Chapter 08
My breath trembled.
“Did you hear that weird sound just now…!”
“It’s nothing. Go back.”
The head maid’s voice faded, and the door slammed shut. Serden’s eyes met mine again. Instinctively, I realized what I had to do.
I hesitated with my lips, then opened them slightly.
“A-Ah! It hurts!”
I kicked my feet and tears burst out.
Ha… really… I wanted to die from embarrassment. Before assassins or other enemies could kill me, I might die from shame first.
“Hahaha.”
Serden chuckled softly and came closer, reaching out his hand. Then he tapped my cheek.
“Tap.”
Wha—what? His handsome face made me momentarily lose my breath. I was shocked but quickly kept up the act.
“It hurts! How can you not cry when it hurts! Husband, you’re stupid!”
“Husband?”
“Boo… Rozy said so…”
Luckily, the tiny tears fell on their own. Serden grabbed my hand and pulled me up. His touch was a little rough, but still warm.
He sat me on the bed and combed my hair, strand by strand.
In his calm blue eyes, I was clearly there. A pretty young woman crying like a child, tears falling.
Serden tilted his head and leaned closer with that familiar smile. A 19+ villain-like smile.
What is he doing…
A strange feeling crept up. I wanted to swallow, but I couldn’t risk it. I just sniffled quietly.
Serden reached out his hand. Or so I thought.
But what he picked up with his long fingers were the notes scattered on my bed. The notes I had been looking at out of embarrassment from falling on the bed.
At that moment, only one thought came to me.
X’d.
Late at night, going to see Evelyn was completely intentional.
I was curious how Evelyn would look when she was alone and unguarded.
And Evelyn greeted Serden in a more shocking way than I expected.
She had fallen off the bed, her pajama skirt twisted messily, exposing her legs.
Seeing her cry like a child, I really wondered if this woman was that clueless.
But then…
“What’s this?”
Serden smiled lazily. His gaze fell on the suspicious things scattered on the bed. They had numbers and dots.
It was definitely a code.
Serden watched Evelyn sniffle. Evelyn jumped up and ran at him, eyes wide.
Serden let her act as she wished. Evelyn climbed on top of him on the bed.
In that moment, her skirt fluttered. Evelyn gasped, holding Serden’s chest.
Serden narrowed his eyes and stared at her. Evelyn proudly grabbed the notes.
“Evelyn?”
“It’s mine! I found it, so it’s Evelyn’s treasure!”
Evelyn babbled like a child.
Serden looked up at her and asked:
“Where did you find it?”
“Ugh… outside. I found it while playing treasure hunt. It’s all mine! No one can have it!”
Serden narrowed his eyes. Was this acting, or real?
“The garden is all mine. I lent it to you, Evelyn. Then the things you found are also mine. You just stole my things.”
Serden spoke softly, lazily.
Evelyn’s eyes widened. What would she say back? She fidgeted, lips moving.
“…S-Stole? What’s stealing?”
Serden’s calm, slightly amused voice replied:
“To take something. To steal. It’s very bad.”
Evelyn frowned briefly, then it passed almost instantly. She hesitated.
Serden patiently waited for her response. He was curious how she would react. Before, when she read about a poisoned princess, she had drooled on her hand. And today, she had tumbled off the bed.
What will she do next?
Evelyn wriggled.
“…Then, just for a moment, I can show it.”
“Show it?”
“Yes! Since you lent me the garden, I can lend it too! Evelyn isn’t bad!”
“Heh.”
Serden couldn’t hold back a laugh. Then he whispered lazily:
“Alright, if you lend it, that’s fine. Show me, then. Be a good child.”
Evelyn reluctantly nodded and spread out the five notes with her long, white fingers. Then she said proudly:
“You can only look! It’s Evelyn’s treasure!”
I felt an overwhelming reality hit me. Did I have to survive like this?
When teasing Cherina, Rozy, or Roselina, I had felt no guilt at all.
But whenever Serden was involved, I couldn’t shake the feeling of being toyed with.
Maybe it was those deep eyes.
As if he knew everything and was mocking me.
Still, showing him the notes might be a good idea. He might decode them.
I smiled slightly, watching him.
“Did you see everything?”
I wanted to ask if he understood the code, but I couldn’t. Serden looked up and smiled. A terribly beautiful smile.
“Yes. I saw it all. Thank you, Evelyn.”
Serden patted my head.
Then he picked up something that had fallen—a glass jar full of candy. It had been under the bed but rolled out during the commotion.
Why now…?
I swallowed hard.
“Don’t you like candy? Why is this under the bed?”
Instinct took over. I grabbed the jar from Serden’s hand and shouted:
“It’s my treasure!! You’re bad! Husband, you’re bad! Why keep wanting Evelyn’s treasure? Go now! I won’t show you!”
Serden laughed.
I stomped my feet and shouted it was my treasure until Serden left.
The next day, the guards were changed. I didn’t know exactly, but it seemed the palace knights had been reassigned.
And, teasingly, a gift arrived.
A jar full of candy.
Mortega came to find Serden, looking shocked. Serden was finishing his training and wiping sweat with a towel.
“Why are you running like a colt on fire so early? Is something wrong?”
His smiling face was cold but beautiful.
Mortega swallowed, staring at the wind-blown Serden.
“Your Highness, I heard that the Royal Guard and your personal guard schedules have been changed. And the schedule is announced every morning.”
“Is that a problem?”
“No, but I’m curious why it was changed. Was there an attack yesterday? Were you hurt anywhere…?”
Mortega examined Serden carefully. Perfect muscles, flawless body.
“I thought my heart would stop, Your Highness.”
Mortega muttered, weak from fear, sinking to the ground. Serden smiled slightly.
“You’re too timid.”
“There were three attacks this year already, Your Highness. How many times was poison in the drinks?”
Mortega rubbed his red eyes.
Serden leaned down and looked into Mortega’s eyes, speaking softly:
“As you can see, I’m fine, Mortega.”
“Your Highness, remember, my life is tied to yours.”
Mortega murmured weakly.
Last night’s change to the guard schedule had been Serden’s unilateral decision.
Serden tapped Mortega’s shoulder and stood up. His eyes turned cold as he faced the rising morning sun.
