Chapter 17
Zeno was already curled up and asleep in his spot, probably tired.
As I was trying to sneak into my room while avoiding the guards, something felt off.
“…Why do I feel uneasy?”
I grabbed the door handle but immediately let go and hesitated.
I had checked earlier, but Cedric’s office light was still on.
“Maybe I’m just tired. I should go to bed quickly.”
I yawned and gently opened the door to enter my room.
But just as I stepped inside, I stopped.
I felt a gaze watching me from the darkness. And when I recognized that it was the familiar gaze of a predator, cold sweat ran down my back.
“My wife, who was so seductive earlier, is now busy wandering around.”
“…D-Duke Cedric?”
I stood frozen at the door, my eyes darting around, feeling a chill in my spine.
‘Why do I keep getting caught?’
At this point, I was sure he had somehow placed a tracker on me.
“Why are you so flustered, as if you’ve done something wrong?”
Cedric silently watched me, then sat up from the bed.
The moment I saw him, I stepped back and quickly forced a smile.
Where had that responsible look gone? Was he already in my room?
I couldn’t figure it out, but it was clear he had finished his work and came to find me in the room I was waiting in. If it were the Cedric I knew, it made sense.
‘But he’s not exactly the Cedric I used to know anymore.’
Cedric smiled, watching me step back. Then he clapped his hands next to him and laughed.
His blue eyes glowed faintly in the dark, and I couldn’t approach him recklessly. He tilted his head slightly and looked at his hands.
“Shall we start by tying your wrists, like before?”
As soon as he said that, Cedric tried to tie my wrist with the curtain string next to the bed. I panicked and stopped him.
“Has your taste changed?”
“It’s not that.”
I gasped.
He still had that smirk on his face and looked down at me. His gaze was persistent, with a hint of pleasure, and I struggled to free my hand from his.
“Wife, now we can talk properly, don’t you think?”
I tried to pull away, but it was too late.
Cedric quickly tied my wrist to his with the string. It was hard for him to tie with just one hand, and I was left speechless as I watched him tie it tightly.
“You won’t be able to escape now. What will you do?”
“Uh…”
His long eyelashes lowered over his blue eyes, and his slow blinking and slightly open mouth caught my attention. His shirt was undone, like he was tired from work.
He really seemed like someone who had made up his mind before coming into this room.
“If you want to escape, you’ll have to untie the string. I have no intention of letting you go this time.”
“That’s cruel!”
I raised my tied hands, seeing how tightly they were tied. I couldn’t even think of untying it.
“Cruel? That’s disappointing.”
Cedric lifted me up and gently brushed my hair aside, bringing our faces closer. Seeing his smile, he seemed satisfied with the situation.
“You said you didn’t want to sleep alone, but you’re sneaking around like you’re caught doing something.”
“…Did I do that?”
“Look at you now.”
“Well, isn’t it stranger to act calm in this situation?”
“Is it?”
Cedric chuckled and pulled me closer, wrapping his arms around my waist. As I fell into his arms, I swallowed nervously.
“Or maybe, I’ll make you speak.”
With him so close, I hurriedly opened my mouth. No, this isn’t about opening my mouth—I can’t even speak because he’s blocking me!
“I’ll tell you! I’ll tell you!”
“You don’t have to tell me.”
“That’s a lie!”
He had pushed me to the edge!
“I went to see the animals.”
“Is that your answer?”
“…Actually, my father said he was coming, so I planned to send them back to where they were. It would look strange if there were too many animals.”
“Yeah, it does seem strange.”
“Right?”
I looked at Cedric with sparkling eyes. He smiled slightly and gently adjusted my wrist, then pulled me into his arms, making me fall into his embrace.
“Hmm?”
I was startled and tried to stand up by pushing against his chest, but Cedric gently tugged on my hand and pulled me back into his arms.
“You’re the strange one.”
“Uh, me?”
“It seems like you’re thinking about something else while I’m right here. How much more should I try to get your attention?”
When I heard that, it seemed reasonable. It was almost impressive that I was still thinking about other things while Cedric was doing this to me.
I leaned my face against his chest and quietly said,
“I’m sorry, I was worried because my father said he was coming.”
At this point, I had to change my strategy. Whatever I did, I needed to divert attention away from suspicion.
“I’ve never heard anything nice from my father… I was scared it would be the same this time.”
Cedric looked a bit surprised, his expression softening. Without saying a word, he gently stroked my back.
“You don’t need to hear those things. To me, you’re already amazing. You don’t need anyone else’s approval.”
His unexpected words made me look up at him. What did Cedric really think of me? I couldn’t tell.
It had been strange since he said he married me because he liked me, but now I was even more curious about his intentions.
“…You’re stranger than I am.”
Since finding out I had been reincarnated as the emperor’s illegitimate child, I hadn’t really thought much about myself. I’d just been struggling to avoid the inevitable ending.
But somehow, it felt like Cedric was truly seeing me.
“It seems like I get strange only when I’m in front of you. But, I don’t mind being like this.”
As he tidied my messy hair, Cedric smiled faintly. Honestly, this felt unfair.
Who wouldn’t fall for this kind of temptation?
When I couldn’t hold it in anymore and laughed, Cedric lightly stroked my cheek. The distance between us became smaller, and my eyes slowly closed.
“Oh, by the way, have you finished your work?”
“Claire. The most important thing to me is you.”
“When did that happen…?”
“From now on.”
“So, it’s fine to spend time with you first, and do the work later.”
At his words, I felt a heat rise in my face. I had promised myself I wouldn’t fall for his looks, but this time, I had fallen for his words instead. Was that okay?
I must be a weak person.
“Huh, what is it?”
I woke up from a dazed state, feeling a licking sensation on my cheek and seeing a piercing gaze.
“Woof woof.” (Get up. What have you done that you can’t get up?)
I was startled by Zeno’s barking and quickly covered myself with the blanket. I wasn’t sure when I had fallen asleep, and I was worried whether I was properly dressed.
But when I checked, I realized I was dressed neatly, with no exposure. I let out a small laugh.
‘He’s thorough.’
Cedric must have dressed me before leaving.
“Why are you like this so early? Is something wrong?”
“Woof!” (The animals all went back to the forest on their own.)
“…What?”
They refused to leave but decided to go back voluntarily?
I couldn’t believe it and looked at Zeno. He jumped up onto the bed and burrowed into my arms.
“Woof.” (Yes, they’ve all gone back. I’m tired.)
Seeing Zeno curl up to sleep again, I instinctively petted him. His warm body made me feel sleepy again.
“Hm, strange.”
“Yip. Sigh.” (I couldn’t even sleep last night, guarding the forest.)
Hearing Zeno complain in the morning, I switched into “petting mode” and stroked his fur. Living a life where I pet fluffy animals in the morning… it didn’t seem so bad.
“Time to get up.”
“Yip.” (You have nothing to do. Pet me, owner.)
That mischievous wolf.
Zeno nudged my hand and wagged his tail.
Cedric must be working, right?
“Then, I’ll sleep a little more.”
I slipped back into the blankets. As soon as I settled, Zeno came back into my arms to sleep with me.
“Heh, this is not the place. Aren’t you leaving?”
“Yip.” (Pets sleep with their owners. What can I do?)
“…You’re not allowed, even if you don’t do anything.”
The look in Zeno’s eyes seemed suspicious. Plus, now that I knew he was male, sleeping in the same bed felt inappropriate.
Especially since it was Cedric’s shared bedroom.
“I really don’t think this is okay.”
I hurriedly got out of bed.
“Woof woof!” (Hey! Don’t push me, don’t leave me, owner!)
I pushed Zeno out of the room, and he yelled loudly, causing the whole mansion to echo with his protest.
