Chapter 10
Abellio rubbed his chin thoughtfully, looking as if he were genuinely curious.
Richard’s face didn’t show a single change in expression.
“Well, I’m not sure. I’ve been wondering that myself. There weren’t any problems with the trade as far as I know.”
Abellio smiled faintly.
“You never know. Maybe there was a problem — one you just didn’t notice.”
His tone was smooth but carried an edge. Then he added quietly,
“It’s your responsibility to make sure no one better comes along to steal your trading partners.”
For a moment, a sharp glint flashed through Richard’s golden eyes. It was so brief that Aileen almost thought she had imagined it.
But the next second, Richard’s usual gentle smile returned.
“Thank you for the advice, Brother.”
“Think nothing of it,” Abellio said casually. Then he turned to leave. “It’s getting late, so I should be going. Oh, before I forget—”
He glanced back at Aileen, and she stiffened slightly under his gaze.
Abellio reached into his coat and held up one of the wedding favors she had given out earlier.
“I’ll be taking this with me, Duchess. It’s quite the gift.”
“…I’m glad it pleased you, Your Highness. Please have a safe journey back.”
Her polite, careful tone made Abellio chuckle. With that, he turned and strode out of the banquet hall.
The Third Prince, Ludwig, gave a small nod to both Richard and Aileen before quietly following after his older brother.
For some reason, Aileen couldn’t take her eyes off Ludwig’s retreating back.
“Aileen?” Richard called softly.
“…It’s nothing,” she said quickly, shaking her head.
After that, the two of them moved to finally end the long, exhausting banquet.
***
By the time the last guest left, the servants had already started cleaning up the reception hall.
Aileen, after seeing off the final visitor, left the rest of the tidying to the staff and went to find someone.
“Sis!”
Adrian spotted her first and ran toward her. She knelt slightly as he threw himself into her arms, wrapping him tightly in a hug.
“I’m sorry, Adrian. Were you lonely?”
“Mm… a little,” he mumbled, pressing his face against her shoulder.
Aileen stroked his hair gently, feeling a pang of guilt. She knew he must have overheard people whispering behind her back — those nobles who mocked her even when she was standing right there.
Just imagining how that must’ve hurt his young heart made her chest ache more than any insult thrown at her personally.
But Adrian, perhaps sensing her sadness, suddenly looked up with a bright grin.
“It’s okay! I got revenge for you!”
“Revenge?” Aileen blinked.
“Yes! …Well, in my mind,” he admitted. “If you hadn’t told me not to cause trouble, I would’ve really taught them a lesson!”
Aileen couldn’t help but laugh softly at his pout. “You’re such a brave little knight, Adrian.”
Just then, Richard returned, having gone outside briefly with the butler. His eyes flicked toward Adrian before turning back to Aileen.
“It’s getting late. Leave the cleanup to the servants — we should return to the main building.”
“You’re right,” Aileen agreed with a nod.
The three walked together. On the way, Adrian kept glancing warily at Richard, staying glued to Aileen’s side. If Richard’s sleeve so much as brushed hers, Adrian would step between them, frowning.
When they finally reached the main building, the siblings said their goodbyes to Richard and went their separate ways.
Aileen escorted Adrian to his room first. While the maids helped him change out of his formal clothes, Aileen changed into a comfortable gown behind a partition.
When she came back out, Adrian was sitting sleepily on the bed, yawning wide.
“Tired?” she asked with a smile.
“Uh-huh…” he mumbled, rubbing his eyes. His voice was heavy with drowsiness.
Aileen tucked him into bed and pulled the blanket up to his chin. He blinked a few times before mumbling,
“Sis, give me a goodnight kiss…”
She chuckled softly — even at ten, he was still such a child. Leaning down, she kissed his forehead.
“Goodnight, my little brother.”
As if under a spell, Adrian fell asleep almost instantly, smiling peacefully in his dreams.
Watching him, Aileen felt her own sleepiness creeping in. She covered her mouth with her hand, stifling a yawn.
A maid who had been waiting nearby stepped forward and said politely,
“Madam, you should rest as well.”
“You’re right,” Aileen agreed.
She rose to her feet, and the maid led the way, carrying a lantern to light the dark hallway.
But soon Aileen noticed something strange. The maid wasn’t leading her toward her bedroom.
“Wait — this isn’t my room.”
The maid smiled knowingly. “Of course not, my lady. You were married today.”
Aileen tilted her head in confusion.
“…So the rooms changed?”
But before she could ask more, the maid offered a polite curtsy and said,
“Then I’ll leave you to enjoy your evening.”
The words made Aileen’s heart skip. Enjoy?
She turned toward the double doors of the room. They looked far too grand to be a private chamber meant for one person. But she was too tired to think much of it and pushed them open.
The room was beautifully arranged, but there was something… unusual about it. Red silk drapes, soft candlelight — an oddly romantic atmosphere.
And then—
“You’re here,” a calm voice said.
Startled, Aileen whirled around — and froze.
Richard stood there in casual clothes, his damp hair tousled as he rubbed it dry with a towel.
“R-Richard…? Why are you here…?” she stammered.
He smiled faintly, clearly understanding her unfinished question.
“Because this is our room.”
“O-our room?”
“Of course. Did you think we’d have separate bedrooms after getting married?”
Well, yes — that’s exactly what she’d thought. It was a contract marriage, after all.
Seeing her lips press together without a word, Richard chuckled softly.
“No one else knows about our contract. We have to act like a real couple, at least in front of others. Sharing a room will make that easier.”
“But still…”
“Don’t worry,” he said calmly. “I have no intention of… expecting anything like that from you.”
Aileen’s cheeks flushed crimson. Hearing him say it so bluntly made her both embarrassed and oddly relieved.
She kept her head down, and Richard couldn’t help but laugh quietly.
Where had that confident woman from earlier gone? She looked so flustered now — like someone completely unaccustomed to affection.
“Anyway,” he said lightly, “you should get some rest. Or were you planning to make more magic stones tonight too?”
“No, not tonight,” she said quickly. “We’re both tired. I’ll just take off my jewelry and go to sleep.”
Aileen sat down at the vanity table and began removing her necklace and earrings. In the mirror, she could see Richard moving behind her.
Trying not to pay him any mind, she reached up to remove the butterfly hairpin that held her hair in place — but before she could, she felt him approach.
“Allow me,” he said gently.
She froze as he carefully unclasped the ornament and slid it free from her hair. His touch was slow and delicate, as though handling something fragile.
Then, to her surprise, he picked up a brush and began combing through her long hair.
Aileen blinked at the reflection in the mirror, watching him with wide eyes.
“You… don’t have to do that.”
He smiled. “Consider it a service — a gesture of goodwill from your contract partner.”
His teasing tone made her laugh softly. “Ha… I see.”
They were husband and wife, but also business partners bound by a deal. For a moment, Aileen wasn’t sure how to think of him — as her husband, or as her partner.
But Richard’s words drew that line clearly. Contract partner.
It was a boundary — but an oddly comforting one. She could breathe easier now.
When he finished brushing her hair, Aileen stood up. Richard gestured toward the enormous bed.
“I ordered the largest bed possible, so we won’t be uncomfortable. If you’d like, I can even build a wall of pillows between us.”
Aileen glanced at the bed. It was huge — large enough for four or five adults. There was no way they’d accidentally bump into each other.
“That won’t be necessary,” she said, smiling faintly.
“Then make yourself comfortable.”
After hesitating a moment, Aileen walked to the side near the window — the farthest spot from him — and climbed onto the bed.
Richard went to the opposite side and lay down as well. Aileen was careful not to tug on the blanket covering him as she settled in.
“Goodnight,” he said softly.
“Goodnight, Richard.”
Silence fell over the room.
But Aileen couldn’t fall asleep. Only a few minutes ago she’d been exhausted, yet now her eyes were wide open.
It wasn’t that she was nervous — just… unfamiliar.
She’d always slept alone, or with her little brother beside her. Never with a grown man sharing the same bed.
She closed her eyes and tried to rest, but sleep wouldn’t come. Finally, she turned on her side and stared toward the window.
The stars glittered brightly in the clear night sky. Looking at them, she felt a strange warmth inside her chest.
How long had it been since she’d last looked at the sky without worry?
Life had been nothing but struggle — working to pay debts, always keeping her head down. She hadn’t had the luxury of peace.
But now, even though she hadn’t escaped her burdens yet, hope felt close — almost within reach. And that made all the difference.
Adrian would love this view, she thought. Maybe they could go on a picnic together soon.
“Can’t sleep?”
A sudden voice broke the silence. Startled, Aileen turned around — and met Richard’s golden eyes shining softly in the dark.
