CHAPTER 90………………………………………………………..
“I hope I’m not disturbing you by showing up like this,”
Ken said.
Surely he wasn’t being sarcastic?
Lately, Ken had been unusually kind to me, but given his past behavior, I couldn’t easily let my guard down.
“Busy? Sidereon is probably busier than me,” I replied awkwardly with a smile.
Ken’s expression softened, as if impressed.
“Milady, you are truly considerate. Even while busy, you think first of your master.”
Did he really mean it that way…?
Ken muttered something under his breath, like, “To have misjudged someone like this… old age is truly a sin.”
Trying to escape the almost chokingly polite atmosphere, I spoke.
“By the way, what brings the butler here? Do you need something from me?”
Surely he hadn’t come just out of boredom.
Fortunately, it seemed he did have a purpose, as Ken let out a small exclamation.
“Ah, I came to deliver this.”
Ken pulled some tea leaves from his coat.
“What’s this…?”
“It’s a rare tea imported from abroad. I thought it might be just what you need, Milady, so this old man ran straight here.”
It looked like ordinary tea at first glance…
“This tea is excellent for relieving stress. Would you like to try some?”
I was somewhat surprised.
Ken was offering me tea!
Surely he hadn’t poisoned it…
Was all his kindness up to this moment a setup?
But that was an absurd thought. Maybe he really had turned over a new leaf.
I nodded.
“Please.”
My head was already throbbing from stress, so I had no reason to refuse.
Ken rang the bell on the table to summon a maid and gave instructions.
A short while later, the maid returned with hot water.
Ken skillfully brewed the tea and handed it to me. Then, noticing Kira watching, he offered some to her as well.
“Miss Kira, would you like some too?”
“Do I get a portion?”
“Of course.”
Ken’s gentle smile caused wrinkles to gather around his eyes.
For some reason, his usually stern appearance now seemed quite warm.
Thinking back, Merry had said that Ken was strict but not cruel.
Feels a little unfair that he was only that way with me.
I had better consider it fortunate that he wasn’t like that now.
I took a sip of the tea in front of me.
I wasn’t sure if it was the stress relief or something else, but a warm sensation spread through my body, and I felt pleasantly relaxed.
Ken, pleased to see me enjoying it, added in a hopeful voice:
“How does it taste?”
“Hmm, it’s good,” I said.
It was slightly bitter but pleasantly fragrant.
Just as I was about to take another sip,
“I’m glad it suits your taste. This tea not only relieves stress but also helps with conception.”
…Excuse me?
“Oh! This tea is perfect for Milady!”
Kira chimed in enthusiastically.
“Hehe. When I heard the tea’s benefits, Milady immediately came to mind, so I ran here at once,” Ken said.
I seriously debated whether to spit out the tea I’d just sipped.
“Now that I think about it, you’ve been sharing the same room for quite a while, so the news should come soon!”
Choke!
Kira clapped her hands, and I almost choked.
“Milady! Are you alright?”
“Oh dear, it must have been too hot.”
Kira and Ken looked at me with concern. Ken even pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and offered it.
I quickly took it and dabbed my mouth.
Phew… I thought I was going to die.
Kira, smiling contentedly, added:
“Well, Milady, you’re still young enough to be shy.”
At her remark, Ken spoke sternly:
“Milady, pregnancy is nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about. It is, in fact, a matter of family honor.”
Even though I’d spat out the tea, I still felt like I might choke again.
Ken went on at length about special methods for pregnancy and taking care of oneself before finally leaving.
If I had known he was this talkative, it might have been better to keep the cold distance between us.
But even after Ken left, I didn’t feel at ease.
It seemed Kira had joined in, enthusiastically discussing the next Grand Duke’s matters whenever she had a chance.
Although it was more her wishes than nagging.
I dragged my exhausted body back to my room, but even there, I couldn’t rest.
Just as I lay down on the bed to rest, Sidereon approached and said:
“The butler said some strange things today.”
From the start, it sounded ominous.
Wouldn’t someone say odd things to me as well?
“It seems like news of pregnancy should be arriving soon, yet there’s nothing at all.”
My prediction was correct.
I felt the bed shift slightly and looked up; Sidereon was sitting on the edge, watching me intently.
“What would people think if they knew nothing happened while we were together?”
Sidereon’s tone was teasing.
I imagined a storm of scolding coming my way.
In the past, I never considered heirs because I was obsessed with divorce…
In Korea, this concept had been foreign to me!
If I stayed as Grand Duchess without divorcing, then… I’d have to go further, wouldn’t I…?
But even a small accidental cheek kiss had made me die of embarrassment…
Ugh…
Thinking about it now made me bury my face in the pillow.
“…I don’t really know.”
“I’ve never thought about children,” he said calmly.
I raised my head slightly.
Sidereon was staring into the distance, looking contemplative.
“I thought my bloodline was cursed. That’s why I believed I couldn’t feel emotions.”
“…”
“I thought it wouldn’t help the family if more people like me existed. But I guess my thoughts have changed recently.”
He tilted his head and looked at me.
“Sidereon…”
“I’m starting to think having an heir might not be so bad.”
Uh…
Sidereon moved closer to me as I lay down.
I had to look up at him.
His normally imposing frame now felt mountainous.
Feeling I shouldn’t just lie there, I tried to sit up.
But he gently pressed my hand down and whispered:
“Don’t move. Stay just like that.”
What… did he mean?
I stiffened slightly, reacting to his touch along the inside of my fingers.
Then his large hand clasped mine firmly, almost constricting.
And he lay down beside me.
He was closer than I expected; I could now see the fine details of his face I usually ignored:
The sculpted nose, the light double eyelids contrasting with thick lashes, the golden eyes, the subtle flicker of fire within… even my own startled reflection in them.
I stared, breathless, as if consumed by his gaze.
How could someone be so beautiful?
My eyes wandered to his soft pink lips.
How can a man’s lips be so… sexy?
“Where are you looking?”
His voice carried a slight smile, making me snap my eyes open.
“L-Looking? It’s not…!”
Realizing how obvious my gaze had been, my face flushed.
Did he notice?
He probably did. I couldn’t move my body either, my hands still clasped.
I shut my eyes tightly.
After a brief silence, a slightly bittersweet voice reached me.
“Even just looking… does it scare you?”
Huh?
He must be misunderstanding…
I wanted to deny it, but somehow I thought the misunderstanding was better in this situation.
Otherwise, I’d have to explain why I was staring at his lips.
“But if this continues, you’ll get used to it eventually.”
Is he talking about our clasped hands? Or lying so close?
“I-I think I’m already quite used to it…”
“But you look scared for some reason.”
Well, scared… sure. Let’s just call it that.
“Um… hey…”
“My name’s ‘Hey’?”
“No, Sidereon… isn’t this distance a little too close?”
“Is it really the distance, or just how you feel?”
I didn’t think it was just my imagination.
“They say couples should maintain some distance.”
This distance… our noses almost touched.
Even breathing lightly, I could feel his breath.
Do couples normally sit this close?!
Or is this normal…?
Anyway.
“Who said that…?”
“Ken. He said staying this close will spark feelings that didn’t exist. And it seems true. What about you, Milady?”
What happens if I get even closer…?
My mind felt like red warning lights were flashing.
“I-I don’t know…”
As I hesitated, Sidereon’s face with a faint smile moved closer.
Having spent over twenty years reading romance novels, I instinctively knew.
This… this is the kiss…
But so suddenly?!
What should I do?
My head was spinning; I shut my eyes tightly, unable to face him.
But my expectation was completely wrong.
I felt something soft touch my forehead, and I opened my eyes wide like a startled rabbit.
Sidereon, noticing my reaction, curved his eyes with a bright smile.
“Looks like we should start by getting you used to this.”
