Chapter 107
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Dear, I believe you may be misunderstanding. Episode 107 After chatting with Selena for quite some time, it was already afternoon. The three of us decided to have dinner a bit earlier at Lucas's suggestion. Selena finished her meal more hurriedly than usual and tactfully excused herself.
"Hmm, I suppose I'm getting old—I'm already feeling drowsy. Or wait... you two are heading to the Separate Residence, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"Phew, thank goodness. I was worried I wouldn't be able to move about freely without being mindful of you two. Now I can take a proper walk without concern."
Selena patted her chest with relief and rose from her seat with a much more relaxed expression.
"Oh, then I'll join you for a walk to aid digestion as well—!"
At Grace's offer to accompany her, Selena gently pressed down on her shoulder and shook her head.
"No, dear Grace. I need to pay attention to my son's moods for a bit."
My son's moods? I turned to Lucas in confusion, and he smiled softly while shrugging his shoulders. It was a smile that suggested he clearly understood what she meant, but had no intention of explaining. Lucas reached out and brushed away a breadcrumb clinging to Grace's cheek, asking tenderly.
"Are you finished eating, Grace?"
"Yes? Well, mostly."
"It seems you haven't eaten much. Have some more."
"No, I'm full."
A little soup, half a slice of bread, and a fresh salad with beef—that was all she had consumed. He gazed at Grace with an expression of feigned concern.
"You'll tire easily with just that..."
"Tire? Me? Why would I?"
Watching Grace tilt her head innocently, Lucas smiled quietly. His eyes shimmered with unspoken anticipation.
"Because it will require considerable stamina."
Stamina? Why mention stamina all of a sudden?
"Are we going somewhere?"
"Oh... no, Grace. We'll remain here at the Mansion. All day, for days and days. For a very, very long time."
His affectionate voice sounded strangely ominous today. I set down my fork gently, abandoning the remaining salad. I was the one eating, yet somehow I felt as though I were being devoured by the intensity in Lucas's gaze. The wooden utensil he had replaced for me rested quietly against the plate without a sound.
"...I don't think I can eat any more. Shall we get up soon?"
"You could eat more..."
He spoke words he didn't truly mean, concealing his impatience. But I had noticed since earlier that Lucas was tapping the edge of the table. I had also caught him glancing at the clock from the corner of his eye. It was a gesture that betrayed his restlessness. 'What's gotten into him?' Though I couldn't discern the reason, I rose from my seat early for the sake of the anxious-looking Lucas. The moment I stood, Lucas seized my wrist and strode purposefully across the Garden. He wasn't pulling her along, yet she felt inexplicably drawn toward him.
"Lucas, look at the sky."
Beyond the verdant Garden, a magnificent twilight was descending. Grace seized Lucas's wrist and pulled him to a halt, then tilted her head to gaze at the sky painted in countless shades of crimson. Lucas paused as well, and together they looked up at the heavens. For a long moment, the two of them drifted silently through the same instant. The quiet, warm air; the breathtakingly crimson sky; the warm fingers intertwined around each other. Two sources of warmth becoming one. Grace slowly lowered her gaze to the two hands—his holding hers, and hers holding his. They looked so tender and solid that merely seeing them sent heat rushing to her head. A warm tide flooded through her very soul.
"I've thought it before, but your hands are so small. Even with just a little pressure like this, I'm afraid they might shatter instantly."
He held Grace's hand carefully, as though cradling something precious. As his large, angular hand cautiously traced between her fingers, a ticklish sensation rippled through her. Grace giggled and hunched her shoulders, then deliberately gripped his hand with force.
"Perhaps you're right. If it's you, it might be possible. So please, handle me with care. I don't want to break."
"Of course. I'll cherish you above all else."
As he said this, Lucas scraped his fingertips across her palm. When she flinched in surprise, Lucas held her hand firmly, then deliberately feathered his thumb across the tender skin on the inside of her wrist.
"Grace."
At that trivial movement of his fingers, her entire body ignited with searing heat.
"Yes, General."
Grace met his gaze, desperately hoping he wouldn't notice how her palms were gradually growing damp.
"Would you stop calling me General and just call me Lucas instead?"
Startled, Grace's eyes widened, and he smiled, pressing a light kiss to the corner of her eye.
"Not General. We're husband and wife now, and aren't spouses equals? So why do you keep addressing me with such a formal title, Grace?"
Lucas's words held no fault. And what he said was precisely what she desired between them as spouses. Since Lucas already understood this well, urging her forward was an effortless task.
"Come now, go ahead. Say it."
"I... it still feels awkward. Can't we take it slowly?"
Lucas shook his head firmly at her hesitation.
"You must act the moment you've decided, Grace. Procrastination is not a good habit."
"It's not procrastination..."
"Go on."
At Lucas's urging, Grace's lips trembled uncertainly.
"Why are you so fixated on me saying your name? There's no rush."
"Because it sounds lovely when you say my name. Why? Don't you want to?"
"That's not it. I... I like your name too, General."
"Again."
At his pointed observation, she laughed in surrender and corrected herself.
"I like your name, Lucas Black."
With the sunset at his back, Lucas Black's laughter rang out one final time. His voice was lovely. So too were those tender eyes gazing down at me. Grace Oellin met his gaze and smiled in return. It was a peaceful moment. Save for one nagging detail.
"But I've been feeling sharp stares since earlier... Am I imagining things, Lucas Black?"
At Grace Oellin's soft inquiry, Lucas Black laughed as if at a loss. How could I not know? Julie, who kept chasing after me with snacks in hand, Haem, who had suddenly begun inspecting the ornamental trees despite the approaching dusk, and even this Mansion's head Butler, who was plucking weeds a few paces behind Haem. Ah, one more. Selena, who had claimed to be taking a walk but was now hiding behind a tree on the opposite side of the Garden, watching us with an expression brimming with anticipation.
"...Foolish lot, truly."
Lucas Black shook his head and quickened his pace.
"Let's hurry into the Separate Residence. Those fools won't be able to follow us there."
As their pace quickened, Gabriel also began pulling weeds faster, keeping up with them. Haem practically followed outright without pretense, while Selena, having apparently given up on drawing closer, remained in place, shifting her weight from foot to foot as she watched them. Julie pushing the snack trolley along was one thing, but why were the rest of them behaving so strangely?
"Could it be they simply want to take a walk with us?"
At Grace Oellin's innocent question, Lucas Black regarded her with an enigmatic expression.
"You truly believe that?"
"...Yes, I do?"
"If that were really the case, wouldn't they simply ask to join us?"
"There's no reason they couldn't."
In that moment, Lucas Black stopped abruptly. And he called out loudly to Haem and Gabriel.
"You called for me, sir?"
"Yes, yes!"
The Butler, who had been crouching, sprang to his feet, while Haem, who had been running awkwardly, snapped to rigid attention. From about ten paces away, Lucas Black turned to face them and spoke in a menacing voice.
"If you don't return to the Mansion this instant, I'll assume you have too much free time and double your workload. How about it? I can find you tasks right now." 'Eek!' Haem, startled, hesitated and retreated backward. The Butler, showing no sign of alarm, simply walked backward with leaves clinging to his hair.
"I wish you a pleasant evening."
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—whoosh whoosh—whoosh Watching Gabriel disappear, Grace Oellin marveled at how quickly a person could walk backward. But she couldn't linger in quiet amazement for long.
"Now we're truly alone, Grace Oellin."
Lucas urged her forward with a note of urgency creeping into his voice. The two of them hurried along, nearly breaking into a jog, until they arrived at the Separate Residence.
* * * At first, when Lucas showed me the bath he had prepared, steam rising in delicate wisps from the water's surface, I felt nothing but joy. A spacious wooden tub brimming with water, fragrant aromas, and the warmth of rising vapor. The thought of submerging myself completely in that embrace made my heart flutter with anticipation. But his next words made me start in utter shock.
"A, a, a shared bath?"
"The tub is certainly spacious enough."
"That's, that's not the issue here."
I stared at him, my face burning crimson. I wondered if he was truly serious about this... 'What do I do?' His gaze was far too earnest.
"I, I, I'm saying that I'm still not mentally prepared..."
"Change your perspective, Grace."
"What? What, what do you mean?"
"Rather than preparing your mind first, let's prepare your body first."
Eeeek! What in the world was this absurd nonsense! I clamped my hand over my lips, which threatened to burst into a squeak, and looked up at him in disbelief. Yet again, his eyes were far too sincere. '...No, think about it, Grace. There's no avoiding this today anyway. And truthfully... I don't even want to avoid it! So really, this is an opportunity.' In just one day, I had gathered information remarkably quickly. Julie, who had mentioned having three married sisters, had told me this. That the most important thing for the first night to be painless was to relax. She had advised me to wash thoroughly in warm water, to have some wine, or to share plenty of kisses before things became serious. So submerging myself completely in warm water would be quite beneficial. For him and for me alike. And there was one more thing. The book I had hurriedly skimmed this morning. 【The Marital Bedroom Language.】 It was one of dozens of books neatly arranged in Lucas's Private Study. I was astonished by the sheer volume, but what intrigued me more was whether Lucas had actually read all of them. And if he truly had read all of this... I felt absurdly defenseless compared to his passion and dedication. I needed to reflect on myself. I selected several of the books, and quickly skimmed through the one that was most comprehensible. According to the book, men were simple and innocent creatures. [Never be stingy with praise. Do not forget that your man, your husband, is starved for recognition more than anyone! Men are most disappointed when they feel their efforts have no value whatsoever!] Grace gazed at the bathtub, its surface roiling with steam and fragrant vapors. Lucas had prepared this entirely for her sake. Though embarrassment and confusion flooded through me, joy was equally undeniable. I didn't want to dismiss his efforts as trivial. I wanted to show him some reciprocal enthusiasm of my own! 'Alright then.' Having steeled myself, I turned to look at Lucas, who was watching me intently.
"...You're right. I think you're correct, Lucas."
"Grace?"
"Sometimes it's acceptable to simply take the plunge and sort out your feelings afterward. Like now...."
Lucas was taken aback by Grace's sudden shift in expression and her words.
"Let's do this together. Us."
But before he could even respond, "...!"
Grace began unfastening the buttons of her blouse with trembling fingers.
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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