FWTR Chapter 55

Chapter 55 – I Don’t Want Children

“Yes, the marital bedroom.”

“So then, um, Your Highness and I would be married and use this ‘marital bedroom’ together?”

“Would you prefer it a bit larger? Or do you have a particular arrangement in mind?”

It was already spacious enough.

‘That’s not what I meant…’

The bed in the center was large enough to sleep at least five people comfortably.

“Estelle. Shall I order the room to be expanded?”

“Ah, no. It’s already very spacious. There’s no need for that.”

“If there’s anything you want, I’ll make it happen, so don’t hesitate to say it.”

Estelle quickly waved her hands, worried he might actually go through with enlarging the room.

“Um… where’s the bedroom I’ll be using alone?”

“Why would you need a personal bedroom when there’s a marital bedroom?”

Michael tilted his head, genuinely puzzled. His innocent face showed not a trace of embarrassment.

It truly looked like he was asking because he didn’t understand.

‘Wait, a marital bedroom? They don’t even have separate rooms? Of course, if I insisted, he’d probably set one up…’

She found it difficult to accept his way of thinking — that having a marital bedroom meant no need for separate sleeping quarters.

Of course, she knew that marriage usually involved sharing a physical relationship. She was embarrassed, but she had no intention of neglecting her duty in that regard. Still, the idea of sharing a bedroom was a separate issue altogether.

Most nobles didn’t use marital bedrooms. Especially in political marriages, it was a given. Even in amicable relationships, couples usually had separate rooms.

And among royalty, it was common to have separate palaces entirely.

‘I’ve never shared a bed with anyone before. I don’t have any bad sleeping habits, but still…’

She was worried about showing an unsightly side of herself while sharing a bed.

“Could you set up a personal bedroom for me?”

“Is it uncomfortable for you to sleep with me? I can fix that. If you don’t like sharing the same bed, we can bring in another. Or I’ll sleep on the sofa.”

Michael’s fine eyebrows lowered. It seemed he thought she didn’t want to share a bed, and he began suggesting alternatives.

“Of course, I’m not saying we should never use the marital bedroom. Spending a night here once a week is fine.”

Seeing him upset made her chest ache a little, so she quickly came up with a compromise — something she could reasonably offer.

“Once a week seems too little. If you spend the rest of the nights in the marital bedroom, then maybe.”

“…If we use the marital bedroom too often, Her Majesty the Empress might find out…”

There was nothing good about the Empress learning that she and Michael had grown close enough to share a room.

“No information from this castle has ever leaked.”

“You must have trained the staff really well…”

No matter how cautious you were, rumors always found a way to spread. But Michael seemed quite confident.

‘Are they all that loyal?’

She even started to wonder just how he had trained them.

“No, there were leaks… but not anymore. After that, they learned to close their eyes and ears.”

“There were leaks… but now there aren’t?”

“I didn’t kill anyone. I just… gave them a little warning.”

Michael spoke slowly, leaving a pause in his words. A chill ran down her spine, and she didn’t dare ask what kind of warning it was.

“…Still, I’d like to have a private space.”

“Naturally, you have a separate living space. It’s close by. Would you like to see it?”

There was no way he hadn’t understood that “private space” meant the “personal bedroom” she just requested.

Yet Michael played dumb with a cheeky smile.

“Does that room have a bed?”

“With the marital bedroom, why would it need one?”

He was endearing in a way, but Estelle didn’t want to keep pushing. She pretended to be upset.

“Your Highness. I’m not asking for too much, am I? Please, don’t keep insisting — or rather, pushing your way.”

She was about to say “forcing,” but the word felt too strong, so she softened it to “insisting.”

“‘Forcing’…”

Michael was already shocked by the word.

“…I won’t touch you.”

“…What?”

“I wasn’t planning on being physical. Even after we marry.”

There was a contradiction in his words. She couldn’t understand.

‘He refuses to give me a personal bedroom…’

But now he said he had no intention of engaging in intimacy?

‘Then why set up a marital bedroom at all?’

Did he genuinely just want to lie beside her innocently?

In most cases, a lack of intimacy in a marriage was grounds for divorce.

‘He did say he wouldn’t take a mistress…’

He didn’t seem to avoid physical contact, but now he claimed he wouldn’t pursue anything?

There was only one reason she could think of: not that he wouldn’t — but that he couldn’t.

“Your Highness, don’t tell me… is something wrong… in that regard…?”

Michael blinked in confusion, then clenched his jaw.

“I am healthy. Very.”

He curved his lips into a faint smile, placing emphasis on both healthy and very.

‘That was rude of me…’

Estelle suddenly felt awkward. She might have been too blunt.

After all, it was his private matter — not something to bring up lightly.

“Well, um, let’s discuss the bedroom situation again later. And, Your Highness, I’m really okay. Please don’t worry. I understand.”

The person who must’ve been hurt the most was Michael. So she didn’t want him to dwell on it.

“Estelle.”

Michael called her name in a low tone as he stepped closer.

“Your Highness…?”

Estelle, who couldn’t understand why this was happening, took a step back. As she tried to avoid him, who was gradually closing the distance, she soon found her back against the wall.

When their faces met, she could smell the faint, refreshing scent of Michael up close.

‘This is… too close.’

She could hear his breathing clearly, and the tension doubled.

The sound of her heart pounding grew louder.

‘Please, quietly… please stay quiet…’

Even a little closer, with her heart racing like this, it had to be broken, right?

Estelle hoped Michael couldn’t hear her heart.

Suddenly, the kiss they had shared during the masquerade ball overwhelmed her mind. His lips had been cold, but the breath they exchanged was warm. She felt her body heat up, as if it was the same sensation.

It felt like he was going to kiss her again, and her mind began to spin. Unable to look him in the eye, she squeezed her eyes shut.

“…!”

He traced down her neck and left a small mark on her shoulder. It was slightly ticklish and a little painful.

This was a completely different atmosphere from the light kiss they shared earlier.

“I’d like to show you that I’m healthy.”

As his fingers slowly rubbed against her skin, his voice followed, soft and enticing.

“Is it alright to continue?”

His eyes narrowed playfully.

There was an unusual gleam in his gaze, with his intense eyes peeking through.

It seemed like he was about to take her into the still unfinished marital bedroom if she agreed.

“…Your Highness, you don’t have to prove it. You look healthy. So, please… stop…”

It was still a long way from actually getting married. Doing this before they were officially a couple didn’t feel right.

Moreover, Estelle had no confidence to experience something like this before she even became a wife.

“Estelle. Your bottom lip is bleeding.”

When his fingers gently touched her lower lip, she belatedly realized that blood had gathered there.

“I’m scared…”

“…Me?”

Michael didn’t seem scary, but she didn’t want him to misunderstand.

“No, it’s not you, Your Highness. It’s just… I don’t want to now. After we marry, maybe…”

She hadn’t even been forced into this, so why did she feel so sad?

Estelle, finding herself in tears, thought she must look pathetic. Michael probably thought the same.

‘He might dislike me, what if he sees me strangely?’

…She had heard the first time was supposed to hurt a lot.

“Estelle. I might have taken the joke too far. If you were scared, I’m sorry.”

Michael, trying to comfort her, was gentle. He didn’t think she was strange at all, and instead, he apologized repeatedly.

Somehow, with him, there was a strange sense of reassurance, as if she could continue without fear.

“Don’t worry. Even when we marry, we won’t have a physical relationship.”

“…”

“Besides, the Empress already knows you’re infertile… and I don’t want children either.”