Chapter 20
“……”
I stayed awake late into the night, lying down with my eyes closed, pretending to sleep.
Moonlight faintly seeped in through the window, and not a single sound disturbed the stillness.
Tonight, I had decided—no matter how much Blake tried to run away, I would get to the bottom of things. Holding my breath, I kept my eyes shut.
How much time had passed?
Only at dawn did Blake finally return to the bedroom. I felt him carefully open the door and approach.
His footsteps were cautious, almost tiptoeing, as if he didn’t want to wake me. Then, standing near, he simply looked down at me in silence.
“…Haa.”
My eyelids twitched under his gaze, but Blake didn’t seem to notice. Instead, he let out a quiet sigh.
Then he adjusted the blanket I had been half-heartedly draping over myself.
That pointless tenderness—it made me feel even more unsettled, especially since I was already suspicious of him.
Soon after, with a faint rustling, Blake carefully lay down beside me.
As he had done for days now, he kept a considerable distance between us.
But the moment he lay down, I immediately turned from my side and grabbed his arm.
“Your Highness.”
“…!”
He froze up instantly, so startled that I could feel the tension radiating from his body.
Blake held his breath, swallowing down any sound, like a wolf caught in a trap desperately trying not to reveal its position to the hunter.
At last, he exhaled in a shaky sigh and answered, his cold breath brushing near me—something I hadn’t felt this close in quite a while.
“…You weren’t sleeping?”
“No. I wanted to see you, Your Highness.”
“…Words like that… you should be careful with them…”
He began to say more, but seemed to give up midway.
Instead, he fumbled at my hand that was holding his arm, trying to pry me off.
Of course, his grip was so weak that I only let go because I chose to.
Though the darkness obscured his expression, I could tell from the faint moonlight that he was biting his lip.
Still, perhaps willing to at least talk, Blake sat up from where he had been lying down.
But I knew—if I didn’t keep the conversation going, he would fall silent again.
So I jumped straight to the point.
“Have you heard the rumors?”
I expected him to ask, “What rumors?” but after some hesitation, he only let out a low, languid reply.
His husky voice, careless yet intoxicating, tickled my ears despite the seriousness of the situation.
“I know. I saw it myself. I’ll take care of it, so you don’t need to worry, Master.”
His words were calm, almost casual—like he was discussing something insignificant.
But the meaning hit me so hard I nearly shrieked.
“You saw it? And you’ll take care of it? Then don’t tell me—you really killed someone, Your Highness?!”
“…What?”
“Eh?”
We both froze, bewildered.
…It seemed we were thinking of completely different rumors.
Blake’s expression, faintly lit by the moon, crumpled in disbelief.
“Killing someone? Don’t tell me the noise I heard after today’s council meeting—that was the rumor?”
“…Yes, that’s what people are saying.”
“And what about me would make you believe I went around murdering people in the middle of the street?”
His tone carried half disbelief, half hurt—like he couldn’t believe I didn’t trust him.
His low voice blended too perfectly with the silence of dawn, making me ashamed of myself for wanting to hear more of it, even now.
But I had to explain myself before his feelings were truly hurt.
“I—I brought you back, didn’t I?”
“And how does that mean I go around killing people…?”
“You barely sleep—just a little beside me before leaving every night. What if that’s causing problems with your body?”
Blake’s face twisted in exasperation, but I pressed on.
“And what if you lose control… and attack someone?”
“……”
“What if it’s some side effect from me not staying close to you for a while? You really did attend that council meeting, right? Tell me, please?”
He stared at me in silence for a long time, then suddenly let out a small laugh.
At first, it was a short, incredulous chuckle, but soon it grew into full laughter.
His shoulders shook lightly, his silhouette moving in the dim light, leaving me dumbfounded.
What’s so funny?
I was dead serious.
When his laughter finally calmed, I caught his quiet murmur.
“You’ve got such a wild imagination… what am I supposed to do with you?”
My face burned instantly.
It wasn’t just imagination…
Well, okay, maybe… but still—
This was all because Blake had never seen a zombie movie!
Did he even know how terrifying it was to watch someone bitten, lose their humanity, and turn into a monster that attacked those they’d just been speaking with?
A creature that didn’t listen to reason, that chased you like a beast?
Anyway… realizing I was wrong made embarrassment wash over me, and I ducked my head.
Blake, however, seemed to have been waiting for this moment.
His voice turned playful, teasing, full of mischief.
“Entertaining. Don’t you have any more stories like that, Master?”
“…Even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you.”
I even heard my own voice come out a bit pouty.
Exactly the kind of reaction Blake would normally tease me about endlessly.
But this time, he kept a straight face, coaxing me gently.
“That’s a shame. Still, what you imagined won’t ever happen—hasn’t happened, and won’t in the future either.”
“…Really?”
“I attended the council in His Majesty’s stead. Every noble present can testify, so if you want, I can prove it to you anytime.”
The calm way he explained himself felt unfamiliar.
Even just having a proper conversation with him like this—it had been so long that it felt strange.
Not knowing why he had been so cold lately made me hesitate, fiddling with my fingers. But not wanting to waste this rare moment while he was in a good mood, I spoke up softly.
“I didn’t mean to doubt you… It’s just… I hardly see you these days. And we know so little about your revived body.
We don’t know the side effects, and your body is incomplete… I was just… worried.”
“Is that so?”
His low voice carried warmth.
It was different from the ghostly imitation of him I’d encountered before—this voice was steady, gentle.
If anyone should’ve been upset, it was Blake.
Yet here I was, feeling like I had been the one whining. My cheeks flushed, and I quickly shook my head, changing the subject.
“Anyway, as long as it wasn’t you, that’s all that matters. But then… what rumor were you talking about earlier?
Was there another rumor about you… or me?”
“That dress from before… no, never mind.”
“…Dress? What dress?”
“It’s nothing. Let’s just sleep now, alright?”
Blake flusteredly tried to dismiss it, soothing me like a child.
It was so obvious he was avoiding the topic, but before I could press, his cold hand caught mine and tugged me down with him onto the bed.
Pulled by his strength, I lay beside him again.
He closed his eyes as if truly intending to sleep this time, and said nothing further.
But he didn’t let go of my hand either.
His hand, cold at first, grew warmer the longer he held mine.
That gentle warmth eased my heart somehow.
After a while, Blake intertwined his long, slender fingers with mine.
Not gripping too tightly, yet not as though he’d let go soon.
Just firm enough—it made me feel strangely dazed, my heart skipping in ways I didn’t understand.
The distance between us still lingered, but even so, I couldn’t help feeling a little fluttered.
At least now, I was reassured that he had nothing to do with those strange murders.
Relief loosened my tension, and sleep slowly crept in.
My eyes blinked lazily before closing fully.
The last thing I saw was Blake’s faint smile under the moonlight streaming through the window.
His lips curved slightly upward, as if preparing for a peaceful sleep.
And so, for the first time in a long while, we fell asleep close together—our heads side by side, our hands clasped.
Like children playing house.
Honestly…
