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Chapter 43
It wasn’t hard to find the mountain lodge again.
In truth, Shuwen hadn’t been thinking much at all. Esselian knew the way. The lights were brightly on inside the lodge, as if the owner hadn’t gone to sleep yet. That made it even easier to find.
“Wow, everything looks delicious.”
Theo had kindly waited for them with food already prepared.
Though he grumbled, “I only made enough for myself,” the table was clearly set with three dishes.
“Thank you for the meal!”
“Yeah, well. I can’t guarantee it’ll taste good.”
Shuwen thought Theo was a pretty decent man.
He was kind enough to give up rooms to people who had barged in unexpectedly, and generous enough to cook for them as well. He was a bit prickly, sure, but not enough to be considered a flaw. And on top of that, he was handsome.
“Theo would make a top-tier husband.”
At her completely guileless comment, both men flinched and looked at her. Shuwen, unconcerned by their reactions, happily twirled the spaghetti Theo had made and took a bite.
“A top-tier husband?”
The one who echoed her was Esselian.
His gaze swept Theo from head to toe, clearly asking what exactly made him top-tier husband material.
After chewing and swallowing properly, Shuwen answered his question.
“He grumbles a little, but he’s kind enough to make food for others. And he’s handsome, too.”
Theo narrowed his eyes as he looked at Shuwen.
Is he offended?
His reaction seemed lukewarm.
But then Shuwen caught the subtle twitch at the corner of Theo’s mouth as he twirled his pasta.
Ah. He was pleased.
He’s simple.
If only Theo had been the villain, she could’ve manipulated him more easily.
But of course, it had to be Esselian—hard-mode difficulty…
As she thought that and looked at Esselian, she realized he’d been staring at her the whole time. Their eyes immediately met.
“You said I was your type before.”
His voice sounded faintly hurt.
“Huh?”
Because Esselian suddenly exposed her preferences, silence fell. Theo let out a dry chuckle, and Shuwen nodded without thinking.
“Yes… that’s true, but—”
Why bring that up now?
“But now you’re calling another man a top-tier husband and can’t even take your eyes off him. How exactly am I supposed to take that?”
“That’s because—he’s someone else’s man…? I mean, it’s just something you say…”
“Someone else’s man?”
Esselian raised an eyebrow as if he didn’t understand.
Theo abruptly cut in between them.
“I’m not anyone’s man.”
That somehow made things even more awkward.
“And I never said Theo was my type!”
Esselian was looking at her like a husband interrogating an unfaithful wife, so Shuwen found herself making excuses despite having done nothing wrong.
Why am I even doing this?
That thought flashed through her mind, but vanished instantly when she saw his ominous crimson eyes.
“And yet, you can’t seem to look away.”
Even the quick glance she’d given Theo—worried he might be offended—was enough for Esselian to reproach her, leaving Shuwen completely at a loss.
It wasn’t like she’d stared on purpose. Theo was sitting directly across from her, so her gaze naturally drifted there.
What matters is Esselian, after all…
The mood had been good until now—she couldn’t ruin it at this point.
Shuwen quietly dragged her chair closer to Esselian.
“Honestly, I was just being polite.”
She leaned in and whispered so only Esselian could hear.
It ended up looking like she was whispering right in front of Theo, but still—Esselian was what mattered.
“Polite?”
“He let us stay and even prepared dinner…”
Theo alternated his gaze between the archduchess, who was desperately making excuses while glancing at him, and the archduke, who was nodding with a strangely satisfied smile.
They look closer than I expected.
There were many rumors about them.
The most prevalent concerned Princess Titiana’s misfortune—born as a cure, destined to marry a madman. Most people pitied her fate.
So when Theo first heard about their marriage, he’d assumed it would end in disaster.
But what he saw now didn’t look like disaster at all. They looked like a genuinely affectionate newlywed couple.
“I’m more suspicious than I should be. And jealous, too.”
And possessive, he didn’t add.
Shuwen nodded as if she understood everything.
If he stayed like this for six months, it would be exhausting. She’d have to get rid of Esselian’s suspicions somehow.
“But I’ll try to endure it from now on, so you won’t be uncomfortable.”
Does he read minds?
She blinked in surprise—the words matched her thoughts perfectly.
The topic naturally shifted. Then Shuwen suddenly asked,
“But Theo, have you been living here alone?”
What did he do to survive out here in the mountains?
Thinking ahead, Shuwen knew she’d need an escape route. Even if the emperor managed to get her out safely, what came after would be the real problem.
If Esselian chased after her in anger for being deceived, she’d need somewhere to hide.
A place like this deep in the mountains would be ideal… but then how would she make a living?
“I’m hiding while on the run. The old man who lived here died,” Theo said calmly.
“So I moved in.”
Though his tone was flat, sadness lingered beneath it. His expression was stiff. Clearly, there was a story there.
Don’t pry.
Digging into someone’s private life would be rude.
After dinner and washing up, the sleeping arrangements became an issue.
“Should I give up my bed…?”
Theo rubbed his chin, troubled.
Not wanting to take the homeowner’s room, Shuwen spoke up before Esselian could.
“I’ll sleep on the sofa!”
“But there’s only one blanket…”
Theo handed over a single blanket. The previous resident had been a solitary old man, so there were only two blankets in the lodge to begin with.
“It’s fine, Theo. Good night!”
Just letting them stay was more than enough.
Shuwen waved cheerfully to show she didn’t mind. Theo nodded in response.
Once the door closed, silence immediately settled in.
“Your Highness, you sleep under the blanket. I’ll use this.”
She’d been the one who dragged him out to see the aurora. She wanted Esselian to rest comfortably. And after receiving unexpected comfort earlier, she was in a pretty good mood.
Shuwen bundled up in Esselian’s coat and Theo’s tattered clothes. Suddenly, Esselian gently pulled her arm toward him.
“I can’t let my wife sleep in the cold.”
“No, I’m warm.”
Esselian lightly brushed away the rags draped over her, then removed the coat underneath.
The coat slid down as if shedding a shell. When Shuwen tried to grab it, Esselian pulled her closer by the waist.
“Ah—”
“My arms will be warmer than that.”
He lifted his upper body slightly and grabbed the nearby blanket.
Is this man… trying to use the purification effect?
Was that why he kept wanting to stay close?
She had brought the medicine, but with Theo present earlier—and Esselian right there—she hadn’t been able to add it to his food.
Shuwen looked regretfully at the fallen coat.
The problem was that the medicine was inside it.
How am I supposed to give it to him?
She couldn’t take it out right in front of Esselian, who was watching her closely.
“Your Highness, aren’t you thirsty?”
“I’m fine.”
“I am. How about some milk together?”
Before heading to his room, Theo had said, ‘If you want anything, just help yourself.’
“They say warm milk helps you sleep.”
As she heated the milk, Shuwen kept sneaking glances at Esselian. She needed to figure out how to take out the medicine—but he was only looking at her back.
Pretending to suddenly remember something, she clapped her hands and widened her eyes.
“Oh! I think I left my hair tie in the bathroom. I’m sorry, but… could you get it for me?”
That part was actually true.
“I’ll get it.”
The bathroom door opened and closed.
The moment it did, Shuwen dashed over and grabbed her coat, quickly pulling out the hidden medicine and pouring it into the milk.
She didn’t even have time to glance toward the bathroom.
Just as she sealed the vial, the bathroom door opened.
Shuwen froze in an awkward pose, vial in hand, and turned her head stiffly.
Esselian was holding a long hair tie.
“Ah—this is, um—”
“A sedative?”
“What?”
“Didn’t you say you were weak, and that His Majesty made sure you had it?”
“Ah—yes! Yes, that’s right!”
Panicking, her mind blanked—until she remembered she’d shown him the vial before.
“Did something happen today that required a sedative?”
His tone was merely curious. Relieved that there was no suspicion, Shuwen quickly made an excuse.
“This place is kind of scary. I keep feeling like a thief might break in…”
Not that she was really worried with Esselian around—but it sounded plausible.
He didn’t seem to doubt her.
She slipped the vial back into her coat, out of sight.
“Here.”
Suppressing her racing heart, Shuwen poured the milk into cups and handed one to Esselian.
Holding her own mug, she drank the medicated milk without hesitation, remembering she’d had no side effects before.
Good. Now we can sleep while holding each other.
She pressed down her rising smile and lay on the sofa, waiting for Esselian to lie beside her. For some reason, she felt nervous.
We’re just hugging. There’s no need to be tense. We’ve slept like this before.
The blanket shifted. The space beside her dipped and settled—Esselian had lain down next to her.
Shuwen flinched, her shoulders twitching.
“…You can hold me.”
That was why she’d taken the medicine.
“Are you saying I can?”
“Yes.”
She felt his gaze fixed on her.
Why is he staring like that?
Embarrassed, Shuwen kept her eyes shut.
She was the one who insisted on sleeping together for the purification effect anyway.
…Or was that not it?
Just as heat began to rise in her body, a hand pulled her head gently toward his chest.
She caught the cool scent of his perfume mixed with his natural scent.
“Haah…”
Despite being held for a long time, Shuwen couldn’t fall asleep.
It wasn’t because it was bright—every candle was out, leaving pitch-black darkness.
If she could see something, it might’ve been easier.
Not seeing anything made her even more tense.
Why did he sigh?
It wasn’t a sigh of anguish.
Warm breath brushed her ear, making her shoulders tense and her heart race.
“I was going to let it slide tonight, even if you didn’t fulfill your duty.”
“…Pardon?”
“I didn’t expect you to recite the trigger phrase.”
Ah. So it really was because of the purification effect.
Scolding herself for thinking otherwise, Shuwen squeezed her eyes shut.
Just sleep. Sleep.
“Ah—!”
Esselian had just reached out to pull her closer when—
Shuwen gasped and shot upright.
“What are you doing—?!”
“My lady?”
“You promised to follow the contract!”
A deep crease formed between Esselian’s brows. Confused by her sudden reaction despite her earlier silence, he soon let out a dry laugh as he watched her forcibly remove his hand from her waist.
Ah. So that’s it.
“My lady.”
“And this is someone else’s house!”
The startled archduchess glared at him with wide eyes.
“I thought it was just my imagination…”
“What are you talking about?”
“You know exactly what! We agreed to just hold hands!”
This was maddening.
Honestly, he found her imagination adorable. Esselian bit the inside of his cheek to suppress a smile.
It wasn’t like the thought had never crossed his mind—but he hadn’t intended to act on it.
Should he pretend not to know… or not?
“Didn’t you say you wanted to comfort me?”
He pressed a finger lightly against the collar of her shirt as he asked softly, wanting to tease her since she reacted so strongly.
As his fingers traced her collarbone, her small body trembled.
“I’d rather than words…”
“……”
“…I want to be comforted with your body.”
