The wise saying(?) that “all men are the same” came to mind, and her thoughts started extending to the idea that this guy(?) in front of her was no different.

“Actually, I should have been satisfied with just our hands, I seem to have been too greedy.”

Perhaps reading Saena’s suspicious face, the Duke spoke.

“…Hands?”

“Yes. I should have been satisfied with being able to hold hands, but seeing your smiling face… I couldn’t hold back. I apologize.”

Though he had said he wanted her body(?), suddenly this was very far from anything impure. She couldn’t quite follow the flow.

“When I smiled?”

She wasn’t sure which time he meant.

“When you had just woken up after sleeping contentedly in my arms, you smiled at me so prettily…”

Now that she heard it, she might have smiled… She probably thought his blue eyes were pretty.

“Since you were the one who first snuggled into my arms while sleeping, well, I thought… you liked me.”

“……”

Saena was shocked. She had snuggled up to him first?

She did remember thinking she wanted to lie more comfortably because her position was uncomfortable… Ah, did she smile because her neck was ticklish?

<Men are shameless.

The Duke is a man.

Therefore, the Duke is shameless.>

She had just been completing this nonsensical syllogism in her head. But after hearing the reality, she felt incredibly embarrassed.

“Ahem. But what do you mean hands would be enough?”

“It’s not a lie that I need your warmth. When you hold my hand, the cold goes away… and I sleep very well.”

“……”

She wondered what on earth he was talking about when suddenly it occurred to her.

Was that why he would take short naps whenever she visited the Duke’s mansion?

Every time he would briefly close his eyes while lightly holding Saena’s fingertips, and when he woke up, he would have an expression that was both refreshed and wistful.

Though she wasn’t sure what great effect just holding fingertips could have.

‘Well, today it wasn’t just fingertips—it was quite a firm hold…’

No, far beyond firmly holding hands… um, better stop thinking about it.

Saena deliberately twisted her chain of thoughts.

“Is it insomnia or something like that?”

“…Similar. Since there’s always something worrying residing in my mind, it’s not easy to fall asleep.”

Given his position, given his status, it makes sense that he would have many headaches.

Running that vast territory while defending the border couldn’t be an easy task.

‘Perhaps… he just misses human warmth… something like that?’

Come to think of it, the Duke had no family. She had heard he inherited his title quite young when the previous Duke and Duchess passed away early. Plus being an only child, he would have no siblings…

And if he tried getting close to women, they would all be too interested in becoming the Duchess. He couldn’t carelessly show weakness to friends or retainers either.

‘He’s lonely…’

Not realizing she might be making a serious error by fabricating causality in her head, Saena began looking at him with a sympathetic face.

Unlike him, she hadn’t known loneliness despite having no friends thanks to Yuri’s presence, and hadn’t felt much emptiness from not having a mother thanks to her dad and brother’s presence.

Though Yuri was gone now… Saena still had family.

“I’ll hold your hand. Whenever you need it.”

Now that she had established the formula <Duke = High Status but Pitiable Person>, Saena’s meddlesome nature activated.

“That’s something even friends can do plenty.”

Looking at Saena answering brightly, the Duke tilted his head slightly.

“Friends…”

He suddenly pressed his temple like he’s feeling a headache while saying those words.

“Friends…. hmm…”

He looked deep in thought as if Saena had thrown out some profound topic.

“Friends…”

Finally the Duke met Saena’s eyes steadily before slowly lowering his gaze, stopping at her lips. Then he muttered the same word again while repeating it.

For some reason, her lips felt ticklish again when his gaze landed on them…

Saena pressed her lips together and swallowed hard.

‘Is this his silent expression saying what kind of friends kiss so intensely…’

Now with positions reversed, Saena felt like she had become quite a bad woman.

Well, it wasn’t just once or twice, and after sharing breaths for so long like that, this was practically the same as trying to back out suddenly.

“Hah. Yes. It must be my inadequacy. I understand.”

The Duke suddenly agreed while she was feeling awkward. But she couldn’t understand what he meant.

“…What? What inadequacy…”

“The kissing must have been terrible. I’m sorry for making you try to say indirectly that you never want to do it again.”

He meant that Saena must have found it difficult to say directly and was trying hard to say it in a roundabout way.

“That’s… not it! The kissing was good! Very good, it’s not because of that…”

“It was good? Very?”

Though she should tell him that’s not it, saying it like that felt somewhat strange.

“I was about to become very dejected, thinking you were disappointed. I’m glad. So it’s not because of my terrible skills?”

“What? Y-yes…”

Far from terrible…

Whoosh. Saena’s face burned as she swallowed the rest of her words.

“Good. I’ll back off this much then.”

No, what are you backing off from?

“Whether friends or whatever, let’s start from there first. Since you don’t seem to want to be tied down with terms like lovers or sweethearts yet.”

“……”

“But I desperately need you. My insomnia is actually… something like a very chronic, long-standing problem. Honestly, I had never thought it could get even slightly better.”

“…Why?”

Though insomnia is a condition that drains people, isn’t it usually psychological? It shouldn’t be an incurable disease, right?

Saena couldn’t understand.

“It’s like… a side effect of the contract.”

The Duke hesitated briefly before answering.

“Contract?”

“The Guardian Spirit, I mean.”

“Ah… my goodness.”

She had no idea there was such a backstory to the Oathkeeper of the Guardian Spirit that everyone envied and desired.

Side effects, side effects…

When the Guardian Spirit was mentioned, Saena unconsciously became 200% focused and listened intently to his words.

Though her expression showed sympathy, seeing her bright, attentive eyes, the Duke smiled like he had just realized something.

“Right. You were… an ardent follower of Arles-Promesa.”

Oops. He was talking about his painful side effects while she had practically stared in fascination. Realizing this terrible mindset, Saena apologized.

“No, um, I’m sorry. I only thought contracts were unconditionally good and wonderful, so learning there are such side effects was… unexpected. I’m truly sorry if I offended you.”

“No. I’m not offended. Rather, I’m glad to realize again that I have something that appeals to you.”

Appeal? Saena silently apologized for momentarily putting the Duke and George Hollander on the same level.

Actually, someone of his status could easily use force without needing to expose all his weaknesses like this, yet he remained consistently courteous.

Well, though that was probably due to his desperate desire for a sound sleep, still, in terms of methods, he was truly being very considerate of Saena.

Considering his status as second only to the imperial family in nobility, that was absolutely not an easy thing.

“Anyway, for whatever reason, you can bring me into the realm of peace. And that is… something I desperately want.”

Insomnia. Not being able to properly sleep every day, not just for a day or two, is clearly an incredibly painful thing.

Though not as long-term as the Duke’s, she had experienced insomnia from the hardships of her difficult marriage life, so she could somewhat empathize with how painful it was.

Saena nodded slightly in understanding.

“But I absolutely don’t want to keep you by my side only for such reasons.”

…What? Then why?

Saena looked at him with eyes asking what he meant.

“You are a charming woman, cute and lovable. Beautiful too. To be honest, I’m attracted to you romantically.”

“…What?”

“Though I feel self-loathing for acting this way toward you who just debuted, like some beast…”

Saena’s face burned at his expression that was somehow both sincere and intense.

“I don’t expect anything immediate. So please don’t cut off contact.”

His blue eyes revealed a dark but clear radiance as they faced Saena. As if there wasn’t a single lie in his words, that gaze was straight and true.

“…The… translation work needs to be done. I won’t cut it off.”

What a strange day. Going to work on translations but falling asleep, then having countless kisses with him, pushing him away, then getting close again…

Now she wasn’t even sure what she wanted herself.

“Thank you. And… don’t forget to come put me to sleep.”

The Duke smiled very slowly, stretching his lips.

A gentle tone like a joke. A warm smile. The loveliness buried in his long-folded eye corners…

Saena’s heart dropped at his smile that was like an offering presented to the other person with sincerity.