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Chapter 41
“From today onward, I hope I can finally sleep well. Please… please…”
Maricel took the sleeping medicine she had received from Samuel, and lay down properly in bed, praying earnestly.
‘Maybe I overworked my brain without realizing it, trying so hard to recover my memories.’
Whenever she tried to sleep, her eyes would stay wide open, and fatigue had reached its peak.
She considered counting sheep until the medicine took effect, but stopped herself. Counting would probably keep her awake even longer.
Instead, she chose to zone out. She imagined a point on the ceiling and just stared blankly at it.
How much time had passed? Maricel’s eyelids gradually grew heavy, drooping halfway, and finally completely covering her violet eyes.
Her shallow, soft breaths deepened, slowed, and fell into a steady rhythm as she sank into a deep sleep.
Maricel began to dream.
“Haetak! Wake up! You’ll be late for work if you don’t!”
In her dream, Maricel was hurriedly getting ready for work, seeing Haetak’s figure.
Haetak quickly finished dressing and put on his coat, and half-asleep, Maricel rose and put on the robe hanging in her wardrobe.
“I’m off.”
Haetak dashed out the door and stood at the main street, trying to hail a taxi.
Maricel opened the door and walked down the hallway to stand in place.
At that moment, her mother hurried over.
“Haetak! It’s a day off today. Sorry! Come back inside!”
In the dream, Haetak shouted at his mother.
“Ah! Mom!”
He stomped back inside the house, sulking.
Maricel, who had stopped in the hallway, also trudged back to her room.
Creeeak.
The heavy door slowly opened.
Like Haetak in the dream, Maricel undressed and slipped back under the covers, lying down.
Late at night, after finishing work, Morgan had just entered his bedroom.
The room was dark.
Creeeak.
The door slowly opened, eerily.
Morgan’s nerves sharpened.
A fearless intruder at midnight.
His mood soured.
“…What kind of rat dares to…”
His voice rumbled lowly, carrying a deadly edge.
Yet the intruder moved toward him step by step, boldly and deliberately.
But Morgan soon sensed something was off.
If it were an assassin, there would be hostility or killing intent—but none was present.
Instead, a familiar scent tickled his nose.
The silent figure drew closer to his bed.
“Maricel…?!”
It was indeed Maricel, as he had guessed.
Morgan called her softly.
But she didn’t respond. Instead, she casually dropped her robe onto the floor.
“…?”
Then, as naturally as if nothing happened, she climbed onto his bed and pulled the covers over herself.
“Maricel…?”
Morgan called again in disbelief, but she remained silent, only letting out soft, adorable breaths.
“…!”
Morgan was at a loss, staring at her in surprise.
Watching her, he felt like a scoundrel occupying Maricel’s bed.
“…”
After a long moment, he remembered what Porre had told him:
“She hasn’t been able to sleep for the past few days, so I believe she went to Master Samuel for sleeping medicine.”
…It was highly likely Maricel had taken the sleeping medicine before bed.
Then this situation could be attributed to the medicine.
Otherwise, her behavior was inexplicable given her personality.
“What to do with this adorable little bird who came to me on her own…”
Morgan pondered how to handle Maricel, asleep in his bed as if it were hers.
After some thought, he concluded that there was no guarantee she wouldn’t wander off elsewhere while asleep.
So he decided to let her sleep in his bed for now and return her to her room before dawn.
“Sigh… tonight’s sleep is ruined.”
He pressed his large hand to his forehead.
But as soon as he made up his mind, a dark desire crept into his mind.
Why wouldn’t it? The woman he liked was sleeping defenselessly beside him.
His reason demanded he leave the bed, but his body refused to obey.
And he felt mischievous.
‘It’s my bed. Why should it be me?’
He knew this also stemmed from that dark desire.
Her soft breathing and the warmth between the covers were too sweet, almost paralyzing his rational mind.
‘Ha… this is maddening.’
Morgan struggled to resist the urge to touch Maricel.
He shoved both hands under his pillow and pressed down with his head, as if shackling himself.
Though resisting was difficult, ironically, the moment lying next to Maricel felt like a gift, making it bearable.
Then,
“Mm… ugh.”
Maricel shifted.
She turned toward Morgan and rested her arm on his chest, wriggling like a puppy seeking its mother.
He held his breath.
The dark desire he had restrained collapsed instantly.
The moment she touched him, every cell seemed to come alive.
A dangerously tense situation.
He sprang from the bed like a coiled spring.
Maricel wriggled slightly into the spot he had vacated and stopped.
Morgan looked down at her, quickly splashing water on his face.
“Sigh… maddening.”
He exhaled deeply, threw on his knight’s gown, and lay down on the long sofa.
He tried to sleep, but as expected, it was impossible.
Time passed. Darkness gradually gave way to the dim light of dawn. The rustling sound of blankets being pushed aside came.
“Ha~ah~m! Ugh~!”
Maricel stretched her arms high and groaned.
“Ugh… my body… I slept well, but why do I feel like I just did hard labor?”
She patted her shoulders, rotated her head and body in all directions to loosen up.
“…?”
Huh? These furnishings?
They weren’t the ones she always saw in the morning.
‘The room couldn’t have been remodeled overnight.’
Maricel slowly looked around.
‘Ah!’
“What?! This… isn’t my room!”
She quickly examined the room. Luckily, no one was in sight.
The room was clearly not empty; judging by the luxurious, large furniture…
It must be the one room she shouldn’t have entered.
In other words…
Morgan’s bedroom!
Realizing this, Maricel hurriedly got out of bed, straightened the covers as if nothing happened, and tiptoed toward the door.
Then—something caught her foot.
‘Ah! What… is this?!’
“My… my robe… why is it here?!”
Maricel nearly fainted.
There was no time to think; grabbing it and escaping the scene was priority.
Then, a familiar voice sounded.
“Going like a thief without even greeting?”
“…!”
Maricel froze in place at the familiar voice and tightly shut her eyes.
This was bad!
As she feared, the room was indeed Morgan’s bedroom.
Morgan leisurely rose from the sofa and strode toward Maricel.
“Disappointing…? Not only did you sneak in at midnight and steal my bed to sleep without anyone knowing, but now you’re trying to sneak away? And the bed’s owner didn’t get a wink of sleep because of it.”
“Ah, no! I… I’m sorry, Your Highness. And thank you!”
Maricel bent deeply, apologizing and thanking him at once.
“I’ll accept any punishment.”
She didn’t dare look up.
“I’ll accept any punishment…”
Morgan gently lifted her chin so she could see him.
He smoothed her messy hair behind her ear, paused thoughtfully, then gave a faint smile.
“Alright? Then, I’ll just keep this as a debt of favor.”
“Eh…?”
A debt of favor?
‘Morgan… said that?’
In this serious situation, Maricel couldn’t believe the word came from Morgan.
‘Focus, Maricel! Not the time to think about “debt of favor”!’
Still, her face flushed.
Morgan had gently brushed her hair behind her ear. His fingers brushing her ear and the softness in his eyes felt unexpectedly tender.
The touch burned as if on fire, and even though she belonged to him, her heart raced uncontrollably.
‘Brushing hair behind the ear… that’s something only done between close people, isn’t it?’
Maricel fanned her face quickly, turning her head to cool her own heat.
‘I must be crazy… absolutely crazy…’
She decided to leave quickly before embarrassing herself further.
“Your Highness, please let me know once you’ve decided. Again, I apologize and thank you. I’ll take my leave now…”
Maricel finished her hurried bow and headed for the door.
Just as she tried to close it, Morgan grabbed it.
“…?”
“Ask Samuel tomorrow to find out the cause.”
“Huh?”
“You’ll feel uneasy if this happens in your sleep. It’s probably temporary, though.”
Maricel wanted to hide in a hole from embarrassment, yet he sounded so kind.
“Ah… yes… thank you, Your Highness.”
She forced an awkward smile.
Morgan, with a faint smile and gentle voice, said:
“Go ahead.”
“Yes… then.”
Maricel apologized once more and closed the door.
She quickly scanned the surroundings.
‘Phew.’
Luckily, it was still before dawn; no one was around.
She exhaled in relief and dashed back to her room before anyone could see her.
But there was someone secretly watching this scene.
