Kasion slumped into the chair next to me without saying a word.
“Ka-Kasion?”
“The golden and blue stars are especially beautiful tonight.”
Caught off by the unexpected situation, I was bewildered.
Kasion didn’t seem to care that his meticulously styled hair was getting messed up as he leaned back and laced his fingers behind his head. His yellow eyes sparkled beautifully in the moonlight and starlight.
“Aren’t you going to scold me?” I asked honestly, unable to understand this suddenly gentle side of Kasion.
Kasion wasn’t usually like this at all. The Kasion I knew was strict about mistakes and rudeness, which was why people feared and avoided him.
“I was feeling stifled too, so this is good timing.”
“But you’re the main character today. If you don’t dance the first dance…”
“Thanks to you, I’m off the hook as the main character for today. Since the emperor made his entrance last, he and the empress will take the first dance.” Kasion spoke nonchalantly and closed his eyes.
A breeze found its way to the terrace again, gently tousling the loose strands of his hair. The tip of his nose seemed to turn slightly red from the chill.
I grunted as I dragged my chair closer to him. Kasion peeked one eye open to glance at me.
“You’ll catch a cold. Muscles can’t protect you from that, you know.” The shawl was large, big enough to cover my body, and still have room to spare. So I shared it with him, draping it over his body.
Kasion looked like he wanted to say something but then closed his mouth.
We sat side by side in silence. Under the shawl, it was warm. It was much warmer than when I had it to myself, probably because it now held the warmth of two people. Still, I couldn’t let my guard down. Who knew when he might try something strange?
“If you don’t want to go inside, you don’t have to,” Kasion said, closing his eyes again.
Watching his indifferent demeanor pricked my conscience. After all, I was the one who asked him to be my partner.
“Take off that necklace too. You’re probably more uncomfortable wearing it just for the ball.” He glanced at me briefly before turning his gaze back to the night sky.
I looked down at the necklace hanging around my neck. It was a silver cross with a blue coral stone on one side and a yellow turquoise on the other. This was one of the few necklaces I could wear for an extended period. Serhen had carefully chosen it for me, knowing I wasn’t fond of wearing necklaces.
“This one’s fine.”
“Why? You said wearing a necklace makes you feel like you’re being choked.”
“But this one is special to me.” I gently stroked the necklace.
Kasion frowned, seeming not to understand. “Something special, yet you lent it to Lady Soler?”
“Of course. Lady Lireania is special and trustworthy, which is why I could lend her something so precious.”
Satisfied with my answer, Kasion closed his eyes again.
Just then, the first dance ended. The applause was loud and boisterous. Even as the next song played, Kasion remained lying down. He didn’t try anything inappropriate or dangerous. Not during the second or third song either. We were practically just like sharing a blanket.
If Kasion were cultivating the seeds of obsession just like in the novel, he would have grabbed my hand or done something to me, right?
“Hmm…”
I fidgeted, pretending to be clumsy, and placed my hand on his just beyond the armrest. If he had any ulterior motives, he’d definitely react. This was an experiment.
Kasion fell for it. He grabbed my hand. As expected, he’s dangerous!
I braced my ankle, ready to kick him with my pointed heel if he tried anything befitting a 19+ dark romance novel male lead.
“Shall we go?” He removed the shawl and got up from his chair.
My ankle, which had been prepared for action, landed harmlessly back on the floor.
I guess he’s known me too long to be obsessed. We’ve seen each other at our best and worst. Just as I didn’t get flustered by Kasion’s muscles, he probably didn’t see me as a woman either.
“Yes, let’s go.”
So, I felt at ease.
“I think I’m ready to dance now.”
Kasion glanced back at me, frowning slightly. But without a word, he led me back into the ballroom.
All eyes were on us.
“Please take care of me.”
The female protagonist’s dance event is over, so it should be fine now.
I decided to enjoy the dance with a lighter heart. And I had something to say to Kasion while we danced.
Thanks to our practice, I hardly stepped on his feet this time. To be honest, I don’t think it was possible to step on them.
“Uah.”
“Relax. I won’t let you embarrass yourself.”
Before my feet could touch the floor, my waist was gently lifted, and my body spun around. This scene felt like something out of a novel.
“I noticed you seemed uncomfortable with people’s stares earlier.”
“When?”
“When we made our entrance.”
His voice resonated in my ear, close as we danced. Even in the short time, his breath was warm, likely from the exertion of dancing.
“You saw it?”
“Yes, it was irritating. They didn’t even have the courage to meet my gaze, yet they were so quick to gossip.”
Oh no. It wasn’t me who chased them away—it was Kasion, just like in the novel. Why is this connecting back to the novel again?
This time, Kasion couldn’t avoid my foot. I was so startled that I accidentally stepped on him with all my strength.
“So-Sorry.”
“It’s my fault for not dodging.”
Kasion remained calm as ever. I was the only one feeling anxious.
As we spun around, I finally noticed that everyone had left the dance floor and was watching us. I could especially feel Princess Diana’s sharp red eyes. Her next target was definitely me.
How is this any different from being the main character in the first dance?
My feet began to stumble out of nervousness. Despite his initial hesitation about dancing after two years, Kasion skillfully led me, deftly avoiding my missteps.
Finally, the last note played. My back arched gracefully as his body leaned over mine. His face came close to mine. Even our lips were almost touching.
“Um, Kasion.”
“What?”
“Please write me a pledge that you won’t confine me no matter what mistakes I make in the future.”
Let’s secure some safety measures first, regardless of how Kasion reacted.
“What do you take me for?”
A possessive, obsessive, confinement-obsessed male lead in a dark romance novel.
I hated the idea of being the female lead with whom the scary Kasion got obsessed, but I hated the confinement even more.
* * *
Three days have passed since the imperial ball ended. Now, both Serhen’s wedding preparations and my preparations for independence were in their final stages.
“Milady, the workers just finished installing the furniture in your house.”
“Really?”
“Yes, they’re asking you to come and check it.”
At Selvia’s request, I got up.
After returning from the ball, I had been suffering from a mild cold, so I dressed warmly and headed to the house next door. In the garden, blue roses that were usually forbidden to be transplanted had been planted. These mysterious flowers, which bloomed from late summer to autumn, were a gift from Serhen to remind people that even after I became independent, I was still a part of the Mellin family.
“You’ve arrived.”
The craftsman was affiliated with the Mellin guild. I looked around the furniture on the first floor. As expected from custom-made pieces, they made the rooms feel cozy and comfortable, exactly to my liking. The parlor on the second floor was lovely, and the study on the third floor was cozy. Even the furniture in the hallway excited me.
Living with Serhen was nice, but I was also looking forward to being independent.
“Milady, it’s so beautiful.”
“Isn’t it? Take good care of it. I’ll be using this place for the rest of my life.”
“Huh? But what about the duke?”
There goes Selvia, bringing up Kasion again. This clueless girl, is she trying to push me into danger?
Since the ball, I had been keeping my distance from Kasion. I had realized that simply acting as a barrier for Serhen and his fiancée could put me in danger.
Contrary to my concerns, Kasion hadn’t reacted much. He hadn’t even asked for the second tea time we had scheduled. Of course, he didn’t give me a written promise not to confine me either.
“If you mention that one more time, I’ll leave you behind.”
“No! That’s too much! I like the marquis and future marchioness, but I’m always your maid.”
Ignoring Selvia’s complaints, I opened the door to my bedroom.
“What’s this…”
The bed wasn’t the one I had ordered. It was the bed Kasion had insisted on getting me. It was wide enough for one but slightly narrow for two. Given Kasion’s role in the novel, this bed didn’t seem ordinary.
“This bed looks way too dangerous.”
Especially the decoration in the center of the headboard. Maybe it was just my imagination, but it seemed suspicious. It looked perfect for tying something. Why would that be on a bed? What’s it supposed to be used for?
Now that I think about it, Kasion had ended his conflict with Serhen after hearing about my independence. He even seemed pleased.
“This is way too dangerous.”
“Wow, Milady, this bed is really luxurious. I’ve never seen such fine wood grain. It must be made from the highest quality materials. And the pattern is so beautiful.” Oblivious to my thoughts, Selvia admired the bed without hesitation.
“What about the guest room bed?”
“They said it would arrive a few days after the marquis’s wedding. They’re running short on wood since they’re also redecorating the newlywed room at the main house.”
It was a troublesome situation. There was no other choice. I would have to move my bed from the main house. Having made up my mind, I returned home.
“Milady, a letter has arrived from the Duke’s estate.”
Is this the moment when Kasion starts moving again?
I immediately opened the letter that the butler handed me.
[Let’s have our second tea time tomorrow. I’ll also write the pledge you requested when you come tomorrow.]
Can I really trust this?
I couldn’t help but think of the muscles I’d been seeing more and more at his house lately. What muscle is he planning to show me this time?
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I am also interested to find out which muscle he plans on showing her 👀