Deceived 64

Chapter 64

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Edmund, who had been speaking without a moment's hesitation, suddenly fell silent. The man who hadn't even flinched when he unexpectedly encountered Blair naked after stepping out of the shower was now taking his time. The emotion rising on his face was clearly hesitation.

Why? What was making him hesitate?

"What's the proposal? I'm fine with it, so please tell me."

Edmund rubbed his temples slowly with his fingertips, looking weary. Blair realized he hadn't slept a wink either, despite staying up all night herself. After all, hadn't he gone out in the early hours yesterday to finish all sorts of business before returning?

"Word that Rufus has partially regained his manhood function has reached Father's ears. He'll be revising his will soon, and now it's become difficult to assert that I will inherit the title."

This unexpected variable meant that even though he'd married her in name only, succession was no longer guaranteed. Blair's gaze toward Edmund grew slightly more cautious.

"That's why I'm telling you this. My father wishes to see us fulfilling our marital duties daily."

...Duties? Just as Blair tilted her head in confusion, a sound came from outside the bedroom door. It was the sound of someone setting down a trunk laden with luggage.

Edmund, too, stopped mid-sentence, shifted his gaze toward the sound, rose from his seat, and shuffled toward the door. As if waiting for it, a knock sounded, and he pulled the handle. Through the open door, Blair could see three or four servants lined up.

"What is it?"

"His Lordship ordered us to move the lady's belongings here."

"Now?"

"His Excellency commands that it be done immediately, since you have decided to combine the bedrooms."

Blair, bewildered and utterly confused by this turn of events, momentarily held her breath. Before she could react, the door swung wide open and servants carrying trunks, dressing tables, small chairs, and such rushed into the bedroom.

Edmund stood leaning against the doorway, watching their movements. Blair could only swallow her bewilderment and wait for the servants to finish their tasks and leave. After placing her two modest luggage bags and dressing table in one corner of the room, they bowed their heads and withdrew. The moment the door closed, Blair voiced her confusion.

"Edmund, what is this?"

"I wish we'd finished this conversation earlier."

Edmund murmured quietly, completing what he hadn't said before the servants burst in.

"I wanted to propose that you and I share one bedroom."

Instantly, heat rose to her ears and her heart began to pound. To lie in the same bed with him every night? There was no more direct or definitive way to prove their marital bond. Only, this was entirely different from their initial agreement.

"You call it a suggestion, but to me, it seems like a done deal."

“I suppose it had to be. But I don’t intend to force you. If you don’t want to, tell me now.”

Blair silently looked up at him, then turned her eyes to survey the room. The marital bedroom was suddenly half-finished—could she really say no now? Yet this man’s attitude was clear: she could refuse if she truly didn’t want to. This made her seriously consider the proposal.

Blair slowly lowered her eyes. This was what she had secretly hoped for. When she heard the sleeping man's breath in the darkness, hadn't she felt relief at not being alone, rather than fear? She had quietly wished that nights spent embraced in his broad arms wouldn't end after just one.

‘...But it's a vain hope.’

They were nothing more than a one-year contract couple. With an end already set for their relationship, it was wiser to refuse now than to nurture a fleeting desire.

Yet the temptation was too sweet to ignore, and her desire to help him made it impossible to shake her head. Raising her gaze again, Blair quietly asked,

"If we share a room, would it help solidify your position?"

"It would."

Edmund answered softly but with conviction.

"The master bedroom is our private domain. I promise not to cause you any unnecessary worry."

A faint smile touched his lips.

"Of course, it might be a little awkward for both of us. Situations like today's could arise."

He was referring to their earlier encounter, when he had been completely unclothed. Blair resolved to have screens installed here immediately.

"The maid assigned to your personal service can manage the master bedroom as well. That would provide more certain protection for her safety."

The reasons to accept his proposal were overwhelming. The Duke's command, Edmund's solidifying position as heir, a practical safeguard to protect Millia, and above all, the desire already stirring within Blair's heart.

After hesitating, she finally gave her answer.

"Then, I suppose I have no reason to refuse."

"A wise choice, Blair."

Edmund picked up the trunk and placed it near the wardrobe before continuing.

"We'll finally look like a proper married couple."

"Though others probably think I'd be horrified to see my husband naked."

"Oh dear, that would be bad for the heart. You'd better get used to my naked body too."

"......"

"Anyway, I want to express my gratitude. Thanks to you not refusing, my position will be even more secure."

"If there's anything I can do, I want to help you."

"Anything?"

He smiled, ruffling the faint breeze.

"How touching."

“…Um, aren’t you tired? You haven’t slept a wink since you came home.”

“I need to go out again this afternoon, so I might catch a quick nap.”

“I’ve taken up too much of your time. I’ll leave you to rest now.”

“No. We agreed to share the bedroom just a moment ago….”

Edmund’s gaze drifted toward the bed. The place where memories of their wedding night lingered.

“Let’s lie down together.”

“…Next to you? Now?”

“You didn’t get proper rest last night either, did you?”

It was true she hadn’t slept a wink, waiting for him day and night. But lying down beside him now, in the bright morning sun, felt impossible. Blair already struggled to hide her flushed face.

"That's true, but... I need to check my room to see if the maid missed anything."

"Do as you please. Just don't forget to come back here."

"...Yes, I will."

As Blair rose from the chair, Edmund personally opened the bedroom door for her. Glancing up, she met his unexpectedly tender expression as he made an unexpected suggestion.

"Tomorrow, I plan to go on an inspection not to Borsa, but to Eldenvale city."

"......"

"Would you like to come?"

"Would I be an inconvenience?"

"If I thought so, I wouldn't have asked in the first place."

Blair gave a small smile. She seemed to recall hearing similar words when they first met.

"Alright. I'll come."

"Good.”

Signaling her departure, Blair silently bowed her head and turned away. She quickened her pace and left the bedroom.

***

“I want to put up a screen in the bedroom too.”

“What for?”

“…It’s a bit embarrassing to strip in front of my husband.”

Millia, who had been pulling a cookie jar from the cupboard, turned around. Her expression said she’d heard something absurd.

“You’re still embarrassed about that between husband and wife?”

"It might not matter to you, but I'm different. Not yet..."

Blair had just entered the tea room under the pretense of drinking tea. But instead of sipping, she sat at the round table, nodding off.

"I'll get you a big one. But wouldn't it be better to sleep in the bedroom?"

"......"

"Is it because you're embarrassed to sleep in the same bed?"

"...I suppose so. It's not easy to walk into his bedroom as if I'd been waiting for it. Maybe I'm not quite ready mentally..."

"Don't worry, managing the master bedroom is my job now. I'll make sure not even a single ant dares to show its face in the nearby hallway, so relax and live there comfortably."

Millia, misunderstanding Blair’s outburst as an odd concern, tapped her chest with a small fist. Blair chuckled and lay face-down on the table.

“I’m glad you’re here.”

"I'm the lucky one. Thanks to you, I've been exempted from all night duties. I can't tell you how happy I am to be able to serve you. Oh, wait, not 'you' anymore..."

Millia chattered on as she transferred cookies to a plate, then turned back. Blair was fast asleep, her head resting on the table.

Setting the plate down, Millia fetched a blanket and carefully draped it over her shoulders. Even breathing flowed out, her slender shoulders rising and falling faintly.

Seeing her sleeping so uncomfortably made her consider moving her to the bedroom, but this shy little lady still seemed embarrassed by sharing a room with her husband. It seemed fine to let her catch her breath here for a little while longer.