~Chapter 36~
As I grew accustomed to the darkness, I could see Étienne’s chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm.
It’s a little embarrassing to think this, but… it felt so empty!
Seriously, sleeping together like this, isn’t he being way too casual? It’s our first night together, and I’m trembling to death… Well, then again, Étienne has no choice but to live with me since we can’t divorce.
He can’t possibly feel the same way I do.
But still! I’m a woman too! A biological woman!
When he said we’d share the same room, I had a tiny bit of hope.
But now I understand. He was definitely trying to torment me.
I spent a long moment admiring his face, lit by the moonlight. The dark shadows on his face gave off a strange aura. He looked like something forbidden that would curse anyone foolish enough to touch it.
But forbidden things are always the ones you want to touch. Just like me.
I cautiously lifted my hand. My mouth went dry, as if I were breaking a taboo. My hand drew closer. After a brief hesitation, my fingertips gently tapped the tip of his nose.
I held my breath and waited.
He’s not going to jump up, right? Oh no, the corpse is going to jump! The corpse is going to jump!
A strange song came to mind from a vague memory.
Étienne’s breathing remained steady and calm. I summoned the courage to stroke the bridge of his nose.
Not made by a doctor, yet… how perfectly straight and high is it?
Hmm, my nose is pretty too.
I started fiddling with my own nose with one hand.
My nose was soft, but Étienne’s was firm.
Even after kneading it for a long while, he showed no signs of waking. Seeing him, who was always so composed, lying defenseless like this, a mischievous impulse crept over me.
He must have tormented me endlessly every day.
I became bolder.
I used two fingers to gently block his nostrils.
One… two… three seconds…
A vertical crease appeared on his perfectly smooth brow.
Heh.
I silently laughed and, as if showing mercy, removed my fingers from his nose.
A huff escaped from his proud nostrils.
It was amusing to see how his expression changed from just a single touch. I even felt a small sense of conquest.
I giggled, covering my mouth, then traced his eyebrows with my fingers.
Every time I looked at Étienne’s flawless face, I felt the urge to touch it at least once.
And now the opportunity had arrived!
The line from his eyebrows to his nose looked like a work of art. My hand naturally drifted down toward his lips.
Oh my, they’re so red… and he hasn’t even applied tint.
Without realizing it, I lightly tapped his lips with my fingertip.
Soft, warm, and supple. Strange.
It was natural for lips to be soft… but it still felt strange.
Maybe because he always seemed so impenetrable? It felt like I was seeing something I shouldn’t.
At that moment, his tightly closed lips parted slightly.
Huh…
A glimpse of his neatly aligned white teeth appeared past the moist flesh, and my finger was suddenly sucked into his mouth. No—it got bitten.
I was so shocked that my head went fuzzy.
Étienne’s eyelids, which had seemed deeply asleep, slowly lifted.
…It’s over.
Somehow, I had turned to face Étienne very closely. And my finger was in his mouth.
No matter how I tried to justify it, this was at least a prank, at most an assault.
Could being married count as a mitigating circumstance? Please, let it.
Étienne stared at me without moving, whether asleep or awake, I couldn’t tell.
I swallowed hard. Because of that slight movement, his gaze rolled over to my mouth and then back up, leaving a hot, lingering sensation.
When our eyes met again, they were dark—almost black. I couldn’t move. My hair stood on end, and goosebumps prickled the back of my neck.
Tick… tick…
The ticking of a clock, whose presence I hadn’t noticed, echoed through the room.
I managed to croak out a word.
“Th-that…”
At the same moment, his body shot up. Étienne pushed against my shoulder.
“Ugh.”
I fell into the bed with a sound that wasn’t even a scream.
In an instant, he was looming over me. He filled my entire view.
I couldn’t breathe. His immense presence pressed down on me.
I instinctively thought that I couldn’t resist this man.
Time seemed to stretch, though briefly. I just stared at him, dumbfounded.
The moonlight streaming through the window illuminated the pale nape of his neck.
His thick neck was masculine, but the pale skin made it look delicate, as if it could tear easily.
That contrast was provocative.
“What you did…”
Étienne’s voice was deep and husky. He spoke slowly, as if even one word was painful. I barely lifted my gaze to meet his eyes.
“You’ll take responsibility.”
I didn’t understand.
What did he mean by responsibility? And how was I supposed to take it?
Before I could think further, his face moved closer. His scent stormed into my nose. I squeezed my eyes shut.
“….”
Tick-tock, tick-tock—the ticking sounded again, asserting its presence.
“….”
Why isn’t he doing it?
I peeked open my eyes.
Étienne was right in front of me, staring down at me. I rolled my eyes around to assess the situation.
So this was supposed to be a kissing scene? This time it was obvious.
“Let go of my hand.”
I quickly released the edge of his shirt I had been holding.
Wait, I was holding it?!
I had gripped it so tightly that wrinkles remained where my fist had been.
As soon as I let go, Étienne pulled back sharply. Cold air rushed in where he had been.
He pressed a hand to his forehead, partly obscuring his face.
Through his fingers, I could see his brows furrowed tightly…
“Get down.”
“…Pardon?”
What did you say?
He lowered his hand from his face. Anger was clearly etched onto it—different from his usual unreadable expressions.
So, he meant for me to… get down.
Étienne pointed under the bed, as if confirming what I was thinking.
“Now.”
I gaped stupidly.
“You want me to sleep… on the floor?”
“Do you want a divorce?”
“Huh? Why are you suddenly talking about divorce?!”
I was dumbfounded by the absurd topic shift.
“Just come up. I can’t take it anymore either.”
Seeing his simmering anger, I grabbed a pillow and went down.
Really? I’m really going to sleep on the floor?
I felt like a puppy who peed on the bed and got scolded.
When did he even suggest sharing the bed?
Well, technically, he never explicitly said “let’s sleep together,” but… he made a fuss about Vessus or something…
Was this what he meant by taking responsibility? For touching someone’s face while they were asleep?
I bit my lip hard.
And I had been getting excited, thinking it was a kiss… How embarrassing!
Rolling around too much seems to make you lose your pride too.
I scolded myself and climbed onto the sofa. It was large enough to be somewhat comfortable, but that didn’t ease my mind.
Lying without a blanket, I glanced at Étienne. He had already lain down, eyes peacefully closed.
So, after sending me out, he can sleep peacefully?
Even though it was only a few days, I thought we were getting closer. Another delusion.
Étienne doesn’t respect me at all. Does he even consider me human? I must look ridiculous because I always cling to him.
I curled up small.
What is this, coming all the way to the palace…
Snif, I swallowed snot instead of tears.
The room brightened.
Étienne, who hadn’t slept all night, sat up from the sofa like a zombie. His body felt heavy.
The sofa was too short for his height, but the real reason for his exhaustion was elsewhere.
He stared blankly at the small heap of blanket on the bed.
He had boldly proclaimed he would share a room with Dalia out of a strange mix of jealousy and bravado. But the moment she lay down beside him, regret began to creep in.
An impulse he had never felt before surged through him. All his senses seemed focused on Dalia.
〈What on earth am I thinking about this woman?〉
He was disgusted with himself and shut his eyes tightly to avoid it. It didn’t help.
Dalia twisted and turned without a care, each movement filling his head with a sweet, tempting scent.
Eventually, she lay so close that he could feel her breath, and she began fiddling with her face.
Where her fingers passed, it felt as if sparks ignited.
〈Damn you, Dalia.〉
Étienne muttered this silently several times, holding back.
〈Does this woman have no sense of caution? Isn’t it scary to be alone with a man in one room?〉
Indeed. Dalia had neither fear nor caution. Simply none.
When her fingers touched her lips, a surge of emotion erupted inside him like boiling milk.
Impulsively, he bit her finger. The small, soft finger touched his tongue, sending an electric shock through him, and his vision blurred.
When their eyes met…
“You’re crazy.”
Étienne recalled that moment, running a hand over his forehead.
He barely clung to the last thread of reason. He instinctively knew that was the last point where he could stop.
Chasing her off the bed was his final measure.
Of course, when she looked sulky like a drenched kitten, he regretted not leaving himself.
He watched her with wide-open eyes. Despite what happened, Dalia slept peacefully.
Sighing, Étienne moved her onto the bed and wrapped her in a blanket, leaving only her round, glossy face visible. Finally, he could lie comfortably on the sofa.
He still couldn’t make sense of the situation.
As Simon said, was he really falling in love?
He did not want to admit it.
Mocking his feelings, his eyes kept wandering back to the heap of blanket.
Étienne regretted yesterday’s mistake once again. A greed stronger than before surged within him. Insane.
〈It will never happen. If it does, I’ll be your servant from now on.〉
He recalled his own boast and groaned, pressing a hand to his forehead.
“If Simon knew, he’d flip out.”
