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Chapter – 18
Ting. Ting-rrr. Tiring.
…What is that sound?
Jackerie perked up his ears at a series of sounds he had never heard in his life.
It was definitely a sound, but it was so faint that it strangely calmed his mind. His body was becoming drowsy.
‘Th-this is a new world!’
While Jackerie was inwardly impressed, Yurita smiled slightly and tapped a glass bottle with her fingernail.
This is tingles.
The sounds of various objects that help calm the body and mind—so-called “tingles.”
Inside Yurita’s bag were all kinds of items for tingles: crinkling paper, beautiful glass bottles filled with water, and more.
Yurita’s tingle technique continued for a while.
Jackerie’s stiff body visibly softened. But he still hadn’t fallen asleep.
In a gentle voice, Jackerie said:
“I know you’re trying, but no matter what you do, it’s not easy for me to sleep.”
“Why?”
“My nightmares are something I can never escape in my life. To avoid them, my body refuses to sleep no matter what.”
“……”
It was an unexpectedly deep answer for something he said so casually, and Yurita was slightly surprised.
She gently placed her hand on his eye area. A warm sensation transferred directly.
Jackerie whispered so softly it was barely audible.
“But it’s strange… when I’m with you, I feel oddly calm. It’s like the nightmares are all going away…”
Yurita’s hand paused.
When she removed her hand, Jackerie’s face appeared—already peacefully asleep. His breathing was steady.
“…He really says things that make my heart drop sometimes.”
Yurita quietly looked down at his sleeping face for a while.
‘He is handsome.’
A different kind of handsome compared to Eustace, the original male lead.
If Eustace was like a golden retriever type… Jackerie was… a black panther? A lion?
‘He definitely has a delinquent vibe.’
Yurita chuckled softly and stood up. As she rose, the smile faded from her lips, and her gaze turned serious.
‘I’ll observe you more closely, Jackerie. I’ll find out what kind of person you really are.’
She could no longer rely solely on information from the original story.
The rumors that he killed his father—and the way he treats his younger brother Taeo kindly—what was his real self?
If both sides were real… could she truly handle him?
‘I’ll decide whether you’re someone I can stay on this ship with—before you assassinate the emperor in a year.’
If she concluded he was not someone she could stay with, Yurita planned to leave him without hesitation.
No matter what it took.
To Yurita, her own comfortable life mattered more than staying with a suspicious husband.
‘But if he hasn’t fully become a villain yet…’
There might still be room to save this relationship.
And a key turning point from the original story was approaching soon.
Yurita looked at Jackerie’s face once more, then quietly left the room.
Jackerie sank deeply into a long-awaited sleep.
The next morning
A single beam of sunlight slipped through the curtains onto the messy bed sheets.
The window was closed, but faint chirping from sparrows perched on the windowsill could still be heard.
Jackerie’s eyelids, deep in sleep, moved and slowly opened.
His dazed expression still seemed half trapped in a dream before he finally realized he was awake and opened his mouth.
“Ugh.”
He suddenly sat up, making a strange sound.
“My… body feels weird.”
It really was strange.
He felt… good!
Compared to months of insomnia, and even compared to all mornings in his life, his body felt light and his mind refreshingly clear.
Was this the power of proper sleep?
Jackerie touched his face in the mirror.
His skin felt unusually smooth and soft, almost glowing.
He was in peak condition.
So much so that his usual delinquent-looking face now seemed almost gentle.
“It must be that woman’s magic.”
Jackerie muttered and finally looked around.
“Where did she go?”
Yurita was nowhere to be seen.
Jackerie went downstairs wearing a loosely fitted shirt.
“Toby.”
“Good morning, Master… huh?”
Toby, who was politely greeting him, froze in shock at Jackerie’s face.
‘Master… his face is glowing!’
“Why are you so surprised?”
“N-no, nothing. It seems you slept well.”
“Where is the Duchess?”
“Oh, the Madam went to a café in town for a short while. She should return in the afternoon.”
“Where is that?”
“Pardon?”
“The café. Where is it?”
“Oh, it’s Laellie at 52nd Street. Is something wrong?”
“I need to go there now. I have something to talk to the Duchess about.”
“Huh? But if you suddenly appear, she might be startled.”
At those words, Jackerie, who had been about to rush out, stopped abruptly.
After a moment of thinking in a way that didn’t suit him, he finally spoke.
“Will she get angry if I go suddenly?”
“If I may be honest, given the Madam’s personality so far… it is possible.”
“……”
“Don’t follow me. I’ll kill you.”
Jackerie scratched his head as if remembering something, then messed up his hair and sat down heavily on a kitchen chair. He began tapping his fingers on the table.
“…Master, shall I bring you breakfast?”
“No.”
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The tapping continued for about ten minutes.
In the end, he pushed the chair back harshly and stood up.
“Forget it. I’ll just go.”
Toby facepalmed internally.
Still, ten minutes was a long time for Jackerie’s temperament.
“Giddy up!”
The black horse Jackerie rode galloped toward the city.
The sound of hooves echoed through several houses as he approached 52nd Street.
Ding—
The café bell rang loudly as Jackerie entered, startling the owner.
He quickly scanned the café, then turned to the owner.
“Eek!”
“Hey.”
“Y-yes, Duke Killister!”
The owner seemed to recognize Jackerie immediately.
“Have you seen Duchess Killister?”
“Ah? The Duchess left just a few moments ago.”
“What? Where did she go?”
“Well, I overheard she was going to the park nearby…”
Without another word, Jackerie left and headed straight for the park.
The park was filled with nobles enjoying picnics—but Yurita was nowhere in sight.
“Where did she go?”
“Duke Killister!”
At that moment, a familiar voice called out.
Frowning, Jackerie turned his head—and saw the emperor standing in a field, waving, surrounded by palace servants and guards.
Emperor Reichard was riding an open carriage with the Empress.
It seemed to be an official imperial outing.
With the emperor calling out to the Duke, everyone turned to look at Jackerie.
He stared blankly as the carriage approached.
“Meeting you here is interesting. Have you been well?”
“Your Majesty.”
“The weather is nice. Isn’t your mood good as well?”
Jackerie paused, then answered.
“Seems like it.”
“Hm?”
Both the Emperor and Empress looked at each other in surprise.
Jackerie… in a good mood? Impossible.
Yet surprisingly, the well-rested Jackerie actually had the capacity for positive answers.
“More importantly, I have something to ask.”
“You asking me? What is it?”
The Emperor asked with interest.
“Have you seen Duchess Yurita Killister in this park?”
At that question, the Emperor’s eyebrows rose.
