What can I do, even if I feel wronged? I can’t complain to God, let alone to the crown prince. A mere noblewoman can’t just refuse a request from the future emperor of the empire.

“…he’s just acting like a thug.”

“Lady?”

“Yes! Is there anything that makes you uncomfortable? Just command me, and I will provide it promptly.”

I grumbled very softly, but he couldn’t have heard that, right?

“It does bother me a bit, kicking out the owner and taking over the bed.”

…Is he implying I should sleep next to him?

“I don’t need to cover up myself, so you can take the blanket.”

Of course, that’s what it was.

“And later, I’ll ensure you’re amply rewarded. What do you fancy? Money?”

“No, that would be outrageous. Serving you is honor enough for my family.”

“You speak wisely. But you do like money, don’t you?”

“If you were to offer it, I wouldn’t refuse.”

Reynard half-closed his eyes and let out a sly chuckle.

“I didn’t know you had such a personality. You can’t tell just by listening to rumors. Ah, and you must keep this a secret. The fact that the crown prince is plagued by insomnia and seems to be under some strange curse.”

“Of course!”

Information like this could easily be exploited in political skirmishes. Unless I had multiple lives to spare, silence was the only option.

“Then, I’m counting on you.”

With those final words, the crown prince closed his eyes. For a moment, I stood there, captivated by his face.

With strong yet delicate features, and hair like spun gold – could the description from the novel of ‘a sculpture embodying all the nobility in the world’ fit anyone better?

‘If only he would stop with his crap talking habits as if is smitten.’

With that pointless thought, I grabbed the blanket and headed to the sofa. Wandering around the house looking for an empty room to sleep in would surely raise suspicions among the servants.

Just the thought of the commotion it would cause if it were discovered that the crown prince was sleeping in my room gave me a headache. Reynard had asked for secrecy too.

After laying the blanket on the sofa, I checked the terrace window just in case. It looks like Reynard locked it properly after entering.

To think that he could bypass the security of a Marquis’s mansion so easily; even as a sub-male lead character, a male lead is still a male lead. Even in the worst-case scenario, he wouldn’t need to resort to thievery to keep the heroine fed.

‘I’ll think about the comments and the curse tomorrow.’

I settled back onto the sofa and my body surrendered to the oncoming drowsiness. I was just as tired.

Just as I was about to succumb to sweet slumber, I had no choice but to snap my eyes open. Someone was shaking my shoulder.

This was already the second time today. Roused from the brink of sleep because of someone else.

“…Is there a problem?”

However, considering the person was none other than the distinguished crown prince, I bit back any annoyance and asked politely. He responded in a low voice, his face even more suffused with irritation than mine.

“I can’t seem to fall asleep. I thought I finally could, but… the sleep just vanished all of a sudden.”

“Could it be that my bed is somehow unrelated to Your Highness’s trouble with those auditory hallucinations?”

I asked, harboring a glimmer of hope, but the man shook his head.

“It’s the same. Your face keeps floating into my mind.”

Why on earth is his mind lingering on my face when he’s not even in love?!

Suddenly, the crown prince sent a heated gaze my way.

“That sofa.”

“What about the sofa?”

“I want it. Give it to me.”

“Excuse me? You want the sofa, not the bed?”

“For some reason, I’ve been wanting to lie on that sofa since earlier. Forget the bed; you take it. Let’s switch.”

At his request, I returned to the bed. The crown prince then folded his large frame into the sofa, which looked quite uncomfortable for his size.

‘With his big build, that sofa seems tiny. It was just right when I was lying on it.’

Honestly, if it means I can actually sleep comfortably in a bed, I prefer it. Time to really catch some sleep now.

‘But why the sudden switch from bed to sofa? Could it be…?’

No, that’s ridiculous. Stop the nonsense and just sleep. I tried to coax myself into slumber.

Perhaps it was the fatigue, but as soon as my head hit the pillow, sleep rushed over me like a tidal wave. Yet, again…

“Young lady, could you get up for a moment?”

“What is it this time…”

I couldn’t hide the irritation seeping into my voice. Waking me up just as I’m about to fall asleep, over and over. Is he doing this on purpose?

The crown prince seemed a bit embarrassed too, turning his gaze away.

“I can’t seem to fall asleep on the sofa either.”

“And?”

“I feel like I need to sleep in the bed again. The sofa just isn’t right.”

“Could it be that…”

I finally voiced the suspicion that had been nesting in my heart.

“Do you think you need to sleep next to me?”

Reinhard fell silent for a moment before nodding quietly.

“It seems so. What I need isn’t just the ‘bed’ where the lady sleeps, but the place where the lady herself is asleep.”

“I was thinking the same.”

“…”

“…”

After saying it out loud, the atmosphere took a seriously awkward turn. I immediately regretted my words.

Reynard, looking utterly dismayed, ran a hand down his face and let out a deep sigh. Was sharing a bed with me that repulsive to him?

“No choice then. Lady, would you lie down beside me?”

It’s not like I had the guts to refuse a request from the crown prince.

Fortunately, Charlotte’s bed was large enough that even with two people, there was plenty of room to spare. Reynard climbed in beside me and traced an imaginary line down the middle of the bed with his finger.

“Don’t cross this line.”

I was instantly annoyed. This was too much! What did he take me for, some kind of pervert?

‘I won’t deny I haven’t entertained the thought, but I’m not depraved enough to act on such impulses!’

The nerve of him, showing up in the middle of the night, invading someone’s room, asking to share a bed, and then having the audacity to be so rude. Not to mention waking me up three times already.

I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I had to protest, so I opened my mouth to speak.

“Your Highness… I assure you, I harbor no dark desires towards you. Please understand that…”

That was as rebellious as I could get in my protest. But it couldn’t be helped.

Just look at those bloodshot eyes of his. He must be looking that fierce because he’s sleep-deprived.

Reynard actually caught my barely audible murmur and looked embarrassed.

“Listen, you seem to be under some misunderstanding, but I’m not telling you not to cross over because I’m afraid you’ll pounce on me.”

“…Then why?”

“I have this habit of reflexively attacking anyone who touches me even slightly in my sleep. It’s a habit from the old days when too many assassins were after my life.”

Suddenly, the conversation took a weighty turn.

“I’ll place the sword far enough away, but still, don’t come over—it was a precaution, in case you were in danger.”

“That’s quite thoughtful… I’m truly moved by Your Highness’s consideration.”

Embarrassed by my own misinterpretation, I just babbled out whatever came to mind.

“It’s good we’ve cleared up the misunderstanding. I understand how awkward this must be for you. An unmarried lady sharing a bed with a man who’s practically a stranger—it must be uncomfortable and unsettling. Rest assured. I have not the slightest ill-intention towards you.”

I wasn’t scared of my throat getting slashed; it wasn’t that kind of unease. After all, men in romance novels, be they the main guy or the second lead, never subscribe to the ‘all men are wolves’ theory.

One of the basic qualities of a male lead is that he sees all women but the heroine as if they were stones. The male leads in ‘Searching for a Husband’ also followed this formula faithfully.

‘But…’

Hearing him so bluntly state his lack of interest, my feelings were a bit bruised. Here I was, considering marriage with you guys made of ink and paper~!

“I’ll remember your efforts, so besides money, if there’s anything else you desire, feel free to ask.”

“Thank you. My sleeping habits are quite tame, so please don’t worry and go ahead and sleep.”

“Good. Sleep well, Lady.”

The prince gave a faint smile and then lay down on the bed, closing his eyes. Wow, he looks even better up close. I could totally understand why he might be a narcissist with those looks.

Now, under the same blanket, my heart was racing. A mere stretch of the hand and I could touch him. Of course, if I really did, my body would likely pay the price, so caution was key.

Then, a flicker of doubt brushed through my mind.

‘Wait, am I… really sure my sleeping habits are tame?’

I was tame, alright. Before I possessed, my original body was, I mean. But Charlotte? I had no idea. Having always slept alone, there was no one to inform me otherwise.

I murmured in a tiny voice.

“Your Highness, by any chance, have you fallen asleep?”

“No, not yet.”

“This question springs from purely personal curiosity, but may I ask what happened to the assassins who dared to lay hands on you in the past?”

“What a surprisingly obvious question. Lady, you are quite unique. I never expected you to be curious about such things.”

“Ha, I’ve been told since I was young that I have an insatiable curiosity.”

“They all died on the spot.”

“…On the spot?”

“I know I should have kept them alive to find out who sent them, but in my half-asleep state, I can’t seem to control that.”

“…”

“But don’t worry. Didn’t you say your sleeping habits are tame? And besides, there’s no sword nearby. Maybe sharing a bed with you was the right answer after all. Sleepiness is overtaking me…”

I thought he was yawning but then his voice tapered off. He must have fallen into a deep sleep; his chest rose and fell in a regular rhythm.

On the other hand, any trace of sleepiness had fled from me. My heart started to beat for a completely different reason than before.

‘If Charlotte’s sleeping habits are as bad as her temper, I’m dead.’

Just look at that solid muscle structure clearly visible even through his clothes. He may think it’s alright since the sword isn’t close by, but with that build, his bare body is a weapon in itself.

Despite my tired, gritty eyes, one thing was crystal clear. I was going to spend this night wide awake, that much was certain.