My body stiffened like a board. My eyes darted around.
‘So, is this really… what I think it is?’
Was he saying he wanted to come into my room?
Meanwhile, Ian, still waiting for my response, kept his gaze fixed on me as I stood frozen, lips pressed tightly together. His deep azure eyes clung to me, unwavering.
‘Wait, why is this progressing so fast?’
This wasn’t just one step forward; it felt like we’d skipped ten at once. The back of my neck felt hot despite the cool weather, and I stammered in my flustered state.
“Well, um, Ian…”
“Yes, Eloise.”
Even now, his voice calling my name was low and captivating.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
“Well, I mean… Yes, we did kiss in the garden earlier, and technically, we’re married! But, uh, don’t you think this is moving a bit too fast? I… I need some time to prepare myself…”
I didn’t think I was someone who struggled to speak like this. But the way I fumbled and flailed, face red as a beet, I probably looked utterly ridiculous to anyone watching.
Not even finishing my sentence properly, I hesitantly peeked up at Ian, trying to gauge his reaction. He was staring at me just as intently as before.
Then, he tilted his head slightly.
“Moving too fast? What do you mean?”
“…What?”
“I don’t quite understand how escorting you to your room could be considered moving too fast.”
His even tone was as unperturbed as ever.
And that’s when I realized—it wasn’t Ian who was rushing things. It was my rotten imagination. My face turned scarlet, realizing just how far ahead I’d leaped in my own head.
‘Should I just bite my tongue?’
For a moment, a drastic thought crossed my mind, but I quickly tried to regain my composure, clearing my throat awkwardly.
“Oh, uh… What I meant was…”
“……”
“That you’re more than welcome! Come in, by all means, haha.”
The more I tried to cover my tracks, the more ridiculous I sounded. Forcing a hearty laugh, I fumbled for the doorknob and swung the door open with exaggerated energy.
“…By all means.”
Ian softly repeated my words, and I thought I caught a hint of amusement in his voice. But I was too flustered to dwell on it.
“Then, excuse me.”
“…Y-yes.”
I awkwardly extended my hand to Ian, who took it with his usual composure as he escorted me into the room.
As soon as we stepped inside, the door closed softly behind us.
“……”
The lights were on, and the room wasn’t remotely like the honeymoon suite we’d stayed in during our visit to Nomos. Still, I was so tense I could hardly move.
‘Why am I so nervous? He’s just escorting me, nothing more!’
I wanted to slap myself for how ridiculous I was being.
Oblivious to my inner turmoil, Ian led me across the small sitting area of my room, toward the bedroom on the right.
‘Come to think of it, this is the first time Ian has come in here.’
In the two years of our short yet long marriage, we had never once crossed into each other’s personal spaces.
That thought made the tension, which had momentarily eased, seep back into my entire body.
‘Why am I attaching so much meaning to this? Pull yourself together!’
I shook my head slightly in an attempt to clear my mind.
Before I realized it, Ian had brought me to the foot of the bed and gently seated me down.
“Now that I think about it, there was something I wanted to say.”
He looked down at me, his gaze languid.
I swallowed nervously, not knowing why I was so on edge.
“…What is it?”
When I cautiously asked, Ian, who had been silently staring at me, took my hand.
The ring he had slipped onto my finger earlier glimmered faintly under the moonlight streaming through the window.
He brought my hand close to his face, then pressed his lips deeply into my palm.
Even as he did so, his eyes remained fixed on mine.
I flinched at the soft sensation of his lips against my skin.
“I-Ian?”
After lingering for a moment, he slowly lifted his lips and rubbed his thumb over the spot he’d kissed.
“I realized I haven’t said this all day.”
“……”
“Happy birthday, Eloise.”
“…Oh.”
I found myself staring blankly, my mouth slightly agape.
I’d long since given up trying to maintain a neutral expression.
‘This is driving me crazy.’
Why was he saying something so simple with that expression and those actions?
Was he openly trying to seduce me?
Was that it?
Unable to hide my bewilderment, I stared at him in a daze as he added, with a casual air:
“I’m glad I managed to say it before the day ended. At least there won’t be three consecutive years where I don’t celebrate your birthday.”
It seemed he was finally acknowledging how neglectful he’d been to Eloise over the past two years.
“…I feel like I should thank you, but before that….”
I gestured toward the hand he was still holding.
“Could you maybe let go of this first? It’s just that….”
I feel like I’m about to die of embarrassment.
Unfortunately, Ian didn’t seem inclined to comply. Instead of releasing my hand, his lips curved into a faint smile.
“I find it hard to part with.”
“What…!”
Why was he acting like this? Was this really Ian Cloud? Or was it an alien impersonating him?
His drastic change in attitude, far beyond mere assertiveness, left my mind blank.
I was so dizzy that even sitting on the bed felt like an ordeal.
I couldn’t believe I was witnessing Ian Cloud being flirtatious—and that his target was me.
In the end, I couldn’t bring myself to meet his gaze. I shut my eyes tightly and turned my head away.
“Wait, Ian. Just… wait.”
“……”
“I’m really overwhelmed right now, so can we stop here?”
I feel like I’m going to die.
The words tumbled out of me, verging on a plea.
Just yesterday—or even earlier today—everything had been fine. How could one confession throw me this off balance?
I didn’t even need a mirror to know my face was redder than a tomato.
Finally, Ian, who had been silently watching me, let go of my hand without argument.
Through my still-closed eyes, I sensed him take a step back.
“……”
When I cautiously opened my eyes, Ian was looking at me with a faint smile.
“All right. Let’s stop here—for today.”
His low voice carried a trace of amusement.
He glanced briefly around the room before speaking again.
“Well then, I’ll take my leave.”
“……”
“Have a good night, Eloise.”
The way he deliberately enunciated my name couldn’t have been more suggestive.
It was clear he was enjoying my reactions from the start.
“…You too, Ian.”
Barely managing a response in a small, trembling voice, I clamped my mouth shut again.
After lingering for a few seconds longer, Ian quietly turned and left the room.
I heard his footsteps grow fainter, followed by the soft click of the door closing. Only then did I release the breath I’d been holding.
“I-I almost died.”
As the tension drained from me, I felt utterly exhausted. I let myself fall back onto the bed.
My heart was still pounding wildly.
“……”
Staring blankly at the ceiling, I raised a hand to cover my face.
My cheeks and forehead felt scorching hot.
“…What am I going to do?”
It was impossible to ignore anymore.
❖ ❖ ❖
The next morning.
“Ahh.”
Without anyone waking me, I shot upright and stretched.
“I’m awake this early….”
Despite having spent the entire day preparing for the celebration, entertaining guests all evening, and tossing and turning until dawn, I didn’t feel tired. In fact, my body felt strangely light.
‘I think I know why.’
Not wanting to dwell on the reason, I brushed it off and got ready before heading to the study.
With the festivities over, there was a mountain of work waiting for me.
‘I need to start preparing for winter, draft the budget for next year….’
I mentally went through the tasks awaiting me as I sat at my desk.
At the very least, I needed to get something done before breakfast.
I reached for the fountain pen tucked into the side of the desk but stopped short.
“…Huh?”
Even though Vivi had cleaned the desk thoroughly yesterday, there was an unfamiliar envelope placed squarely in the center.
Did Vivi leave it here?
As I picked it up curiously, I realized something strange—it looked oddly familiar.
“This is….”
It was the same as the letter hidden in Eloise’s bookshelf, one with no sender written on it.
• • •
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