Chapter 17
Zeno, seemingly tired, had already coiled up in his space and fallen asleep.
“Surely you didn’t share a room with it.”
“Of course not…”
Following his gaze, I turned my head and became speechless. Because of this, Zeno’s location was changed to the entrance next to my room.
As I cautiously tried to enter the room, avoiding the guards’ eyes, something felt off.
“…Why do I feel uneasy?”
I grabbed the doorknob, then let go, hesitating for a moment.
I had checked before coming in, and the office lights were still on.
“Maybe I’m just tired. I should go in and sleep quickly.”
Yawning, I carefully opened the door and stepped into the room.
But then, I froze.
I felt a gaze staring at me from the darkness. And when I realized it was the familiar eyes of a predator, cold sweat ran down my back.
“When did my wife, who seduces me, become so busy running around?”
“…Y-Your Highness the Grand Duke?”
Standing blankly at the door, I rolled my eyes. It was terrifying enough to chill my bones.
‘Why do I keep getting caught?’
At this point, it was clear he had put a tracker on me.
“Why are you so flustered? Like someone who’s done something wrong.”
Cedric stood up from the bed, watching me quietly.
Seeing him, I took a step back and quickly put on a smile.
Where did the responsible Cedric from earlier go, and why was he here? Thinking it over, there was only one answer.
He must have finished his work somehow and come to the room where I was waiting. Knowing Cedric, it made sense.
‘Although he’s not exactly the same as the Cedric I knew.’
Cedric smiled as he watched me step back. Then he patted the spot next to him and laughed.
His blue eyes glowed faintly in the dark, making it hard for me to approach him. He tilted his head slightly and looked at his hand.
“Or would you prefer if I tied your wrists like the first time?”
As soon as he said that, Cedric tried to tie my wrists with the curtain string next to the bed. Startled, I stopped him.
“Have your tastes changed?”
“It’s not that…”
Gasp.
He still looked down at me with a smile. His persistent, passionate gaze made me hurriedly try to let go of his hand.
“Wife, we’re finally close enough to have a proper conversation.”
I tried to distance myself, but it was too late.
Cedric quickly tied my wrist to his with the string. Struggling to tie it with one hand, he used his teeth to tighten the knot, leaving me speechless.
“You won’t be able to escape now. What will you do?”
“Well…”
His long eyelashes lowered over his blue eyes. His slow blinks and slightly open mouth, along with his disheveled shirt from working, caught my eye.
He didn’t seem like someone who came to the room with innocent intentions.
“If you want to escape, you’ll have to untie the string. But I have no intention of untying it.”
“That’s too much!”
I raised our tied hands and looked at him. He had tied it so meticulously that it seemed impossible to untie.
“Too much? That’s disappointing.”
Cedric pulled me onto his lap, brushing my hair aside to look at my face. The smile on his lips showed he was satisfied with the situation.
“You said you didn’t want to sleep alone. But you weren’t in the room, and you looked like you got caught doing something.”
“Did I?”
“Even now, look.”
“Um, isn’t it weirder to act calm in this situation?”
“Is that so?”
Cedric chuckled and hugged my waist, closing the distance. As I fell into his arms, I swallowed dryly.
“Or I could make you talk.”
As he got closer, I hurriedly opened my mouth. No, this wasn’t making me talk; it was stopping me from talking!
“Okay! I’ll talk! I’ll say it!”
“No need to force yourself.”
“Liar!”
He had cornered me.
“I went to check on the animals.”
“Is that your answer?”
“…Actually, when I heard Father is coming, I wanted to send them back to where they came from. It would be strange to have so many animals.”
“It would be strange indeed.”
“Right?”
I looked at Cedric with sparkling eyes. He smiled slightly and gently stroked my wrist. Then he wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me into his embrace.
“Huh?”
Startled, I tried to get up, but Cedric’s tug pulled me back into his arms.
“I’m saying you’re the strange one.”
“Oh, um… Me?”
“You seem to be thinking about something else even with me right in front of you. How much more effort do I need to make you focus?”
His words made sense. It was impressive that I could think of other things with Cedric seducing me.
I lightly leaned my head against his chest and spoke softly.
“Sorry, I was so worried because Father is coming.”
With things as they were, I had to change my strategy. To avoid suspicion, I needed to divert his attention elsewhere.
“I’ve never heard a kind word from Father… I’m scared it will be the same this time.”
Cedric looked quite surprised by my slightly sad tone.
He gently stroked my back and spoke softly.
“You don’t need to listen to such words. To me, you’re already wonderful. You don’t need anyone else’s approval.”
I looked up, surprised by his unexpected words. What does Cedric think of me? I couldn’t figure it out.
It had been strange since he said he married me because he liked me, but now I was curious about his true feelings.
“…You’re the strange one.”
Ever since I found out I was reincarnated as the Emperor’s illegitimate child, I hadn’t thought much about myself. I had only struggled to avoid the predetermined ending.
For some reason, it felt like Cedric saw me for who I truly was.
“I feel strange only in front of you. But I don’t dislike this side of me.”
Cedric smiled lightly as he tidied my disheveled hair. This was really unfair, wasn’t it?
What woman wouldn’t fall for such seduction?
Cedric lightly stroked my cheek when I burst into laughter. As he slowly closed the distance, my eyes naturally closed.
“Oh, but did you finish your work?”
“Claire. The most important thing to me is you.”
“Since when…?”
“From now on.”
So I can spend time with you and work in the remaining time.
Cedric’s words made my face heat up. I had resolved not to be swayed by his looks, but this wasn’t falling for his looks; it was falling for his words, so it was okay, right?
Yes, I was a weak person after all.
❖ ❖ ❖
Blink blink.
“Mm, what is it?”
Feeling a piercing gaze and the sensation of something licking my cheek, I groggily sat up.
“Woof.” (Wake up. What did you do that you can’t get up?)
Startled by Zeno’s howl, I pulled the blanket over myself. Since I didn’t know when I fell asleep, I was worried if I was dressed properly.
But seeing that I was neatly dressed with no exposed areas, I let out a hollow laugh.
‘He’s thorough.’
Cedric must have dressed me before leaving.
“Why are you like this in the morning? Did something happen?”
“Woof!” (The animals all went back to the forest on their own.)
“…What?”
They stubbornly refused to leave before, but now they went back voluntarily?
I looked at Zeno in disbelief. He jumped onto the bed and burrowed into my arms.
“Woof.” (Yes, they all went back. I’m tired.)
Seeing Zeno coiling up to sleep, I habitually petted him. Feeling his warm body, I also felt sleepy again.
“Hm, that’s strange.”
“Hing. Hiiing.” (I didn’t sleep at all guarding the forest last night.)
Listening to Zeno’s whining in the morning, I switched to pampering mode and petted his fur. Living with a fluffy animal in the morning wasn’t bad.
Thinking about it again, it seemed fine.
“I guess I should get up now.”
“Hiiing.” (There’s nothing to do. Master, pet me.)
This sly wolf.
Zeno placed his chin on my paused hand, wagging his tail.
Cedric must be working, right?
“Then should I sleep a bit more?”
I slid back under the blanket. As I settled in, Zeno burrowed into my arms, trying to sleep with me.
“Hey, you can’t stay here. Get out.”
“Hing.” (Pets sleep together. Master, what can I do?)
“…You can’t stay even if you don’t do anything.”
His eyes looked dangerously mischievous. Knowing he was a man, it didn’t seem right to sleep in the same bed.
Besides, wasn’t this the bedroom I shared with Cedric?
“This really isn’t right.”
I quickly got out of bed.
“Woof!” (Hey, don’t push me. Master, don’t abandon me!)
As I pushed Zeno out of the room, he howled loudly enough to wake the entire mansion.
