# 29
**Chapter twenty-nine**
“...Harold.”
Diana called him again.
The room was dark, no moonlight filtering in due to the thick clouds, so she couldn't see his expression clearly. However, the hand she held in her half-asleep state was damp and cold with sweat.
“Did I wake you up?” he asked.
“No. Well… are you okay?” Harold replied.
Diana placed her other hand on Harold's cheek. His cheek felt as cold and wet as his hand.
“You're not sick, are you?”
As they lay in the same positions, Diana felt guilty for letting go of his hand while she slept. Although his seizures had decreased since they started spending time together, Harold was still sick.
If you were sick, you should have woken me up. If you didn't want to wake me, you could have at least held on to me. Worried and upset, Diana tightened her grip on his hand. Slowly, Harold's cold hand began to warm under her touch.
"I'm not sick. I just had a bad dream."
As the warmth spread through Harold's hand, the tension in his body eased. He felt his body relax, like a trained animal that instinctively responds to rest.
"truly…?" Diana asked.
"Yes."
Relieved that he wasn't sick, Diana lowered the hand she had placed on his cheek.
"I'm going to take a shower. Diana, you should go back to sleep."
Diana nodded in agreement, but once she was alone, she found it impossible to go back to sleep. The covers where Harold lay were damp with sweat.
This didn't seem like a simple nightmare.
Even if Harold said he wasn't sick, she couldn't shake her worry and sat down.
'Hmm… wouldn't he be thirsty?'
After sweating like that, it was hard to imagine that he wouldn't feel thirsty.
Diana put on her slippers, threw a shawl over her shoulders, and headed to the kitchen. By the time she returned with the tea tray, Harold seemed to have finished washing. A faint light was seeping through the gap in the door.
When she opened the door fully, Diana saw Harold standing by the window in a new robe. He turned towards her, noticing the tray of tea she had brought him.
“So there you go.”
"Yes."
“You could have asked a maid to do that.”
“It's too late for that. Besides, I know how to make tea myself.”
The skill of preparing tea was part of Diana's special memories. She placed a cup in front of Harold.
"Thanks."
As Harold sipped his tea, Diana glanced at him furtively. With the candle now lit, she could see him more clearly.
Sip your tea in style. His actions and expression were as calm as always, but the circles under his eyes were deeply shadowed. There were dark circles under his eyes, and his skin, which was already pale, looked ghostly under the dim light. He looked completely exhausted.
'What is he thinking? Is he thinking about that nightmare?'
“Harold, wasn’t the pudding we had after dinner delicious?” Diana asked, trying to change the subject.
“Was it?”
"You don't seem to remember. Didn't you eat it?"
“I kept my meal simple today.”
“Oh. It was delicious, though… I’ll ask the chef to make it again tomorrow.”
“Was he that good?”
“Yes! What we had today was an Earl Gray milk tea flavored pudding. It was soft and elastic, and when you take a spoon, the sweet and slightly bitter flavors blend perfectly. It was so good that I couldn’t stop eating.”
"Hmm. I'll look forward to it tomorrow, then."
As they talked, Diana noticed that Harold's expression softened a little. She smiled to herself, feeling relieved.
'Honestly, Harold is not the type to get stressed out by nightmares.'
Maybe she was overreacting herself. However, she couldn't calm her mind.
There were many reasons why she couldn't let go. Because they are together. Because it is the first meaningful relationship you have had since you were born again into this body. And because she really likes Harold as a person.
“By the way, why did someone come from the Imperial Palace today?” She asked lightly, expecting Harold to avoid the topic if it was sensitive.
“They came to investigate the raid on a human trafficking organization.”
“Oh.”
But why would they come to Harold about that?
While Diana tilted her head in confusion, Harold seemed to read her thoughts and explained.
“Because that incident happened after you went out on your own and ended up in danger.”
“Ah, that makes sense.”
Diana nodded slowly.
“Whoever it is, I hope he doesn't get caught.”
“Don't worry. Your husband is not that neglectful.”
"That's right. Harold isn't careless...wait, what?"
Diana froze, her eyes twitching nervously like a frightened cat.
“Didn’t you hear me? Your husband—”
"Ah! Stop! Don't say another word! Haven't you heard the saying, 'Even walls have ears'?!"
She rushed to put her hands over his mouth. Harold gently tapped her hand as if to say, Let go.
Should I leave it or not? Hesitant and confused, Diana lowered her hand.
“There are no mice or rats nearby to hear something said in a low voice. If there are, your screaming might attract them.”
“Aren't you afraid I'll say something somewhere? What will you do then?” she shouted.
“You? Well...”
Without completing his sentence, Harold raised his tea cup. Watching him sip his tea with his usual calmness made Diana feel even more anxious.
What does he mean by that? Does he think I won't dare because he can handle it so easily?
Diana grabbed her hair and groaned.
Ugh! Why did you even ask?
Her blue eyes were filled with a mixture of embarrassment, annoyance, and remorse, as if to say that this wasn't what she wanted.
“Pff.”
Finally, Harold let out a laugh. It was hard to hold back his laughter when her thoughts were so transparent.
As Diana raised her head in surprise, his dark blue eyes crinkled in amusement, still sparkling with laughter.
“I laughed because the tea is good.”
“…Did someone say something to you?”
Diana's lips twitched even more at his excuse, which didn't make sense.
'He's laughing at someone who's embarrassed.'
However, she didn't hate seeing him smile. That was the whole reason she kept talking to him—to see that smile. It bothered her a little but it also made her happy. Happy and a little upset.
However, the negative feelings quickly faded, and he was left with the feeling that everything was fine as long as he was in a good mood.
As a soft smile spread across Diana's face, Harold's dark blue eyes deepened as he stared at her. You will not understand what the relationship between them was.
But one thing was clear: I felt safe in his arms.
Harold tilted his head slightly.
“Just,” he said, moving closer to her.
His hair passed along her neck, cold as if it were sharp fangs piercing her delicate skin. Diana tried with a nervous push to push him away, but he did not move an inch. Suddenly, a strange tension spread to the depths of her stomach.
“I wondered if I forgot to give you a warning.”
warning? Did he just say a warning?
“Did I...did something wrong?”
“You did.”
What did I do wrong today? Was my question why someone from the palace came earlier? But Harold could have chosen not to answer. Or was it something else? No matter how much she scrutinized her mind, she couldn't pinpoint it.
“I'm sorry,” she said, bowing her head.
There was no response from Harold. The silence made her even more nervous. Should I kneel? But she couldn't, not with his strong grip keeping her in place.
Then, Harold loosened his grip. Confused, Diana straightened up in embarrassment.
Does this mean he accepted my apology?
She sneaked glances at his face several times and let out a deep sigh. The tension drained from her body, leaving her feeling heavy and exhausted.
“I'm really going to sleep now...”
“Okay. I’ll finish my tea first.”
Still wary, Diana glanced back at Harold like a rabbit checking for predators as she made her way to bed.
So, did he really stop me just to ask about that?
Her face constricted in a mixture of confusion and annoyance as she lay down. Moments later, she fell asleep.
Listening to her soft, steady breathing, Harold put down his empty tea cup. Standing beside the bed, he let his gaze take in the sleeping Diana.
“Diana.”
“If you had remembered my warning, you would have remembered this too.”
“I always get what I want, no matter the cost.”
His lips curved into a sly, almost sweet smile as he whispered the words.
But his dark blue eyes remained dark, filled with feelings she had not yet noticed. Deep and possessive feelings.