Chapter 30
Thankfully, Valentin did not show up until I finished all the food on my plate.
I even wondered if I had worried too much.
“Are you so excited that you won’t be able to sleep tonight?”
Ignoring the knights’ teasing, I went up to my room. The moment I opened the door, a strong scent of wood filled my nose.
“I’m tired.”
Mentally tired. Very.
I quickly washed my hands and feet and crawled under the blanket as fast as I could. Sadly, the bed was too small to fit my large body completely…
It can’t be helped.
I wiggled the foot that was sticking out in the air and was just about to fall asleep when I heard neat footsteps and the creaking of wood.
I quietly moved only my eyes.
‘No way.’
No. It can’t be.
But against my hopes, the firm, confident footsteps grew louder.
Feeling anxious, I forced myself to sit up in bed.
Bang.
The door burst open. I really wanted to shut it again.
Instead, I hugged a white pillow tightly and gathered all my courage to protest.
“The door…!”
“The door?”
Valentin tilted his head slightly as he repeated my words. At first glance, he even looked fierce.
Still, I refused to give up.
“This isn’t the duke’s mansion.”
At the mansion, it was his house, so even if he barged in without knocking, there was nothing I could say. But this wasn’t his house!
It was my small act of rebellion against the man who once said he didn’t need to knock because it was his own home.
Valentin snorted as if he had heard something ridiculous.
“I rented the entire inn.”
He shut the door loudly and walked toward the bed.
“Or would you rather see the innkeeper change overnight?”
He spoke so casually about buying the whole inn that confidence overflowed from him.
But only for a moment. Valentin raised a large hand and covered his face. Something like a curse slipped between his lips.
‘Even he must think that sounded childish…’
When I looked at him with pity, he quickly regained his composure and revealed his face again.
He wore a proper, polite social smile.
I sighed in relief and opened my mouth to ask why he was here—but he was faster.
“Move.”
“What?”
He pointed at the messy bed.
“I’m going to lie down. Move over.”
“…Why?”
Why are you sleeping here instead of your own room?
I stared at him in confusion. The corner of his lips lifted mischievously.
“I’m sleeping here.”
He pointed at me with the same expression he once used when he threatened to cut my throat.
“With you.”
No matter how much he thought about it, it annoyed him.
Valentin ran a hand through his hair, feeling frustrated.
‘How dare he give flowers to someone else instead of me?’
He had never thought Nathan would have other options. Usually, Valentin could get anything he wanted with just a smile.
But what about his cute little puppy?
Nathan wagged his tail so happily at him, yet handed the ice flower to a passing stranger without hesitation.
He even knelt down like a prince proposing to a princess.
Valentin let out a dry laugh.
‘How can he be that adorable?’
His actions were so bold and shameless that Valentin almost wanted to swallow him whole.
He couldn’t even tell whether the boiling feeling in his chest was positive or negative.
Nathan had flinched and covered his neck tightly when Valentin threatened him, which eased his anger a little—but only a little.
Valentin seriously began thinking about how to punish that naughty puppy who couldn’t even recognize his true owner.
In times like this, it was best to ask an expert.
“Your Grace?”
Valentin stopped Meiden, who was heading downstairs for dinner, and gestured toward his room.
She clearly understood the signal and followed him silently.
She didn’t want to.
She stood like a statue until he spoke.
“Can a puppy fail to recognize its owner?”
The slight smile on his lips made it feel like someone’s head might roll if she answered wrong.
“Ah—”
Meiden cleared her throat.
“Dogs live in strict hierarchies. They do not betray their leader. Even if the leader fails, they usually try to become the leader themselves rather than look for a new one.”
“Hmm.”
Valentin narrowed his eyes.
“What if they like someone else more than their owner?”
“If there are multiple caretakers, a puppy can become confused. That’s why it’s important to clearly establish the main caretaker. There are three important things.”
She held up her fingers.
“Feeding, walking, and teaching manners.”
Valentin crossed his long legs and tapped the table thoughtfully.
Feeding—yes, he provided the food. But eating together was another matter.
Because he was so busy, they rarely shared meals. Nathan probably ate with the knights more often.
Would Nathan even care who provided the warm food?
He moved to the next point.
‘Walking.’
Come to think of it, they had never gone out alone together.
His tapping fingers grew stronger.
‘Lastly, teaching manners.’
No matter what Nathan destroyed, Valentin had always spoiled him.
If anyone taught him discipline, it was probably Devon, the knight commander.
Valentin’s expression darkened.
Meiden carefully glanced at the door.
Suddenly, she had a realization.
‘It’s about Sir Nathan.’
Of course. He must have been upset that Nathan gave the ice flower to Lady Lucy.
Her face brightened.
“Your Grace, there’s something else important.”
Valentin looked up sharply.
“Please show him affection.”
One of his eyebrows lifted.
“I mean, spend more time together. Time to get to know each other.”
“…Time together.”
Valentin touched his lips.
Meals, walks, manners.
None of them were satisfactory.
He already gave Nathan all the time he could.
If he wanted to increase their time together…
A slow smile formed on his lips.
“That was helpful. You may go.”
Relieved, Meiden quickly left.
And Valentin, who even he would admit was being childish, was now—
“Heavy.”
—at risk of being crushed.
Valentin looked down at the heavy arm resting across his neck.
The weight was significant, probably because of the muscles hidden under black fur.
There was also a leg draped over his thigh.
Just minutes ago, Nathan had glared at him and said it was impossible for them to sleep together in such a small bed.
“Your Grace, you’re joking, right? How can we both sleep here when we each have our own beds?”
Annoyed by the resistance, Valentin had grabbed Nathan’s tail in threat. But when he gently stroked it, Nathan was the one who collapsed.
“Here’s the line! Don’t cross it. We are strictly a man and a woman, so please remember that.”
Even though their shoulders already touched, Nathan warned him not to cross the invisible line.
Not long after, Nathan fell asleep, snoring softly.
The “line” had long disappeared. They were tangled together like one body.
Valentin chuckled quietly and carefully removed Nathan’s arm from his neck and thigh.
Then he turned to his side, propping his head on his hand, and watched Nathan sleeping peacefully.
Moonlight streamed through the window, making his glossy black fur shine.
They didn’t light the magic lamp tonight. The bright moonlight was enough.
Even without closing the curtains, Nathan slept without complaint.
“Where did something like you come from?”
Valentin gently poked Nathan’s nose.
“Mmm.”
Nathan shook his head and, in revenge, placed his arm over Valentin’s chest.
“Ugh.”
Valentin inhaled sharply at the heavy weight, barely holding back his laughter.
It was ridiculous for two large people to share such a tiny bed.
It was a miracle neither of them had fallen off.
Even so, it didn’t feel bad.
Valentin buried his face into Nathan’s shoulder.
Darkness spread behind his closed eyes.
Yet the darkness Nathan gave him felt strangely peaceful.
Before he knew it, Valentin fell into a deep sleep.
“Ayla, I don’t think this is right.”
I lowered my eyebrows as I looked at the colorful display in front of me.
“No. This is correct.”
At Ayla’s firm reply, my ears drooped down..
