Chapter 56
Her rounded shoulders were fully exposed, and the delicate hem of her skirt barely covered her white thighs.
Even if it was someone she was intimate with, this posture was embarrassingly revealing to anyone else.
“Not now…”
It wasn’t a familiar bedroom, nor were they alone. Sharie’s eyes darted around, searching desperately for a way out.
“I’ll take my leave then.”
The quick-witted seamstress gathered her things and hurriedly exited.
Click. The door shut, and Kaisa’s shadow drew even closer.
“May I come in now?”
Sharie’s heart raced, unsure whether it was anxiety or anticipation. She hesitated, then stepped forward.
“No. I’ll go outside.”
Boldly pulling back the curtains, Sharie stepped out, only to collide face-first with Kaisa’s firm chest.
“Ah… my nose…”
The strength of his trained muscles was as unyielding as a weapon forged repeatedly in the smithy.
“Oh my. Are you alright?”
Caught off-guard by the unexpected contact, Kaisa seemed unusually flustered.
“Let me see. Show me in detail.”
“I-I’m fine…”
Tears pooled at the corners of Sharie’s eyes from the pain as she lifted her head, only to freeze.
His burning gaze roamed over her entire body.
Sunlight streamed through the large arched window just then. Outside, it was the height of day. The bright rays poured onto Sharie, revealing the contours of her body through the thin, white undergarments.
“Ah…”
Sharie hastily turned around. The vibrant colors of the room, used as a fitting space since the seamstress had arrived, stabbed at her eyes.
Her heel caught on a rolling spool of thread. The spool unwound, tangling as chaotically as her thoughts.
She could feel his gaze.
He’s watching me.
A faint sweat appeared at the nape of her neck. It wasn’t easy to endure Kaisa’s stare while clad only in a nearly sheer slip.
His golden eyes radiated a raw desire to see everything, piece by piece.
It was the same look he had given her countless times on the bed just days ago.
Receiving such a gaze outside the bedroom made her flustered and embarrassed—but not entirely unpleasant.
Why is it so hot…?
As Sharie raised her hand to fan her flushed face,
“Your eyes are red.”
His cold fingertips brushed her heated eyes before she could react.
Startled, Sharie cautiously turned to face him.
“You haven’t been sleeping well lately, have you?”
She understood exactly what he meant. Lately, she had been staying up late to create a surprise gift for him: a sachet embroidered with Arachne’s thread.
No matter how beautiful the spool appeared, it had come from a monster’s body, making the stitching process anything but smooth.
Still, she wanted to give it to him before the upcoming hunting competition. Each night, she dozed briefly and devoted herself to the embroidery.
Luckily, Kaisa has been busy.
Recently, he had been overwhelmed by internal affairs, sometimes staying late in his office or arriving home much later than usual.
It gave her plenty of time to work on the gift without him noticing.
Under normal circumstances, he would have noticed the dark circles under her eyes and forced her to lie down. But today, this was a fortunate opportunity.
She thought she had hidden it well… until now.
“Your eyes are bloodshot.”
The chilling touch of Kaisa’s fingers gliding over her delicate skin sent shivers down her spine.
“Sharie.”
He called her sweetly.
“Are you hiding something from me?”
Though his voice was gentle, her shoulders instinctively tensed. Even now, she knew Kaisa would never harm her.
His large hands brushed down her back, then wrapped around her waist.
Sharie blinked as he pulled her closer, drawing her deep into his embrace.
If this continues, he’ll discover the secret gift…
Sensing the urgency, she tried to change the subject.
“By the way, Kaisa, were you coming back from a meeting?”
Kaisa looked at her, clearly noting her attempt to divert the conversation. Sharie responded with an awkward smile.
Minutes passed in subtle tension, until it seemed he decided not to press further.
“Yes.”
He replied, the faint smile still on his lips.
“But you needn’t worry about such matters, Sharie.”
Again, his words drew an invisible boundary between them. Sharie had felt such guardedness from Kaisa before.
Though always so kind, he never shared the burdens of his troubles with her.
“It’s an internal affair; I shouldn’t interfere. My apologies.”
Kaisa’s lips stiffened.
“That’s not what I mean. It isn’t something significant enough for you to worry about.”
“Not significant?”
Sharie pushed away from the solid chest that held her close.
Through whispers in the palace, she had learned a few things while Kaisa dealt with confrontations with the elders—like the attempts to present Olivia as his mistress.
I never expected this.
The story unfolding was completely different from the Black Flower and the Golden Cage she knew. Subtle differences had grown into wider gaps, hinting at something greater.
Perhaps… I can change the destined future.
If that were possible, Sharie would do anything.
I want to stay by his side.
Even if their marriage had begun as a political arrangement, maintaining it to the end would make it a true marriage.
But Kaisa doesn’t tell me anything.
She had laid everything bare, yet he remained unreadable. He only indulged her whims endlessly.
A one-sided relationship of pampering wasn’t healthy.
We can’t call this an equal marriage.
Sharie frowned, looking up at him. Because she cherished him, she wished he would rely on her even a little. But she couldn’t force it on someone unwilling.
I’m not that reliable…
All she could do now was speak her honest feelings.
“I…”
Her hands gripped the thin slip tightly, creating deep folds in the hem.
“I, Kaisa…”
She voiced her deepest desire.
“I don’t want to share my husband with anyone.”
The man meeting her trembling pink gaze exhaled, a sound heavy, deep, as if he had held his breath for years.
“Neither do I.”
His strong hands cupped the back of her head, and his lips captured hers.
“Ah…”
His tongue invaded her mouth, unrelenting, and her spine shivered as if struck by lightning.
Breathless, Sharie clung to him, clad only in a thin slip. Their bodies pressed together, leaving no space between them, reminiscent of entwined serpents.
The softness of her chest pressed against his firm body, drawing a moan from Kaisa.
“Haa… I didn’t plan to hold you here…”
Pulling back slightly, his eyes locked on hers with a tense intensity.
Sharie, still breathless, met his gaze just as a sharp clatter pierced the air.
“S-Sorry!”
A servant burst in, realizing Sharie’s presence, bowing hastily. A broom lay on the floor, likely the source of the noise.
“The seamstress went out, so I thought no one was here… Please, continue.”
Blushing, the servant gathered the cleaning tools and departed.
Sharie froze in Kaisa’s arms, startled by the sudden intrusion.
A low laugh fell over her head.
“I see.”
Regaining some composure, Kaisa regarded her with a relaxed expression.
“Shall we continue?”
In a teasing tone, Sharie snapped.
“No!”
Rubbing her flushed cheeks, she freed herself from his embrace. It was still too early to go to bed.
Kaisa, seeming to surrender, moved closer and gently brushed his lips against her forehead.
“I swear by Gaia’s name. You have nothing to worry about.”
Whispering kindly, he extended his pinky.
“Shall we promise?”
The warmth in his smile was so genuine that she could not doubt his words.
