Cheryl blinked her eyes open. A bright red canopy with pretty myrtle flowers hangs directly above it. The flower is fragrant, and it is spread inside a partially covered transparent mosquito net.
The candle had long since burned out. The moonlight shining through the window was the only source of illumination. It creates a gloomy atmosphere.
Cheryl squirmed a little because she was hot. Only then did she notice that someone had wrapped his arm around Cheryl's waist.
When the young woman turned around, she noticed the sleeping face of a handsome man next to her. His hair was wavy and slightly long, and it was scattered around his pillow.
Cheryl almost screamed, but the wedding immediately came back to her mind.
Yes, she is married to Edgar Baldwin, Zizvania's most desirable bachelor. Apart from power and wealth, Edgar Baldwin was the most desired man by all the women in this kingdom because he had a gorgeous face that could entice any woman into giving up everything she had.
But Cheryl didn't react like most women did when she first saw the Marquess's handsome face. Her heart was filled with horror rather than admiration at the time.
Cheryl's round eyes decided to scrutinise the Marquess' legendary good looks. After a long period of observation, it becomes clear that this individual's attractiveness exceeds what Cheryl can describe in her novel.
She only mentioned Edgar's appearance as the number one handsome man with a tall and stocky body in the novel. But she couldn't imagine what Edgar would look like in real life.
But now she was staring at the character she had created. Sleeping peacefully unattended. Cheryl may have subconsciously reached her hand out to the noble Marquess's face because she had been staring for so long.
Cheryl's commoner's fingers traced the Marquess' skin, beginning on the cheeks and progressing to the brow.
"Oh my goodness, his skin is so soft and tight," Cheryl remarked.
Her evil finger traced the bridge of the nose, high and straight, addicted.
"This appears to be the shape of someone's nose after plastic surgery. So ideal!" Cheryl kept making mental comments.
Cheryl is becoming more assertive. She even boldly stroked someone's long eyelashes. Cheryl giggled quietly as she felt his eyelashes tickle her fingertips.
Her gaze was drawn to Edgar's lips. The shape is difficult to describe, but it is undeniably sexy.
Cheryl also placed her index finger on Edgar's lips, as if she didn't know what courtesy was. Cheryl's fingertips were warmed by the heat from her lips until she was at ease. That sense of security is what makes her complacent and daring enough to rub other people's lips.
A pair of sharp eyes opened, staring directly at Cheryl while she was busy harassing a certain man's lips.
Cheryl, who was taken aback, quickly withdrew her finger. But, either because she was too slow or for some other reason, he bit Cheryl's finger, preventing her from fleeing.
The young woman with the round eyes began to panic. She made a face as if she was about to cry, primarily because she felt guilty and was afraid Edgar would become enraged. She begged in hushed tones.
"I apologise, Marquess. I unintentionally woke you up."
The Marquess was deafeningly silent. His clear eyes were still staring at Cheryl with an unidentified emotion. Cheryl's finger remained in his mouth.
Instead of answering the pitiful plea of the little woman in front of him, Edgar moved his tongue, licking the finger he was biting.
Cheryl was startled when she felt something warm and wet on her fingertips. Someone who had recently become a wife desperately pulled her finger from Edgar's mouth, like a shocking electric current.
The bite was powerful, like a beast's mouth grip. Cheryl yanked her finger frantically but didn't dare to pull too hard for fear of breaking it. Her efforts were rewarded; she was unable to escape.
Cheryl actually cried at the end. She intended to confess her error while crying.
"Please forgive me, Marquess; I didn't mean to..."
Edgar, who had awoken the first time Cheryl put her finger on his face, remained silent as he stared at his newlywed wife. Edgar thought the little woman who was desperately defending herself in front of him was very cute.
The corners of his mouth curved into a smile as he held onto a soft finger. Edgar's mischievous tongue brushed against the slightly sensitive fingertips once more.
Cheryl exclaimed once more.
"Marquess!" Cheryl wanted to reprimand Edgar for his disrespectful behaviour, but when her gaze met Edgar's lazy gaze, she lost her ability to speak.
Edgar's smile widened as he saw his little wife start to obey. He apologised by resting his teeth on Cheryl's finger.
Within the dimly lit mosquito net, Edgar opened his mouth and spoke in a deep hoarse voice.
"Why does my wife constantly wake me up in the middle of the night? Do you want to continue the bed battle from earlier?"
Cheryl couldn't help but think about the battle in question after hearing Edgar's ambiguous words. Her face flushed as the humiliating memory flashed through her mind.
"Why are you being so impolite, Marquess?"
Edgar's pupils constricted slightly "Why should I be courteous? Instead, it is up to you to dissolve the formal barriers that separate us. We're now a husband and wife who know each other inside and out."
Cheryl's cheeks were still warm, but she couldn't argue.
"What's the big deal? Is the wife willing to do it again?" Edgar continued to tease.
Cheryl sighed and rolled her eyes. She remembered Edgar tossing her around on the bed a few hours before. Her body was still aching and exhausted. Her head felt dizzy just thinking about being treated like that again.
As a result, she shook her head vigorously. In order to dispel the Marquess' intent.
Edgar frowned as his little wife resisted so vehemently. "Do you not want to?" he inquired.
He only received a shake in response.
"Why? Did I disappoint you, my wife?"
Cheryl couldn't take it any longer and screamed, "Stop it, or I'll kick you out of this room!"
Cheryl yelled the threat out of nowhere, feeling no remorse.
The rightful owner of the room, a certain man, could only smile helplessly.
"Okay, don't be upset. Let's get some rest since the night is still long."
Edgar made the decision to stop teasing his little wife. He drew Cheryl closer and adjusted the blanket that was covering them both. He then shut his eyes.
Edgar opened his eyes again a few moments later. He noticed his little wife stiffly in his arms. Edgar could tell this woman wasn't sleeping based on her posture.
"Why don't you sleep?"
“…” Cheryl didn't respond, instead closing her eyes tightly and pretending to sleep.
Edgar didn't press the issue any further. He stroked Cheryl's head with his large palm in a soothing manner.
Soon after, the person in his arms relaxed and her breathing became more calm. Edgar was aware that Cheryl was dozing off.