An Early Engagement - Chapter 31

“I hate everything.”

Shirley tossed and turned in bed. She flipped to the right, then to the left, but it only made her feel more unsettled.

Everything was just irritating. Wasn’t her adolescence supposed to be over by now? She was about to get married soon, which meant she was practically an adult, so why did she keep acting like a child?

Everyone treated her well. Damian’s mother treated her like her own daughter, and she was about to marry into the Elphart Ducal family, one of the most prestigious noble houses in the empire. It was almost laughable how spoiled she must seem.

But this current frustration was different from the worries she had confided in Melissa before.

It wasn’t about whether they could become a good couple.

It was the women who swarmed around Damian like moths to a flame. It was Damian, who didn’t even bother to push them away.

That image kept haunting her, driving her mad.

Even though it was summer and the night was warm, Shirley pulled the blanket over her head.

Complete darkness enveloped her, and she forced her eyes shut, trying to fall asleep.

***

“Shirley.”

“……”

The low voice calling her name felt like a dream. Shirley slowly woke up, and the dimly lit room, as dark as spilled ink, came into view.

“Shirley.”

The voice in the darkness became clearer.

“Mmm…”

Her drowsy mind was gradually waking up. The air in the bedroom felt different somehow.

“…Mmm.”

A low moan escaped her, and she felt something respond.

Someone… was in the bedroom.

It’s hot.

That was her first thought. Come to think of it, had she closed the window before falling asleep? Her forehead and the back of her neck were damp with sweat, and her expression twisted in discomfort.

“Hot, isn’t it?”

The hand that touched her cheek felt cool. Feeling better, Shirley pressed her face into the hand and let out a soft sigh. The hand trembled slightly at the warm breath that spilled onto it.

“Damian?”

At Shirley’s call, the owner of the hand silently brushed away the sweat from her heated cheek. Enjoying the sensation, Shirley kept nuzzling her face into the hand, sighing repeatedly.

Each time, the hot breath hitting the palm caused a slight twitch, and she found it amusing.

Even without hearing his voice or getting a response, there was no way she wouldn’t know who the hand belonged to. They had been together for so long, so often.

“Damian.”

Shirley called out to her old friend with a confident voice.

The discomfort she had felt since arriving at the villa, the things that had upset her before coming—she could barely remember them now.

After all, Damian had come to her like this.

As always, Damian would reach out first, apologize, and they would go back to being the way they were before.

When this thought crossed her mind, Shirley felt a little arrogant. No matter how much she acted out, Damian would always come to her like this.

Damian, my friend. My… future husband.

The sense of stability that came from their long-standing relationship was something she cherished.

“Shirley.”

Responding to her call, Damian’s low, gentle voice echoed softly. Shirley slowly opened her eyes.

And of course, she met Damian’s gaze as he stood before her, looking at her. Shirley had to suppress the smile that threatened to spread across her face without her realizing it.

She didn’t want to seem like she was easily appeased. After all, people are greedy by nature—the more you have, the more you want to hold on.

She thought it was okay to indulge in this kind of greed with Damian.

After all, you’re mine.

It’s a destiny that was decided long ago.

“You didn’t eat dinner, did you?”

His affectionate voice reached her ears.

“Mmm…”

Shirley deliberately whined in a sulky tone, curling up her body. She liked how the coolness of his hand turned warm because of her.

“Why?”

“I didn’t feel like eating.”

“You’ll collapse if you keep doing that. You always do.”

Damian knew Shirley’s habit of skipping meals whenever something upset her.

It had become a routine between them—Damian apologizing first, saying it was all his fault, and then urging her to eat something.

“But I really didn’t want to eat.”

If only you had left me alone, it wouldn’t have come to this. Shirley swallowed the words she couldn’t bring herself to say.

Right now, she just liked hearing Damian’s voice, filled with concern for her. More than anything, she had something she was curious about.

“Didn’t you go to the festival?” Shirley asked cautiously.

“Yeah. I came back soon. It wasn’t fun without you.”

“Still… it looked fun. You should’ve enjoyed yourself.”

The faces of the village women who had been flirting with Damian, saying they’d see him tomorrow, came to mind, and her stomach churned again.

The Damian you all were drooling over is here because he’s worried about me.

Shirley felt a childish sense of triumph, and a laugh almost escaped her. No matter what, Damian was here with her now, and nothing could make her happier.

Those women showing off their chests and acting foolish.

You’ll never catch Damian’s attention.

A voice, like the head of a black snake, whispered in her ear.

He’s yours.

The proof is that he’s here right now.

The sweet whisper eased her heart a little. But she didn’t want Damian to see through her feelings so easily.

“I thought we could do something more fun.”

Damian’s voice was husky and dark, like the sound of an unknown monster you might encounter deep in the forest on a summer night.

Was she still half-asleep?

Why did Damian’s voice sound different from usual? The voice she knew was closer to a soft, youthful tone.

But now, it sounded almost…

As Shirley was confused by the unfamiliar yet strangely familiar voice, Damian spoke again.