"We held hands… and cuddled, sometimes."
Lewis bit his tongue again as he watched the horror in her face came clear.
This was the reason he was reluctant to tell her about the entire arrangement. However, he didn't want to surprise her in the future, either.
Not that snuggling and cuddling often happened — just on special occasions. Most of the time, Devon would just hold his hand in silence.
Just the bare minimum of human interaction he needed. No emotions involved.
"Snuggling…" Under her breath, Devon muttered in distress.
Holding hands was already shocking for her. But cuddling and snuggling with a stranger was another level of absurdity!
How could that happen? Even though she was a princess who grew up in a different culture, it was just bizarre.
That was like what proper husbands and wives do… or what she had heard.
She never slept like that with her late husband. Although they were married for years, her husband had tons of mistresses.
He only slept in their royal chambers three times in a five year long marriage. And those times… the princess never wanted to recall them.
Because only pain and misery would come to her mind.
Hence, with this man telling her this… how was she supposed to react?
Just accept it?
Ignore her thoughts to survive in this unknown kingdom?
Could she do it?
Does she have the guts to be a stranger's night companion?
All these questions clouding her thoughts caused her lower lip to tremble. Sharing the same bed without physical interaction sounded facile.
However… now the tides had turned. Slapping her with the reality she was too naïve to accept at the beginning.
Lewis let out a weary sigh as he closed his eyes and leaned back.
"Forget about it." He said, waving sluggishly. "Don't make it sound like I'm trying to exploit you. Believe me when I say I hate this arrangement and relying on someone I barely know."
He added. His eyes closed, arms crossed, stretching his long limbs as he tried to find comfort in the small chair.
"I just told you about it, so you know. Not that I plan on snuggling with your current state." Lewis stated with his eyes still closed.
Devon, with eyes cautious, watched him tossed position on the chair. He seemed annoyed and uncomfortable.
Yet, he wasn't forcing her to sleep with him?
"Do… do you want to switch places with me?" Devon asked, raising her brows as she pursed her lips.
Since she was physically alright, she could offer the bed to him. And then, she could sit on the chair.
"Shh!" Yet instead of talking more, Lewis only shushed her irritably.
He was already struggling to sleep. It was already hard to trick his mind to stop from thinking because she's still around the room.
Therefore, the least he wanted now was unnecessary noise.
Devon bit her lower lip, but her eyes remained on him. In her eyes, this man, whom she hasn't asked his name, was strange.
Compare to the men she had known, this man was just odd.
Her life as a princess, her voice was never heard, nor did it matter. Only men's opinion were important.
She was born to be a political tool for her father, the king. Her only purpose in life was to stay pretty and bear an heir; regardless of whether she wanted it.
If this man insisted and forced himself to her, Devon would struggle. However, she knew she wouldn't be able to fight him and would have to do what she had done in the past.
Just like what she had endured within the castle walls, she wouldn't make a sound.
As Devon recalled her cruel life, she clasped her hands on the quilt tightly. Her fist trembled, her shoulders shivering, while she was biting her lip so hard it bled.
She held back the tears that were quick to build up in her eyes. Despite her pounding heart, this man didn't seem he bore ill-intention.
She didn't want to believe it herself. But this stranger made her feel he heard her; he heard her heart for the first time.
"Tsk," Suddenly, amid the silence, Devon heard him clicked his tongue, annoyed.
Devon jolted, holding her hand to her chest. Her prying eyes on him.
Lewis then slowly opened his eyes. He let out a sharp exhale as he uncrossed his arms and massaged his temples.
'I can't.' He muttered internally.
He failed to trick his mind from sleeping. Just like his suffering every night, his brain wouldn't shut up.
Even the silence didn't help. It only stimulated his brain from thinking nonsense.
Devon watched him as he stared at the ceiling with killing intent. It was as if the ceiling had wronged him unjustly.
She pursed her lips and cleared her throat.
"I can... share the bed… but I don't think…" She trailed, aware that this impulse invitation could hurt her.
"I don't think I'm prepared to cuddle or hold hands."
She added as she gazed down at her lap. Not that she was a masochist, but he seemed he was on the verge of something she couldn't pinpoint.
"Huh?" Lewis arched his brow as she turned his gaze to her.
After a beat, he placed his hand on the armrest and pushed himself up. Without a word, he trudged towards the bed and sat on the edge of the mattress.
Lewis took off his shoes as he cast her a glance.
"I'll sleep here because you invited me to. I'm not a martyr to sleep on that chair if I have other option. So, this is on you."
He said and yawned as soon as he finished his remark. Lewis then laid on the side of the bed, his back against her.
"Yawning feels nice." He muttered as he yawned again. "Don't worry. I told you already. I won't force you. Just don't smother me in my sleep. Have mercy."
He added as he closed his eyes. Devon raised her gaze slightly and stared at his back.
She wondered why would he say such an odd thing. Not knowing Lewis was aware he was putting himself in danger with sleeping with a 'mentally unstable' patient. Or what Doctor Shen had told him.
"Uhm…" she hummed, trying to see if he already fell asleep.
"If you can't sleep, watch something. I don't mind noises now that I'm sleepy." With a lazy tone, Lewis reached for the television remote controller placed on the bedside table.
He tossed it behind him, yawning once again. Now that he was closer to her, feeling her warmth and presence, it soothed him.
Devon stared at the remote controller cautiously. She had never seen such an odd device in her life.
As if detonating a bomb, she carefully picked it up. Holding it by her thumb and forefinger, she raised it and examined what it was for.
Devon tilted her head from the side to the other. Her eyes staring at those buttons which had prints on them — some had different colors.
"What is this…?" She wondered under her breath.
She glanced at Lewis' back and pursed her lips. The next second, she pressed a random button, but nothing.
Devon looked around, but nothing changed. Yet a smile resurfaced on her lips as the button felt nice to press.
Biting her lips, she pressed other buttons randomly. It only took a matter of time when her curiosity laid on the red button.
"Hmm…" Again, Devon glanced at his unmoving figure.
When she did, she mustered enough courage to see what the red button — placed on the top left of the remote controller — was for, as it appeared special.
After careful yet brief consideration, Devon slowly traveled her thumb towards the ON button. As she took a deep breath, she pressed it.
This time, however, she instantly jolted at the sudden unwelcome noise in the room.
Instinctively, she turned her head towards the television, which she initially assumed it was a small door on the wall.
As soon as she laid her eyes on it, her eyes widened because it showed Lewis in it. Panicking, Devon shook his shoulder violently until he woke up.
"Ughh… what…?"
"My lord, your impostor had come!"