The Hungry Tyrant’s Bedroom - Chapter 17

Floria had loved books since she was young and had learned speed reading, but the book she had brought, <A Guide to Intimacy for the Couples of Altomole>,

was not only thick but also full of unfamiliar words, so she hadn’t even read a third of it yet.
What she did learn first was that the more frequently a couple engaged in intimacy, the stronger their bond would become.
So the story Catherine told her—that it had to be done every day—was true.
An unbelievable fact. A fact she didn’t want to believe.
The only bit of relief was that the pain only came at the beginning and that one would gradually grow accustomed to it.
But would she really get used to it? That large thing was supposed to enter her body—would the day ever come when her body could get used to it?
Floria bit her lips hard. Just then, the sound of the door bursting open rang out, and her body froze.
It was Aidan.
Even from afar, a scent that roused every nerve in her body grazed the tip of her nose.

The smell of a predator. A scent that sent a shiver down her spine.
Floria hastily stood from her seat. That day, she had been too out of it to greet him properly, but he was the sovereign of a nation. Bowing politely, Floria greeted him.
“Your Grace, the Grand Duke.”
At her greeting, the man’s right eyebrow slowly lifted.
“You were awake?”
“Ah, yes······.”
“You slept for over three days—I thought you had gone into hibernation like a bear.”
Saying that, the man took off the cloak draped over his back and tossed it onto a chair in the distance.
According to the head maid, Aidan had worried about her for a long time during the three days she was ill, but hearing the slightly amused tone in his voice now, that didn’t seem to be the case.
Of course.
If he were truly a considerate man, he wouldn’t have forcibly pushed something that thick into her like that.

Even if the marriage would be annulled without consummation, it would have been too much.
That long and brutal thing was not a considerate size.
But still, it was strange.
When she first saw him, he had been so terrifying. Was it because of Aidan’s sharp joke now, or because it was already the second time seeing him?

Somehow, the tension that had tightly sealed Floria’s lips began to loosen.
“······Yes, unfortunately I wasn’t able to go into hibernation. Spring has come even to the Duchy of Sief, you see.

But don’t worry, once winter comes, I’ll surely hibernate again.”
At Floria’s words, Aidan’s other eyebrow rose high as well.
She had made a slip of the tongue. How dare she make a sarcastic remark in response to the Grand Duke.
Her mother had always told Floria:
“Your wordplay is neither amusing nor clever. You speak with refinement, but it’s all empty inside.”
“Isn’t that better than being boring?”
“One day, that tongue of yours will land you in big trouble.”
Her mother’s words were like a curse. A curse that one day, she’d face something terrible.
And in the end, things were going exactly as her mother predicted.
Rather than the fear of imminent death, it was the bitter sense of defeat that she was living out her mother’s venomous words that brought a bitter smile to Floria’s lips.
Aidan, still with one eyebrow raised, opened his mouth.
“My wife speaks quite amusingly.”
She had expected him to be enraged, asking how dare she respond to his words—but the man answered readily.
Was he not angry?
Aidan stepped closer to her. Then he reached out and cupped her face.
It was a touch as soft as down, but his hand was large and firm enough to completely cover her face. If he applied even the slightest force, delicate Floria’s neck would likely snap.
Ah, will I die from one wrong word?
Her father used to say that when the tyrant Aidan was angered by a war going poorly, he would cut down even his own soldiers without mercy.
His thumb slowly brushed over Floria’s lips. As his hand grazed her tender skin, Floria trembled. Aidan frowned at her reaction.
“Does it hurt?”
It didn’t hurt. On their wedding night, he had sucked on her lips so roughly that they’d blistered, but perhaps they had healed while she slept—only faint traces remained now.
“I’m fine.”
“Looks like it bled. It’s damaged as if it was wounded.”
“That night······ it was too rough······.”