SCMBRN Chapter 22
by flowie“Um, and maybe… date too…?”
I struggled to figure out how to respond to Reynard’s awkward suggestion.
Then, out of nowhere, the man who had put me in this dilemma let out a hearty laugh.
“I’m joking. I just wanted to tease you a little.”
Leaning against the armrest of the sofa, he propped his chin up with one hand.
“Seems like I was a bit shocked. It’s rare for someone to reject a proposal so cleanly.”
A proposal?
‘Well, technically he did ask me to marry him.’
Still, it didn’t feel like a situation that matched such a romantic term.
“Haa.”
Despite what he had just said, Reynard wore an incredibly relaxed expression as he sighed softly.
“Looks like I got cocky again. I just assumed you’d naturally agree to my offer.”
“No, that kind of thinking is quite normal.”
I decided to offer a bit of flattery.
“How many women in this empire would turn down a spot at Your Highness’s side?”
“One’s sitting right in front of me.”
“I’m a bit of an odd case. You could say I’m a noblewoman without ambition. If it were someone else, she would’ve grabbed Your Highness’s hand right away.”
It wasn’t just lip service. The position of Crown Princess, especially beside someone like Reynard, was undeniably attractive.
“Of course. I’m perfect.”
Reynard smiled gently.
“More than that Cedric Hicklith guy.”
Then, in a voice rich with implication, he clearly pronounced the next line.
“Don’t you think so, Lady?”
His gaze felt oddly sharp.
Ah. I quickly figured out the reason behind this strange attitude.
‘He’s feeling competitive with Cedric, the male lead.’
No wonder he showed an excessive interest in Ayla even in the novel.
Though Cedric needed to be kept in check, Reynard involving himself to the point of entering the race for husband material did feel over the top.
‘It’s not like the man who will lead the country has time to waste.’
What kind of history existed between Crown Prince Reynard and Duke Hicklith to spark this rivalry, I had no idea.
“Of course! Your Highness is the very embodiment of perfection. Far more impressive than the Duke.”
Right now, my top priority was to stay in Reynard’s good graces.
Who knows? If I built enough rapport, the number of digits on my reward might change.
“Even though I liked him and chased after him all this time, after spending time near Your Highness, I feel the Duke really isn’t that great.”
“Hmm.”
“This is just between us, but honestly, the Duke gives off a scary vibe. He’s always frowning, even at the ball.”
“Exactly.”
“Compared to that, Your Highness is so much gentler, much easier to approach.”
In the novel, Reynard had consistently built an image of being flawless, yet kind and benevolent to his people.
I chose my words with care, selecting what might please him most.
“You and I communicate well.”
Maybe my efforts were working. Despite having just rejected a proposal, the atmosphere remained relatively pleasant.
“Such sweet words, you’ve really picked out the best.”
“Haha, is that so?”
“You seem to know me quite well. Aside from the formal greetings, we only spoke for the first time a couple weeks ago.”
“People like me always pay close attention to those above us.”
“Oh, really?”
Could it be my imagination, or did his words carry a subtle edge?
Reynard extended his hand toward me once more in a smooth gesture.
“Don’t worry. I’m not asking you to marry me this time.”
When I reflexively flinched, he reassured me.
“A handshake. Just a way to say, let’s get along.”
He continued without pause.
“After all, we’re on the same boat now.”
I looked at his gloved hand for a moment before placing mine in his.
“I look forward to working with you.”
“And I with you.”
As he said so, he briefly licked his lower lip.
Not long after Reynard left, a wave of maids poured into the room to help me get ready, and I secretly let out a deep sigh.
‘It’s still morning and I’m already exhausted…’
Dealing with someone so calculating and guarded was always tiring.
Though I seemed to have gained some favor, Reynard’s walls remained firmly in place.
Well, if he became too relaxed with someone he’d only met twice, that wouldn’t be the Reynard I knew.
He even constantly doubted the loyal retainers who had served him for years.
‘Especially with the curse involved, it makes sense for him to stay suspicious.’
Let’s organize things. For now, to Reynard, Charlotte Lyndsey was a shady person he couldn’t openly distrust.
As the Crown Prince, he had the power to force me, but that would only be his last resort.
It was better for him if he gained my voluntary cooperation.
And it wasn’t a bad arrangement for me, either.
So my goal was to maintain this friendly, cooperative relationship until the bed’s curse was lifted.
The only issue was…
‘I have more than one person I need to cooperate with!’
This damned curse. These damned comments!
—
The day passed without much deviation from routine, and night fell quickly.
Around the same time he had come the previous night, Eugen arrived at my room.
“Is anyone else here today?”
“No. It’s just me.”
Eugen scanned the area like a wary animal before finally relaxing.
“Haaahm. Charlotte, hey.”
Seeing him yawn so deeply, it was clear his insomnia had returned, just like Reynard’s.
Still, I couldn’t be the one to bring it up first.
“Are you very sleepy?”
“Actually…”
When I gave him an opening, Eugen, in his usual slow speech, explained why he had come.
“I can’t sleep again. And… the voice. It’s weird. I used to… sleep.”
His explanation was as lacking as ever, but I immediately widened my eyes.
“The curse has started again?!”
“Yeah.”
With a faintly resentful expression, Eugen nodded earnestly.
“Since when? And what does the voice say? Is it the same as before?”
Piecing together the information I managed to pull out of him…
‘It’s exactly the same as with Reynard.’
That meant I had no choice but to respond the same way.
“To put it simply, I’m at my best when I sleep in your bed once a week.”
I recalled the conversation I’d had with Reynard before he left the Lyndsey estate.
“So ideally, I should come here weekly.”
“O-One week…”
“I know. If it’s too often, there’s a risk of getting caught, and it’s a burden on you too.”
“Can’t deny that.”
“But going fifteen days without it is too much. I tried it and it’s just not doable.”
“But before your first visit, you held out for over two months.”
“That’s why I kept postponing all my duties using my poor health as an excuse. If you saw my condition back then, you wouldn’t argue.”
“Was it that bad? At His Majesty’s birthday banquet, you seemed fine when you talked to me.”
“That’s because I held it together with sheer willpower to leave a good impression on you.”
“I see. I had no idea.”
“Anyway, shortest interval is a week. Longest, fifteen days. We have to meet regularly within that range.”
Reynard’s eyes were unwaveringly serious as he spoke.
“My ability to function depends on your bed.”
The weight of it all settled heavily on my shoulders, and my mood sank.
‘It’s just one night a week for you, but that’s not the case for me.’
There were no less than four people who wanted my bed.
“Oh, right.”
Just then, Eugen suddenly dug into the bag he had brought, as if remembering something.
“Here.”
The mercenary king, whose presence could silence even a crying child, held something out to me.
“Pajamas?”
“Yeah! This time… I didn’t forget.”
He looked at me with deer-like eyes, full of anticipation.
‘So cute!’
In that moment, my tired heart was instantly restored. Was he hoping for praise?
“You did really well.”
Eugen’s lips curved slightly at my compliment.
I held back the urge to ruffle his hair as he pointed toward my bed with a finger.
“Can I… ask? Over there?”
Of course, he was asking to sleep in my bed again.
“Hmm, should I let you?”
Though I’d already decided, I pretended to think it over, dragging out the moment.
Not because his anxious expression was adorable. No, definitely not. I just wanted to add a condition on my end.
“Alright. But only if you do one thing for me.”
“What is it?”
“Wait here.”
I walked over to the desk and pulled something from the drawer.
Eugen blinked at what I brought back.
“Rope.”
“Yep. It’s rope.”
I uncoiled the rope with as much cheer in my voice as I could muster.
“Sorry, but you’ll have to be tied up.”