Chapter 64

Edmund, who had been speaking without the slightest wavering, suddenly fell silent. It was strange. The man who hadn’t even been startled when he stepped out of the bathroom naked and faced Blair now hesitated. The emotion on his face was clearly hesitation.

Why? What was making him hesitate?

“What kind of suggestion is it? I’m fine, so please tell me.”

As if feeling the weight of fatigue, Edmund slowly rubbed his temple with his fingertips. Blair realized that although she herself hadn’t slept all night, neither had he. He was someone who had gone out before dawn the previous day, finished a full schedule of work, and only just returned.

“The news that Rufus has partially recovered his function has reached my father as well. He’ll revise his will before long, and as things stand, I can no longer say with certainty that I’ll inherit the title.”

It meant that despite their sham marriage, an unexpected variable had arisen that made succession uncertain. Blair’s gaze on Edmund grew more cautious.

“So I’m being honest with you. My father wants to see us fulfilling our duties as husband and wife every day.”

…Duties? Just as Blair tilted her head in confusion, a sound came from outside the bedroom door. It was the noise of someone setting down heavy luggage.

Edmund also broke off and turned his gaze toward the sound. He rose from his seat and walked toward the door. As if on cue, a knock sounded, and he pulled the door open. Through the gap, Blair saw several servants lined up.

“What is it?”

“We were ordered to move the lady’s belongings here, Young Master.”

“Now?”

“Yes. If the bedrooms are to be combined, we were told to carry it out immediately.”

Blair’s breath caught. Before she could even react, the door opened wide, and servants and maids carrying trunks, a vanity, and small chairs streamed into the room.

Since Edmund stood leaning casually against the doorway, watching them work, Blair could only swallow her confusion and wait for the servants to finish and leave. After setting her two modest bags and her vanity against one side of the room, they bowed and withdrew. As soon as the door closed, Blair spoke.

“Edmund, what is all this?”

“It would’ve been better if we’d finished talking first.”

Edmund murmured quietly, then completed what he hadn’t been able to say before the interruption.

“I wanted to suggest that you and I share a bedroom.”

Heat rushed up to her ears, and her heart began to pound. Sleeping in the same bed every night. There was no more direct or certain way to prove a marital bond. But it was completely different from what they had first agreed on.

“You called it a suggestion, but it looks like a decision has already been made.”

“That’s understandable. But I don’t intend to force you. If you don’t want this, say so now.”

Blair looked up at him in silence, then turned her gaze to the room. Half of a shared bedroom had already been put together. Could she really say no at this point? And yet, the man before her was telling her plainly that she could refuse. That alone made her consider the proposal seriously.

Blair lowered her gaze slowly. This was something she’d secretly wished for. When she’d heard the man’s breathing in the darkness as he slept, hadn’t she felt relief at not being alone rather than fear? She had quietly hoped that falling asleep in his wide arms wouldn’t end after just one night.

‘…But it’s a futile wish.’

The two of them were nothing more than a married couple bound by a one-year contract. A relationship with a fixed end. Rather than letting fleeting hopes grow, it was wiser to refuse here.

Yet the temptation was sweet enough that she couldn’t turn it away, and the desire to help him only added to that. Lifting her gaze again, Blair asked quietly.

“If we use the same room, will it help secure your position?”

“It will help.”

Edmund answered in a gentle but certain tone.

“The marital bedroom will be a space belonging only to the two of us. I promise I won’t cause you unnecessary worry.”

A faint smile passed over his lips.

“Of course, it may be a little uncomfortable for both of us. Situations like earlier today could happen again.”

He was referring to the moment she’d faced him with nothing on. Blair decided she needed to bring in a screen immediately.

“The maid assigned to attend you can also manage the marital bedroom. That would better guarantee her safety.”

There were more than enough reasons to accept his proposal. The duke’s order, Edmund’s position growing more secure as heir, a realistic safeguard for Milia, and above all, the hope that had already begun to take root in Blair’s chest.

After a long hesitation, she finally gave her answer.

“Then I don’t have any reason to refuse.”

“A wise choice, Blair.”

Edmund, who had set the trunk near the wardrobe, continued, “We’ll finally look like a proper married couple.”

“Even though others don’t know that I nearly fainted after seeing my husband naked.”

“Oh dear. That’s bad for the heart. I suppose you’ll need to get used to my naked body.”

“….”

“In any case, I want to thank you. Thanks to your decision, my position will become much more secure.”

“If there’s anything I can do, I want to help you.”

“Anything?”

He smiled lightly, as if scattering a breeze.

“That’s touching.”

“…Aren’t you tired? You haven’t slept at all since you got back.”

“I’ll lie down for a bit. I have to go out again this afternoon.”

“I’ve taken up too much of your time. I’ll step out, so please rest.”

“No. Since we just agreed to share a bedroom….”

Edmund’s gaze moved toward the bed, the place that still held the memory of their wedding night.

“Let’s lie down together.”

“…Next to you? Now?”

“You didn’t sleep properly last night either. Isn’t that right?”

It was true she hadn’t slept at all while waiting for him. Still, lying down beside him in broad daylight was too much. Blair was already struggling to hide her flushed face.

“That’s true, but… I should check my old room in case the maids left something behind.”

“Do as you like. Just don’t forget to come back here.”

“…Alright.”

As Blair stood up from the chair, Edmund personally opened the bedroom door for her. When she glanced up, he spoke with a gentler expression and made an unexpected suggestion.

“Tomorrow, instead of Borsa, I’m planning to inspect Eldenvale city.”

“….”

“Would you like to come with me?”

“Wouldn’t I be in the way?”

“If that were the case, I wouldn’t have asked in the first place.”

Blair let out a small laugh. It felt like she’d heard something similar when they first met.

“Alright. Let’s go together.”

“That’s good.”

As a quiet sign that she would excuse herself now, Blair nodded slightly and turned away. She quickened her steps and left the bedroom.

***

“I’d like to have a screen brought into the bedroom as well.”

“What would you use it for?”

“…It’s a little embarrassing to undress in front of my husband.”

Milia, who had been taking a container of snacks out of the cupboard, turned around. She looked as if she’d just heard something absurd.

“Are you still shy about that with your husband?”

“It might not bother you, but I’m different. Not yet….”

Blair had come into the tea room under the pretext of having tea. Instead of sipping it, she was sitting at the round table, nodding off.

“I’ll bring a large one, then. But wouldn’t it be better to sleep in the bedroom?”

“….”

“Are you embarrassed about lying in the same bed too?”

“…I think so. It’s not easy to walk into his bedroom as if I’ve been waiting for it. Maybe I’m not ready yet….”

Milia, having mistaken Blair’s confession for a different kind of worry, thumped her chest lightly with a small fist.

“Don’t worry. Managing the marital bedroom is my responsibility now. I won’t let even an ant wander near the hallway, so you can live there at ease.”

Blair laughed softly and laid her head down on the table.

“It’s a relief to have you by my side.”

“I’m the one who’s relieved. Thanks to you, miss, I’ve been exempted from all-night duties. I’m so happy to attend you. Oh, right, not miss anymore, but now….”

Milia kept chatting as she transferred cookies onto a plate, then turned around again. Blair was already asleep, resting her head on the table.

Setting the plate down, Milia brought over a blanket and gently draped it over Blair’s shoulders. Her even breathing flowed softly, her slender shoulders rising and falling faintly.

Seeing how uncomfortable she looked sleeping there, Milia briefly considered taking her to the bedroom, but the shy young lady still seemed embarrassed about sharing a bed. Letting her rest here for a while to catch her breath felt just fine.