<Chapter 27>

“I never…!”

Temenos, whose face had turned crimson, almost raised his voice before clearing his throat softly. In a voice tightly controlled with suppressed emotion, he said, “Are you saying I dragged you to bed?”

Though his tone was growling, the sight of his ears burning red made it anything but threatening.

I snorted lightly and pointed to the large piece of furniture right next to us.

“What do you call this?”

Temenos stared at the bed with its soft mattress, blankets, and an assortment of cushions and pillows, looking momentarily at a loss for words.

“A bed…,” he finally admitted.

Feeling triumphant, I tilted my chin up with pride.

“Since we’re on the subject, could you be more cautious in the future? Barging into your fiancée’s bedroom, day or night, isn’t something people would look kindly upon.”

“Look kindly upon?”

Temenos raised an eyebrow, as if he’d never considered such a notion before. His reaction left me momentarily speechless.

When I thought about it, he was not only the master of the northern lands but also the infamous Monster Duke.

No one dared mention his name in his presence, and when out of earshot, everyone scorned him as a monster.

Whether or not he cared about his already-ruined reputation, I didn’t know what to say, so I decided to feign boldness.

“And besides, do you know what might happen to you for carelessly entering a woman’s bedroom?”

“What might happen to me?”

Temenos seemed genuinely clueless about what harm could possibly befall him.

I felt an urgent need to enlighten this innocent rabbit of a man about the harsh realities of the world.

“For your future’s sake, let me warn you. A handsome man like you shouldn’t be so defenseless when bringing a woman to a bed…”

I trailed off, stepping closer to him. Temenos flinched, trying to step back, only to be blocked by the bed behind him.

Seizing that brief moment of imbalance, I pushed against his shoulders. However, contrary to my expectations, his body didn’t budge. It felt like trying to move a boulder.

‘Is this even a human body?’

I tried again, but he remained unyielding.

A third attempt followed, this time with both hands and all my strength. Yet still, Temenos didn’t move an inch.

I was dumbfounded. This man doesn’t even seem to be exerting any strength, yet!

‘Or am I just that weak?’

The thought bruised my pride. Determined to give it one last shot, I gritted my teeth and shoved his shoulders with everything I had.

This time, Temenos suddenly gave way as if he were a feather. The unexpected ease caused me to lose my balance, and I tumbled on top of him.

Thud!

“Ow, ow…”

My face collided with his chest, and the impact was no joke—it even made a dull thumping sound.

Temenos, apparently concerned, grabbed my shoulders and sat up slightly.

“Are you alright?”

“No, I’m not… Do I have a nosebleed?”

As I tilted my face up, Temenos examined me with a serious expression before shaking his head.

“You don’t. Even if you did, it would heal quickly. After all, you’re a saintess.”

How reassuring.

“Ugh, it hurts… Are you wearing a bulletproof vest or something?”

“What?”

“Is there a stone slab under your clothes? How can a human body be so…”

Unable to shake my suspicions, I pressed his abdomen a few times.

The hard texture beneath his thin clothing seemed too firm to be mere muscle. Surely he hadn’t installed steel plates to protect against assassins, had he?

While I pondered this, a cough echoed behind me.

“Ahem, ahem!”

From a distance, someone was clearly trying hard to announce their presence. It was Monica.

It was only then that I realized our current positions—and the placement of my hands.

‘Eek!’

Though I screamed inwardly, I forced myself to maintain a composed exterior as I got off him.

“Now you see, don’t you? What could happen if you behave so recklessly!”

“Isn’t it you who suffered something?”

…Well, that’s true. But I was the one who caused it, too.

My still-tingling nose made the whole situation even more humiliating. Rubbing my face absentmindedly, I shot a glare at Temenos.  

“Anyway! I’ve warned you. If this happens again, I won’t go easy on you next time. Got it?”

Temenos seemed on the verge of saying something but eventually just nodded.

“Understood. We can’t have my future wife breaking her nose.”

“Ugh! We’ll see whose nose breaks! Next time, I’ll bring you down with my own strength!”

“Ahem! Ahem!” Monica’s increasingly loud coughs from afar seemed determined to salvage my dignity.

Feeling bad for her efforts, I decided to end it here for today. Besides, I had wedding preparations to get back to. I pushed Temenos out of the bedroom.

“Prospective Duchess…”

“Sorry. I lost my composure and acted quite unbecomingly.”

As memories of the etiquette lessons from Madam Orman flashed through my mind, guilt washed over me.

‘I’m sorry, Madam Orman. Your pupil still has a long way to go.’

“Wow! I’ve always thought so, but Prospective Duchess, you’re truly amazing…”

“Hm?”

“Mary!”

At Monica’s reprimand, Mary flinched but seemed determined to speak her mind despite Monica’s disapproval.

“Prospective Duchess, aren’t you afraid of His Grace? How can you act so casually around him?”

“Huh?”

“Mary, that’s inappropriate! Apologize immediately!”

“But it’s fascinating! Honestly, I can barely breathe properly around His Grace.”

She glanced at the other maids, seeking agreement. Though they hesitated under Monica’s watchful gaze, their expressions betrayed their agreement.

I looked at Mary in confusion.

“What do you mean by ‘barely breathe properly’?”

“Exactly that. Just standing near His Grace makes my knees weak, my heart race, and I can’t relax until I’m far away. Even then, I end up drenched in sweat.”

To emphasize her point, Mary showed me her arm, covered in goosebumps.

Turning to the others, I asked, “Is that true for all of you? Even you, Monica?”

Everyone, including Alice, nodded subtly. Even Kei and Cesare didn’t deny it.

“It’s because His Grace has such a commanding presence. We’re likely overwhelmed by his aura.”

“Still, lately…”

“Hm?”

“…No, it’s nothing.” Kei shook his head, leaving the sentence unfinished.

It was clear, though, what they were getting at: everyone here—and perhaps everyone in these lands—feared Temenos’ mere existence.

‘So it’s not his otherworldly appearance they fear?’

After all, his left side wasn’t grotesquely transformed; it was just a few scales. That much fear wouldn’t make sense.

But as one question found its answer, another arose.

‘Why don’t I feel anything?’

Alice provided the answer.

“Prospective Duchess is a saintess, isn’t she? Maybe that’s why, don’t you think?”

“Does that matter?”

“Perhaps. If I may, His Grace feels less intimidating when he’s near you.”

“Really?”

“Yes, absolutely.”

Alice’s sincerity left no room for doubt.

Now I was more confused than ever. There was only one thing to do.

‘Alright. Time to ask God.’

“Monica, I still have some free time left, right?”

“Yes, Prospective Duchess. Shall we escort you to the chapel?”

She really understood me now.

“Yes, I need to pray.”

‘God, I’m coming. Be ready with your answers!’
 

<To be continued>

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