TCDSS 06

Chapter 06

She sat across from him at the dining table prepared for dinner.

It was the first time they had shared a meal in twelve days.

‘Ugh… why does this feel even more nerve-wracking than the bed?’

Was it because he was handsome? Not exactly. Of course, the way he sat across from her, elegantly handling his fork, looked impressive—but the way he was in bed was just as… impressive…

“Lady Sasha, would you like some more fish?”

Mini approached and asked cautiously. She had never spoken except when serving food before, yet now she was even bringing dishes she knew Sasha liked.

Was she trying to at least pretend to treat her like a duchess because Kyler was present? But it didn’t really seem like she was watching his mood either.

Did something happen in that short moment when she went into the room with Kyler?

Leaving the puzzled Sasha behind, Mini moved busily. It was strange—just adding Kyler to the usually quiet mealtime somehow made everything feel noisy.

The servants around them, and Sasha’s own heart.

“……”

In contrast, Kyler was very quiet. It wasn’t that his presence faded into the background—someone like him could never feel absent—but still.

Eating was important, so she carefully chewed each bite while watching him move. Even if her heart wasn’t racing, her eyes were naturally drawn to him.

Was he a frightening man? A cold one? A kind man? Or someone wicked like in the books? She truly knew nothing about him. The only thing she could tell in such a short time was that his body, dressed in formal attire, was just as striking as his face.

Sasha quickly lowered her head and pretended to focus on her food.

Right as they finished eating, Roze, who had been out on personal business, returned to the ducal residence.

As soon as Kyler received her report, he called her aside.

Well, he probably always does that after she returns, Sasha thought, and went about her own routine before bed. She bathed, dried and brushed her hair, and read a book.

Recently, she had started reading. She needed knowledge of this world, and even if she couldn’t tell what was important yet, she decided to just start with whatever she could find.

“Legends for the Empire”

“…It feels kind of… primitive.”

That was why it had caught her eye.

This empire was called Derma, and the book contained imperial myths along with various stories related to the empire.

It wasn’t particularly helpful for daily life, but it seemed interesting, so she had been reading it for two days. After the myths came a story about hearing.

“Listening to the empire’s dangers… through sound…”

Since Duke Kyler had personally ordered her to maintain her position as duchess, she felt motivated to learn more.

If she learned about this strange world, maybe she could do better—not just live to survive, but something more.

Knock, knock.

The sound snapped her out of the book. It had gotten quite late; outside the window, darkness had already fallen.

She slipped a feather pen between the pages, closed it, and slowly stood up before leaving the room.

“Nothing unusual happened while I was gone, I hope.”

On her way to Kyler’s room, Roze spoke to her. Sasha paused briefly and turned to look at her.

Had she not mentioned it when the duke called her earlier?

“No, nothing happened.”

Because I was the one who caused it.

“I see.”

Was it her imagination, or did the corner of Roze’s lips lift slightly? Standing before the duke’s door, she gave Sasha a neat look.

As Sasha walked in for the fourth time, Roze left with a faint, unreadable smile.

Standing before the large door of Duke Kyler’s room always made her tense.

The fourth night entering this place.

She took a deep breath and knocked.

“Come in.”

Only after hearing his voice from inside did she turn the handle and open the door.

Inside the dimly lit room, he was cleaning a large sword. Under the low reddish light, his silhouette looked like a beast.

Judging from his physique, it wasn’t surprising—but he really must be a knight… or something like that.

He must be incredibly good at fighting too, she thought, as she walked slowly to the bed and sat at its edge.

Soon, once he finished with the sword, he would come over. With slow, heavy steps, he would approach, lay her down, and cast his large shadow over her. Then his big hands would touch her trembling body, heating it, and his lips would make her shiver…

And at the end of that—

Shing—

The sound of the sword sliding into its sheath snapped her out of her thoughts. Her face instantly flushed.

She heard him walking toward her. The soft sound of footsteps on the carpet doubled her heartbeat.

“Um…!”

Her voice burst out before she could stop it. Right—there was something she needed to confirm first!

Kyler stopped immediately at her voice. When she looked up, he stood before her, backlit, looking down at her.

“In the contract with you… does sharing a bed count as part of it? Every three days…?”

His eyes flashed.

Instead of trembling endlessly and losing sleep over it, she had decided it was better to just ask.

But he didn’t move. Neither his body… nor his lips.

She had gathered all that courage to ask—why wasn’t he answering?

Was he really as cold and frightening as the servants said? Had she misread the situation? Would she be dragged quietly into the basement tomorrow and killed…?

“I see.”

Huh?

He gave an unexpected response, then pulled her into his arms and laid her down on the bed. Caught off guard, she collapsed into his embrace.

“If you dislike it, it can’t be helped. I must accept your refusal.”

His low voice, as if shaking her very chest, murmured. His rough yet warm hand gently stroked her.

“That too… is that part of the contract?”

Her voice, which had started cautiously, trailed off. His breathing grew slow and steady, warm breath brushing her hair.

It hadn’t even been long, but his breathing became regular.

As she tried to adjust to the closeness… had he really fallen asleep?

She shifted slightly to check, but his strong arm didn’t move. His eyes didn’t open either. Only his steady breathing filled the room.

You fall asleep like this… now? Answer me, you frustrating man!

She shouted internally, but her body in his arms didn’t tremble at all.

The wide, quiet bedroom was quickly swallowed by darkness. His slow breathing above her grew more pronounced.

Slow, quiet… yet warm.

She wiggled her hand slightly and placed it on his chest. Beneath the firm muscles, she felt a steady rhythm.

“Sleep well…”

Meanwhile, she felt wide awake.

But… why did she feel a little disappointed?

At least he didn’t seem like a cruel or terrible man.

She still knew nothing about him except his name. Maybe because they had shared a bed from the very beginning… just facing him made her heart uneasy.

They had never even sat together in the light and talked properly.

Would he answer if she asked? No—she couldn’t let him know she wasn’t the real Sasha.

“How frustrating…”

No matter what happened… he felt like the only person she could rely on.

Sasha remained unable to sleep, wrapped in his warmth, until dawn finally pulled her into a light slumber. Having never had anyone share warmth with her before sleep, his presence stirred her—but also lulled her into rest.

Sunlight reached deep into the bed, tickling Sasha’s forehead.

She stirred slightly—then froze.

The bed was large enough for two or three people, yet she couldn’t move.

“…Huh?”

Her hazy mind cleared.

All her life, she had always woken up alone—but today was different. What held her in place wasn’t a wall.

It was something solid, warm, and wrapping around her.

W-What? Why is he still here today?!

Unlike other nights, when she woke to an empty bed, today Kyler was still there—holding her in the exact same position as when she fell asleep.

“Eek!”

At such close distance and in full light, his flawless skin and face nearly stole her breath.

She gasped sharply and almost coughed, but quickly covered her mouth and held it in.

“You’re awake.”

His voice rang out—soft, almost as if it seeped directly into her.

She swallowed.

“Ah, um… you’re not going out early today?”

After hesitating, she finally spoke.

“I’m not going out. There’s nothing to hear.”

“…What?”

As she tilted her head, his muscles shifted. Startled, she watched as he released her and sat up—truly like a beast.

And yet… no animal she could think of felt quite like this.

So… this is what people mean by ‘sexy’?

She swallowed.

Kyler sat for a moment, staring down at her, then got up and left the bed.

Even just watching him move felt awkward, and Sasha’s eyes darted around restlessly.