I Want To Be Your First – R19 - Chapter 69
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Berthwald lifted her swaying body towards him and brushed the sweat-soaked hair that was sticking to her face aside.
The way she quietly clung to him was indescribably lovely.
“Shall we go around the market together tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow? Aren’t you busy with the Assembly?”
“I’d taken a vacation. Most of the urgent matters have already been sorted out and the rest can be handled by the judge advocates. There’s no need to worry about it.”
In truth, ever since Ariel had been kidnapped by the princess, he ignored everything, regardless of the matter. Apparently, the Assembly had been extended, and Pelman was working overtime everyday, even considering whether or not to quit his position as judge advocate.
He didn’t care about that
The aides that were aware of the full story behind the kidnapping incident had only expressed their regrets without blaming him. What kind of idiot could concentrate on working when his wife had been kidnapped?
As there was his personal physician’s diagnosis that she should remain in a steady mood, Berthwald openly declared that he’d take a leave of absence, saying that he had to take care of his wife.
“Weren’t you looking forward to going out? You can also call for a porter. You had promised to buy me a present, remember?”
Ariel, who was blinking her round eyes, exclaimed, “Oh.”
“Right…! I felt sorry that I was only receiving so much. So I wanted to buy a present for the Count as well. I’ll buy them for you tomorrow!”
Ariel looked up with a radiant smile, meeting Berthwald’s gaze. The gray eyes with unfocused pupils were filled with a mischievous light. Berthwald smiled at her as he slowly brushed a thumb against her cheeks rounded with baby fat.
“From the looks of your expression, it doesn’t seem to be a dignified gift.”
“No, it’s not! It’s something really good!”
It’s something really good.
…Of course, it’s not exactly an appropriate gift for an adult male.
In order to hide her expression, Ariel dug in deeper into his arms. With his warm body temperature, his wild scent made Ariel’s heart pound once again.
For some reason, they were really… Like a married couple.
It wasn’t that long ago when their relationship was still cold and formal.
She had thought that he chose her based on her status as a princess as best fitting for his status as the consul. But now…
His worried voice and friendly touches make her heart warm. Him being thirsty for and wanting her was the same.
The pleasure that shot through her whole body caused her reason to disappear. As a woman, she felt that she had found the ‘her’ that was hidden inside of her.
The feelings and sensations that she had never experienced before were brand new everyday. He brought yet another world to her.
“If Berry… later…”
She whispered softly with the lips that were near his chest. She spoke in a very quiet voice that was hard to hear.
“…You.”
‘I will forgive you, even if you forsake me.’
‘This was more than enough. To have made me feel so happy, he was qualified to gain exoneration.’
‘I will forgive everything.’
Even if all of this was hypocrisy, Ariel was so grateful to him, even if it was revealed to be a lie later.
He was overly beautiful and perfect. He was too magnificent of a person for a woman like Ariel to monopolise. She wouldn’t want to give him to someone crooked like the princess, but if there was someone that he truly loved…
She will let him go.
Although there was nothing she could do about the welling of bitterness, she wasn’t a child that would act unreasonably.
Knowing her own place, it was what Ariel did best at.
Until then, it would be alright for her to be immersed in the act of being his wife.
Even if she liked him a little bit…it should be alright.
She gently placed a hand on his chest. The clear sound of his beating heart felt like an answer to her soliloquizing.
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“How odd.”
Squeak.
As Jude opened the door to the couple’s bedroom, she frowned and sighed. Maria, who was following behind her, asked back, “Why?”
“It has already been more than seven years since I started working for the Count.”
“That’s right. You said that you and Nicky entered the mansion at the same time.”
Nicky and Jude. The two of them, who both boasted a long working history and were quick to act according to the circumstances, were promoted to senior maids recently.
Jude stroked her chin with an air of experience.
“Yeah. That means that the Lord’s stalking career has been that long.”
“…Are you bragging? Other than you, there’s one or two others that are like that, right? So, what’s weird?”
Jude snapped her fingers and lowered her voice with a solemn expression on her face.
“What’s surprising was that the Lord has those kinds of looks, but there has never been a woman in his bedroom before. There were even rumours circulating that it’s possible that he couldn’t act like a man.”
Maria looked at Jude with a gaze that was like asking what was the problem.
“So?”
“Tsk. When you look here, it becomes unclear. No one would have expected him to be such a passionate man.”
Jude pointed towards the bed and added, “Look at that.”
Duvets that were rolled up, sheets that were messed up with the edges jutting upwards, wet towels and clothes that were rolled together. The pillows and cushions that should have been placed at the head of the bed were scattered pitifully all over the floor.
The disorderly bed was like a sign of last night’s passion.
“Ah…well… He’s very passionate these days.”
Maria blushed in embarrassment and slowly turned her gaze away. Jude patted the sofa with her duster and gave a dismayed mutter.
“After their marriage, and even after the Madam came to the mansion, I still couldn’t feel it. Now, it feels like the Lord is a married man.”
“Oh, my. You’re so–“
“That’s because I’m still quite composed. When they return to Pahar, there will be quite a number of maids that will be suffering.”
After the Countess returned, a strange atmosphere arose within the mansion in the Diamond Hills.
Due to the kidnapping incident, all of the servants began to treat the Countess like she was gold or jade, and so did the Lord. Between the couple, which had a wall between them, there was an atmosphere of affection, unlike before.
The Lord had ordered them to prepare the couple’s bedroom every night after living in separate rooms for a while now.
Just like that, after three days, the maids had to tidy up the ruined bedroom every morning.
“Well…I quite like her. Madam is quite cute.”
As she organised the table, Maria laughed. Jude tilted her head as she looked at her, before giving a sly smile while saying, “Aha.”
“You’re on good terms with Madam these days, right? You used to complain so much about how she didn’t match the Lord.”
“She’s much better than those arrogant nobles. Why, wasn’t there a baron’s daughter that came to the mansion while pursuing the Lord earlier this year?”
“Oh, I remember her. She was such a rude little girl.”
“She was a little noble, but was so arrogant that if she was born as the daughter of a Duke, it would have been much worse. But Madam is humble.”
Maria’s and Jude’s eyes met and they nodded at each other.
“Vieta kept praising the Madam so much that I wondered what was wrong with her, but now I understand. She’s amiable and cute, and she’ll try to help if there’s any difficulties.”
“Ah, I agree with that.”
“Do you know what happened yesterday? She followed me out to help pull out the weeds, but in the end she pulled out the cornflowers that had been planted a long time ago. Perhaps its because she can’t see well.”
“Heok. What happened next?”
“When I told her that she shouldn’t pull out flowers, she planted the weeds back in hurriedly.”
Jude burst into laughter. After organising the table, Maria continued to speak while moving towards the bed.
“It’s kind of… she’s trying hard to do something, but the way she can’t do it well is cute? It reminds me of my youngest brother. He wanted to help, but most of his help was actually useless.”
“Puahaha! Is that a compliment? The fact that you’d like that makes you quite unique too.”
“Why are you like that? You like Madam too.”
“…I never said I didn’t like her. That’s just what I thought.”
Jude turned her head away in an aloof manner. Looking at the way she didn’t deny it, Maria giggled and lifted the rolled blanket.
“…Huh?”
Strange. The blanket that she had lifted was strangely heavy. Maria pushed open the blanket with a puzzled expression.
Ebony hair and white face. Below that, bare shoulders and chest…
“Gyaah! Ma–Madam!”
The Countess that was supposed to be getting ready to leave in her room was looking at her with a tired expression, her body curled up into a ball.
Covering her naked body with a sheet, Ariel uttered a small voice.
“I, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop on your conversation.”
‘No, why was the Countess here? Was she asleep?’
‘No, seeing as how her eyes were wide open, I think that she’d heard everything that was said.’
‘What do I do? What do I do?’
‘My mouth is getting me in trouble! Though, she doesn’t look angry.’
‘Ah, that’s a relief.’
‘But wasn’t she supposed to be going out today? It’s already time…’
After finishing her inner monologue, Maria’s eyes widened. Right now, that wasn’t important!
“Madam! It’s not the time for you to be like this!”
The surprise had only lasted for a moment, and Maria pulled the naked Ariel suddenly and forced her to stand.
“Didn’t you say that you were going out today? It’s almost time for you to leave!”
“Oh, that. As I’d slept too late last night, I dozed off for a while, and perhaps it’s because there wasn’t anyone that woke me, I kept sleeping. I skipped breakfast and am a little hungry…”
“Oh, my. No wonder you weren’t present during breakfast! I think the Lord had gone downstairs a while ago!”
“You have to hurry. Hurry, hurry up!”
As Maria was shouting, she used the sheet to wrap around Ariel’s body. Just then, Vieta opened the door and entered the room.
“My Lady, are you here?”
“Here, Vieta. If only you woke me up.”
“Madam! The Lord is waiting for you now!”
As Vieta shouted, “Oh my gosh! Why are you still here? We have to get ready quickly!” And dragged Ariel out of the room.
The way the Countess followed behind her while waddling in a tightly wrapped sheet made her seem more pitiful than usual. As Jude watched the situation quietly, she gave a deep sigh.
“Although the Lord told me not to wake you up, I didn’t know that she would be sleeping here. Ugh, the Lord should’ve let us know about that too.”
“Aaaaargh!”
“Oh, my. That scared me.”
“Jude!! What should I do? What should we do?”
“What do you mean, what should we do?”
“Ah, she must have heard us! We’ll get in trouble when she comes back! Oh my gosh!”
“Who knows? She didn’t have an angry expression… No, she seemed a little happy…?”
Although her expression was unclear whether she was smiling or not, no matter how she looked at it, it wasn’t an angry expression.
But Maria banged her head against the wall while whining, “Ugh!”
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