-21-

After I finished my bath, Roan went in to wash up immediately.

I sat at the desk beside the bed.

There was even just one bed here. It was big enough for three adults, but still. Thousands of thoughts were already swirling in my head.

Could something possibly happen?

No way. It’s Roan.

But what was that he said yesterday?

It probably didn’t mean anything.

Wait. What am I wearing right now…?

Why am I thinking about such useless things!

Ugh. First, I decided to calm myself down and try to relax. Maybe I should do some Lamaze breathing. Ah, but that’s for pregnant women.

My mental tension seemed to extend to my body, and before I knew it, my legs were shaking.

Just as my tension was reaching its peak, the door opened.

-Screech.

Roan came in with his hair still damp from the bath.

Gasp…! Wet hair is the best. The wet hair seemed to double his sexiness. Normally, his subtle sexiness was now, wham! right in your face.

“Duchess.”

“Yes, yes?”

Ugh. My words came out stuttering against my will. Roan, unlike me, seemed perfectly composed on the outside.

“It’s late. Are you going to sleep now?”

“Yes, I should. Haha.”

I let out a laugh that clearly showed how awkward I felt as I approached the bed.

“Are you going to sleep now too, Roan?”

“Yes.”

Haha. With another awkward laugh, I cautiously sat at the edge of the bed.

Roan walked to the wall and turned off the light.

Suddenly, the darkness made it hard to see anything but vague shapes.

I curled up on the far left side of the bed.

I could feel the bed moving. Roan must be lying down too. By now, my eyes had adjusted enough to see Roan lying flat on his back.

And then there was complete silence. It was so quiet that even breathing was barely audible.

Despite some time passing, Roan didn’t move at all.

…? Is he asleep? I felt an inexplicable sense of disappointment.

Of course, it wasn’t like I was expecting anything in the first place.

Roan still didn’t move a muscle. Naturally, I expected this, but…

…Am I feeling regret? Is that it?

“Roan. Are you awake?”

I called out to him in a voice as small as a whisper.

“…….”

There was no answer from Roan. So he is asleep.

“Why do you ask?”

Then I heard Roan’s low voice.

So he wasn’t asleep?

Ah, right. Roan has insomnia. Unlike me, who falls asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow, he can’t sleep easily.

I had nothing to say when Roan asked why.

Really, why did I call him?

“Ah, nothing. I thought you were asleep.”

“Can’t you sleep?”

“It’s not easy.”

“…Is it uncomfortable with me next to you?”

Gasp. It felt like he hit the nail on the head.

Actually, it was true that having Roan next to me made it hard to relax, but it wasn’t exactly discomfort…

“If it’s uncomfortable, I can sleep in another room.”

Roan suddenly sat up.

Huh? That’s not what I meant.

I grabbed Roan’s arm unconsciously.

It was really without thinking.

Our eyes met in the dark as I held his arm. Startled, I quickly let go.

“No… it’s not uncomfortable.”

At that moment, a thought occurred to me.

Is Roan uncomfortable with me? I hadn’t considered that. He had insomnia and had always slept alone, so having someone next to him might have made it hard for him to sleep.

“Are you uncomfortable with me?”

Even in the dark, I could see his expression harden.

So that’s it. If that’s the case, there’s no choice.

I felt a bit dejected for some reason.

“If that’s the case, I’ll sleep in another room. Please sleep well here.”

I got up from the bed.

“Duchess.”

Roan suddenly called me.

“If you are, there’s no need. Please sleep here.”

But he didn’t look okay earlier.

I felt sorry that he might not be able to sleep even worse because of me, who already couldn’t sleep well.

Ah, is this the end of living in the same room with Roan?

“No, I’m fine. Don’t worry and get some sleep.”

Pausing at Roan’s voice, I answered firmly and moved away.

At that moment, he suddenly got out of bed.

Before I could even think, “What?” I felt myself being lifted into the air.

He supported my neck and knees with his hands, almost snatching me up.

I squirmed slightly. Just a little.

“…Roan?”

Unlike when he roughly lifted me, he gently placed me back on the bed.

“Sleep.”

His eyes were deep and dark in the shadows.

“Roan, but.”

I like sleeping next to you, but you won’t be able to sleep well.

Just as I was struggling to find the words to say.

Suddenly, Roan’s right arm landed beside my shoulder. His body quickly moved closer to me. His refreshing yet warm scent enveloped me.

With Roan so close, I could see his deep-set eyes even in the dark.

“Why don’t you ever listen?”

He slowly caressed my cheek with his fingertips.

I was so flustered by his actions that I just opened and closed my mouth like a fish. His clean breath washed over me as his face seemed to draw closer. Instinctively, I squeezed my eyes shut without even knowing why.

Then I heard a light, almost laughter-like sound. I seem to hear that sound a lot these days.

I carefully opened my eyes, and something warm and moist touched my eyelid.

For a moment, I thought it was Roan’s wet hair, but I soon realized it wasn’t.

Warmer than hair, it was his lips.

“…!”

Realizing this, I froze, unable to move. My eyes were still closed.

“Goodnight, Duchess.”

So, this is a goodnight kiss? Gosh.

My heart pounded so loudly I worried Roan might hear it.

He slowly moved away from me and lay down again. Only after calming my racing heart for a while could I finally speak.

“…You too, Roan.”

I thought I wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight, but whether because my tension eased or because I felt I had to sleep no matter what, I soon drifted off.

I woke up early for the first time in a long while. The morning air was refreshing.

Looking beside me, Roan was still sleeping peacefully with even breaths.

Seeing him first thing in the morning was the first since I met him.

His long lashes were densely packed on his sharp eyes. Whose husband is this, looking so handsome in the morning?

Shouldn’t people’s faces be puffy in the morning? I felt the world’s unfairness anew as I admired him.

At that moment, Roan’s eyelids slowly lifted.

“Are you awake?”

Ahem. Seeing his eyes reminded me of last night, making me feel a bit embarrassed, but I resolutely greeted him.

His sleepy eyes, having just woken up, turned to me. Despite sleeping with slightly damp hair, his smooth hair lay neatly.

“Yes. Did you sleep well?”

Roan replied in a slightly hoarse voice, having just woken up.

“Yes.”

We talked as if nothing had happened last night.

Roan seemed completely unaffected, and I pretended to be the same.

We prepared to leave early in the morning.

The fairies chattered excitedly, eager to go outside.

It seemed like going with the fairies would help me relax a bit. My heart rate was still dangerously high.

Before getting into the carriage, we bid farewell to the dwarves.

“We’re leaving now. Can I come back another time?”

“Anytime.”

Heinz answered with a kind smile.

“Then, we’ll really be off now.”

“Take care.”

Roan also greeted them. I waved as we moved away. The fairies followed my lead and said their goodbyes.

“Goodbye, everyone!”

“Goodbye!”

“Stay well!”

We quickly crossed the hellish hill again. This time, it was mostly downhill, so unfortunately, there was no need for Roan to carry me on his back.

After riding in the carriage for less than two days, we arrived back at the mansion.

I didn’t realize it, but Roan seemed to have a lot of work piled up. It was so urgent that David contacted us through emergency magical communication.

‘Your Grace! Please come quickly.’

David’s voice sounded like he was on the verge of collapsing. He must have taken on a lot of Roan’s work. I felt a bit sorry for him.

***

When we arrived at the mansion, David and the servants were there.

David’s face looked more haggard than before, confirming he had indeed been struggling. When he saw us, his face lit up like he’d seen a savior. The servants, though outwardly composed, seemed pleased to see us.

“Oh, wow!”

“This is your home?”

“It’s huge!”

The fairies flew around excitedly.

“Fairies…?”

David and the servants looked puzzled but quickly composed themselves.

“Duchess, Duke. Welcome back.”

“Yes, has everything been alright?”

“Fortunately, there were no issues.”

Victor, the butler, replied.

“Duke!”

David ran to us, out of breath.

“How could you leave me behind like that!”

He whined to Roan like a lover scorned. Roan cut off his whining nonchalantly.

“You’ve worked hard.”

Though David seemed deeply loyal, Roan’s acknowledgment made him relax a bit.

“Phew. You should head to the palace quickly.”

“Of course.”

Roan then looked at me.

“I need to go back immediately. I might be late, so please have dinner without me.”

“Alright.”

We had just returned after a long journey, and he had to leave again without rest. It seemed too much.

I couldn’t help but worry about his health as I watched him.

Sensing my concern, he gave me a reassuring smile.

“Something about you two… seems different.”

“Has something happened?”

The servants seemed to be whispering about us.

“Your Grace….”

‘I’ve been working myself to the bone without even a chance to date, and now I’m getting old!’

David looked at the duke and duchess with growing discontent. His eyes drooped.

“Your Grace. You received a letter while you were away.”

Mary, whom I hadn’t seen in a while, spoke.

It was from Princess Sophia. It was an invitation to a tea party with a set date.

“I should go.”

I still hadn’t met many of the people Delis knew. Especially the noble ladies and women of high society.

To survive in this world, I needed to know them.