**Episode 3 **
*Rustle.*
Each time her clothes shifted, the sound of fabric brushing together echoed in the quiet room, and Caissa’s broad shoulders—turned away from her—seemed to flinch ever so slightly.
There was no reason for him to be nervous in this situation.
*‘I must be imagining things.’*
Sharie brushed the thought aside and, with trembling hands, removed her clothes.
“I’ve finished changing.”
With each breath, her chest—partially revealed by the deep neckline of the gown—rose and fell noticeably from tension.
“That gown is made from the fur of white foxes native to the Mader Valley,” Caissa said as he turned and looked at her. “I thought the soft, feather-like texture and snow-white color would suit you. And… it suits you even better than I expected.”
His golden eyes were fixed on her figure, and his throat bobbed slightly—as if he were swallowing hard.
“You look beautiful.”
His large hand gently wrapped around her elbow—and in the next moment, her world flipped upside down.
*Thud!*
Their bodies tumbled onto the bed, tangled together.
“Do you know the weakness of the Snake Clan?” Caissa asked.
His deep voice, full of suspicion, didn’t sound like that of a groom speaking to his bride. It was more like he was interrogating a spy sent by the enemy.
A cold sweat ran down Sharie’s back.
Caissa looked at her and gave a small smile.
“We’re cold-blooded by nature. Every winter in Barhad, we suffer from the cold. That’s why fire magic developed so rapidly in our land.”
Even if a treaty had been signed, this wasn’t the sort of thing one would normally share with a bride from a former enemy nation.
Sharie stayed silent, unable to guess what he was thinking. But when she felt his skin against hers, she froze.
*‘Cold…’*
The skin touching hers through the open gown really did feel like ice.
“But you’re warm.”
Caissa’s voice was low as he curled his massive body and snuggled into her arms.
“Even just a little is fine. Please… warm me.”
It was strange.
Caissa was solid, like a rock—his body at least twice the size of Sharie’s.
Yet in that moment, he seemed less like a powerful warrior and more like a vulnerable animal, seeking comfort and warmth.
“…Is that really all you want?”
It was hard to believe something so simple could be enough.
“For tonight, yes. That’s enough.”
Sharie could hear the steady thumping of his heart through their touching chests.
*Thump. Thump.*
Her breathing began to calm, and Caissa’s golden eyes curved gently with a faint smile.
“I was wondering…” she began, finally gathering her courage to speak.
But before she could finish, his long fingers pressed lightly against her lips.
His once-gentle expression darkened into a frown. He looked… annoyed.
*‘I haven’t even said anything yet!’*
Sharie panicked, ready to apologize—when he spoke first.
“You sound so distant.”
At first, she didn’t understand what he meant.
Then she began to doubt her own hearing.
*‘Did I hear that right?’*
But if she asked him to repeat it, the situation might become even more awkward.
Under his steady gaze, as if he were waiting for something, Sharie opened her mouth.
“Ca-Caissa…?”
Her voice shook like a leaf. It was small, pathetic.
And yet, Caissa smiled in satisfaction and sat up, helping her sit up too.
Now sitting face-to-face with him, Sharie blinked in confusion.
“You finally sound like my wife,” he said cheerfully.
“…Your wife?”
Everything about him today felt off.
She had no idea what he was thinking.
Their marriage had been a political arrangement, practically forced on them. It wasn’t built on love.
They weren’t *really* a couple.
“We *are* a married couple.”
He slowly slid his hand over hers, his large palm covering the back of her hand completely.
“No one could be closer.”
Maybe his body had warmed up from earlier contact—his skin no longer felt so cold.
“Even if this marriage began without your consent, now that it’s official, we are bound together. We’ll walk the same path for the rest of our lives.”
His golden eyes stared deeply into hers.
“I know it won’t be easy, adjusting to life in a new land. But I’ll do my best—for you.”
Her entire body felt hot.
Maybe it was the intensity of his gaze. Or maybe the warmth of his hand, tightly holding hers.
She couldn’t tell.
“So please,” he continued, “accept me as your husband.”
Family—Sharie had lost all of hers.
Her father, her only blood relative in her past life, had cast her aside.
The Rosevine family in this life had abandoned her too.
And now, this man was asking to be her family.
His unwavering eyes looked as if they’d never betray her.
It didn’t seem real.
Caissa… had truly accepted her as his wife.
*‘Why?’*
Why was he treating her with such kindness?
It didn’t make sense—and yet, his gentle tone as he asked her to be family melted her suspicions.
“…Okay.”
Sharie nodded quietly.
*‘I don’t know what the future holds…’*
She wasn’t sure if she was a completely original character or someone who was meant to disappear before the real female lead appeared.
But one thing was certain.
Right now, the story hadn’t reached the point where Caissa would meet the original heroine.
Even if the story had gone off track, the main couple almost never changes.
Their bizarre marriage probably wouldn’t last long.
But until then…
“I’ll do my best as your wife.”
She wanted to meet his expectations.
“Then, come here and lie in my arms,” Caissa said, opening his arms invitingly.
And just like that, her bold resolve began to crumble.
“W-what?”
That sounded *dangerously* suspicious.
Sharie instinctively pulled her shoulders back, inching away—like that would somehow get her off this giant bed.
“I already told you… I need warmth.”
Caissa moved toward her, casually stroking his sharp jawline.
He moved with a grace and speed that didn’t suit his size—like a great serpent.
Before she knew it, he was close.
“What exactly were you thinking?” he asked.
That *was* the problem.
The way he whispered earlier—there was definitely some *other* meaning to it.
But she couldn’t say that aloud.
Her mouth opened but no words came out, and Caissa smirked.
“You’re quite mischievous.”
If she had been a rabbit right now, she would’ve stomped her foot in protest.
Face burning red all the way to her nose, Sharie bit her lip and slowly stepped closer.
Before she could even feel the softness of the bedding, his thick arms pulled her tightly into his embrace.
His solid, statuesque body pressed against her—and a warm breath brushed her ear.
“Let’s just sleep like this tonight. I won’t do anything.”
Stiff as a log, Sharie lay with her limbs locked in place, only her eyes darting anxiously.
Could anyone really sleep like this?
But somehow, her whole body was slowly relaxing.
She had been dragged to a foreign land and forced into a wedding on arrival.
Her shoulders had been tense for days.
Still, it wasn’t just exhaustion that made her lower her guard.
Caissa’s skin—at first cold—was now steadily warming up.
At some point, they had wrapped around each other completely.
“Can I hold you even closer?”
They were already stuck together so tightly it felt like not even a needle could pass between them.
Drowsy, Sharie nodded.
“Mm…!”
Caissa slid one thick thigh between her legs and wrapped his arm around her shoulder from behind.
Their bodies were now completely entangled—almost as if they were one.
*‘This is weird…’*
She’d never been this close to someone before.
The very feel of his body was unfamiliar—and embarrassingly vivid.
“…It tickles,” she murmured, squirming.
Caissa chuckled against the top of her head.
“S-sorry. I just… felt a bit uncomfortable.”
It wasn’t a total lie.
Yes, at first she had shifted out of embarrassment—but something *had* felt off near her lower back.
She tried to adjust her position—
But Caissa’s grip tightened.
“If you keep moving…”
His voice, rough and husky, rumbled beside her ear.
