Chapter 41 …
“…Uncle might be too embarrassed to say things like that next time.”
“Uoooh!”
Of course, it was an excuse.
In truth, she just didn’t want those words to come out of Erios’s mouth again.
‘He’ll probably say he only brushed it off to refuse Her Highness the Princess, that he doesn’t actually think that way, that I shouldn’t misunderstand, that he knows it’s a contract marriage… something like that.’
Anyway, Artea simply nodded, saying she understood without much doubt.
But after mulling over the conversation, Artea suddenly lifted her head.
“By the way, Auntie… do you like punching? Are you going to hit me too?”
…That’s the part you’re suspicious about?
“I won’t hit you. Auntie has never punched anyone! Your uncle was joking!”
“Yeah! Our auntie is nice! Her personality isn’t bad!”
Then why are you both sneaking glances at me while saying that?
It feels like I’m being pressured to be nice… but it must be my imagination.
And it’s not a lie.
‘I kicked that bandit, I didn’t punch him.’
Yeah, how could I swing my fists?
What if I got hurt by mistake? I wouldn’t be able to do research or form contracts with these hands. That’s scary.
Convincing myself, I nodded.
After the reception ended, I felt relieved, thinking everything was finally over.
But something unexpected was waiting for me.
“Um, Lady Artea. Tonight…”
The servants were visibly hesitant as they stopped Artea.
“Since today is the day of the wedding, how about Lady Artea sleeps with the nanny tonight?”
Do they really have to put that much meaning into the wedding?
‘It’s a fake marriage. It’s not like there’s a first night or anything.’
Still, I didn’t outwardly object and remained relaxed.
Artea was the one who had been more obsessed than anyone about the three of us sleeping together.
There’s no way a child would understand something like a wedding night.
No need for me to step in. Artea isn’t the type to back down so easily.
“Then just for today!”
“Very well, my lady!”
…What?
I whipped my head toward Artea. When our eyes met, she winked.
“I’ve got good sense! I know everything!”
No, what exactly do you think you know?
But Artea nodded to herself, grabbed the nanny’s hand, and quickly retreated.
“You two are in the lovey-dovey stage, so I should step out.”
“M-My lady… what do you mean by that?”
“Was I not supposed to say that?”
“It’s not that, but…”
Even the nanny leading her away looked completely flustered.
Looks like she picked that up from people whispering at the reception earlier.
‘Seriously, don’t they know you shouldn’t even drink cold water carelessly in front of a child?’
…They don’t.
There isn’t even a proverb like that here!
“Since Auntie and Uncle love each other sooo much, I have to step out sometimes so you can go on dates!”
“…Ah. So that’s what you meant.”
Even from far away, I could hear Artea shouting excitedly.
Beside me, Erios quietly muttered after hearing her.
“Artea’s separation anxiety has improved a lot.”
I recalled what the doctor had said—that children feel stable when the couple’s relationship is good.
Maybe Artea really did feel reassured after hearing what Erios said earlier.
…But why did the result of that good thing lead to us returning to the bridal chamber?
I was at a loss for words as I looked at the room, which very obviously had been decorated for a couple’s wedding night.
“…Ha.”
After the ceremony, I thought only the reception remained. After the reception, I happily thought the dreadful wedding was finally over.
‘Maybe it would’ve been better if the reception lasted longer.’
Some places hold receptions until dawn, don’t they?
Maybe that would’ve been better.
‘It’s my first time being alone in the bedroom with Erios.’
It wasn’t my first time entering Erios’s bedroom.
It wasn’t even the first time we had slept together.
But the reason I felt tense at this moment wasn’t because of the wine unnecessarily placed around or the oddly draped lace setting the mood.
‘I never dreamed a day like this would come after meeting Erios again.’
However, contrary to my restless mind, my exhausted body had been urging me to collapse onto the bed for a while now.
‘This is driving me crazy.’
As I hesitated—unable to approach the bed but also unable to keep standing—Erios spoke.
“Take off your dress. I’ll help.”
“What!?”
“Or are you going to sleep in it?”
I looked down at what I was wearing.
For the ceremony I wore a mermaid dress, so for the reception I changed into something shorter and easier to move in.
But somehow, this was even harder to take off than the main wedding dress.
“It looks like you can’t reach to take it off by yourself.”
That was because all the strings supporting the dress were tied at the back.
‘Did someone recommend this on purpose?’
It would be ridiculous to call a maid because I couldn’t remove my dress on the first night of the wedding.
Well, if I wanted to spread rumors that we were on bad terms and only a contract couple, that would do it!
“If you’re okay with it, I don’t mind.”
“…Help me.”
Why are the dresses here like this?
What I usually wear is at least simplified.
This one, maybe because it’s for receptions, requires someone’s help to put on and take off.
“Ow—can’t you be a bit gentler?”
First, he began removing the hair ornaments one by one—the ones heavily pinned in to make my short hair look styled up.
I deliberately let out a groan.
“Aren’t you being too rough?”
“I’m being as gentle as I can.”
Then his hands moved to the strings at my back.
He didn’t fully untie them—just loosened them enough so the dress would come off if I applied force.
In the quiet room, the faint rustling sound made my body tense for a moment.
‘…How many strings are there?’
He carefully worked at them, but since there were more than one or two, it took a while.
The tension faded as fatigue rushed in, clouding my mind.
My head began to droop without me realizing—
“…Um, did you hear earlier?”
Erios broke the silence.
It was obvious he meant what he said to the royal attendant at the reception.
Well, someone as skilled as Erios wouldn’t have failed to notice people nearby.
“No, I couldn’t hear well from far away!”
Only after blurting it out did I realize my mistake.
If I knew nothing, shouldn’t I have answered differently?
Clicking my tongue inwardly, I continued.
“Well… I heard a little. It seemed like you were talking with a royal attendant, but Artea was with me, so I couldn’t really move away…”
“I’ll explain properly. I think it’s better if I say it myself.”
When did he decide it was something that needed explaining?
I listened to Erios.
“Not just today—before the wedding too, an attendant from the imperial family came. Their goal was for me to marry the princess.”
“Why did you refuse?”
“You should ask the opposite. Is there even a single reason I should accept?”
Erios smirked.
“Now that today’s wedding is done, they probably won’t bring it up again. I suppose I should thank you for that.”
“……”
“But that’s not the only thing I’m grateful to you for, Bellona.”
With a soft tug, Erios loosened the final string. Everything that had been tightening around my back finally slackened.
Clutching the front of my dress so it wouldn’t slip, I asked:
“What else?”
“Do you want to hear?”
“Yeah. I do like being praised.”
As I turned around—
my eyes met Erios’s, who had been staring straight at me.
For a moment, I forgot what to say.
The dim amber lighting, the silence of the room, the wine and snacks arranged to set the mood—
none of it mattered.
More accurately, it felt unimportant.
Because in front of that serious gaze of his, stripped of all amusement—
“……”
“……”
A strange atmosphere flowed between us.
Even as I felt awkward, this moment felt very similar to something from long ago.
When was it?
After silently watching me, Erios finally spoke.
“Sorry, what did you just say?”
“Uh…”
My throat felt oddly dry.
Worried my voice might sound strange, I answered:
“It was nothing.”
“I see.”
“Yeah.”
Normally, our conversation wouldn’t have come out this halting. Neither Erios nor I were the type to fumble our words like this.
“But, Bellona.”
What if Erios can hear how loudly my heart is pounding?
“When we kissed earlier… it didn’t feel unpleasant, did it?”
