The carriage arrived at the Ducal residence . A servant opened the door from outside but Hugo could not get up . His wife was in deep sleep on top of his legs .
She was fine when they were going to the palace in the carriage but this time, not too long after they entered into the carriage, she began to nod off and when he moved to seat next to her, she leaned on him and quickly fell asleep .
âShe must have been very nervous . And tired too . â
She was admirable . She handled herself purposefully on that big stage without making a single mistake . Since he had stuck to her today as if showing her off, no one would dare try to touch her . He could not gather people together and warn them like he did in the north . So today, he warned people using his actions: If you want to touch the d.u.c.h.ess, remember that the Duke of Taran is behind her .
Her hair was pinned well at the party but as she lay on his lap on the way home, a part of it got loose . Hugo enjoyed the feeling of running his fingers through her soft flowing hair . His expression as he looked at his wife was undeniably gentle . The moment was so peaceful that he wished it could last forever .
In order not to wake her up, he carefully wrapped his arm around her back and weaved him arm under her leg then he lifted her into his embrace . He entered the mansion with her in his arms and climbed up the stairs to the bedroom . As he placed her on the bed, Lucia who was in deep sleep a moment ago, blinked her eyes .
âHugh . â
Hugo took her outstretched hand and pressed his lips to her palm .
âWeâre home . â
She blinked a few more times, staring at him vacantly and gradually, her sight became clearer .
ââŠI unknowingly fell asleep . â
Thanks to the short sleep, her mind felt more refreshed . She began to sit up and Hugo took her hand, helping her up .
âCould I have made a mistake I didnât know about today?â
âNot at all . â
âPhewâŠthank goodness . â
Lucia grabbed the robe at the bedside to call for the maid then she came down from the bed . She wanted to take off her weighty dress . As soon as the maid came in, she asked the couple about dinner .
âIâm not in the mood . What of you?â (Lucia)
âIâm not in the mood either . â
The maid bowed and withdrew from the bedroom .
The maid bowed and withdrew from the bedroom .
âEarlierâŠat the banquet hall . Sir . Ramis tried to give me a letter . I refused . â
Lucia rejected the letter but rumors in the social circle were unpredictable . Before her husband chanced upon some distorted rumor somewhere, she told him in pa.s.sing as if it was a trivial matter .
âWhat?â
Hugoâs face distorted in a frown . That b.a.s.t.a.r.d dared to ignore his warning .
âWhat exactly is Fabian doing?â
How long had it been since he asked him to investigate and find out everything?! The innocent Fabian who worked hard day and night was caught in the crossfire .
âNothing happened so donât be upset with the Duke of Ramis . â (Lucia)
The Duke of Ramis and the Duke of Taran were both supporting and a.s.sisting the King . Lucia didnât know a lot about politics but she knew that much . It would be problematic if these two powerful men became estranged because of a minor emotional issue .
âIâm worried that your work would be affected because of a minor issue . â (Lucia)
âYou donât have to worry about anything . â (Hugo)
âYou donât have to worry about anything . â (Hugo)
If it was in the past, he would get rid of something once it became an eyesore . He didnât care what happened afterwards . Even if it was the Duke of Ramis himself instead of the Dukeâs eldest son, he would not give a d.a.m.n . If he caused trouble, someone would have to deal with the aftermath but so what . He didnât care what became of the family and to him who only lived to kill time, there was nothing in the world that he was afraid of .
However, it was different now . There was an existence he had to protect . In order to protect his wife from all the hards.h.i.+ps of the world, he also had to protect his family, its power and its wealth .
âWell, indeed . I dare say you know very well what to do . â (Lucia)
Hugo looked at her, who was smiling lightly, and hugged her from behind, placing a kiss on the back of her neck .
âYou donât have to worry, but you can worry . â
âHuh?â
Even though he wanted to completely protect her so that she wouldnât have any worries or concern, he wanted her to worry about him . He couldnât explain his complicated feelings even to himself .
When he didnât add anything after saying those puzzling words, Lucia just laughed it off .
After taking a simple bath and changing his clothes, Hugo went into the office . There was always a pile of work to be done . He looked through the couple of doc.u.ments that he could examine quickly and signed his approval .
There was a light tapping on the door to the office and Hugo could sense someone come in . He still did not take his eyes off the paperwork .
After taking a simple bath and changing his clothes, Hugo went into the office . There was always a pile of work to be done . He looked through the couple of doc.u.ments that he could examine quickly and signed his approval .
There was a light tapping on the door to the office and Hugo could sense someone come in . He still did not take his eyes off the paperwork .
âMaster . â
When he heard a voice that wasnât Jeromeâs but a middle-aged womanâs, he lifted his eyes slightly .
âWhat is it?â
âMilady fell asleep while taking a bath . This doesnât usually happenâŠâ
If the maids could not wake her up no matter what, they would have to carry their Madam together and move her to the bed . Nevertheless, the maid came to inform Hugo . Her decision wasnât wrong .
The Duke put down the doc.u.ment in his hand and gave an order, âYou may withdraw and rest . â
After a while, Hugo entered the bathroom which was empty because all the maids had left . Lucia was asleep, soaking in the bathtub . Her nakedness shone brightly, submerged in the clear water . Hugo sat on the edge of the bathtub and rubbed her wet red lips with his finger . Even though it wasnât possible, he subconsciously looked at his hand as if red water would be on it .
His gaze deepened as he watched her sleep like an innocent baby . Even though he was just looking at her, he felt a lump somewhere in his throat . It was a feeling that he couldnât quite explain .
He rolled up his s.h.i.+rt and scooped her up from the water . He placed her on the towel that was spread on the bed and then wiped her wet body with another towel . In her dimly lit bedroom, her nakedness shone like the moon .
< â="" meeting="" people="" â=""> (5).
.
The carriage arrived at the Ducal residence . A servant opened the door from outside but Hugo could not get up . His wife was in deep sleep on top of his legs
She was fine when they were going to the palace in the carriage but this time, not too long after they entered into the carriage, she began to nod off and when he moved to seat next to her, she leaned on him and quickly fell asleep
âShe must have been very nervous . And tired too . â.
She was admirable . She handled herself purposefully on that big stage without making a single mistake . Since he had stuck to her today as if showing her off, no one would dare try to touch her . He could not gather people together and warn them like he did in the north . So today, he warned people using his actions: If you want to touch the d.u.c.h.ess, remember that the Duke of Taran is behind her
Her hair was pinned well at the party but as she lay on his lap on the way home, a part of it got loose . Hugo enjoyed the feeling of running his fingers through her soft flowing hair . His expression as he looked at his wife was undeniably gentle . The moment was so peaceful that he wished it could last forever
In order not to wake her up, he carefully wrapped his arm around her back and weaved him arm under her leg then he lifted her into his embrace . He entered the mansion with her in his arms and climbed up the stairs to the bedroom . As he placed her on the bed, Lucia who was in deep sleep a moment ago, blinked her eyes
âHugh . â.
Hugo took her outstretched hand and pressed his lips to her palm
âWeâre home . â.
She blinked a few more times, staring at him vacantly and gradually, her sight became clearer
ââŠI unknowingly fell asleep . â.
Thanks to the short sleep, her mind felt more refreshed . She began to sit up and Hugo took her hand, helping her up
âCould I have made a mistake I didnât know about today?â.
âNot at all . â.
âPhewâŠthank goodness . â.
Lucia grabbed the robe at the bedside to call for the maid then she came down from the bed . She wanted to take off her weighty dress . As soon as the maid came in, she asked the couple about dinner
âIâm not in the mood . What of you?â (Lucia).
âIâm not in the mood either . â.
The maid bowed and withdrew from the bedroom
âEarlierâŠat the banquet hall . Sir . Ramis tried to give me a letter . I refused . â.
Lucia rejected the letter but rumors in the social circle were unpredictable . Before her husband chanced upon some distorted rumor somewhere, she told him in pa.s.sing as if it was a trivial matter
âWhat?â.
Hugoâs face distorted in a frown . That b.a.s.t.a.r.d dared to ignore his warning
âWhat exactly is Fabian doing?â.
How long had it been since he asked him to investigate and find out everything?! The innocent Fabian who worked hard day and night was caught in the crossfire
âNothing happened so donât be upset with the Duke of Ramis . â (Lucia).
The Duke of Ramis and the Duke of Taran were both supporting and a.s.sisting the King . Lucia didnât know a lot about politics but she knew that much . It would be problematic if these two powerful men became estranged because of a minor emotional issue
âIâm worried that your work would be affected because of a minor issue . â (Lucia).
âYou donât have to worry about anything . â (Hugo).
If it was in the past, he would get rid of something once it became an eyesore . He didnât care what happened afterwards . Even if it was the Duke of Ramis himself instead of the Dukeâs eldest son, he would not give a d.a.m.n . If he caused trouble, someone would have to deal with the aftermath but so what . He didnât care what became of the family and to him who only lived to kill time, there was nothing in the world that he was afraid of
However, it was different now . There was an existence he had to protect . In order to protect his wife from all the hards.h.i.+ps of the world, he also had to protect his family, its power and its wealth
âWell, indeed . I dare say you know very well what to do . â (Lucia).
Hugo looked at her, who was smiling lightly, and hugged her from behind, placing a kiss on the back of her neck
âYou donât have to worry, but you can worry . â.
âHuh?â.
Even though he wanted to completely protect her so that she wouldnât have any worries or concern, he wanted her to worry about him . He couldnât explain his complicated feelings even to himself
When he didnât add anything after saying those puzzling words, Lucia just laughed it off
* * *.
After taking a simple bath and changing his clothes, Hugo went into the office . There was always a pile of work to be done . He looked through the couple of doc.u.ments that he could examine quickly and signed his approval
There was a light tapping on the door to the office and Hugo could sense someone come in . He still did not take his eyes off the paperwork
âMaster . â.
When he heard a voice that wasnât Jeromeâs but a middle-aged womanâs, he lifted his eyes slightly
âWhat is it?â.
âMilady fell asleep while taking a bath . This doesnât usually happenâŠâ.
If the maids could not wake her up no matter what, they would have to carry their Madam together and move her to the bed . Nevertheless, the maid came to inform Hugo . Her decision wasnât wrong
The Duke put down the doc.u.ment in his hand and gave an order, âYou may withdraw and rest . â.
After a while, Hugo entered the bathroom which was empty because all the maids had left . Lucia was asleep, soaking in the bathtub . Her nakedness shone brightly, submerged in the clear water . Hugo sat on the edge of the bathtub and rubbed her wet red lips with his finger . Even though it wasnât possible, he subconsciously looked at his hand as if red water would be on it
His gaze deepened as he watched her sleep like an innocent baby . Even though he was just looking at her, he felt a lump somewhere in his throat . It was a feeling that he couldnât quite explain
He rolled up his s.h.i.+rt and scooped her up from the water . He placed her on the towel that was spread on the bed and then wiped her wet body with another towel . In her dimly lit bedroom, her nakedness shone like the moon