OYVT 20

Chapter 20

“Huh?”

Yurita’s voice rose in surprise.

But judging by Zachary’s expression, he clearly wasn’t joking.

“Why are you so shocked? I’m just asking my wife to sleep with me.”

“What? No, uh, no way.”

“No way?”

“We agreed to sleep separately.”

“Can’t decisions like that be changed?”

Sleep in the same room as Zachary?

“No! I won’t change my mind!”

She didn’t want to stay that defenseless beside him.

At her words, Zachary seemed slightly offended and raised his voice too.

“You can just say no to doing anything!”

“W-What? Doing what? What do you mean by that?!”

“I mean just sleep next to me!”

“You’re acting like this because I helped you sleep?”

“Yeah!”

“……”

Only then did Zachary regain a bit of composure.

“Yeah.”

He repeated his answer quietly.

Just how terrible must his insomnia have been for him to ask Yurita like this?

Still looking flustered, Yurita thought for a moment before answering cautiously.

“I’ll only stay until you fall asleep, then I’m going back to my room.”

Zachary frowned as though he disliked her condition, but eventually accepted it.

“Fine.”

“…I’m going to wash up first, so wait a little.”

‘Why does that sound so weird? “I’m going to wash up and come over”?!’

Nothing was going to happen with Zachary tonight. Absolutely nothing!

‘Besides, he’s not a child, so why do I have to keep putting him to sleep?’

Soaking in the bath, Yurita clicked her tongue.

‘Maybe I shouldn’t have offered in the first place.’

But since she had been the one to suggest it, she couldn’t take it back now.

Yurita sank her head into the water and sighed, bubbles rising to the surface.

‘I’ll wait until he falls asleep and immediately sneak back out.’

Wearing a black lace nightgown, Yurita reluctantly headed toward Zachary’s room.

Knock knock.

There was no response.

“I’m coming in.”

She spoke softly and opened the door.

“……!”

Her eyes met Zachary’s just as he was taking off his shirt. His bathrobe lay discarded on the floor.

Heat rushed to Yurita’s face.

His well-trained muscular upper body looked flawless, as though shaped through real combat experience. The scars scattered across his body told stories of countless battles.

“H-Hey. You should knock.”

Zachary grinned shamelessly at her.

“…I did knock.”

Yurita avoided his eyes as she answered.

“Should I come back later?”

“No, come in.”

With a leisurely expression, Zachary slowly slipped on a silk shirt, almost as if he enjoyed watching her squirm.

‘So annoying.’

Clearing her throat awkwardly, Yurita shut the door.

Once his body was covered by the shirt, she oddly felt a little disappointed.

‘What am I even thinking?’

While Yurita shook her head at herself, Zachary walked to the window and drew the curtains shut. The room instantly darkened, lit only by candlelight.

“So, what now?”

Zachary asked, his red eyes gleaming.

Yurita steadied her breathing and looked at him.

“Lie down.”

Zachary obediently lay on his side on the bed, propping his head up with one arm while watching her.

When Yurita moved toward the teapot, he interrupted.

“You don’t need tea. Just come here.”

‘Feels like I’m getting dragged into his pace.’

Even thinking that, Yurita obediently walked over and sat on the edge of the bed.

Zachary gently took her hand and placed it over his eyes.

“I liked it yesterday when you rubbed here.”

Yurita barely calmed her burning face and began pressing around his eyes.

Her fingers brushed over the sharp lines of his eyes, pressed the bridge of his nose, then moved to his thick brows.

Each time she pressed along his brow bone, she could feel the tension slowly leaving his body.

Eventually Yurita relaxed her hands and softly cupped both palms over his eyelids.

Though his body had relaxed, she noticed his breathing was still uneven.

After a brief thought, Yurita lay down beside him.

“…What are you doing?”

Zachary asked with his eyes still closed.

“Try matching your breathing to mine.”

Near his ear, Yurita slowly inhaled and exhaled. Her breath brushed softly against the back of his neck.

Zachary’s breathing gradually synchronized with hers. Their chests rose and fell together.

Soon, Zachary appeared to fall into a deep sleep.

As Yurita continued breathing alongside him, she felt her own eyelids growing heavy.

‘He seems asleep… I should go back to my room now…’

But listening to his steady breathing only made her sleepier.

And eventually, Yurita drifted off as well.

Yet only one steady breathing sound echoed quietly through the room.

Zachary, who had seemed asleep, opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling before carefully turning toward Yurita.

“…She really has a strange talent.”

A talent for calming people’s hearts.

His gaze traced the delicate lines of Yurita’s face. The natural curve of her eyelashes, the straight line of her nose, the soft shape of her lips.

In the room filled only with breathing and the ticking of the clock, Zachary watched Yurita sleep for a long while.

It was the first time in his life he had ever stared at a woman’s face for this long.

The next morning.

The faint cries of morning birds drifted through the air.

Yurita tossed in bed with a satisfied murmur.

‘Ah, I slept so well. That was the best sleep ever…’

Then wait.

‘Where did I fall asleep again?’

The moment that thought hit her, Yurita’s eyes flew open and she bolted upright.

“Why? Sleep a little more.”

A lazy, low voice came from beside her.

Turning her head, Yurita saw Zachary lying on his side with messy hair, looking up at her.

“You… what…!”

She instinctively tried to yell at him, but memories from last night flooded back, leaving her speechless.

She had definitely fallen asleep while trying to put him to sleep!

‘I only meant to close my eyes for a second and leave! It’s morning already!’

Hurriedly, Yurita checked her clothes. They hadn’t changed even a little from the night before.

“What are you checking for? I didn’t touch you.”

“If you’d laid even a finger on me, you’d be dead!”

Yurita quickly tried to get out of bed.

But then Zachary grabbed her hand.

“Just stay here. I won’t hurt you.”

“Let go.”

“And from now on, sleep with me. Every night.”

“I refuse. Let go already.”

“I’ll let go if you agree to keep sleeping with me.”

“What is wrong with you?!”

While the two bickered, the sound of knocking at the door was drowned out.

“Master, you have a visitor.”

Toby waited for permission, but all he could hear from inside was the sound of arguing.

Normally he would have retreated, but this wasn’t an ordinary guest. Taking the risk, Toby knocked again and opened the door.

And immediately locked eyes with Zachary and Yurita arguing on the same bed.

‘Ah! No way!’

Startled, Toby hurriedly tried to dismiss the servants and shut the door.

“No, Toby, wait! Don’t leave me behind! It’s not what you think, so don’t go!”

“Don’t leave!”

Yurita shouted at Toby while Zachary shouted at Yurita.

After the chaos finally settled down, Yurita left Zachary’s room with a shawl draped around her shoulders.

Only after being forced into promising to sleep in the same bed with him for another week.

In return, Yurita warned Zachary that if he touched even a single hair on her body, the deal would immediately be off. Zachary merely shrugged and agreed.

“Master, the informant has arrived.”

Just before leaving, Yurita overheard Toby quietly speaking to Zachary.

‘An informant?’

But the door shut behind her before she could hear anything more.