The Price of Breaching the Contract - Chapter 45

The night before the expedition, the bedroom was filled with a silence and awkwardness that was more pronounced than usual. Yulania lay in the darkness, contemplating Santia’s broad back, which was turned away from her. He usually faced her, holding her in his arms as they fell asleep, so this deliberate turning away felt strange.

‘…Could it be?’

A strange feeling stirred within her. Yulania shifted her position this way and that, but the discomfort in her heart remained. It felt as though he was staging a silent protest, which felt strangely familiar.

Was it just her imagination that he seemed sulky? Yulania pursed her lips at the unsettling feeling and cautiously opened her mouth.

“Santia, are you asleep?”

A moment of silence passed before a curt reply came.

“What.”

That short tone further irritated her. Yulania stirred and moved closer.

“Santia.”

“Speak.”

His voice held a hint of a sigh. Yulania found the situation increasingly amusing, but she tried to suppress her laughter. The emotions conveyed through his actions, though unspoken, tickled her heart. She thought anew how reliable her husband’s back was and said,

“I should look at your face when I talk.”

After a moment of silence, Santia sighed softly and turned around. His face, now visible, was more displeased than she had anticipated. His slightly furrowed brow and somewhat dissatisfied lips caught her attention.

This had happened dozens of times, so she couldn’t possibly not know. Yulania sighed and met her husband’s disapproving gaze. He was less skilled at expressing his emotions than a three-year-old.

“What are you so unhappy about, huh?”

“…It’s nothing.”

He avoided the question and pulled her into his arms again. He gently pressed her head with his palm, trying to hide his face in her neck, which made Yulania burst into laughter. Yulania wriggled slightly, trying to escape his grasp.

“Aren’t you going to look at my face?”

“Nope.”

He was stubborn in the most unnecessary ways. Yulania wriggled in his arms, trying to turn and face him. Santia sighed as if annoyed, but eventually, he weakly released his hold at her small movements. Yulania twisted in his arms, looking up at him.

As their eyes met, Yulania instinctively realized it. Although his gaze seemed serious, she could see a faint hint of childishness in Santia’s face, something only she could recognize. It was a secret she had come to know after spending many nights together since coming to Makari. Moreover, she had discovered an even greater weakness.

Yulania looked directly at Santia and subtly raised a finger, gently stroking the area near his sternum.

“Don’t do that.”

Sure enough. His large body visibly flinched, and a firm, low voice came.

“Let me go, then.”

Only then did the arms that had been restraining her loosen, allowing her to lift her head properly. As Yulania craned her neck to look up, she met his dark eyes, which were calmly looking down at her. Mischief sparked in her, seeing the seriousness and embarrassment hidden in his gaze. She stroked his chest again, examining him. This time, her hand was instantly caught in a firm grip.

“Are you trying to start something?”

A battle-ready glint flashed in his otherwise indifferent eyes. It was as if she had succeeded in waking him from his slumber, and Yulania chuckled with a sense of accomplishment.

Santa gathered his scattered senses. Whether she knew it or not, his wife had been showing more affection in bed lately. She kept stimulating sensitive spots, causing his displeasure to vanish and leaving him with an overwhelming heat. He glanced outside and saw the white moon shining brightly through the clouds. It was past midnight.

He suppressed the rising urge and hugged Yulania tightly again. The close contact eased his desire somewhat.

On the other hand, Yulania stiffened, startled by the heat that was stirring in her lower abdomen.

“No…”

“Just sleep quietly.”

Santia finally smiled and spoke in a gentle tone. However, Yulania, who had been fidgeting, met his eyes again and parted her lips.

“What is it now?”

“Is it because I’m coming along? Do you not trust me?”

“Can’t you just sleep?”

The words that had been lingering in her heart finally came out. Santia frowned as if annoyed and avoided answering. His attitude touched a nerve in Yulania. He always seemed to offer a kind hand, yet he never gave her his full trust.

“You’re especially harsh with me.”

“…Am I?”

“Yes, you are.”

She said, putting strength in her eyes, but Santia casually denied it.

“That’s not true.”

“I’m the one feeling it. You talk so warmly with the knights, but you’re always scolding me.”

Yulania’s voice trembled slightly. The image of the female knight with flowing blue hair came to her mind. Santia’s kind concern was endlessly pleasing, but on the other hand, she kept comparing herself to the trustworthy Mireya. It felt somewhat bitter that he would never allow her to do things that he naturally entrusted to Mireya.

Santia frowned as if wronged and said,

“It’s because you make me worry with ridiculous things.”

“If you’re so worried about me, wouldn’t it be better to have me with you?”

She could no longer accept him stopping her under the guise of concern. Yulania continued to persuade him, or rather, to try to understand him. The departure was early tomorrow morning, and she didn’t want to leave on a long journey with these feelings.

Santia was silent, then finally grumbled softly.

“How can you go anywhere when you can’t even ride a horse properly?”

“Didn’t you say before that adding one piece of paper wouldn’t make a difference? You can just give me a ride.”

Perhaps it was because of her unexpected boldness that he blinked as if at a loss for words. Finally, he let out a long breath as if surrendering and hugged her again.

“How can I win against a princess?”

“Why are you saying that now—”

“That’s enough. It’s late, so go to sleep now.”

He hugged her a little tighter as if he wouldn’t listen anymore. The eyes that had been meeting hers disappeared, and his warm chest touched her face. Yulania couldn’t say anything more at his surprisingly firm attitude. She decided to be satisfied with his softened voice and held the embers in her heart tightly.

Santia’s concern was warm and welcome, but she also had conflicting feelings of wanting him to trust her. She felt deprived that he entrusted tasks to Lady Mireya as a matter of course, while she caused him so much concern just by attending. She wanted to do her part and earn everyone’s trust as well.

‘I’ll have to do well starting tomorrow.’

For now, she enjoyed her husband’s comfortable embrace.

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