Chapter 109
“…A breeding urge?”
“You know, that kind of desire to have children with multiple women?”
“Where on earth do you keep picking up such nonsense?”
“That writer Ashburn said so… Ashburn claims that, by biological design, men want to spread their seed in many places and instinctively focus on multiplying their offspring.”
A thick arm slid under Lilien’s neck. Cairn propped her up like a pillow and pressed a trail of small kisses to her temple.
“Lilien, I’ve kept quiet because you treat it like sacred scripture, but I think you should stop reading Ashburn’s books.”
“…Why?”
“Because they’re trash—dressing up promiscuity as love.”
In the past, she would’ve snapped at him for speaking so carelessly. But this time, Lilien reluctantly found herself partly agreeing.
She had no dating experience. The only example she had of a man-woman relationship was Cairn. He was her sole standard. Comparing his behavior and beliefs to what she read in those books, the male perspective described by Ashburn… did seem a bit like garbage.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?”
“I get what you’re saying, but it’s entertaining.”
“Fine. Then read that dreadful book as a critique, not as a guide to life.”
With his conditional approval, Lilien shifted and laughed.
“Okay. I won’t engrave it in my head like a sacred scripture.”
She relaxed, about to drift off to sleep, when a nagging feeling surfaced.
“By the way, I’m still not over it.”
After their intimate closeness, the chill between them had warmed again. But Lilien didn’t want to brush aside the invasion of her privacy so easily.
“My body reacting was just biology. My heart isn’t over it. I need my own time.”
“Alright. But is it still okay if I hold you?”
When Cairn quietly pulled her into his arms, her anger strangely softened, and she ended up hugging him back.
It felt like they were patching things up physically without fully resolving anything. But similar situations kept repeating afterward, leading to second and third rounds of their quarrel. The servants at the annex were the ones truly suffering.
* * *
Eventually, Cairn decided to make the first move toward reconciliation and went after her.
Unaware of his intentions, Lilien hurried up the annex staircase, trying to avoid her husband.
“Lili, where are you going?”
“Away from you.”
Clutching a book and pen to her chest, she quickened her steps. Cairn, unable to stand it any longer, grabbed her arm. She stumbled on the stairs.
Regaining her balance, Lilien shot him a sharp glare.
“Cairn, do you enjoy tormenting me?”
“Tormenting you?”
When he was younger, Cairn had often teased her mischievously, tickling her until she was nearly in tears or snatching pie right out of her hands while she was eating. But that phase had been brief. Once he grew up, he stopped doing such immature things.
She had momentarily forgotten that he once had a bad habit of provoking her. It was separate from how considerate and kind he usually was.
“I told you to knock before coming in.”
“I did.”
They stood on the same stair. She had to tilt her head back all the way just to see his face above her.
“Get on my level! It’s irritating!”
Cairn, who had been standing beside her, stepped down one stair. Even then, he was still taller.
“Lilien, you’ve become quite the tyrant of the annex lately.”
A nearby attendant, eavesdropping, nodded in agreement. At this point, Lilien ruled the annex. The atmosphere shifted entirely depending on her mood.
“Promise me you won’t enter my room carelessly anymore.”
“I won’t enter on purpose.”
“Don’t give me vague answers—be clear!”
“And if there’s a fire? If I have to carry you out of the palace, should I politely knock first?”
“Well… not in that case…”
Cairn placed his hands under her hips and back and lifted her up in the same position she’d been standing. Caught in his arms, Lilien flailed and dropped the book and pen she was holding. The thick book hit the floor with a loud thud.
“Don’t try to smooth this over! Put me down.”
“I wasn’t trying to smooth it over. I just lifted you because our eye level didn’t match. You told me to get on your level.”
Wrapping her arms around his broad shoulders, Lilien let out a shallow sigh at his perfectly logical defense.
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