"Oops!"

Startled by a tingling pain, Laila flinched and grabbed onto Cain. He remained indifferent, his focus still on his fingertips. With each touch, his fingertips gradually pressed deeper into her foot, from the sole to the middle and all the way to the end. Somewhere it hurt, and somewhere it felt refreshing. The thorny seat that had been her mind throughout was now as relaxed as her relieved leg.

Laila gazed at Cain, her eyes vacant. A few strands of hair, swept up, cascaded down her forehead, perhaps due to him removing his hat. Beneath that, the calm, lowered gaze, firmly closed lips, and strong jawline were captivating. He seemed like the kind of man who wouldn't bother with small tasks. It felt like a dream to have him massaging her feet, a woman who used to sell fish.

Perhaps it truly was a dream, one that would vanish upon waking.

Laila was lost in such thoughts when she heard a question from Cain.

"Are you feeling better now?"

His question snapped Laila back to reality.

"Yes, I'm fine now. Thank you."

Laila expressed her gratitude to him, her embarrassment apparent. The sensation of numbness in her legs had nearly disappeared. Her toes, liberated from the pressure, could now move comfortably. It was a moment to lower her leg, carrying a grateful heart.

"Aren't feet adorable?" he remarked.

Cain, who absentmindedly caressed Laila's feet, murmured nonchalantly. He tilted his head slightly, casting a glance at her feet and smirked. The innocent curve of his eyes conveyed the sincerity of his words. Laila quickly withdrew her feet and murmured softly.

"What a sweet thing to say. But not so much for my feet.."

Hidden beneath the socks, her feet were not a sight to behold. Being taller than most women, her feet were proportionally larger, and constant grounding had caused swelling on the soles while calluses marred her toes. Despite their unappealing appearance, it was awkward to receive compliments based solely on superficiality.

Just as she was about to put on her shoes again, Cain spoke.

"It's fine, you can leave them off in the carriage. Your feet need some rest too."

Cain picked up the documents again and continued.

"And they are quite adorable, indeed."

"..."

"As long as they are pleasing to your husband's eyes."

He smirked and diverted his gaze back to the papers. An invisible line seemed to have been drawn between them. Now, with a sense of having their own space, Cain silently focused on his work.

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Unbeknownst to herself, Laila found herself looking at her exposed feet on the shoe. As she exerted pressure, her toes involuntarily curled. After hearing his words, it seemed somewhat endearing to her.

Startled by her own thoughts, Laila quickly turned her head towards the window. The pain from her feet seemed to resonate with her heart, thumping heavily.

***

After running for about an hour, the carriage came to a halt.

The first attendant stepped down and opened the carriage door from outside. Cain, wearing a hat, descended first and extended his hand towards Laila.

With a small handbag clasped around her wrist, she bent her body and took hold of Cain's hand. Relying on his supporting strength, she stepped on the footrest and gracefully descended to the ground.

"Wow."

Laila exclaimed in awe as she turned her head to take in the sight before her. They had arrived at an ancient ruin, where walls and pillars stood desolately. Some places still had remnants of roofs, but even there, traces of fire were evident. Nonetheless, judging by the distance and height between the buildings, they must have been quite large and magnificent in the past. People seemed to be touring around here and there, as if it were a famous place. Some appeared to be affluent travelers, while others sat alone, observing or setting up easels to paint.

"Just give me a moment to talk to Chase, and then you can explore."

"Of course."

Chase was Cain's secretary who followed behind. Since he had been told that Cain was on his honeymoon, he tactfully refrained from intruding between them.

As Laila nodded her head, he briefly smiled and turned to walk away.

Laila watched his retreating figure for a moment without averting her gaze.

He stood tall, his head a notch above the rest, exuding an elegant stride and impeccable posture. His balanced physique seamlessly harmonized with the silk hat and tailored suit, capturing the attention of onlookers with every stolen glance.

As Cain engaged in conversation with Chase, he sensed Laila's gaze and turned his head. In that instant of eye contact, the corners of his mouth subtly curled upwards. Startled, she flinched and averted her gaze. She felt a mix of embarrassment, sensing that she had been caught in the act, and unease at the lingering smile on Cain's face.

There was an inexplicable sense of derision in the air.

Surely, not.

Gathering her composure, Laila began to walk. Just when she had distanced herself from the carriage, a sudden collision jolted her body, colliding with someone on her right.

"Oops."

Under the considerable impact, Laila let out a whimper and stumbled, barely managing to regain her balance as she lifted her head.

"What's the matter?"

The irritable voice of a man lashed out at Laila. Regaining her senses and looking ahead, she encountered a red-haired young man, wearing a heavily creased expression. Clad in faded trousers, a shirt, and an ill-fitting coat thrown over his arm, he exuded an imposing presence that inadvertently caused Laila to shrink inwardly.

"I apologize."

The mistake seemed to be on her part, but not wanting to cause a scene, she offered her apology first.

"Perhaps you should be more cautious in your actions," the man retorted curtly. It seemed like it would end there, but upon seeing Laila's face, the man changed his demeanor. He glanced around hesitantly, then smirked and approached her.

"Did you come alone?" Laila faltered in her response, taking a step back. It was partly out of fear, but also because the word "husband" didn't come easily to her lips. It felt strange to utter it, and a peculiar sense of guilt accompanied her attempt to speak. Ever since the question of whether she had something to reveal about their marriage, she had been reluctant to expose their relationship.