Nineteen

Lyra looked at Lucien, her expression softer than before.

Even though he looked pale and weak, there was something about him right now that made him even more attractive. Calm. Gentle. Different.

She still couldn’t believe she had agreed to give this marriage another chance.

Her gaze slowly dropped to his lips.

They were dry and slightly chapped… yet she remembered how they felt.

Soft. Warm. Tempting.

Without thinking, she leaned in again.

But just as she was about to kiss him, Lucien lightly pecked her lips first and then pulled away.

She froze.

“Why?” she asked, confused.

Lucien let out a quiet sigh.

“I’m tired,” he said simply. “You should go back to your room and rest. I want to sleep too.”

As he said that, he gently moved her away.

Lyra stared at him for a moment, then said stubbornly, “I’m sleeping here tonight.”

Lucien blinked, clearly caught off guard.

“Lyra… we just agreed to give this relationship a chance,” he said carefully. “Until we understand each other properly… and decide if we truly want this… we shouldn’t rush things.”

He hesitated slightly before adding, “We shouldn’t share a bed like that yet.”

He glanced at her, unsure of how she would react.

Lyra frowned, clearly annoyed.

Honestly, it would have been easier if he were still the same as before.

At least then, she wouldn’t have to try this hard.

Back then, he had begged just to stay close to her.

Now, he was the one pushing her away.

She straightened and looked at him directly.

“First of all, I’m your wife,” she said firmly. “It’s normal for us to sleep in the same room.”

She paused, then continued,

“We didn’t before because things between us were bad. But now… we’re both trying. So what’s the problem?”

Her tone softened slightly.

“And you’re not well. You just had a nightmare. If you stay alone and something happens again, who will take care of you?”

She held his gaze, not backing down.

“I’m not taking no for an answer.”

Lucien stayed silent for a moment, thinking.

Then he exhaled quietly.

“…You’re right.”

He looked at her, more honestly this time.

“I don’t want to be alone tonight.”

There was a faint vulnerability in his voice.

“And… we are married. There’s nothing wrong with sharing a room.”

Lyra’s eyes lit up immediately.

But before she could feel too happy, he added,

“But we’ll sleep separately. No crossing the line.”

Her expression dropped instantly.

“We’ll take these six months seriously,” he continued calmly. “Think of it as a test. We see if we can make this work.”

“And during this time, we keep things clear. No complications.”

Lyra looked at him with a mix of disbelief and frustration.

“Six months?” she repeated. “Why do we need to wait that long?”

She leaned slightly closer, lowering her voice.

“How are we supposed to fix our relationship if we keep distance like strangers?”

Lucien watched her quietly.

Lyra continued, choosing her words more carefully now.

“In a relationship… closeness matters. Not just talking. Not just understanding.”

She looked straight into his eyes.

“Physical closeness brings people together too.”

For a moment, even she felt a little embarrassed saying it.

Lucien suddenly chuckled.

She frowned. “What’s funny?”

“You,” he said lightly.

Then his expression softened again.

“You’re not wrong,” he admitted. “But that kind of closeness should come naturally. Not forced.”

He met her gaze steadily.

“It should be mutual.”

“And if, after six months, one of us still wants to leave… we leave without regret.”

His tone became firm.

“So let’s not rush into something we might regret later.”

Then, more decisively,

“That’s my condition.”

Silence fell between them.

Lyra stared at him, clearly unhappy.

But after a few seconds, she sighed and nodded.

“…Fine. I agree.”

She looked away, hiding the small smirk forming on her lips.

Six months?

We’ll see about that.

She glanced back at him.

Let’s see how long you can keep this up.

“Then I’m staying,” she said casually.

Later, as they settled down to sleep, Lyra moved closer again.

“We should at least sleep properly,” she said. “It’s uncomfortable otherwise.”

Lucien hesitated.

“…Just sleep,” he warned.

She nodded seriously.

“Just sleep.”

But the moment he relaxed, she gently pulled him closer.

Before he could react, his head was resting against her chest.

He stiffened slightly.

Lyra held him there, calm and steady.

“Relax,” she murmured.

After a moment, he did.

His breathing slowed.

Lyra smiled faintly.

This… was a start.

And she wasn’t planning to stop here.