CHAPTER 18
I’ll Hate You
Unfortunately, Ehilie’s house only had two blankets: one on the bed and one she had just laid out in the bathtub.
She had never imagined someone staying over, so she had not prepared any extra bedding.
Fortunately, there was a blanket in the wardrobe.
“I’ll just cover myself with this and sleep.”
She could not tell Rek, who had just been hovering between life and death, to sleep with only a thin blanket.
Just as Ehilie gathered the blanket and headed toward the sofa, Rek stopped her.
“Where are you going?”
“Ah, I’m going to sleep on the sofa.”
“On the sofa?”
Rek tilted his head with a confused expression.
“There is a bed, so why are you sleeping on the sofa?”
“You’re a guest, Rek, and you’re not feeling well, so I can’t make you sleep on the sofa, so I’ll sleep there instead…”
Before Ehilie could finish, Rek stepped closer.
“Ehilie.”
His red eyes curved mischievously.
“Husband and wife are supposed to sleep in the same bed.”
“…What?”
She froze at his confident declaration.
“It’s late, Ehilie, let’s go to sleep.”
“No, wait, just a second, Rek.”
She barely came to her senses at his naturally alluring voice.
No matter what, this isn’t right.
“We’re not a real married couple.”
At her firm refusal, Rek looked dejected.
“…I see, I guess I got carried away.”
His drooping voice made her heart sting.
No, don’t fall for that face.
She had been swept along until now, but not this time.
No matter how close they were, it was wrong for two unmarried adults to sleep in the same bed.
As Ehilie steeled herself, Rek took the blanket from her hands.
“I’ll use this.”
“What?”
“I’ll sleep on the sofa, so you sleep on the bed.”
“No, Rek, you’re sick, how can I make you sleep on the sofa?”
She reached out urgently, but Rek did not give up the blanket.
“I don’t want to become a shameless husband who takes the bed while making his wife sleep on the floor.”
“How long are you going to keep using that setting?”
She wanted to argue, but his serious expression stopped her.
While she hesitated, Rek had already settled onto the sofa.
More precisely, he had forced his body into it.
His head barely rested on the armrest, and his lower body was bent like an ‘L.’
“Rek, get up, that looks uncomfortable.”
“I’m fine.”
“Are you really, or wouldn’t it be better to sleep on the floor?”
“I can’t sleep on hard floors.”
“…But the sofa is okay?”
“Yes, it has enough cushioning.”
Does that really look cushioned?
“I’m fine, so please go to sleep, Ehilie.”
She knew he would not listen no matter how much she tried to persuade him.
Ehilie gave up.
“Alright, Rek, good night.”
* * *
Night deepened.
Thirty minutes had already passed since she lay down, but she could not fall asleep.
Creak. Creak—
The old sofa squeaked whenever Rek moved.
“Cough, cough.”
She also heard him coughing occasionally.
“See, he’s not fine at all.”
Guilt weighed on her as she imagined him curled up on the sofa with only a thin blanket.
She jumped up.
“Rek, come here and lie down.”
“No, Ehilie, I can’t make you sleep on the sofa, I’m fine—cough, cough.”
“I’m not fine, let’s sleep together here.”
“…Together?”
“Yes, together.”
The moment she answered, Rek sprang up and approached her.
“Thank you, Ehilie.”
She stopped him as he tried to lie down immediately.
“Wait, Rek.”
Since they had to share a bed, she decided to set at least some boundaries.
She rolled up the blanket and placed it between them.
“What is this?”
“It’s a line, you sleep on that side.”
Rek tilted his head at her firm words.
He looked dissatisfied, then whispered softly.
“What happens if I cross it?”
“What?”
She was flustered by the unexpected question.
After hesitating, she answered clearly.
“I’ll hate you.”
His red eyes widened.
After blinking blankly, he smiled.
“Understood, I’ll be careful not to be hated by you.”
Seeing his refreshing smile made her heart flutter strangely.
She had drawn a line, yet it felt like he had already crossed it.
“…Hurry and lie down, or it’ll be morning.”
She turned away quickly.
She felt a heavy presence behind her.
Her heart was racing.
“Good night, Ehilie.”
“…Good night, Rek.”
She shut her eyes tightly.
I need to sleep.
But how can I?
His presence was overwhelming.
How am I supposed to sleep like this?
Listening to his steady breathing, she slowly drifted off.
* * *
Late at night, Redemberg Lu Edeltein was fighting a lonely battle with himself.
The line Ehilie had made was long gone.
He had not crossed it, because he did not want her to hate him.
The problem was that she herself had crossed it completely.
Her arm rested on his chest.
He turned his head to look at her sleeping face.
If this isn’t an angel, what is?
Her eyelashes and parted lips were beautiful.
Then her leg climbed onto his thigh, and her body covered him.
“Mmm…”
He stiffened as she snuggled closer.
This is unfair.
His hand twitched in the air.
Should I just hug her?
But he restrained himself.
Instead, he gently lifted a few strands of her hair.
This should be okay.
He kissed her hair softly.
One day, I’ll kiss her properly.
His body grew hotter as he endured.
Isn’t this torture?
Her thigh pressed closer, making him dizzy.
I can’t take this.
He tried to get up.
“Ehilie, wait…”
“Reeek…”
She clung to him even tighter.
…Damn it.
He swallowed his breath.
The night was terribly long.
