Chapter 70

EP.70 Co-Sleeping…? (2)

Co-Sleeping…? (2)

Under the moon hanging high in the night sky, the bedding was laid out.

The small light in the room, barely sustained by a single candle.

And a man and a woman.

There was no way she could not know what this meant.

After all, she was not inexperienced; she knew what this situation entailed.

It was just that the person was the problem.

“…Why are you doing this?”

Nangong Bia made a puzzled expression as if she did not understand my question.

No matter how I looked at it, she seemed to have intentionally prepared for this situation, but the person in question was none other than Nangong Bia.

There was no way such an innocent person could have thought of and created this situation.

I asked Nangong Bia.

“…Didn’t you get two rooms? Why are you here?”

“…They said there were no more rooms.”

“Who said that?”

“Zhang Wenren….”

Plum Blossom Hall?

How could a major sect like Huashan have only one annex?

My doubts were fiercely interrupted by Shen Noya.

[For generations, the leaders of Huashan have been quick to notice and act.]

‘…Didn’t you just ask what Huashan Sect was a moment ago?’

[…Life is like that, after all.]

Looking at Nangong Bia, I noticed she had changed her clothes and her hair was slightly damp.

In the moonlight, her already pale skin seemed to glow.

The situation made it seem even more so.

“…Huh.”

Why is she doing this?

No matter how innocent she is, could she really not know what this situation means?

Nangong Bia still had a blank expression on her face. Seeing this, I thought,

‘…She really is incredibly beautiful.’

Nangong Bia, sitting quietly on the bedding under the moonlight, was truly excessively beautiful.

In my past life, the cruel and cold aura exuded by the Sword Empress was also overwhelming.

But the current her, with her delicate and elegant beauty, possessed a different charm.

‘Her face is a weapon.’

No matter how much I deny everything else, I cannot deny that Nangong Bia is beautiful.

Especially when our eyes meet...

If I had faced Nangong Bia like this at this age in my past life, I would not have been able to keep my wits about me.

I might have fallen over and laughed uncontrollably.

‘Now?’

Would I be able to maintain myself now?

I couldn’t be sure.

Nangong Bia was that alluring.

Because of these thoughts, I frowned and turned my back.

I felt I shouldn't stay any longer.

“…It seems there was some problem. Miss, you can sleep here, and I will sleep with the guards.”

I could ask for another room tomorrow; surely they wouldn’t refuse Nangong.

[Insane….]

I didn’t bother to listen to what Shen Noya would say, which was obvious.

I just wanted to leave this place quickly.

Gug.

The sensation of my sleeve being pulled made me stagger backward.

Turning around, I saw Nangong Bia tightly gripping my sleeve.

She was holding it so tightly that it was hard to let go.

“What are you doing…?”

“Don’t go.”

Nangong Bia’s eyes were resolute.

What should I say?

What should I say…?

“Then, should we sleep together…?”

“Can’t we?”

“Why can we…?”

“Because we are…engaged.”

Nangong Bia’s expression was ambiguous, as if she wasn’t sure herself.

After a long moment of contemplation, Nangong Bia, with trembling lips, said,

“Just…hold hands and sleep….”

“Pardon?”

What? …Did I hear wrong?

What did I just hear?

I was so shocked that I felt like I turned to stone, but Nangong Bia looked calm.

Isn’t this something that should be said from the opposite perspective…?

Nangong Bia, realizing something was off, asked,

“…Is this not right?”

“Miss, where did you hear this…?”

“…Hongwa said this would work.”

Hongwa must be the name of the servant who always followed Weixia.

When did they become so close…?

Maybe because they couldn’t communicate, Nangong Bia’s appearance as she thought deeply was slightly amusing.

The way she casually said something she didn’t understand, and the fact that I was the one who heard it.

Because of this, I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh, which made Nangong Bia’s eyes widen.

“You laughed….”

“…Sorry, I couldn’t help but find it a bit funny.”

“You laughed at me.”

“No….”

I tried to apologize, thinking she might be upset.

But I couldn’t say anything.

Because Nangong Bia was smiling.

Just a little, but enough to be clearly visible.

Seeing this, my hand involuntarily touched Nangong Bia’s cheek.

I reached out my hand without thinking.

This crazy guy, why am I doing this?

Surprised by my own actions, I tried to pull my hand back immediately, but I couldn’t.

Nangong Bia gently held my hand against her cheek.

I felt warmth from her hand.

Nangong Bia’s cheek was cold, but her hand, which held mine, was even warmer.

The subtle emotions on her face made even me, who had been trying to ignore them, waver.

Nangong Bia, leaning her cheek against my hand, said,

“…Let’s sleep together.”

Her cheek, which was usually pale, was now flushed.

******************

It was well past midnight.

Despite the fatigue from running around all day, it was a night I couldn’t easily fall asleep.

The moonlight seeped in through the slightly open window.

The faint light swept over Nangong Bia’s hair, which was lying peacefully.

I was looking at Nangong Bia’s face.

[You fell asleep quickly.]

Shen Noya, who had been silent for a while, finally spoke.

I laughed silently at his voice.

‘Where did you go?’

[Where did I go? I just took a short nap.]

‘You had a good sleep, it seems.’

[Yes, I slept very well.]

Shen Noya doesn’t sleep and can’t hide anywhere.

He was just being quiet.

Knowing this, I wasn’t sure whether to be grateful or find it ridiculous.

Shen Noya, who had quietly slipped away as the situation unfolded, didn’t see what he had hoped for.

I didn’t think there was any hidden meaning in Nangong Bia’s intentions.

Nangong Bia really just wanted to sleep together.

In fact, she fell asleep quickly as soon as she lay down.

If this was the case, wouldn’t it have been fine to sleep separately?

‘…She did fall asleep quickly.’

Maybe her usual innocent expression is because she sleeps a lot.

I had such a silly thought.

[What do you think?]

‘What do you mean?’

[The child sleeping next to you.]

I couldn’t say anything to this sudden comment.

It was something I couldn’t easily answer.

Shen Noya, sensing this, continued to speak as if he didn’t notice.

[I know you feel more guilt than love towards this child.]

‘...’

[I don’t know what sins you bear at your age, but I don’t think you are unaware of the story in the child’s eyes when she looks at you.]

I couldn’t deny it.

From Nangong Bia’s actions and the occasional look she gave me, I could sense something.

Why.

Why is it.

Why does Nangong Bia insist on entangling herself with me in this next life?

Why does she start to have strange feelings for someone who was nothing to her before?

I slowly extended my hand towards Nangong Bia, who was breathing softly.

To brush away the hair that was tickling her face.

Just as my hand was about to touch her hair,

-…The moon is up…?

The voice that had repeatedly risen in my mind sounded again.

The voice that tore at my heart made my hand retreat to my chest.

The rain that was supposed to fall had not yet started.

I didn’t want this situation to happen.

The moon outside the window remained the same.

At night, I remembered her, who used to gaze at it endlessly.

Her last moments in my arms were vivid.

‘For now.’

I was slowly realizing that Nangong Bia was different from her past life.

Moreover,

This also made me realize that there was no longer a Sword Empress.

Thus, I couldn’t easily approach her.

Not because I had feelings for her, but because I didn’t.

In the past, I wasn’t in a position to let anyone in, and I was preoccupied with other things.

‘Then, now?’

I asked myself.

Is it the same as before?

The answer came quickly, but I didn’t solidify my thoughts.

It was still hesitant.

Because I had lost everything, I was hesitant to grasp anything.

‘…Am I still afraid?’

Maybe I was afraid because of the things I had experienced.

I shouldn’t make hasty assumptions about anything.

Because I would surely lose it again.

Especially since I had heard that I could die at any time now.

I flinched.

Nangong Bia, lying next to me, shifted in her sleep.

Her brows were slightly furrowed, as if she was having a nightmare, so I gently pressed my finger to her forehead.

“…Mm.”

She made a strange sound and shifted again.

Seeing this, I couldn’t help but smile a little.

It had only been a few months since I returned.

It was still a difficult topic.

******************

The night had passed, and morning had come.

At the time when the distant rooster crowed.

Nangong Bia groaned and got up.

She always found it hard to wake up because she was a heavy sleeper.

Through the drowsy mind and blurry vision, someone came into view.

“Are you awake?”

Gouyang Qian was sitting on the porch outside the door.

‘…Ah.’

Nangong Bia realized she had fallen asleep with Gouyang Qian last night.

Thanks to this, she was able to sleep without the usual stench.

She didn’t have the usual nightmares, and it felt easier to wake up in the morning.

This was the peace she could only achieve after meeting him.

Since she had fallen asleep closer to him than usual, the feeling was particularly strong today.

Gouyang Qian, looking at Nangong Bia, said,

“I didn’t expect you to fall asleep so quickly.”

“…I was tired.”

“Get the sleep crust out of your eyes.”

“…!”

Hearing this, Nangong Bia quickly rubbed her eyes, but strangely, she felt nothing.

Gouyang Qian, seeing this, smiled and said,

“I was joking. There’s nothing there.”

“…?”

Nangong Bia, slightly glaring at Gouyang Qian for this strange joke in the morning, sensed something was off.

It was different from usual.

Was it a feeling? No, it wasn’t…

What was different?

Gouyang Qian asked the puzzled Nangong Bia,

“Are you going to eat breakfast?”

“Eat…Ah!”

Only then did Nangong Bia realize what was different.

Casual speech.

Gouyang Qian had been using casual speech with her for some time now.

The sharpness and the forced distance she usually felt were gone.

All in one night.

Nangong Bia, realizing this, felt something thumping in her chest.

‘…Why?’

What was this feeling?

Nangong Bia didn’t know.

“Why.”

In response to Gouyang Qian’s question, Nangong Bia shook her head vigorously.

She didn’t want to bring it up, fearing he might change his tone if she did.

Gouyang Qian slowly got up.

Since he said he was going to eat, that must be why.

Nangong Bia, seeing this, tried to get up as well.

“Master! I came….”

“Ah….”

Weixia, who hadn’t been seen yesterday, suddenly opened the door and appeared.

Weixia, who had happily run in, froze upon seeing the two of them.

Similarly, Gouyang Qian, making eye contact with Weixia, turned to stone.

I could see a slight bead of sweat on Gouyang Qian’s forehead.

In the subtly chilling atmosphere, only Nangong Bia’s face remained calm.