Chapter 29
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After a deep, pleasant sleep, Elaria barely managed to lift her eyelids. She wondered what time it was, staring up at the ceiling bright with sunlight, when she felt a breath beside her and drew her shoulders in.
“Lu…”
She tried to call Lucian’s name, but her voice came out hoarse and wouldn’t continue. Remembering how much she had cried out yesterday, Elaria flushed bright red and slowly lifted her head.
She didn’t even remember when she had fallen asleep. She stared blankly at Lucian, who was still sleeping beside her. It was the first time after spending the night with him that she had seen him remain there until she woke.
So she held her breath and simply watched him. When his eyes were open, he gave off a sharp impression, but in sleep he looked surprisingly gentle. Perhaps it was because his usually raised brows and eye corners had relaxed.
After quietly studying him for a while, she reached out. Very carefully, she touched his calm-looking brow with her fingertips.
Grip, suddenly her wrist was caught.
“…You’re awake?”
“Mmm…”
He slowly lifted his eyelids, confirmed it was Elaria, then closed his eyes again. Her lips parted slightly. It was the first time she had seen him half-asleep, and she found herself absorbed in watching him.
“Ah.”
When she tried to raise her upper body a little more, a sharp ache ran through her waist and she let out a small sound. At that, his closed eyes opened again.
“What’s wrong.”
His voice was lower, still thick with sleep, and the tips of her ears turned red. She bit her lower lip, then answered a beat late.
“…My back hurts.”
“……”
Lucian looked at her silently, then sat up. He immediately rang the silver bell on the bedside table. After a moment, Amanda entered the bedroom, but when she saw Lucian, she started in surprise. However, she quickly erased the expression and bowed her head.
“You called, Master?”
“Bring a compress.”
“Yes, right away.”
“And bring warm lemon tea as well.”
“I will bring it immediately.”
Amanda left at once. Lucian leaned back against the headboard and pulled Elaria up with him. He rested her head against his chest and asked,
“Anywhere else besides your back?”
She couldn’t bring herself to say anything embarrassing on a bed bathed in morning sunlight. Drawing her thighs together as if to hide the swollen soreness between them, she answered,
“…Just my back, a little.”
“Hmm.”
After staring down at her face as she answered, he lowered his arm. Even though it was under the blanket, Elaria grew flustered and shifted. His languid voice followed.
“We’ve done it plenty of times in the morning too, so why are you acting shy.”
“……”
Whenever Lucian used crude words, she never knew how to react. She only ended up worrying her lips, when suddenly his hand slipped between her thighs.
“Ah, Lucian…”
“I’m just checking. Open.”
“……”
Embarrassed, she pressed her lips together and hesitated.
“Come now. I’ll just check with my hand.”
“…Okay.”
Unable to refuse his continued insistence, she reluctantly parted her legs slightly. Immediately, his hand covered her intimately. After slowly feeling around with his fingertips, he let out a short breath and withdrew his hand.
“You’re swollen.”
“……”
Then, with a serious expression, he stared intently at the blanket over where her most sensitive place lay and muttered,
“It’s a delicate area. Would icing it be alright…”
Worried that he might actually place an ice pack there, she cautiously offered her opinion.
“…I think it’ll be fine if I just rest.”
“Haa…”
Letting out a long sigh, Lucian gently pulled her into his arms and patted her back.
“Then let’s rest together today.”
“Huh?”
“Why, is there somewhere you want to go?”
She knew he only took a leave from work about three times a year. The fact that he was resting now, of all times, right before the harvest festival, didn’t make sense to her, and her confusion showed on her face.
Watching her expression change, Lucian curved the corner of his lips slightly and asked,
“Why, is it wrong if I rest?”
“No! That’s not it…”
Afraid he might take back his offer to rest together, Elaria quickly denied it. He had been so frightening yesterday, yet today he was gentle again, which left her confused.
It felt as if gentle Lucian and cold Lucian had switched places.
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