A few days later, Mari woke up in the middle of the night, startled by a sound coming from the hallway.
“Quiet! Move it quietly!”
It sounded like someone was moving things outside her door.
“…What is this? At this hour?”
Judging by the noise, it wasn’t just one person or a single item being moved.
“So, he really is taking the room next to mine. Does he even realize I’m the owner, or not?”
Mari tossed her pillow over her ears, still half-lying in bed.
“Lady Whitehouse mustn’t wake up. Keep it quiet!”
Hearing her own name snapped her out of bed instantly, anger flaring.
“Of all times, it has to be this hour!”
She turned on a lamp, draped a shawl over her pajamas, slipped on her slippers, and flung open the door.
“Ah! It’s the Countess!”
“Were we too loud?”
“Apologies, Lady!”
It was Calix’s men—five or six knights in black uniforms, all carrying framed pictures and books.
“What’s going on?”
Calix emerged from Mari’s neighboring room. He seemed slightly embarrassed upon seeing her in pajamas.
“Sorry for waking you. I told them to be quiet.”
Calix wore a white shirt and brown pants, with four buttons undone on his shirt.
Through the slight opening, the contours of his firm muscles were visible, clearly defined as if not even a finger could press in.
“Th-that’s…”
Mari didn’t know where to look, her face turning red. Her intention to scold them for being noisy vanished instantly.
‘Why does he have his shirt undone in the middle of moving…!’
The knights quietly carried books into Calix’s room and slipped out.
“What on earth is this?”
Mari peered into Calix’s room, which was nothing like a minimalist interior. A blue arabesque-patterned carpet covered the floor, with a mahogany desk and matching bookshelf. Books were stacked in apparent disarray.
“Didn’t I say I’d use an extra room?”
“Yes…”
The old marks from pictures and ornaments were covered with newly hung frames, and the workspace left no complaints. The soft lighting made the furniture, carpet, and frames appear even more luxurious.
Mari, however, couldn’t hide her discomfort.
“…Who did the interior?”
“Apologies. I wanted to make it minimalist, like you would, but…”
“But?”
“I’d have to trouble you while you’re busy… and preparing it would delay my own work. I figured I’d need a space similar to my previous office.”
It turned out he had essentially moved his office from the cliffside castle.
“Ah, I see.”
Mari sighed lightly, feeling frustrated.
“If work gets in the way, you can always go back to the cliffside castle. Construction hasn’t started yet, so living there is fine.”
“The King specifically requested I ensure your safety. I can’t ignore that.”
Calix nonchalantly mentioned the King again.
Mari knew better than to argue further; once he brought up the King, it always led back to the same point.
“…Then it’s late, so I’ll return to my room.”
“Do as you wish.”
Calix followed her into the dim hallway.
“Why are you coming?”
Mari looked back with curious eyes.
“I’ll escort you to your room.”
It was unnecessary since the rooms were right next to each other.
“I’m fine.”
“No need for concern.”
Despite her protests, he silently walked beside her.
“….”
Mari walked quietly, choosing not to argue further. It was just next door; a simple greeting and she could go inside.
Click.
She opened the door.
“Well then…”
Mari turned to quickly enter her room.
Before she could even say goodbye, Calix peeked inside.
“Is your room minimalist as well?”
“No, my room…”
She had tried to maintain a minimalist aesthetic for him, but Mari’s personal taste leaned toward maximalism. She wanted her room to be bright, filled with colorful fabrics and lush plants.
“…I’ll decorate it later.”
“That’s right.”
Calix didn’t respond further. Suddenly, the hallway darkened.
“Ah…”
The lamp in Mari’s hand went out from lack of oil.
She swallowed nervously. Already awkward with Calix standing so close…
“The light’s out. I-it must be out of oil.”
She tried to sound casual, but ended up stammering.
“I see.”
Calix’ tone was relaxed, almost teasing.
“….”
Even in the dark, the dust floating in the air caught the light.
His forearm and hands shimmered under the moonlight, fingers long and elegant. The contours of his chest muscles, visible through the shirt, became more pronounced, sparkling as if dusted with glitter.
“O-of oil…”
Mari couldn’t finish her sentence, her gaze fixed on him. Calix was staring directly at her.
The moonlight made his eyes look deeper.
Eyebrows softened, eyes a warm red, lips slightly parted beneath his straight nose.
“……”
He seemed unsure of what to say, licking his lips.
Mari found herself licking her own lips, a small electric thrill running from her neck to her chest.
“I-I should…”
She tried to step back, but suddenly—
Clack.
Her wrist was caught in the dark.
“Tea…?”
Calix’ voice teased her ear softly.
“Shall we have a drink?”
He stepped closer.
Instinctively, Mari stepped back. His dark red eyes seemed deeper in the dim light.
“The oil’s gone…”
Being alone with him in the dark suddenly felt unnerving.
Not because he was rumored to be a cold-blooded killer, but because his gaze was far more overt than usual.
“The oil doesn’t matter.”
In this moment, he wasn’t an investor or business partner. He was just a man evoking desire.
“The moonlight is enough to find you.”
He didn’t release her wrist, moving closer.
Mari didn’t know what to say, stepping back until her foot hit the doorframe.
She used the frame as an excuse to face him.
“Calix…?”
Since that sudden kiss at the seaside, Mari found it awkward to meet his gaze. She would often lose focus mid-conversation, drawn involuntarily to his face.
Though she had decided to treat the kiss as if it never happened, the memory remained vivid. Thinking of the person who should have kissed her didn’t help.
Behind his mask, he had an air of danger.
And his face had always been handsome. Seeing it fully exposed, sculpted like a statue, was almost intoxicating. Just looking at him felt like seduction.
“….”
His red eyes gleamed like rubies in water, softening like a flowing gem.
They promised fatal love, with black bangs falling delicately, evoking a sensation of sinking into a bottomless swamp.
“Calix…”
His lips spoke without sound, seductively close.
“….”
The dark air smelled faintly of wood, heavy and suffocating.
Mari’s lips parted instinctively, perhaps sensing some unspoken meaning.
“Beautiful.”
He whispered softly, almost a sigh.
“Calix…?”
Her lips met his as though wrapped in a soft film. Drifting in languor, Mari closed her eyes.
“….”
Dizziness struck her, and she staggered. His large hands caught her back, pulling her close.
Mari felt as if she had become light as air, pressed against him. One hand was already held; she tried to push him with the other.
But her hands lacked strength, only tracing his firm arms.
“….”
Her whole body was enveloped in warmth, like lying on a soft bed. Limbs relaxed, she felt as if floating in the air.
