14. On the Bed, the First Night (2)  

They say the first night is like a new world opening up, with stars twinkling before your eyes.  

The first night with the male protagonist is the highlight of any romance novel.  

Every novel I’ve read described how strong the male lead’s muscular arms were as he held his beloved bride, and how hot his body temperature was.  

As if the man next to me right now was radiating that same heat.  

Jet-black hair like a raven’s feathers, deep dark eyes that seemed to hold the abyss. A man so handsome that anyone who saw him would gasp in admiration.  

And that man was now on the bed with me. I was desperately trying not to acknowledge that fact.  

‘Calm down, Annette! Nothing must happen here! Evangeline is probably watching over me from the other side of the Sanzu River¹refers to the “Three Do Rivers” or “Three Paths River” in Korean. It has symbolic significance in Korean culture and is often associated with concepts of the afterlife, particularly in traditional Buddhist and mythological context with an axe in her hand!’  

Whoosh, whoosh. I could almost hear the sound of Evangeline’s axe, which was impossible, of course.  

The sound of her spitting on her hands before swinging it… Oh, sister, as the heroine of a romance novel, I’ll stop imagining beyond this!  

Because, of course, any extra who dares to touch the heroine’s man is destined for execution.  

What, just because we’re married now, I should sneak in a little before the heroine shows up and then put him back in place?  

No, there’s no one whose life didn’t get complicated after laying a hand on the male lead.  

‘So as Darius’s nominal wife, I’ll have the wedding ceremony, endure a symbolic first night, but in reality, we’ll just sleep like friends.’  

Sounds easy, right?  

‘Actually, it might be faster to find the original novel, which might exist somewhere in this world, and rip it apart with my own two hands. Maybe that’ll open a new escape route for me.’  

“…Is there anything uncomfortable?”  

“What?”  

What did he just say? Honestly, I’m so nervous right now that I can’t hear a word.  

“If something feels different from what you expected or if there’s something you want, I’ll make sure to pay attention.”  

“What?”  

“Annette.”  

As soon as he called my name, I immediately scooted away from him on the bed and clutched the blanket tightly.  

It was a reflex.  

No, Evangeline’s sacred axe swing is off-limits!  

“I-I-I don’t think I’m mentally prepared yet! Oh, actually, I made a special vow at the temple, and it’s, um…”  

“I was just going to suggest we go to sleep now. Aren’t you tired after all that moving around?”  

My thoughts, which had been racing to come up with a plausible vow to avoid this night, came to a screeching halt.  

“If you wanted something tonight,” 

Darius said, avoiding my gaze, 

“It’s your right, but I’d still prefer if I had a say in it too.”  

Wow, that’s exactly what I wanted to say! Can we rewind time for a moment?  

Why are you the one rejecting me? Why are you acting like you’re not interested? I didn’t want this either, okay? I was going to refuse too!  

What, do you think I’m some kind of pervert?  

* * *  

Darius thought Annette must be disappointed.  

When a man and woman marry, it’s the first night that seals the marriage bond.  

Annette had a straightforward personality. Though they hadn’t known each other long, she probably thought it was best to get it over with quickly and without fuss.  

“Are you really not going to touch me?”  

Just the fact that she asked this question.  

“Let’s settle this clearly tonight so I can sleep peacefully. Honestly, I’d prefer not to do it if I can avoid it.”  

Her blue eyes looked at Darius with a pout.  

Darius felt uncomfortable in this situation. He had spent most of his time with the knight order and rarely encountered women his age in the desolate north.  

To him, women—or rather, Annette—seemed so small and soft.  

Annette’s skin, freshly washed for their wedding night, was pale. Her hair shimmered as it cascaded down. Everything about her made Darius feel oddly tense.  

It was already awkward traveling with Annette, and now he was supposed to hold her?  

‘How do people even go about fulfilling their marital duties?’  

Even if he were criticized for postponing the consummation, he just wanted to close his eyes and pretend nothing was happening for now. After all, he had only just turned 20. Barely old enough to marry, and already sold off in a political marriage.  

“It doesn’t have to be tonight, does it?”  

“I just want to support Your Grace’s mindset and stance. If you could let me know when that day will be, it’d be an important reference for my life…”  

“Do you really want to sleep with a man you’ve only known for a short time?”  

“No.”  

When Darius finally asked with a reddened face, Annette jumped back as if startled.  

‘So I had to say something like this to make her back off.’  

“No, I don’t.”  

Her voice carried a hint of indignation, but Darius, too tense, didn’t notice.  

“I know you’re my wife, and I understand we have marital duties to fulfill.”  

He wouldn’t shirk his responsibilities. He just needed time. Time to get used to sharing a bed with someone else instead of sleeping alone…  

He didn’t want to rush into fulfilling marital duties without even understanding who he was with or what they were doing.  

He had married Annette Poche. That thought kept echoing in his chest as he lay on the bed. Despite not wanting to do anything tonight, the fact that he now had a wife kept crossing his mind.  

He had a wife now. The bedroom, which had always been silent, now carried the sound of two people breathing.  

“Still, you should visit my bedroom often.”  

Annette said, fiddling with her fingers.  

“I don’t want people saying the Grand Duke and Duchess have a bad relationship. For my reputation’s sake, at least sleep in my room once a week.”  

Even if nothing happens. Her added words sounded strangely lonely to Darius’s ears.  

‘She must feel awkward too, having left her familiar home for this new place. Maybe that’s why she’s acting more cheerful than she feels.’  

On impulse, Darius grabbed Annette’s pale hand.  

“…Let’s hold hands while we sleep. We are husband and wife, after all.”  

Annette’s eyes wavered as she looked at him.  

“I’m not rejecting you. I’m not insulting you. It’s just that I’m still not used to you.”  

Once they grew closer, he could treat her better.  

“If we’re holding hands, won’t we just end up letting go in our sleep anyway?”  

“I’ll try to visit your room often, as promised. Though I can’t guarantee when… that thing you want might happen.”  

Annette gritted her teeth at Darius’s awkward attempt to gloss over the situation.  

“What is it that you think I want…? Actually, now that I think about it, my authority is something I should establish myself, not rely on Your Grace for. Pretending to sleep together for appearances’ sake is completely unhealthy. Forget what I said earlier. Just sleep wherever you want.”  

Annette tried to pull her hand away from his grasp with determination. She still seemed shocked at being ‘rejected’ on their first night.  

As a knight, Darius felt guilty about dishonoring a lady, but he couldn’t yield any further.  

“I won’t leave your side tonight. You won’t have to lie in a cold, empty bed by yourself, so rest assured and sleep.”  

With a firm grip on her hand, Darius awkwardly turned his head away.  

Seeing him so composed only made Annette pound her chest in frustration.  

‘I don’t need some other family’s man! I’ll have my real first night with a man who’s completely devoted to me!’  

Amid their mismatched conversation and unwanted misunderstandings, Darius and Annette’s first night gradually came to an end.  

* * *  

“Did you have a pleasant first night, Your Grace? Lady Annette?”  

Lady Ygret’s voice woke me up. She had come to check if the lord and lady had properly spent their first night together, as per tradition.  

‘Ugh…’  

“Good morning, Lady Ygret.”  

Lady Ygret, smiling brightly, approached the bed but paused for a moment.  

“I’m glad to see you two seem to be getting along so well.”  

Blink, blink. Finally awake, I saw the thick arm wrapped around my waist and froze in shock.  

‘I made sure to sleep as far away from Darius as possible last night!’  

This sneaky bastard! He said we’d just hold hands! Why is his arm around my waist?!  

I had been sleeping soundly in the embrace of a firm male arm without even realizing it.  

All my efforts to pry his hand away and sleep peacefully last night were rendered meaningless this morning.  

“Annette?”  

And to make things worse, Darius woke up and, upon seeing my face, looked startled.  

“If you’re too forward, it might be overwhelming.”  

His eyes wavered.  

“So this is why men fear their wives…”  

‘Your arm is the one clinging to me!’  

It wasn’t me!  

“The sound of children’s laughter will return to the north soon. I’m thrilled that my wish seems close to coming true.”  

Completely oblivious to my burning frustration, Lady Ygret continued her polite flattery.  

I could guarantee there wasn’t a shred of sincerity in her words.  

“The people of the estate are waiting to greet you, Your Grace.”  

Lady Ygret spoke in her usual gentle tone.  

“I’m sorry to interrupt such a sweet moment between the two of you, but I’ll have to steal the lord away. There’s a mountain of work waiting.”  

“Annette will accompany me to the office.”  

Lady Ygret blinked in surprise.  

“Your Grace, bringing the new bride to the office? Isn’t that a bit too harsh?”  

“It’s a tradition in our family for the newlywed bride to accompany her husband in all his duties. The bride and groom need to grow closer, after all.”  

“Well, that’s true. But wouldn’t it be more enjoyable for the lady to explore the castle with me instead, given how tired she must be…”  

“I’m fine.”  

I smiled brightly, as if I couldn’t be happier.  

‘We’re so happy together.’  

Watching Lady Ygret reluctantly concede was immensely satisfying. Annoying someone who hates me is always a joy.