Chapter 15

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 15

Chapter Title: Pajama Preference

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“Hand it over nicely while I'm asking?”

Antyone bit her lip in frustration.

Finally, her eyes reddening, she humiliatingly extended the hand clutching the ring toward Hanna.

It was just as Hanna let out a short sigh and reached to take the ring from Antyone's hand.

Pak!

Caught off guard by the forceful swing, Hanna fell flat on her butt and tumbled backward.

“You think I'll just hand it over because you say so? Why the hell would I give you something that's mine!”

Antyone, refusing to stop mocking Hanna to the bitter end with her sharp tongue, bolted away.

“Hey!”

Hanna tried to get up, but her strength failed her, and she plopped back down, staring after the fleeing Antyone.

“So that's how it was. That wicked bitch lied about everything.”

Clodel's sullen expression came to mind, the way she'd moped about not getting a wedding gift. Kaiyan had even fretted, asking if she disliked it since she'd never received one before.

‘Isn't this a trap, maybe?’

‘A trap?’

‘You said it's something meaningful to the Duke. What if she's trying to pin the blame for losing something precious and pick a fight?’

Hanna's reasonable suspicions must have weighed even heavier on Clodel's heart.

All because of that stone-stealing Antyone!

“What kind of upbringing is that?”

Lying as easily as breathing, sneaking into a man's bedroom when she wasn't even married, and now stealing to boot.

“I need to see the Duke right away.”

Cursing Antyone's nameless parents under her breath, Hanna headed straight for Kaiyan's study.

“He's not the type to be stingy with the lady.”

She was certain he'd listen if she complained to him.

Clodel greeted the night in a state of high tension.

Kaiyan had every right to visit her bedroom whenever he pleased.

Yet after exactly two times, he hadn't come at night since—and she never imagined the third would be announced so bluntly: wait for me tonight.

She'd confessed to Hanna, who returned covered in dirt from wherever she'd been, that Kaiyan had suddenly said it before leaving.

‘Uh-huh. Really?’

She'd trusted Hanna, always in her corner, to leap up and protest something like, But the strain on the lady's legs...

But even faithful Hanna seemed unfazed, leaving Clodel speechless and silent.

‘Right. Even Hanna thinks there's nothing wrong with it.’

Kaiyan could come whenever he wanted, naturally.

The reason it felt so burdensome, so tense, was surely her instinct's refusal to connect with him any deeper.

Living a terminally numbered life, tying up loose ends, facing Kaiyan always felt like it might spawn something new where there'd been none.

A sudden marriage.

A sudden husband.

A sudden first night, thrust upon her.

Everything tied to Kaiyan overwhelmed Clodel—and ironically, the one thing she did like was knowing there was a spot waiting for her underground in this castle after death.

‘At least there's a tomb, so even enemy House Vermonte won't just toss me out for beast food once I'm gone.’

No need to look far—Duke Vermonte himself often spat, That black-haired Temneth scum. The second I lay eyes on him, I'll rip his limbs off and feed them to the beasts. The phrase was etched deep in her mind.

Blissfully unaware of Clodel's brooding, Hanna looked cheerful. She sat her charge before the mirror post-bath, applied scented oil to her hair, brushed it smooth, and hummed merrily the whole time.

“The Duke might be nicer than you think.”

You got mad last time I said he wasn't what you imagined, remember, Hanna?

“That jeweler you brought today? Most famous and popular shop in the south. Usually takes a full year just to get an order in.”

“Guess I looked too plain. Must've figured I needed some jewelry.”

Hanna's face grew serious at her words.

“Don't say that. It's because our lady's so lovely—he wanted to gift something that suits you.”

“Hanna.”

“Yes?”

“Did the Duke give you money, by any chance?”

“……”

Hanna's reflection scowled in the mirror.

“Suddenly acting out of character.”

“Do I look like the type who'd take bribes and switch sides?”

“No, but if it ever happens, demand top dollar. Don't sell out for pocket change.”

“Hmph.”

Hanna stuck out her lower lip and kept at her brushing.

“That way, if anything happens to me, you can live well.”

“Hush with that talk. Once you bear the heir, I'll raise that child too. When the heir grows up, marries well, and becomes a fine lord, I'll even help raise the grandkids from the new lady of the house. We'll go on forever.”

Finished brushing, Hanna admired Clodel's reflection and stroked her chin.

“Phew. Perfect in every way.”

Clodel blinked up at her.

“The pajamas are kinda iffy, though.”

“Why?”

“Lady, let's change into different ones.”

Hanna scurried to the wardrobe and fetched another set.

“These.”

Clodel's face stiffened the instant she saw them.

She currently wore her usual thin cotton nightgown, buttoned straight down the front from the neck.

What Hanna held was the one she'd worn once, on their wedding night—far sheerer, practically translucent, tied at the front with a ribbon.

“Why that one?”

“Ever wonder why nightgowns like this even exist?”

Clodel shook her head.

Unlike her, who'd grown up buried in books in Valmond Castle's back rooms, tagging along to Irena's lessons without much worldly exposure, Hanna knew all sorts of trivia.

Such nightgowns had a reason?

“Because so many people love them.”

“……That.”

Clodel started to argue, then gave up.

She could already picture Kaiyan's cold, intimidating glare fixed on it—better to burn the damn thing now.

Even insisting the whole world might like it but Kaiyan wouldn't? Hanna would just claim all men were the same and force it on her anyway.

Powerless against Hanna, Clodel nodded meekly.

“Fine.”

She could always switch back once Hanna left.

But the afternoon bustle with the jeweler and Kaiyan had left no time for a nap, and now drowsiness poured over her even at night.

Her insomnia usually kept her up nights; she napped days when Hanna was around.

Not today, though—the chaos had prevented it.

‘He said to wait without sleeping.’

Clodel's eyes fluttered shut anyway.

Click.

They snapped open again at the sound of the door closing.

“……You're here.”

“Asleep?”

Kaiyan had apparently been out that afternoon; even this late, he wasn't in casual attire.

His black jacket bore dense gold buttons and intricate embroidery, layered over a vest and white shirt.

‘Oh. The nightgown.’

She'd planned to change after Hanna left. Now, seeing him so impeccably dressed, Clodel felt oddly embarrassed.

But he paid her nightgown no mind, simply wrapping her in the bedcovers and scooping her up.

“Let's go.”

“At this hour? Wh-where to?”

In this nightgown?

“Stargazing.”

She wanted to press further, but as he stepped off, Clodel clutched the blanket tighter from within, anxious.

He wouldn't drop her, surely—but being carted like baggage unsettled her.

After traversing the dark, silent castle corridors a spell, he halted.

Before a grand, heavily carved door.

He opened it with familiar ease.

The spacious room evoked antique grandeur.

Yet it held scant furniture—only an enormous lone bed, which struck her as odd.

He laid Clodel gently atop it, then checked her bandaged leg.

“Where's this?”

She asked, bewildered; he answered casually.

“My bedroom.”

Clodel's eyes went wide in shock.

She'd stumbled right into his bedroom.

‘At this hour? Wh-where to?’

‘Stargazing.’

Was that what he meant?

She vaguely recalled slang for intimacy involving “picking stars” or somesuch.

But welcoming him in her room felt worlds apart from entering his.

Him visiting her? Acceptable, even expected.

Her invading his sanctum? Unthinkable.

Staying in familiar territory she could claim as “mine” was tolerable. But here, in this alien space, feeling the coarse gold-embroidered bedcover beneath her palms, a primal urge to flee stirred.

“C-can we go back to my room?”

“Why?”

“This place is just...”

“No stars visible from there.”

Kaiyan navigated the dim room effortlessly.

He fussed briefly here and there—clunk—then grasped a handle-equipped dial on the wall beside the bed and turned it.

Screeech.

A ear-grating groan from the ceiling; the vast round dome began to shift.

“Whoa.”

The triangular panels adorning the dome slid whole, stacking neatly as the ceiling parted.

Through the widening gap, stars winked densely against the black sky.

About two-thirds open, Kaiyan settled beside her.

“Well?”

Clodel lost her words to the overwhelming vista.

“I've never seen a night sky like this.”

Castle ladies retired by eight, lights out. Wandering late was forbidden.

She enjoyed gazing at the stars, but through glass panes versus naked-eye? Night and day.

“Worth the effort, then.”

Clodel felt tears pricking unbidden and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

“Crying?”

“No. It's just... so beautiful.”

Midsummer, yet cool night air kissed her skin; distant, moonlight-filtered breezes rustled through the forest.

And stars, so many.

“They say when people die, their souls rise to the heavens and become stars.”

As a child, she'd wondered if her parents were up there, forever drawn to stare.

Now? She pondered if there might be space for her own amid them.

“Showing you something nice, and you're getting all weepy.”

His cool, chiding tone drew a faint smile from Clodel.

If he'd awkwardly tried to comfort her—in his mismatched way—she might've truly burst into sobs.

“Cough. Cough.”

She coughed lightly; Kaiyan lifted the bedcovers to wrap her.

“Cold?”

“Not cold...”

Thud. Slip.

As he leaned in, a button on his jacket snagged the loosely tied nightgown ribbon. It unraveled; the flimsy fabric slipped from her shoulder.

Clodel fumbled to fix it in panic, but Kaiyan caught her hand.

A low voice rumbled, thick with restrained hunger.

“……May I?”