Rui Griffin's gaze lingered on her for a moment.
"Are you really not hungry?"
"Yes." Reina nodded.
He didn't immediately respond. Instead, he studied her face like he was deciding whether to believe her or simply accept it.
Then, suddenly, he leaned in.
A slow, faintly amused smile formed at the corner of his lips.
"So you're really not hungry," he repeated. "Then maybe we should go straight to bed. It's our first night as a married couple. I'm sure you'll get your appetite back after a good sleep."
Reina blinked, caught off guard.
"…What are you talking about?" she asked carefully.
Before she could fully process his words, she felt the atmosphere shift. Rui Griffin had closed the distance between them in a few unhurried steps, and suddenly she found herself slightly pressed back by his presence alone.
His shirt collar was half-unbuttoned, his posture relaxed—but there was nothing casual about the way he looked at her.
"My dear," he said calmly, "didn't you just say you weren't hungry?"
His tone softened, but the meaning behind it was unmistakably teasing.
"As far as I know, sharing a bed on a wedding night consumes quite a lot of energy."
Reina froze for a second—then her brain finally caught up.
Her eyes widened.
"…Wait." She immediately pushed against his chest. "I'm hungry. I just remembered I'm hungry."
She nodded quickly, almost too quickly.
"Very hungry," she added firmly, as if repeating it would make it more convincing.
Rui Griffin looked at her for a moment.
Then he let out a quiet laugh and stepped back.
"But I am hungry too," he said simply.
Reina paused.
"…That's not what you meant, is it?"
He didn't answer directly. Instead, he adjusted his shirt and turned away slightly, as if the matter was already settled.
"Dinner first," he said. Then, glancing back at her, added with mild amusement, "After that, you can decide whether you still want to argue with me."
Reina said nothing.
She had a strong feeling she should stop trying to interpret his "hungry."
They left the bedroom together.
Only then did Reina truly take in the mansion.
It was far larger than the Yuki estate she had grown up in. The architecture blended modern elegance with quiet luxury—clean lines, warm lighting, and a design that felt more intentional than decorative.
Everything spoke of wealth.
But not noise.
What surprised her more was what was missing.
No servants. No butlers waiting in formation. No constant presence of people around him.
Just silence.
And him.
Rui Griffin held her hand as they walked down the stairs, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
When they reached the dining area, Reina paused slightly.
Compared to the grand living room, the dining space was unexpectedly simple. Warm lighting, a modest table, carefully chosen furniture—nothing excessive, nothing performative.
It felt… lived in.
Rui Griffin pulled out a chair for her.
"Sit," he said.
Reina hesitated for a second, then did.
He sat beside her and began serving food onto her plate himself, unhurried and precise.
"This part of the house was designed by me," he said casually. "I don't like eating in places that feel like I'm being watched."
His eyes flicked to her briefly.
"Except when you're here."
Reina glanced at him.
There was no exaggeration in his tone. No attempt to impress.
Just a simple statement of preference.
It made him feel less distant than she expected.
Strangely… more real.
Reina lowered her gaze slightly as she accepted the food he placed on her plate.
She thought of her past life—formal dining halls, strict etiquette, long tables filled with silence that felt heavy rather than peaceful.
Everything had been elegant.
But never like this.
Here, there was no audience.
No performance.
Just two people sharing a meal after a contract neither of them could fully define yet.
Reina quietly picked up her utensils.
"…I'll eat," she said at last.
Rui Griffin didn't respond immediately.
He simply leaned back slightly, watching her with calm eyes.
And for the first time that night, the silence between them didn't feel like tension.
Just the beginning of something neither of them had named yet.