Chapter 28
“Living in some place like a storage shed, constantly going out to do hard labor… even eating those miserable meals every time. It’s all just… stupid.”
At the Grand Duke’s blunt, cruel words, my eyes—which had been half-lidded—flew wide open almost instantly.
“…Excuse me?”
What on earth was he talking about?
A storage shed?
That cabin in the forest that was prettier than anything I’d ever seen?
Hard labor?
I only cleaned because I was bored!
Miserable meals?
Wasn’t that just healthy food?!
“……”
Did he seriously think that?
Or was this just another one of his usual insults?
I was still stammering in shock when the Grand Duke drove the nail in deeper.
“Do you not even realize you’re being oppressed? Why are you so bright and cheerful about it?”
There was a trace of spite in his voice.
But I couldn’t even respond.
“….”
All of that… was oppression?
Wait. Have I been oppressed this whole time?!
That was… completely unexpected.
It felt far too happy for it to be oppression.
Of course, that was only true as long as I didn’t get tangled up with the Grand Duke himself!
“Are you serious?”
I couldn’t hide how unsettled I felt.
But the only person who could answer—him—said nothing.
Soon, only the sound of quiet breathing filled the small cabin.
I cautiously lifted my head to look at him.
His face, softly illuminated by moonlight…
The Grand Duke was asleep, wearing a peaceful expression I’d never seen before.
He’s really… asleep?
After dropping a bomb like that?
No—after becoming the bomb himself and jumping right into my life?!
“Are you sleeping?”
“……”
“For real?”
“……”
“Hey, you jerk…”
“……”
“You think just because you’re a Grand Duke, you can—”
I was just about to pour out every complaint I’d been holding back while he was asleep when—
“Mmm.”
The Grand Duke shifted onto his side and gently wrapped one hand around the back of my head.
Because of that, my body, which had slipped sideways off him, was pulled right back.
I couldn’t move again.
What the… Is he really asleep?
That looked like a very clear message:
Stop babbling and go to sleep.
You heard me cursing at you, didn’t you?
Are you just pretending?
Then how am I supposed to sleep like this…?
My already-chaotic thoughts became even more tangled.
Tonight, it seemed impossible for me to fall asleep.
“Khrrr….”
The next morning.
Hearing someone softly snoring, Xenos groggily opened his eyes.
At first, he thought he wasn’t fully awake yet.
Something strangely warm, small, and soft was nestled comfortably in his arms…
And it felt… surprisingly nice.
But then—
I… fell asleep?
As his mind slowly surfaced from the haze, he began to realize just how abnormal this was.
Xenos didn’t even remember falling asleep.
And more than that…
He had never had the habit of sleeping while holding something.
“!”
His eyes snapped fully open.
And what he saw was—
“Mmnh…”
Rene Blanche, sleeping soundly with her mouth slightly open, right in his arms.
She was using his arm as a pillow, smiling faintly as though having the sweetest dream.
Xenos’s face drained of color.
Turning his head slightly, he checked his surroundings.
This seemed to be Rene’s annex.
The cabin carried the warmth of daily life, bright and cozy—just like its owner.
But it was also undeniably a poor space for a noble young lady to live in.
Rene seemed to love it here…
But to Xenos, it looked like yet another one of her bizarre whims.
Rene Blanche was far too different from any ordinary noble lady.
No—whether noble or commoner, Xenos swore he had never met anyone as strange as her.
His confused mind began spinning rapidly.
Has my madness worsened? Why am I here… why am I like this? I don’t remember anything. But…
Xenos closed his eyes, then opened them again.
His body felt unbelievably light.
His mind was clear, refreshed, and crisp.
He was in perfect condition.
Yes… it’s the same as back then.
A man with long blue-green hair flashed through his thoughts.
The one who claimed he was a dragon.
After encountering that mysterious man, Xenos had slept deeply for days.
The deeper his madness became, the more vividly he remembered that sensation.
Like the taste of water from an oasis after wandering endlessly through the desert.
No…
This felt even better than that.
“……”
It was… unsettling.
A sudden thought narrowed Xenos’s eyes.
Putting aside the dragon for now…
Could it be… that someone’s warmth was the answer to this madness?
Xenos had never trusted others easily.
He was far more accustomed to being wary.
And the bedroom was where he was most vulnerable.
He couldn’t even sleep properly alone—how could he with someone beside him?
That was why this was the first time he had ever shared a bed with anyone.
Of course, calling it “sharing a bed” felt dramatic…
They had simply slept next to each other, without any hidden meaning.
The small woman who held the key to his confusion was still sleeping peacefully in his arms.
What is this?
Magic that had long since vanished.
Dragons that existed only in legend.
Monsters that disappeared without a trace despite reports of attacks.
A red-eyed bastard child said to bring misfortune to the family.
“……”
Xenos didn’t know how any of it connected.
But…
This woman might be able to cure my madness.
Perhaps the answer he had long been desperate for…
Had been right beside him all along.
His lips lifted slightly.
He couldn’t be certain yet.
But even the smallest clue was enough to make him grateful.
He had endured far too many years of pain.
Does it have to be Rene Blanche? Would sleeping beside anyone work?
That needed to be tested.
But Xenos immediately erased the thought.
I’m already married. How could I sleep holding someone else?
He scolded himself instinctively.
Though in noble society, this was hardly even an issue.
As long as no illegitimate children were produced, it was common for spouses to keep separate lovers.
But Xenos, stubborn and rigid by nature, saw even the act of letting someone into his bedroom as a risk.
Even one woman is more than enough. I don’t want unnecessary complications.
The consequences of bringing someone else into his bed were obvious.
Even inside the Grand Duke’s fortress, spies surely existed.
The noble world watched House Celeste closely.
Every word, action, even the smallest change in expression was easily interpreted as political intent.
That was the fate of the founding hero family, House Celeste.
With all of that, he couldn’t jump into a fire willingly.
And more importantly…
Xenos didn’t particularly want to spend the night with anyone other than Rene.
Even if this marriage was hollow…
They had still shared a bed.
Now, he had to take responsibility.
Rene would probably scoff if she heard that.
But Xenos firmly believed it was the proper thing to do.
“Mm…”
At that moment, unaware of any of this, Rene shifted in her sleep.
“!”
Startled, Xenos leaned back.
Freed at last, Rene immediately rolled away as though she’d been waiting for the chance.
Like a small bird fluttering quickly out of his arms.
“……”
Is she really asleep?
Xenos felt oddly dissatisfied.
Being here makes even me feel strange.
He was free now as well.
Xenos stood up and quietly left the cabin, suppressing his presence.
Only then did he notice his bare feet and his rumpled dress shirt.
He sighed, pressing a hand to his forehead.
Did I wander here again last night?
And how late had he slept?
The sun was already high in the sky.
Just as he was feeling troubled—
Xenos’s eyes met someone standing in front of the gate, waiting for him.
