Living a Scheming Marriage with a Mad Villain - Chapter 61

“When I was young, I used to fall asleep easily when someone patted my head. So maybe you could try it too, Loel?”

‘Would that work?’

I’d be lucky if he didn’t just slap my hand away.

I didn’t want to repeat the wound I once got from Reus. But no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t come up with a better idea.

Loelle decided it was worth at least trying, so she sat back up.

“Um, Reus.”

At her voice, Reus slowly turned his head, his face looking a little worn out. His expression seemed the same as always, yet he looked extremely tired.

Loelle asked carefully, her voice full of worry.

“Have you… not been sleeping well lately?”

Reus turned slightly and lay down. Then, with a gentle touch, he guided Loelle to lie back down.

“Am I bothering you?”

“No, no…! I just thought you haven’t been sleeping well lately, so I asked.”

“Sorry if I made you worry. I’ve never slept much anyway, so don’t worry about it.”

The words I’ve always been this way stuck in Loelle’s heart. She thought it would be better to try something, even if it was a bit much.

“Hey, Reus. Um… your head…”

“My head?”

“My head…”

Was she saying it hurt? As Loelle hesitated too much, Reus’s brows began to crease slightly.

But the next words were completely unexpected.

“Should I… pat your head?”

So it wasn’t that he was hurt she was just worried about him.

A bit of life returned to his half-dull blue eyes.

Suddenly, a long-forgotten memory popped into Reus’s mind he didn’t even know when it had happened.

He had seen people like Loelle before, offering kindness with nothing in return. Whenever he watched them from afar, he used to think, What a pointless thing to do.

No one truly appreciates that kind of kindness, and such small acts wouldn’t change anyone’s life anyway.

So wouldn’t it be better to just focus on my own life? He had thought cynically, maybe even laughed to himself.

But now that he was on the receiving end of such genuine goodwill… it felt incredibly nice.

He wasn’t sure if kindness always felt this sweet when you received it, or if it just felt that way because the woman’s voice was so sweet.

Still, the fact that even her slightly worried face pleased him made one thing clear he had definitely fallen for her, deeply.

But Loelle had no idea what was going on in Reus’s heart. His stare just seemed like a confused reaction to her absurd proposal.

Yeah… I knew this was a ridiculous idea.

Loelle’s cheeks flared up, and she began to ramble to fix the situation.

“If—if you don’t like it, of course you can say no. I just thought… not being able to sleep must be really hard. I wanted to try whatever I could to help. I thought about lighting some sleep incense too, but I figured it wouldn’t really work anyway, and maybe you wouldn’t like it… Ah, not that I wanted to pat your head or anything like that…”

Seeing her cheeks turn rosy all the way down to her neck, Reus couldn’t hold back the warm feeling in his chest.

When his soft chuckle echoed, Loelle got even more flustered and started talking again.

“It really is kind of weird, right? I—I said something strange. I’m sorry. I probably made it even harder for you to sleep. That wasn’t my intention… Just forget I said anything…”

“Loelle.”

Even the short word was full of laughter. Embarrassed beyond belief, Loelle covered her face with one hand.

She clearly regretted saying anything at all.

It’s not like he could just whisper in her ear, I’d accept anything you offer me now. That’d be a bit much.

Reus gently took her hand away from her eyes. Her clear eyes, filled with mixed emotions, trembled slightly.

“You really do talk more when you’re flustered.”

Loelle’s cheeks were now as red as apples.

Lately, she had started to speak up now and then, even protest gently—but not this time. Reus waited, hoping for a little complaint, but her face just kept turning redder.

A bit disappointed, Reus lifted Loelle’s hand and placed it on his head.

Her teary eyes blinked in confusion.

“If you’ve changed your mind, that’s fine.”

“No! I haven’t changed my mind…”

“Seems that way.”

His teasing voice made Loelle’s eyes narrow briefly.

“But…”

It was nice that he agreed, but she hadn’t thought beyond that point. She had no idea what to do next.

Patting his head while facing him didn’t seem possible.

“Wouldn’t it be more comfortable if you turned around?”

“I’m comfortable like this.”

“Really…?”

Loelle clearly looked uncomfortable. He wanted to tease her all night, but Reus soon turned over.

Loelle stared at the shifting muscles under his robe.

Was his body always this big?

Even from the front, he had looked strong and well-built, but his wide back looked even more massive.

This might be hard to do while lying down…

If they lay side by side, her arm would probably keep bumping into his shoulder, so Loelle sat up again.

She thought about resting his head on her lap for comfort…

No. Definitely not.

She decided to just sit behind him and pat his head casually.

Then Reus spoke, unable to hide his amusement.

“If you keep your hand there like that, it feels like I’m getting baptized or something.”

Lately, he teased her so much it felt like he couldn’t help himself.

She wondered if he had only agreed so he could tease her. But since she had offered first, Loelle stayed quiet and slowly moved her hand.

Her soft fingers brushed through his silky silver hair. Since he hadn’t showered too long ago, his hair felt slightly cool, and that chill felt oddly pleasant through her hand.

His hair was so soft, it almost felt like his hair was stroking her hand rather than the other way around.

And that ticklish feeling brushed against Loelle’s chest too.

“Auntie must’ve said something unnecessary again.”

“How did you know?”

“She used to help me fall asleep like this when I was little.”

So it wasn’t just a random suggestion from Shanette, Loelle thought.

Reus added quietly, “I usually pretended to be asleep, though.”

Her hand paused at that comment. Reus overlapped his hand with hers and guided it to move again.

The sudden warmth on the back of her hand made something stir deeply in Loelle’s chest. It was a completely new feeling—one she had never experienced before.

It was so unfamiliar that Loelle twitched her hand.

What… is this?

Reus gently straightened her twitching fingers and softly brushed the back of her hand with his thumb. Then his large hand slowly withdrew.

It was just a small touch.

But the emotion that had stirred in Loelle’s chest surged all at once.

“Still, it wasn’t completely ineffective.”

“Really…?”

“About one time out of ten, I’d fall asleep.”

Once out of ten? Not nine?

Wasn’t that just because he was tired, not because of the head pats?

Loelle felt a little tricked but kept stroking his hair. She wanted to keep the calm mood, so she spoke softly.

“Lady Shanette seems like a really kind person.”

“Yes. I don’t think I could repay even half of what she’s done, no matter my whole life.”

“Why do you think that? Just be good to her whenever you meet. That’s enough.”

Maybe. Reus thought that instead of repaying kindness, it would be good enough not to cause harm in return.

“Of course, that goes for you too.”

“When exactly are you going to give me a chance to return the favor?”

“Hmm…”

She always avoided it when he offered to return the favor but had no problem asking him for things.

That’s why she could so casually ask me to eat chocolate.

Reus grumbled to himself. Still, he liked those little requests. A woman who used to avoid even eye contact was now comfortable enough to tease him it made him happy.

Still, the way she didn’t take his offers seriously was frustrating. He waited, wanting to give her whatever she wanted, but he doubted he’d ever hear an answer.

That didn’t mean he planned to give her nothing.

She said she wanted to settle in Veliata, right? Maybe I’ll buy some land for her there.

Honestly, he wanted to just hand her an island. But Loelle, who had needed such resolve just to ask for a few books and a bag, probably wouldn’t welcome it.

Or maybe I’ll transfer all of the Rochester estate’s wealth to her name before I disappear.

The thought that he would soon be gone stung. Still, the living must go on.

Quietly, Reus began making plans.

Meanwhile, Loelle seemed to be dozing off, and soon her hand stopped moving entirely. Her feather-light touch slipped down the back of Reus’s neck.

You said you’d help me sleep…

And yet she fell asleep first. He let out a breathless laugh.

Reus turned over very slowly so he wouldn’t shake the bed.

Sure enough, Loelle had fallen into a deep sleep in just that short time.

He idly touched the ends of her platinum hair, but all he heard was her soft breathing.

Just watching her made him feel at peace.

He had always thought this, but being with Loelle felt like being in a different world.

When they were together, it felt like nothing bad could happen. The future seemed bright, like it could last forever.

And so, he kept looking at the sleeping woman beside him, imagining that kind of future.

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