She wasn't saying a single word.
I grumbled inwardly as I wrapped my arms around Rose's body and lifted her. Carrying her around was something I had done often, so it was nothing special.
Teolssak.
After sitting Rose down on a chair in the corner of the bathroom, I reflexively caught her body as she slumped to the side.
“-!”
In doing so, I ended up seeing it.
Beneath the robe draped over the ends of Rose's shoulders, her skin was flushed pink. Traces of moisture remained on the smooth, porcelain-like surface.
The beautifully swelling curves and the things at their tips instantly entered my field of vision.
“…….”
As if stamped onto my eyes, that moment remained intensely burned into my retinas.
“Ung. I'm tired, so tired.”
Helena stumbled over and squatted down in front of Rose.
“Your clothes are all wet, Master, right? Go change and-”
I walked out of the bathroom without even listening to the end of Helena's sentence. I strode out quickly and threw the room's window wide open.
“Haa…”
The wind poured in, soaking my face and chest. It was chillingly cold, yet I didn't feel cold at all.
It was because my entire body was burning hot as if on fire.
“Phew…”
No matter how much cold air I inhaled, my breathing wouldn't calm down. My continuously pounding heart made my lungs go wild.
Teop.
I grabbed the windowsill and took a deep breath. When I closed my eyes, Rose's naked body, lingering like an afterimage, came to mind again.
I shook my head, desperately trying to chase the afterimage away.
‘This is pure torture.’
To feel such lust looking at a sleeping woman.
But she is my beloved wife; isn't this only natural? What man could hold back when seeing his wife in such a defenseless, wet state?
‘I won't lay a hand on my wife.’
I began to regret the words I had spouted in the past.
‘Did she see me as a shameless scoundrel who forces himself on a woman who doesn't even love him?’
I had even said this to her and gotten angry. Not knowing how things would turn out.
It was a pathetic situation—caught in a trap of my own making, unable to move forward or back.
‘If Rose refuses… then.’
I had tried my absolute best to prevent such a thing from happening.
To win her heart, I gave everything I could give and made efforts to do even things I normally wouldn't do.
Yet, I was terrified to actually confirm Rose's feelings. Because once I did, there would be no turning back.
‘If… Just if.’
In a corner of my heart, there was an anxiety that had existed ever since I learned the truth of this world.
Soon, the Harvest Festival hosted by the royal family would take place. It was an event that all nobles of the kingdom were obligated to attend.
I, too, had to visit to declare that the Schmaichel family was alive and well, and that there was a single legitimate heir.
But there…….
‘The male lead of this world will be there.’
Arikx von Rozerk, nicknamed the Golden Prince.
The original Rose was to meet Arikx there and fall in love with him.
If I couldn't stop this flow despite all my efforts…….
“…Phew.”
That was why I couldn't easily reach out to Rose. I couldn't force an embrace upon her, demanding only my own feelings.
‘It's suffocating.’
Is this really for the best? Is this enough? Am I truly putting in all my effort?
While thinking such thoughts, I opened my eyes.
I looked out at the quietly sleeping Kalmar Mountains, the blue lights flickering here and there, and the knights patrolling on a regular route.
“Your Grace.”
“Have you been awake?”
The knights, who happened to be passing beneath the spire, spotted me.
“You're working hard.”
I nodded as I accepted their salute.
“Not at all!”
“We are keeping a thorough watch, so please do not worry.”
The knights spoke vigorously and began moving again.
Thanks to the realistic conversation, the heat in my body gradually subsided. Or perhaps it was thanks to thinking about the male lead of this world.
Jeobeok.
I turned back and returned to the bathroom.
“You're back?”
In the meantime, Helena had fully put the robe on Rose and even tied the sash around her waist.
She finally looked like the Rose I usually saw. I felt relieved to finally have a safe place to rest my eyes, yet simultaneously felt a bit disappointed.
“Is drying her hair all that's left?”
“Yeah. It'll dry faster if you do it in front of the fireplace.”
“I'll do it.”
“Wow, really?”
Helena brightened up and draped the towel over my arm. Perhaps she was tired, but her face was full of exhaustion.
“Then I'll clean up the bathroom and head out.”
“Go ahead.”
I carried Rose out and sat her down in front of the fireplace. With Rose leaning her head against my chest,
Sabak.
I began to pat Rose's hair with a towel.
Tadak, tadak.
The flames flickered and the logs burned away. Rose's and my shadows repeatedly grew longer and shorter.
‘Not bad.’
Thanks to this, I was able to enjoy a rare moment of peace.
Despite stepping up to do a chore that a servant would normally do, I didn't feel any negative emotions.
I simply felt fulfilled by this time, the warmth, her cozy body heat, and her damp hair.
“Ung.”
Rose just occasionally mumbled and twitched, not waking from her sleep.
“She's really sleeping so peacefully.”
I muttered quietly with a smile.
After the carriage ambush, Rose would often wake up in the middle of the night or suffer from nightmares. Every time that happened, I had to hold her tight before she could finally fall asleep.
For that Rose to fall fast asleep in the bathtub meant that she was no longer tormented by nightmares.
That was why this moment felt even more joyous.
Dalkak.
I sensed a presence—likely Helena finishing cleaning up the bathroom and coming out.
I turned only my head to look toward Helena, then…
Kkeudeok.
I motioned my head to tell her to go. Helena looked at Rose and me for a moment before leaving the room.
With only the two of us left, an even more peaceful and cozy time remained.
Tok, tok.
The sound of patting Rose's hair with a towel was the only noise in this room.
How much time had passed?
Umchil.
Suddenly, I felt Rose's body stiffen.
‘Looks like she woke up.’
Rose desperately kept up the act of being asleep.
But her breathing had become irregular, and…
Dugeun, dugeun.
Rose's heartbeat suddenly sped up, so I couldn't help but notice.
I could have pretended not to know, but…
“Are you awake?”
There was something I wanted to ask Rose, so I asked quietly.
“…….”
Rose continued to pretend she was asleep.
But to my eyes, I could see Rose's eyelids twitching intermittently. Her desperate attempt to hide it was just so cute.
“Rose.”
I chuckled and brought my face closer to Rose.
“Do you know the tale of the sleeping princess, who awakens with a prince's kiss?”
Perhaps it was because of the laughter-filled voice tickling her ear,
“Shall we test it out?”
Or perhaps it was the breath that had drawn so close it felt like it would cover her lips at any moment.
“Hik.”
Startled, Rose's eyes fluttered open. Her pupils, devoid of any lingering sleepiness, shone clearly.
“Is it obvious I'm awake……?”
“Rose, your body cannot lie.”
“I wasn't trying to pretend to sleep on purpose……”
Looking sheepish, Rose covered her face with one hand and averted her gaze.
“I was washing up, but suddenly I was in Your Grace's arms… I was a bit startled.”
“You fell asleep in the bathtub, so I brought you out.”
I replied as I reached out my hand toward Rose's forehead. I brushed aside the tangled hair on her forehead to make it neat.
Now that I looked, the forehead that had been resting against me was left with a red mark.
“Was it comfortable? Using me as a pillow.”
At my remark, Rose's face flared up in a deep blush.
“I didn't use you on purpose, Your Grace.”
Since I hadn't meant to scold her anyway,
Seuwik.
Instead of answering, I slowly stroked Rose's smooth, rounded forehead with my thumb.
It was the spot that had been wounded during the carriage ambush. Because I had used medicinal herbs without sparing any, it had healed well without leaving a scar behind.
It was a relief.
“It tickles.”
I hoped that not a single strand of Rose's hair, nor even a thumbnail-sized patch of her skin, would get hurt.
I had extracted all the information from the assailants' mouths. I had even raided the guild and secured the assassination request.
All that was left was to deliver their demise.
“Did anything happen while I was away?”
Because I was looking closely, I could tell right away. Rose's green eyes were wavering slightly.
“Nothing in particular. While you were away, Your Grace, I checked the Velvet Wisp cultivation room and kept busy.”
Eventually, Rose answered vigorously, pretending it was nothing. I stared at her face with an expressionless look.
“Don't lie.”
At that short remark, Rose's complexion darkened. She reflexively avoided my gaze, but then…
“You seem to know what happened. Then you should know that this isn't a lie, either.”
Eventually, she met my eyes again and insisted firmly.
“It really wasn't a big deal.”
“I know Matthias's tongue all too well, so surely not.”
As I lowered my voice, Rose's shoulders slightly shrank.
“Didn't we agree to share everything with me, no matter what it was?”
“…You are right, Your Grace. I'm sorry.”
Soon after, Rose obediently admitted her fault. Yet, she didn't cower.
“But… Sir Matthias would have treated anyone the same in this situation. It's just that his loyalty toward you is a bit excessive.”
She merely expressed her opinion to me in a calm voice, along with a cool assessment of Matthias.
I liked that she wasn't trying to defend him.
“I didn't want to bother you over something like this, Your Grace. I thought it was something I could endure.”
Seeing Rose speak so firmly, myriad emotions crossed my mind.
I had kept Rose by my side because I wanted a competent and obedient wife who wouldn't bother me.
But now that she was acting like she could handle things just fine without my help, strangely enough…….
I felt a bit disappointed.
‘It would be nice if she relied on me more.’
It would be nice if she left everything to me, becoming someone who couldn't live without me.
I wanted to stamp my mark all over Rose's body, leaving my traces everywhere so she couldn't live without my touch from head to toe.
Then I might be able to quench this desire burning in my chest, as well as this anxiety of her being taken away by someone else.
‘Rather…….’
What if I locked Rose away somewhere? If I kept her in a place only I could see, and prevented her from coming into contact with anyone else.
Then there would be no such conflicts or agonies, nor would there be any chance of Rose getting hurt or injured by someone.
Even knowing it was an absurd thought, I couldn't stop it.
“…Your Grace?”
Just then, Rose's cautious voice awakened my senses.
“Are you… angry?”