SFO CH 6

The Young Man’s Bewilderment Has Now Turned into Total Chaos

Ummm…?

What exactly is going on here???

Here I am, with a faint, pleasant fragrance lingering on me, sitting on the bed in the marital bedroom I’m entering for the first time since our marriage.

Just as we were finishing dinner and about to head back, my husband spoke to me for the first time in forever, saying, “Could you wait for me in our room tonight?”

I didn’t fully understand what he meant, but thinking he might want to express his displeasure over my sudden lack of effort, I decided to accept it graciously and replied, “Understood.” Maybe this would be a chance to speak my mind as well.

While enjoying the tea prepared for me back in my room, Mia burst in with surprising urgency.

“Madam, are you truly alright with this? You have work tomorrow, and even if this is the first time he’s spoken to you, you could certainly turn him down!”

There’s no reason to think anything unpleasant would happen. If anything, I thought it might be a good opportunity to have an honest-to-goodness conversation for once.

“It’s fine, really. This might actually be the perfect timing for this,” I replied.

Mia’s cheeks flushed suddenly.

“Is… is that so? If that’s what you wish, Madam, I have no objections. T-then I’ll make sure all of the preparations are taken care of!!” she declared and rushed to the bath.

She returned minutes later, and before I could blink, I was swiftly undressed. In no time, I was submerged in a bath filled with rose petals, treated to a head massage with an unusually fragrant shampoo, and when I got out of the bath, a rose-scented balm was applied all over my body.

Even I realized at this point what Mia and the maids had inferred from my husband’s words about “waiting in our room tonight,” and I blushed with embarrassment. However, after all this preparation, I couldn’t very well insist I had no intention of doing any of that, so the only way I could resist was by declining the delicate, almost translucent nightwear they offered.

And so, I set foot for the first time into our shared bedroom, aware of the maids’ knowing glances. The refined furnishings—perhaps chosen by my mother-in-law—spoke highly of the Marquess family’s standing.

As I eyed the king-size bed, my nerves unexpectedly spiked, so I downed a drink set out for me in one gulp. Though I’m not a strong drinker, this much should be something I can manage. It’s better than being too nervous to talk.

I wondered what “tonight” meant to my husband in terms of timing. Two hours had passed since dinner, and Mia and the maids had efficiently coordinated to guide the marquess here. I just hoped I wasn’t keeping him waiting…

While I was thinking about this, there was a knock from my husband’s room.

“…It’s me. May I come in?”

“—Yes, of course.”

Though I was literally waiting for him, I was still startled. Apparently, I was more nervous than I’d realized.

“—Ahem… I apologize for the sudden request tonight.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

He glanced my way before quickly averting his gaze, clearing his throat as if to mask his discomfort as he began to speak. Perhaps he really didn’t want to look at me. That thought stung a little as I replied.

It seemed he’d bathed as well, and he was wearing a nightgown with a robe draped over it. His broad chest and slightly damp hair exuded a subtle, masculine allure.

“I didn’t think you’d agree to this,” he began, still turned away.

The fact that he’d still refuse to look my way made me feel a little sad, but then I suddenly recalled my resolve to stop keeping him in consideration. Maybe it was alright to speak up when something bothered me.

“Up until now—”

“Husband.”

I interrupted, calling his name. He flinched slightly.

“Husband, why won’t you look at me?”

While saying that, I took my husband’s arm while he was still standing. It’s been since the wedding that I’ve touched his arm. I led him to the bed, thinking that he wouldn’t be able to talk calmly while standing.

When my husband still didn’t look at me even after I had him sit down, I leant close to him, placed my hands on his cheeks, and gently but firmly turned his face toward me.

“F-Finn!”

My husband’s face flushed red as he stammered my name, and I felt a pang of sadness, realizing he truly disliked seeing me. I slowly released him and was about to apologize when—

“I’m sorry, husb—hmm?!”

I felt something press against my lips.

“W-wai—mmhg!”

I tried to pull back, but he cupped my chin, sealing my mouth once again.

What in the world is happening?

As our lips remained locked, his tongue slipped in.

“Mmm—!!”

Feeling his tongue against my palate sent a shiver down all the way down to my waist.

In truth, I haven’t had a real kiss with anyone since that night with the school council president. Clinging to the memory of those last, intense kisses I had shared with him, I’ve abstained from kissing anyone else. Since then, the only other pair of lips I’ve allowed mine to touch were my husband’s, once, on our wedding day.

Now, experiencing a kiss so passionate—so one-sided—as this after so long made my entire body feel extremely wobbly. Though I’d had my share of kisses before, I found myself overwhelmed. Was it that we simply had good chemistry? The fact that this was getting me more worked up than I ever wanted to was making my head spin.

“Phew…”

As he finally pulled away, I was left breathless, unable to sit upright. Thankfully, his strong embrace supported me, or I might have collapsed entirely.

He gazed at me as if spellbound, his beautiful ruby eyes reflecting my dazed face. This is the first time I’ve been stared at like this since we got married… Just as this thought filled my unsteady head, he pulled away, snapping me back to reality.

“I—! I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to act without your permission…”

Flustered, he attempted to get off the bed. But something in me refused to let him go. I instinctively reached for the edge of his robe.

It felt cruel that, after showing me such tenderness and looking at me so intensely, he would now leave me, just like that.

Though my mind was still foggy, I knew I couldn’t let him walk away now.

“…Finn, I’m glad to see that you’d want me to stay, but if things continue like this…”

“No. Don’t leave.”

“—!!”

“Please… don’t go.”

For some reason, my husband covered his nose with his hand and looked up. This was the first time I’ve seen my husband react to my words like this. Why does it look like he’s enjoying himself?

“…Did you drink my brandy? I didn’t realize you were this sensitive to it…” he murmured, glancing at the side table.

Then he took my limp body into his arms, and gently laid me down on the bed.

“Please, husband… don’t go.”

“Yes, alright, I won’t go. Sleep well now.”

As he pulled the sheets over me, I held onto his sleeve, and with a bit of awkwardness, he patted my head. His clumsy gesture brought a surprising warmth, and just like that, I set off into the world of dreams.