“This is a contract engagement. I will never love you.”
Anticipating those words, I held my breath.
The outside is dyed in a deep ink color. Countless stars are scattered across the night sky, flowing like a milky-white river.
Through the glass window, a pale moonlight dances in. Standing tall and dignified, accompanied by that silver light, is a young man with the most beautiful appearance in the world.
Cool eyes and a straight, high bridge of the nose. Long, slightly curled eyelashes, and thin lips carrying a sharp edge. Everything is arranged in exquisite balance within a well-shaped outline.
Lord Lawrence Ashford.
The young head who holds the seat of the Grandir Duchy, the most prestigious of noble houses.
And he is my husband, whom I married just today.
Standing before a beauty so striking that it makes my presence in the same space feel unbearable, I instinctively took a step back.
What I feel in my tightly clasped hands is a surprisingly smooth sensation. It is a pure white nightgown woven from fine silk.
Since this is my first time wearing such fine clothes just for sleeping, I cannot help but feel nervous. Even though it feels exceptionally comfortable, I am restless and ill at ease.
The wedding dress I wore during the day was also breathtakingly beautiful, luxuriously made with glossy satin. The delicate lace veil was wonderfully magnificent, and even now, remembering it feels like a dream.
No, perhaps the dream is still continuing.
After all, what I am now in is an antique bed adorned with gold leaf, located in a bedroom decorated with exquisite carvings.
Velvet curtains hang from the four-poster canopy. Finding myself face-to-face, entirely alone, with Lawrence—who, like me, is wearing only a nightgown—in a bed decorated with flowers and ostrich feathers signifying blessings, truly feels like a sight that can only be a dream.
“…”
Meeting his gaze of a rare color, my heart skipped a beat.
Lawrence’s large hand loosens his cravat, which had been tightly bound around his neck.
Before my eyes, the cravat slips away smoothly, and his trained chest muscles peek out from the collar of his shirt.
“Sarah…”
His hair, styled in a gentleman’s slicked-back look, is slightly disheveled, and a few strands of bangs fall softly over his forehead. The messy hair falling across his handsome face exudes a strangely bewitching allure.
“…Lord Lawrence…”
Lawrence’s sharp eyes narrow slightly. His dignified lips form a slight shadow.
I already knew the words that would be spoken from those lips.
‘This is a marriage of convenience. I will never love you.’
‘Our relationship is just for show. Do not ever think of being loved by me.’
‘We will act as a married couple only in public, but you must never misunderstand.’
He is bound to say that.
Because Lawrence is a darling of high society who holds multiple peerages at a young age.
In contrast, I am the daughter of a poor noble family with no status, no wealth, and no backing—lacking in every possible way.
Why on earth did Lawrence, a man of such vastly different status like heaven and earth, exchange engagement vows with me, hold a wedding ceremony, and now welcome our wedding night like this?
Only one reason comes to mind.
Lawrence is trying to avoid the endless storm of marriage proposals by welcoming a token wife.
In other words, he just wants to ward off women. For that purpose, a poor person like me, who can be easily ordered around, is probably much more convenient than a young lady from a high-ranking noble family.
“…”
A strong light flickers within his beryl-colored pupils.
”Do not ask for love from me.’
“We are finally alone.”
Oh?
Overriding the predicted lines, the words spoken were unexpectedly gentle.
Meeting a gaze so unexpectedly gentle, my heart raced with fluttery nervousness.
—Calm down. I am just a token wife, remember?
“We are finally alone” does not carry any sweet meaning.
His intention is likely, “Now we can thoroughly settle the matters of the contract marriage.”
That is right. Making sure of the contract’s details is important. My father neglected to do just that, which is why he ended up accumulating massive debts.
What kind of conditions will be imposed on me? Naturally, an unconsummated marriage is a must, right?
Even if I am told, “We will put on a facade of being a married couple publicly, but do not get full of yourself thinking you’ve become a member of the ducal family”—I can accept that.
“The master and his mistress live together in the main residence, so you stay shut away in the annex”—I can be ordered to do that as well.
“Do not ever think of yourself as a wife, but do not neglect your self-improvement so as not to bring shame upon the name of the ducal family”—I can take that warning to heart.
Whatever orders are given, I intend to obey them submissively.
After all, my father’s accumulated debts were paid off in exchange for this marriage. To ensure I do not cause trouble for Lawrence, I must know my place.
Lawrence’s well-formed lips move to spin words.
Surely this time he will push me away, I braced myself.
‘I have no intention of loving you.’
“I love you, Sarah.”
Oh my?
Overwriting my imaginary lines once more, Lawrence whispered gently.
“Um… excuse me…”
Not understanding what is happening, I widened my eyes in shock.
In the blink of an eye, our fingers intertwine. My shoulders are pulled close. His handsome face draws near.
The moment I found myself captivated, our lips gently met.
“…!”
With that gentle kiss, my consciousness fades away. The bodies pressed against each other suddenly grow warm.
“Lord Lawrence, wait…!”
As the strings of my nightgown are deftly untied, I let out a voice to stop him.
“It is alright. I will be gentle.”
Lawrence, as he tells me this, is terribly sinful, and he is so beautiful that just looking at him makes me feel like my breath is stopping.
His disheveled formal wear and messy hair. His breathing, slightly flushed with heat.
Ensnared by a sweet numbness, I cannot breathe.
And thus, on a wedding night I had approached expecting an unconsummated marriage,
I ended up offering my purity to Lawrence.