Chapter 11
“Beau… Because it’s beautiful.”
“That’s your only reason?”
Cayente followed Yulia’s gaze and casually looked out the window, but Yulia couldn’t shake the strange, itchy feeling running down her back.
“Besides that, the streets around here are all arranged radially from this spot, so no matter which store you go to, you have to pass through here. That could be another reason.”
“That’s a much more convincing explanation.”
As Cayente stepped closer to get a better look at the street, his body brushed against her back, startling her so much she had to hold her breath. It wasn’t something to overreact to, she told herself, but still—his body felt far too close for it to be simply about looking outside.
“But you… why are you so tense?”
She tried her best to act like it was nothing, but apparently, he had noticed.
“Who’s tense…? Brother!”
Just as she finished speaking, Cayente took a step back, only to grab Yulia’s hand, spin her halfway around, and make her face him.
“You can’t even meet my eyes, and your whole body’s stiff like a board. And you say you’re not tense?”
She wanted to deny it, but when their eyes met at such close range, Yulia instinctively turned her gaze away. Seeing her reaction, Cayente grinned and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her into his arms.
“Kai!”
“I don’t see why you’re so shocked.”
“You suddenly pulled me by the waist—how could I not be surprised?!”
Even with several layers of clothing between them, she could clearly feel the contours of Cayente’s body, and it overwhelmed her. Their warmth was shared directly. Her chest was pressed so firmly against his strong body that she was sure he could feel what she was feeling too.
Yulia knew it was pointless, but she still tried to create some distance between them. Yet, instead of separating, the friction from their bodies rubbing together only heightened the sensation.
So this is what a man’s body feels like—so firm everywhere.
Everything about him felt different from her own body, and Yulia couldn’t help but be even more aware of Cayente.
“…Let me go.”
Realizing she couldn’t break free with strength, Yulia opened her mouth instead. But Cayente said nothing. He just stared at her with those unreadable eyes.
“…Please let me go.”
After her repeated pleading, Cayente gave a crooked smile.
“What are you looking at me like that for? Do I scare you?”
“W-why would I be scared? There’s no reason to be scared of you.”
“You should be.”
“…What?”
“I could suddenly try something like this again.”
“What… what are you doing?!”
Cayente, who had been silently watching her, suddenly leaned in, bringing his lips close to hers. Yulia turned her head away just before they touched, and felt Cayente’s breath near her ear, like a quiet, amused sigh.
“Why are you avoiding it?”
“You’re doing something like this out of nowhere… How could I just stand still?!”
“A kiss between people who are going to get married isn’t a big deal, yet you’re still acting like a child.”
“A child…?”
“Do you even understand what marriage is? Or did you think grown men and women living together would just be playing house?”
“I know!”
She was already flustered enough, and now he was mocking her decision like it meant nothing.
Frustrated, Yulia snapped her head back to face him. Though startled by how close his lips still were, she locked eyes with him, her face flushed but unflinching. She felt like if she looked away now, she would lose.
“You make that face over just a hug or a kiss? Once we’re married, there’ll be more than that. Are you prepared for it?”
But that was the one thing she couldn’t bring herself to say boldly. It would sound like she was giving permission for anything. But more than that—there was another reason.
—Isn’t this… too indecent?
If she could at least see some sign of desire in Cayente’s eyes… like a natural, primal urge…
But Cayente’s voice was flat, with no shift in tone, and the way he looked down at her—there was no desire, no longing. Just emptiness, as always.
Yulia wasn’t ignorant about what married couples did. She had tried to consider his teasing as a form of interest in her…
“You should answer, Yulia.”
But Cayente didn’t seem to care about the kiss itself. Yulia felt like he was only doing this to tease her. To watch her struggle in his arms. Not just now, but for her entire life—he wanted her completely bound to him, unable to escape, and he was mocking that.
“If you don’t intend to do anything else, then let me go.”
That realization made her angry. So that’s what her brother thought—he believed she was just something that belonged to him.
“I said let me go!”
Even though she tried pushing him away again and again, Cayente wouldn’t budge. So she started pounding her fists against his chest with enough force to make a sound. It must’ve hurt at least a little, but Cayente didn’t flinch.
“What if I do intend to do more?”
After struggling for a while, Yulia finally dropped her arms in exhaustion. Then, Cayente spoke in a calm, unaffected tone.
Of course. What could she possibly do to change this situation? If he wanted to tease her, he could do so all he liked.
Yulia gave up trying to break free and simply glared at him.
“Yeah. You wouldn’t have decided to get married without at least that level of resolve.”
When Yulia wiped away the look of weakness from her face and met his gaze confidently, Cayente smiled for the first time. She had wondered if he’d forgotten how to smile—but apparently not. And now, for the first time since they reunited, he smiled… only because she was in distress.
“…But what’s with those resentful eyes? Did your noble parents never teach you any better? Did they tell you to look at your future husband like that?”
Slap!
Before he even finished his sentence, a sharp sound filled the room—like flesh tearing.
Seizing the brief moment when his arm around her waist slackened, Yulia broke free and slapped Cayente across the face.
She could tolerate a lot—but not mocking her parents.
Did they teach her to look at her husband like that? Then did her brother learn to treat his future wife this way?
The words almost burst out, but she swallowed them. Saying it would make her no different.
“Yulia Ruper. What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
She left Cayente behind, his voice lower than usual from anger, and ran to the door.
“What’s going on? I just heard a sound—”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Henry. Let’s look around another time. I suddenly remembered something urgent at home.”
Henry blinked in surprise, holding a tray, but Yulia only offered a farewell instead of an explanation and dashed down the hallway.
“I’ll escort you—Miss! Miss Yulia!”
Henry’s voice followed behind her, offering to accompany her, but Yulia didn’t look back until she was out of the office. She was afraid Cayente might try to grab her again.
