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Chapter 40
“Have you missed my body?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“How could I miss your body if I don’t know it? I’ll miss it properly after our formal marriage vow.”
As Psyche spoke, the man watching her from the darkness shook his head slightly.
The Grand Duke laughed for a while, then gently ran his hand through Psyche’s hair.
“…Very well. Then let’s make you count the days until that day, Miss.”
She was about to go to bed when his arms held her. He lifted her lightly and carried her toward the bed.
He covered her up to the neck and gently held her hands with one hand.
‘Warm.’
Her frozen hands quickly absorbed his heat and began to feel warm again.
“How do you usually put children to sleep?”
“Huh?”
“When parents put a child to bed, do they sing lullabies? You must know, since you had a good relationship with your parents.”
“Hmm… My father held my hand. And he stayed by my side until my breathing changed as I fell asleep. That was all.”
“You mean he didn’t sing?”
“Yes.”
“I see.”
The Grand Duke seemed secretly relieved, as if worried about singing for her.
“It’s enough. Your warmth alone is enough.”
Silence followed. Yet there was no awkwardness or fear.
“…Then why aren’t you using magic? You usually use it to put me to sleep.”
“I don’t know either. As you said, if I used magic, I wouldn’t have to hear all this chattering. …But now, I guess I’m not afraid of me anymore?”
“Let’s blame the alcohol.”
A soft, amused laugh returned. Indeed, Psyche was no longer afraid of him. Her caution toward him had softened.
Part of the reason was that he secretly cared for her, but another was that his actions no longer felt strange.
Even the warmth she felt now felt familiar, as if she had known it before.
“When do you go to sleep, Your Highness?”
“After you.”
“I can’t fall asleep easily.”
“The young Miss Clement must have troubled your father greatly while putting you to bed.”
The Grand Duke, seemingly unwilling to leave, brought a small chair and sat by her bedside. He traced each of her fingers with his fingertips, then slowly interlaced his fingers with hers.
“Close your eyes. I won’t leave until your breathing changes.”
For some reason, Psyche wanted to do exactly as he said.
When she closed her eyes, another darkness appeared beyond the first—but this time, she wasn’t afraid.
“Help me! Help me! I’m begging you!”
“When I escape this place, I’ll take revenge on that woman and exterminate all her bloodline. Just wait.”
“…Mom…”
‘Ah…’
Psyche realized she had unknowingly fallen asleep while needing to ask the Grand Duke something. She sighed silently.
The noise had been overwhelming, echoing as if underwater, and something heavy pressed against her chest.
Lately, these nightmares had been happening more often. A woman’s sorrowful cries, her pleas.
Psyche lifted her heavy eyelids and woke up.
“…?”
Fortunately or unfortunately, the crying had stopped.
But what truly startled her was the man.
‘Is he asleep?’
The curtains blocked the light, leaving the room in complete darkness. Only his form could be seen.
How long had it been? The Grand Duke was leaning over her, holding her hand, asleep. His forehead rested on her stomach.
He tilted his head, resting his left cheek on the sheet, breathing calmly.
Curious, she placed her hand on his face.
His brow twitched slightly, then relaxed. She gathered courage, tracing over his closed eyelids, deep eye sockets, long eyelashes, and warm cheek. She followed the warmth to his sharp jaw and finally to his lips.
They were soft and full of life.
Though she could not see, she knew he was handsome. If God had sculpted him, the proportions would be perfect.
The rumored “monster” seemed laughable; every curve under her fingertips felt remarkable.
‘Why does he never show his face?’
She briefly wondered if he might be unattractive, but it seemed unlikely. Perhaps he hid his face not out of curse, but because he simply did not trust her yet.
As she tried to withdraw her hand, his warm, even hot hand caught her wrist.
“…Uh.”
“How was it?”
He gently held her, placing the hand on her cheek, overlapping it with his own, smiling brightly.
Though she could only guess, he was clearly smiling.
“How does it feel to have touched my face? Does it please you?”
“Did I disturb your sleep, Your Highness?”
Her voice was soft, restrained.
“No, I haven’t slept at all.”
His voice was firm, sending chills down her spine.
“And a question requires an answer, not another question.”
“…?”
“Ah, you couldn’t answer because you couldn’t see with your eyes?”
He gripped her hands tighter.
The only rule they had broken was seeing his face. Psyche had only felt him with her fingers. He seemed amused by her restraint.
“By the way, you were dreaming. Was it a nightmare?”
He slowly sat up, still holding her hand. She shivered at the familiar, obsessive way he moved.
“Yes. Lately, someone screams for help in my ears. Sometimes they even sob.”
“Hmm. Was it a woman’s voice?”
“A young woman’s. Almost hypnotic, very beautiful…”
“Sounds like an evil force has attached itself.”
“An evil force?”
Psyche gasped in surprise.
“Explain in detail what happened,” the Grand Duke said. Psyche told him everything about the recent voices.
“…I see.”
After hearing her story, he made a small sound of understanding.
“You’ve likely been bewitched by a ‘Siren.’ The library has excellent books; I suggest you consult them.”
