“But then…”

Clodine trailed off.

That would mean someone would have to share a room with a man.

She abruptly closed her mouth.

Ahazan, instantly understanding why she could not finish her sentence, folded his arms and let out an easy laugh.

“If you have even a shred of consideration, I trust you won’t suggest sharing a room with the servants.”

Clodine understood his reasoning well enough. If someone had to share a room with a man, then naturally she, who was soon to marry Ahazan, should be paired with him. It would be unthinkable to place unmarried maids in the same room as male soldiers.

There was only one way to avoid sharing with Ahazan: the three women could crowd into one room instead.

But judging by the size of the inn, even a single room would likely be small. Three people sharing would be far from comfortable. And even if Clodine claimed she did not mind, would the servants truly agree? More likely they would argue over yielding the room to her until she ended up alone anyway.

She knew very well what decision would allow her subordinates to rest in peace. She had no desire to tire everyone out with pointless stubbornness at such a late hour.

“Fine. We’ll share a room.”

After saying so, she stepped into the inn first. She thought she heard a faint laugh behind her but ignored it. The heavy footsteps following her only made her feel hotter with irritation.

***

As expected, the room was small.

Fortunately, there were two beds. At least she did not have to imagine sharing one.

While the innkeeper and Merian arranged the bedding, Clodine stood awkwardly by the window, rubbing her slender arms.

“Shall I help you change into your nightclothes, my lady?”

“No. I’ll sleep like this.”

Merian seemed to sense the worry hidden in her answer and did not press further. After offering a polite goodnight, she left with the innkeeper, closing the door behind her.

When the faint rustling sounds faded, the sound of running water grew louder. Ahazan was bathing in the attached washroom.

“Talking about security and yet bathing so comfortably…”

Clodine muttered under her breath.

Soon even the water stopped.

She moved quickly, uncharacteristically so, and slipped into bed, pulling the blanket up to her chin and squeezing her eyes shut, steadying her increasingly shallow breaths.

A night with Ahazan.

She had known such a night would come someday. She had not expected it to be today.

Unlike him, she had no composure to wash leisurely and drift into elegant sleep.

“Clodine?”

His voice, clearer after bathing, called her name.

Earlier, when he had suggested she wash first, she had insisted she wasn’t tired and would bathe later.

She did not respond.

“Clodine.”

He called again.

He even pulled the blanket slightly downward.

Clodine forced her lashes not to tremble. She had to look asleep. That was all that mattered.

“Already asleep?”

His voice had softened. He sounded tired too.

Silence followed.

She thought she had succeeded.

But only for a moment.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

His warm breath brushed close to her ear. His low, resonant voice made her scalp prickle. She nearly screamed but managed to hold it in.

Then she felt his hand at her chest.

No, at the bodice of her dress, where it pressed tightly across her br*asts.

What are you doing?

Panic exploded inside her.

Should she pretend to wake in shock? Should she slap him?

But it stopped there.

He touched the area briefly, then withdrew his hand almost immediately. He did not touch her again. Instead, he pulled the blanket back up neatly to her neck.

At first she did not understand what he had done.

Then she realized.

She could breathe more easily.

The tight corset that had constricted her chest and abdomen was loosened.

“Good night, Clodine. Sweet dreams.”

His warm hand brushed her forehead, trailing gently along her hairline.

Under the blanket, Clodine clenched her skirt in secret. Even without looking, she could sense he was still bent over her.

Don’t.

She wanted to say it aloud.

She would rather suffocate under a corset than accept his kindness like this. She did not want him stroking her gently. She did not want to feel his breath and ask herself why?

All of it threw her into confusion.

Thankfully, he soon returned to his own bed.

Eyes closed, she found herself listening to the faint sounds of him shifting in the dark.

The long night began.

She did not fall asleep for a long time.

***

The next morning, they sat across from each other at a small breakfast laid out in the room.

Clodine placed a small piece of bread in her mouth and chewed silently. Without looking up from her plate, she spoke.

“Did you touch my clothes last night?”

She felt him pause mid-meal and look at her.

She deliberately glanced down at the tightly fastened corset.

“I’m asking because when I woke up, the corset laces had been loosened.”

Clodine had not expected him to feign ignorance.

With that thought, she lifted her gaze and looked straight at Ahazan. If he admitted what he had done the night before, she intended to tell him not to ever do it again.

Ahazan answered with a peculiar smile.

“Why do you assume it was me?”

His tone was shamelessly calm.

Clodine wondered if she had misheard him.

“There was no one else who could have touched it.”

“Or.”

He said lightly, resting his chin on his hand, elbow propped on the table.

“It might have loosened while you were sleeping.”

“It couldn’t possibly have—”

“You can’t be certain, can you?”

She found his expression infuriating, but she could not refute him. She could hardly say she had been pretending to sleep and knew exactly what he had done.

Clodine recognized that this was the moment to retreat.

After steadying herself, she spoke coolly.

“Very well.”

Her voice was as crisp as the morning breeze.

“You must be right. Surely you are not the sort of scoundrel who would lay hands on a woman without her permission.”

She had chosen that word deliberately.

As expected, the lazy curve of Ahazan’s smile slowly faded.

Satisfied that she had struck his pride, she believed the matter closed. If she had wounded his dignity, then surely he would never repeat such behavior.

She forced herself to continue eating, trying to appear indifferent.

Then he spoke again.

“Last night.”

She looked up.

He wore a faint, almost mocking smile.

“It was me.”

“What?”

Her brows drew together.

“My hand was on you.”

Why admit it now?

Before she could grasp his intent, he delivered the final blow.

“You have my sympathy, having to marry a scoundrel like me.”

And with that, he rose and left the room.

Left alone, Clodine’s rigid posture finally collapsed. She leaned back into her chair, drained.

He had toyed with her.

She should have been angry. She should have felt insulted.

Instead, her thoughts drifted elsewhere.

‘Was it truly only unpleasant? Only repulsive?’

If there had been even a trace of crude intention in his touch, it would have been easier. She could have despised him freely.

But there had been none.

Every touch had been careful, almost reverent. So gentle that she could not even justify anger.

‘Stop thinking about it.’

She hated that she even had to tell herself that.

Had she, under the pretense of warning him, secretly hoped he would explain? That he would admit he loosened the corset because he was worried she could not breathe?

If so—

Then she truly had lost her mind.

She covered half her flushed face with her hand and lowered her head. She no longer understood what was happening inside her.

‘Clodine, wake up. It’s morning.’

He had said that earlier, brushing her cheek gently. For a fleeting moment, she had thought she was dreaming, wished that everything terrible between them had been nothing but a dream.

But when her hand had instinctively pushed his away, she understood.

None of it was a dream.

They were trapped, bound in a cycle where they would wound and be wounded in turn.

Knock, knock.

“My lady, may I enter?”

Merian’s voice.

Clodine quickly composed herself.

“Come in.”

Merian entered quietly.

“I have prepared bathwater in my room for you.”

Clodine managed a faint smile.

“You must have been uncomfortable sharing a room, and yet you’ve gone to such trouble.”

Merian shook her head immediately.

“The room was spacious. I was quite comfortable.”

“Even so, if two of you had to share one room, it must have been inconvenient.”

“Two people… sharing one room?”

Merian frowned slightly.

Clodine felt something shift.

“I was told there were not enough rooms and that we had to pair off…”

“Not enough rooms?”

“The soldiers all camped outside. Only Olivia and I stayed in the inn.”

Clodine listened in silence.

Then she pressed her fingers to her forehead and let out a quiet sigh.

“…Ah.”

It was, in more ways than one, a morning that burned at her pride.