Ashid was momentarily stunned by the unexpected response, his expression blank with surprise. Meanwhile, Daniela’s cheeks flushed an even deeper shade of red. Ashid let out a short, incredulous laugh. It was surely just a meaningless compliment, and yet, he didn’t find it entirely unpleasant.
He reached out to tighten the belt of his robe, then plopped down into the chair opposite the bed where Daniela was sitting.
“……”
A long and awkward silence filled the bedroom.
Daniela tilted her head slightly, stealing cautious glances at Ashid. She was ready to bolt at any moment if necessary. Ashid, on the other hand, simply stared at her profile in silence.
It was he who finally broke the heavy stillness.
“Is there anything you want?”
“…Why do you ask all of a sudden?”
At that, Daniela’s gaze finally met Ashid’s. He felt a strange sense of amusement as he looked into her eyes at last.
“I want to reward you for what you did.”
“Oh… That’s what you meant.”
“I thought you didn’t know a thing about the ways of the world, but you were rather impressive. Though I suppose it was a mix of coincidence and luck.”
“Hah, excuse me?”
“How much money do you want? Or would you prefer jewels or dresses?”
Was this supposed to be a reward or an insult? Daniela scoffed in disbelief.
“This is how you say thank you? Who in the world expresses gratitude like that?”
“What?”
“You’re asking me if I want money? Seriously? You make it sound like I’m obsessed with wealth or something.”
“Are you not?” Ashid asked, genuinely curious.
Even back when she had been Adrian’s fiancée, Daniela had a reputation for being greedy. When Ashid had proposed to her before, she had made money the first condition of their agreement. He had assumed she would immediately accept a financial reward.
Unaware of Ashid’s thoughts, Daniela bristled with anger.
‘Unbelievable! He just keeps pushing my buttons!’
Her voice grew sharper as she retorted,
“Sure, money is great. But I have no interest in taking it when it’s being handed out like alms to a beggar.”
“When did I ever say I was giving it to you like that?”
“Oh, don’t pretend you don’t know! You’re doing it right now!”
Daniela and Ashid glared at each other. The air between them turned tense and heavy.
Minutes passed in silence.
‘Ugh, I’m exhausted.’
Daniela was the first to look away. If they kept this up, their battle of wills would never end. She was too tired to keep arguing. With a weary sigh, she spoke.
“Forget it. …I’m tired, so let’s just stop here.”
“……”
“I’m going to sleep now. You should return to your room and rest as well.”
With that, Daniela climbed onto the bed and pulled the thick blanket over herself. She waited for the sound of Ashid’s footsteps leaving the room. He seemed annoyed enough, so she figured he would storm off to his own bedroom.
But instead, she felt a sudden dip in the mattress beside her.
“……!”
Startled, Daniela peeked out from under the covers.
Her eyes widened in shock as she found Ashid lying next to her.
“W-What are you doing? Why are you in my bed?!”
Ashid smirked.
“Have you forgotten? We’re in the middle of our wedding night. If I leave now, what do you think the knights and attendants outside will say?”
“Hah! Weren’t you the one who said you didn’t care about your reputation just a few days ago—”
“And if rumors spread that we didn’t even spend the night together properly, the Crown Prince’s faction might try to annul this marriage.”
Daniela’s eyes widened in alarm.
That possibility wasn’t entirely out of the question. Just as Ashid had spies planted in the Crown Prince’s palace, Adrian’s noble supporters likely had their own informants in this mansion.
If those spies reported that she and Ashid slept separately on their wedding night, the Crown Prince’s faction would seize the opportunity. They would argue that this marriage was nothing more than a petty act of revenge by Ashid and Daniela, and they would attempt to overturn it.
And in their current situation, an annulment was the last thing either of them wanted.
Daniela sighed deeply. It seemed she had no choice but to endure an uncomfortable night.
“…Fine. Sleep here if you must. But don’t you dare lay a finger on me.”
“I was about to say the same thing.”
“Goodnight!”
With a voice full of irritation, Daniela yanked the blanket over her head once more.
Ashid shook his head slightly at her reaction, then reached over to extinguish the candle on the bedside table. The room was instantly plunged into darkness.
Lying at opposite edges of the bed, the two closed their eyes, each trying to fall asleep.
A faint candlelight flickered through the gap in the wardrobe, casting dim shadows on the walls of a luxurious bedroom.
Five-year-old Ashid sat curled up inside that wardrobe, waiting. His plan was to surprise his mother when she arrived.
Despite his usual mature and intelligent demeanor, at moments like this, he was just like any other child. He giggled softly, imagining his mother’s face lighting up in delight.
Finally, the door creaked open.
His mother, Empress Julia, hurried into the room. Ashid was just about to swing open the wardrobe door when—
“Stay right there, Ashid. Don’t move.”
“……!”
Julia rushed over and leaned against the wardrobe, shielding it with her body. All Ashid could see was the darkness of her back.
Then, the sound of heavy footsteps entered the room.
“Where is the First Prince, Your Majesty?”
“I don’t know.”
A man scoffed mockingly. Then came the sounds of a struggle—his mother’s desperate cries, the sounds of fists meeting flesh.
Soon, her breath became weak and ragged.
And then, her body collapsed lifelessly against the wardrobe where her son was hiding.
‘Mother!’
Ashid watched, frozen in horror, as two towering figures swiftly exited the room. The dim candlelight illuminated their faces, etching them permanently into the young boy’s memory.
Tears streamed down Ashid’s face as he clamped his tiny hands over his mouth. He cried out of fear, sadness, anger, guilt—emotions so overwhelming that he could hardly breathe.
“Ugh…”
‘Huh?’
“…No…!”
‘What’s that sound?’
Still half-asleep, Daniela slowly became aware of an unsettling noise.
As she opened her eyes, she found Ashid beside her, drenched in sweat, trembling in his sleep. He was murmuring incoherently, his face twisted in agony.
She hesitated for a moment before gently shaking his shoulder.
“Your Grace…?”
“Ugh… No… Don’t…!”
“Wake up, Your Grace! Ashid?”
But his nightmares only grew more intense. He was trapped in his past, his body writhing as if in pain.
A strange pang of sympathy bloomed in Daniela’s chest. She reached out and gently wiped the sweat from his forehead with her sleeve.
Just then—
“Ugh!”
Ashid’s hand shot up, gripping her wrist tightly.
Before she could react, he pulled her into his arms.
Daniela gasped, her face flushing red.
“H-Hey! What are you—”
“…Mother.”
A desperate whisper escaped Ashid’s pale lips. His grip tightened as if he were clinging to her for dear life.
As she stared at him, Daniela suddenly recalled the tragic past described in the original novel—the five-year-old boy who had watched his mother die before his very eyes, his terror and sorrow laid bare.
