composure, he said coolly.

“Very well. I’ll stop worrying about someone I obviously know nothing about.”

With that, Benjamin returned to his seat and began sorting through the pile of letters in front of him.

Half were collection notices.

The other half were polite apologies from those who unfortunately could not afford to pay what was owed.

Benjamin grew tired of both types of letter.

Fortunately, with the large sum of Helena’s dowry now in his possession, he’d at least be able to put out the most pressing fires.

But even finding out which fires were most urgent was no easy task.

He sat with the letters spread out in front of him, massaging his temples in frustration – until he happened to glance over to where Helena was lying.

And he flinched.

Helena lay in a visibly uncomfortable position, one hand awkwardly tucked under her body, staring at him with hollow, tired eyes.

“What now?”

Helena had reached her limit.

No – she had reached it long ago.

The only reason she had lasted so long was sheer pride – the stubborn refusal to show any weakness in front of Benjamin.

A single tear trickled from the corner of her eye.

“What… have I done wrong to deserve this…?”

“…?”

Benjamin stared, confused.

‘What was she talking about?’

She was the one who had been caught with the Crown Prince – by the Empress and the Prince’s fiancée, no less.

It was her own scandal that had forced her into this punishment of a marriage.

And now she asked what she had done wrong?

But Benjamin wasn’t heartless enough to say that to someone who was clearly backed into a corner and now in tears.

He picked up a handful of letters and walked over to the edge of the bed. Then he asked her.

“Is tucking your hand in really that important to you?”

Helena nodded with a sad expression on her face.

With what felt like the hundredth sigh since they had met, Benjamin lay down beside her.

Helena, who had been melting into a puddle of fatigue, grief and frustration, immediately snapped into focus – her eyes narrowing into sharp triangles.

“What? I thought you didn’t sleep in beds?”

Without answering, Benjamin took her small hand and tucked it under his waist.

“Happy now?”

“Oh… so this was an option…!”

“I do expect you to repay this favor.”

Finally, the tension left Helena’s body.

With one hand tucked firmly under his waist, she let out a deeply satisfied smile.

Pulling the blanket tight, she settled into a proper sleeping position and asked.

“By the way… why were you so determined not to sleep in the bed? Don’t tell me it was because of me…?”

“And why would you assume that?”

Helena blinked sleepily, her expression drowsy.

“Because you couldn’t possibly sleep with a beauty like me next to you…”

Benjamin kindly corrected her.

“That has nothing to do with you.”

After a short pause, he put the letters in his hand aside and spoke.

“…I’ve lived my whole life without much connection to things like beds.”

Turning his head, he looked out into the darkness beyond the window as he continued.

“I spent many years as a mercenary. The company I was with always sought out the fiercest battlefields – even in the monster-ridden southern regions.To survive there, you couldn’t let your guard down. Not even for a moment. I always slept with my back against a wall, curled up with a sword to my chest. That was life.”

His voice faded.

“Still… back then, I had hope. The belief that someday, things would get better…”

“Zzzzzzz.”

“…”

Benjamin turned his head to look at Helena.

It was as if Helena had never been awake at all – she was completely unconscious, fast asleep.

One hand was still firmly under Benjamin’s waist, the other wrapped tightly around the duvet. Her head was halfway under the pillow and she was snoring softly.

Benjamin looked at her for a moment, then gently lifted her head and replaced it properly on the pillow.

Even when he touched her face, Helena didn’t bat an eyelid.

There was not a trace of alarm on her peacefully sleeping face – just the uninhibited slumber of someone who was completely at ease.

Benjamin felt a sigh rise from deep in his chest – one he could barely swallow.