Chapter 95

* * *

“Eli, are you angry?”

“…”

I was holed up inside the imperial palace’s guest residence.

I’d tossed aside my dress and jewelry like shedding skin, changed into pajamas, wrapped myself up tight in a blanket, climbed onto the bed, and turned my back to the door.

Meanwhile, Edwin kept talking earnestly through the narrow crack I’d accidentally left open.

Since it was a marital suite, he was supposed to use the same room as me, but I didn’t even spare him a glance.

“Eliii…”

Then Edwin slowly peeked his head through the crack.

“I was wrong. Could you forgive me just this once?”

Footsteps passed by in the hallway.

Since this wasn’t a palace reserved just for us, nobles or servants must’ve seen Edwin fretting outside the door.

‘Isn’t Ed embarrassed at all?’

He’s Lombard, for heaven’s sake. He’s got dignity.

If I sulked or not, he could’ve just opened the door and come in. Instead, he was stubbornly respecting that tiny gap I’d left, which somehow felt sincere in its own way.

In the end, I gave in and asked,

“Then tell me what you did wrong.”

“I should’ve stayed by your side, but I left to accompany the minister of military affairs…”

“Do you really think that’s it? Do you think I’m some kid who gets scared if left alone?!”

At my shout, Edwin’s eyes drooped pitifully.

I hadn’t planned to forgive him until he gave the right answer.

But with all the movement in the hallway, I thought of his dignity. Honestly, mine even more. So I reluctantly told him he could come in.

I meant halfway in.

But the moment permission was given, Edwin was already sitting by the bed where I’d curled myself up.

I didn’t even see him enter.

Is that human speed?

Still blinking blankly, I watched as Edwin carefully gripped the edge of my blanket like it was my hand.

“I know you don’t like standing in front of people.”

“Then why did you do it? I was planning to pretend I didn’t know any foreign languages.”

“I couldn’t just stand by and watch you suffer from ridiculous rumors. I wanted everyone in the Capital to know what an amazing person you are.”

“A-Are you trying to butter me up with embarrassing lines like that?!”

I’d been avoiding his gaze, but I snapped my head up.

When our eyes met, the gloom on Edwin’s face lifted slightly.

“Oh. You’re showing me your face now?”

“No, I’m not.”

“Eli is the most remarkable person I know. I’m certain there’s no one in Lombard smarter or wiser than you.”

“…”

“But at the same time, you’re someone kind enough to think of others’ pain before your own.”

Edwin’s expression was serious.

He wasn’t acting cute or trying to charm me like before. He was choosing each word carefully, laying out his sincerity piece by piece.

“I don’t want people to look down on you anymore. Of course, you’re more beautiful than the angel Jibril, but I want everyone to respect you for who you are, not just how you look. You deserve that.”

“Ed…”

I had no idea he thought of me like that.

Moved despite myself, I slowly reached out toward the man still gripping my blanket. Then I suddenly snapped back to my senses and turned away.

His intentions were good, but no.

I wanted to run wild freely inside Lombard and live quietly like a mushroom growing in the shade everywhere else.

What happened today couldn’t happen again.

I felt Edwin fidget behind me, but I shouted, grasping at anything to nitpick.

“And another thing!!”

“…Another?”

“You’re not saying you only messed up once, are you?!”

I didn’t expect an honest answer. I was just picking a fight.

Aside from the moment the minister of military affairs showed up, and that man was an elder statesman and the former emperor’s half brother so refusing him was difficult, Edwin had stayed by my side and tried his best to take care of me.

Other than the foreign language incident, there really wasn’t much to complain about.

Thinking that, I was just starting to feel like forgiving him when—

“I thought you wouldn’t notice this far, but I guess I can’t fool your eyes after all.”

“…?”

Ed hesitated, watching my expression, then spoke carefully.

“Actually, I was so busy bragging about my wife to His Grace the Grand Duke of Heidelberg that he couldn’t even tell me why he came. We agreed to meet again tomorrow.”

“What?!”

What kind of nonsense is that?!

Your wife means me and only me. What on earth did you say in front of the minister of military affairs?!

I flung off the blanket and jumped up from the bed.

Just as I was about to grab Edwin by the collar—

“But how could I not boast about such a wonderful and beautiful wife.”

“…!”

“After hearing me, His Grace said that harmony between husband and wife is a joyful thing and offered his encouragement.”

I could picture the grand duke’s reaction without seeing it.

Some young hot blooded couple fooling around, he must’ve thought, thoroughly displeased but still responding politely for the sake of decorum.

My social dignity was now beyond repair.

Like furniture Berry once crushed, it crumbled into dust without leaving a trace.

“…”

Letting go of Edwin’s collar, I collapsed weakly onto the bed.

Then I rolled myself up again and pressed close to the wall.

“Turn off the lights.”

“You must be tired. Please rest comfortably. I’ll sleep on the sofa—”

“Do you want to turn me into a wicked wife? You said I’m wonderful and beautiful, remember.”

The palace sofa was far too small for Edwin to lie on.

It could seat two or three people, but he was large even by northern standards.

If he slept on that thing every night, his spine would snap in half.

Ed already had enough unfortunate issues. If his back got ruined too, Lombard itself would be in danger.

Convincing myself there were absolutely no other intentions, I grabbed his collar and pulled him closer.

“Sleep with me.”

“Eli?”

“From now on, let’s just keep sleeping together. I don’t like you being uncomfortable alone. And I trust that you won’t do anything weird…”

I looked up at him, but he was backlit, so I couldn’t see his expression.

After a brief silence, Edwin nodded, washed up, changed clothes, and climbed into bed.

The mattress sank with his weight.

When I was alone, the bed felt as wide as a training field. With him there, it suddenly felt full and strangely cozy.

‘This feels strange.’

Maybe because I haven’t slept beside anyone since I was little.

In the middle of this dazzling yet cruel palace, having the one person on my side lying right next to me was more comforting than I ever expected.

‘It’s really strange. Whenever I look at Ed these days…’

Maybe the day had been exhausting. His breathing evened out quietly after he closed his eyes.

Staring at his sleeping face in the faint moonlight, I suddenly looked down.

I’d hogged all the blankets.

Even if it was the south, it was still early spring. Sleeping uncovered could lead to a cold.

I wriggled and freed half the blanket, carefully covering him so he wouldn’t wake.

“Good night.”

It felt strange.

That someone with the same name and face could be completely different from the Ed of the past.

That the man who once treated me like something disposable now saw me as someone precious and irreplaceable.

“…Haaam.”

I couldn’t fight the drowsiness any longer.

With Edwin beside me, I felt like I could sleep tonight without nightmares.

* * *

Soft, steady breaths filled the room.

Edwin, who had been lying still as if asleep, silently opened his eyes.

‘…I’m happy.’

Just looking at her peaceful sleeping face was enough.

He felt a part of his once frozen heart soften and melt.

Carefully brushing aside the hair resting on Eli’s forehead, Edwin narrowed his eyes.

‘Who would’ve thought the emperor would stir things up from the very first day.’