How To Win My Husband Over - Chapter 24

Episode 24: First Night

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It was her attitude where she would not hesitate in the slightest matter no matter how someone, like me, acted out.

In a way, she was similar to Freya.

The confidence that no matter what happens, everyone will always trust her and that she will never be abandoned.….

Tch, I want to shatter that confidence.

I wouldn’t have thought of this if she hadn’t touched me like that in the first place.

“I’ll bring the tea. Are you okay with lemon balm?”

“Yes, thank you.”

After taking a bath in the perfumed water, drying my hair, and dressing up with light makeup and accessories, sitting alone and holding the tea, reality slowly sinking in me.

Oh, it really looks like I’m going to fulfill my duty.

My heart began to beat violently.

Even when I put my hand on it and pressed it hard, it didn’t calm down at all. As expected, I’m scared!

……No, what if he doesn’t come?

There was no way for that twisted guy to suddenly change his mind.

I put down the tea cup and got up, approaching the bed.

I even extinguished the candlestick, but it wasn’t too dark because the fireplace was burning. I wish it was darker.

I crouched on the bed with my legs wrapped in my arms and looked out the window.

The sea with black waves.

It wouldn’t be surprising if the Kraken[1] was looking for food with its eyes wide open below.

Phew, how’s Popo doing? If we can meet again sometime…….

I should thank Freya for that.

If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have imagined I could talk to a monster.

God, have mercy. Have mercy. Please, let tonight go my way. Please make the savage husband a little gentle. Please, pave the way for me so that I can develop enough emotional bond with him to trust me, whether it’s compassion or interest……….

“Did you go to sleep first after all that fuss?”

….Shit, I thought my heart was going to fall. I don’t think there was a sound coming in, but I probably fell too deep in my prayers.

As I raised my body by arranging my hair in a hurry, I saw Isaac approaching right next to the bed.

The green light of the fireplace shone eerily against his gigantic physique.

I’ve only seen him in armor or uniform so far, but it was suffocating to see him naked and wearing only a white gown.

I literally felt like I was losing my mind.

Oh, my God. Oh, my God.….

The man who was looking down at me in an arrogant position with his arms folded moved his hand and swept away the wet silver hair

The eyes like red jade gleamed in the dimly lit room.

“I’m completely new to this side, but it is clear that it is not the expression of the bride waiting for the groom.”

I calmed myself down. What are you doing, you idiot! Are you going to ruin things?

“Oh, I’m sorry if I looked dazed. It was hard to believe what I am seeing for a moment.”

“Is it hard to believe?”

“Yes. It really feels like a dream that you are here.”

As I smiled brightly, sweet words dripping out my lips, he stared at me.

I guess he didn’t feel the sincerity. Damn it.

“Well, first of all, tea…….”

“One more time.”

“What?”

“I’ll give you one last chance. Tell me right now if you decide to change your mind. I’ll make sure no one bothers you just because you didn’t do your duty properly with me.”

Why does he keep trying to check things like that over and over again? Is he suspecting that I have some other plan under my sleeves?

It wasn’t a matter of who bothered me in the first place.

The fact that the duke bothered me was nothing more than showing me a good path.

So I clenched my fists again and my eyes twinkled fiercely.

“Don’t worry, I will never change my mind. I would be very happy if I could live as your real wife, even for a short time.”

Isaac tilted his head a little bit for a moment to gauge the sincerity of my words, and then took off his gown without warning.

I failed to manage my expression and widened my eyes.

I expected it, but when I actually saw it, it was overwhelming.

The body exposed under the cold and ascetic face was overly beast-like.

It was a gigantic, finely crafted, statue-like body, full of rough and crude muscles that literally lacked a single point of softness.

It felt like I was not looking at a person, but a beast completely separated from the civilization I was familiar with.

He took off his gown and climbed onto the bed and slowly grabbed me by the shoulder and pulled me close.

I gulped down my dry saliva.

The act itself was not frightening. Nevertheless, I couldn’t help feeling like I was a chick thrown at the feet of a beast that I couldn’t find.

“You look scared.”

“I-It’s not like that…….”

“You’re trembling like I’m going to eat you, right now.”

I thought he was getting annoyed, but his tone had no sharpness in it, he sounded calm.

It also sounded a little less harsh than usual.

I tried to focus on the artistic appearance of the body that tangled upon me to brace myself.

Wide shoulders, broad chest, sleek waist, strong, sculptural thighs…….

It was a very sensual scene.

It makes me feel guilty to see so much.

I kept my wide smile, catching my trembling breath.

Isaac lifted me up with his heavy arms and made me sit on one of his thighs.

Then he unfastened my lingerie gown. My shoulders were chilled as the thin gown flowed down.

“Take it easy. I’m not good at it either.”

“I-I’m not nervous…….”

“Stop biting your lips. Isn’t that what I’m supposed to do, not you?”

….look at this. Husband, are you really an innocent person? Are you purely a personality wrecker?

Why do you feel so good? If it’s a talent or experience?

Suspicions were creeping up, but the tension seemed to ease a little.

The man who took off my gown now gathered my long, stretched hair and swept it aside.

It was then that the muscles that were wrapped around my body became stiff for a moment.

The hand that was brushing my hair stopped as it was, and his breathing sound also stopped. No way?

“……What is this?”

Rough fingers swept near the wing bone. A paladin’s eyesight must be comparable to that of a night vision light.

I thought he wouldn’t be able to see even if it was this big, and top of it, he can’t see it properly since it was dark. Well, I can’t help it.

“I got hurt playing when I was young.”

“I’ve never heard of such a scar. How did you play? Why did you get this scar?”

Well, I don’t know that the employees of this house reports back to you, especially about what’s in my body. Besides, I’ve done a lot of washing alone in the past.

“I played a circus game with my brothers and cousins, but the manager was the most troublesome guy, so I had a lot of fun swinging the whip and causing an accident. I was lucky that it was nowhere to be seen, but my cousin had a scar on the back of her neck.”

Even though I breathed a sigh and spoke cheerfully, there was an awkward lingering feeling, and the silence fell.

Isaac seemed to be just looking at my back with his mouth closed without saying a word.

I was anxious because I was sitting half-way turned away from face, it was hard to check his expression.

I was about to add more but he, who had been staring frozenly at my back, moved his hand to pull my gown back up in place. Huh?

“Why?”

“…….”

There was no answer coming.

I wondered if it was possible, but really, Isaac returned my gown to its original state and began to adjust the ribbon on the back.

I was dizzy as I wondered what was the situation I’m in right now.

Was it because of the scar? Was it that ugly to see?

He’s a bit picky, but I thought he wouldn’t really care once he started, but I guess I was wrong.

The damn scar wasn’t just on the wing bone. There were a few more at the back of the thigh. Even if some healed and disappeared, there were also scars that would never go away.

Although it was possible to heal with divinity, it was inevitable that scars would remain.

I thought this would be okay because it wasn’t that deep, but I didn’t think it would be a big problem if he happened to see it, but this reaction!

Or is the scar not the problem?

Did I act too scared?

Is he annoyed because I’m freezing and whining for the first time?

No, maybe he noticed I lied.

There’s no way I could get hurt like this from playing with other children, it was easy to come to conclusion that I must have been punished for doing something wrong……  How troublesome was the Pope’s beloved daughter that she received all these punishments?

Perhaps, he suddenly realized the trouble of getting involved with me…

Say something, you filthy husband!

I can’t let go of the opportunity that has come after a long time.

With such determination, I climbed properly onto his thigh and faced him fully.

Then I put my hands on his savagely muscular chest.

A brief silence passed by. Isaac, who was watching what I was doing without moving like an iron fortress, finally spoke.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m trying to lay you down.”

“…….”

“D-Did I do something wrong again? If there’s anything I’ve done to make you feel bad…….”

“It’s not like that.”

“Then why…”

“I just thought it is not the right time.”

He spoke in an infinitely serious manner.

So why all of a sudden! Today is not even Sabbath!

I expected him to push me away immediately, but Isaac sat motionless and stared at me for a long time.

In the dim darkness where the only source of light came from the fireplace, bright red flame-like eyes fluttered with strange light.

He looked as if he was angry and lost in some complicated thought.

“There’s more?”

“What?”

“Is there another scar I don’t know about?”

I just wanted to punch myself in the head.

It must be because of that! Whether it’s because he hates to see it or convinced that I’m a huge troublemaker, it’s annoying! Such a picky child!

[1] The kraken is a legendary sea monster of enormous size said to appear off the coasts of Norway.