Chapter 9
He smelled of a clean, soapy scent. His dark, night-colored hair was damp, appearing pitch black even under the moonlight. From within the collar of his white silk shirt, the necklace I had given him as a wedding gift glinted faintly.
“Have you been well?”
At his earnest greeting, I didn’t hide my smile and met his gaze.
During our engagement period, we had been formal with each other, and there were even days when we didn’t meet for two days at a time. But now that we were officially married and sharing a bed, this greeting seemed rather distant. Besides, we had been together until dawn, seen each other during the day, and even had dinner together.
“Thanks to you. Have you been well?”
I had only meant it playfully.
But Kagan, as if caught off guard, rolled his eyes in thought. He frowned as if recalling something unpleasant, then answered in a resigned tone.
“Yes. For the most part, it was uneventful.”
His low voice vibrated through the space, reaching my waist. It must have been my imagination, but it tickled somehow, and I squirmed slightly. It would have been strange to turn my back on him and lie down, so I lay facing him.
“You must be tired. Princess Shulia apologized, saying that Prince Zeke dragged you around the castle from early dawn.”
With every rise and fall of his chest, the bedclothes brushed against my skin. The air beneath the blankets, slowly growing warmer, made the reality of lying beside him feel more vivid.
“I’m not particularly tired.”
He immediately denied it and glanced at me. His lips, flushed from washing with hot water, closed hesitantly, then opened again.
“But if you are unwell, perhaps tonight…”
Unwell. Using such an expression for the aftermath of a night’s ordeal.
“I’m not an invalid, Kagan.”
I burst out laughing and gently placed my hand on his arm.
“I told you. I’m feeling fine now.”
I could feel beneath the thin, smooth fabric of his shirt—skin as firm as the surface of a leather sofa, and a body temperature higher than mine. Fascinated by the texture, I stroked him repeatedly until he caught my hand to stop me.
“Ruwann.”
He lightly gripped my hand in his large one. It was fascinating how his hand completely swallowed my fingers, which were longer than most people’s, hiding even the tips.
The man who embraced me and softly pressed his lips to mine was completely different from the man he was during the day. My heart pounded fiercely. The man with the cold, seemingly insensitive face did not exist on my bed. Wherever his lips and tongue touched, a melting pleasure surged and spread down to my stomach.
Before I knew it, he had taken off his shirt and was bare-chested. The weight pressing down on me made me let out a hot sigh.
“Kagan…”
I tightly wrapped my arms around his neck, which was longer and thicker than mine. The wet hair brushing against my ear was cold enough to give me goosebumps, but I clung to him even harder.
His hand slipped under my hunched shoulder. He pulled me tightly against him, leaving no space between us. As he held me so tightly it was hard to breathe, my eyes grew hot.
I had never known this feeling. Before becoming one with him, I couldn’t understand it even if I heard about it.
“Ruwann. If I hurt you…”
Half-listening to his words telling me to stop, I just nodded my head.
Of course, I had no intention of stopping. It seemed a shame that the time with him, the time we could be this close, would pass so quickly. Judging from my short experience of being engaged and married to Kagan, it seemed we wouldn’t be able to spend all day chatting and staying close like the poor but affectionate noble couple from Tessena.
Like a tree battered by a storm, I was drenched and tossed about, then woke up in the quiet darkness.
I saw his broad back as he quietly rose from beside me. His back, moving away from my bed. I stared blankly at his golden skin, glistening with sweat.
And then I finally managed to speak.
Tonight, before sleeping, I’ll wash you. Even while fiercely battling drowsiness, I think I managed to say it out loud.
Judging by the way he glanced back at me.
“You don’t need to worry about it.”
Naked, he crossed the bedroom and picked up the kettle from the fireplace, answering indifferently. His languid, husky voice urged me to sleep like a lullaby.
“You don’t need to do anything. Because you are…”
After a few more nights, would I get used to it?
I blinked my dazed eyes, not even thinking to tidy my disheveled hair. At the very least, I hoped I would become accustomed enough to preserve enough strength after the pious nightly duty to walk out on my own feet and wash my own body.
When I woke up, I was alone again. I ran my fingertips over my inevitably dry skin and the sheets, then dejectedly hugged my knees and buried my head.
What is this? I failed again today. I fell asleep again. I thought I had gained stamina learning to dance and ride horses since coming to Wayriver, but I was mistaken.
“Haa…”
Sunlight streamed diagonally into the room through the east window. The fact that the sun hadn’t yet reached its zenith was some consolation.
“Did you sleep well, my lady?”
Milla pushed a cart into the room with impeccable timing. The rich, appetizing smell of soup spread through the room. My sullen mood was helplessly disarmed by intense hunger.
I gladly accepted the tray Milla offered. Well, fine. I’ll eat well and move diligently today. My stamina will gradually improve.
As soon as I finished breakfast, I dressed neatly and left the room. I was planning to see off Prince Zeke and his wife. That would be the end of today’s schedule. The other guests also seemed to take their leave, chased away by the princess’s glances. It would be my first ‘real holiday’ since the wedding.
Should I suggest to Kagan that we take a walk by the river together, just the two of us? As a married couple now, we need some private time to have proper conversations.
“Where is the Duke, Sir Ben?”
I asked Ben, whom I happened to meet on the landing. Wasn’t that Prince Zeke himself? The esteemed royal gentleman who, except for the wedding day itself, seemed intent on sticking closer to the groom than the bride.
Kagan would have to see him off in person.
Ben bowed to me, then hesitated as if calculating something before answering.
“He has likely just left Wayriver by now. There might be a slight delay depending on travel conditions.”
Travel?
“Did some urgent matter come up? I thought he would be seeing off Prince Zeke with me today.”
What is this? He left the estate?
At my bewildered words, Ben looked embarrassed.
“Did you perhaps not hear from His Grace?”
“Hear what?”
“His Grace left for Duvon this morning. He is scheduled to attend the Western Region Lords’ Conference, which is to be revised the day after tomorrow.”
“Duvon… the Earl’s territory?”
He went to the Duvon Earldom?
How far was that? It was a territory somewhere to the southwest. Not a close distance. I tried to recall the imperial map I had seen during history lessons. Comparing the distance from Wayriver to Tessena I had checked there, and the distance from Wayriver to Duvon…
“It’s usually a journey of about ten days. His Grace said he would return early, so it might be shortened by a day or two compared to previous years.”
But considering the distance, even if he turned right back as soon as he arrived, it would be a four or five-day journey. So even if he attended the conference and shortened the rest of the schedule, it would be a medium-to-long-term trip taking over a week.
It was not a trip you would take without notice, as if going out for some air.
A sense of alienation washed over me, as if I had been left alone, unable to do anything. I hadn’t even received a set of keys, and I still didn’t know how to handle any duties as the Duchess.
“Well, although it is a regular meeting held every spring and autumn,” Ben explained at length. “The meeting dates came out a little late this spring. Unfortunately, it was an especially busy time for us, preparing for the wedding. It seems His Grace, having set aside all other matters to focus on wedding preparations as the top priority, forgot to inform the Duchess about the meeting.”
It seemed even he thought it wasn’t a minor oversight.
“I’m truly sorry. I should have reported it to the Duchess separately…”
“I understand. Everyone was so busy.”
I wasn’t pleased with the situation of not having heard a single word, as the lady of the house, about a regular annual trip.
But upon reflection, it wasn’t entirely incomprehensible. The first marriage talks had occurred only four months ago. It had been three months since Kagan came to see me in person, and we promised to marry that very day. And for the past month, we had been living in separate rooms at Wayriver, leading up to the wedding.
It was truly whirlwind. It was only natural there hadn’t been time for proper face-to-face conversations. Still, I had the better situation. My only tasks were learning to adapt to my new life and acquiring luxury goods, while he had shouldered most of the practical work and wedding preparations.
Kagan probably didn’t even have enough time to sleep.
‘Perhaps he’s rushing because he’s worried about Miss Ruwann living alone?’
The nun from Tessena had said that to me, as I felt anxious about the rushed wedding schedule. Of course, that might just be a kind interpretation from a kind person.
But from my experience during the engagement period, it didn’t seem like Kagan was rushing the wedding due to political urgency. Even the guests who received invitations, and even Milla, teased that they never expected their master to find a bride so suddenly.
“I’ll have to carefully check His Grace’s schedule from now on. Thank you for telling me, Sir Ben.”
Honestly, it was quite awkward and embarrassing that I hadn’t even known my husband wasn’t home, but there was no need to make Ben, who already looked sorry, feel more uncomfortable.
So he had left Wayriver.
I had thought we might finally have some time alone, so it was a bit disappointing. I had been secretly excited, thinking about touring the Wayriver manor together and going to express our gratitude to the Ingestan parish as well.
“Hmm. I’ll have to postpone going out then.”
With the lord of the castle away for an extended period, it would be troublesome for me, the new bride, to be wandering around outside the castle cluelessly.
So, after seeing off Prince Zeke and his wife as planned, I went down to the chapel alone.
