The next day.
Perhaps because her sleeping arrangements changed, Lizelle woke up earlier than usual.
It was still dark outside the window, the sun hadn’t even risen yet.
Lizelle very carefully sat up and looked at the people lying next to her.
Next to Chase, who was sleeping motionless like a stone, Raphel was sleeping with his mouth wide open, stretched out wide.
The cat was curled up at Raphel’s feet, snoring peacefully.
She hugged her legs close to her chest.
She sat like that for a while just gazing at them, head resting on her knees peacefully.
Even though their marriage was only a formality, it seemed like they were a real family.
“Mm… I like jelly.”
Raph mumbled in his sleep.
Lizelle stifled a laugh as she watched him.
Dreaming of eating jelly, Raphel’s small mouth moved as if he were chewing.
Worried that his long bangs might tickle his forehead, Lizelle gently brushed his hair back with a soft touch.
A faint smile appeared on Raphel’s lips as he felt her hand touch him even in his sleep.
“…”
Her gaze naturally shifted from Raphel to the side.
To Chase, who was sleeping soundly. His hair color was identical to Raphel’s.
‘Don’t even think about sleeping tonight.’
Suddenly, Lizelle remembered what he said last night and chuckled.
Men should win at night, and don’t even think about sleeping tonight.
Where on earth did he hear such a thing…
It was the most shocking thing she’d heard in a while.
‘Still, he seems to be putting effort into this marriage in his own way.’
Maybe he got some advice from somewhere and was trying to put it into practice…
Of course, she still didn’t know exactly what his intentions were.
As Lizelle’s gaze rested on Chase, she absentmindedly touched her lips, recalling how close they had come the night before.
Even though their lips hadn’t touched, she still felt his hot breath brushing against her lips.
Her heart began to flutter faintly again.
Memories of their time together flashed through her mind.
‘Let’s get married.’
‘Call me Chase.’
‘I’ve always wanted to call your name.’
‘But you’re crying. How can you say you’re fine like this?’
‘The reason I’m laughing is you.’
‘Because it’s dangerous. Me. To you.’
From proposing a contract marriage to talking nonsense while drunk, to getting attacked and injured, to kissing the back of her hand.
Lizelle found one thing in common among all those moments.
That at some point, the man who had been so cold in the beginning was smiling at her.
And in turn, she had begun smiling back at him.
“…Lizelle.”
As she was lost in thought, she heard a soft voice calling her name.
Startled, Lizelle turned her head.
She checked to see if he was awake, but his eyes were still closed.
It was merely sleep-talking.
What kind of dream was he having to call her name in his sleep…?
Lizelle chuckled quietly, moving to get out of bed.
Since she was already awake, she thought she’d have a cup of tea.
She was careful not to disturb the sleeping figures while moving, but as she was about to get up a large hand grabbed hers.
She had no choice but to pause as the hand stopped her.
“Wife.”
The deep, groggy voice of someone who had just woken up pierced straight into her heart.
Lizelle turned to look at him with trembling eyes.
“Good morning.”
Chase, now awake, greeted her with a gentle smile.
Lizelle stared blankly at his slightly disheveled hair and soft expression that was relaxed and defenseless.
The corners of his lips, rising in a pleasant curve, captivated her.
The dawn outside the window was reflected in his smile.
With the sound of him calling her wife ringing in her ears, time seemed to slow.
Her heart burned as though it had been set on fire, her vision swayed, and her pulse raced.
“…”
Lizelle couldn’t find any words.
She simply lowered her gaze to their hands.
His hand was holding hers tightly, as always.
His warmth had already occupied her mind before she knew it.
“Wife?”
Chase, noticing her silence and blank stare, sat up in concern.
Lizelle met his gaze, cheeks flushed and held his hand in return.
“Yes. Good morning to you too, Your Grace.”
At that moment, Lizelle could no longer deny it.
This wasn’t a temporary feeling. She truly liked Chase.
* * *
That afternoon.
Chase had a very serious look on his face.
He’d assumed that living under the same roof as Lizelle after their marriage would mean more time together.
But he’d been gravely mistaken.
As if trying to make up for lost time, Raphel clung to Lizelle and wouldn’t let go.
Like a cicada on a tall tree.
“Wife.”
“Lizelle!”
Whenever Chase tried to call her, Raphel would immediately block his way, yelling louder.
Even during meals, Raphel dominated the atmosphere, monopolizing Lizelle’s attention.
“Look! Raphel is eating broccoli!”
Raphel picked up some broccoli with his fork and brought it to his mouth, munching on it.
“Our Raphel is so amazing! Eating so well, you’re going to grow so tall!”
Lizelle happily praised him with a bright smile when she saw that.
Chase was lonely.
It was clearly a meal for three, but it felt as though only two people were present.
It felt like the three of them got married.
“Ha…”
Chase, sitting in his office after lunch, let out a deep sigh.
Since breakfast was like that, he wanted to spend a peaceful lunch with her at the dining table, but his plan was completely ruined when Raphel finished eating in a hurry and insisted that Lizelle go out and play.
“Did things not go well last night?”
Rohan asked cautiously, gauging Chase’s mood.
He’d studied the book diligently and given Chase advice, but was worried something might have backfired again.
“No.”
Rohan’s advice was helpful, but ultimately ineffective.
Because of that damn cat, the four of them had to sleep together last night.
“Then why do you look so upset?”
“It feels like Raphel got married instead of me.”
Chase pressed his fingers to his furrowed brow, visibly frustrated.
“Master, surely you’re not jealous of the young master, are you?”
“…”
Rohan spoke with a light laugh, intending it to be a joke to lighten the mood.
But there was no answer. Chase’s expression became more serious.
Only then did Rohan realize.
This guy is serious. He is seriously jealous of his nephew.
“Master… The young master is only five years old.”
Rohan looked at Chase with an expression that said, please don’t say that.
“I know.”
Chase scowled at Rohan’s gaze.
He didn’t like how Rohan’s words made him seem like a very narrow-minded and petty uncle.
Five years old. It was a young age. An age where a guardian was still needed.
It is also an age where children are very curious and enjoy running around.
Then, a sudden idea struck him.
“Rohan.”
“Yes?”
“Contact that Smactor store immediately. I’ll buy it all.”
* * *
“…What is all this?”
Lizelle stood there blankly, scanning the room.
One of the rooms that had been used as a guest room had now been turned into a shop.
The store in the Smactor shopping district where Raphel bought the star bag, to be exact.
It was identical to how it was then, as if it had been moved in its entirety.
“Raphel. Do you like it?”
“Uncle is the best!”
Raphel ran around the store, no, the room, excitedly.
Chase couldn’t hide his satisfaction at the sight.
It took less than six hours to move the entire shop to the mansion.
Moreover, he succeeded in diverting Raphel’s attention.
With this amount of stuff, Raphel could spend a month playing in this room without getting tired of it.
Especially since they weren’t just ordinary toys, but toys imbued with amazing magic.
He wouldn’t be distracting Lizelle very often for the time being.
“Unbelievable…”
Lizelle was exasperated.
She told him not to waste his money recklessly, but he insisted on buying the entire store.
In the same room, the three people each had different expressions.
Lizelle was aghast, Chase was pleased, and Raphel was excited.
But that night.
Chase realized that his plan failed.
When he quietly slipped into her bedroom, intending to spend the night with her again, he froze in place.
“Uncle! Hurry up! Lie down here!”
Raphel, already on the bed, grinned at him brightly.
Chase had a thought.
He needed to bring Aileena here sooner than planned. He needed more than objects—he needs a person.
If Aileena was there, then Raphel would have a friend the same age to play with, and then he will be able to monopolize Lizelle.
But that was his big mistake.
Not only Raphel, but Aileena would also become another rival for Lizelle’s attention.
