Chapter 75

As I made my way to the bedroom, tired from the constant nagging of the Paleord, I felt a surge of relief. Finally, I had managed to get through another day unscathed.

The closeness with Asulin had grown, and we could spend our nights chatting intimately without relying on alcohol. This felt like a peaceful and untroubled day.

Despite the Paleord’s incessant talk about love, even though he insisted on lecturing me, it seemed too sudden and inappropriate to mention love given that there hadn’t been proper emotional exchange before our marriage.

I thought someday this would change, but clearly not today.

But just before entering the bedroom, I was sure of these thoughts.

Gulp

No sooner had I stepped into the bedroom than I found myself involuntarily swallowing a large lump in my throat.

Asulin, dressed in the most provocative attire she had worn since sharing the same bed with me regularly, greeted me while sitting on the bed.

Despite the Duke’s Residence having excellent insulation, it wasn’t a problem to wear something comfortable.

At night, Asulin usually wore clothing that tightly wrapped around her, emphasizing modesty. While the details of her outfits changed every few days, they never strayed from this theme of concealment.

Though it could be seen as an expression of her desire to remain composed at bedtime, unlike formal or military attire, these outfits revealed her body’s curves, making them highly provocative.

“I don’t know why, but today, the room feels warmer, so I put on something thinner than usual.”

Even as she blushed lightly, seeming to explain the legitimacy of her outfit, Asulin’s boldness filled her attire, surpassing any previous outfits I’d seen. She was wearing lingerie, which made her form much more apparent.

Looser, it allowed me to see her silhouette much clearer.

Her outline, previously visible even when she was tightly wrapped, now stood out clearly in the form of a silhouette, revealing the color of her underwear through the faint outline.

It was blue…or rather…

Regardless, it was so stimulating that if it were just a few days ago, I might have turned away.

“…How do you find it?”

Without hesitation, despite her obvious embarrassment, Asulin asked for my opinion with a trembling voice. There was no reason to turn away.

“It’s beautiful. Truly beautiful.”

I approached the bed beside where Asulin sat and shared my honest thoughts.

“…Thank you.”

Even though I only spoke the truth, Asulin blushed deeply, trying to cool off her face, like a ripe apple.

“I was worried it might be too much…but I’m really glad you like it…”

She expressed her gratitude once more, unable to hide her happiness at my acceptance.

From her actions, abandoning her usual respectful speech towards me, I felt an overwhelming affection.

I extended my left arm, wrapping it around Asulin’s back and pulling her closer.

“…”

Before Asulin could react, I covered her lips with mine, feeling that this was the best way to express myself in this situation.

And it seemed I was right because although Asulin was surprised, she didn’t reject my kiss. Instead, she placed her hands on my chest and slowly returned it.

At first, it was just a simple touch of lips, like always. But soon, without any particular order, our tongues intertwined, as if they were one.

A sweetness like the gentle flow of flower fragrance filled my senses, and the taste of honey on my tongue overwhelmed my taste buds.

This alone was enough to fill my heart with an abundance of joy.

Just like a couple who gradually overcomes initial awkwardness and grows closer over time, the feelings of affection for her grew stronger, and any difficulty I had in dealing with her melted away, replaced by a newfound warmth towards Asulin.

A warmth that never faded.

This warmth was a desire to show her how much I appreciated her, wanting her to feel that she mattered just as much as I did.

Consequently, the intensity of our actions increased. Not content with merely feeling each other’s tongues, we also used our arms to bring each other even closer.

Even though I held her more gently than usual, the sensation of her upper body pressing against my chest, especially the largest and softest part, was much more vivid.

My body and mind, which had endured considerable stimulation, were momentarily stunned.

Similarly, Asulin felt this intensified sensation as well.

“…”

Caught off guard by the firmness of my body, Asulin struggled to move, and as she fell onto the bed, I followed her, holding her.

Our bodies overlapped, not just our lips and tongues.

A small silence ensued between us, but after a brief moment of awkward eye contact, Asulin, who was now beneath me, pulled me closer with both arms.

Our tongues and lips found each other again, creating sounds that could be considered lewd, and we continued for a long time.

Outside, the cold winter wind of the north blew fiercely, but inside our bedroom, it felt as hot as midsummer.

…

This tender moment lasted until Asulin’s soft moan, barely audible, signaled its end.

Even though we had exchanged immense tenderness, it still felt insufficient. Our lips finally parted, leaving behind a thread of transparency that connected us, unlike anything I had ever experienced before.

“…”

After taking a light breath, Asulin pushed herself closer to me, pressing her body against mine, seeking affection.

There was no reason to resist, so I moved my head to overlap my lips with hers again. However, due to our tight embrace, my lower body pressed against her abdomen.

“…”

Asulin let out a sound more sensual than any I had heard before, and the room, instead of being filled with the expected lewd noises, was filled with our heavy breathing.

Previously, when welcoming Asulin into my arms, I would pull back slightly to avoid any unwanted situations. Even now, I maintained this habit.

But overwhelmed by the moment, I failed to prepare for any awkwardness that might arise.

…What should I do? The atmosphere suddenly became awkward.

While the guilt of revealing my masculine instincts was heavy, what mattered now was cooling Asulin’s flushed face, which rarely cooled down these days.

Asulin seemed to think differently.

“…You look pained. Are you okay?”

Her concern alleviated my guilt.

“…I’m fine.”

Finally, I had the chance to utter a white lie.

I was grateful that my rationality hadn’t completely broken down due to my desires. However,

“I already knew it wasn’t okay,” Asulin whispered in a low, sultry voice.

Her voice, small yet more sensuous than ever, made me suppress the urge to gasp.

“…Several days ago, I noticed when we kissed…”

As her warm breath brushed against my ear, I felt my heart racing uncontrollably.

To hear that someone I loved felt desire for me was an experience I couldn’t compare to anything else.

Given the conversation, it seemed inevitable that an awkward situation would follow.

“I want you, Andy. I hope you won’t hold back.”

…If not for Asulin’s sudden remark.

Turning my attention back to her,

“…Since our marriage, there’s always been something I wanted to say to you when these moments came.”

With a clear tone, Asulin spoke as if making a significant decision.

“Will you not drink? You, who are next to the Emperor as one of the noblest women in this Empire.”

As she finished speaking and gave me a faint blush,

The thin, transparent thread that held my sanity snapped with a delicate sound.

“Asulin…”

My lips, murmuring her name softly, sought hers again.

It was almost identical to the previous kiss, but this one held a significant meaning.

Yes, it was a rehearsal for what was to come next.

Thus, I surrendered to my instincts, and the point where my body met Asulin’s grew hotter with each passing moment.

Although it was quite warm, I was confident that it would become even hotter when our bare skin touched, a thought that crossed my mind before fully surrendering to instinct.