* * *
The fake first night had arrived. I felt like I was suffocating as I glanced around. The warm air, the soft lighting, even the rustling bedding. Everything seemed perfect for a good night’s sleep, but… I think I’m going to have insomnia.
My husband’s posture beside me was irresistibly tempting. He was lying on his side, propped up on one arm, staring at me as I lay flat on my back, looking up at the ceiling.
Isn’t he seriously trying to seduce me at this point?
Duke Kalinos, with a languid expression, even began to unbutton his shirt one by one…
I slowly pulled the blanket over myself and muttered. “We’re a fake couple, so do we really need to follow the rules of a real couple? Maybe we should keep a bit of physical distance.”
“Ah.” He seemed to realize he was getting a bit too into it. He furrowed his brow slightly and said, “Let’s turn off the lights and get some sleep.”
…Wait, is he really going to sleep? I glanced at him. He was now lying on his back, his eyelashes completely still. As I stole glances at his face, I thought to myself. He really is incredibly handsome. Because of his notorious reputation, I hadn’t taken the time to really look at him before, but his features were undeniably sculpted.
As if sensing my gaze even in his sleep, he spoke in a voice half-drowned in slumber. “You’re not asleep yet.”
“Oh, yes.”
A few seconds passed, and soon, all I could hear was his steady breathing beside me. I clutched the bedding tightly and closed my eyes, trying to fall asleep. But there was another issue.
I think this is the first time I’ve felt someone’s warmth while sleeping. I’m not some wistful romance female lead, and I’ve never longed for a man’s warmth. Still, having someone warm next to me, with no scent at all, isn’t so bad.
Duke Kalinos, though a bit of a distraction, was a presence I couldn’t ignore. Most people in this world wore perfume, but true to his word, he had no scent at all. Maybe that’s why. Thanks to the warm presence and his unobtrusive natural scent, I found myself falling asleep more comfortably than I had expected…
“You’re too close.”
Somehow, in my sleep, I had moved closer to him, my hand resting on his chest. I quickly shifted to the side, putting some distance between us.
“Your reflexes are impressive. Have you trained with a sword?”
Why was he so impressed?
This is all because of that potion earlier!
I retorted sharply. “That comment makes us sound like a fake couple.” Then I rolled hurriedly to the opposite side of the bed, lying at the edge.
The night seemed to stretch on forever. But the real issue was that I’d have to spend nights like this for a whole year!
* * *
In truth, Duke Kalinos was in a similar situation. He had never shared a bed with anyone before. In the darkness, listening to the soft breathing of his sleeping fake wife, he found himself in an unexpected situation.
There was nothing in my studies that said how pleasant the sound of someone sleeping could be. He thought Giselle’s steady breathing was surprisingly soothing. Especially when she sleeps, the rhythm is like a consistent 4/4 beat, not at all bothersome.
He gazed at Giselle’s closed eyes and slightly parted lips. Under the moonlight, her features were clearly visible.
At that moment, an indescribable sensation swept through him. When Giselle’s hand brushed against his arm as if she were talking in her sleep, a wave of emotion momentarily rippled through him. He had intended to avoid troublesome matters, but it seemed more emotionally consuming than anticipated…
This year-long study of being a fake married couple is both efficient and inefficient. Having decided to go through with it, he resolved to do it perfectly. With that simple conclusion, he closed his eyes.
Since I have no intention of a real marriage or starting a family.
To him, a happy family was nothing more than an illusion that could shatter at any moment. Remember what my later sister-in-law said. Don’t be foolish, Vientin Kalinos.
In this family, where people die endlessly, it’s impossible to create a happy home, she had said. Recalling that thought, the trembling in his heart stopped, and a death-like sleep overtook him.
Anyway, to finish tomorrow’s work, he had to wake up precisely at 6:33 AM. He decided to get a good night’s sleep and fell asleep within seconds.
Everything went as usual, except for one thing.
* * *
The next morning, I received a note saying that Neslan had placed the artifact in the powder room and opened the cupboard.
“Even seeing it again, it’s just amazing.”
In this world, artifacts were divided into two categories. One was for mages who needed to use their internal mana, and the other could be used without mana.
Pressing down on the gifted teddy bear and the artifacts, I heard a rustling sound behind me.
…Huh?
Something felt strange…
Wait a minute. Is someone watching me? It felt like I was being monitored, or something like that.
I narrowed my eyes and looked around. Suddenly, the noise disappeared, and everything felt eerily quiet.
What is it?
But at that moment, I heard a popping sound from the artifact I was holding. Thanks to the potion, I could hear sounds that were normally inaudible.
What is this? It’s not just a simple teddy bear, is it?
The potion seemed to enhance my senses, allowing me to clearly hear a soft rustling noise coming from inside the teddy bear. I furrowed my brows as I listened closely.
I love you! I love you! I love you!
It looked like a teddy bear that was popular in the past. The kind that, when you pressed its belly, would say, “I love you.”
It’s a bit cheesy, but did they use basic recording magic? Who made this? But did this world even have recording-type magical devices? I didn’t think so. As I pondered deeply, I soon shifted my gaze elsewhere.
“Anyway, this place is a paradise of fascinating artifacts.”
I brought my eyes close to the brooch attached to the teddy bear and grinned. Oh! Could there be some magic hidden in this brooch too? I squinted, searching for any magic hidden in the brooch, and let out a happy sigh. The magic on this brooch is truly fascinating. Wow, I’m so glad I married into a renowned mage family!
I shook the artifacts, which seemed like they’d never been used, and grinned earnestly in admiration. Then, a note slipped out from the edge of an old ring-shaped artifact and unfolded as it fell.
[I’m simply sorry. What can a father who has lost his child possibly say? As someone who has become utterly useless, what face do I have to show, Wife?]
I picked up the note, slightly furrowing my brow. This may be part of the story behind why Neslan isolated himself. I can already see where this is going.
I’m weak when it comes to small, fragile, and hurt people. I absolutely did not want to know Neslan’s story. This emotional wound should be left for the family to overcome together…
I folded the note and put it back into the artifact, muttering to myself. “Whatever it is, it’s unfortunate….”
“The person who wrote that note is me, my child.”
For a while, I was so absorbed in the note that I didn’t notice the noise outside, nor did I realize someone was approaching. It was a mistake to close my ears to the outside world like that.
I jumped in surprise when I saw my father-in-law appear as if he were the Grim Reaper—though in this world, there probably isn’t such a thing as a Grim Reaper.
“I didn’t see the contents of the note at all. I’ll return it right away.” I lied without batting an eye and quickly handed the artifact and the note back to him, thinking that would be the end of this incident.
“Our little one is so considerate.”
…But his eyes started to well up!
Comments (0)