Deceived 52

Chapter 52

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People glanced at Edmund, who completely ignored the rules and monopolized Blair, then moved on to find their next partner. Left suddenly to continue dancing with the same partner in place, Blair whispered to Edmund.

"Um, shouldn't we switch partners next?"

"It's my wife's first ball, so I want to see it through to the end."

A subtle sneer flashed in Edmund's eyes as he looked down at Blair.

"I didn't realize you were so eager to impress your next partner."

"Are you offended?"

"More than that, I feel like taking your very first dance and making you perfectly skilled at it."

"I'd appreciate it if you refrained from making statements open to misinterpretation."

"It seems my pure intentions can be misinterpreted as obscene, depending on who hears them."

Was it truly her fault alone? Edmund had an impure streak. It was precisely that impurity that often led to his words being misunderstood. Instead of continuing the conversation, Blair shook her head once and avoided his gaze. It was a futile evasion anyway, since they were still dancing, hands clasped, their chests nearly pressed together.

"Miss Blair certainly needs more practice."

"Are you implying my dancing is terrible?"

"How could I say such a thing to a lady? Seeing you clinging to me like this, slowly growing accustomed to it, I thought it would be enjoyable."

His hand, encircling her waist, slid down slightly to rest on her lower back. His fingertips shifted ever so slightly, as if about to touch the curve of her rounded hips, but stopped just short. He was merely supporting her to prevent her from stumbling during the dance.

So, even when she averted her gaze, she found herself looking up at him again. What was Edmund thinking? He handled all matters of the world with such razor-sharp logic, yet he made her heart feel this chaotic.

Even knowing that the very confusion he caused was part of the contract, part of her still wished he would cross that line. She didn't want to admit that about herself. Had her heart already begun to waver, just days after the wedding?

"I suppose I'll get used to it in a year."

So she deliberately voiced a future with a fixed end. Clenching the hands she held.

"It's a shame. By then we'll be strangers, so there'll be no reason to hold hands like this."

The waltz melody swelled to its fullest. Amid the swirling crowd spinning in a circle dance racing toward its climax, the two stood as if bound, gazing intently at each other. 

And for a long while, they didn't move. Only after the song ended and the passionately dancing crowd applauded could Blair step away from Edmund's embrace. He still hadn't said a word.

***

After the ball ended, the guests went up to their bedrooms one by one. It had been an unusually long day, and everyone's faces were filled with exhaustion. Edmund and Blair, now officially husband and wife, had been assigned a single bedroom, so she had to spend the night with him.

"Go wash up first."

Edmund readily conceded the bathroom, pulling his tie off his neck as if it were suffocating him. Blair nodded and walked briskly toward the bathroom. When they were alone, they didn't have to pretend to be friendly, but an oppressive tension hung in the air, the source unknown, making it far from comfortable.

Concerned about the man waiting in the bedroom, Blair abandoned her plan for a bubble bath with scented oils. Instead, she finished showering under the pouring water, dried her wet hair somewhat, and stepped out of the bathroom.

In the late hour when night insects chirped softly, Blair couldn't find Edmund right away in the bedroom bathed in the cold moonlight. It was a large space, but it felt strange that a man with such a strong presence was nowhere to be seen. Feeling a little puzzled, she looked around. Just as her movements in her slippers grew cautious, she spotted Edmund.

He lay asleep in the armchair, a couple of buttons undone near his neck. Was he tired? He wasn't the type to be tired easily. Perhaps the tension had finally eased now that they were away from Eldenvale... She let her thoughts wander as she approached him, muffling her footsteps.

Though by no means small for a nap chair, it was woefully inadequate for a tall man to lie on. Thus, Edmund lay in the armchair in a somewhat uncomfortable position. Blair brought her tightly clenched fist to her mouth, stifling a giggle that threatened to escape, then knelt before him.

"Edmund."

The hand that had reached out to wake the sleeping man suddenly froze in midair. Her heart began to pound. She found herself utterly captivated, her gaze stolen by the boyishly closed eyelids and the delicately fanned lashes beneath.

Edmund slept completely defenseless. It was a look only visible to those who entered his inner circle. His heavy breathing made him seem wounded, barely resting. Perhaps that was why she felt the urge to brush back his slightly tousled hair.

Her secret gaze drifted from his dark hair to his straight forehead, then down the smooth line of his nose to his sharply defined jaw. His sturdy shoulders and forearms, even the large hand casually resting on the armrest. Blair couldn't control the fluttering in her chest as she recalled the sensation of being held tightly by that hand all day.

In that moment, she met Edmund's gaze as he lifted his lashes, casting long shadows across his flat cheek. His gray eyes showed no flicker of disturbance. As if he knew exactly what she had been doing.

Blair, kneeling and peering at his sleeping face, gasped in surprise. Her lips parted as if her entire heart had been laid bare, and the words she finally managed to utter were…

"Should I... sleep in the armchair?"

"......"

"Because the sofa looks too small for your body."

Edmund blinked slowly, raised a hand to brush his face, then answered in a slightly hoarse voice.

"Do I look like the kind of shameless man who'd make a woman sleep alone in a chair?"

"No. But look at you. The sofa really does look ridiculously small."

Blair, who had been pondering, glanced at the wide bed that could easily fit two people lying down, then said decisively.

"Or, we could sleep together in the bed. I won't be uncomfortable."

"......"

"It's that spacious, so that seems the most reasonable option. We won't have to force unnecessary sacrifices on each other."

"Reasonable. My favorite expression."

Edmund's lips curved upward in a smile.

"It doesn't seem like the best idea, but since you're being so generous, I won't refuse."

"...You must be tired. Go wash up quickly."

As he rose from the armchair and headed for the bathroom, Blair belatedly gasped for air, the breath caught in her throat. She then turned off all the lights except the nightlight, went to the bed, pulled the covers over her, and lay down.

She couldn't fathom why her heart was trembling so violently. But Edmund would never cross the line. Even if they hadn't gone all the way, it was because she herself had wanted it first that things had happened on their wedding night.

It was the same now. Unless she reached out first, he would never... So, if she wanted to embrace him, then he too…

"No."

Blair whispered low to herself, then jerked her head back and clutched the covers. She spent a long while curled up in confusion until the bathroom door opened.

Her heightened senses focused on the movement behind her. Edmund shuffled over to the console table and switched off the nightlight. Soon, complete darkness settled over the silence. Only the moonlight streaming through the fluttering lace curtains illuminated them.

Footsteps approached the bed. Not the slightest hint of haste. The down-filled duvet was lifted, and the corner of the mattress dipped slightly. A wave of fragrant body scent washed over her, followed by a breath like a sigh. Blair still lay with her back to Edmund.

"Good night, Blair."

The man, knowing she hadn't fallen asleep, offered his greeting. Blair, whose eyes had been blinking in the darkness, moved her lips.

"You too. Sweet dreams."

Even after exchanging their nighttime farewell, the awkward breathing of the two lingered for a long time. Though exhausted after an incredibly long day, they couldn't fall asleep for a while.