Chapter 147

Clank, clank!

This time, it wasn’t the sound of a heartbeat. Someone was knocking on the carriage door.

“Your Highness. The area has been cleared.”

It was the captain of the guards who had followed us. I inwardly clicked my tongue.

‘The mood was just right.’

Esadien quickly pulled away from me. Clearing his throat, he opened the door.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Are you truly sure? Dismissing all the guards…”

The captain was very worried. But the guards’ lodging and ours were not even a 20-minute walk apart. And what is a knight? A warrior who rides a horse.

‘They’ll be here in five minutes if I just press the call button.’

But my sulky mood, caused by the interruption of our cozy(?) moment, was short-lived. As soon as I stepped out of the carriage, an incredible view unfolded before my eyes.

“Wow…!”

For a moment, I was speechless. I should have told Esadien how wonderful it was and that he had worked hard, but all I could do was cover my gaping mouth with both hands.

The first thing that filled my vision was a vast lake, so wide it seemed like a sea compared to the lakes of Caduren. The surface of the calm water, undisturbed by the wind, perfectly reflected the blue sky. The tall trees that surrounded it in layers as if to protect it, and the small, single-story cottage—everything formed a beautiful scene straight out of a painting.

“Do you like it?”

Esadien quietly asked as he wrapped a wool shawl around my shoulders.

Only then did I nod my head vigorously.

“Yes! I love it!”

I couldn’t believe a place existed that seemed to have been created by plucking all my favorite things from my mind.

Excited, I started running toward the cottage. I almost stumbled because my heart was leading me, but Esadien, who was following quickly beside me, caught me right away.

“Be careful.”

I held his hand tightly. The more I looked around the cottage, the tighter my grip became.

“…It’s really amazing, Esadien.”

As we got closer to the cottage, I smelled the subtle scent of fresh-cut wood. The building was newly built, which meant construction had started as soon as the honeymoon was mentioned. At the end of a deck that stretched out from the side of the cottage, a small rowboat was moored.

“Gasp, you even prepared a boat.”

I’d heard of private beaches, but he had a whole lake to himself, and for a mere cottage, not a grand castle.

But Esadien replied nonchalantly. “Because you like boating.”

“…I’m so touched…”

How did he manage to handle all this? I thought planning my sister Juela’s wedding was a lot of work, but Esadien was truly a superhuman. He seemed to be as capable as my mother and sisters.

“You worked so hard.”

I gave him a tight hug to show my appreciation.

“I love it so, so much. Esadien, you’re the best! The world’s greatest husband!”

“I… I’m glad.”

But for some reason, his reaction was stiff. Unlike his usual self, who would hug me back the moment I hugged him, his hands, which belatedly came up, felt rigid.

Pat, pat, pat.

‘…Why is he patting my back?’

It was like he was trying to put a baby to sleep. His movements were so stiff they could have woken a drowsy child. I lifted my head from Esadien’s embrace, wondering what was wrong with him. But he avoided eye contact, grabbed my shoulders, and turned me around.

“Esadien?”

“Aren’t you hungry? Let’s go inside. I’ll prepare lunch for you.”

“Oh, the knights…”

“They left a little while ago.”

Wait, when? I didn’t think I’d been looking around for that long. Confused, I was led into the cottage by Esadien.

“You can rest while I…”

“Esadien.”

“Yes, Minuelle.”

He replied obediently and softly, as always.

‘That part is the same.’

At what point did Esadien become so strange? He had openly shown shyness at being called ‘husband,’ but the stiffness just now didn’t seem to be because of that.

The inside of the cottage was cozy, but I deliberately clung to him. My shawl fell to the floor.

“Now it’s really just the two of us, isn’t it?”

Hehehe.

‘Gabbie didn’t even come on this trip.’

Everyone had laughed so hard when they heard Gabbie had barged in on our wedding night. Even Sister Elga, who had been watching Esadien like a hawk, had given him a very sympathetic look. Maybe that’s why Gabbie stayed at the Roquate mansion, making a strange excuse about wanting to relax.

“I, I’ve been thinking.”

I placed the tips of my fingers on Esadien’s arm, which I was hugging tightly, and slowly moved them up as if drawing a line. His body, stiffening again, was vividly felt through my arms and fingertips.

“Wha… what have you been thinking about?”

“You said it yourself, remember? That we won’t have time to do different things during the trip.”

“…”

“But I still don’t really know what kind of long-lasting thing we can do together.”

This was a small lie. I had actually realized it on our wedding night. It was impossible not to know, seeing the way Esadien’s eyes blazed like a blue fire.

But I didn’t let on at all. I looked up at him, my eyes crinkling into a smile.

“Can’t you tell me now?”

“…”

The flame in Esadien’s wavering eyes reignited. Seeing the muscles in his jaw clench, I felt a thrill from head to toe. I lifted my heels slightly. The closer our breaths became, the more heat there was in his gaze.

‘Finally.’

Our wedding night, which had been so unbelievably delayed! Finally!

Feeling Esadien’s hand on my shoulder, I slowly closed my eyes. I had no doubt that a deep kiss would follow…

“…Haa.”

Haa? Haaa?

With an unbelievable sigh, my body was pushed back.

‘This situation feels familiar.’

Yes, it was similar to when I gave him the tapestry. The atmosphere had been soft then, too, and I had expected our first kiss but failed. But that was when Esadien hadn’t admitted his feelings for me yet.

‘It’s not like that now. You said you loved me. We’re married, so what is this?’

I even felt a sense of betrayal. I narrowed my eyes and questioned Esadien.

“What are you doing?”

Esadien was pressing the corner of his eye as if enduring something. His plump lips parted and closed several times.

“Ha…”

After letting out another long sigh, he sat me down on a fluffy chair nearby.

“First, first I will prepare… a meal. Please rest here.”

I was a little annoyed. Thinking about everything that had happened today, there was clearly something wrong with Esadien, but he just tried to evade me.

“Is food important right now?!”

“Yes!”

What in the…! It was the most resolute answer I had heard from Esadien.

While I was stunned by his forceful tone, he fled to the kitchen, his ears as red as pepperoni.

How many minutes passed? The sound of chopping, the sizzling of something frying, and the smell of food began to waft out.

‘Should I just… flip the table?’

Honestly, I had thought about it. But a moment later, seeing Esadien’s tense face as he presented a plate, I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

“…It’s delicious.”

I took a small bite and honestly admitted it. It would be disrespectful to the meat to lie and say it didn’t taste good, especially when the juices were bursting in my mouth. Besides, I already knew how good a cook Esadien was.

“I’m glad. There’s more, so eat a lot.”

At my single word of praise, Esadien’s expression softened. Seeing that, my own hurt feelings also started to ease. I stared at Esadien, who was finally starting to eat, and lightly called out to him.

“Honey♡”

I figured a little teasing was okay.

“Cough, cough! Gulp!”

As expected, Esadien started a violent coughing fit. I handed him a glass of water with a worried look on my face.

“Are you okay, honey?”

“…Minuelle.”

Esadien made an unidentifiable expression. I wiped his teary eyes and winked.

“I love you, honey.”

“…Ahem. I love you too.”

At his words, what little hurt I had left all disappeared.

‘Yeah. That’s enough.’

I knew better than anyone that Esadien’s words were sincere. Look at him now; honey is practically dripping from his eyes when he looks at me. So, I decided to let it go.

‘I’m not going to die from not getting a kiss.’

That’s what I thought.

* * *

But just three days later.

‘…I feel like I’m going to die.’

I rolled around on the empty bed, screaming, “I want a kiss! A deep kiss! A passionate kiss!”

He’s my husband! My man, legally and in my heart! So why can’t I touch him?!

When I thought about it, our physical contact had actually decreased compared to before we were married.

What am I talking about? How could that be for a newlywed couple?

But it really happened.

Over the past three days, Esadien had become even stranger. Physical affection was limited to a light pat on the head, yet he would always use his arm as a pillow for me when we slept.

I could accept that much. The truly strange part was what happened next.

It was our first night at the cottage. As Esadien had said, I was so tired that I fell asleep as soon as I lay down on the bed. But I was in the middle of a deep sleep when my head was lifted, and Esadien’s arm slipped out, making me slightly conscious. In my half-asleep state, I heard Esadien’s deep sigh.

“Huh… Minuelle.”

Soon after, I felt a press of lips on my forehead.

‘Why can’t he do that when I’m awake?’

I think I grumbled to myself in a state closer to sleep than wakefulness.

Esadien must have thought I was still fast asleep. I felt his warm breath on my neck, and then he buried his face and took a deep breath.

‘Did he have a nightmare…?’

I thought I should hug him, pat his back to comfort him, and then I fell back to sleep.

How much time passed? I suddenly woke up to the sound of a door quietly closing. The moonlight shone through the thin curtains onto the bed.

“Hmm…”

I was about to rub my sleepy eyes when a shadow flashed past the large window. The sound of running footsteps, as if keeping a precise beat, made me think it must be Esadien, even in my half-asleep state.

‘But running… in the moonlight… it must be a dream…’

I fell back to sleep without even bothering to check if Esadien was really next to me.

But the strange things continued after the sun came up.

‘Uh… what?’

My body ached. No, it felt like it was being crushed.

‘What is this… muscle soreness? A fever?’

How could I have muscle soreness when I hadn’t done anything strenuous? I groaned and barely managed to open my eyes. Esadien’s sky-blue shirt filled my vision.

“Ugh… Wh-what time is it…?”

“It’s still early. Go back to sleep.”

His gentle voice was pleasant, but I was in no state to sleep more.

“It hurts… my body hurts…”