I Want To Be Your First – R19 - Chapter 70

“Oops, did–didn’t you just hear something?”

As Ariel was drenched by the splashing water in the bathtub, she blinked her eyes and lifted her head.

“Did you hear a thump just now?”

As she spoke, she looked back towards Vieta, but the only reply was the sound of water pouring.

“Oh my, oh my! I’m sorry, Madam! What did you say?”

“Ah, cough cough, no. It’s nothing.”

“You must wash quickly! Oh my goodness, I thought that you were in the drawing room with the Lord! I didn’t think that you were still asleep!”

Vieta gave up her usual laid-back appearance and began to wash Ariel with hands that were faster than anyone else.

She hurriedly washed Ariel’s hair, and after finishing the bath hastily, she sat Ariel down before the dressing table. Unknowingly, two maids joined her in helping to dress Ariel up.

“Which oil would you like to use?” Vieta asked while pointing towards the collection of perfumed oils, before picking one at will to apply on her hair and the back of her hands. The intense scent of flowers bloomed wherever her hand brushed against.

“You’d said that you were going out to the city, right? Where are you going?”

“Uh… Near the fountain. I’m going to look around the commercial district and buy some items.”

“Oh right, that’s right. The store that you’d asked me to get information about in order to buy a gift for the Lord. I’ve finally found a decent location for it.”

“Really? Where?”

“If you head East from the fountain, towards Rocher Street, there’s a shop with a butterfly-shaped sign. I heard that there’s a lot of novels with adventure genres there.”

“The sign in the shape of a butterfly…”

“It’s a store called ‘The Fluttering Wings of a Story’. Apparently, it’s said to be the most famous bookstore in the capital.”

Ariel’s eyes twinkled and a smile appeared on her face. The most famous bookstore in the capital. That was sufficient enough for her to select a present.

She had pondered for a long time over what to give Berthwald. As someone with a handsome appearance, wouldn’t a dashing hat, gloves or a brooch be nicer? Even a tie or a scarf would be a decent option.

But she was concerned that she couldn’t choose those items visually.

So, she had finally decided on a book. An interesting adventure novel.

In his eyes, it was probably a childish gift, but in a listener’s view, if he used his low voice to read that book aloud, it would be rather joyful to hear.

It was a good gift for him, as well as Ariel.

“He’ll definitely like it, right?”

With both anticipation and nervousness, Ariel gave a faint smile.

After Vieta had finished dressing her up, Ariel grabbed her gloves, hat and staff and walked out towards the hallway.

Come to think of it, it was the first time she and Berthwald were going to go out alone. It was also the first time for her to be escorted by a man outside, let alone someone so handsome.

Her mood soared, to the point where her footsteps became so light that she felt like she was flying.

“My Lady.”

It was Wilhelm’s voice that calmed her excited feelings down. The elderly butler cleared his throat and continued speaking in a worried tone.

“No matter what, due to my old age, I have excessive words of concern for you. Be sure to walk with the Lord, not to walk through dark alleys, and if anyone tries to give you food, please do not eat it recklessly…”

Do avoid strangers, do not carelessly touch stray cats and dogs, and do not stray more than 7 feet away from the Lord’s side… His nagging continued onwards.

Perhaps detecting his worries, Ariel listened to his nagging quietly, like a dog waiting for its master’s orders.

“Once you start nagging, it can go on for a long time. I’ll be accompanying her, so what are you worried about?”

Berthwald approached without her noticing, and as he cut off Wilhelm’s words, he pulled Ariel towards him by the waist.

“Then we’ll be back.”

After he spoke insincerely, he helped Ariel up into the carriage and sat right next to her.

Wilhelm’s sharp eyes drooped downwards out of anxiety and concern.

Berthwald clicked his tongue inwardly, signalling for the carriage to start moving.

The sound of the hoof beats trickled into the carriage from the tightly closed door. At the sudden tension that sprang up, Ariel continued to fidget with her innocent cane.

“Madam is quite amazing.”

As Berthwald watched Ariel, he spoke with a strange tone.

“Me? What did I do?”

“I’ve known Wilhelm for a long time, but I’ve never seen him so concerned for others.”

“Uh… is that so? Wilhelm is very kind. Other than me, he’d worry over the servants every day, and also for the Count.”

Berthwald resisted the urge to answer in his heart, and smiled slightly. How could a person that didn’t have any blood or tears for anyone other than his family be kind? Wilhelm would snort if he had heard it.

He smiled and reached a hand out towards Ariel’s ear. A fresh, grassy scent wafted from her slightly damp hair.

A white lace and blue satin ribbon hung from her dress, which had a combination of white and blue sprite pattern. From the ends of the long hair braided to one side, a blue hair ribbon that matched the dress along with gypsophila flowers adorned her beautifully.

Ariel, who shyly fiddled with her fingers, gave off the atmosphere of early summer. Her earlier seasonal look matched with her originally mysterious atmosphere, making her stand out even more.

Was she called Vieta? He’d thought that she was just a maid, but he didn’t expect that she had pretty good sense.

He smiled softly as he brushed against Ariel’s hair. Although Berthwald would usually say that she was pretty even if she was dressed in rags, he quite liked her appearance today.

“Didn’t you wait a long time?”

At the unexpected question, Berthwald glanced at Ariel. Ariel fiddled with her cane, her neck slightly tucking inwards.

“Why didn’t you wake me up? How could I have slept till this hour…like I was dead to the world.”

“Well, I couldn’t wake you up because I had kept bothering you till dawn.”

At the thought of last night, heat rose up on Ariel’s cheeks. Ariel lowered her head to hide her burning cheeks.

“Oh, ah, that–that’s right. I did fall asleep a little late.. By the way, didn’t the Count sleep less than I did? I fell asleep in the middle, but the Count seems to have stayed awake. You must be tired..”

“Not at all. I’m pouring my fatigue out to my wife, so I’m alright, but it’s worrying that my wife’s stamina has weakened.”

‘You’re pouring out fatigue on me?’

The moment she lifted her head with a puzzled face, a large hand stealthily pulled her waist closer. As her body pressed against his, the hand that was holding her waist began to move up and down.

As the hand gently caressed her waist, ribs and her pubic bone, Berthwald lowered his head and pressed his lips close to her ear.

“These days, I’m more energetic than ever, to the point where it’s troubling. Maybe… Up till here.”

Berthwald raised his index finger and poked it towards Ariel’s chest. The fingers slowly slid down her chest and stopped at her lower abdomen.

“If I pour it all out. My body will become light, as if I had woken up from a deep sleep. So, there’s no need to worry.”

His outstretched fingers wandered around her flat belly. Berthwald fixed his gaze on the spot where his fingers had brushed against with narrowed eyes.

“Isn’t it amazing? It’s so good. It’s a predicament that I’m addicted to it. How did I endure it all this time… Actually, it was hard to resist what I had wanted to do this morning.”

“…”

“But it’s ironic that the lust that should be emptied out is increasing, so it’s a little difficult. If this desire piles up like this, my wife will find it hard to handle. I was just considering how should I relieve it.”

Haah, a deep sigh marked the end of his words.

Berthwald lowered his head and glanced at Ariel’s complexion. As per his expectations, his wife hesitated about what she should say with a reluctant look on her face.

The way her expression changes constantly was both interesting and intriguing. Whether or not she was aware of his gaze, Ariel was preoccupied with her own thoughts.

With furrowed brows, she thought with a serious expression, ‘Were all men supposed to be like this? Was it because the Count is weird?’

With her brows raised and the corners of her mouth drooping, she pondered, ‘If he’s considering how to relieve it, perhaps with another woman…if he gets a mistress.’

Her mouth formed a line as a determined look appeared on her face, she came to a decision, ‘No, I have to do something.’

The expressions on her face that revealed her inner thoughts completely caught his gaze. As Berthwald looked at her rapidly changing expressions, he struck the decisive blow with a quiet voice.

“Actually… It isn’t a must to mix bodies. From the current situation, it will be resolved quickly even with a light kiss.”

“Uh, a–are you okay with that alone?!”

“Unlike my appearance, my heart is rather weak. It’s just because my heart is empty, so that would probably be enough.”

Haah, he finished speaking with another sigh and looked at Ariel.

As expected, an expression of relief and pity appeared on her face.

Just like a simple woman.

The pale hand that was carefully crawling up his chest was like a prelude to the coming kiss, making his heart pound involuntarily.

He gently held her slender hand that was hesitating near his collarbone. When Berthwald lowered his head, Ariel pressed their lips together as if she was waiting for that.

Peck.

The lips passed by in an instant, so much so that even calling it a light kiss would be regrettable. He looked downwards, wondering if it was a joke, but Ariel had only looked at him like she had done a great job.

‘Seriously, I can’t believe this.’

Berthwald swallowed back his annoyance and held the back of her neck, pulling her towards him suddenly.

“This is what a kiss is referring to.”

He connected their lips like he was squashing hers and sucked on her lower lip gently. Ariel reflexively moved her head backwards at the strange sensation.

Berthwald quickly raised his hand, and grabbed the retreating neck tightly, devouring her lips hungrily. A shallow moan echoed by his ear, lighting up his burning desire.

The hand that was holding the back of her neck slid downwards and touched the string that was holding together her dress.

While he was hesitating whether or not to loosen her dress, he slid his hand to the hem of her voluminous dress. At the feel of smooth silk stockings on his palm, just as he was about to move more inwardly.

The carriage stopped with a soft rattling sound.

“We have arrived, my Lord.”

Like the Grace of Chambers, as expected of the noblest of nobles, Berthwald quickly regained his composure and moved his head backwards.

As he used his tongue to wipe away the saliva on her lips, he used a finger to rub her moist lips lightly.

“Shall we get off?”

After giving her a kiss on her forehead, he stepped out of the carriage first. Unlike the gentle smile on his face, he was cursing internally.

‘D*mn it!’

He was on vacation, but he didn’t care about sightseeing. All he wanted to do was to stay in the mansion with his wife.

‘Why did he have to bring up something useless?’

As he grumbled inwardly, he turned towards the carriage. The moment he caught sight of Ariel, the negative thoughts that filled his mind evaporated without a trace.

The face that was shining with expectations disappeared, leaving behind a reddened face that entered his view.