AMHFB 16

Chapter 16

We were standing close enough that our breaths nearly brushed.

The bewitching face right in front of me kept scattering my thoughts.

“…No.”

Even giving that short answer took all my willpower.

“Let’s go in.”

Killian escorted me with impeccable courtesy.

Then why did it feel like I was being pushed into the bedroom?
Was it because I was desperate to run away?

The moment I swallowed nervously with a miserable expression—

Click.

The door closed.

I quickly stepped away from Killian and pretended to look around the room.

“W-Wow! As expected, a master craftsman’s work really is different! Totally worth the effort! H-Haha!”

I even clapped foolishly. But the room—remade at the cost of a fortune—barely registered.

All I could think about was whether my ears were on fire.

I can’t believe I fluttered over Killian, even for a moment.

Self-loathing surged, but it couldn’t be helped.

If there were anyone who could look at Killian without blushing, they wouldn’t be human.

He said I was like an angel? No, Anna. The real angel seems to be right here…

Someone who usually preferred simple clothes was dressed today like a devastating beauty straight out of myth.

He passed by me, a white flower pinned at the open chest of his thin robe.

I flinched and froze.

He was carrying the same flower as I was, yet the scent coming from him was so alluring it made me regret him moving away.

After placing the white flower into a vase, Killian tilted his head at me as I stood blankly in the middle of the room.

“It’s late. We should sleep.”

“…Ah, right. We should.”

Echoing his words, I sat in front of the mirror and fumbled with untying my braided hair.

But it wasn’t easy to fix the back of my head when I couldn’t see it. I had barely loosened a few strands when Killian came to stand behind me.

I brushed at my neck for no reason.

Why am I acting like this?

From the moment I saw his reflection turning toward me after removing his robe, the tension wouldn’t fade.

We hadn’t spent our wedding night together, and ever since, we’d always slept in separate rooms…

Tonight was our first night.

Meeting my eyes in the mirror, Killian spoke.

“I’ll help.”

Despite speaking decisively, he stood still as if asking permission. When I gave a small nod, he finally reached out.

His large hand—big enough to easily cradle my head—moved slowly. Once again, I stared at him as if entranced.

Killian looked intensely serious, as though my hair were some complex business document or an ancient manuscript that needed deciphering. Each time he loosened another strand of my red-thread-like hair, tap, tap, white flower petals fell.

At last, the final blossom dropped.

“Done.”

Our eyes met in the mirror.

His golden eyes, like the sun, burned with an indescribable heat.

I couldn’t tell whether the ragged breathing was mine or his.

“……”

“……”

After a brief silence, we both abruptly stepped away at the same time.

“Y-You must be tired too, right? Let’s sleep.”

“…Yes.”

With his long strides, Killian reached the bed first and arranged the bedding.

He placed the two neatly set pillows far apart, end to end.

“This will be better for both of us.”

Avoiding my gaze, he claimed one pillow and turned his back to me.

“Ha.”

When I let out a hollow laugh, he didn’t even look over—just asked,

“Is there a problem?”

“No. Not at all.”

None whatsoever. If he hadn’t done it, I would’ve separated the pillows myself.

Then why did my steps feel so petulant?

When did you cling to me while nursing me? Seriously, what a joke.

I flopped onto the bed and yanked the single blanket toward myself.

Even when half of it was pulled away, Killian didn’t react. After staring at his stubbornly turned back, I too turned to face the wall.

I closed my eyes, but sleep wouldn’t come.

Both of us knew the other was awake.

Listening to his breathing, I eventually drifted off.

* * *

Warm sunlight poured in.

Having slept deeply for the first time in a while, I woke with a pleasant smile—then my senses slowly caught up.

Hmm… my shoulder feels heavy… This blanket is awfully hard…

No—wait. What is this?

“Kyaaah!”

I screamed sharply and shoved at the bare chest in front of me. But instead of Killian moving away, only my upper body fell back.

Killian, who had one arm offered as my pillow and the other wrapped around me, opened his eyes calmly, without a hint of surprise.

“Good morning.”

The voice by my head sent a ticklish shiver down my spine. Maybe because it was morning, his voice was dangerously low.

I hurriedly covered my ears and glared at him.

“What happened?!”

“Don’t look at me like that. It’s your bad sleeping habits.”

His perfectly sculpted chin pointed downward in complaint. Following his gaze, I saw my leg wrapped tightly around one of his.

“Ah! Oh my god!”

After confirming the evidence, Killian released his hold.

I scrambled back to my side.

Only then did I realize that, just like last night, Killian was lying neatly at the edge of the bed.

So this really meant I’d rolled over in my sleep?

“Cough. Sorry.”

At my awkward apology, Killian merely pressed his temples and eyes. His handsome face looked hollow, as if he hadn’t slept at all.

I pulled the blanket—which I must have hogged all night—from the corner and draped it over him.

“Go back to sleep. There’s still time before work.”

“With you here, I don’t think I can sleep.”

As he said that, Killian pushed the blanket aside. Whatever had happened to the shirt he wore yesterday, his firm muscles were fully exposed.

What is he, an exhibitionist? Why does he keep taking his clothes off?

Avoiding looking at him, I squinted and wrapped the blanket tightly around him.

“Even if you can’t sleep, just stay covered.”

“It’s hot.”

“Cover up anyway.”

At this rate, I’m the one who’ll overheat.

After wrapping him up like a mummy, I shouted,

“Why did you even take your clothes off?!”

“It’s a habit.”

Left speechless, I rubbed my eyes this time. Killian stared off into the distance.

We were probably thinking the same thing.

Sharing a bed isn’t easy.

We had to keep living like this until we found solid evidence… Could I really manage it? I already felt overwhelmed.

Still, even in a tiger’s den, as long as you keep your wits, you can survive. While Killian staggered off to wash up, I reminded myself of my original goal.

The safe placed conspicuously atop the nightstand.

There has to be something in there that counts as evidence.

As I pondered, Killian emerged from the bathroom. He must have doused himself with cold water—I could feel the chill from where I stood.

Was Killian always this sensitive to heat?

Tilting my head briefly, I asked him, pretending it was just innocent curiosity.

“I’ve been wanting to ask since yesterday—that thing on the nightstand is a safe, right?”

“Yes.”

Killian nodded easily.

“Is it okay to leave it somewhere so obvious? Isn’t there something important inside?”

“It’s fine. The security is airtight.”

“Really?”

I looked back at the safe.

Aside from the lion’s head carved above the keyhole, there didn’t seem to be any other mechanism. It even looked like someone could just grab it and run.

What exactly did he make so ‘airtight’?

The question lingered, but pressing further might raise suspicion. I nodded as if satisfied and looked away.

Still, my thoughts were completely filled with the safe.

Should I ask what’s inside? Asking where the key is would be suspicious, right?

Just then, Killian, heading into the dressing room, turned back.

“Oh. It probably won’t happen, but tell the servants not to touch it carelessly.”

Since I was the one planning to do exactly that, I replied awkwardly, feeling guilty.

“Haha. Who would mess with your things?”

“True. Still, it’s better to be careful.”

He added casually,

“If you insert the wrong key, it explodes.”

“…Ex-plodes?”

My lips trembled.

Was that warning meant for me?
No—this must be my imagination.

Damn it. Imagination or not, I’m screwed.

Killian uses countless keys—how was I supposed to find the real one on the first try?

I’d planned to test each noticeable key one by one. If I hadn’t asked about the safe and just shoved a key in…

Ugh. The horrifying thought made me shudder.

Still in shock, I skipped breakfast and clutched my head again. I thought sharing a bed would bring me closer to divorce—but it felt like I’d taken three steps backward.

What do I do now?

As I groaned, slumped in front of the flowers that had bloomed even whiter overnight, Killian—who hadn’t left yet—approached.

“You’re always weak, yet you keep skipping meals.”

“Are you picking a fight this early in the morning?”

“I’m not. Lift your face.”

I’d just seen his face plenty—why look again? I waved him away impatiently, telling him to leave.

Then Killian said,

“If it’s not because you like me so much you can’t even look at me, then raise your—”

“What?”

I snapped my head up before he could finish. Killian frowned briefly, then let out a small laugh as he examined me closely.

“Your complexion is always pale. You do look low on energy.”

He placed one hand on his own forehead and the other on mine.

“No fever.”

“…Why are you being creepy?”

“If you were sick, I was going to call the physician.”

“Forget it. Eat breakfast and go to work.”

I collapsed back onto the table, radiating annoyance with my whole body. Killian looked down at me quietly.

“…I’ve found a benefit to sharing a room.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Hearing you worry about me feels nice.”

When did I ever worry about him?

Despite surely seeing how twisted my face looked, Killian left the room with a strangely refreshed expression.

I stayed slumped there for another ten minutes before springing up, perfectly energetic.

Even if I can’t open it yet, I need to find the key first.

If the lock was unusual, the key might be too. Maybe it had a similar pattern carved into it.

While Killian enjoyed a delicious breakfast in the dining hall, I tore through the bedroom, sweating buckets. But even after ransacking the dressing room and bathroom, there was no sign of a key.

“Nothing. Not here. Not here either… Nowhere!”

I even checked every drawer bottom thoroughly, but nothing turned up. I sneaked into Killian’s private bedroom too—no luck.

There were a few keys among his neatly arranged belongings, but all of them were ones I also had.

Gallery keys. Study cabinet keys.

“Does he carry the real key with him?”

That would complicate things even more.

Killian is someone who prefers simplicity so much that even slightly flashy sleepwear makes him seem otherworldly.

The only place with pockets would be his trousers.

“…How am I supposed to search there?”