Side Story 1. Tender Affection (1)

What woke me from a deep sleep was the faint sensation of fingers threading gently through my hair. Struggling to open my eyes, I saw long fingers curling and uncurling a strand of my red hair at their tips.

‘Who…?’

Still groggy from sleep, my mind wasn’t functioning properly. I blinked sluggishly, and the man playing with my hair slowly sat up.

As the blanket slid off his body, it revealed his pale, toned figure. His skin was so white it almost seemed otherworldly, and his sculpted face didn’t feel entirely real either.

Blood-red eyes gazed down at me, their intensity piercing. Then, lips just as crimson brushed lightly against the corner of my eye. Despite his cold, aloof aura, the kiss was soft and tender.

“Awake?”

His polite, melodious voice sprayed over my hazy thoughts like mist. Blinking again, I murmured his name.

“Percy?”

“Why the question? Who else but me would be at your side while you slept?”

He chuckled softly, but for some reason, a shiver ran down my spine. Instinctively, I hunched my shoulders before shaking my head quickly.

What’s there to feel uneasy about? He’s my husband, and this is our estate…

Ugh, my head hurts.

Letting out a groan, I was startled when Percy reached out and pulled me into his arms. Like him, I was dressed in nothing more than a thin negligee, so I could feel the warmth of his body directly against mine.

‘This man looks so unreal, yet his body temperature is strangely high.’

With an appearance like that of a statue or a sculpture, you’d expect his touch to be cold. But being in his arms felt like he’d swallowed a flame, radiating warmth.

As his heat seeped into me, an odd dryness crept up my throat. I wriggled slightly, and Percy, assuming I was cold, skillfully wrapped me snugly in the blanket.

Now even warmer, my body felt as languid as a freshly grilled rice cake. Dozing off in Percy’s embrace, I barely managed to pull myself back to awareness.

‘No, I can’t fall asleep again.’

I tried hard to keep my eyes open, but they kept fluttering shut, again and again. Resigned, I mumbled softly to him.

“Water…”

“Here.”

It seemed water was within reach because Percy quickly brought a glass to my lips. Swaddled in the blanket and nestled in his arms, I couldn’t hold it myself.

Even if my hands were free, I doubted I’d have the strength to lift it. Despite drinking the water, my eyelids kept drooping, and I couldn’t fully wake.

While waging my silent battle against sleep, I felt Percy’s gaze on me. When I looked up, he was watching me intently.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, I offered him a sheepish smile.

“Sorry. It’s my low blood pressure…”

“No need to apologize. Watching you struggle against sleep like this is adorable.”

“Adorable…”

Adorable, while I was blinking sleepily, my face squished into the bedding, and my hair a messy tangle?

‘How embarrassing.’

Yet somewhere deep inside, his words made my heart tingle pleasantly. Flustered, I buried my face further into the blanket, my cheeks burning red. Percy responded by pulling me even closer and stroking my hair again, just as he had while I was sleeping.

In a low voice, he murmured, “I have an acquaintance who controls every detail of his wife’s life—what she wears, what she eats, and so on. At the time, I wondered why he bothered with such a tedious thing. But now, I think I understand a little.”

An obsessive husband as a friend? I wanted to tell him to drop such people from his life.

“That’s not okay…”

I protested, my voice muffled.

Hearing my response, Percy’s crimson eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made me squirm.

“Would you like more water?” he asked softly.

I gave a small nod. Percy picked up the glass again, but this time, instead of bringing it to my lips, he took a sip himself.

Then, ever so slowly, he leaned in and pressed his lips to mine, sharing the water.

I squeezed my eyes shut tightly. Despite how often our bodies had intertwined, the closeness of his lips still made my body stiffen, my back instinctively straightening.

* * *

It wasn’t until more than a month after arriving at the Stewart estate—and only after the delicate early stages of pregnancy had passed—that I finally ventured outside to look around the territory.

‘I haven’t done anything, yet time’s flying by so quickly.’

No, that wasn’t entirely true. I hadn’t done ‘nothing’. My hands instinctively rested over my abdomen. Though my stomach was still flat with no visible change, a new life was growing inside me. It felt like a miracle.

‘When I first realized I’d been reincarnated into the villainess of a female-oriented game, I was terrified. I was so scared I’d die.’

But not only had I survived and escaped the game’s original story, I’d also gotten married—and now, I was expecting a baby. Life truly was unpredictable.

‘Maybe it’s time to take things slower. I’ve been through so much, haven’t I? I worked hard to change the ending…’

I’d rolled, stumbled, been hit, and narrowly escaped death. After overcoming all that, surely I deserved a little rest.

‘Still, I thought it was time to get back to some outside activity, which is why I came out… but maybe I should’ve just stayed in.’

As I indulged in the idea of retreating to the comfort of my room, the carriage came to a stop, and the maids cheerfully called out to me.

“Madam, we’ve arrived.”

“Since the master isn’t here, enjoy yourself before heading back.”

Wasn’t it usually the other way around? Shouldn’t I be enjoying myself ‘when’ Percy was around?

‘But then again, Percy’s incredibly overprotective.’

If he’d come along, I probably wouldn’t even be allowed to walk on my own. No joke, he’d been so insistent on carrying me everywhere—even inside the estate—that I thought I might die of embarrassment.

‘That’s right! If Percy were here, I wouldn’t even get to explore the estate properly. I should make the most of this outing.’

My mind swung back and forth, but I decided to let it go and enjoy the day.

Hopping down from the carriage, I noticed the air had grown chillier since we’d first arrived from the capital.

A cool breeze carried a salty scent, and as I stepped down, I gasped at the sight before me—vast, rippling waters stretched endlessly into the horizon.

“Wow, it’s the sea! Oh, wait… no, this is the river’s lower reaches, isn’t it?”

It was so wide I’d mistaken it for the ocean.

Even knowing it was a river, the shimmering waves under the sunlight were no different from the sea’s vast expanse.

‘What a massive river. No wonder large ships can sail up here to the estate.’

The realization clicked—this was why the Stewart estate was so prosperous.

‘Where there’s commerce and shipping, people gather, and trade flourishes.’

And naturally, this meant the lord of such a territory would have his hands full. In hindsight, it was surprising Percy had spent so much time doting on me. With such a bustling estate, he must’ve had taxes, supplies, and countless other things to manage.

‘Since I’m out, I should enjoy the view and pick up a gift for Percy before heading back.’

The sunlight on my skin made me feel inexplicably refreshed, as if I were growing healthier just by standing there. While I paused to admire the river, the maids approached me, giggling softly.

“Madam, why are you looking around like that? It’s like you’ve never seen this place before.”

“Well, that’s because I haven’t. I’ve only seen glimpses through the carriage window—this is my first proper visit.”

“What? But it’s been ages since you arrived at the estate!”

“So I’m saying, it’s my first time here.”

‘Anyone listening would think I’m some lazy person who can’t even step outside.’

Scratching my cheek awkwardly, I caught the maids whispering behind me. But the content of their hushed conversation wasn’t the kind of criticism I’d been worried about—it was completely unexpected.

“Madam’s been completely taken in. Absolutely swept off her feet.”

“What are we going to do with our innocent Madam?”

“True, sometimes ignorance really is bliss.”

Their tone sounded as if Percy had somehow deceived me.

‘But what does that have to do with me staying inside the estate and not coming out?’

I narrowed my eyes and turned to look at them. Contrary to their words, their cheeks were flushed, and they were smiling shyly, as if utterly delighted about something.

The disconnect between their expressions and the conversation baffled me. Furrowing my brows, I grumbled.

“What nonsense are you all going on about? Are you teasing me again?”

I’d known from the moment we left the capital that these maids had a knack for teasing me.

 

 

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