SCMBRN Chapter 16

With a look that said he despised this but had no choice because I asked, Jayden continued speaking.

 

“You’re still an infuriating character, but after reading this episode, I felt a bit sorry for you. I’ll grant you a corner of my bed, just this once Come here.”

 

“……!”

 

As I heard it, a memory struck me like lightning.

 

‘Come to think of it, this guy had a one-sided crush on Ayla!’

 

It was a half-forgotten detail, overshadowed by the dominant image of him as Charlotte’s villainous younger brother.

 

Jayden Lindsey. Looking back, he wasn’t a villain per se, but he did have a way of rubbing readers the wrong way.

 

Though he disliked his sister, he often defended Charlotte in the novel, or minimized her faults, sometimes even concealing them.

 

In a sense, it was inevitable. As a member of House Lindsey, he couldn’t simply abandon Charlotte, not without compromising the family’s standing.

 

Surely, Jayden must’ve suffered greatly, caught between his unruly sister and the honor of his house.

 

‘I can’t say I don’t understand……’

 

But let’s be honest, any reader rooting for the heroine Ayla would just see him as the bad guy.

 

That’s why there were so many comments hating on Jayden. I posted a few myself.

 

However, there was a small twist in the later part of the novel, when Charlotte is expelled from the family.

 

Jayden, representing House Lindsey, formally offers a deep apology to Ayla. Ayla accepts his apology, and they part ways.

 

And then, from Jayden’s perspective, his long-concealed feelings begin to surface.

 

The truth was, Jayden had grown fond of Ayla, having been often entangled with her because of Charlotte, drawn to her warm and composed nature.

 

But those were feelings he could never express.

 

To Ayla, Jayden was the brother of the person who hurt her. Even if he repented, he had still stood by Charlotte, he was her accomplice.

 

Besides, by that point, Ayla and Cedric had already confessed their love to each other.

 

‘I hope you live a long and happy life.’

 

In the end, Jayden quietly wished happiness for the woman he loved and stepped aside. Leaving behind Ayla, who smiled radiantly beside Cedric.

 

Reactions to that chapter were split.

 

Some readers still couldn’t forgive Jayden for defending Charlotte, while others viewed him with a touch of sympathy, believing he must have been tormented too.

 

Naturally, I belonged to the latter camp.

 

“Aaah! Jayden! I didn’t know you were going through that! Oh, you poor fool!”

 

Unrequited love, forbidden love, impossible connections, hearts that go unanswered, these were the very themes that drove me mad for romance novels.

 

Time and again, I ignored the main lead and fixated on the secondary ones, drawn by those very elements.

 

Jayden’s wistful monologue struck a chord in me, and before I knew it, I’d given a piece of my heart to him.

 

‘And now, here we are…’

 

I looked at Jayden, who was anxiously waiting to see how I’d respond, feeling both hollow and irritated at my past self.

 

‘I told you not to write comments like that just because you got a little emotional!’

 

This was so absurd, I could hardly find the words.

 

Yes, I admit I felt for Jayden the moment I discovered his secret.

 

But if I buried that part of the story until now and only remembered it today, there’s a reason.

 

‘Because I’ve given away my heart to far too many characters.’

 

It’s a bit embarrassing, but, how should I put it, I was an easy reader.

 

I had over thirty “life-changing” novels and countless characters I called “my babies.”

 

For someone as much a romantic vagabond as I was, Jayden was just a fleeting wave of emotion.

 

In fact, from the next episode onward, three other sub male leads began showcasing their charms, and I quickly forgot all about Jayden.

 

Moreover, that was the last we ever saw of his feelings for Ayla, he never appeared again.

 

‘Damn it.’

 

I’d convinced myself that those bed-related comments had only been for the sub male leads, so Jayden didn’t even cross my mind.

 

He didn’t quite fit the mold of a typical sub lead. More than anything, he was known as Charlotte’s brother.

 

“Sigh, Jayden.”

 

Now that I knew the truth, his odd behavior made sense.

 

“So that’s why you were so strangely nice to me.”

 

Jayden let out a sheepish laugh.

 

“Well… I had to make an outrageous request, and I thought I should earn some goodwill first. But I may have overdone it.”

 

“You didn’t just overdo it. If you’d just been honest from the start, no, never mind. Our relationship wasn’t exactly great, was it?”

 

There’s no way Jayden could’ve shamelessly asked his mortal enemy of a sister to let him sleep in her bed. Nobles live and die by appearances.

 

He wasn’t like a certain crown prince, who barges into my bedroom without a second thought, even though we barely know each other.

 

“But, sister.”

 

Jayden hesitated, as if offering a clumsy excuse.

 

“Though there was selfish intent, I truly meant it when I said I saw you differently and wanted to mend our relationship.”

 

“Sure, sure. Let’s go with that.”

 

“I mean it.”

 

“I don’t know. Hard to believe. You used to glare at me in the hallways, even after I started reflecting on my actions.”

 

Because of that, my skittish self avoided him like the plague.

 

“When did I ever?”

 

“Basically every time you saw me.”

 

Jayden furrowed his brow, as if digging through memories, then suddenly exclaimed, “Ah.”

 

“……That wasn’t glaring.”

 

“Then what was it?”

 

“I didn’t know how to bring up this ridiculous curse, so I was stressing over it. That must’ve made my face look tense.”

 

“That was your thinking face?”

 

“Yes. I’ve actually been trying to tell you for over a month now, but I kept hesitating…”

 

“No wonder you looked like you wanted to kill me lately.”

 

I never imagined those eyes held an unspeakable worry, not murderous intent.

 

“You make it sound like I was planning to murder you. Was I really that scary?”

 

“Yeah. One more week of that face and you’d be able to kill with a glance. Watch yourself.”

 

“…I apologize. I didn’t mean to trouble you.”

 

Watching the slightly dejected Jayden, I couldn’t help the corners of my lips from lifting.

 

‘What, so I was scared for nothing!’

 

Contrary to my worries, Jayden didn’t seem to hold any ill will toward the current me.

 

And look at that face, he was obviously worried I wouldn’t let him sleep in my bed.

 

Ever since I entered this story, Jayden had always seemed higher on the food chain. But now, he needed something from me.

 

“Oh well, I wouldn’t say it was a big trouble~.”

 

Feeling liberated and slightly superior, I waved my hand.

 

“Alright, I’ll grant your request. You can sleep in my bed.”

 

“Really?!”

 

“But if you take, you must also give something in return.”

 

“Of course, I intended to repay your kindness.”

 

Compensation. It’s a lovely word, but I wasn’t asking because I’m some greedy money-chaser.

 

By setting terms, Jayden wouldn’t suspect I had ulterior motives for helping him.

 

Think about it. Charlotte and Jayden had always been sworn enemies.

 

And now she just lets him sleep in her bed without asking for anything?

 

‘That’s suspicious, no doubt about it.’

 

So I had to ask for something, to make my actions believable in his eyes.

 

Not because I’m greedy. Absolutely not.

 

“Just tell me what you want, sister. As long as it’s within my power, I’ll repay you in full.”

 

“I’ll tell you the details later. For now, lie down. It’s late.”

 

“Yes!”

 

Like an obedient child, Jayden rushed to the bed the moment I gave the word.

 

Then, seeing me about to lie beside him, his expression clouded.

 

“If you’re uncomfortable, I can sleep elsewhere. The curse only told me to lie in your bed, not that we had to sleep together…”

 

“It’s fine. If I go to another room, someone might see me. And I can’t sleep on a couch.”

 

Honestly, I could sleep through an earthquake, but I didn’t want a repeat of the mess with Reynard.

 

“I see.”

 

Whether he bought my excuse or not, Jayden didn’t press the matter. Or rather, he tried not to.

 

“Sister.”

 

His voice held a strange weight. Already lying down, I looked up at him.

 

Frozen in the act of lowering himself, Jayden stared intently at his pillow.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

Instead of replying, he poked the pillow with his index finger, then held it up to my face.

 

“There’s something stuck to this.”

 

It was a single strand of hair, shimmering silver, a truly beautiful silver.

 

“None of the family members or servants have silver hair.”

 

My heart sank.

 

“How do you suppose this got here?”

 

Jayden tilted his head, eyes fixed on me.