Chapter 77
He probably doesn’t really want to help me bath.
As they reached the bathroom on the first floor, Sereniel, still in his arms, pondered alone.
And her pondering wasn’t in vain, as Lexion showed no intention of leaving the bathroom.
“Um, Duke…?”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t I need you to leave so I can bath?”
“….”
“Well… Please don’t say things like ‘you’ve seen everything’.”
Lexion hesitated for a moment, then slightly nodded, lips curling into a smirk.
“But didn’t you help me bath before?”
That was true.
“So, naturally, I…”
Whether he really wanted to help her bath or had ulterior motives, it was hard to say. Well, judging by how red Sereniel’s cheeks were, it was probably more the former than the latter…
“I did that because you injured your hand back then. But I’m fine now. I can bath by myself.”
Sereniel said, trying to placate him.
“I’ll be quick, so just wait outside.”
“…Alright.”
By now, Lexion understood what she meant and nodded as if to say he got it.
“But if you need my help, just call me. I’ll be waiting outside the bathroom.”
…Even though he said something similar when she left, he said it again as he looked back at Sereniel.
“….Whew.”
Finally left alone, Sereniel slowly unwrapped the blanket that was wrapped around her like armor. Then she got into the bathtub, where warm water was quietly filling up.
“….”
As she finally found some time alone, the memories of last night flooded back.
The hot, heavy breaths.
The firm chest she clung to desperately.
And the whispered words of love.
Blushing fiercely, Sereniel let out a nervous laugh, her heart beating fast with happiness and embarrassment.
Had she ever felt like this before? Probably not.
She had thought she loved Calian and needed him, but… when she thought of her time and experiences with Lexion, they seemed worthless and meaningless.
It felt like she had finally returned to where she belonged.
…I guess I can find the other earring now.
Thinking of the earring that sparkled and shone alone without its pair, Sereniel blushed and thought to herself.
“….”
Sitting in the bathtub, her gaze suddenly turned towards the closed door.
Since he said he would wait, Lexion was probably standing behind that door. Wondering if she would call for him, wondering if he could help.
I should get out.
She didn’t want to keep Lexion waiting any longer than necessary.
He had already spent too much time waiting for her.
Blushing, she sat in the bathtub and began to wash herself hastily.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
I heard that women take a long time to bath and shower.
Although Lexion had no experience with women, he knew this much. Besides, it was the morning after their first night together, so she must have been tired. Soaking in warm water and resting would be good for her.
But Sereniel emerged from the bathroom much sooner than Lexion had expected.
“….”
Water droplets dripped from her tangled golden hair, which hadn’t been properly dried. Lexion silently watched her like that for a moment, then slowly parted his lips.
“If you keep walking around like that… you’ll catch a cold.”
“I know.”
Sereniel smiled awkwardly.
“But I don’t want to keep you waiting…”
“I can just keep waiting.”
“I don’t want to make you wait any longer.”
Lexion knew the sincerity hidden in Sereniel’s words.
A faint smile appeared on Lexion’s lips as he watched Sereniel, who looked embarrassed.
“Come here. I’ll dry you off.”
With a towel in hand, Lexion gestured towards Sereniel. She nodded and approached him, looking at him as if she had just remembered something.
“The armchair arrived today. When you went to the study.”
“…The one ordered from Paul?”
“Yes. Two of them. One for you and one for me.”
Sereniel raised her finger as she spoke.
For some reason, seeing her like that made Lexion smile and chuckle.
“Then let’s go to the armchair. Sitting by the fireplace will dry you quickly. You won’t catch a cold.”
Sereniel nodded, and Lexion, holding her hand tightly, started walking.
The armchair sent by Paul was placed near the window in the living room. Lexion effortlessly pushed it aside. Moving such a large piece of furniture without showing any signs of strain was indeed a skill.
“Sit here.”
Lexion said pointing to the chair by the fireplace.
“This too.”
Quickly fetching a blanket, Lexion wrapped it around Sereniel’s body carefully.
Though it felt a bit suffocating, Sereniel decided not to say anything. Lexion’s careful attention made her feel unexpectedly happy.
“….”
Standing behind Sereniel, Lexion started drying her dripping wet golden hair quietly with great care, indeed.
…And his touch resembled someone’s touch that Sereniel knew well.
“My mother used to dry my hair like this.”
“….”
“My father too. Sometimes people around us would comment on it. Saying if we kept doing this, it would become a bad habit just for the sake of looking pretty.”
“But now, there’s no one brave enough to say such things.”
“….”
“I offered to dry my wife’s hair, what’s it to others?”
At Lexion’s firm reply, Sereniel couldn’t help but laugh.
“Why are you laughing?”
“My parents used to say the same things.”
“….”
“I offered to dry my daughter’s hair, what’s it to others?”
The people she loved, the people who loved her… They resembled each other somehow. So Sereniel smiled quietly.
“That’s enough now.”
Taking the towel from Lexion’s hand, Sereniel stood up and gestured towards him.
“Sit down.”
“But you…”
“You need to sit down for me to have a seat too.”
Though Lexion’s expression questioned her words, Sereniel’s firm grip on his hand made him comply with her wishes.
As Lexion sat down, Sereniel carefully sat on his lap.
“There’s another chair, but I thought it would be warmer to be close to you than to cover up with a blanket.”
“….”
“Still, if it’s too heavy for you, let me know, and I’ll…”
“It’s not heavy at all.”
Lexion cut her off with a firm reply, then gently wrapped his arms around Sereniel.
“…Then I’m glad.”
Blushing, Sereniel said, slightly lowering her head.
“I told you last time too. You were too thin. So even if you sit like this all day, I don’t mind at all. No, I actually like it.”
There was no need to say it so explicitly. While she thought that, she didn’t feel bad. No, it felt rather good.
Sereniel overlapped her hand with Lexion’s, who was embracing her.
“Do you remember what I said last time?”
Then she hesitantly pulled back her lips.
“When the chairs arrive… I want to sit there and hear your stories, Duke.”
Lexion hesitated for a moment.
“I want to hear them.”
“….”
“Now.”
[But my stories won’t be interesting at all. They won’t be pleasant to hear either.]
[Still, I want to hear them. I’m curious. I want to know what kind of person Duke Lexion is.]
Lexion did not forget the conversation from that day.
He couldn’t easily talk about it because he was afraid. Whenever he stood in front of Sereniel, he knew he would revert back to being nothing more than a parasite of the Rosenvester family.
But not anymore.
“Will you… tell me your stories?”
Sereniel held Lexion’s hand again with determination, and Lexion looked down at it silently.
She had told him every time. She will never look at him the same way others do.
And indeed, she had. Whenever he trembled with fear, Sereniel never left Lexion alone.
And that was how it would continue to be.
So Lexion decided to gather his courage. Since she was the one who had always held his hand first.
“…It was exactly as Royden’s letter said.”
“….”
“I was, a parasite of the Rosenvester family. Nothing more, nothing less.”
Lexion slowly opened up, and Sereniel, holding his hand, listened quietly.
