The Sub Male Lead is Burning with Jealousy - Chapter 5 Part 8
No matter how he looked at it, both his first impression and everything that followed were disastrous. So, he resolved to diligently follow Anais around, trying to redeem his image. Although he couldn’t follow her all day due to his duties as the Emperor, he had to make time to gain points.
‘…Though Anais might not like it.’
Indeed, Anais had shown clear distaste as Rahil started “commuting” daily to the Empress’s palace. But Rahil wasn’t one to be easily disheartened.
‘Now that I’m aware, she seems even prettier.’
Her crying was beautiful, her yelling while crying was intriguing. Her disgusted face when rejecting him, and the fact that she couldn’t bring herself to throw away the bouquet he gave her, was cute to him.
Used to his mother Euphira’s cold treatment, Anais’s rejections were nothing but cute to him. She was too gentle-hearted to say anything too harsh, and even if she did, Rahil’s sad expression would make her falter.
Rahil couldn’t believe she truly despised him as she claimed. He reasoned her harsh words were born from anger over his actions. He had indeed committed many wrongs.
But she had considered kissing him. Given her bold rejection on their wedding night, such permission was not given lightly.
Therefore, Rahil felt even more justified in his audacity. After all, he was her husband, a renowned handsome man of the empire, and the man who had received her first kiss with her consent.
“Why are you entering this room?”
“To sleep together, of course.”
On the fifth day of following Anais around, with the distance between them hardly closing, Rahil decided to take drastic measures.
Anais’s face flushed, just having finished her menstrual cycle. She was certain that right after her period wasn’t the appropriate time for them to consummate their marriage.
“I haven’t heard about a specific date for… for that.”
“The physician said it’s best to try frequently.”
At Rahil’s bold words, Anais looked troubled. Before she could push him away with another excuse, he climbed onto the bed.
“If you’re against it, we won’t do it. But I won’t sleep in another room or apart from you.”
Before his mistake, Anais, though embarrassed, hadn’t found the idea of sharing a bed with him utterly repulsive. So, he figured this much would be acceptable.
Even as Rahil thought this, he was watching Anais’s reaction closely. While Anais had been annoyed by Rahil’s presence, she hadn’t entirely disliked him following her around.
Just like when her heart softened with the flowers and letters, the sharp edge to her nerves seemed to be softening once more.
‘It wouldn’t be fair for me to sleep uncomfortably because of him.’
Feeling indignant, Anais glanced at Rahil before climbing into bed and constructing a wall of pillows between them.
“…Then I won’t be able to see your face.”
“We’ll turn off the lights for the night anyway, so you wouldn’t see it either.”
‘I can see you, though,’ he thought, keeping the truth to himself as he clicked his tongue.
Once Anais fell asleep, she would sleep so deeply that she wouldn’t notice if he held her, but then—.
‘Would she hate me for it?’
Despite saying so, he had no real intention of doing anything that night. With their relationship strained, forcing anything was out of the question. He simply missed spending nights with her. He longed for moments of sharing warmth, even if it didn’t lead to anything physical.
‘Just a few days, and yet.’
As Anais finished setting up the pillow wall and prepared to extinguish the lamp, Rahil volunteered to do it. Without much protest, she lay down in her spot.
Rahil turned off the lamp and climbed into bed. Despite there was a pillow wall between them, the mere fact of sharing a bed with her made his heart race.
“Good night…Anais”
“…….”
There was no response, but Rahil could sense from her presence that she was holding her breath, probably debating whether to reply. That was enough for him.
I love you.
Recalling the feelings he had yet to fully express, he smiled to himself.
* * *
I should have known.
Anais thought as she woke up in Rahil’s embrace. The wall of pillows had been meaningless. They weren’t just haphazardly placed; their fallen state suggested it wasn’t intentional. She must have rolled over in her sleep and he had pulled her close.
She sighed as she moved some pillows off of her. Rahil was holding her quite firmly.
‘I slept through it, too. Being held like this and not waking up.’
Though she was prone to deep sleep, she wasn’t usually this unguarded. Typically, even a knock would wake her.
‘Well… Rahil isn’t a threat….’
Despite his occasional overbearing behavior and capacity to irritate, he had respected her boundaries, waiting for a kiss when she said she was ready.
‘It’s warm.’
Leaning her head against Rahil’s chest, Anais noted the chill in the air. The season was turning cooler.
She realized what would eventually happen between them. Unless something terribly wrong occurred, she would end up liking Rahil.
She had thought herself tough, but she wasn’t immune to someone who showed her kindness and persistence. And Rahil was undeniably handsome, on par with or perhaps even surpassing her brother, Francis, in looks.
‘Looks matter…. And so does the physique… I didn’t want to admit it, but that night was also…’
Assuming ‘Rahil doesn’t waver because of Angelica.’ That was necessary. The thought that things could turn out that way was upsetting. She wanted to make him cry as much as she had, if not double.
‘Without even experiencing a proper romance… What is this?’
Anais knew her life wouldn’t be rosy, but this marriage was too much. As she felt her mood sour again, she glared at the sleeping Rahil.
Should I pinch him hard? Pinching his nose seems too much, but his cheek might be okay.
Considering Rahil’s recent reactions, he probably wouldn’t get angry. He might even think Anais is playing a prank on him and like it.
