Chapter : 07
Diana had never shared a room with anyone in her life. And now, she was being asked to spend the night with a man she had just met, someone who wasn’t her parent or family.
“…You are aware that we are clearly of the opposite sex, right?”
Her petty question was her last line of defense.
“It’s surprising you even bring that up, considering we are to marry in three months,” he said.
“…You should also know that we are both currently under the influence of alcohol and not in full control of our minds.”
She held up a finger as if to make him remember.
“Thanks, that reminded me of something I had forgotten.”
Ersivan folded her finger back as if acknowledging her point.
“That’s a relief. So, I guess tonight…”
“But, is that even a problem?”
“You just said you realized it!”
It was all just pretend.
For a brief moment, Diana felt relief at having survived this little interaction. But it was quickly pulled away by him.
Feeling toyed with, Diana shouted,
“But isn’t this separate from that realization?”
“…Why do you think they are separate?”
“Then why does Lili consider it on the same level?”
Instead of answering, he countered with a question, acting as if he didn’t understand her.
Why?
Because spending a night alone in a confined space with a man and woman under the influence of alcohol was extremely risky.
“Well, that is…”
But such things were unspoken rules—embarrassing to say directly to someone’s face.
Diana hesitated, unable to speak, and he chuckled at her.
“I hope you’re not indulging in any improper thoughts about me.”
“…Of course not. Never, that’s impossible.”
“Then there’s nothing to worry about.”
Ersivan stepped closer, and as his steps neared, their strides naturally shortened.
Their breaths also drew closer. If either moved even slightly, their noses could touch.
He lowered his head toward the direction of the candle, exhaling shallowly.
A faint, pale haze spread into the air. The candles all went out.
“Ah, a mistake.”
Ersivan claimed it was a mistake, but neither his expression nor tone suggested he truly thought so.
“You won’t be able to see anything now, so moving around will be difficult.”
“….”
“It’s dangerous to walk around without light…”
His short breaths tickled the side of her neck.
Suddenly, an unknown liquid dripped onto her collarbone. In the dark, she couldn’t tell if it was from his hair or wax.
If it were hot wax, she would have screamed. But it wasn’t so easy to say it was just water—the warmth felt sharp against her skin.
“Why don’t you take a little rest?”
While Diana’s attention was elsewhere, Ersivan took the candle and placed it on the table behind them.
Suddenly empty-handed, she faced a devilish temptation: a low voice brushing against her ear.
Deep in the night, Diana lost her only light because of his “mistake.” Walking around in the dark in a strange place was reckless.
“…He must have calculated all this. That capable person.”
She glanced at Ersivan, faintly visible in the darkness.
Ersivan Valencia was very different from other men. He despised her deeply, but nothing worse than discomfort would happen.
“…Well, I suppose I can’t wander around in the dark searching for another room.”
“Of course.”
“Really, thanks to someone, my effort has been reduced.”
Diana spoke in a slightly sarcastic tone, uncharacteristic of her.
Ersivan found her comments not offensive, but intriguing.
“I’d like to know the name of that person. They deserve a great reward from the Duke’s mansion.”
“I don’t think they’d want a reward, so I’ll refrain.”
“Are you sure that person truly wouldn’t want a reward?”
Diana raised her innocent eyes to glare at him. She looked stern, but there was no real fear in her gaze.
Realizing the miserable truth too late, Diana quickly softened her expression.
“…Shall we go in, then?”
“A gentleman should gladly honor such a request.”
Ersivan turned and led the way, stretching his arm behind him as if to offer support.
“You can’t feel your way along the wall, so hold on.”
“It’s so close I could reach by myself if I fell. You don’t have to help me.”
“I trust you’re not ungrateful enough to refuse my kindness.”
“This isn’t kindness. It’s an order.”
“Hmm, even if it is kindness…”
Diana muttered so quietly only she could hear.
She wasn’t a child trailing her parents; yet here she was, being told to hold his hand in the dark.
The room was less than ten steps away. She really could have touched him if she fell.
“Are you really not going to let go?”
Her playful question vanished into the air.
Of course, once Ersivan offered his hand, there was no choice.
No one could refuse an order from Ersivan Valencia.
Diana twisted her face, hiding it, then reluctantly grasped his large hand.
“It’s cold.”
The hand she held was cool, like a summer dawn breeze.
It was enormous—just holding his finger covered most of her palm.
“I guess this is the first time.”
Walking silently, she realized it was her first time truly holding someone’s hand.
The touch felt strange and tickled a corner of her heart. She cleared her throat, trying to shake the ticklish feeling.
Placing her other hand over her chest, her heart had sped up without her noticing.
“Of course he feels nothing.”
Curious, Diana lifted her head. Moonlight from the window fell on his hair, giving a faint blue glow, like an aurora.
Below, his feet moved slowly to match hers.
“Is he really unaffected?”
She squeezed his hand tightly. For an instant, his left foot twitched.
Was it planned or a natural reaction? Diana wondered.
Following him like a baby bird following its mother, they reached the room holding hands.
Diana finally slipped her hand free and hesitated at the doorway.
“What are you so wary of?”
Ersivan gestured for her to enter. She finally stepped inside.
Standing in the center, Diana looked around.
The room was so large she couldn’t see all of it at once, even stretching her neck.
From an ivory Chesterfield sofa to tables embedded with jewels, every corner displayed priceless antiques.
She realized the Duke’s mansion was far richer than the Mernaire Count’s mansion, even though the family was much younger.
Much of it was thanks to Ersivan’s abilities—successful businesses, military skill, and more.
“So…where do we sleep?”
In this luxurious room, there was only one bed. A feeling of unease passed through her mind.
“By the way, Evan, I want to ask something…”
“Lili, shall we make a bet?”
Ersivan was never an ordinary person.
Diana forgot her question entirely, too curious about the bet.
“What kind of bet?”
“Whether you will sleep in this room tonight or not.”
“…You mean the bed?”
“Yes.”
He smiled, his eyes narrowing like a crescent moon.
“What’s the bet exactly?”
Human curiosity is strange—why does it push you forward even when afraid?
Diana could not refuse, giving him two chances anyway.
“Tonight, Lili, you will sleep in my bed.”
“…On the same bed together?”
“Yes.”
