080. Affection (3)
Lucia moved her hand to unbutton the second button.
As she did, Owen’s clavicle was revealed.
She slowly ran her fingers over his clavicle and said, “Everyone follows the rules of using separate floors and rooms. That’s true, but couples in love know to secretly meet at night.”
That was it.
Noble etiquette was often just a facade.
Individuals of different genders never shared a room before marriage, and although nobles used separate floors…
It was challenging for adults to meet each other virtuously.
Thanks to this, there were effective contraceptives made from herbs not found on Earth in this world.
They all just maintained discretion and kept the rumors well hidden.
Even if such rumors spread, they pretended not to know.
“Our engagement is next month. So, the wedding will be next year, right?”
Owen nodded.
As he affirmed, Lucia smiled and asked, “Will Owen wait until then? Can you do that?”
It was both a provocation and a temptation.
“…It might be difficult.”
Owen slowly answered, then embraced Lucia, exhaling.
“Let’s go to the bedroom.”
***
Lucia, who entered Owen’s bedroom, only opened her eyes in the afternoon of the next day.
“Ah…”
A dry and hoarse voice came out when she spoke.
“Did you sleep enough?”
As Lucia held her throat, Owen approached and handed her a cup of water.
Desperately, Lucia swallowed the water in one gulp and nodded.
“Yes.”
“How’s your body?”
“…Feels like I’m dying.”
She couldn’t affirm to the following question.
She was the one who had seduced and rushed forward, while Owen hesitated.
The one in good condition was Owen, and the one suffering was Lucia.
“Don’t make a sorry face. It was inevitable.”
Both of them were inexperienced, so it was natural that they were awkward.
Although they had become more skillful over time, the burden remained unavoidable.
It was due to Owen’s innate body; there was nothing to be done about it.
“I just feel like my waist will break, and I won’t be able to walk.”
“…I’ll bring you some painkillers.”
“Yes. Can I sleep until today?”
“Sure.”
As permission was granted, Lucia smiled contentedly.
Then she sank back onto the bed.
Watching Lucia lying on the bed, Owen asked, “Are you not hungry?”
“I feel hungry….”
“Then let’s have a meal and take some painkillers.”
“Do the servants bring the meals here?”
At Lucia’s question, Owen nodded.
Upon this, Lucia, after a brief moment of contemplation, smiled widely with her arms outstretched.
Realizing her intention, Owen embraced Lucia.
“Let’s just go to the dining hall. I haven’t told them to bring it here since I don’t know when I’ll wake up, right?”
“Right.”
“Then you can carry me to the dining hall. Since, except for you, everyone in the Verdin mansion follows your orders, right?”
“…Right.”
Whether lovers or not, spending the night together and covering up afterward could be divided into two main methods.
One was to hide so well that nobody would notice they spent the night together.
And the other was to silence everyone present at the location.
Lucia and Owen chose the second method.
Apart from Owen, the Verdin mansion only housed servants and knights who were loyal to him, so it was not difficult.
“I might have a sore back and trouble walking, so there’s no need to cover me up. You’re the one who should be covered up.”
Owen blushed at Lucia’s words.
Due to his cautious nature and his efforts not to hurt Lucia, he was constantly preoccupied and wouldn’t leave any traces behind, even if he had been in his right mind.
On the other hand, Lucia engraved Owen with marks all over with all her might.
As a result, a large hickey was stuck incongruously on his neck.
“Still, you have to forgive me a little. You’ve tormented me so much. I didn’t know you could be so mercilessly affectionate.”
As Lucia whispered in his ear, Owen’s cheeks turned slightly red.
Looking at him like that, she let out a laugh.
The previous night, Owen had been truly ruthless and affectionate at the same time.
Kissing her tenderly, feeling her preciousness, he didn’t stop tormenting her mercilessly.
Perhaps it was inevitable.
No matter how careful and affectionate he tried to be with his body, it would be in vain.
“Are you up, Your Highness? And milady.”
As Owen left the room while holding Lucia, he came face to face with the maids and servants waiting in the corridor.
“Yes. Prepare the meal. It will be served in the dining hall.”
“Yes, understood.”
Owen pointed to one of them and gave the order.
The designated person hurried down the stairs.
“Which restaurant are we going to today?”
“Well, is there a place you prefer?”
“How about the one we went to last time? The one with the round table.”
Lucia chose the restaurant where they had their first meal on the day she stayed at the Verdin mansion for four days.
“Then let’s go there.”
Having chosen the restaurant, the two headed downstairs.
Owen was very skilled at supporting Lucia’s back and legs, and Lucia, too, was comfortable leaning on Owen, as if accustomed to that posture.
“By the way, Owen. Your birthday is coming up after the engagement ceremony.”
“Come to think of it, it is.”
Owen was born in November.
November 23rd.
At the end of a chilly autumn, he was born.
“When that time comes, it will be your birthday soon too.”
From Noble mtl dot com
After the end of autumn comes early winter.
And at the beginning of that early winter was Lucia’s birthday.
Her day fell on December 3rd.
“It’s just a ten-day difference.”
“So it seems.”
“Is this fate as well?”
“Even if it’s a coincidence, it doesn’t matter. It’s enough to consider it destiny for us.”
Slowly descending the stairs, the two of them reached the first floor while sharing stories.
After moving to the restaurant and seating Lucia, Owen asked, “Shall we go on a trip?”
“A trip?”
“It’s your birthday, you see.”
Lucia had no memories of travel.
When she thought of the word “travel,” the only thing that came to mind was the landscape of Oceanside.
It was regrettable in many ways.
“It’s still a few months away, but it might be nice to start thinking about it.”
“Hmm. If we’re going, it would be best to leave on your birthday. That way, it will be more meaningful.”
“On my birthday?”
“Yes. You probably think I didn’t celebrate your birthday properly.”
Because her words were cutting, Owen could only agree.
She was right.
Owen knew too well how Lucia had grown up, and therefore, he also knew the kind of birthday she had to endure.
“It wasn’t as bad as you think. There was a grand cake, candles were lit, and a party was held. We had a bustling time at the lavish birthday party in the Edelte Manor.”
If there had been a hint of emotion in the story she told as if it was nothing, it would have been better.
Not the indifferent numbness that comes with familiarity.
Owen suppressed the feeling of choking up and nodded his head.
“Is that so.”
“Yes. You know, I quite enjoy parties.”
Lucia said it in a light tone, then poked Owen and continued, “You seem more concerned than I am. My parents always wanted to appear as good parents, caring about what others thought.”
“…I didn’t want to appear as bad parents either.”
“Well, that just makes you a violent child abuser.”
She mocked Owen’s parents briefly, then continued, “There might have been a birthday reception, but did you receive any birthday gifts?”
“…I did receive a sword. There were also spears and arrows. There were horses too.”
“Those are all just for knight training.”
“Because that’s what you wanted for me.”
“Look at that. At least I received something decent from my father and Lady Edelte. Clothes, jewelry, things like that.”
Having such a conversation felt strange.
Neither had grown up in a family to boast about, yet they worried about each other and claimed they were better off. It was not to belittle or look down on each other, but rather to say, “Take care of yourself first,” that they had these conversations, which was quite remarkable.
“Anyway, your birthday should be a bit special. So, if we’re going on a trip, let’s go on your birthday and continue until my birthday.”
Lucia planned a ten-day long journey.
Owen could only smile at her suggestion.
“Alright.”
She seemed unaware, but Lucia had a tender side.
Owen appreciated her affection and kindness, visible only to her people.
The voice and expression that worried about him, the obsession that forbade others’ gazes, and even the scolding words urging him to take care of himself first.
“Lucia.”
Owen gently held Lucia’s hand and whispered softly.
“I love you.”
Each time he said it, the sincerity remained, but the depth and breadth of that emotion grew.
Perhaps that was why.
Lucia now had to feel her heart pounding loudly even when hearing a confession that had become familiar.
“Yes, I do too.”
Owen had always been affectionate, not only showing love through actions and atmosphere but also continuously verbalizing it.
He had looked into her eyes, unable to bear how lovable she was, and had spoken with tenderness, expressing his love with a face that said it was dear and must be said.
And yesterday, he had repeated it several times with a voice full of passion.
That he loved her, liked her, wanted her, and longed for her.
“I always love you too.”
It was good.
Although his actions and atmosphere, his voice and words clearly showed the emotion of love, it was still nice to have him directly say he loved her, to say he liked her, demonstrating every day how much he loved her.
Perhaps he truly drowned in the sea.
Jumped into his vast and deep sea, locked deeply in it, perhaps not even thinking of coming out, becoming a small flame that he didn’t know existed.
He had thought of himself as a hellfire, but it might not be impossible for him to be swallowed up and turned into a small flame in the vast sea.
“Yes.”
But then again, he was not someone who would chew up and swallow her love, despite showing vast affection.
Like the moon, he simply stood tall, exuding a subtle glow.
It seemed he preferred to illuminate the sky, bathed in the light bestowed by the sun.
“I know.”
He calmly uttered.
His face, smiling with joy, was composed.
Owen smiled as he gently kissed the back of Lucia’s hand.
“Still, I’m glad you said it.”