Chapter 51

Agnes wore a pale blue slip dress and draped a thick shawl over her shoulders as she walked toward the chamber prepared for her by the Imperial Palace.

According to an old royal tradition, every marriage ceremony and the wedding night of a member of the Imperial Family had to take place within the palace. The rule was meant to honor them as part of the royal bloodline, yet it also served as a declaration that they would always remain under imperial watch.

Inside the lavish and grand bedroom, a table was set with wine, fruit, and light dishes.

The air was heavy with the scent of flowers, as if urging the couple to do what was expected of them here.

Agnes sat on the sofa, waiting for the other occupant of this room who had yet to arrive.

Not long after, the door opened and Dylan entered.

His hair was damp at the ends, as if he had taken a long and tiring bath. His expression showed faint irritation, but as always, when he sat beside Agnes, his demeanor was composed and courteous.

Agnes let out a small laugh.

“You seem to have suffered quite a bit too, Your Grace.”

Dylan smiled faintly and shrugged his shoulders.

“The maids who could never even look me in the eye were scolding me all day. I had no choice but to surrender.”

Hearing such a rare complaint from him, Agnes covered her mouth and laughed softly.

Before their marriage, the two had already agreed that there would be no heirs between them.

Among nobles, a husband and wife shared a bed only to produce an heir, so it was natural that they would not consummate the marriage.

Of course, Agnes knew that intimacy between men and women was not always tied to lineage, and that other kinds of problems could arise from such matters.

Yet the man before her was not the type to act carelessly.

Dylan poured a glass of wine and handed it to her.

“You must be tired. Why didn’t you sleep first instead of waiting for me?”

“I still wanted to see you before resting.”

She lightly clinked her glass against his. The sound rang clear in the quiet room, and she took only a small sip before setting it down again.

Then she rose from her seat and bowed deeply, lower than she usually would.

“Thank you, Your Grace. For protecting me until this day, and for helping me bring Noah back. I will never forget your kindness for as long as I live.”

Her voice carried sincerity and weight.

Dylan stood as well, resting a hand on her shoulder and helping her rise.

Golden eyes met blue ones at close distance, each reflecting the other.

“If not for your own determination, none of this would have been possible. You’ve done well. The North is a quiet place. It will be good for Noah’s body and heart to recover.”

Agnes nodded with a bright expression.

When Dylan had first met her, her eyes had been gentle, but her face had been shadowed with sorrow, as if she stood lost in a thick fog.

Now, under the glow of candlelight and moonlight, her smile was as radiant as the sun on a clear day.

“What kind of place is the North? Do you think there will be children Noah’s age he can befriend?”

“There are a few minor houses there. Since the House of Vasteron was established in my generation, we don’t have vassal families yet, but the smaller houses have formed their own modest society. It may be good for you to get to know them.”

Dylan paused to recall the details of those families before continuing.

“I haven’t attended their gatherings before, but if you do, they’ll welcome you warmly.”

“I’ll do my best to behave so I don’t cause you any trouble.”

Dylan chuckled.

“I doubt any trouble you cause could be that serious.”

Agnes blinked in surprise. She hadn’t expected him to joke. Then she broke into laughter.

“A woman who showed up at your doorstep asking you to rescue her son wasn’t already trouble enough?”

“That wasn’t trouble. It was courage. Reckless perhaps, but courage nonetheless. Without that, things would have only grown worse.”

Agnes smiled shyly.

She always saw herself as weak and helpless, but Dylan seemed to see her as brave and good-hearted.

Whenever she realized that, she wanted to live up to his belief in her and never let him down.

Seeing that she had stopped drinking, Dylan gently took her hand and led her toward the bed.

“You should rest now. Starting tomorrow, there will be banquets and celebrations without end. You’ll hardly find time to breathe.”

“That sounds like a very good idea.”

She accepted his hand and sat on the edge of the bed.

Even though she knew nothing would happen, her heart beat a little faster at the thought of sharing a bed with such a handsome man.

To distract herself from the thought, she quickly spoke.

“The banquets might be tiring, but the festival should be different, right? I only saw one from afar when I was little, and everyone looked so happy.”

She said it just to ease the awkward atmosphere, but Dylan’s reply came serious and calm.

“Would you like to see the festival yourself?”

“What? Oh, no, not really.”

She denied it reflexively, then hesitated before admitting the truth.

“Actually, I am curious. When I saw the commoners during the parade earlier, I thought their lives looked so lively. I wonder what it’s like when they celebrate among themselves, not when they’re bowing to royalty.”

Then she shook her head again.

“But it’s best if I don’t go now. Even if I hide my identity, someone might still recognize me. I can’t be sure it would be safe.”

The rumors about her and Dylan had already spread far beyond the nobles and into the streets.

A divorced woman, cast out by her husband, becoming engaged to a man of higher rank to reclaim her child was almost unheard of.

Some people supported and cheered her on, but others called her arrogant or shameless.

There was no reason to step into that chaos herself.

Dylan nodded in agreement.

“You’ll have another chance someday. The festivals in the North aren’t as splendid as those in the capital, but they are held from time to time. It will be quieter and better suited for you and Noah.”

Agnes smiled, imagining herself enjoying a peaceful northern festival with Noah.

A while later, the candles were extinguished, and they lay beneath the same blanket.

Though she had been near Dylan many times before, sharing one bed made his scent and warmth feel closer than ever.

She lay straight on her back, staring into the dark ceiling before closing her eyes.

She had been married twice and had shared a wedding night twice, yet never once had she experienced what people called the union between husband and wife.

She was walking a completely different path from the kind of woman the world would call unchaste. The irony of it made her smile faintly.

Her first night with Rickman had been filled with tension and fear, but this night was different. She still felt a bit nervous, but there was no fear.

She was certain this man would never harm her.

Agnes closed her eyes.

Dylan’s steady breathing filled the silence, and her stiff shoulders relaxed.

The dark and unfamiliar room felt warm and safe. As her breathing slowed, Agnes drifted into deep sleep.

* * *

The next morning, when she opened her eyes, Dylan was already awake and dressed.

He turned his head when he heard her stir. Agnes smiled awkwardly and greeted him.

“Good morning, Your Grace.”

She smoothed her tousled hair and straightened her clothes.

Though it felt slightly awkward to have risen from the same bed, a good night’s rest had left color in her cheeks.

Dylan looked at her rosy face for a moment before responding softly.

“Good morning, my lady.”