Chapter 27
Maybe it was because of the lantern in my hand, but Eden’s eyes looked like they were flickering in the firelight under his long lashes.
I couldn’t say anything because of his silent pressure.
“I’ll ask you one thing.”
After a short silence, Eden, still staring at the necklace, spoke in a low voice.
“How did you find this room?”
His voice was cold. It didn’t feel like he was really curious. I felt nervous for some reason and answered quickly.
“I just… found it by accident while walking around.”
“By accident, huh.”
Eden let out a short laugh and looked at me again.
“That’s the answer I expected.”
He smirked. It was the same tone he used when trying to trap someone with words. But this time, something was different—his eyes weren’t smiling at all.
Now I understood why the maids said Eden was scary when he didn’t smile.
I tried to stay calm and replied, “It’s true. I just went for a walk before bed and got lost. I found this room by chance. Also… I wanted to talk to you.”
“Everyone says the same thing, word for word.”
His voice turned even colder.
It seemed like I wasn’t the first person to come here pretending it was an accident. And none of those people left a good impression on him.
I didn’t know what was going on, so I had no idea what to say next. I bit my lip.
Should I explain more calmly? Should I say I was waiting for him because of the wedding ceremony?
But I didn’t think he would listen. His face looked colder than I’d ever seen before.
“Let’s stop here.”
His firm voice cut off my thoughts.
“Whatever happens, don’t come into this room again.”
He stepped aside slightly, telling me to leave.
I hesitated at his sudden dismissal, but then he laughed softly.
“Right, you said you got lost.”
He turned toward me again. His big warm hand reached out and took the lantern from mine.
“Let’s go. I’ll walk you back to your room.”
Though he sounded kind, I could tell there was sarcasm behind it.
I felt upset. I didn’t know what this room meant to him, and I could understand why he was suspicious. But still, I didn’t deserve to be treated like this.
“I’ll go alone.”
Eden turned around when he heard that. He raised an eyebrow.
“You said you were lost.”
“Yes, but you don’t believe me anyway.”
My sharp words made Eden close his mouth.
He looked like someone annoyed by a problem he didn’t want to deal with—like he was facing a person who caused trouble but then got angry themselves.
But I had things to say too. I was doing my best to honor the contract, and yet he wouldn’t even listen to me.
Why didn’t I realize sooner? Eden was the kind of person who could push someone away with just one word. I was the only one who didn’t see that. Just me.
When I didn’t step back, he sighed softly.
“…Let’s stop talking. The hallways are dark, so I’ll walk you anyway.”
He tried to turn again, but I was faster. I took the lantern back from his hand.
This time, he clearly frowned.
“I said, I’ll go alone.”
“Godell.”
“I agreed to be your wife in this contract, not some little rat sneaking around.”
He paused at those words.
For a brief moment, his eyes showed surprise. It was like he hadn’t thought of me that way—maybe even a flash of guilt.
But I didn’t care. Just like he didn’t care earlier when he pushed me away.
“…I’ll be going now.”
Before he could say anything more, I turned and walked off.
I don’t know what expression he saw on my face as I left. But I hoped he didn’t see how betrayed I felt. That would be too much emotion for a contract marriage.
***
“…So, that’s how I plan to proceed. Do you want anything changed?”
There was no answer. Miller looked up from the report and stared at his lord.
Eden looked calm as usual. But silence before a storm is always calm too.
“……”
No matter what was said, Eden stayed quiet—and that silence made him scarier than usual. The pressure in the room was thick.
‘Just a few days ago, he seemed fine…’
Actually, it started the day after Godell moved into the mansion.
Normally, two grown adults just holding hands while sleeping seemed like something out of a fairy tale, but it really did happen—especially since Eden hated physical contact.
So that morning, Miller had seriously worried about how to keep Eden in a good mood.
But surprisingly, Eden didn’t seem upset at all. In fact, rumors said he looked happy.
Miller and the other knights actually got nervous. They joked that people act differently before they die—or maybe Eden was just excited to annoy the royal family.
Now though, Miller missed that version of Eden.
He knew staying quiet was safest, but the tension was getting worse by the day. Even the other knights were growing anxious.
‘Please, someone fix this! This is terrifying…!’
Finally, Miller spoke up.
“Your Grace… Is something bothering you?”
“No.”
The reply was quick and sharp. But Miller, who had served Eden for a long time, knew it wasn’t true.
What should he do now? Then he remembered something Helen had said and tried a different approach.
“…Then, about Lady Godell’s dress—”
The moment he said Godell’s name, Eden’s hand—tapping the table lazily—stopped completely.
“…Why are you asking me that?”
He eventually responded, but Miller already had his answer.
So this was it. This was why Eden had been in such a foul mood.
Trying not to smile, Miller said, “You told us to report everything related to Lady Godell and Echo, didn’t you?”
“……”
Yes. Eden had said that himself. He had no excuse now.
He hadn’t even remembered. His mind was too full.
When he saw Godell holding that object in that room, he felt a burst of irritation. Not because she was there, but because she had stepped into that room.
And after that, he felt disappointed.
“…Really. I just got lost while walking before bed. I found the room by chance. And… I had something to tell you.”
Godell had said the same thing others had said before.
He was disappointed. He thought she might be different.
But that room couldn’t have opened by accident. He had locked it himself. Locked it to trap away his memories.
So her words had to be a lie—just like all the others before her.
That’s why he said those cold things. He didn’t want the same thing to happen again.
When she heard it, Godell looked… hurt.
It was the same face he had seen from many others—people who thought they could “fix” him.
They always thought they could save him from his problems, like his pain was just something missing they could fill.
He had seen it all before.
Normally, he wouldn’t care. He liked watching people’s faces twist because of him.
“I’m your wife by contract, not a rat in your walls.”
But those words, that look in her eyes, her trembling lips—they kept spinning around in his head. Even after days had passed.
‘She’s the one who came into that room… Why does she look like the one who was betrayed?’
If anyone had a right to feel betrayed, it was him. Or so he thought.
“….”
Something felt unpleasant deep in his chest. Everything was annoying—her use of the word “contract,” the expression she made, and most of all, himself for caring.
Just then—
Knock knock.
A knock broke the silence. Eden turned his head slightly. It was probably Norton, the butler.
A knight opened the door.
“Uh…”
He sounded confused, as if he saw something unexpected.
Eden looked up. The knight hesitated, then opened the door fully.
“Ah… Hello, Your Grace.”
The person who entered had golden hair and bright green eyes. Someone who didn’t fit in this dark, gloomy mansion at all.
It was Echo.
“Young Lady?”
“What brings you here, Miss?”
The assistants looked delighted to see her.
In this quiet and dull place, Echo was the only person who brought light. With her pretty looks and kind heart, it was no wonder everyone liked her.
“Um… I… wanted to tell you something.”
Echo peeked around nervously at all the people staring at her.
