JustPeachyNovels

…Please, say something.

In that suffocating moment where each of them could only yearn for the other, Kainel suddenly stood up. There was no need to ask where he was going. Even Major Gerald, who would follow the Commander anywhere, froze and didn’t dare to chase after him, while the others simply swallowed hard in silence.

“…….”

It felt like being in an ambush in enemy territory, if anyone made a sound or moved even slightly, they would be struck by lightning. Just as it seemed they might end up spending the night at someone else’s newlywed home, Owen finally managed to pry Turin’s hand off his mouth and let out a rough breath.

“No. What the hell! I just answered when she asked my name, so why…. Aaaagh!”

“You crazy bastard!”

“This son of a bitch is really—!”

“Uh, uh? Why?!”

Surrounded by men who immediately started throwing punches at him, Owen flailed his arms. The banquet hall, which had been eerily quiet moments before, erupted into chaos for the first time that wedding night. Major Gerald, who had remained motionless even while his subordinate was being beaten, eventually lowered his head onto the table.

“…So he really married Lady Tatiana.”

△▲△▲△

This place was his space.

Tatiana looked around the room with a mixture of unfamiliarity and curiosity. Though they had hurriedly decorated it as a newlywed bedroom, the space remained neat and orderly. Even the sparse, plain furniture seemed to suit its owner well.

“…….”

In many ways, he was different from her. It felt almost ridiculous that she was only realizing this now, but she truly sensed how vastly different Kainel’s upbringing had been from her own.

Of course, that didn’t mean it was bad or unpleasant.

‘It’s fine. This much is okay.’

Muttering the phrase that had somehow become her personal reassurance, Tatiana carefully lowered herself in front of the table. This time, it wasn’t exactly self-brainwashing.

The old mansion that had become her home starting today, the man who didn’t care about her mother, and even the unexpected kiss… all of it felt quite tolerable.

“You said to make it clear.”

Her cheeks flushed hot. Even trying to stay composed, the memory made her face burn. Though he had cornered her so she couldn’t move, she had been the one to kiss him first. No matter how relieved she had felt in a situation where she had no one to trust, it still amazed her how bold she had been.

“…….”

If even that feeling didn’t bother her, was she being too complacent?

Tatiana pressed her lips together and clenched her fists over the rough fabric of her dress. She felt strangely lighthearted. Acting and thinking according to her emotions without being controlled by others’ eyes or society’s rules was something entirely new and fascinating to her.

‘Well, he’s my husband anyway.’

In the room without a single mirror, her expression turned prim. She needed to think practically. If physical intimacy with her husband wasn’t unpleasant, that was a good thing for her too.

Having spent years in Freya’s social circles and with four older sisters, Tatiana wasn’t completely ignorant even without personal experience.

She had heard that for a smooth married life, the marital relationship was the most important thing. Usually, once enough alcohol flowed at banquets, the truly private conversations would begin. Though she hadn’t been able to stay until the end because of her mother, she had overheard countless wives complaining that ‘there’s no spark between husband and wife’ or ‘we’re just too incompatible.’

“…….”

Tatiana traced her lips as she recalled the previous night. She hadn’t been able to think straight, and her chest had trembled so much she couldn’t measure it. She couldn’t fully describe that dizzying sensation she had never felt before, but at least it was on a completely different level from the unpleasant kisses Alexei had pressed onto her cheek or the back of her hand.

‘How fortunate.’

She wanted to avoid being forced into bed out of obligation. That was why the trembling from their first kiss had brought her such great relief. His fresh, wind-like scent, and the fact that Kainel truly desired her, both were blessings. In a world full of nothing but lies, that single truth had shone like a beacon.

Thanks to that, she hadn’t trembled even during the wedding. For the first time since leaving home, a vague sense of confidence had bloomed within her.

When he held her hand or stood beside her, her heart felt at ease. She deliberately smiled more, brighter, as if to show everyone. Though Kainel had occasionally glanced at her with suspicious eyes, she didn’t particularly mind.

‘So what? You want me anyway.’

She never imagined that someone genuinely wanting her would feel like this.

Whether Kainel desired her body or her heart, she was the one who possessed what he wanted. She couldn’t stay intimidated or walking on eggshells forever. Straightening her posture like a proper lady, Tatiana began reading the documents she had brought when the door behind her opened.

“You’re here?”

“…….”

She had grown used to Kainel’s excessive silence. Tatiana smiled faintly, but Kainel only leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, looking down at her.

With that same suspicious gaze.

“…Is it really okay?”

“What is?”

“Just now. That bastard Owen—”

“Ah.”

“…Ah?”

Kainel’s eyebrows twisted. As if something displeased him greatly, his leg that had been planted on the floor shifted slightly.

“It wasn’t out of malice. He’s just always been like that. Of course, I won’t forgive him for saying that to you.”

“Just leave it.”

“Why?”

“…….”

Did there have to be a reason?

Tatiana tilted her head, then chuckled. She couldn’t understand why he was frowning on such a good day.

“Even without you pointing it out, I already know Owen dislikes me.”

“And you still went ‘ah’?”

“What can I do? It’s not like there’s only one or two people who dislike me.”

“Why?”

“…….”

“Why do they dislike you?”

“…….”

Kainel’s pure curiosity was so genuine that Tatiana, who had been smiling brightly the whole time, suddenly froze. She had been confident that she wouldn’t feel flustered or nervous no matter what he did once he entered the bridal chamber, but now she wasn’t so sure her prediction would hold.

Tatiana fiddled with the papers on the table, pretending to be unaffected.

“Well, I suppose everyone has their own reasons.”

“…….”

She hadn’t even understood her own mother who gave birth to her and raised her, so how could she claim to know others? Still, today she didn’t want to dodge the question or pretend ignorance. Even if it was just empty bravado, it was better to appear full of confidence.

Today was not only her wedding day but also the second beginning of her life.

“People’s hearts can’t be helped. Besides, you didn’t seem particularly bothered by my mother either.”

“…Then should I fight? He’s part of your family.”

“Exactly. So you should accept Owen as part of yourself too.”

“…….”

Her clear laughter rang like birdsong. At the same time, Kainel’s face, which until moments ago had only shown mild displeasure, twisted with something close to indignation.

…Why the hell would that bastard be part of me?

The quiet tolerance he had always shown toward Owen, accepting the man everyone pointed fingers at since his lowest days, suddenly lost its color. He wanted to demand an explanation right then and there for why she was lumping him together with that man, but Kainel swallowed it down with a desperate sigh.

If he said ‘why’ one more time, that precious lady might jump up and leave this room, hell, this entire house.

“You seem surprisingly understanding.”

“I hear that quite often.”

“…And you know a lot too.”

“You’re only realizing that now?”

As Tatiana lightly countered and turned to look at him, his lips visibly trembled.

‘Huh?’

She widened her eyes in surprise, but it was too late. Only after meeting Kainel’s red eyes, now stripped of any trace of a smile, did she belatedly swallow dryly.

She wasn’t sure if he had actually smiled, but they were newlyweds who had just held their wedding ceremony and were now facing their first night together.

Even yesterday around this time, they had shared that kind of kiss.

“……”

Thud. Still leaning against the door, Kainel kicked it shut with the heel of his boot. The atmosphere had become irreversibly awkward, yet Tatiana maintained her composure.

‘I expected this.’

Refusing to avoid him, she lifted her head straight. For the first time all day, she saw his full figure instead of just his profile.

Even in a black robe and gray armor, the man’s appearance was flawless. He hadn’t dressed up or styled himself specially for today, but even in an ordinary formal uniform, Kainel looked like an entirely different person.

Silver epaulets swayed on his navy-blue uniform. His calm lips and neatly combed black hair. If not for his naturally rough gaze, he was no different from a born gentleman. In fact, she had never seen a more perfect gentleman anywhere in high society.

‘But why does he feel so unfamiliar?’

Tatiana felt her chest sink as she wrapped her tingling fingertips with her other hand. While she had spent the entire day smiling with excessive confidence, she hadn’t properly looked at her husband until now. Suddenly, she began to worry about how she appeared in his eyes. Embarrassed, she fiddled with the plain dress and jewelry she had thought meant nothing.

Episode 34 – Episode 36