A Fake Marriage? Sure! …Wait, Is It Actually Fake? Something’s Not Right Here! - Chapter 37

That evening.

“Good work today,” Lidoria said to Alex, who was making his rounds turning off the bedroom lights as she sat on the bed.

“Good work,” he replied curtly, though his voice betrayed his fatigue.

Alex approached the bedside table. He adjusted the lantern’s knob, reducing it to its dimmest setting, then sat on the edge of the bed.

Seizing the moment, Lidoria remarked, “Princess Melissa and Prince Morris. I’m relieved it seems to be going well.”

“They have to make it work. For the kingdom’s sake, and for ours.” Judging by his expression, “for ours” accounted for about eighty percent of his motivation.

Lidoria smiled wryly as she adjusted her pillow and lay on her back. The ceiling looked like it was veiled in gauze due to the dim light. She was starting to get used to this view. Initially, she had missed her old room at her parents’ house.

“It seems they’ll start discussing the actual wedding date from tomorrow.”

“So, I’ve heard. I hope they cross the sea soon.”

The bed creaked as Alex lay down beside her.

Lidoria reached out toward him.

She took his hand as usual.

Its rough texture and large size.

It was warm.

Lately, holding this hand had become her signal that the day was over.

Was this another new habit?

“Sorry about today.”

“Huh?”

Taken aback by the sudden apology, Lidoria lifted her head slightly.

She glanced at him, but Alex remained on his back, his gaze fixed on the ceiling.

“The ring.”

“Ah… It’s fine. Oh, but I put that marguerite in water as a keepsake. It should last a while.”

She let her head fall back onto the pillow with a soft thud.

After the evening party, Lidoria had shown off the ring adorning her left ring finger to her fellow maids.

Both Amanda and Sena had laughed and teased her.

After returning home, she had floated it in a teacup filled with water.

“Let’s find time tomorrow to get our rings fixed.”

“Alright. I’ve been given the day off, so just let me know when it’s convenient for you.”

Alex grunted in acknowledgment.

“Well, good ni…”

“Hey.”

He cut off her goodnight greeting.

Before she could even wonder what was happening, he released her hand.

“What is it?”

She suddenly felt uneasy or perhaps lonely.

They had been connected.

But she realized it was only she who had believed they were “connected.”

It felt like an illusion. That’s right! It had all started as a pretense.

“That guy held your hand, didn’t he?”

“That guy? My hand?”

Confused, she couldn’t follow his train of thought.

She turned her head slightly.

Alex was looking at her too.

Not at the ceiling, but at Lidoria.

“Prince Morris,” he spat out resentfully.

Finally understanding, Lidoria let out a wry laugh. “Ah.”

“That was more like being restrained than holding hands.”

“Same difference.”

“It’s a big difference.”

“Somehow, that…”

“Somehow what?”

“I thought we agreed that since we’re married, we’d hold hands while sleeping.”

“That’s right.”

“But that guy held your hand, and it pissed me off.”

“Huh?”

“It felt like he was saying anyone could do it, even if they’re not married.”

“Really? Well, as I said earlier, that was restraint, not holding hands.”

“That’s why today, let’s sleep hugging each other.”

“Huh?”

“No, I mean…”

Alex clicked his tongue clearly.

“I want to do something different from him. So today, we’ll sleep hugging.”

“Is that so?”

Lidoria nodded, still bewildered. She didn’t quite follow his logic, but if he wanted to hug, then so be it.

“Alright, here.”

Saying this, she shifted sideways slightly and cradled Alex’s head in her arms.

It felt like hugging her younger brother.

Maybe that’s why it reminded her a little of when Finley was young.

“…This isn’t what I had in mind.”

Alex spoke without moving an inch in her arms.

“Huh? Isn’t it?”

“Mostly, this is uncomfortable. You’re about to cut off my carotid artery.”

“Then what would be good?”

She rephrased her thought, “What a hassle.” She felt proud of herself for holding back.

“Turn around.”

“Around? Me?”

“Yeah.”

“Alright, alright.”

Releasing Alex’s head, Lidoria sat up briefly.

After readjusting her pillow, she turned her back to Alex and lay on her side.

“Is this…”

Good? She tried to ask but held her breath.

From behind.

She was enveloped in a soft embrace.

Long, large arms wrapped around her body. Because Alex was pressed tightly against her back, she could almost feel his heartbeat.

Above all.

The sensation of being enveloped by a body broader and sturdier than her own made her heart feel like it might stop.

“This is good.”

He whispered right behind her ear.

His breath flowed against her neck, gently caressing her skin.

She shivered slightly at the sensation.

“Is… that… so?”

She answered, but inwardly thought this wasn’t very good for her.

Her face was growing hotter by the second.

The thought that Alex might notice made her uncomfortable.

“Don’t you like it?”

He whispered again, his breath tickling her. “Nn,” she squirmed involuntarily. He chuckled softly, and she felt embarrassed.

She thought about putting a little more distance between them, but Alex’s arms wouldn’t allow it.

Though she thought, “This is troublesome.”

His body heat, his heartbeat.

Being enveloped by his large frame.

It wasn’t unpleasant. She didn’t dislike it.

So.

“It’s not that I dislike it. it’s just I feel reassured.”

She answered honestly.

“Somehow, I feel like the fox borrowing the tiger’s might.”

“…Huh?”

He sounded genuinely baffled as he questioned her from behind.

“No, I mean. Like I’m carrying a tiger on my back. It feels amazing.”

Lidoria imagined herself hoisting a warm, large tiger onto her back and strutting proudly through the palace.

She wanted to intimidate and scatter those who mocked the Crown Princess.

“Do you understand? This feeling?”

“No, not at all.”

“Liar! Why not?!”

“Well… I wonder why.”

“Then, let’s switch! Switch!”

No sooner had she said it than Lidoria began flailing her legs in the bed. She half-pushed a bewildered Alex away. Finally freeing herself from his embrace, she sat up.

Then, with a “Heave-ho!” she flipped Alex over.

With his back to her, Lidoria clung to him from behind, pressing herself against him.

She desperately wrapped her arms around him, even using her legs to cling rather than hug—more like sticking and clinging.

“Well? How is it?”

She hoped that, even if she couldn’t be a tiger, she might at least be a mountain lion or puma.

But…

“…Uh…hmm…”

His voice sounded beyond confused—flustered.

“Huh? Really? Then should I squeeze tighter?”

“If you squeeze tighter…”

“Yes?”

“It’ll press even more.”

“Press?”

“Your chest will squeeze.”

“Huh?”

“Your chest will squeeze against me.”

“You’re the worst!”

Shouting, Lidoria scrambled away, her face bright red as she yelled.

“You’re awful!”

“Is that my fault?”

“Hey…! What are you looking at?! Don’t come near me anymore!”

“Huh?”

Lidoria grabbed several pillows and wedged them between herself and Alex, creating a wall.

“Border crossing prohibited!”

While relations with the Kingdom of Lavria seemed to be improving harmoniously.

A new border had emerged in Lidoria and Alex’s bedroom.