Chapter 5: A Silent Understanding
1227 Words
There was more than enough room on this bed for two.
Besides, with Charles’s face, status, and influence, even with a mate, there would likely be plenty of females vying for his attention.
Su Beitang had no desire to expend unnecessary energy dealing with such nuisances—at least, not until she had dealt with Theosen once and for all.
Unaware of her inner thoughts, Charles assumed her desire to stay close meant she had feelings for him. A faint blush crept up his ears, filling him with a nameless contentment.
“Alright.” A faint, silly smile played on his lips as he turned off the lights and carefully climbed into bed, settling beside her as though she were a delicate butterfly he dared not disturb.
“I don’t know your name yet,” he murmured into the darkness.
The only answer was the steady rhythm of her breathing.
Slightly disappointed, Charles remained silent.
A moment later, she spoke, her back still to him, “Su Beitang.”
“Good.” He smiled to himself, savoring her name. “Then may I call you Tangtang?”
“…Tangtang?” Su Beitang stiffened at his boldness and the sound of that nickname.
Might as well call me Beibei…
“Whatever.” She clenched her jaw, accepting the ridiculous name.
“Alright, Tangtang.”
“…”
No, she couldn’t bear it.
“Forget it. Just call me ‘Madam.’ It’s simple, direct, and sounds better than whatever ‘Tangtang’ nonsense you have in mind.” She rolled over, facing him.
They’d be announcing their relationship soon enough; a title that confirmed her position sounded far more appropriate than a ridiculous nickname.
“As you wish, Madam.” Charles’s eyes lit up with excitement as he gazed at her, like an eager puppy.
Su Beitang offered him a polite smile before turning her back on him again, closing her eyes to sleep.
Dawn was just breaking when Su Beitang jolted awake from a nightmare.
Nineteen years of imprisonment had left scars deep within her mind, scars that could be masked in the light of day but unleashed terror in her dreams, overwhelming her like a torrential flood whenever she slept deeply.
Breathing heavily, she steadied herself, letting her eyes adjust to the dim morning light.
The walls bore white Lorland patterns, the ceiling was a soft blue, and shades of gray and blue decorated the room’s furnishings.
And then… there was the arm draped over her waist…
Somehow, Charles had shifted closer, clinging to her as if he, too, craved the reassurance of another’s presence.
Su Beitang tried to push him off.
…He didn’t budge.
Frustrated, she turned to look at the man beside her.
His golden hair was slightly tousled, his features as perfect as those sculpted by a master artist.
Even in the dim light, his skin shone with an almost ethereal pallor.
Her gaze traced down from his serene face, lingering on his exposed neck and prominent Adam’s apple… and then…
Her eyes locked onto the back of his neck.
There, at the gland, was a dark, intricate mark of a black cat—a sign of their shared bond.
The stark contrast of black ink on his pale skin was impossible to ignore.
In this world, once a male and female were bound as mates, their mental imprints would appear on each other’s glands.
These marks weren’t tangible, but they held an undeniable presence, like a thin veil of mental energy that could never be erased.
Most people chose to use their own mental power to conceal the mark, allowing it to fade temporarily.
The thought of her own neck bearing a similar mark made Su Beitang blush.
Why did this feel… so intimate?
She shook off the thought, reaching for the arm draped over her waist.
That’s when she realized Charles was awake, watching her in silence.
“...You’re awake?” she whispered, breaking the silence.
“Mm. I woke up when you leaned closer to look at me.” His golden eyes were devoid of the longing that had filled them the previous night, replaced by a cool stillness.
Looking into those eyes, Su Beitang knew—the Duke was fully himself again.
If there was a difference between the man before her and the man from yesterday, it was in what she saw now.
The Charles who lay beside her, calm and collected, was the true Duke of Layston, the powerful noble with wealth beyond measure.
“And what about what I said last night?” For Su Beitang, what mattered was not his transformation but the benefits she could secure from it.
“Everything will proceed as agreed. I don’t break promises.” Charles’s expression softened as he gently withdrew his arm and legs from around her.
He rose, letting the silk sheets slide down, revealing his muscular chest.
“…”
That deep V-neck sleepwear was a sight to behold.
Tearing her gaze away, Su Beitang got out of bed.
“Could you arrange for some clothes to be sent to me?” She looked down at the wrinkled shirt she wore, still creased from a long night, and turned to him.
Charles nodded. “I’ll have Jannie bring some soon. Anything else you need, Madam?”
“...Perhaps, but I’ll need some time to think.” The word “Madam” felt strange on her ears, though she didn’t immediately reject it, knowing she had requested it herself.
“Understood.” With that, Charles turned and headed to the bath.
Silence fell over the room as Su Beitang listened to the faint splashing sounds from the bathing chamber. After a moment’s hesitation, she approached the door.
Her legs had yet to fully recover.
Previously, she had taken a potion with severe side effects in a desperate attempt to escape.
As a result, her legs were prone to sudden stabbing pains, and sometimes, they’d even go numb.
Now that she no longer needed to rush her escape, Su Beitang was determined to use her time as the Duchess to find a way to heal her legs completely.
“Charles…” She stood outside the bath, calling softly.
The water continued to splash, and it seemed he hadn’t heard her.
“Charles.” This time, her voice was firm, carrying a note of authority.
“Hmm?”
To her surprise, the door opened abruptly, and there he stood, shamelessly emerging from the water.
“Did you call for me, Madam?” His wet golden hair clung to his cheeks, droplets of water beading on his lashes, collecting at the tip of his nose.
From there, the water traced a path over his high cheekbones, down his exposed neck, and across the toned expanse of his chest, disappearing into the shadow of his golden skin.
The sight was so striking that Su Beitang nearly stumbled, completely forgetting why she’d come to find him.
“…”
Seeing her speechless, Charles’s lips curled into a smile.
“Was there something you needed, Madam?” He took a step closer, his skin still warm from the bath, scented with a faint trace of soap as he approached her, unabashedly.
If there had been another male here, they would have immediately recognized Charles’s intent—a display of his allure, a classic mating gesture.
- Writer
