BLRP 16

While I’m at it, I need to sort out my own thoughts as well.

Theodore let out a heavy breath, as if releasing something weighing on him.

When he recalled the painful betrayal that had caused him to fall behind and end up here, his chest tightened.

After escaping from Marcellar… what should I do?

For now, he had two choices.

The first was not to return to the Beringham Ducal House. If he cut ties completely, he could live the rest of his life safely. That was the advantage.

The second was to go back to his family.

If I choose the latter…

Just imagining it made his breathing thin.

It wouldn’t be easy.

They wouldn’t welcome him.

They might even stab him in the back again.

That person wouldn’t care at all.

Even after pouring cold water over himself, he felt as if he were wrapped in the flames of hell.

Theodore took deep breaths to calm the heat rising inside him. Each time, his broad shoulders and long neck stiffened with tension.

Well, nothing is urgent right now.

Consciously holding back his impatience, he stood up from the bathtub.

Clear droplets rolled down his well-defined muscles and fell to the floor.

As he prepared to return to the room, he noticed how filthy the clothes he had taken off were.

A low groan slipped from his lips.

He had finally washed properly—he didn’t want to put those rag-like clothes back on.

In the end, he wrapped a large towel around his lower body and stepped out of the bathroom.

When he returned to the room, Fiorentia had changed into a negligee.

Theodore’s eyes narrowed.

Why is she wearing that…?

Before he could voice the question, Fiorentia spoke first.

“Oh, you’re done washing.”

Holding something white, she hurried toward him.

“You look even more handsome now that you’re cleaned up.”

“…What?”

He let out a disbelieving breath, and she shrugged.

“It’s a compliment.”

Even though he was only barely covered below the waist and completely bare above it, she showed no embarrassment whatsoever.

“Here. Take it.”

She held out a robe toward him.

He accepted it almost automatically.

At that moment, their fingertips brushed briefly.

Fiorentia didn’t notice—but Theodore did.

The short touch made his skin tingle.

The moment he became aware of it, the muscles in his chest tightened.

His thick Adam’s apple rose and fell slowly.

For some reason, he felt the urge to act impulsively.

He had never felt like this before, and he didn’t understand why.

While he struggled with the unfamiliar sensation, Fiorentia continued as if nothing had happened.

“Sorry. I didn’t think to prepare men’s clothes. So just wear the robe tonight. I’ll have a servant bring something tomorrow.”

Because of their height difference, she tilted her head back to look up at him.

A beat late, he nodded silently. Satisfied with that, she turned away.

“Hurry up and put it on.”

Her urging voice snapped him out of his daze.

Is there still poison left in my system?

Otherwise, he couldn’t explain why he kept acting so foolishly.

Regardless of his unease, his hands had already begun to obey her.

He removed the towel and slipped his arms into the robe.

Since the chain was only attached to his ankle, it wasn’t difficult.

When the rustling sounds stopped, Fiorentia—still facing away—asked,

“Are you done?”

“…Yes.”

“Then let’s sleep.”

She glanced back briefly to confirm, then walked without hesitation toward the bed.

Naturally, that was their destination.

She lay down first, on the side closer to the window.

Theodore remained standing there, staring.

He inhaled sharply without realizing it.

The bed was wide enough that they probably wouldn’t touch.

As long as neither of us moves in our sleep.

The room was large, but for a noble lady’s chamber, it was rather simple.

There was nowhere else to sleep.

He knew that logically—yet he still hesitated.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you coming?”

At her urging, Theodore frowned.

“Are you really planning to keep me around like some doll?”

He heard her take a deep breath.

“Is it because you’re a young master? You’re quite picky.”

She even clicked her tongue in annoyance.

Tapping a finger lightly against the mask where her lips would be, Fiorentia finally complained,

“And you. I told you my name yesterday. You could at least use it.”

“What?”

“Hey, you. After hearing that kind of address over and over, it’s starting to irritate me.”

She lifted her chin slightly.

It was clear she would try something else if he refused.

Though he was somewhat curious what that “something else” might be, Theodore decided to give in.

This is probably a good place to start.

She had called him handsome.

But that was all.

She wasn’t softening because of his looks.

In short, charm wouldn’t work on her.

So changing his attitude would likely be more effective.

Theodore sat down on the edge of the bed and nodded obediently.

His unusually red lips parted slowly as he spoke a name he had not forgotten even once since first hearing it.

“Then… Fiorentia.”

He cleared his throat loudly.

It felt as though his throat was filled with dandelion seeds—itchy and uncomfortable.

“Yes?”

She turned her head toward him, as if asking what he wanted.

Theodore finally voiced the question that had been on his mind since leaving the bathroom.

He gestured toward her face.

“Aren’t you going to take off that troublesome mask before sleeping?”

At his remark, her slender fingers touched the white mask near her cheek.

“Oh. No.”

She nodded casually.

Theodore’s brow remained furrowed as he asked impatiently,

“Why?”

“Because I’ll be living with you from now on.”

If Theodore were still truly a doll, things would be easier.

But he wasn’t.

She had no intention of carelessly revealing her bare face and giving him a reason to complicate things later.

“I can only take this mask off when I’m alone.”

“What does that—”

“You don’t have to understand. Besides, it’s my personal matter. It has nothing to do with you.”

She answered coldly and closed her mouth.

In truth, she had thought long and hard about whether to show him her real face.

Should she confess honestly that her face had been taken and try to gain his sympathy?

But she decided against it.

Showing him her face at this point wouldn’t achieve much.

Since Theodore didn’t fully trust her yet, seeing a face identical to Desdemona’s would likely make him suspicious and wary—not sympathetic.

“Let’s drop this topic.”

Clearly uncomfortable, she ended the conversation abruptly.

Theodore looked at her quietly, but he didn’t press further.

Instead, he obediently lay down on the bed as she had told him to.

Then suddenly, she turned her body toward him.

“W-What? What is it?”