Living as a Butler to the Northern Duke chapter 145

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“Ed.”

“…Yes, Your Grace.”

Meeting the duke’s gaze without looking away, Ed replied.

The duke leaned down, placing feather-light kisses on Ed’s forehead, then moved to his nose, cheeks, lips, and finally his chin.

The gentle, teasing kisses made Ed’s chest burn uncontrollably.

“…Ah.”

The duke’s lips trailed down to his neck, brushing lightly over his collarbone.

Ed drew in a sharp breath, releasing it just as quickly as the touch lingered, fleeting yet intimate.

‘…I felt it earlier too.’

It’s big. Heavy.

Before he could stop himself, Ed swallowed hard again and wrapped his arms around the duke’s neck.

He couldn’t think of anything else, couldn’t understand anything else.

In this moment, all he wanted was to feel the duke closer.

“Your Grace…”

The words escaped from his lips, heated and unintentional.

Meeting the duke’s jewel-like crimson eyes, Ed couldn’t hold back any longer and pulled him into a tight embrace.

“I love you too.”

“I love you too.”

The whispered confession came as Ed clung to him tightly, burying himself in the warmth.

The duke held him just as firmly.

But it wasn’t enough.

No matter what he said or did, it felt woefully inadequate to convey the joy of this moment.

Frustrated by the limitations of words, the duke sighed softly as Ed pressed his face against his chest, nuzzling it affectionately.

His ears flushed bright red, a clear sign of his embarrassment after confessing.

Seeing Ed’s shy demeanor, the duke chuckled warmly.

To him, every inch of Ed—from head to toe—was utterly endearing.

Brushing his lips against Ed’s earlobe, the duke murmured in response, “I love you too, Ed.”

“Ah… Your Grace…”

They say even the sweetest words lose their charm when repeated too often, but “I love you” from the duke was different.

Each time Ed heard it, it felt sweeter, more intoxicating.

His eyes stung with a pleasant heat, his heart swelling until he could no longer tell if he wanted to cry or laugh.

For the first time, he realized he was completely overwhelmed by the need to express this love and gratitude in return.

The duke felt the same. He wanted to shower Ed with affection.

And with that desire came another, deeper longing.

“Ed, don’t call me ‘Your Grace.’ Say my name.”

“…Pardon?”

“Even if it’s just when we’re alone, I want to hear you call my name.”

The duke shifted, pulling Ed onto his lap and seating him on his thigh.

The sudden change in position left Ed disoriented, his gaze colliding with the duke’s intense one.

‘What… What is this?’

Words that had come so easily moments ago now stuck in his throat under the weight of the duke’s gaze.

“A… As…”

Ed cautiously let out the first syllable, but his courage faltered, and he buried his face against the duke’s shoulder in embarrassment.

The duke’s low laughter vibrated pleasantly, and Ed, as if in protest, rubbed his cheek against the soft fabric of the duke’s clothing.

“C-Can’t we save that for later?”

“I’m afraid not. I’ve waited patiently for so long, holding back and waiting for you, but I’m out of patience now. I can’t wait any longer.”

“….”

“So, say it. Now.”

Ed’s body flushed, his chest warming, as soft whispers brushed his ear.

As Ed’s neck reddened, the Grand Duke tenderly rubbed the heated skin and lifted his head to plant a series of kisses on the side of Ed’s head.

The gentle, teasing affection made Ed wrap his arms around the Grand Duke’s sturdy frame.

Though there wasn’t a single delicate spot on the man’s muscular body, Ed’s heart ached to hold him tightly the moment he confessed how much he had worried.

He hadn’t intended for things to turn out like this, but somehow both his chest and the Grand Duke’s heart had burned black with longing.

Ed wanted to soothe that wounded heart.

“I-I love you, Grand Duke Asnel.”

“Leave out the ‘Grand Duke.’”

“…”

“Hm? Ed.”

“…Mm.”

The Grand Duke’s increasingly fervent caresses, as he nibbled on Ed’s ear, drew a low moan from him.

“Ah… Uh…”

Perhaps it was because Ed had never shared such intense intimacy before.

Or maybe it was simply because he loved the Grand Duke so much.

‘Still, this is…’

Thinking he might be overly sensitive, Ed buried his face deeper into the Grand Duke’s shoulder and murmured.

“…I love you, Asnel.”

Hoping his feelings—his overwhelming love for the Grand Duke—would reach him, Ed held him tightly.

“Mm, I love you too, Ed.”

As the Grand Duke stroked Ed’s back, they held each other for a long time before he gently laid Ed down.

When his back touched the plush mattress, Ed let out a small sigh.

The Grand Duke propped himself up and looked down at Ed.

Unlike his usual composed self, his shirt was wrinkled and half-unbuttoned.

Slowly, he began undoing the rest of the buttons.

Click. Click.

Each button revealed more of the Grand Duke’s smooth, chiseled body, leaving Ed unsure where to rest his gaze.

Eventually, he turned his head away.

But the Grand Duke placed a hand on Ed’s cheek, guiding him back to face forward as he finished unbuttoning his shirt.

Shhht.

The Grand Duke shrugged off the shirt, letting it slide smoothly from his shoulders.

He reached for Ed’s nightclothes, slipping a large hand underneath to gently stroke Ed’s stomach.

Ed’s chest swelled and fell with deep breaths.

As the hand moved upward, Ed felt a wave of excitement shoot through him, leaving his vision hazy.

Letting out a soft moan, he focused on the Grand Duke’s voice.

“Have you thought about it?”

“…Thought about what?”

“Whether you dislike it.”

‘Dislike what?’

As Ed tried to make sense of the question, the Grand Duke grabbed his thigh and slid his body downward.

Ed’s breath hitched as he felt something firm and solid pressing insistently against his inner thigh.

‘This can’t be real… can it?’

‘Hm, so do you dislike it?’

Ed’s eyes darted nervously, and he swallowed hard.

Just as the Grand Duke’s hand pulled him slightly downward again, Ed blurted out hurriedly.

“U-um, Your Grace—”

“Mm, Ed.”

“Isn’t this a bit too much for the baby to witness or feel? I think… it’s still too early for them to handle.”

Half serious, half teasing, Ed voiced his concern.

The Grand Duke lowered his ear to Ed’s stomach and replied.

“Maybe, but don’t you think they’d also say they hope we enjoy our time together? They’ve promised to keep their eyes tightly shut, so don’t worry.”

The Grand Duke’s playful tone made Ed chuckle softly.

The Grand Duke kissed Ed’s stomach lightly and moved back up his body.

“Well, I understand both of your feelings now. I can’t promise anything, but…”

“…”

“If you call me Asnel, I might reconsider a few things.”

---

Ed awoke to the soft warmth of sunlight filtering through his closed eyelids.

‘It’s morning already.’

But he couldn’t open his eyes.

His entire body felt heavy, reluctant to move even a lash.

Instead, he basked in the comforting weight enveloping him, feeling oddly content.

‘W-wait… Your Grace…’

‘I told you, call me Asnel.’

‘…Ugh, it’s… too much…’

The memory of his voice, trembling and teary, from the night before made Ed groan softly.

He opened his eyes, only to be met with the sight of the Grand Duke sleeping with his arms wrapped around him.

Ed’s gaze traveled from the Grand Duke’s sharp nose down to the exposed shoulder peeking out from beneath the blanket.

He froze at the sight of bite marks imprinted on the taut skin.

‘…Those bite marks.’

Recalling how he’d lost control amidst overwhelming pleasure and bitten down on the Grand Duke, Ed covered his face with his hands.

‘Did it hurt a lot?’

Worried, Ed removed his hands and examined the marks before lightly slapping his forehead.

‘No matter how desperate I was, how could I leave marks on such a precious body?’

After reflecting deeply, Ed glanced aside.

On second thought, he wasn’t entirely to blame.

‘He said he’d reconsider if I called him Asnel, but every time I did, he seemed to burn even hotter.’

Remembering the searing intensity he’d felt throughout his body, Ed groaned softly.

He resolved to find something to soothe the Grand Duke’s wounds.

As Ed traced the Grand Duke’s face lightly with his fingertips, the Grand Duke’s brow furrowed slightly.

Worried he might wake him, Ed quickly pulled his hand back.

But the Grand Duke’s eyelids fluttered open. Panicking, Ed blurted out an apology.

“I’m sorry. Did I wake you?”

Wait, why does my voice sound like that?

Hearing his hoarse voice, Ed swallowed nervously, his dry throat betraying him.

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