AFRPR 32

Episode 32

“Do we really all have to lie down?”

Today, the bed felt unusually small.

It wasn’t just because of how big Lennox was.

Three of them were lying down with Duren in the middle, but it felt like Lennox and Duren were repelling each other like magnets.

It wasn’t that one person was to blame. It seemed like both didn’t want to be near each other.

“…Should I bring a chair?”

“I’ll do it.”

Lennox got up and brought a chair, placing it beside the bed.

“Are these the books we’re reading today?”

Even though they read a lot yesterday, a new pile of books had appeared.

Lennox casually opened the book on top.

“Doo-doo likes it better when Mom reads…”

“It’s the same story, no matter who reads it.”

Duren pouted.

Ignoring Duren’s distrustful look, Lennox started reading in his calm, deep voice.

“Once upon a time, there lived a princess…”

Though he read without emotion, his deep voice was oddly charming.

Even Duren, who had been wary of him, quickly became absorbed in the story.

“The princess had a fish tail and a human upper body. So she could only live in the sea.”

“What’s the sea?”

Duren leaned slightly toward Lennox and asked.

Estelle thought he’d answer halfheartedly, but he surprisingly explained it well for a child.

“It’s a huge body of water. Like in this picture—blue and salty.”

“Salty?”

“Do you remember the small white grains on the table today? The taste when you eat that—that’s salty.”

“The sea tastes salty? Why?”

“Because it’s water mixed with salt.”

“Why?”

And so their chat went on and on.

Softly…

Their voices continued without stopping.

“Your Grace.”

“….”

“Your Grace!”

Estelle whispered softly.

Lennox opened his eyes when he heard her.

‘Wait… he opened his eyes?’

She remembered Duren blinking sleepily, and she must’ve dozed off too.

Lennox looked a little embarrassed. Estelle quietly pointed toward the door—a sign to leave the room.

Tiptoeing…

They silently left the room.

Lennox thought Estelle would go straight to her bedroom, but she just stood outside the door.

“What if Duren wakes up? He’ll feel safer if I’m nearby.”

Noticing Lennox’s gaze, Estelle explained.

“Is this how co-sleep separation is supposed to be done?”

“If we don’t want to hurt the child, adults have to be a little uncomfortable. That’s just how it is.”

Estelle smiled slightly, not seeming bothered at all.

“If it’s too much, you can go in first.”

She didn’t expect him to stay with her.

Estelle rubbed her bare arms. She had left her shawl on Duren’s bed and felt chilly.

Seeing her like that, Lennox quietly took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders.

Startled by the warmth of the coat, Estelle looked up at him.

“Are you hot?”

“…What?”

It took a second for Lennox to understand the question.

‘She thinks I gave her my coat because I was too hot?!’

He had answered Duren’s endless “Why?” calmly, but this unexpected question left him speechless.

“…No.”

He hesitated, then finally spoke.

Estelle looked at him as if asking, “Then why give me your coat?”

She couldn’t just accept it as a kind gesture.

And it made sense. On their wedding night, even when she was clearly cold, he hadn’t given her so much as a scrap of cloth.

Just as Lennox was about to explain—

“Mommy…”

Duren’s voice came through the door.

He had woken up.

The child instantly noticed her absence.

“Mommy… where are you…”

His voice trembled with fear.

Estelle instinctively grabbed the doorknob.

“Duren, Mommy’s right outside the door.”

But she didn’t open it.

She just answered sweetly while standing there.

Even though she sounded calm, her face showed worry.

Her hand holding the doorknob was trembling, like she wanted to rush in.

“I’m right here, so don’t worry. Go back to sleep.”

“But I can’t see you…”

“If anything happens to you, I’ll come right in.”

“….”

“Duren, remember what Mommy said? A brave grown-up can sleep alone.”

“…Mmm.”

A brave grown-up…

Duren mumbled to himself that he’d be brave too.

Then he shifted around in bed and smelled something familiar.

It was Estelle’s shawl.

Hugging it tightly made him feel like Mommy was close.

His anxiety faded, and he fell back asleep.

Snooore—

After a while, the room was quiet again.

Realizing Duren was fast asleep, Estelle let out a sigh of relief.

“Are you going to stay here all night?”

Unlike Duren, Lennox had been watching her emotions the whole time.

His voice showed concern.

“Yes. He might wake up again, so I’ll stay a bit longer.”

“Mandrake isn’t some superhuman drug. You were in bed just a few days ago, remember?”

Estelle touched the coat and nodded.

“…Okay.”

Eventually, Estelle headed toward her own bedroom. Lennox followed.

‘Is he worried I might collapse again?’

He probably just wanted to make sure she got back safely.

“I’ll read him books at night from now on if we don’t have anything else scheduled.”

He must’ve realized it was the best way to get closer to Duren.

Estelle smiled at how sincere he sounded.

“Duren will like that. You looked tired too—go rest.”

“Ah, I was planning to take a shower before bed.”

“Same here. Good night.”

Lennox saying he was going to shower wasn’t weird—he was known to be a clean freak.

Estelle didn’t think much of it and went into the bathroom connected to her bedroom.

Because it was late, she showered quickly and came out in a bathrobe.

The warm water had relaxed her body and mind.

‘I should change and go to sleep. If I sleep early, I can wake up early.’

Just as she was about to take off the bathrobe, she felt someone’s presence.

A maid?

She casually turned her head—then almost screamed.

It was way too big and intimidating to be a maid.

Startled, Estelle stepped back—and slipped.

She lost her balance and fell backward.

‘Something to grab…!’

There was nothing.

She reached out, but only touched air.

At this rate, she’d hit her head.

She shut her eyes tight.

Then—someone caught her around the waist and pulled her up.

“…Be careful.”

She opened her eyes slowly—and saw her face reflected in red eyes.

“Thank you.”

It was Lennox.

Estelle stopped breathing for a moment.

They were too close.

If she leaned forward even a little, their foreheads would touch.

“Could you… let go of me now?”

“Ah.”

Lennox seemed surprised too.

Usually, Estelle would’ve panicked and pushed him away immediately.

‘Actually… she hasn’t been avoiding touching me since that day she fainted.’

She even offered to wipe his sweat.

Realizing how Lennox had started acting differently around her, Estelle stood up straight.

Then, looking at him, she asked,

“Why are you here all of a sudden?”

“I came to sleep.”

“Huh? Then you should go to your own room.”

“This is my room.”

“What? Your room? This is my room…”

At that moment, both of them realized—

Something wasn’t right.