Aachen stepped back with a dazed expression after accepting Hilane’s request.
He smiled beautifully, meeting Hilane’s eyes, and said.
“It’s not hard to wait until the national wedding.”
Then, as if regretfully, he touched his lips.
‘What excuse should I make after the national wedding? I can’t keep avoiding this forever.’
Hilane turned her gaze away from his actions.
Aachen felt worried about Hilane, who seemed anxious. “My Lady, you don’t look well. Should I call a doctor?”
“It’s not that, Your Grace.” Hilane began to reply, but Aachen’s movements were interrupted by a knock at the door.
“…What’s the matter?” Aachen asked in a low voice as he opened the door, and the maids entered.
‘Lily and Daisy? Isn’t that a glass bowl used for washing?’
Lily carried a rather large glass bowl, and Daisy held scented oil and towels.
The sound of water sloshing came from the glass bowl as Lily moved.
“…What is this?” Aachen asked.
“There is an old tradition observed at Hestur Castle,” Daisy responded, bowing lightly.
“A tradition?”
“Before the first night, the groom washes the bride’s feet.” Daisy explained.
“…Ah, yes, I recall something like that,” Aachen said, as if remembering something. He smiled faintly and stepped towards Hilane.
‘He’s going to wash my feet? The Grand Duke himself?’
A different kind of tension stirred within Hilane. Her toes curled reflexively.
“Delaying the duties of a married couple is a private matter, but traditions should be observed to prevent any gossip.”
Aachen whispered softly in Hilane’s ear, his voice only audible to her.
The intimacy of the moment felt oddly ticklish, and it was fascinating how naturally he referred to them as a married couple.
“…Indeed”
Aachen gently lifted Hilane and carried her to the bed, where he placed her down.
Lily and Daisy quietly moved towards the bed, with Lily setting the glass bowl at Hilane’s feet. The scent of lilacs wafted from the water.
Kneeling on one knee, Aachen looked up at Hilane without breaking eye contact.
‘Why is he staring at me like that?’
His gaze, full of allure, made Hilane feel as if her body was freezing up.
“My Lady, please place your feet in the water,” Aachen requested.
Hilane carefully placed her feet into the glass bowl. As ripples spread, water droplets lapped against the edges of the bowl.
‘My body feels relaxed.’
The coldness in her feet dissipated as they warmed.
“I will begin washing them.” Aachen said.
Though Hilane felt embarrassed at the thought of him washing her feet, she tried to dismiss the feeling.
‘It’s just a simple tradition… It’s the only interaction I’ll have with the Grand Duke like this.’
Aachen started with Hilane’s left foot, pausing momentarily.
‘Why did he stop?’
“It’s nothing. Your feet are much smaller than I imagined,” he commented, smiling slightly. Aachen gently massaged her foot, his fingers revealing the structure of her bones.
Hilane’s body felt warm from his meticulous touch. After washing her right foot with equal care, Daisy handed Aachen a towel.
“Here’s the towel, Your Grace,” Daisy said.
Aachen wrapped Hilane’s feet in the towel, gently patting them dry.
Hilane felt that this event, marked by the fragrant scent, would remain vividly in her memory for a long time.
She wasn’t sure if it was due to the floral fragrance or the intimate skin contact she had shared with Aachen for the first time.
“Have a good night.” said Lily.
“We’ll take our leave now.” Daisy added.
With the maids gone, they were alone again.
Aachen gazed intently at Hilane, his eyes moving slowly.
“Your Grace?” Hilane called as he moved closer, climbing onto the bed. The loose robe exposed his chest, and his wild eyes overwhelmed Hilane.
‘He said he’d wait until the national wedding!’
she thought, unable to stop Aachen and only retreating further.
The closer he came, the more Hilane leaned back until her back was pressed against the bed’s headboard.
‘What should I do?’
Closing her eyes tightly, she felt the warmth of his lips.
Aachen gently kissed her hand, leaving marks as he went. He looked at Hilane, laughing softly as if she were amusing.
“Even with my advances, you still haven’t fallen for me.”
“Your Grace…”
“I will keep my promise. You’ve had a tiring day… Rest well,” Aachen said, ceasing his kisses and lying beside her.
As Aachen, who appeared to be asleep, Hilane struggled to fall asleep herself, waiting until the early hours of dawn.
‘It was dangerous. If he had done a little more, I really wouldn’t have been able to stop him… It’s fortunate that the Grand Duke stopped…’
Hilane, relieved by his steady breathing, tossed and turned a few times before finally falling asleep.
As sleep finally overcame her, Aachen’s eyes slowly opened.
He had been pretending to sleep, waiting for her to relax. Aachen adjusted her hair and offered his arm as a pillow. He thought back to when he had sensed her inner thoughts.
The moment he touched her bare feet, he could hear her thoughts clearly.
‘In the Grand Duchy of Bawentawin, I couldn’t hear her thoughts, but now I can hear them so vividly. Why?’
The request to delay their marital duties came to mind. Hilane, who had firmly believed that he would keep his promise. was so cute that he almost laughed.
Even her thoughts during the kiss had been amusing.
Aachen feared that pushing further would make her dislike him.
There was still much he hadn’t done yet, and he didn’t want to be permanently restrained by this.
Suppressing his desires, Aachen let her go. Hilane’s small shoulders rose and fell with her breathing.
Seeing her in her barely-there silk nightgown drove him wild.
‘Why couldn’t I hear her thoughts before? Now, they are so clear.’
A theory crossed his mind.
‘I remember the emerald necklace she left behind*. Could it be that there’s some special power in that jewel?’
(T/N : *Check Chapter 13)
The deep green necklace, reminiscent of her eyes, had seemed more than just an ornament.
Aachen, who had kept the necklace she had left behind, felt compelled to investigate further.
He quietly rose from the bed before dawn, reluctant to leave the peacefully sleeping Hilane. ‘She is my Princess.’
Before leaving, Aachen gently kissed Hilane’s forehead.
“…The national wedding should be held soon.”
—
“…Your Grace?” Hilane called out as she awoke to find Aachen gone. It was already afternoon. “Did he leave without waking me?”
Hilane left the marital bedroom and went to check on Chevelyn in the adjacent room. The child seemed to be still deep in slumber. Even in the bright daylight, Chevelyn showed no signs of waking up.
“Sweetheart, it’s time to wake up.”
“So sleepy…”
Concerned that Chevelyn had slept so long without eating, Hilane gently tried to rouse the child. “Are you very tired? Didn’t you go to bed early last night?”
“Heehee…” Chevelyn responded with a sleepy giggle, showing no signs of getting out of bed.
“Oh, you little sleepyhead. How about we have some breakfast and then you can sleep again?” Hilane offered.
“Mommy, hug Cherry tight,” Chevelyn requested, reaching out to Hilane.
“My dear, you really have become a baby again,” Hilane said, smiling as she picked up Chevelyn.
“Cherry is Mommy’s baby, right?” Chevelyn replied.
Hilane caressed Chevelyn’s cheek gently. ‘Lately, Chevelyn has been very clingy. She used to dislike being called a baby.’
“That’s right. Chevelyn is Mommy’s baby,” Hilane reassured her.
In the bathroom, Hilane washed Chevelyn, who yawned widely as the sleepiness returned. “Aahhh.”
Hilane soothed the sleepy child as she combed Chevelyn’s hair. Shortly after, Elisha came upstairs with her hand bandaged. Chevelyn, noticing Elisha’s bandage, expressed concern for her.
[Elisha, are you hurt?]
Hilane, also concerned, attentively checked on Elisha. “Elisha, did the treatment go well?”
“Yes, Lucy wrapped the bandage tightly. It should heal in a few days, so don’t worry,” Elisha reassured them.
[Cherry is upset because Elisha is hurt. Cherry will kiss it better.]
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