Chapter 189: Side Story (1) - Berg's Daily Life

I was not able to get out of bed for a while because I injured my ankle during the subjugation.

“It’s fortunate that there are a lot of knights to carry you around.”

Berg’s doctor carefully changed the bandages. The Great Temple also showed sincerity by sending the highest level healing priests.

Two Sterns returned from the war with broken bodies.

It didn’t matter how noisy it was outside. Because only the bedroom in Berg’s mansion was quiet.

Unlike each day at the outpost, it was nice to be able to sleep comfortably. A cozy bed and bedding as soft as feathers were perfect.

The maids filled the bathtub with hot water and pulled my hair back and combed it with a fine comb. They used sweet perfumed oil, then poured honey into it and applied it to the hair thoroughly. There were three more maids in the bathroom, who were busy examining my skin exposed outside the tub.

A cold scrub of walnut flakes and granulated black sugar was spread over my skin.

My body was soaked in the hot water, but my face and arms were cold, which was perfect. I couldn’t get one foot into the bathtub, which was splinted and bandaged, but still.

I really felt like I was alive.

“Grand Duchess. Your fingertips are damaged.”

“It must have been because it was scratched in the snow.”

“I really thought the continent was going to end.”

“Even those who left came in and out of the castle with serious faces every day.”

The maids chattered and skillfully trimmed my nails. It was also very nice to enjoy the luxurious bath to the fullest.

The problem was…

It was from the evening of the next day.

I was conscious of Lesche’s breath as he lightly bit my earlobe. On the comfy bed, Lesche was hugging me from behind, and his arms were getting stronger. I thought I was going to be smashed.

“Lesche.”

My crushed chest was a little suffocating.

“My ankle isn’t healed yet.”

“I know.”

“Why are you touching me if you know?”

“I just feel like touching you.”

I grabbed Lesche’s hand that was rubbing my body.

“Don’t touch it.”

Lesche obediently withdrew the power from his hand. But for a moment he asked, burying his lips completely on the nape of my neck.

“Can I do it?”

“Do it? I can’t even shake my ankles.”

“I can keep it from moving.”

I replied bluntly.

“How? You’ll make my whole body shake.”

Lesche laughed and said,

“I want to see your face, but you only read books.”

“No… wait a minute.”

I was dumbfounded and put down the book I was reading. It’s “the book I was reading,” but I couldn’t focus on a single word from the moment Lesche came and sat on the bed.

Because he hugged me from behind and reached out to cover the book. He grabbed my hand again. If that’s the case, just take the book away. Lesche left the book alone and covered it up so I couldn’t read it. I was stunned…

“If I don’t read, can you really only look at my face in a healthy way?”

“Healthy?”

Lesche’s voice was filled with laughter.

“So you are reading books because you’re worried about that? I didn’t know you felt like that.”

“Really….”

I didn’t say anything, but even now, the attached back was very uncomfortable. His intention was so clear, not only in the blatantly hard touch but also in the hands roaming over my gown…

‘It’s exactly what I expected at the outpost.’

When I got home, I just wanted to sleep for a few days. But I thought this man would never leave me alone. That feeling was right.

“Seria.”

Lesche hugged me tightly and kissed my neck, then he said.

“I was joking.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“I won’t do anything, so just give me your lips.”

His fingers brushed my cheek and chin. It was a touch that felt strangely sad, unlike the one that touched my body without hesitation.

“Can’t I do that?”

Thanks to him, my heart was tickled.

To be honest, I wouldn’t be able to read books even if my ankle wasn’t injured. As much as this guy, I also wanted to feel the temperature of the living Lesche.

I put down the book and only moved my upper body. And I kissed Lesche’s cheek that was still attached to me.

“…”

Instantly, my body was lifted up, and in the blink of an eye, my view changed. I was sitting face to face with Lesche. The hands that easily embraced me and moved me were full of strength as usual, but he was also cautious enough that I could clearly feel it at that short moment.

One of his hands grabs my wrist. Lesche, who wrapped his other arm around my back and embraced me, lowered his head.

His lips parted and his tongue entered at an unhurried pace. Strangely, it was a kiss that reminded me of the first kiss I had with Lesche. The touch that felt tickling like cotton wool did not last long. His deep desire began to pour on me little by little, but surely.

“Ha…..”

I was starting to run out of breath. All of a sudden, Lesche’s hand was supporting the back of my head. My chest was in pain, but I didn’t want to push Lesche away. My arms around his neck trembled slightly. It was definitely our lips that were touching, but it felt like it was melting from the bottom of my neck.

“…Seria.”

After a while, Lesche barely raised his head.

“Anyway, I think it would have been better for me to get hurt.”

The whispers shook my spine. The eyes fixed on me were twitching deep. As always, this man never hides his desire for me.

Contrary to the gaze that looked like he was about to do something right away, Lesche’s hand was only gently sweeping my thighs. It was soft, tender, and even cautious. He stared at me and hugged me again.

I felt my heart pounding against my chest. If love could be expressed through sound, this was it.

I buried my face between Lesche’s neck and shoulder. He seemed to pause, and then his other hand grabbed my hand and lifted it up.

“It’s good to be alive.”

“Why all of a sudden?”

“I can touch you like this.”

I burst out laughing with my cheeks buried.

“All you can do is touch.”

Lesche patted my back. A faint smile leaked out.

“This is enough for now, Seria.”

It was a voice that penetrated so deeply that my heart pounded for a moment.

Lesche’s tongue ran through my mouth. As if saying that this was enough wasn’t a lie, Lesche’s hand roamed just above my waist. It didn’t go down any further. But he didn’t seem to want to let go and kept holding me in his arms.

The long kiss didn’t seem to end. If I tried to move away even for a moment, Lesche’s hand that was on the back of my head pulled me in. His eyes were dark, making my toes numb.

“Seria.”

Lesche said while I leaned my back against his body and blinked slowly.

“I have to be away for about a week from the day after tomorrow.”

“A week? Why?”

“I have to go to the Imperial Capital. There are a few things left to organize. The battle to subdue monsters was long.”

‘Ah.’

“Go carefully.”

“….”

“….?”

Lesche looked at me with his brows narrowed. He seemed dissatisfied with something….. Why?

“What’s wrong?”

“I thought you would hold on to me.”

“…what?”

I blinked my eyes.

Lesche was the commander-in-chief in this Demon Subjugation Battle. Moreover, the scale of this subjugation battle was huge. How could I, a Stern, not just any noblewomen, not know that the amount of work Lesche had to handle would be enormous?

I couldn’t hold on to him when I was aware of his duty…

Though this thought crossed my mind, I just wrapped my arms around Lesche’s neck.

“Then don’t go.”

At the same time, I lightly rubbed my cheek against Lesche’s face. Our chests were touching, and I could feel his heart beating fast. A moment of strange satisfaction.

An unexpected answer came.

“…Really?”

An unusually low voice. I wasn’t kidding. I said it with sincerity.

“What?”

Lesche’s arms wrapped around my back tightly and pressed me into his arms.

“You told me not to go.”

“I was joking.”

“Joke? Ah.”

Lesche laughed as he fiddled with my hair.

“Right. I forgot that you like to play with your husband’s heart.”

“Why are you framing me?”

“Who dares to frame the Grand Duchess?”

I wondered if this situation that I was in awe of was funny, Lesche continued.

“Tell me not to go one more time, Seria.”

“Don’t go. But it’s only been a week, isn’t it?”

Lesche let out a light sigh and smiled faintly.

“Yes. It’s always just me who’s fretting.”

Lesche grabbed my chin and lifted it up, then he dug into my mouth again. The kiss that never let me go made me lose all my strength.

“Seria. Are you sleepy?”

Maybe the medicine the doctor gave me had a drowsy effect, I couldn’t resist the rush of drowsiness. He laid my body down and stared at me. Amidst the flickering of the weak light, Lesche’s gaze on me was different from usual.

A feeling of deep relief was oozing out from Lecshe’s eyes and gestures.

Relief….

“Lesche.”

Even when I was tired, I gently stroked his cheek.

“Good night.”

“You too.”

Lesche’s voice was soft and low. With the clear pulse and a pleasant body temperature, I closed my eyes slowly. The thick and soft texture of the sheet that wrapped around my body seemed to seep into my skin. Because my heart felt so full.

Eventually, I fell asleep, and the next day.

Unlike a satisfactory sleep, I had no choice but to panic in the morning.

“Why are you following me here?”

“You need someone to help you to wash. Your ankle is hurt.”

Lesche tried to take my clothes off without hesitation. I was horrified and kicked him out of the bathroom.

I sighed a little as I immersed myself in the bathtub filled with hot water. With glass bottles filled with spices in their hands, the maids moved in perfect order as if nothing had happened.

The next day was no different. When I woke up in the morning, Lesche didn’t let me go. He tried to feed me in bed with the tray of food the maids had brought. Lunch and dinner were the same.

Susan said with a smile.

“His Highness has gotten worse.”

“…”

“I think so.”