Chapter 7

Lucius had something close to a cleanliness obsession.

At least, as far as Celia knew.

He hated physical contact with other people.

Whenever he went out, he always wore gloves that covered his wrists, and he rarely allowed anyone into his personal space.

And naturally, he was even stricter about that when it came to Celia.

Celia herself didn’t dislike physical contact.

Lucius did.

That was the kind of relationship they had.

“I have something I’d like to ask you, Celia.”

The kind of relationship where this sort of thing should never happen.

“Could you tell this inexperienced me what kind of nights we’ve shared together?”

Not this kind of contact!

Rigid as a stone statue, Celia slowly lowered her gaze as she felt his body pressed against hers.

Before her chin could even reach her collarbone, her body reacted first.

She stiffened before she could even take a breath.

Her shoulders twitched.

Her fingers curled inward as though trying to grab hold of themselves.

Her heart skipped into an unfamiliar rhythm, startling her.

“L-Let go…!”

Her eyes widened.

Her lips pressed tightly together.

“We’re husband and wife. This isn’t something you should be embarrassed about.”

He whispered gently.

People who went crazy usually did one of two things.

Either they lost their minds completely…

Or they started doing things they had never done before.

Celia vividly realized now that the line she had once read in a book was absolutely true.

The proof was standing right in front of her.

“Or would you prefer if I turned out the lights?”

This was all because those stupid newspapers had filled his empty head with nonsense.

The servants couldn’t bring themselves to tell their young master, who had just barely escaped death, that he and his wife hated each other enough to kill one another.

That was why this was happening.

“You and I… we’re not… this kind of…”

For the first time in her life, the tongue that always moved effortlessly around Lucius refused to cooperate.

Even when she was fifteen and had argued with her father to avoid attending the academy, her head had never felt this stiff.

As she shifted uncomfortably in place, a long sigh escaped Lucius.

“My head may be a little strange now, but I’m still your husband. There’s nothing strange about a happily married couple spending the night together, is there?”

A warm, firm hand pulled her closer.

She had been leaning away as far as possible.

Even through their clothes, she could feel his body heat.

The sensation made her face burn.

“I heard you barely slept while taking care of me for fifteen days. I’m sorry for worrying you.”

That was only because she had been worried he might die and leave her a widow…

“Give me a chance to prove I’m alright. Let me make up for leaving you lonely.”

Their bodies touched.

Their breaths mingled.

Their eyes met.

She quickly turned her face away, but his closeness left no room to escape.

The words gathering in her throat disappeared before she could speak them.

Looking at him holding her as though everything about this was perfectly natural, Celia finally reached her limit.

“You…!”

She shoved him hard.

“You’re like a completely different person!”

The strength that had seemed impossible to break vanished instantly.

He let her go.

As soon as she realized her hand had been pressed against his chest, an uncomfortable feeling washed over her.

She almost wanted to scrub her hands clean with a handkerchief.

Instead, she clasped both hands together and quickly retreated.

“A different person?”

Lucius leaned back slightly, looking surprised.

Say something awful instead.

Throw an insult at me.

“Sorry. I didn’t think about that.”

He looked genuinely apologetic.

Lowering himself slightly, he rested his hands on his knees.

Then he lifted his head and looked up at her.

Celia had been completely prepared to unleash a stream of insults.

Instead, she met those transparent green eyes that seemed honestly confused.

And her breath caught.

Seeing that expression on Lucius’s face felt wrong.

This had to be some kind of devil’s trick.

Lucius lowered his eyes awkwardly.

“The moment I saw you, I felt close to you.”

His voice was quiet.

“So when I heard you were my wife, it made sense to me.”

He paused.

“More sense than the woman they told me is my mother.”

Close?

Celia couldn’t even begin to understand what had gone wrong.

Was it because she had been there when he first woke up?

Or had surviving death somehow erased his resentment?

At a time like this, Lucius should have been shouting accusations at her.

He should have been demanding answers about the people who attacked him.

“They feel natural to me because you’re familiar.”

His gaze softened.

“But from your perspective, your husband suddenly lost his memories and became someone else. I didn’t think about how strange that would feel.”

His attitude was unbelievably humble.

Celia clenched her fists.

If she didn’t, she felt like she might lose her mind.

“Did I scare you by suddenly getting so close?”

A memory surfaced.

A fragment of the past.

The memory stabbed at her.

It had also been a night like this.

A summer evening after the sun had disappeared beyond the horizon.

A major incident had shaken the capital that day.

And Lucius had said something to her afterward.

“Celia Brickwell. I know by now that you’re a woman who fears nothing.”

“That’s why you’ve created this damned outcome. Isn’t that right?”

She didn’t know why that unpleasant memory suddenly came back.

Perhaps it was because of his gentle tone.

Because suddenly, she felt stubborn.

Scared?

There was no way she would ever feel something like that toward Lucius.

Celia lifted her chin.

She planted a hand on his shoulder and shoved him away.

“As if I’d ever be afraid of you!”

At once, Lucius’s expression softened.

His eyes became warm, as though he had just tasted sweet wine.

Celia quickly covered her mouth before a ridiculous sound escaped her.

“That’s a relief.”

His smile deepened.

“Right now, you’re the only thing I can think about.”

His voice lowered.

“I was worried you might dislike me.”

Get him out.

Get him out of this room immediately.

Every alarm bell in Celia’s head was ringing.

Her ability to think normally lasted only seconds before completely derailing.

This version of Lucius kept throwing her into confusion and panic.

“Just… leave.”

“Mmm.”

He tilted his head awkwardly.

For some reason, the drawn-out sound almost felt playful.

That was probably only because she was so flustered.

“But Celia.”

His voice remained calm.

“Wouldn’t it be better for both of us if we stayed close?”

“…No.”

“That’s not true.”

One of his arms settled over her shoulders.

The weight made her shiver.

Her balance shifted.

Instinctively she stepped backward.

Her back hit the wall.

When did I get cornered?

“And I don’t want tonight to end like this.”

He took full advantage of her position.

Lucius lowered his face above her head and pressed closer.

The contact felt intimate.

Deliberate.

Tempting in a way she had never experienced before.

The scent of bergamot and lavender drifted from him.

The familiar fragrance gradually changed.

What had once smelled fresh and clean now carried the unmistakable warmth of a man.

“I missed you.”

His voice was soft.

“Even though it was only for a short time.”

“If you pity your husband who lost his memory and returned from the edge of death, then please allow me to stay by your side tonight.”

For a moment, Celia froze like an animal caught in a trap.

Then—

“I’ll do my best to satisfy you.”

Her head snapped upward.

“What… what?!”

Lucius narrowly avoided being headbutted.

Looking at her wide-eyed expression, he slowly traced a finger along the side of her neck.

Celia immediately shrank back.

Then he pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

The unexpected touch made her flinch.

“Of course, I understand.”

His voice softened.

“You said I feel like a stranger now.”

“Then perhaps I could suggest an alternative?”

“I don’t care what it is. No.”

The response flew out automatically.

Exactly the way she would have spoken to the old Lucius.

Cold.

Firm.

Dismissive.

Most people would have stopped there.

Lucius didn’t.

He simply continued speaking.

Celia glared at him.

A faint redness spread across his eyes.

Something seemed to ignite deep within them.

“At least hear me out.”

The corners of his lips curved upward.

A smile lingered there.

“I’ll only go as far as you allow.”