A Fake Marriage? Sure! …Wait, Is It Actually Fake? Something’s Not Right Here! - Chapter 23

That evening.

Lidoria was at the embassy of Crown Princess Sophia’s home country.

To be precise, she was sitting at the dining table in a single-story building within the compound.

Apparently, it was originally meant for the attendants of guests.

It had all the necessities for living—bedrooms, a kitchen, a toilet—and was kept clean and ready for use at any time.

So, as soon as Sophia’s urgent message arrived, the ambassador had everything prepared and welcomed Lidoria and Alex.

“Today was quite a stormy day, wasn’t it?”

Lidoria gave a wry smile.

Across the small kitchen table sat Alex.

He was dressed casually in shirt and trousers, but he looked deeply fatigued. Of course, he would. Lidoria herself was exhausted and even injured, it had been a rough day.

“Anyway, let’s eat quickly and just go to sleep today.”

Alex spoke in a flat tone, grabbing a piece of bread and tearing off a bite-sized chunk before popping it into his mouth.

Lidoria nodded and looked down at the soup and dark bread in front of her.

Alex had hurriedly bought them.

The embassy had offered to provide meals, but Alex firmly refused, saying that would be taking too much advantage.

Considering Lidoria’s injury and his own exhaustion, he had gone to the capital’s dining district and bought root vegetable soup and several types of bread.

In the meantime, Amanda, having been notified, came and helped Lidoria bathe and change clothes.

After all, she couldn’t use her hands.

She never imagined that being unable to use her dominant hand would make life so difficult. Her fingertips could move, so she could manage fine motions, but she couldn’t cross her arms to take off a dress or reach behind her back.

After helping her change into her nightclothes, Amanda smiled meaningfully and said, “For tomorrow’s change of clothes, ask your husband,” before leaving.

Lidoria sighed and grabbed the dark bread with both hands.

If she endured the pain, she could tear off bite-sized pieces.

She brought one to her mouth with her poorly functioning right hand.

The swelling just wouldn’t go down, and her skin felt taut and stretched. Because of that, her joints wouldn’t move at all.

“It’s delicious.”

The dark bread was tastier than she expected. A moderate saltiness and a fluffy, chewy texture. She usually preferred bread with a crisp crust, but today it tasted better than ever.

She must have been hungry. Thinking back, she realized she hadn’t eaten or drunk anything until this dinner hour.

Driven by her rising appetite, she picked up a spoon and dipped it into the hearty soup.

She lifted it and tried to bring it to her mouth, but…

“Ouch!”

A sharp pain shot through her when she tried to bend her wrist to bring it closer to her face.

It would be faster to bring her face to the spoon than her hand to her face.

“Um, I’m in my nightclothes and being rude, but please forgive me.”

Lidoria lowered her eyebrows.

Even though Alex was also dressed casually, he wasn’t in nightclothes. Meanwhile, she was in plain, unflattering nightwear that looked more like a hospital gown.

On top of that, she couldn’t even maintain proper manners. She felt a bit pathetic. Even if it was a pretense, could Sir Alex really be okay with a wife like this?

“Can you not bend it?”

No sooner had Alex spoken than he stood up.

“I can endure the pain, but my skin is so tight. It feels like if I force it, it might burst.”

“Burst?”

Alex furrowed his brow and grabbed the back of his chair.

“You know, like a freshly boiled sausage. The skin splits and the inside goes squish.”

“Don’t make me imagine that.”

With a pained expression, Alex pulled his chair closer while still holding it.

Before she knew it, he had placed it right beside her, and to her surprise, he even moved his own dishes and bread over.

“Here.”

In contrast to Lidoria’s wide-eyed surprise, Alex sat back down, took the spoon from her, scooped up some soup, and held it to her lips.

“No…! Um, it’s fine! My manners might be a bit poor, but I’ll just, you know, lean in, and if I really try, my wrist can move!”

“But it might burst and the contents spill out, right? It’s only for a few days anyway. Don’t stand on ceremony.”

As he spoke, Alex tossed a piece of bread he’d torn with his left hand into his own mouth.

“I’m used to this from feeding injured squad members during field training and such.”

“Oh… I see.”

“Eat up. It’s dripping from the spoon.”

Hesitantly, she opened her mouth, and to her surprise, he fed her with practiced ease.

As soon as she closed her lips, he pulled the spoon away at the perfect moment.

“It’s delicious.”

“Good to hear. By the way, I plan to buy from the same shop tomorrow. Anything you don’t like?”

“No.”

“Even better.”

Alex continued to assist her with the meal without disrupting her pace.

Occasionally, when Lidoria used her left hand to eat the dark bread, he would silently focus on his own meal—impressive.

“Um.”

“What?”

“I have a request.”

“So, what is it?”

“Could you help me change clothes tomorrow morning?”

She had suggested it thinking that with this level of “assistance,” he might manage, but Alex choked spectacularly.

After turning away and coughing violently for a moment, he drank some water, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and then stated firmly.

“That’s impossible.”

“It’s simple! Simpler than feeding me! Just grab the hem like this and whoosh—”

“If I did that, wouldn’t you be completely naked?”

“It’s fine! I’m wearing underwear!”

“That’s not the point. More importantly, you’ll be off work until you recover, right? Then just stay in your nightclothes the whole time.”

“I’m not an invalid.”

“But you are injured.”

She was met with exasperation.

After that, the spoon was moved with the speed of a parent bird feeding its chick, and Lidoria lost her chance to ask again.

After chewing the last bite, Lidoria bowed her head and said, “Thank you for the meal.”

Alex nodded silently, then stacked his and Lidoria’s dishes and picked them up.

“I’ll wash the dishes.”

“Then I’ll dry them. My fingertips can move. But I can’t put them back in the cupboard…”

“I’ll do that.”

As Lidoria stood up, relieved, Alex muttered, “Ah.”

“What is it?”

“About the bedroom.”

“Yes?”

A dull pain throbbed at her temple from the sudden movement. Rubbing it soothingly, she looked up at Alex.

“There’s only one.”

“I thought so.”

“And only one bed.”

“The Crown Princess told the ambassador we’re a newlywed couple.”

“So, I was thinking I’d use the sofa.”

“No, it’s fine, really. Why don’t we just sleep together?”

“My lady, it’s a wonder you’ve stayed safe until now.”

“Then, Sir Alex, are you planning to lay a hand on me? Something improper?”

“I have no interest in non-consensual indecency.”

“Right? And I wouldn’t suddenly attack you either, Sir Alex.”

“So, you are planning to attack me, my lady?”

“With my hands like this, it’s impossible. But if Sir Alex were to attack me, I could use my legs to choke your neck and suffocate you.”

“…You probably could, my lady.”

“So, I’ll sleep in the bed, and you should sleep quietly in the bed too. You have work tomorrow, right? Please recover your strength.”

“My sleeping posture is terrible, though. You won’t accidentally strangle me, will you?”

“It’ll be fine. …Probably.”

And so.

Their night deepened…