Violet Zerotta's Hasty Marriage - Chapter 11
‘Hmm. I should probably buy new rings someday, once I earn more money.’
With a flushed face, Violet made the resolution.
“Anyway, it’s our first marriage, so… as a commemoration…”
“What do you mean, ‘first marriage’? Are you saying it’s my second? Or wait, are you actually planning to get married several more times—”
“No!”
His panicked outburst was so guileless that Violet couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
She had only been teasing a little to lighten the heavy mood, but it seemed her young husband had taken it quite seriously.
“Sorry. It was just a joke.”
“…Don’t joke like that.”
Even as he grumbled in protest, Violet couldn’t stop laughing.
When her laughter finally quieted, silence returned to the room.
The unfamiliar sensation of someone lying beside her made it hard for Violet to fall asleep. As she kept shifting around, Aldrick let out a sigh and sat up.
“If you’re that uncomfortable, I’ll sleep on the floor.”
As he genuinely made a move to get up, Violet instinctively grabbed his hand.
“It’s fine. I said it’s okay—let’s just sleep.”
When she tugged him back, his body collapsed beside her without resistance.
“Then should we try a different position?”
At Violet’s suggestion, he shifted around for a bit, then turned to his side and reached his arm out to her.
“Try using my arm as a pillow.”
In the dark, Violet’s face flushed all over again. She felt unbearably embarrassed.
“This way, it should be a little more comfortable.”
In the end, Violet ended up half-curled against Aldrick as they found a position that worked.
His firm, muscular arm against her ear was blazing hot. The pulse she felt through their point of contact… she couldn’t tell whether it was his or hers. Aldrick’s masculine scent, wrapping around her, was unfamiliar but oddly intoxicating.
Falling asleep next to someone is such a strange thing.
Since her childhood—a time she couldn’t even remember—this was the first time she’d fallen asleep in someone’s embrace.
It wasn’t a bad feeling at all. No, it might’ve been far better than she’d imagined…
As her consciousness began to drift, Violet let out a small, content sigh without realizing it.
To think that just having someone beside her could make her feel so full.
And before long, she slipped into a deep, peaceful sleep.
The toes that were always cold were, for today at least, pleasantly warm.
***
The next morning, Violet awoke feeling refreshed. It felt like she had slept deeply and sweetly.
But why is the bed so warm today? She blinked blankly. Looking at the wall in front of her, it was clearly the familiar interior of her house. Then why did it feel so strange?
As her returning awareness pieced things together, yesterday’s memories slowly came back.
Oh, right. Aldrick had returned. And they had fallen asleep in the same bed.
Only then did Violet recall that the warm body behind her was Aldrick’s.
Having her body warmed by someone else’s heat was quite nice. Violet lay there for a while, soaking in the warmth. It seemed Aldrick was still asleep.
His body was pressed flush against her back, without a sliver of space in between. Because of the narrow bed, he had hugged her from behind in his sleep. His body felt like a human-shaped stove—warm and comforting.
But what was this strange discomfort creeping in amidst the soft heat?
Violet’s previously faint smile turned slightly into a frown.
Something had been bothering her for a while now. It was like there was something hard under the sheets, making her feel oddly uncomfortable.
There was a foreign sensation poking at her lower back.
Some kind of… large stick?
Don’t tell me… is Aldrick sleeping with his sword on?
If that was the case, Violet definitely wanted to get rid of it. She couldn’t tolerate even the slightest discomfort in this soft and cozy bed.
She reached behind herself, trying to find whatever it was poking her so she could move it aside. Her fingers brushed against it, and soon, it landed in her hand.
She had expected something cold and hard, but it was wrapped in fabric—and seemed to radiate a strange kind of heat. It wasn’t entirely hard either.
What on earth…
At that moment, Aldrick suddenly shot up in bed, startling Violet.
Startled herself, she quickly sat up, only to see Aldrick’s face flushed bright red—so red it looked like it couldn’t possibly get any redder.
“Oh, you scared me. What’s wrong? Did you remember something you forgot?”
When their eyes met, Aldrick opened his mouth to say something. But no words came out, only a strange groan slipped through.
