Is it because I thought Sikar liked me?

When he gazed at me warmly, I felt strangely flustered. It was like the buoyant feeling of bouncing on a trampoline, my heart floating in that same way.

“I’m feeling sleepy, so I’ll go to bed first.”

As I tried to stand up, Sikar grabbed my hand.

“Let’s sleep together.”

“What? Sleep together?!”

Perhaps because of my slightly heated reaction, Sikar looked even more puzzled.

“I meant let’s go to sleep at the same time after finishing work.”

“Oh, okay, just let go of my hand.”

But Sikar didn’t let go easily and kept holding my hand.

“What were you thinking to react like that?”

“I just thought you might say you’d climb into my bed again.”

“No, not that reaction. I mean the way you blushed and said you were sleepy the moment I said I could handle being your husband.”

“I blushed because I was sleepy. Now let go of my hand.”

I tried twisting my wrist to free myself, but it was impossible to escape Sikar’s large hand.

“If you’re not squirming to be cute, then stop moving.”

‘That commanding tone again.’

Come to think of it, that tone needed fixing too. He had to dress as a commoner and act like one at the coming-of-age festival, but that tone would cause trouble.

And I couldn’t let him keep speaking to me and Kian in that commanding way either.

To get out of this situation and fix his tone, I mentally tightened the reins.

‘First, I’ll use the coming-of-age festival as an excuse to fix that tone.’

“You, start by fixing that tone.”

Sikar looked at me as if to ask what I meant.

“Why should I fix my dignified tone?”

“Your tone feels too arrogant.”

“I’ve said before, this is a hierarchical society, and I’ve always spoken in commands since birth. I find it hard to accept changing my tone.”

I know full well that your narrow social circle and conversations with villains like yourself have shaped that tone of yours.

“I get it. Your conversations have always been about giving orders, issuing commands, or making deals. But right now, you’re the head of a family. You’re a father to a child and a husband to a woman. Even if it’s a pretense, that’s your role now.”

Sikar looked at me, listening intently as if taking my words seriously.

“I’m listening, so keep going.”

“That’s it! Start by fixing that tone. Instead of ‘I’m listening, so keep going,’ say, ‘I’m listening, so it’s okay to keep talking.’ Soften not just your words but your tone too.”

Sikar stared at me with a look of disbelief. So I stared right back at him.

“You said you’d listen to anything related to parenting.”

“Is this really related to parenting?”

“Of course it is. Everything I do is ultimately for raising Kian well.”

“But I can’t say something that gives me chills.”

So, from Sikar’s perspective, it’s chilling to speak like that, so he calls it creepy?

“Fine. I’ll adjust to a level that suits you. At least change it to ‘I’m listening, so keep going.’”

Sikar just stared at me again without responding.

Sure, you’ve probably never been told to change your tone in your life, so you must be pretty annoyed.

But I’m saying I need to hold your leash now. For Kian’s sake, I can’t back down!

Repeating to myself that ‘mothers are great,’ I glared at him with a do-or-die attitude and said,

“If you can’t even fix this much, you’re unfit to be a father or a husband!”

Sikar’s piercing gaze made my heart pound, but I held my ground and glared back.

I was tense, expecting his prickly personality to surface, feeling like electricity was coursing through my body, but I gritted my teeth and endured.

‘It’s okay. This is a temple. Grandma’s here, and even if I faint from a concussion, the priests will heal me. So no matter how much Sikar glares, I have to hold on!’

After staring at me for a while, Sikar slowly opened his mouth and said,

“I’m listening, so keep going.”

Did I hear that wrong?

“What?”

“I said, I’m listening, so keep going. No, I mean, keep going.”

Sikar’s tone had softened considerably. It wasn’t the stiff, commanding tone anymore.

The tension from moments ago felt pointless as his softened tone put me at ease.

I felt my lips curl upward, my mood instantly lifting, but I deliberately hid my delight.

Inside, I wanted to praise him, to say he did well, but instead, I followed his lead and said cynically,

“Fine. You pass.”

Perhaps because his natural personality was cynical, Sikar seemed pleased with that single remark, flashing a satisfied smile.

“Hmph. As expected, I passed in one go.”

‘Ugh, I should’ve been colder.’

We went back to quietly working on making uniforms, and while braiding thread, I fell asleep without realizing it.

When I opened my eyes, I was in bed, but Sikar had fallen asleep while sewing, uncharacteristically holding fabric in one hand and my hand in the other.

It seemed he’d carried me to bed, kept sewing, and grabbed my hand just before falling asleep. I quietly observed him, fascinated.

Even with his eyes closed, his long, sharp eyes and thick eyelashes, his high nose bridge, and his sleek, sexy lips looked like a sculpture.

The word “sculpture” didn’t even do him justice—he looked breathtakingly handsome. My heart started pounding again.

I’m human, so it’s normal for my heart to race when I see a handsome face.

So, just because my heart’s racing doesn’t mean I’m falling for Sikar.

I tapped the back of his hand to wake him but remembered how he’d pulled me earlier, so I stepped back out of his reach and called out,

“Sikar, wake up. Time to get breakfast.”

Sikar, not being dull, woke up as soon as he heard my voice.

He looked tired from lack of sleep, but his slightly messy bangs and dreamy gaze made me feel entranced.

Sikar looked at me a bit longer, then brushed his bangs back as if to clear his mind.

“You’re up early.”

“I’m hungry.”

Only then did he seem fully awake, his eyes widening.

“I’ll get food right away, so wait a bit. No, I mean, wait.”

‘I have to admit, his learning ability is impressive.’

He corrected himself after just one pointer yesterday, and I had to suppress a smile at how endearing that was.

“Come back quick.”

Sikar jumped up, left, and then came back.

“Anything else you need?”

“Nope.”

His cute reaction to my short reply made me think… ugh, I must not be fully awake either.

After meals, we’d spend the day at the workshop with Grandma and Kian, volunteering, and in the evenings, Sikar and I would make uniforms together.

For days, the same routine repeated, but they were joyful, peaceful times with the whole family.

And so, the day of the coming-of-age festival arrived.

The festival was like a celebration for young men and women, so Grandma and Kian couldn’t attend.

Kian waved at me with such a bright expression, telling me to enjoy the festival.

I thought he’d be a bit disappointed, but seeing him send me off so cheerfully made me feel reluctant instead.

On the way to pick up Jeremi, I muttered to myself, and Sikar, hearing me, shifted the uniform from his right hand to his left, grabbed my hand, and said,

“Grandma told Kian that if he seemed reluctant, you wouldn’t enjoy the festival freely. That’s why Kian didn’t show any reluctance. He’s quite thoughtful.”

So that’s what happened. Grandma, always knowing just what I need, felt even more precious to me.

When we arrived at Jeremi’s door, we knocked a few times, but there was no sign of anyone inside.

“What’s he doing that there’s no response?”

Sikar opened the door first and went in, and I followed, but I couldn’t see anything.

Because as soon as we entered, Sikar covered my eyes with his hand and pulled me in front of him.

Before I could figure out why, I understood his actions through the conversation that followed.

“Oh? Your Grace, you’re here?”

“Put some clothes on first. My wife almost saw something she shouldn’t.”

Sikar’s voice sounded a bit angry. I wondered if I should greet him with my eyes covered like this, but I decided to greet first.

Though I couldn’t see anything, I raised one hand and spoke toward the unseen figure.

“Hello, Jeremi.”

“Welcome, Your Grace.”

“I can’t stand you talking to my wife like that, so put some clothes on.”

“Why not just step outside, Your Grace…?”

“I warned you not to get cheeky.”

“…Sorry, Your Grace.”

Jeremi always says something snarky, even though he can’t win, and ends up getting scolded.

If Sikar’s a lion, Jeremi’s like a honey badger—weak but fearless.

The sound of someone drying off stopped, followed by the sound of something being tossed. It seemed Sikar threw the uniform onto the table.

“Change into this.”

“Oh, this is…”

“It’s the uniform we talked about.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Soon, the rustling sound of changing clothes came, along with Jeremi’s grumbling complaints.

“This… this tight clothing is my first… ugh… first time, Your Grace? What kind of clothes are so… ugh. How did you ever wear something this uncomfortable, Your Grace? Ugh…”

He’s used to loose robes, so tight clothing must feel odd. I expected he’d find it uncomfortable, but Jeremi’s complaints exceeded my imagination.

Jeremi kept muttering until Sikar snapped that he’d do something to his mouth if he didn’t shut up, and only then did he quiet down completely.

Once Jeremi’s panting from changing stopped, Sikar removed his hand from my eyes.

I was very curious about Jeremi in the uniform, so as soon as Sikar let go, I checked him out.

And I let out a low gasp, as if admiring a dashing prince. Jeremi looked even more impressive than I’d imagined.