Wildflowers Bloom on the Grand Duchy’s Wall - Chapter 89

Cairn made a rather embarrassing comment without a hint of awkwardness. Lilien did her best to look unbothered as she walked over to the oversized piece of furniture.

“Y-yeah, it really is.”

Lilien perched on the edge of the big bed while watching Cairn light the oil lamp on the table. As dusk settled over the room, the lamp filled it with a warm, gentle glow.

Turning his body toward her, Cairn leaned back against the table and looked down at her with a crooked posture.

“My lady, are you well prepared for our wedding night?”

With the lamp behind him, Lilien couldn’t see Cairn’s expression, but her own face was bathed in the golden light, leaving her no place to hide her blush. Before she could recover, he asked another embarrassing question.

“So, I can just sit back and let you take the lead?”

“Uh, y-yeah!”

“You’re awfully slow to answer.”

Avoiding his eyes, Lilien tried to change the subject.

“This bed is really soft… Come, you should try sitting here too.”

Moving slowly, Cairn came and sat beside her.

“So why did you put in a pond? You don’t usually go for that kind of thing,” she said, glancing out the window at the little pond, its surface now dotted with circles as a light rain began to fall.

“You once said you wanted to live in a house with a pond. That you wanted to keep fish.”

“Did I really say that?”

“You did.”

Cairn’s memory was sharp—so sharp that he even remembered things Lilien herself had forgotten.

Unable to resist the sweet scent, Lilien grabbed an apricot flan from the nightstand with her bare hands. The tangy flavor burst in her mouth as she took a bite.

“This is so good. You were right, I’m glad I came today. If I’d missed out this year—oh?”

The flan slipped from her hand, and the compote splattered onto her skirt. Cairn quietly wiped her sticky fingers with a napkin.

“Sorry. I made another mess.”

“That’s hardly a mess.”

He wiped her fingers clean then gently dabbed around her lips, his careful touch grazing her sensitive skin.

With Cairn’s intense gaze on her, the tips of Lilien’s ears burned red. The room was filled with the sweet scent of flan, and the warm light shone softly on Cairn’s handsome features.

Truthfully, from the moment she stepped into the annex, Lilien had felt a strange tension in the air. She’d tried to distract herself with small talk and complaints, but Cairn’s easygoing responses only made the unfamiliar longing inside her all the more restless.

If he’d just teased her like usual, she might’ve felt less nervous—but tonight, he was being gentle and quiet, and that was what unsettled her most.

Her heart was bubbling over with anticipation. She was starting to realize what she truly wanted. Cairn was probably the only person who could fulfill those desires. So, she decided to be brave.

“Um… Cairn?”

When she shyly took his hand, he gazed at her, waiting.

“Can I… kiss you?”

Now that they were officially allowed, Cairn was the only person she could kiss. That thought made her feel bold.

“Yes.”

The answer came instantly, and her fear melted away. Lilien leaned in, pressing soft kisses along his lips and the corners of his mouth. The light, teasing pecks made Cairn chuckle quietly.

Then, Lilien tentatively slipped her tongue between his lips, and this time he didn’t push her away. Her gentle exploration swept over his even teeth and smooth walls until she found his own tongue, which she softly brushed with her own.

Cairn responded by pulling her closer, wrapping his arms around her waist.

As their chests pressed together, Lilien felt her heart race, as if it might burst from her chest. What started as a light kiss quickly deepened.

Her hands, once wrapped around his neck, moved up to tangle in his hair.