Chapter 7
After finishing his bath, Dayton followed the servant into the room—then suddenly turned to leave.
“Where are you going?”
He froze.
Melissa, with her small frame, was blocking the door.
“…Why is the maid guiding me here?”
Dayton couldn’t move her aside, so he carefully chose his words.
Anyone who knew his usual blunt personality would be surprised by how cautious he was.
“Because you’re sleeping with me.”
Dayton instinctively stepped back.
What was the point of choosing his words carefully?
He simply couldn’t understand this princess.
What? Why are you backing away?
Keeping his usual calm expression, he quietly widened the distance between them, clearly on guard.
“I won’t eat you.”
He stepped back again.
“Oh?”
“……”
For someone so big, he was actually watching her reactions.
It was funny—and a little cute.
This was a side of him she had never seen in the original story.
What did I even say to make him act like that? How sneaky.
Well, Dayton wasn’t a bad choice.
She slowly looked him over from head to toe.
Long legs.
A solid upper body fitting for a war hero.
Broad shoulders.
Deep red eyes like rubies.
Black hair.
And most of all… a naturally broad chest that couldn’t be gained from exercise alone—
When she looked up again, Dayton was frowning.
“Why do you keep moving farther away?”
It made her want to close the distance.
When she stepped forward, he stepped back.
When she moved closer again, he retreated just as much.
“You were looking at me like that just now.”
“Like what?”
“That… your gaze, from bottom to top…”
“From bottom to top?”
“…Never mind.”
Dayton sighed lightly and shook his head.
“I’ll ask the servant to prepare another room.”
“Sit.”
She sat down first and tilted her head toward the seat across from her.
It was late for tea, but—
On the table sat a steaming teapot and cups.
It was the best way to relieve the tension and fatigue built up during the day.
Back when she used to go to therapy, she never skipped this routine, no matter how tired she was.
A half-bath with aromatic oils.
Then tea.
It relaxed both body and mind.
“There’s something you want to ask me, other than the mine, right?”
After staring at her, Dayton finally sat down.
“How did you know about the mine in Ineh… and about me…”
His red eyes met hers directly—then he lowered his gaze first.
A small laugh escaped her.
“I didn’t know you had a habit of needing confirmation for everything.”
She poured tea.
“Or is it just not urgent enough yet?”
“Not urgent?”
“Sleepwalking.”
Among the many symptoms of PTSD, it was the first to appear in Dayton.
Locking the doors didn’t help.
His body would open—or break—the door out of habit and wander the mansion.
With a sharp sword in hand.
The servants were terrified.
Some even got hurt.
‘I had a bad dream.’
That was how it was brushed off.
But when it happens every night, rumors are inevitable.
It was pitiful.
A war hero wandering through a war that had already ended—every night.
Starting with sleepwalking, Dayton would slowly collapse.
In the end, rumors would spread that he had gone mad…
And he would be executed by the very empire he protected.
The scent of lavender filled the room.
The warm orange light softened everything—
But Dayton’s face was stiff.
“….”
Isn’t he supposed to have a poker face?
She pressed his deeply furrowed brow with her thumb.
Dayton stiffened further and pulled his head back.
“What are you doing—!”
“It’s fine. You’re mine.”
He stared at her like he had a lot to say, then shut his eyes tightly before opening them again.
“I won’t ask how you know anymore. You wouldn’t answer anyway.”
“Good. You’re quick.”
“Is there anyone else who knows?”
“No.”
“Then that’s enough.”
Dayton nodded, relaxing slightly.
“You said you could fix it… that I wouldn’t need to find a priest or doctor.”
“Yes.”
He clasped his hands like in prayer and leaned forward.
“How much do you know… about my condition?”
“The Preto War.”
“……”
“It was terrible. I think it’s a miracle you endured it.”
The Preto War lasted about two years.
Dayton alone turned it from defeat into victory.
The burden he carried must have been immense.
That’s probably why he didn’t hesitate to charge alone into enemy lines.
No one expected the war to leave such scars on someone like him.
He was Dayton—of the Collin family.
A loyal family that helped found the empire.
Warriors who seemed unshakable.
Ridiculous. Just because it’s that family doesn’t mean they’re fine.
Everyone is different.
“You’re being chased by ghosts that are already dead. And I’ll protect you from them.”
“What’s the solution?”
…This was supposed to be the emotional moment.
But Dayton looked completely unmoved.
“As you’ve probably learned, this isn’t something that can be fixed overnight.”
“…I understand.”
He looked deep in thought and started to stand—
She smiled.
“But there is a way to get through tonight safely.”
“What is it?”
She placed a rope on the table.
Whether opening the door or breaking it—
The problem was the same.
“If you can’t move freely, you won’t go outside.”
“…What?”
Dayton looked at the rope with suspicion.
“I’ve prepared everything.”
Trust me.
“Maybe the gag wasn’t necessary.”
She had prepared it just in case he shouted in his sleep—
But he didn’t scream.
He only struggled violently.
“I really dislike you, Princess.”
“Of course.”
She nodded casually.
The spoon in Dayton’s hand trembled slightly.
His wrists, red from the rope, looked sore.
Strangely, he looked even more tired than when he arrived from Ineh.
“But you didn’t leave the room last night.”
“……”
“Right?”
“…Was this your ‘solution’?”
He put down his spoon and asked suspiciously.
His eyes were full of distrust.
“As if. I’ve prepared much more than this.”
She answered confidently.
Dayton narrowed his eyes, then sighed and stood up, pulling down his sleeves to cover his wrists.
“I’ll take my leave now.”
“Were you waiting for me?”
Pretending not to be, but he had good manners.
Her lips curved upward.
“Why are you making that face again?”
“What face?”
She was smiling warmly, but Dayton frowned and shook his head.
“…Never mind. I’ll be busy with the mine for a few days, so I won’t be able to come.”
“Report to me in person.”
“Yes. I’ll see you then.”
Just as he was about to leave, his gaze fell briefly on the plate.
“…Starting from dinner, proper meals will be served. I’ll send the Grand Duke’s chef.”
“Hm?”
“I’ll take my leave.”
He bowed and left without looking back.
He disappeared quickly, as if afraid she might stop him.
She didn’t call him back.
Leaving him alone for a few days won’t be a problem yet.
His sleepwalking was still in its early stage.
Sitting up.
Talking.
Trying to walk.
He had only just begun to realize what his body was doing while he slept.
It wouldn’t worsen immediately.
Besides, this wasn’t something that could be rushed.
More importantly—
She tapped her half-empty plate with her fork.
Mashed potatoes.
Beans in tomato sauce.
Rough-cut bread.
And a bland “probably mushroom soup.”
This wasn’t just because it was breakfast.
Lunch and dinner weren’t much better.
She hadn’t thought it was a problem before.
She assumed everyone ate like this.
“Rena.”
“Yes, Princess!”
Rena hurried over.
Noticing her gaze, she spoke carefully.
“The annex meals are… simpler.”
“How simple?”
“Well… um…”
“Rena. Don’t make me ask twice.”
Rena glanced at the spoon in her hand and quickly blurted it out.
“It’s similar to what lower-middle commoners eat! Maybe even simpler… but the ingredients should still be good since it’s the palace!”
Only then did she understand why Dayton had glared at the servants earlier.
Using food to bully someone… not exactly new.
It felt like such a boring, outdated way to harass someone.
