Newlywed Life Begins with a Mistake - Chapter 12

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 12

“Let’s discuss this matter later.”

I postponed their punishment.

While I fully understood their feelings, I needed to establish discipline as their master.

My current position was that of a duchess in name only.

An unstable state with no solid support base.

If I imposed punishment immediately, it would be comfortable for a while, but it would be difficult to receive sincere loyalty.

However, showing tolerance could also be problematic as it might make me appear weak.

That’s why now was the time to postpone punishment while instilling a sense of caution.

“Please let me know if you need anything, my lady.”

When I said I would dismiss everyone around me due to my troubled mind, Casian personally stepped forward to attend to me.

Had he ever nursed someone before?

Despite his high status, he skillfully took care of me.

I thought it would be uncomfortable, but it was very comfortable.

So much so that I wanted to continue receiving his care if possible.

“Darling.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“Will you stay by my side all day today?”

“If possible, I’ll stay by your side for the time being.”

Oh my, for the time being?

“Then even at night…?”

“Probably so.”

Wait a moment.

If he’s saying he’ll spend time with me despite being busy…

‘That’s a green light, right?’

He’s subtly sending me signals right now.

As soon as I reached that conclusion, my face flushed hot.

‘Whew. Calm down, Evelyn!’

I tried to control my breathing and compose my expression, but I couldn’t help the embarrassment that washed over me.

‘Come to think of it, we’re newlyweds, aren’t we?’

So we can do this and that.

We should start thinking about an heir soon too.

Which means…

“Darling, is tonight our wedding night?”

Is tonight our first night together?

You’re sending me signals, right?

When I asked with expectant eyes, Casian’s voice trembled slightly.

“W-wedding night?”

“Yes. If we sleep together, it’s our wedding night. If we sleep together ‘like adults.'”

“…I hadn’t thought about that part.”

Confusion flickered in Casian’s eyes.

Seeing him clearly show an expression of not knowing what to say, I suddenly fell into contemplation.

‘What? Was I the only one mistaken? Then what was that flirting earlier!’

Saying you’d stay with me even at night!

Are we just going to have innocent conversations during the day and night and end it at that?

I wondered if I had been too hasty, but there was nothing strange about what I said.

Strictly speaking, we are husband and wife.

We had glossed over it due to the mysterious accident, but originally we should have had our wedding night long ago.

It had already been a month since I stayed at the Hetis Duchy.

For a normal couple, it would have been enough time to share a bed several times over.

“We should start thinking about an heir soon. We can’t keep using separate rooms forever.”

With a regretful heart, I subtly tried to lead toward sharing a bed, but Casian acted stiffly like a broken robot and avoided my gaze.

“…Even so, not right now. Your health comes first, my lady.”

I received an indirect rejection from him.

But Casian was too much of a pushover for me to press him forcefully.

‘Right. If I push too hard, he’ll just run away. Let’s take things slowly.’

To prepare for next time, I decided to take a step back.

“Alright. But we’ll sleep together, right?”

“…”

“I won’t touch you.”

“Very well.”

Afterward, Casian said he had business to attend to and hurriedly left the room.

“Ah, it’ll be tight even if I start preparing now.”

Checking the time, I pulled the bell cord placed beside the bed.

“Did you call for us, my lady?”

“Mary, Rose. Prepare some scented oil for me. And a negligee with subtle exposure.”

“Pardon? Scented oil?”

“Huh? Not a revealing negligee but one with subtle exposure?”

“Yes. It’s our wedding night.”

It’s a rare chance to enjoy some intimate time together, so how could he just let it pass?

He hadn’t said he would openly make a move.

He just intended to provoke her into making the first move.

As he raised the corners of his mouth and slightly lowered his chin, the maids who understood his hidden meaning blushed as if they had gained enlightenment and moved about busily.

* * *

A few hours later.

“Your Grace, aren’t you going home?”

Hans, who was organizing documents in the study, asked the question.

Casian, who had finished his work earlier than usual, was staring intently at the papers on his desk.

What was the reason for looking at documents he had already read eight times?

Because he was staying late at his post, their departure was being delayed as well.

The knights who were writing up military supply lists also waited for an answer with hopeful eyes, wanting to go home.

“You all go ahead.”

Casian glanced at the clock and issued his dismissal.

Hans and the other subordinates hurriedly left the study, saying they would see him tomorrow.

Left alone, Casian looked at the clock again, then sighed and roughly ran his hand through his well-groomed silver hair.

“This is driving me crazy.”

It was already past 9 o’clock.

The clock hands were already racing toward 10 o’clock.

[Honey, is tonight our wedding night?]

He had volunteered to play Evelyn’s husband role to extract information, but seeing the woman ask such an innocent question with deer-like eyes made his heart drop.

It had been words spoken without much thought, but now he was in a situation where he actually had to sleep together.

“Do I really have to share a room with her?”

Lying down with a woman itself didn’t matter, but thinking that the partner was Evelyn made his stomach churn.

Casian tried hard to find a reason why he was acting like a pubescent boy.

[Honey?]

Smiling brightly every time they met.

[You’ll come tomorrow too, right? Honey?]

Looking at him with blind devotion.

[Have you eaten?]

Showing him affectionate concern.

“Right. That’s why it’s like this.”

It was because he could see the image of a wife who loved her husband in Evelyn.

“A loving couple would naturally act that way. The problem is…”

That he wasn’t her real husband.

Whether to catch Count Heteus or to find evidence of the Seldian Ducal Family’s rebellion, Casian had to keep Evelyn’s eyes covered.

His heart was simply troubled by using improper methods in the process.

He had no feelings for the Princess, he repeatedly told himself.

“It’s because I’m doing something terrible.”

Having rationalized it that way, Casian left the study and headed toward the room where Evelyn was.

Resolving to maintain his composure no matter what situation arose.

* * *

“Honey?”

Bang!

But that resolution couldn’t be kept.

As soon as Casian saw Evelyn, he slammed the door shut.

Strength went into the hand gripping the door handle. At the same time, his head naturally dropped.

He covered his face with his hand to cool the rapidly rising heat, but the momentary afterimage was too stimulating and vivid.

“Is something wrong?”

“No.”

Casian immediately answered the question that came from inside the room.

His mind became crystal clear as if cold water had been poured over his head.

Having answered hastily, Casian opened the door and immediately passed by Evelyn, heading toward the bed.

Though her worried gaze contained curiosity, Casian forced up the corners of his mouth and tried to act no different than usual.

‘Get a grip. This is for the greater good.’

He tried to steel his heart and act nonchalant, but suddenly a scent wafted over and made Casian’s mind reel.

“Shall we sleep?”

Evelyn’s whispering voice made his ears ring.

He could smell a rose fragrance that was richer and more intense than usual.

He lowered his gaze to avoid temptation, but it was a mistake.

A white negligee caught his eye.

Though there was no blatant exposure, the precariously visible outline confused his vision.

Without him noticing when she had approached, she was suddenly pressed close to him.

She was blinking her eyelashes and acting innocently, but strangely, her lips looked particularly red today.

‘Were her lips always like this…’

Impulse preceded judgment without a moment’s hesitation.

Casian, who had been reaching out to Evelyn as if entranced, suddenly froze and withdrew his hand.

Then he distanced himself from Evelyn as if fleeing.

“Dear? What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing.”

“But… your ears are so red?”

When Evelyn approached with a puzzled expression, Casian moved his body swiftly.

Whoosh! Casian, who reached the bed in an instant, grabbed the white blanket placed on the bedding.

When Evelyn reached out to him, Casian wrapped her up tightly like winding silk thread around a reel.

Evelyn, whose hands and feet were suddenly bound, belatedly grasped the situation and pouted her lips sulkily.

“Don’t tell me you expect me to sleep like this?”

A tone of disbelief permeated her manner of speaking.

But there was no other choice.

“The night is cold, my lady.”

This was the best option to avoid crossing the line.

Though he heard continuous sounds of complaint, Casian carefully laid Evelyn down on the bed.

Thinking this wasn’t enough, Casian took out spare blankets from the storage cabinet.

Only after covering Evelyn with all the blankets did Casian plop down beside her and close his eyes.

“Sleep well, my lady.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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