CHAPTER 19…………………………………….
“It’s alright. So you don’t need to apologize. However, please do not say things like ‘I’m sorry’ or ‘it’s okay.’”
The eyes that had been lowered trembled violently.
It was an entirely unexpected answer.
She had thought he would get angry, or tell her to leave the room, or perhaps even raise a hand against her.
Karis was always different from what she expected.
Psyche struggled to figure out what to say.
His face, still expressionless, showed not a trace of embarrassment.
If anything, it was Psyche’s face that had turned bright red with heat.
“Are you that embarrassed?”
“P-please don’t ask things like that.”
Karis looked at her as she mumbled with her head lowered, and his gaze carried a faint warmth.
“I-I’ll… go out for a bit.”
“You can stay here. I’ll fix my clothes now.”
“Pardon…?”
“Doesn’t matter, does it? We’ll be going down soon for the meal, so let’s go together.”
He spoke while fastening the buttons of his white shirt one by one.
For some reason, his face was slightly flushed.
He looked lazily relaxed as he caught her gaze.
There was something quietly languid about Karis as he stared out the window.
Watching his long fingers button up his shirt with soft clicks felt strangely… alluring. It was a sight she couldn’t look away from.
Had she been possessed by something?
Her heart was pounding like crazy.
“Will you not change your dress, madam?”
“Ah… it’s fine. I’ll just… wash again after the meal anyway.”
“I see. Then let’s go down now.”
Now fully dressed, Karis held out his hand to Psyche.
He gave a brief smile, and she took his hand.
Their steps were slow, but strangely light.
“I’m not sure if dinner will suit your taste.”
“Ah… I like everything. As long as I can eat it.”
Psyche smiled slightly as she looked at his concerned expression.
For someone who had survived on scraps left by maids, simply eating in a proper dining room was already more than she deserved.
“You must have enjoyed fine meals in Benoa as well.”
“Ah…”
Psyche opened her mouth awkwardly.
What should she say here?
Should she pretend to be the noble princess she once was, or the disgraced one rejected by Benoa?
Would the latter… be more beneficial to their relationship?
No. No, not at all.
“I’m not picky, so it won’t be a problem.”
A brief silence followed.
Psyche smiled lightly and looked at Karis as she answered.
His expression remained unreadable.
She felt she had handled it well and quietly relaxed inside.
She didn’t want to reveal any more shameful parts of her past to the man who had accepted her.
“I see… yes…”
“Is this the dining room?”
“Yes. This is the dining room.”
Two chairs faced each other at a long table.
Psyche sat down. The meal was quite lavish.
The neatly arranged dishes looked delicious.
She picked up a large piece of white bread.
Its soft texture that melted in her mouth was indescribably good.
Having only ever eaten hard black bread before, her face brightened instantly.
It’s delicious…!
Her eyes widened like a child discovering a new world.
A smile never left her lips.
“I’m glad it suits your taste.”
Karis gave a faint smile.
Before long, the meal ended, and Psyche went up to the bedroom first.
When she arrived, two personal maids were waiting.
They wore neat maid uniforms.
“It is an honor to meet you, Madam.”
“Likewise. But what are your names?”
“Please call me Emily. This is Jenny.”
Emily, with neatly tied reddish-brown hair, smiled brightly.
Jenny, with pale milky hair, maintained a faint smile without any change in expression.
Emily seemed lively, while Jenny appeared quiet.
Psyche smiled faintly at their contrasting demeanors.
“Would you like to bathe first?”
“Yes, please. I was already feeling quite uncomfortable from the long journey.”
“Emily already prepared the bathwater earlier. Please hand me your dress.”
Psyche’s cheeks turned slightly red at the formal address, but she pretended not to notice.
Her dress was then carefully removed layer by layer by the maids.
Then she suddenly remembered the scar on her back.
She grabbed the falling fabric and tried to cover herself, but it was already too late—the maids had seen her back.
Fortunately, neither maid showed any reaction.
Psyche bit her lip in embarrassment.
“About the scar you saw… don’t tell anyone. Even if it’s the duke himself.”
She tried to keep her face calm, though it stiffened slightly.
“I understand, Madam,” both maids replied.
Only then did she let out a small breath of relief.
“Madam, I will look for herbs that can help remove those scars.”
“Thank you…”
“Since tonight is your first night, we’ll cover it with makeup. Fortunately, the scars are faint and shouldn’t be visible.”
“I… I just want to bathe first.”
Inside the bath, flower petals floated everywhere.
The room was filled with a strong floral scent.
“These are pink roses! I thought they would match your hair perfectly!”
Emily said cheerfully.
She washed Psyche’s pale hair, letting it flow through her fingers.
Jenny gently wiped her body with warm spring water.
Being bathed by strangers was awkward.
Psyche decided to simply close her eyes.
But once she did, her senses became even sharper.
The sound of splashing water seemed louder.
“It’s done.”
“Already…?”
She sounded slightly reluctant, as if she had enjoyed the comfort.
Emily covered her scar with powder.
Jenny lightly scented the ends of her hair and dressed her in a thin, almost transparent long slip.
“Please wait here. The duke will come shortly.”
“We will take our leave now.”
After the maids left, Psyche noticed the bedroom had changed slightly.
Red lighting had been added, and the canopy was now a soft flushed pink instead of yellow.
The room felt prepared for a wedding night.
The first night…
She bit her lip repeatedly, anxious.
The maids had said it would hurt a lot the first time.
So much that she might not even be able to walk properly the next day.
That thought frightened her.
For Psyche, even that became fear.
Pain is scary.
She regretted it.
If she had known nothing, she wouldn’t have been this afraid.
She took a deep breath.
What even is this thin slip…
The sheer fabric made her feel exposed.
She pulled the blanket tightly around herself.
About ten minutes later, the door opened.
The sound made her shoulders flinch.
Karis entered wearing a loosely buttoned shirt.
Unlike his earlier formal uniform, the shirt was partly undone, revealing his throat and collarbone.
“Madam?”
“Yes?”
“You seem quite startled.”
“M-me? No, I’m just a little…”
Embarrassed.
She couldn’t say it and swallowed the words.
“It will be fine. So please don’t be so nervous.”
“Y-yes…”
She answered softly and met his gaze—eyes like a frozen lake.
His silver-white eyes were so beautiful she kept looking at them.
“Do you like my eyes?”
“I… yes. Very much.”
“Why… do you think so?”
“They’re… beautiful. I like beautiful things.”
A faint laugh escaped her.
It was a playful expression. She truly did like his eyes.
“You are the first person to say my eyes are beautiful.”
“But it’s true.”
“Everyone says they are cold.”
Cold?
Ah.
A memory surfaced—his nickname.
The blood-soaked murderer…
She had once feared him because of it.
But…
It was a misunderstanding.
Even after just a day of knowing him, she was certain.
He was warm—far warmer than anyone she had known.
“Your eyes aren’t cold at all. Not even a little. They’re like pure white sunlight.”
“….”
“So please don’t hate yourself. I think you’re a good person.”
Karis stared at her for a long moment.
His gaze felt almost piercing.
Then his lips slowly parted.
“So this is the kind of person you are… someone so kind it almost seems excessive. You’re the same as before… I couldn’t fail to recognize you.”
“D-duke…?”
“Don’t call me that. Call me Karis… say it.”
His voice was desperate—almost pleading.
A hungry intensity seemed to rise within him.
“Say my name… Madam.”
Her eyes trembled slightly.
After a long hesitation, her lips finally moved.
“Ka… Karis.”
“I’m glad… that you are so beautiful.”
She never expected to hear such a sweet confession.
Tears gathered in her eyes.
Her heart felt so full it might burst.
“I think… I might be able to be happy too. Just like everyone else… ordinary, peaceful happiness…”
“I will make it so. If that is your happiness, I will give it to you. So please, live.”
