Chapter 14
Shai choked and coughed in surprise at the unexpected words.
“Duke—no, Benjamin, are you serious?”
“Yes. I thought it wouldn’t be such a bad idea for a married couple to build affection.”
“How… efficient of you.”
“Efficiency is important.”
“I agree, of course…”
Shai studied Benjamin carefully. Though he pretended otherwise, his eyes sparkled like a child waiting to be praised. After some thought, she spoke cautiously.
“Hmm… Instead of going for ‘cute,’ maybe you should lean into the ‘handsome’ image. It highlights your strengths better.”
“You think I’m handsome?”
“Yes. Handsome… right?”
Somehow, her sentence ended with a hint of uncertainty.
There was no denying that he was exceptionally good-looking. Even within the empire, men with such sharp features were rare.
But Shai still didn’t know him well. That was why she couldn’t speak with certainty.
To Shai, “handsome” wasn’t just about appearance—it included inner strength as well.
Benjamin might have a beautiful interior too, but she simply hadn’t seen enough to judge yet.
“So I haven’t convinced you yet. I’ll keep working on it.”
She almost told him not to take such a subjective opinion so seriously, but instead, she shifted her tone.
“You really are diligent.”
In truth, Benjamin was someone who had always been recognized. Appearance, ability, background—he lacked nothing.
And unlike those shady nobles with questionable morals, there wasn’t a single rumor of corruption or underhandedness about him.
“I know that combining talent and effort produces results faster.”
“Wow. So you know you’re amazing, huh?”
“Yes. I’m aware of it, and because I want to be even better, I work harder. And if my wife also sees me that way, I’d be grateful.”
He spoke so seriously that it almost sounded modest. Shai found herself genuinely impressed.
“You have a talent for making unlikeable statements sound charming.”
“And my wife has a talent for making any words sound like compliments.”
They both smiled at each other.
‘When I’m with him, I feel tense like I’m aware he’s a man, yet once we start talking, it’s oddly comfortable.’
She didn’t quite understand how those two feelings could coexist, but Shai was experiencing them both at once.
In truth, it wasn’t so much tension as it was… anticipation. But she wasn’t ready to admit that yet.
Benjamin held out his hand to her politely.
“It’s time for dinner. Shall we go eat together?”
“Yes, let’s.”
Like a lady headed to a ball, Shai gently placed her hand on his.
“Unless something urgent comes up, I’d like us to eat together from now on.”
“If your schedule gets busy, don’t feel pressured.”
“My strength hasn’t deteriorated to the point I can’t even walk to the dining room.”
“Ah… okay.”
“The more we see each other, the more I’ll get used to you—as a husband.”
“Yes. As a husband.”
Shai nodded. Before long, they had reached the dining room, and Benjamin stepped aside to let her in first.
“Wives first.”
“Wife first, then.”
Shai didn’t hesitate and walked in ahead of him. She still didn’t know exactly what kind of person he was, but this beginning didn’t seem bad at all.
✦ ✦ ✦
Her memory hadn’t returned, but the wounds had mostly healed. No more headaches, and her body felt good.
The servants in the grand duke’s estate were starting to sense that her demeanor had changed.
Being careful didn’t mean becoming soft. Shai made sure to carry herself with grace and uphold her authority.
Regarding her father, all she had was a single letter—no other clues.
But aside from that, she couldn’t recall a time when her life had felt this peaceful.
The only thing disrupting her calm these days was the strange items Benjamin kept bringing her.
“Take this. Someone gave it to me, but it’s of no use to me.”
“Hold out your hands. It’s heavy.”
“I was out inspecting the territory and a merchant insisted I take it. Since economic observation is part of my duties, I had no choice but to buy one.”
After that, despite his busy schedule, Benjamin began bringing her little things—like a mother bird feeding her chick.
Shai glanced over the objects spread out before her.
A crystal orb that looked unsettlingly like a monster’s giant eyeball.
A chunk of gold carved into the shape of a baby animal—maybe a squirrel, maybe a puppy.
A small hand mirror made to resemble a strawberry, inlaid with tiny rubies.
And a leather pouch shaped like a pea pod, filled with pea-sized diamonds.
Gifts among nobles usually included jewels, dresses, books, teasets, accessories—things like that.
These were technically still gifts… but—
‘Judging by the way he talks about them, it doesn’t seem like he bought them on purpose. But they’re not particularly meaningful either… There’s absolutely no consistency to them.’
Should she just chalk it up to simple goodwill?
It was a good thing, after all, for a husband to show kindness to his wife.
‘Some people are just bad at choosing gifts. I didn’t expect the grand duke to be one of them, though.’
The more time they spent together, the more she learned about him. That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
‘Maybe he’s enjoying learning about me too. Or is it just me feeling satisfied by all this?’
Shai hunched forward, idly stroking the crystal orb.
She couldn’t remember the last time she felt so at peace—but part of her was anxious.
Having grown up under tight control, she found the freedom and lack of orders around her both comforting and strangely disorienting.
‘This is normal. You know it is. Don’t be afraid.’
She closed her eyes and reassured herself.
‘You’ve always told yourself you’d overcome this anxiety. That you’d break free from the chains.’
And to do that, she needed to uncover the truth behind her father’s letter.
‘Maybe I should track down the maids who were sent to the annex. Try to get something out of them.’
She didn’t want to see those people again, but if it was necessary, she would.
‘Maybe I’ve been idle too long. My body’s healed, but I haven’t done anything.’
She lifted the crystal orb and turned it toward the light.
‘Still… I wasn’t lonely. Benjamin came by often.’
That thought sparked a sudden realization. She straightened up, holding the orb in both hands.
‘Come to think of it, I’ve gotten used to calling him by name.’
A name, though belonging to the person, is often used most by others. To Shai, names felt like a bridge between people.
As she quietly fiddled with the orb, Benjamin entered the room. Shai set the orb down and greeted him.
“Benjamin, you’re here.”
He nodded in reply.
“The meeting ended earlier than expected, so I came to see you.”
His eyes went to the orb she had just set down. He picked it up and asked seriously,
“Do you like it?”
She didn’t particularly love it, but it was a gift, so she gave a vague response.
“It sparkles.”
Benjamin muttered thoughtfully with a solemn face.
“Something cute and something sparkly…”
Shai tilted her head, trying to hear better, but before she could make sense of it, Benjamin turned to her, orb still in hand.
“There’s something I’d like to show you. May I?”
“Um, yes… sure.”
The moment she agreed, Benjamin swept her into his arms—with the orb still in one hand. Shai let out a startled gasp.
Holding her tightly, he placed her gently on the bed, then climbed in beside her and pulled the blanket over them.
The meaning was clear—Shai panicked and cried out.
“I’m not ready yet…!”
She was about to explain she wasn’t mentally prepared when Benjamin held out the orb for her to see.
In the darkness beneath the covers, the orb glowed. Not just in one color, either—it slowly shifted hues, glowing periodically in soft waves.
“I thought it might look cute at night, like a glowing egg. It sparkles too.”
Shai covered her mouth, flustered by the explanation.
‘Shai Allan—no, Shai Riverstar. What on earth were you thinking? He had such a pure reason for this!’
Come to think of it, Benjamin had never once rushed her. He was the kind of person who would wait until she felt completely at ease.
He was stoic, but that quiet consideration was simply part of who he was.
Then, with a mischievous expression she had never seen before, Benjamin asked,
“Were you expecting something?”
That one sentence ignited her entire face. She flung off the blanket, her cheeks burning red, and grabbed the nearest pillow.
Benjamin watched her clutch it in embarrassment and gave a knowing nod.
“If you’re upset, I’ll allow you to hit me. Once or twice.”
His calm attitude only made her more annoyed. Shai gripped the pillow tighter and warned him.
“If you say things like that, I really will hit you.”
“Go ahead. It’s full of feathers. I’m solid.”
Benjamin puffed up his shoulders, as if to show how sturdy he was.
Irritated now, Shai swung the pillow with all her might, aiming silently for what she hoped was a weak spot.
But whoosh—Benjamin dodged instantly. Then, with a swift movement, he caught her wrist mid-swing and gently pushed her back down onto the bed.
In a flash, the situation reversed.
Before she knew it, Shai was pinned beneath him.
