Chapter 10
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: First Night (5)
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"This should be enough."
Getting up from the bed, I pulled off the covers,
toss.
and roughly rolled them up before tossing them onto the floor. Right where the servants could see them clearly.
"Then I'll get some sleep."
I flopped back down onto the bed. All the effort I'd put in had left me exhausted.
More than anything, tonight was guaranteed to be free of any ambushes. I didn't want to waste a night like this. I planned to fall asleep fast and finally get some proper rest.
"...Your Excellency."
Rose didn't climb onto the bed. She just stood there rigidly.
"Is this the respect and consideration you mentioned... as a husband?"
"Exactly."
I replied nonchalantly from where I lay.
"I won't lay a hand on you."
"..."
"So relax and go to sleep."
I wouldn't force anything unwanted on her. That was the utmost consideration I could offer Rose.
I figured this would finally get her to climb into bed.
But.
"Hic."
Out of nowhere, I heard her stifling sobs. Thinking I'd misheard, I strained my ears.
"Sniff."
No mistake. Rose was crying.
'Why the hell...?'
Utterly baffled, I shot up from the bed.
"Sob."
There she was, tears welling up, quietly weeping.
"...Why are you crying?"
Maybe it was my incredulous tone, or the question itself.
"Hic."
Rose took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. But the more she tried, the louder her sobs grew.
"Sniff, sob."
Tears finally began streaming down her cheeks.
Drip, drip.
Seeing the teardrops wetting the floor at her feet left me utterly dumbfounded—and strangely like some kind of thug.
'What the hell did I even do?'
One thing was clear: I couldn't just leave her like this. With no choice, I got up and approached her.
"Madam, why are you crying?"
I racked my brain for anything I'd said wrong, but nothing came up. I'd only been generous with her.
'Is she crying from gratitude?'
No, that wasn't it. This was clearly sorrow.
"Madam, at least tell me why you're crying."
No matter how I thought about it, it wasn't my fault.
Figuring there must be some reason, I stood before her and waited. I couldn't exactly sleep alone like this anyway.
"—Your Excellency,"
Finally.
Just as I brightened at hearing her speak after my long patience,
"you're being too kind to me. I think... I misunderstood."
I plunged even deeper into confusion than before.
Why bring that up here?
"When you came into this bedroom tonight, I braced myself."
For what?
"See? You don't want to hold someone like me."
Only then did her words sink in, forcing a groan from me.
So... Rose thought...
"You thought I'd take you tonight?"
She glanced at me through sniffles, saw the sheer bafflement in my eyes,
"Wah."
and burst into even sadder tears than before.
"Madam, come on."
I was at a loss. I knew how to make a woman cry, but not how to comfort one.
After some thought, the method I chose was,
"Stop crying."
wiping the tears streaking her cheeks.
"—!"
Rose's breath hitched for a moment.
Blink.
As she slowly blinked, another teardrop welled up and fell.
Wipe.
I silently focused on brushing it away. I didn't carry a handkerchief. Just used my large hand to gently rub her face.
Blink, blink.
I wiped the tears right from the corners of her eyes and asked,
"All done crying?"
It wasn't the gentlest touch, rough even, but she stopped crying. The act itself seemed to calm her.
"Now answer me."
She sniffled once and spoke.
"It's... a right you could naturally demand of me. I thought you would."
So, she'd thought I'd force myself on her no matter what.
'Ha.'
I sighed at the ceiling for a moment. I was dying to crack open that little head of hers and see what's inside.
She blushed at the mere sight of a bit of bare skin, yet here she was fretting over marital duties.
Bold or just naive? Hard to say.
"Then let me ask: Do you want me to hold you?"
Fear flashed in Rose's eyes.
"If Your Excellency demands it... I couldn't refuse."
"That's the problem. I have no intention of demanding it."
"..."
"You saw me as some shameless brute who'd force himself on a woman who doesn't love him?"
Only then did it seem like she started to understand.
Roll.
Her eyes darted around wildly. Then, in a voice thick with suppressed emotion, she asked,
"Really? Not because I'm ugly?"
"What...?"
I pressed my furrowed brow. A headache was creeping in after ages.
"Why do you even think you're ugly? I've never said that."
"Mother... said so."
Damn that Vicander baron's wife.
Right, I remembered. The vicious words Rose had overheard before leaving in the carriage today.
'How lucky for something like you to marry into the Schmichael family. Though His Excellency would never take a liking to you, of course.'
'What if His Excellency runs away seeing your face, sis? Stay locked in your room and don't come out.'
Hearing crap like that growing up would twist anyone.
"Let me say this now."
I lowered my hand from my forehead and met her eyes.
"You're not ugly, Madam. Got it?"
"Yes..."
She nodded unconvincingly, like she didn't quite believe it.
'I'm ugly' must be etched deep in her mind. Uprooting that would take effort.
"And about that—if you truly want it, I'll consider. But I won't demand anything first."
I'd never relaxed enough to sleep soundly in a bedroom anyway. With an assassin's blade possibly incoming, how could I even think of intimacy?
On that front, was she frustratingly dense or innocently pure? Unclear.
'She seemed so resolute.'
She'd approached the bed with what she thought was immense resolve—for marital duties—misinterpreting my words.
"Feeling better now?"
"A little... yes."
"Then let's sleep."
I returned to bed and flopped down. There was another blanket besides the one I'd tossed, so I pulled it over me.
'Can't do more than this.'
Comforting her like this was my absolute best. Doing something so out of character had my mouth twitching.
Just keeping a non-ferocious expression was maxing out my facial muscles.
Rustle.
I planned to ignore her if she cried again and just sleep, but surprisingly, Rose approached the bed quickly.
"Um, Your Excellency."
"...What now."
"Should I sleep next to you?"
"You planning to sleep on the floor?"
"No..."
She really was high-maintenance.
Grumbling inwardly but answering dutifully, I watched as she finally fidgeted her way onto the bed from the opposite side.
The bed was huge, so her body didn't even brush mine. Well, that's why I'd ordered the largest size.
Rustle.
I felt the fabric shift on her side as she pulled up her blanket.
Now I could finally sleep...
"Your Excellency."
"...Call my name one more time, and I'll force you to sleep."
"No, this is really the last time."
It was a sincere threat, but she replied so breezily—either gutsy or fully relaxed now.
"What do you want to say?"
"Well, today..."
She paused, then continued.
"Thank you... for today."
"If you're grateful, sleep fast."
"Still the same..."
Her final mutter was too mumbled to catch clearly. But with that, she finally went quiet.
'What a long day.'
Only then could I relax a bit.
Time to sleep quick. No assassins climbing through windows tonight, no swords popping from under the bed. Deep sleep guaranteed.
So I thought, closing my eyes.
...But sleep wouldn't come.
A perfect chance for sound rest, and my mind knew it!
Yet no sleep.
Habit of closing eyes in constant tension had backfired; this safe situation kept sleep away.
Lying so close to someone was new too. The faint warmth from my right was irritatingly distracting.
Rustle.
Rose's tiny noises were another sleep-killer. She was trying to be quiet, but in the silent night, every sound boomed like thunder.
The rustle of her body against the sheets, her soft exhales. Every little noise grated on my nerves, blocking sleep entirely.
'Maybe count the ceiling patterns.'
They say boring repetition helps.
As that thought crossed my mind.
"Your Excellency."
Rose whispered softly.
"..."
Ignore her. I'm asleep now.
"Your Excellency, are you asleep?"
Why ask the obvious? No answer—obviously—and she actually sat up.
Rustle.
The faint warmth grew closer, approaching me.
"..."
I felt her breath nearby, even with eyes closed. She was leaning over, peering down at me.
'Playing a dangerous game.'
My fingertips itched. Impulse to bolt up, yank her close, and slit her throat surged.