Chapter 6
She sat across from him at the dinner table.
It was their first meal together in twelve days.
Why does this feel more nerve-racking than being in bed with him?
Was it because he was handsome? Probably not. Of course, he looked elegant as he moved his fork with perfect posture, and yes, he was undeniably attractive. But he had looked just as breathtaking, maybe even more so, when they had shared a bed.
“Lady Sasha, would you like some more fish?”
Minnie approached and asked politely. She usually didn’t speak except when serving food, but now she had brought something Sasha enjoyed.
Was she acting more respectful just because Sasha was sitting with the Duke? It didn’t seem like she was trying to impress him though.
Did something happen during that short moment when Sasha and Kyler returned together from the room?
While Sasha tried to make sense of it, Minnie moved quickly through the dining area. All that had changed was Kyler’s presence, yet the quiet dinner atmosphere suddenly felt uneasy.
Both the staff and Sasha herself were on edge.
Kyler, in contrast, remained completely silent. His presence was too strong to ignore, yet somehow he made the room feel still.
He ate slowly, chewing carefully. Even though Sasha wasn’t feeling particularly excited, her eyes kept drifting to him. He was the kind of man who naturally drew attention.
Was he a frightening person? Or just cold? Maybe he was kind, or maybe he was one of those villainous types from stories. Honestly, she knew nothing about him. The only thing she had confirmed was that he looked just as good in formal clothing as he did without it.
She quickly looked down and pretended to focus on her food.
Just as they were finishing their meal, Rose returned to the mansion after attending to some personal errands.
As soon as Kyler received the report of her return, he called her in to speak with him privately.
Sasha figured that must be part of the routine after every trip Rose took, so she went about her own nighttime routine. She took a bath, dried her hair, brushed it out, and started reading.
She had recently taken up reading because she needed to learn more about this world. She didn’t know what information would be useful, but for now, she was reading anything she could get her hands on.
“Legends of the Empire”
There’s something raw and ancient about this.
That feeling was what drew her to the book.
The empire was called Derma, and the book was filled with myths and stories tied to its history. It might not help her much in day-to-day life, but it was interesting enough that she had kept reading it for two days now. The chapter after the imperial myths talked about something related to hearing.
“Sensing danger through sound… hearing the Empire’s threat…”
Now that Duke Kyler had given her a direct order to take her role as Duchess seriously, she felt more motivated to learn.
Maybe if she kept studying this strange world, she would get better at living in it. It wasn’t just about surviving anymore. It was starting to feel like something more.
A soft knock came at the door. The sound broke her focus and pulled her back to the present. It was already dark outside.
She placed a feather pen between the pages, closed the book, and slowly got up to leave the room.
“Has anything happened while I was gone?”
On the way to Kyler’s room, Rose spoke to her. Sasha paused and turned to look at her. Rose stood watching her carefully.
Hadn’t she already reported everything to him?
“No, nothing happened.”
Because I caused whatever did.
“I see.”
For a moment, it looked like Rose’s lips curved into a small smile. Was she imagining it? Rose stood in front of the Duke’s door and looked at Sasha with perfect composure.
As Sasha took her fourth step toward Duke Kyler’s room, Rose turned and walked away, leaving behind a smile that was hard to read.
Every time she stood in front of that large door, tension filled her body. This was the fourth night she would be going in.
She took a deep breath and knocked.
“Come in.”
Only after hearing his voice from inside did she grab the doorknob and slowly open the door.
Inside the dimly lit room, Kyler was polishing a large sword. The soft red glow in the room cast his silhouette like a beast in the shadows. Judging by his body, it was clear that he was a knight, or at least someone trained like one.
He must be incredibly skilled in battle. As she thought that, Sasha walked slowly to the bed and sat down at the edge.
Soon, he would finish cleaning the sword and walk over. He would move with heavy, steady steps, lean over her, and cast a shadow across her body. His large hands would touch her trembling form, warming it. His heated lips would send shivers through her.
And after that…
The soft slide of the sword returning to its sheath snapped her out of her thoughts. She flinched, and her face turned bright red.
She could hear his footsteps approaching. The quiet sound of his steps on the carpet made her heart race twice as fast.
“Um…!”
The words came out before she could stop them. But this was something she needed to ask. It had to be cleared up first.
Kyler immediately stopped walking at the sound of her voice. When she looked up at him from where she stood, he was facing away from the light, casting a shadow over his face as he looked down at her.
“Does our contract include… sleeping together? Every three days?”
His eyes flashed.
Instead of staying up every night wondering, trembling with anxiety, Sasha decided it was better to just ask. So she shut her eyes tightly and forced the words out.
But he didn’t respond. His body didn’t move, and neither did his mouth.
She had finally managed to ask the question, but he wasn’t answering.
Was he really the cold, intimidating man the servants had whispered about? Had she misread the situation? Was she going to be dragged off to the mansion’s basement and killed tomorrow morning?
“I understand.”
Huh?
Instead of answering, he pulled her into his strong arms and gently laid her on the bed. She fell into him without even realizing it, caught in the firmness of his embrace.
“If you don’t want it, then I won’t force you. I’ll respect your refusal.”
His voice was low and deep, like it could shake her from the inside. His hand, rough but warm, gently patted her back.
“Is that…”
Part of the contract too?
Sasha’s quiet voice trailed off as she melted into the warmth of his arms. But she couldn’t finish the sentence. The sound of his slow, even breathing filled the room, and his warm breath drifted across her hair.
It hadn’t been long, but his breathing was already calm and steady. While she was still trying to adjust to his touch, he had already fallen asleep.
She shifted slightly, just to check. But his strong arm didn’t move. His eyes and mouth remained completely still. All she could hear was the regular sound of his breathing.
How could he fall asleep like this? She wanted an answer. This was so frustrating.
She shouted that in her head, but her body, held in his arms, didn’t tremble or flinch at all.
The wide, quiet bedroom slowly filled with the darkness of night. Within that darkness, his slow breath above her head grew louder.
It was slow, peaceful, and still somehow warm.
She carefully moved her hand and placed it on his chest. Beneath his firm muscles, she could feel the soft beat of his heart.
“Sleep well…”
She felt like her own sleep had disappeared from his warmth and breathing alone.
Why did she feel disappointed? What was this strange feeling?
She guessed she should be grateful. He wasn’t cruel, violent, or heartless like she feared.
The truth was, she still didn’t know anything about him except his name. Maybe because their first meeting started with physical closeness, even just looking at his face made her chest tighten.
He was always out of the house, and even when he returned, they ended up in bed. They had never sat down in daylight to have a real conversation.
Would he answer her if she asked? No. She couldn’t risk revealing that she wasn’t really Sasha.
“You’re frustrating…”
Whether it works out or not, he feels like the only person I can rely on right now.
Sasha stayed awake, held in his warmth, and only managed to fall asleep at dawn. No one had ever shared warmth with her like this before bedtime. His body heat stirred something in her, but it also brought peace, like it was guiding her gently into sleep.
Sunlight reached deep into the bed and tickled Sasha’s forehead. No one came to wake her, and no sounds disturbed her rest. As she stirred slightly, her body suddenly froze.
The bed was wide enough for two or three people, but she couldn’t move. What was going on? It wasn’t the wall; the bed wasn’t pushed against anything.
“Mm… huh?”
Her foggy mind began to clear. Before falling asleep, she had been with him. She had never woken up beside someone before. But now, she wasn’t alone.
What was holding her in place wasn’t a wall. It was something firm, radiating warmth, wrapped around her.
Why was he still here?
Normally, after their nights together, she would wake up to an empty bed, already cooled. But today felt different.
Had she just woken up early? Or had Kyler not left yet? He was still lying beside her, sleeping in the exact position he had held her in the night before.
“Ah!”
His smooth, flawless skin was right in front of her, clearly visible in the morning light. The sight almost made her forget to breathe.
She gasped in surprise, but her breath caught in her throat, and she began to cough. Quickly, she covered her mouth with her hand, trying to hold it back.
“You’re awake.”
Sasha stopped coughing immediately. His voice filled the room, not loud, but soft, like it was meant just for her.
There was something gentle in the way it reached her, and for a moment, she forgot to breathe.
“Um… aren’t you going out early today?”
She hesitated for a while before finally asking. Her own voice seemed to echo back at her, almost the same way she had.
“I’m not. There was nothing urgent to respond to.”
“What?”
As she tilted her head in confusion, his muscles shifted. Startled by the movement, Sasha flinched as he gently released her and sat up. The way he moved reminded her of a predator waking from sleep. But nothing she had ever imagined came close to what she felt watching him now.
So, this is what people mean when they say someone is “sexy.”
She swallowed hard without realizing it.
Kyler sat quietly for a moment, staring down at her, then stood and stepped away from the bed. Sasha found herself watching his every movement, unsure of where to look, her eyes shifting nervously.
