The dining room was quiet under the warm golden light.
"Eat now," Rui Griffin said, handing her the cutlery with a calm, natural ease.
Reina took it hesitantly, lowering her gaze to the neatly arranged dishes. The aroma was rich and comforting—carefully prepared, almost too refined to feel real.
At that moment, the last dish was placed on the table.
"Master Griffin, the meals are ready. This is the abalone soup," Chef Wan announced respectfully as he set it down.
"Alright. You may leave," Rui Griffin said simply.
Chef Wan nodded, but his eyes briefly lingered on Reina with quiet curiosity before he withdrew. He had served this household long enough to know better than to ask questions.
The moment the door closed, Reina felt it.
A gaze.
Not hostile… but observant.
She lowered her head slightly, focusing on her plate.
"Why did you stop eating?" Rui Griffin's voice broke the silence, sharper than before—yet there was a faint trace of concern in it.
Reina blinked and turned toward him.
"It's nothing," she said softly. "Just… needed a moment."
Rui Griffin studied her for a second longer, then relaxed.
"That's Chef Wan," he said, voice returning to its usual calm. "He used to work at the old Griffin residence. When I took over, he came with me."
He glanced at her briefly.
"If you have preferences, tell him. He can make anything you like."
Reina nodded. "Okay."
Then she looked down again and continued eating.
The silence between them wasn't uncomfortable. It was steady—like something carefully placed rather than left empty.
Rui Griffin ate with the same composed elegance, every movement controlled, unhurried. Reina noticed it without meaning to. She had grown up around refined manners too, but his felt different—less performative, more natural.
Eventually, he set down his cutlery first.
"Take your time," he said. "Don't rush."
His tone softened slightly.
"I'll wait for you. After that, go take a shower."
The way he said it—calm, low, almost casual—made Reina pause for half a second.
She remembered what he had said earlier.
Her ears warmed slightly, and she instinctively slowed down her eating.
After dinner, the atmosphere shifted.
Rui Griffin stood and, without warning, slipped an arm around her waist.
"Shall we go upstairs together?" he asked, voice lightly teasing. "I can even help you wash your back."
Reina's entire body stiffened.
"N-no. You go first," she said quickly, stepping back. "I'll wash the dishes."
A quiet sound escaped him—half chuckle, half disbelief.
Then he looked at her properly.
"My dear wife," he said slowly, "you're the Madam of this house now. There are no dishes waiting for you."
Reina blinked. "Huh? But—"
"Your duty," he interrupted lightly, leaning closer just enough to unsettle her, "is not here."
Her heart skipped.
"…Then where?" she asked, almost cautiously.
His gaze lowered slightly, voice turning deeper.
"In our bedroom."
Reina froze.
Before she could react, he had already lifted her effortlessly into his arms.
"Hey—wait!" she protested immediately, gripping his shoulder instinctively. "I said I want to shower first!"
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"Together?" he asked casually.
Her face flushed instantly.
"NO!"
Rui Griffin chuckled under his breath, clearly entertained by her reaction.
He carried her upstairs without another word.
In the master bedroom, he set her down gently on the bed.
The movement was controlled, careful—almost too careful for someone who had been teasing her all evening.
He leaned down slightly and pressed a brief kiss to her forehead.
"I'll shower first," he said, voice slightly lower than before.
Reina nodded, still slightly dazed.
Only after he disappeared into the bathroom did the room fall into silence.
Time passed.
When Reina came out after her shower, the room was still quiet.
Too quiet.
The bed beside her was empty.
Something small, almost unnoticeable, tightened in her chest.
She looked around once.
Where is he…?
She hesitated before sitting on the edge of the bed, wrapping the nightdress slightly tighter around herself.
Maybe he had work.
Maybe he had changed his mind.
Maybe—
Her thoughts scattered, unfocused, heavy.
Without realizing it, her body slowly gave in to exhaustion.
And she fell asleep.
Later that night—
The door opened quietly.
Rui Griffin stepped inside.
His gaze immediately landed on her sleeping figure.
For a moment, he didn't move.
Reina lay curled slightly on her side, expression softer in sleep than when she was awake—less guarded, more fragile.
He walked over slowly and sat beside her.
Carefully, he adjusted the blanket over her.
Then, leaning down, he pressed another gentle kiss to her forehead.
"Goodnight," he murmured softly. "Babe."
He lay down beside her and pulled her gently into his arms.
Not tight.
Not forceful.
Just enough to hold her in place.
Sometime later—
Reina began to tremble in her sleep.
"Grandmother… Mama… Dada… Grandfather… don't go…"
Her voice cracked softly.
"Don't leave me… Reily is scared…"
Her breathing turned uneven.
"Please… don't leave me alone…"
Her fingers clutched weakly at the fabric beside her, as if searching for something that wasn't there.
Rui Griffin's expression changed instantly.
He tightened his arm around her—not enough to restrain, but enough to anchor.
"I'm here," he said quietly.
But she didn't wake yet.
"Please… don't go…"
Her voice broke into a frightened whisper.
And then she turned instinctively toward him, grabbing onto him like something drowning reaching for air.
Rui Griffin didn't move away.
Instead, he pulled her closer.
"Shh," he said softly, his voice steady against her ear. "You're safe."
Her trembling slowly eased.
Her grip remained tight—but no longer panicked.
Her breathing began to slow.
In his arms, the fear in her sleep gradually dissolved into exhaustion.
And for the first time that night…
Reina slept without crying.