# 75
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Ian, who had just emerged from the balcony and was closing the large window, paused at my question.
actually.
This luxurious suite had only one bedroom and one bathroom.
When I realized this, I felt like I had been hit on the head, which left me stunned for a moment.
Ian, who had been frozen in place for some time, turned his head stiffly to look at me. Our astonished gazes met in the air.
After what seemed like ages of exchanging blank glances, Ian was the first to sober up. He closed his eyes tightly before opening them again.
"Well, we're married, after all. It's not that strange."
This is correct.
For most couples, it is completely normal to share a bedroom.
The problem was that Ian and I were not a normal couple, and since our marriage we had never shared a bed.
I'd never thought about the possibility of sharing a bedroom with him, so the thought left me giddy for a moment.
‘Maybe there are other empty rooms on the third floor…’
But with the Emperor and Empress in the same building, it would be very embarrassing if word got out that we were using separate rooms.
Who knows what kind of uncomfortable situation this might lead to?
'So, am I really going to have to share a room with Ian for a whole week…?'
The room that seemed bright and beautiful just moments ago now resembled a circle of hell.
The only good thing was that although it was called a “room,” it was more of a suite, with a living room, a small reception room, and an office.
The unlucky part was that there was only one bed in the bedroom.
As I was processing the situation, my head began to spin.
While it was unlikely that anything significant would happen just because Ian and I shared a bed, the fact that we might have to sleep together was the problem.
“We have to… share a bed, right? The Duke and I?”
I asked cautiously, watching Ian's reaction.
But while my mind was still half-distracted, my voice came out strange, unlike my usual f.
Realizing the state I was in, Ian ran his hand over his face.
“…It will be uncomfortable for you, so I will sleep on the sofa.”
He motioned his head toward the living room sofa.
The blue velvet sofa was small compared to the bed, but it was wide enough for one person to lie on.
"Here? For a whole week?"
I narrowed my eyes. Thinking of tall Ian sleeping uncomfortably on that couch made me feel…
A little bad for him...
“So, you're the one who's going to do it?”
Of course not!
Obviously, he should sleep on the floor or sofa.
I'm the woman here after all. It wouldn't be right for me to be the one sleeping on the couch. I have to stick to the “ladies first” rule.
Ian looked confused for a moment, staring at me in stunned silence as I answered quickly with a gleam in my eye.
Oh, you brought it up first.
I didn't say that.
I shrugged shamelessly in his direction.
Ian looked at me with a conflicted expression before closing his eyes tightly again and reopening them.
"Yes, let's do it. It's only for a week."
“Yay.”
"…my lady?"
“I didn't say anything.”
I was glad.
I was going to sleep in that king sized bed, nice and comfy.
While the thought of spending an entire week sharing a room with Ian weighed heavily on my mind, I felt lucky enough that we would at least be sleeping apart.
“Okay, I'll have Vivi move all my belongings to the bedroom!”
As I happily dashed into the bedroom, I thought I heard Ian let out a light laugh, but I didn't care.
Long live the private room!
❖ ❖ ❖
By the time the servants finished unpacking, Ian and I made our way to the first floor. The Emperor and Empress were already there, having changed their clothes.
Judging by their fancy clothes, it looked like they were about to go out.
“Greetings, Your Majesty the Emperor and Your Majesty the Empress. It is almost lunch time – are you going somewhere?”
The Emperor received us with a warm smile.
“Ah, you two have already descended! We were about to leave for Marquis Edward’s palace nearby.”
“Marquis Edward’s palace?”
Marquis Edward's mansion was a seaside estate about 30 minutes by car from here.
“We were invited to lunch by the Marquis and his wife.”
“Ah, I see.”
Now that I thought about it, the Emperor and Empress mentioned that they would be busy visiting nearby estates even while they were staying in the south.
I nodded in understanding.
The Emperor, who was looking at Ian and me with a happy expression, raised his eyebrows.
"We're going to give you some space. This is a perfect opportunity for the two of you to spend some time together. When will you get the chance to enjoy each other's company like this?"
He gave me a playful wink before turning to Ian with a sigh.
“I bet this stiff guy here was using work as an excuse to hide out in his office, right? He's always so stiff.”
Well, it's not just Ian. Unless we have business with each other, we usually spend our time holed up in our desks.
Of course, I couldn't say that in front of the Emperor, so I simply responded with a shameless smile.
Ian, on the other hand, wasn't too happy about being the target of criticism, as his face showed his displeasure.
The Emperor quickly realized the change in his facial expression and laughed as he caressed Ian's cheek playfully.
“My brother is so cute when he acts like this.”
“Your Majesty.”
“I'm still waiting for the day he calls me 'brother'.”
Ian tried to look serious, but it didn't affect him.
"Anyway, take this opportunity to go on a date or something. There's a lot to see around here, especially the night market – it's a great sight."
The Emperor's tone was full of joking as he pulled his hand away from Ian and spoke.
"Thank you for your concern, but we are here to ensure the princess's safety. Our focus will be on taking care of her."
At my polite response, he blinked in surprise.
“Huh? But the princess has already gone out with her guards.”
"… What?"
“Haha, she'll be fourteen this year, and soon she'll be fifteen. She's definitely old enough to go out for a little walk on her own.”
His careless and rude words left me speechless, with my mouth open.
'...Didn't they say I'm here to watch over the princess? And it would be useful for me to accompany her?'
I was completely flabbergasted.
The Emperor, fully aware of my reaction, did nothing but wink at me with a sly smile.
'Could the Emperor lie and deceive the people in such a blatant manner?'
Sure, I knew from the beginning that the princess was just a pretext, but I didn't expect them to so brazenly change their target once we arrived at the villa.
I looked at Ian, he seemed to be expecting this from the beginning, his expression was calm and resigned.
Obviously, this was not the first time he had been in such a situation.
It made me wonder if they were so different from normal siblings in some ways. I thought about it seriously for a moment.
The Emperor, checking his pocket watch, realized that they were late and quickly left the hall with a hasty farewell.
After the two disappeared from sight, leaving Ian and I behind, I let out a dry laugh.
'Well, this is embarrassing...'
I felt like I was an extra person, standing here with nothing to do.
I scratched my cheek awkwardly. If we were at the Ducal Palace, I would happily head to the bedroom and spend the day relaxing.
Unfortunately, here I had to share a room with Ian.
Even though the bedroom was technically mine, I couldn't fully relax because I knew Ian was only one door away. I wasn't thick-skinned enough to completely ignore his presence.
'Since having this body, this is the first time I've had nothing to do at all...'
While I was contemplating whether I should at least get something to eat since it was almost lunch time, Ian suddenly spoke to me.
“…Do you want to go for a walk?”
I turned to look at him. For someone who was the one who initiated the proposal, he seemed extremely embarrassed.
"picnic?"
“I used to visit this villa often when I was a prince. I know the area well.”
"Yes."
Of course, it made sense that Ian had visited here many times before as a member of the royal family.
After hesitating for a moment, he added slowly,
“…There is a sandy beach connected to the sea below the cliff. I know a shortcut. If you want to see the sea up close, I can take you there.”
Was he trying to… cater to my interests after hearing me talk fondly about the sea earlier?
Without saying another word, Ian extended his hand towards me.
His gaze remained fixed on me, with unusual intent.