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Chapter – 16
“It’s fine. We can just find her again and bring her back.”
“This is enough. I know you’re pushing yourself right now, Young Master. Let’s just stop here.”
“Haa…”
Heinrich’s sigh hit her ears. After a long pause, he finally spoke.
“…It won’t be immediate. I need to confirm if that woman really brought what she said she did.”
“I’m good at waiting. Though… it’s a little annoying since it means I’ll have to stick close to you for a while longer.”
“What?”
Solitaire’s joking tone lightened the mood a little.
When Heinrich gave a small nod, Raon led the woman away. As soon as they disappeared completely, Heinrich buried his face against Solitaire’s shoulder.
It was hard to say he was hugging her—he was far bigger than she was—but Solitaire didn’t seem to mind. She just patted his back gently.
“I never told Raon to stop you, but I didn’t expect you to make it this far.”
“Anyone hearing that would think I did something impressive.”
“Maybe I should actually lock you up somewhere.”
Heinrich let out a sharp, nervous laugh.
His tone sent a chill down Solitaire’s spine. Recently, he’d been saying strange things—about locking her up, tying her down—and he said them far too casually.
“You say scary things so easily.”
“Is it really that scary?”
“If it is, I’ll just run away.”
“A game of hide and seek? And if I catch you, will you let me?”
“…Of course not. I’d hide so well you’d never find me.”
At that, Heinrich suddenly wrapped his arms tightly around her waist. Solitaire tried to twist out of his hold, but it was useless. His grip didn’t hurt, but the way he held her made her feel as if she might truly be locked away somewhere.
“Don’t say things like that.”
“Are you crying?”
His voice was thick with tears, and Solitaire looked up at him in surprise. He shook his head.
“No. Just… the thought of it alone feels unbearable.”
“Honestly, what are you going to do when I move out?”
“You know I’m coming with you when that happens, right?”
Solitaire stopped struggling and leaned against him. She had always thought about gaining independence one day, but she realized she couldn’t—not until Heinrich had settled down, and found a real partner instead of a fake one like her.
For now, this awkward relationship between them was… comfortable.
As her thoughts spiraled, she suddenly realized that leaving one day would probably make her sad.
And there were a few reasons for that.
Growing distant from him.
Becoming nothing to him.
Not being able to see him again.
The more she thought, the worse she felt.
Her heart had already been restless lately—and now she was having thoughts like these. Annoyed at herself, she blurted out something she didn’t mean.
“Maybe when you find your real partner someday, I can still look after you. It wouldn’t be that different from now. You’d be at ease, and I wouldn’t have to think about moving out or living alone.”
A sharp sound filled the room as Heinrich grabbed her shoulders and pulled her away from him. His face looked panicked, almost desperate.
“What did you just say?”
Ah, she’d never seen that expression before.
Solitaire froze. He looked like he might actually cry.
The silence that followed stretched on.
If Raon hadn’t returned just then, Heinrich might really have broken down right there.
He hurriedly composed himself, forcing his face back into its usual calm expression, and laughed awkwardly.
“Ahem. What were we talking about again? Oh, right, your teacher. No—your independence. That’s not happening.”
The words tumbled out disjointedly. Heinrich seemed to realize it, because he stopped, took a deep breath, and started over.
This time, he didn’t mention anything about partners.
Solitaire almost asked about it—but seeing the storm of emotion barely held back behind his golden eyes, she decided not to.
Whatever she’d said had struck a nerve she didn’t understand.
His golden eyes caught the sunlight and glittered.
Instinctively, Solitaire stepped back.
He noticed, and smirked in mild displeasure.
Then, as if to prove how meaningless her retreat was, he kindly reached out, caught her by the waist, and pulled her close again.
Startled, Solitaire pushed weakly at his chest.
“What are you doing?”
“Doing what?”
The tearful man from a moment ago was gone. In his place was the Heinrich who smiled beautifully, effortlessly.
Her heart dropped with a loud thump.
The warmth of his body through her fingertips, the sound of her pulse pounding in her ears—her tongue and lips felt frozen, and she couldn’t meet his dazzling face straight on.
It started that day.
Her eyes stinging whenever she looked at Heinrich.
Every one of his gestures getting under her skin.
And as if he noticed the change, Heinrich only grew bolder—so much that even the clueless Solitaire could feel it completely.
She didn’t know how many days it had been anymore.
Heinrich behaved like some territorial beast who had decided Solitaire’s room was his den.
“…Tonight too?”
“What about it?”
“What do you mean ‘what’? You know exactly what I mean. If you’re going to keep doing this, why don’t you just move your things in here?”
“Should I?”
“You know that’s not what I meant!”
Every night, in nothing but light pajamas, Heinrich came to sleep in Solitaire’s room.
Even though he had his own!
At least he wasn’t getting on the bed—that was the one thing keeping her sane.
Still, Solitaire couldn’t shake the feeling that she was falling deeper and deeper into his pace.
Something about both of them felt off lately, and she couldn’t think straight around him anymore.
So, she pulled out her secret weapon.
“I’ll tell Lady Sophia about this.”
“Right now? You can’t even leave the room.”
He stood proudly in front of the door, blocking her way.
Solitaire trembled with frustration, then finally gave up and sat on the bed with a sigh.
“…Fine. Just turn off the lights.”
“Now you’re ordering your Young Master around?”
“You’re my Young Master, yes—but also my partner.”
It was the first time she’d said that—partner—since they’d entered this fake bond.
Not because he wanted her to, but because she chose to.
Heinrich froze, staring at her in shock. He didn’t speak; just sighed and rubbed his forehead.
Alarmed, Solitaire rushed to him.
She touched his forehead, then his neck, checking for fever.
“What’s wrong? No matter how healthy you are, you’ll catch a cold sleeping on the floor. I knew it—come on, let’s go see Doctor Leo.”
“I’m not sick.”
“You’re burning up though—look, you’ve got a fever!”
“If I say I do, will you let me sleep in the bed?”
He took her hand and rubbed his cheek against it, his eyes soft and pleading.
For a second, Solitaire almost said yes—but then doubt crept in.
Sensing her hesitation, Heinrich’s eyes shimmered with false tears.
“Really can’t?” he asked pitifully.
Not realizing those were crocodile tears, Solitaire sighed deeply and trudged back to the bed. She grabbed a pillow and placed it right in the middle.
“Don’t cross this line.”
“And if I do?”
By the time she looked up, he was already beside her, his eyes bright and mischievous—no trace of tears anywhere.
She stared, half dazed, then frowned.
Maybe it didn’t really matter if he crossed or not.
But the look in his eyes made her feel like she was walking straight into a wolf’s den.
After a long pause, she gave her verdict.
“…Then I’ll kick you right off the bed.”
It was such a her thing to say.
Heinrich turned away, shoulders shaking.
“Don’t underestimate rabbits.”
“I never have.”
He cleared his throat and faced her again, though his twitching eyebrows betrayed how hard he was fighting his laughter.
Solitaire decided not to give him the satisfaction and plopped down on the bed.
She flipped the blanket over the pillow and spoke firmly.
“You only get this half of the blanket. And don’t you dare cross the line.”
Heinrich nodded obediently.
He was so well-behaved it felt wrong, and even after several reminders, he just looked at her with wide, innocent eyes.
Solitaire was under a grave misconception—that as long as he didn’t cross the line, everything would be fine.
But that wasn’t the problem.
In the darkness, she could hear him moving—the soft shuffle of his steps, the sound of the bed creaking, the faint rustle of the blanket as he settled beside her.
And worst of all—her own heartbeat, pounding loudest of them all.
She turned over, trying to calm herself down, and suddenly found his gaze on her.
In the dark, his eyes, nose, and lips were all so clear it made her heart ache.
Maybe she’d been staring too long, because Heinrich turned his head—and their eyes met.
