Chapter 27
The next morning.
Because I had cried so much yesterday, my eyes were all swollen. Arne had cried so hard from being touched, and I had ended up crying along with him.
“Sophia, are you sure you can see where you’re going?”
“Do you want me to grab your collar to prove it?”
At that, Owen bashfully offered the cravat tied around his neck.
“If it helps, you can hold onto this.”
…Unbelievable. Still, my eyes really were hard to open.
We stopped in front of Arne’s room to take him to the dining room for breakfast.
Ah, speaking of surprises—yesterday I’d noticed something shocking.
My bedroom had already been perfectly prepared!
It was easily three times the size of my room at the marquis’s estate, spacious and elegant. The furniture was all top-class, with ivory-toned wood interiors that looked beautiful. And even a space had been prepared just for Popo!
“When did you even prepare all this?”
“My mother vacated the room early so we could renovate it.”
His mother… meaning the former duchess, now the Grand Duchess Dowager.
Which meant this was once her bedroom.
As if drawn in, I’d stepped inside. One door clearly led to the bath, but another caught my eye. When I silently pointed at it, Owen answered proudly.
“The shared bedroom. It connects to mine.”
I immediately dropped my hand. Yeah… not something I needed to explore yet.
But really, this was ridiculous. It was as if the room had been completely prepared for me. But hadn’t I only agreed to marry him that very morning?
Should I call this confidence, or crazy foresight?
“And what if I’d refused to marry you after all this?”
“What else? I’d just stand in front of the palace with a signboard proposing in public.”
I shivered. He would actually do it.
Anyway, I’d spent a very comfortable night. Well… not alone.
Just as I was settling in, there’d been a knock at the door. When I answered, a small boy with chestnut-brown hair peeked in, clutching Popo.
“Oh, Arne. What is it?”
“I’m sorry if I woke you… I just wanted to check. It feels like a dream that Mom is really here in this house…”
Good heavens. Who could send a child like this away? And the bed was large enough for two, so of course I let him stay with me.
But then—another knock.
This time it came from the other door. The one connecting to the “shared bedroom.”
“Wh-who’s there?”
Why did I even ask that? Of course, it was Owen poking his face in.
“Sorry if I woke you, Sophia. I just wanted to check. It feels like a dream that you’re really here in this house.”
“It is a dream, so go back and sleep.”
He pouted dramatically and stepped right inside.
“How come you’re so warm to Arne, but treat me so coldly?”
I knew it. A copycat.
“I’m sleeping with Arne tonight.”
“Hah, Sophia.”
He looked exasperated, but the huge grin on his face gave him away. Clearly, he was amused by my prickly attitude.
Wearing a soft gray nightgown, he strolled casually toward the bed. And—I saw it clearly—he tugged at the tie on his gown, loosening it.
Oh no. He knew exactly how attractive he was, kneeling before me like that with such a relaxed, confident expression.
Since I was sitting on the bed, our eyes were almost level—actually, I was slightly looking down at him. Which, unfortunately, gave me a clear view inside his half-loosened gown. He must’ve done it on purpose.
Then, in a soft, velvety voice, he said,
“Without you, I’ll have to spend these nights all alone again.”
Excuse me? This man, who had obviously always slept alone, whining about loneliness? …Wait. Did he mean he hadn’t always slept alone before?
Was he hinting at past lovers?
Right. What had I been thinking? Of course a man like this—handsome, wealthy, powerful—wouldn’t have lived like a monk until twenty-five. How could I have assumed he was… inexperienced?
How unfair! Because if we married and… shared a bed… it would be my first time!
I happened to glance at a mirror nearby and nearly jumped out of my skin—a furious woman was glaring at me like Cerberus. Only then did I realize it was my own reflection. Wow. I looked terrifying when I was angry. I should save that face as a weapon.
Too late though. Owen was already staring at me nervously.
“Sophia… why do you look like you want to boil me alive? Sometimes I wonder what kind of strange thoughts you’re having all by yourself.”
After a pause, I quickly covered Arne’s ears with both hands.
“Mom?”
Once I was sure he couldn’t hear, I whispered,
“So… you haven’t really spent your nights alone, have you? Who exactly has been keeping you company, Owen?”
His eyes widened, then—he started laughing. Hard. So hard he stuffed his fist in his mouth to muffle it.
Why was he laughing? My face grew hot.
“Think about it, Owen. I don’t know a single thing about your past. But I’ve told you everything about mine.”
“Ah… so you’re curious about me? I’m honestly thrilled. Much more than I expected.”
He grabbed my hand and held it tight, smiling widely. Then leaned in.
“The one who has always comforted me on my long nights…”
Yes? Who?!
He pulled me close and whispered into my ear:
“…was the hope that one day you’d be here, in this room, sleeping under the same roof as me.”
What?! So does that mean he’s experienced or not?
But I didn’t have time to demand clarification—because he kissed me.
“!”
No, Sophia, don’t melt! Don’t forgive him just because he’s smiling like that! You still haven’t gotten a clear answer!
Before I could react, he climbed naturally onto the bed, still smiling.
“As I told you before, Sophia—you’re my first. In everything.”
“…In everything?”
“Yes. And you’ll be the last, too. Which means… it’s fine if I sleep here with you, right? We’re family, after all.”
Well… when he put it like that.
His words made my anger dissolve far too easily. I muttered, half-grumbling,
“The bed’s too small for three people anyway.”
“Good thing I ordered a smaller one, then.”
“…What did you say?”
Still in his loosely tied nightgown, he laughed and settled onto one side of the bed, patting the spot beside him.
“Arne, come here. You can sleep between us.”
“Okay!”
Arne scampered over happily and nestled against Owen’s side, then looked up at me expectantly.
Side by side, they really looked like father and son—or like brothers with a big age gap. Honestly, it was heartwarming.
I gave up. Fine.
I lay down in the remaining space—and was startled. This bed was incredible. It felt like lying on a cloud; even if I stayed here all day, my back wouldn’t ache.
Owen blew out the last candle, and the room went dark.
I lay flat, blinking until my eyes adjusted to the shadows. I remembered the mural painted on the ceiling: the sky god Themis surrounded by angels. Lying beneath it, I almost felt blessed.
Rustling. Arne rolled over toward me. I tilted my body to embrace him, and he snuggled into my arms.
“Mom…”
“Yes, Arne. Sleep well.”
“Goodnight, Mom…”
Before long, his breathing grew soft and steady.
Good. Children should sleep plenty.
But when I lifted my head slightly, I froze.
Across the darkness, Owen’s eyes met mine.
I had forgotten he was still here. He’d turned to face me, lying on his side, watching silently.
“…”
Even though our gazes met, he didn’t speak. I hadn’t expected him to just stare at me like this.
I couldn’t see his face clearly, but his grey eyes shimmered in the dark.
I wanted to swallow nervously, but the sound would be too embarrassing. Should I look away? No—that would feel too awkward. Should I say something? No—Arne was fast asleep between us.
Time passed in silence.
Then, just as I felt like blinking, his low, husky voice broke through the darkness.
