Special Story 2

“E-Evan, I can walk!”

 

As soon as we left the hall, I started wriggling, begging him to put me down out of pure embarrassment.

 

“No. What if you run away?”

 

Evan simply smirked and headed straight for the carriage without letting go.

 

Feeling anxious, I stole a glance up at him. He was smiling, but there was a certain stiffness to his expression. Was he nervous?

 

‘Maybe I shouldn’t have said I’d stay in his room…’

 

I was completely cornered. It was obvious what the nobles were thinking. What else would a newlywed couple do alone in a room at night? They must be thinking about the first night, the consummation—things like that! O-of course, for the sake of an heir, such a process is necessary… but still…!

 

I tried to organize the chaos in my head and asked cautiously.

 

“Y-you’re not going to do anything, right?”

 

“Hmm? No?”

 

Does that mean ‘no, I won’t’ or ‘no, I will’? It’s not like… it’s urgent or anything…! I’m not mentally prepared yet!

 

“There’s no reason to delay it anymore. Lep, you personally offered to come to my room; I can’t just stay still after that, can I?”

 

My big mouth was always the problem. I suppose he’s right. He had been making it so obvious how disappointed he was that my room wasn’t ready, and then I went and invited him to sleep in the same room… What else would a husband think!

 

I had set the stage myself, and now it looked like I was about to be devoured. The corners of his eyes curved into a slight arc.

 

‘This…! This wicked man…!’

 

Judging by that look in his eyes, he was fully determined.

 

“I-I’m just going to sleep! I’m not doing anything!”

 

“It’ll be different from the old days. Do you know how long I’ve waited for this moment…?”

 

“Are we even having the same conversation…?”

 

While we were both busy with our own monologues, we arrived at the carriage.

 

He gently placed me inside. I tried to tell him that I wasn’t being bold, that I only said it because I’d be lonely if we were apart, and that I didn’t mean anything else—but Evan was faster. He lightly nipped my earlobe.

 

“Heek!”

 

I let out a high-pitched shriek.

 

Evan said with a laugh, “I was trying to hold back… but Lep, you spoke first.”

 

Evan grumbled, pouting his lips. The fact that I found that sight cute meant I was really in deep.

 

I hurriedly shook my head. Wh-what an opportunist. Are you really trying to pin this on me? I burned with the resolve not to back down.

 

Evan calmly gave the coachman the signal to depart. However, when I continued to glare at him with wide eyes, he finally said, looking a bit dejected.

 

“I’m sorry if I pressured you… I always tell myself not to burden you, but I keep getting ahead of myself. I can wait as long as you want. We are married, after all…”

 

Th-this…! Using that cute, downcast look on me!

 

“Lep, you’re surprisingly timid, aren’t you…?”

 

Who’s timid!

 

“You were even too scared to accept my confession before…”

 

He was bringing up the past, one by one, catching me off guard just as I was about to retort.

 

“So I thought maybe ‘this’ was something for the far-off future… But I’m so desperate to touch you that I’m losing my mind…”

 

He was revealing his desires quite explicitly.

 

I must protect my purity… But do I have to? Evan is my husband now…? Nothing he said was technically wrong. Maybe he knows me better than I know myself?

 

“We can do it when you’ve made up your mind. Let’s just sleep tonight. I’m fine with that.”

 

Th-the act…!

 

I was startled by the word. But because of Evan’s attitude and gestures, I couldn’t bring myself to show it. His long eyelashes trembled slightly, and his eyes grew moist. His voice sank into a low, deep bass.

 

“Since Lep can’t escape my side anyway.”

 

It sounded a bit scary for some reason. However…

 

“That’s what I want to say to you!”

 

At that, Evan’s face immediately brightened.

 

“Yes, exactly.”

 

He seemed to be in a better mood, but his pouting expression still bothered me. Does he… want to do it that much? It’s natural for a couple, but…

 

Heat rose in my body, and my face felt like it was on fire. I couldn’t control my heart, which was softening despite myself. Memories of the past days when I ignored him, calling it burdensome, flashed through my mind. The days I spent running away from his confession and our marriage…

 

Evan had a point. He definitely planned this…! Otherwise, there’s no way I’d feel like giving in!

 

I made up my mind. Sooner or later, it’s a standard custom that newlyweds must go through!

 

“Wh-who said it’s burdensome? Let’s do it, let’s do it!”

 

I spoke solemnly, like a warrior facing a duel.

 

As if he couldn’t believe what I just blurted out, his hand, which had been stroking his hair, came to a dead stop. When I looked up at him, the look in his eyes changed instantly. His purple eyes blazed with a heat that made me flinch.

 

“Are you serious?”

 

His tone was incredibly serious.

 

“Wh-when have I ever lied to you?”

 

“Often.”

 

How dare he poke at my sore spot…! I clutched my chest.

 

“O-of course. I don’t lie about things like this… And honestly, I was a l-little expectant too…”

 

I was too embarrassed to finish my sentence. Then, Evan took my hand.

 

“I’ll have to work hard so that Lep is satisfied.”

 

He gave a silly grin.

 

“I… studied hard.”

 

“Wh-why would you study such a thing!”

 

Evan stared at me intently. I felt like I was going to be swallowed by his gaze.

 

Just then, the coachman announced our arrival. Evan kicked the door open as if he were in a hurry.

 

“W-wait…! Go slowly!”

 

Evan grabbed my wrist and pulled me along.

 

“Young Master…?”

 

The servants looked quite surprised to see us barging in. Since my room wasn’t ready yet, they hadn’t expected us to return together so soon.

 

However, the servants moved busily. The new masters of the house had arrived. Liman approached from behind with quick steps.

 

“Duke, Mistress. Welcome home. You’ve returned early. Since Mistress’ room isn’t ready yet, I thought you would decide on a formal date to enter the household later.”

 

Liman addressed us with titles different from before.

 

“That was the plan, but Lep said it would be better for us to be together since it’s our wedding day.”

 

At that, Liman’s eyes flashed.

 

“That is very wise. Are you not one body now? Ah, since you must be exhausted, how about a bath first? We will quickly prepare a room for My Lady to stay in.”

 

“No. She says she wants to sleep in my room. You know the place where I always sleep, right?”

 

Liman was stunned for a moment before a wide smile broke out on his face. Why does it feel like everyone else is happier about this than I am…? I looked back and forth between Evan and Liman.

 

“Ah, do you mean the room you’ve always used? We have kept it exactly as it was.”

 

I looked at Evan and Liman with a suspicious face. They were plotting something amongst themselves, leaving me out.

 

“I will make thorough preparations for a wonderful night.”

 

Even though I hadn’t said anything specific, he spoke as if he knew exactly what we were going to do. And preparations… what exactly is he going to prepare?

 

Liman called the maids. They looked incredibly serious, like people entrusted with a grave mission. The maids grabbed both of my arms and dragged me toward the bathroom.

 

“My Lady, this way.”

 

Before I could say anything, I was whisked away to the bathroom.

 

The maids washed me busily. I could feel their excitement; I wondered if they had always been this loud. They told me how happy they were that I had formally become the Mistress and told me to leave everything to them.

 

“To think the Duke’s long-standing love has finally come to fruition. We couldn’t be happier.”

 

“Yes…”

 

“The Duke truly loves you, Mistress.”

 

It was a fact I knew all too well, so I couldn’t even put up a fight. After being groomed from head to toe, I was placed in the room Evan used to use. The moment had come to keep the promise I had boldly declared to Evan a long time ago—that I would take responsibility for him.

 

“Evan hasn’t come yet. What could possibly take so long to prepare…?”

 

Despite the talk of preparations, the room hadn’t changed much. The familiar atmosphere and design. It was a place I had always frequented.

 

I sat softly on the bed and lightly brushed it with my hand. The cozy bed felt like it would pull me into sleep at any moment. But with my heart pounding like this, forget sleep—I felt like I’d be up all night. Especially considering what was about to happen…

 

“Sigh…”

 

I let out a long breath and wiped my face with my hands.

 

“I have to do it… I can do this…”

 

Recalling that heated gaze made my cheeks turn red again. I slapped my cheeks lightly.

 

“Why am I so nervous! I’m an adult! I should just enjoy it. Right?!”

 

Suddenly, the door swung open. I froze right there. D-did he hear me…?

 

“Lep, you were already here.”

 

Fortunately, it seemed he hadn’t heard, as Evan asked with a bright smile.

 

“Were you waiting for me?”

 

“O-oh, yeah…?”

 

I stopped mid-answer, my mouth hanging open. Where did he lose his robe!

 

He was only wearing trousers, leaving his upper body completely bare. His firm chest muscles were directly in my line of sight.

 

I didn’t know where to look. My eyes wandered aimlessly.

 

“A-aren’t you going to put on clothes?”

 

“Hmm? You’re going to take them off anyway, aren’t you?”

 

His nonchalant tone left me speechless. H-he’s right, but still…!

 

Evan slowly crawled onto the bed, pinning me down in the process.

 

I looked up at him with trembling eyes. The sky outside had turned pitch black, and his purple eyes sparkled beautifully.

 

However, I noticed his hands were trembling slightly. It seemed that even he, who had pushed so boldly, was feeling nervous deep down.

 

Evan, acting as if nothing was wrong, took my hand and placed it on his chest. I could feel the thumping of his heart through my palm.

 

“Lep… is this okay?”

 

I couldn’t avoid his face as he approached with a shy smile.

 

Oh, whatever! I wrapped my arms around his neck.

 

“Evan, do whatever you want. I’ll accept everything.”

 

Letting out a laugh that sounded like a bird chirping, Evan slowly swallowed my lips.