GDTN 04

Chapter 04

“Take my arm.”

After hearing his words, Selene cautiously placed her hand on his arm.

Would it feel like this if a small animal just nudged you?

He had meant for her to lean on his arm and walk comfortably, but there was almost no weight at all. Was Selene only reluctantly resting her hand there?

It took quite a long time to pass through the corridor and stairs before they finally reached the first-floor gallery.

Only now, outside in a sense, did they see that the sky had already gone dark, and stars had begun to appear one by one.

Breath formed and disappeared in time with Selene’s breathing.

As they walked, Selene gradually grew more confident and soon moved ahead with quicker steps toward the center courtyard.

In the North, flowers rarely bloomed due to the harsh climate, so buds only began to form in late spring or early summer. The courtyard now contained only barren trees with thin, bare branches, like a desolate field.

But Selene didn’t seem to care about the unappealing scenery. Just being outside was enough for her, and she walked along the stone path laid out for movement.

Behind her, Varas followed at a leisurely pace. His eyes landed on Selene’s face as she smiled faintly while looking at the ground, the stars, the trees, and the castle walls.

Their eyes met for a brief moment when her wandering gaze happened to fall on him.

At that instant, Varas felt her smile deepen.

That fleeting eye contact made the back of his head tingle.

After that, he couldn’t meet her eyes for a while. She no longer even looked in his direction, as if deliberately avoiding him and instead focusing only on the sky and the walls.

Her face, wearing that almost blissful expression…

…was worth looking at.

Suppressing the thought that this was nonsense, he decided that bringing her out had at least been worthwhile.

Selene felt as though she had wandered into a medieval castle somewhere in reality.

Once, she had dreamed of working overseas while imagining Hollywood-style success. Those fantasies peaked whenever films or dramas set in medieval times were released.

A world with magic, spirits, fantasy, and adventure.

Standing in the middle of a vast castle from that world felt almost dreamlike—like a vision.

Then she stopped walking.

Maybe she would never be able to return to Korea.

If so, should she live as the original story dictated?

Would she spend her entire life confined to a luxurious but isolated room, never able to go outside?

Her gaze slowly shifted toward Varas.

Selene thought: escaping this towering, cold man who radiated intimidation seemed nearly impossible.

And yet, if she ended up physically involved with him without receiving even a shred of affection—what then?

Could she change things just a little?

Could they walk together like this sometimes, eat together, look at each other normally?

If they were going to live as husband and wife anyway, wouldn’t that be better?

Of course it would be better—but the problem was elsewhere.

She had no idea how to win his heart.

And even if she knew, she wasn’t sure she could do it.

She lacked confidence.

She even thought that if she had at least once played a romantic role in acting, things might be easier.

Her breath turned faint, forming a long plume of mist.

Even a dog on a snowy day wouldn’t stay outside this long.

She looked like she was freezing, so why wasn’t she asking to go back inside?

From a short distance, he observed everything about her.

Her chin tilted upward. Her hair caught on bare branches. Her fingertips fixing it. The occasional glimpse of her shoes under her dress. Her ears slowly reddening in the cold.

When she finally turned her gaze toward him after standing still for a long time, it felt like lightning struck Varas.

What on earth was she thinking out here?

What had been going through her mind while she stared at the castle walls and stars that her eyes now looked so empty?

Was he mistaken?

But even after she turned away, her eyes still didn’t seem filled.

He had seen that look before.

Many times.

In those who were about to die on the battlefield—resignation.

So why did she look like that?

He wasn’t even here to kill her.

Deciding he needed to confirm it, Varas walked straight toward her.

He reached for her arm, intending to turn her around—but then he remembered how light she had felt when she collapsed onto him earlier.

How fragile her waist had been.

How delicate her arms likely were.

Suppressing his irritation, he walked past her instead.

Her expression showed confusion, but the emptiness in her eyes did not change.

“Damn it.”

When they first came outside, she seemed happy. She had even smiled at this bleak courtyard and worn-down walls.

So why had her gaze gone hollow when she looked at him?

Was it because she suddenly remembered the reality of being married to him?

When he saw her up close, her nose and cheeks were red from the cold. Why wasn’t she asking to go inside?

Maybe she intended to freeze to death here.

Varas clenched his frustration and forced himself to stay silent.

Why couldn’t he even raise his voice at the woman he had effectively purchased?

It was absurd.

He cleared his throat and spoke calmly.

“It would be better to go inside now.”

Selene blinked up at him like a harmless small creature. Foolish, unaware of danger.

Then she started walking.

He had even considered carrying her inside like baggage if she refused.

But after only a few steps, she stopped again.

“Um.”

Her pronunciation was slightly awkward from the cold.

Still, her expression had regained some life.

When he didn’t respond, she lowered her head as if losing courage.

Without meaning to, he spoke.

“Say it.”

She lifted her head again.

“Could I… borrow your arm?”

Varas stepped closer without hesitation.

She was trembling lightly, clearly exhausted.

She would never make it all the way back on her own.

The walk to the duchess’s room required corridors, stairs, and long hallways.

Could her legs endure it?

Such fragile, sugar-doll-like existence—how could she possibly manage it?

But his thoughts were unnecessary.

Selene leaned on him and walked steadily, eventually reaching the room after quite some time.

The windows had already been closed by Anna in their absence, and a fireplace warmed the air inside.

Once the door closed and they were alone, the atmosphere became awkward.

Neither knew what to say.

In the end, Selene moved first.

As she removed her cold cloak to warm herself, Varas watched it fall to the floor.

Then, as if unconsciously, he moved and sat near her by the fireplace.

The flickering firelight illuminated her face beautifully.

Selene closed her eyes, soaking in the warmth.

Varas only then allowed himself to truly look at her face.

The face he had failed to observe properly because of her gaze earlier.

Fine golden hair. Matching brows. A straight nose. Peach-colored cheeks. Soft lips that unsettled him.

Her lips parted slightly as she inhaled deeply.

She stretched one eyebrow and yawned lazily before opening her eyes.

Did she just see him yawning with his mouth open?

Fortunately, he was quietly staring into the fire.

Selene hugged her knees and rested her head on them, watching him from the side.

Even seated, he was enormous—so large she felt she could roll into his arms and fit completely.

She startled at the thought.

Why was she imagining being held by him?

Ridiculous.

She told herself it was normal. She hadn’t interacted with men in a long time.

And it wasn’t like she had no desires.

So it was natural that meeting someone like him—her ideal type—would stir feelings like this.

She slowly began to feel drowsy.

When Selene’s gaze finally drifted away, Varas looked at her again.

Where was he?

His eyes naturally landed on her soft lips.

As his gaze moved along her jawline, his throat subtly moved.

There was no reason not to hold her.

And yet, he couldn’t.

Why?