For a moment, I met Carcel's eyes.
The pomegranate color that occupied most of his eyes, which I had gazed into for such a long time for the first time, was beautiful.
Also... Carcel’s eyes hold affection and desperation toward me.
It took me a long time to finally nod my head at those beautiful, transparent eyes that seemed to reflect my soul.
'Even though Carcel was clearly the Duke of Lakan, he went to the trouble of doing things that didn't really need to be done.'
It is infuriating that he lied to me, but I also didn't honestly reveal my true identity to him.
And Carcel also never once asked me how I knew about the mine.
"...Just this once. Next time, no matter what Carcel says, I absolutely won't fall for it!"
"Of course."
Even though I shouted fiercely, the corners of Carcel's mouth curved with satisfaction.
'Why are you laughing so much? You're so handsome.'
He must think that acting like that will make my heart waver!
...I was shaken.
As soon as he sat up, I hurriedly pulled the blanket towards me and created a blanket cave.
"Asha, may I lie down next to you?"
"...Go sleep in another room as punishment for deceiving me."
"The other room doesn't have a bed."
"Lie!"
Carcel laughed softly at my shout.
"It's a lie. But can't we sleep together?"
"You're not lying again or trying to sneakily do something, are you?"
"That can't be true. I always respect my wife's wishes like a true gentleman."
"Then let's go to another room."
Upon hearing that, he slyly refused again.
"Because it is a husband's duty to protect his wife by her side."
"If you can't even speak."
Judging by that playful look on his face, it didn't seem like he would do anything more than this tonight.
In the end, I punished him while peeking only my face from under the blanket cave.
"Then sleep at the end of the bed without the covers. Just try coming closer to me."
“Don’t worry.”
Carcel, having reached an agreement on that, lay down next to me.
The problem was that he was such a massive man that even though he was pressed against the edge of the bed, he was already within striking distance.
"...Asha. This isn't a lie or a trick; I am genuinely putting in the effort as well."
True to his word, Carcel was hunching his large frame in his own way.
I was speechless at the sight of him looking so shabby.
"Sigh, never mind. Just don't go any further and go to sleep."
Now I don't even have the strength to say anything.
I let out a sigh, wrapped the blanket tightly around myself, and squeezed my eyes shut.
Soon, the room went dark, presumably because he had turned off the light.
Then, perhaps because the surroundings were quiet, Carcel became more self-conscious for no reason.
'I had actually relaxed a little while ago because I was somewhat dumbfounded and bewildered, but.'
He is a man with such a strong presence that you can't ignore him.
I closed my eyes tightly and tried to fall asleep.
But honestly, it had been so long since I had slept with someone like this that I felt awkward and kept slipping away.
He did not move at all, as if asleep, and only made a steady breathing sound.
Only then did I open my mouth and whisper.
"... Good night."
However, no answer came back.
'Looks like he's asleep.'
I felt drained, and I thought I might be getting sleepy again.
Eventually, a voice reached me as I squirmed under the covers, trying to fall asleep.
“Asha.”
I thought my heart was going to drop.
“Yes.”
Even at my still-brusque voice, he let out a low laugh and clung to me.
"Can I just hold hands while sleeping?"
"...Is Carcel some kind of child? To sleep holding hands?"
"Actually, I have a bit of insomnia."
At those words, I opened my eyes and turned my head toward him.
"Lie."
“Really.”
This time too, I glanced into his eyes.
The eyes, like flames burning even in the darkness, looked sincere.
I replied even more angrily.
“So.”
"I think I could sleep well if Asha held my hand."
"That's such an obvious trick."
“So you don’t like it?”
At the question Carcel brazenly asked, I hesitantly pulled my hand out from under the blanket.
"I'll let you pull that trick just this once."
How can someone be so brazen and a little cute?
I was dumbfounded with myself, but I could at least lend a hand for about a day.
"Just hold hands. Nothing more than this is forbidden."
"Thank you."
Carcel turned toward me, reached out his left hand, and wrapped it around my right hand.
'The palm is a bit rough, but would it be strange to say that it’s good to hold because it’s big and firm?'
Besides, there was nothing I could do since I could see Carcel's face, whom I liked, with just a single hand, through my vision adjusted to the darkness.
I turned red in the corners of my eyes and pretended not to notice his hand holding mine.
Carcel's body temperature was cool like that of a cold-blooded animal, but as it gradually absorbed my warmth, it became slightly lukewarm.
And this time, I finally closed my eyes comfortably.
Slowly, drowsiness set in.
***
Carcel opened his eyes at the sound of breathing becoming steady and rhythmic.
'It's unfamiliar'
It is the first time I have slept with someone.
Of course, I slept crumpled up in the midst of men, enduring all sorts of stench, but...
I decided not to count things like that.
Asha was the first person to share a bedroom with someone in the truest sense.
On top of that, Asha smelled good.
A fresh scent, like freshly picked flowers, tickled the tip of my nose, befitting her lively and full-of-life nature.
'I thought Asha would definitely turn her back on me today.'
I thought that they would absolutely not give me even the slightest chance.
However, Asha finally accepted Carcel himself today.
Carcel knew.
If Asha had thought there was truly no way to save herself and tried to refuse, she would have been firm.
This was a last favor.
And Carcel was not the type of person to miss out on something like this.
Carcel glanced at Asha, who was snoring soundly while wrapped tightly in the blanket.
'cute.'
As he looked at Asha sleeping beside him, darkness slowly grew within his heart.
'What a base desire this is—one that I do not want to show to others because it is so lovely.'
Pathetic.
Carcel raised his upper body slightly, rested his chin on his hand, and looked down at Asha.
Actually, although he did have insomnia, to be more precise, Carcel's body itself was closer to the type that didn't need much sleep.
Sleeping only about three or four hours a day was enough.
Even in the darkness, only Carcel's eyes shone white.
The sight of Asha's lips parted loosely, her pure white face shining even in the darkness, and that look of hers, having tried so hard to defend herself but ultimately becoming defenseless.
Just gazing at it forever was satisfying.
'Asha called me "honey" for the first time today.'
That was different from when it was called Carcel.
My ears tickled whenever her plump, glossy lips said such things.
It was so cute that I wanted to keep listening while pretending not to notice until Asha finally got a little upset.
For some reason, his eyes also began to close little by little.
My nerves, which had always been firmly on edge even in the middle of the night, calmed down.
He lay back down, still holding Asha's hand tightly.
Carcel also slowly fell asleep.
***
The next day, I spoke to Carcel at breakfast.
"Carl, let's go see your mother today!"
"yes?"
"Honestly, I think Carcel isn't suggesting we go to his parents' house because he doesn't want to burden me."
Carcel made a "Hmm" expression.
I continued speaking to him.
"Still, she is my mother-in-law, so wouldn't it be the right thing to do to let her know that we have completed the marriage registration?"
“I recommend not going.”
"Why? Is it because you don't get along?"
"It’s not that my mother and I have a particularly bad relationship, but honestly, we have a lot in common, so we aren’t exactly comfortable with each other."
Carcel seemed reluctant, so I eventually accepted it.
"Really? I guess I shouldn't have said anything that burdened Carcel. I'm sorry."
“...Let’s go. Today.”
"Why? It's fine if you don't feel like it."
"Come to think of it... even though my mother and I don't get along well, it's not like there was any incident, and we are both independent people, so that's probably why."
he told me
"I feel like I might be unnecessarily bringing shame to Asha because of me."
"I'm not trying to disgrace you. After all, who else could there be but the servants here?"
How would others know whether I'm choosing a mother-in-law or not?
I shrugged my shoulders.
"Of course, the fact that we got married is probably already widespread in society thanks to the invitation we sent yesterday."
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