"If I was asleep, you should have woken me up."
My anxious voice rang out in the living room.
I tried to stay calm, but I was failing.
"You fell asleep because you were tired. How was I supposed to wake you? Pick you up and carry you?"
"Edwin!"
I called his name, startled.
Edwin smiled naturally and held up both palms in mock surrender. His eyes smiled sweetly, as if he were harmless.
Don't fall for that eye smile. Let's not forget how surprised I was when I woke up in the carriage earlier.
I glanced at Edwin, fanning my flushed cheeks with my hand.
"Ah, you're awake?"
That had been the moment—blinking groggily as my blurry vision struggled to clear.
In front of me, Edwin had been watching me for some time, smiling.
"Uh—this—"
"I guess you were very tired. If I'd known this would happen, I would've taken us straight home."
Edwin had examined my complexion as if he hadn't thought it through.
Looking at my blank, sleepy face, he'd smiled a little, then turned toward the driver's seat.
"Now let's go into the mansion."
My anxiety had spiked as I hurriedly looked outside.
The sky had already turned black.
After hearing that the carriage had circled the Grand Duke's garden for a long time after entering the grounds, my eyes had grown dizzy.
During the carriage ride back to the mansion, I rarely fell asleep. Did I really feel that relaxed today?
My face must have been swollen when I woke up.
Thinking about it again made me embarrassed all over.
My cheeks puffed out.
My green eyes were lost in distress, unaware that my puffy cheeks only made me look cuter.
So lost in thought that I didn't even notice Edwin gazing at me fondly, I raised my head.
"You have to wake me up next time! Okay?"
"...Next time?"
Edwin's words came one beat late.
Done.
I smiled brightly and nodded.
"You said you'd give me anything I wanted."
It was a threat—if things didn't work out.
I wanted to see Edwin caught off guard.
Strangely enough, the corners of Edwin's mouth turned up mischievously.
"I was just trying to be nice this time... so next time I'll wake you up..."
A languid voice enveloped me.
When I—only then realizing the flaw in my words—made a mistake, Edwin's body tilted as if he was going to lean toward me.
"Can I do whatever I want next time?"
The red eyes beneath his loosely curved lids sparkled dangerously.
I responded by reflexively shaking my head.
"No!"
"You're answering without even thinking? Do you know what I might do?"
"No matter what you do—there is no next time."
"I wish there were."
Edwin shrugged playfully and leaned back on the sofa.
There is no way.
Before I could solidify my resolve, Edwin spoke kindly.
"Then it's all right for me to doze off in front of you, right?"
"Yes?"
"Just... when the sun is warm, I get sleepy in the carriage. If that happens, I might fall asleep first."
A hazy picture formed above Edwin's voice.
Edwin nodding off in a carriage bathed in yellow sunlight. Edwin falling into a deep sleep, leaning against the window.
Just imagining it made the corners of my mouth rise.
It wasn't because I wanted to make fun of Edwin falling asleep first—but because I wanted to see him fall asleep relaxed in front of me.
I blinked when I realized that.
It was a strange feeling.
Did Edwin feel the same way as me?
Just thinking about it made my heart tighten.
I wanted to reach a little further. To sit next to him—not across the table. To keep leaning on that kindness.
"We should decide to wake each other up when we arrive."
"If you keep sleeping in the carriage, you'll feel dizzy."
"What if it's not a carriage?"
"Yes?"
"For example, what if I fall asleep while drinking tea in the living room?"
"Then..."
I was speechless at the unexpected question.
Edwin spoke as if he'd been waiting.
"How about moving to the side and letting the sleeping person rest their head on your shoulder? Aren't we capable of that much?"
Edwin slyly narrowed one eye.
My face lit up as soon as I thought of Edwin's head touching my shoulder.
I want to reach—but I can't get that close...!
Instead of shaking my head, I pursed my lips.
I don't have this much free time. I hate the way he smiles as if it's nothing special for him to touch me.
Even though he pulled me in without any gaps, I wanted to tease that relaxed attitude hiding behind his back.
So I nodded as if it were no big deal.
"Is that so?"
Edwin's eyes widened for a moment.
His handsome face looked somewhat flustered—which made me feel better inside.
"Really?"
"I'm serious. Did you really think I was lying?"
I laughed out loud.
Perhaps, contrary to his sly exterior, Edwin is innocent and gentle on the inside. Come to think of it, he was like that last time too.
When I'd called his name, Edwin's red face came to mind.
I wanted to tease him more.
Perhaps, as the Grand Duke said, I really am witty.
It was at that moment—when I thought I wanted to approach him with a little more playfulness—
"...I was very determined to approach slowly."
The voice that murmured quietly made me sense something strange.
I looked at Edwin, and my eyes widened.
His beautiful face gave off a somewhat dangerous aura.
It was strange.
Edwin was smiling more kindly than usual.
I smiled awkwardly and pulled back.
In an instant, the air in the living room became strangely heated.
When Edwin laughed lowly, his exposed throat moved slowly.
A deep desire spread over his red eyes.
"Did Olivia give permission first?"
"No, I don't think so?"
"No way."
The corners of Edwin's eyes curved sweetly.
Then, when he looked at the table that seemed to block us, he clicked his tongue.
The table—which I'd previously thought disappointing—now acts as a great protective shield.
But it also gave me the luxury of taking a breather.
Edwin quickly got up from his seat.
I swallowed my dry saliva without realizing it, as he looked like he was about to come sit next to me at any moment.
It was then—
---
"I guess the Madeleine duchy is generally lucky."
I blinked at the sudden mention of the Madeleine duchy.
"And Princess Madeleine is the luckiest one among them."
Princess Madeleine.
Edwin always called me "Lady."
So there was only one Princess whom Edwin would mention as being lucky in that way.
I swallowed without realizing it.
I seemed agitated and subtly subdued.
My heart pounded rapidly.
Edwin continued speaking softly.