~Chapter 21~
The dining room had no clock. Not even the sound of a ticking second hand could be heard.
That was because neither of us touched our food anymore—my meal was finished, and he had lost his appetite. The silence was suffocating.
I glanced at Apollyon.
The sunset lit up his mask, making it look blood-red. In this light, he truly seemed like the “God of War” people claimed him to be after the monster hunts.
‘Strange. He’s not trying to run away?’
It was odd. Normally, he feared being alone with me so much that he would immediately back away. Even earlier, when he first entered the dining room, he almost retreated.
‘Does he… want to say something to me?’
That must be the reason. Just as I stayed behind to apologize, perhaps he also had something to tell me.
Yes—this was my chance. No one was here to interrupt us. It was the perfect moment to finally say sorry.
“Apollyon.”
Flinch.
He jolted again, but not as badly as before. This time, he even raised his head and looked straight at me.
I almost covered my mouth in awe. It felt like watching a stray dog, one that had always been afraid, finally opening its heart to a new person.
‘Teacher, I think I succeeded in training him…!’
I mentally thanked whatever imaginary teacher helped me. Who knew all those animal-training shows would be useful in marriage?
Hiding my excitement, I spoke softly.
“Um… I’m sorry. I really am.”
“…”
Why is he looking even more shocked?
He looked more startled by my apology than he had when he first saw me. Did I do something wrong again?
“You look surprised. Sorry—I’ll apologize again.”
“…”
No, no, don’t be surprised! Please!
He sat frozen like a statue, only his eyes darting frantically. Cold sweat rolled down my back. Oddly enough, he was sweating too.
Was he like Pavlov’s dog? The longer I talked, the more nervous he got—like a bell making a dog drool.
I decided to use the gentlest voice possible.
“No matter what duty says… if you don’t want to, then we shouldn’t do it.”
“…”
“Do you remember what I said before? When you asked me not to take off your mask?”
“…”
“I said that forcing someone to take it off when they don’t want to—that’s what’s weird. Last night, I was exactly like that. I got blinded by the wedding-night ritual and just pushed myself on you.”
Honestly, it wasn’t about duty. It was just lust.
“I acted without care, and I’m sorry. I even got angry because you didn’t do what I wanted… I’m sorry for that too.”
“…”
“That’s all I wanted to say. So relax, okay? Ha-ha.”
There. Done. It felt clumsy, but at least I got the apology out.
I peeked at him. His expression didn’t change at all.
I waited patiently. If he walked away, so be it.
After what felt like an eternity, he finally spoke.
“Why… is my wife apologizing?”
“…Huh?”
I blinked. Did I hear him wrong?
“You did nothing wrong.”
“…?”
“Of course… if I said I wasn’t surprised, that would be a lie.”
Ouch. That stung, even if I knew already.
“But the one at fault is me, for failing to fulfill the wedding duty—not you.”
“….”
“So you don’t need to ask for my forgiveness.”
“Apollyon…”
Ahh… my heart… He had grown so much in less than a day. Truly the best male lead—quick to learn, full of empathy, with a heart as wide as the sea.
Maybe living by the ocean really did make people kind.
Thanks to Emma and Wilson’s “disaster plan,” I thought everything was ruined—but things turned out better than expected.
‘Alright! Time to take this further.’
As the saying goes, strike while the iron is hot.
“Um, Apollyon.”
“Yes?”
I tried to sound casual, so he wouldn’t panic.
“You said you don’t dislike me, right?”
“…Yes.”
“I don’t dislike you either.”
“….”
“So, you don’t need to feel uncomfortable. If you hold my hand, or hug me, I won’t dislike it.”
Actually, I’d love it. Please, touch me all you want.
“Ho-hold…?! Hugging?!”
Unlike me, calm and steady, he was stuttering and flapping his hands like a penguin.
“…I didn’t mean you actually hugged me right now. It’s just an example.”
The sun had already sunk beneath the sea, but his ears and neck were still red like the sunset.
“Of course, if you don’t want to, I won’t force you. But…”
His hands on the table tightened.
“If you’re avoiding me only because you’re worried I’ll find you unpleasant—”
“….”
“That’s impossible. Don’t misunderstand.”
“….”
“I don’t feel unpleasant with you. Not at all.”
His eyes slowly stilled.
“…You really don’t find me unpleasant?”
“Yes.”
Unpleasant? Being with you feels refreshing.
He licked his lips nervously before speaking again.
“You must know my reputation.”
“….”
At that, my nose stung with sadness.
“Everyone avoids touching me. But you… you married me, and now you have to live with me. How much harder must it be for you?”
“….”
“If you’re worried my curse might spread—”
“That’s not true. And you know it’s not true. So why lie?”
His words cut my heart. I knew it was his way of protecting himself—better to hurt himself first than wait for others to hurt him. But it only made him more closed-off.
I stared into his dark, sea-colored eyes. They glistened with moisture.
Oh no, don’t cry. You’ll break my heart.
I wanted to hand him a napkin, but I pretended not to notice. No noble wants to show tears.
I looked down at my plate instead. The sauce had dried hard.
After a long silence, his trembling voice spoke.
“You… were originally engaged to the Quinton heir, weren’t you?”
His sudden question startled me.
“…Yes, why?”
“You don’t need to force yourself for me if you already love someone else.”
“What? What do you mean by that?”
He hesitated, then said the name I dreaded.
“You… still love Sonod, don’t you?”
My blood ran cold.
“…Didn’t I break that engagement?”
Sure, the real Petunia might have loved him. But not me. I wasn’t foolish enough to like that trash.
“You married me just to take revenge on Sonod, didn’t you?”
“Oh Jesus Christ.”
“Who told you that?”
“….”
“Which lunatic went around spreading that lie?!”
I leaned forward over the table, furious.
“S-so… it’s not true?”
“Of course it’s not true!”
I ran my hand roughly through my hair. I should’ve killed Sonod before the wedding…
My hands shook with anger as I gripped the table.
“…My lady?”
“….”
“P-Petunia?”
Apollyon called me desperately when I didn’t answer.
