After making me drink several times like that, Klen held my cheeks with both hands.
He kissed my forehead and then dropped kisses on my eyelids, which were likely red and swollen.
It was a light, tickling gesture to do after such an intense night.
Seeing him looking so neat and refreshed—unlike me, whose muscles and private places were throbbing with pain—made me feel a bit bitter.
“Are you okay? You are so fragile; it is quite a concern.”
He purposefully put his lips to my ear and breathed softly against it.
My body, still carrying the traces of yesterday, shivered and twitched at just that.
“Adrian. You need to build up your stamina.”
“…!”
But the words that followed immediately ruined the sweet mood.
It was true that I was the one who collapsed first.
I was the one who said I couldn’t do it anymore.
But wasn’t that because the burden on me was much greater?
I wondered how long he would last if the situation were reversed.
With that thought, a certain memory came to mind.
“Speaking of which, Klen.”
As my slightly raspy voice came out, his lips lightly pressed against mine and then pulled away.
“Didn’t you say you could become the Caldrich for me?”
“…I did say that.”
“Do you still feel the same way now?”
When my voice came out heavier and more serious than expected, his eyes widened.
However, he soon stroked my cheek gently and replied.
“Of course.”
“…”
“If that is what you want.”
Good. I got a clear promise from him.
That alone seemed to make the pain fade, and I felt the corners of my lips curl up.
“Then, next time… can I, um, get on top?”
“Is that what you want to do?”
“?!”
I had hesitated because it was awkward to use such blunt words, but a strange look of anticipation seemed to flicker in his eyes.
Did I perhaps choose the wrong words?
Before I could speak again, a fierce and cool energy surrounded me as our lips began to rub together lightly.
Knock, knock—
“…!”
“Is that Linda?”
“Breakfast is ready.”
I was startled.
Even though we were covered by the blanket, we didn’t have a single thread of clothing on.
“Wait. In this state?!”
“What does it matter?”
“Even if they already know, seeing the situation is different! Ugh…”
I moved too quickly and felt a sharp pain, so I grabbed my aching waist.
Even so, I didn’t give up; I crawled slowly to pick up a shirt lying nearby and draped it over Klen’s body.
For some reason, he quickly fastened the buttons and then rolled me up in the blanket, pulling me into his arms.
“Come in.”
“Ugh.”
Click—
“Excuse me.”
Linda came in pushing a trolley and began to set the meal on the table.
“It is alright, Lord Adrian. You don’t need to feel embarrassed in front of us.”
“…!”
I must have screamed too loudly last night; it seemed Linda had heard everything we did in the room.
As she set the table and looked over, a gentle smile was on her face.
“Who do you think changed the sheets while you two were washing up?”
“Uuuugh.”
“Do you feel pain anywhere? If you need it, I will go get some medicine.”
“N-no. I’m okay…”
“I brought a drink that is good for your throat, so please have some. Also, I heard it is good to massage the muscles in your waist and legs.”
“Is that so?”
Klen’s hand began to rub my waist under the blanket, making my body flinch.
I clenched my teeth, fearing a sound might escape.
I glared at him, but he just turned his head, pretending not to notice.
“By the way, did you use up all the scented oil?”
‘He used all of that?’
I remembered the bottles, which looked like quite a lot.
The basket that had been on the nightstand was already gone.
I turned my gaze to Klen.
When our eyes met, he smiled brightly and looked at me lovingly; he looked like a completely different person than he was a moment ago.
His gaze was so sweet it felt like honey was dripping from it, making my aching waist throb even more.
“You told me to use plenty.”
“I did not mean for you to use it all at once.”
“Is that so?”
With that innocent, sly smile on his face, even Linda would be fooled.
No, Linda. He didn’t use it all at once…
However, because of the image he usually maintained, it seemed she thought Klen was just a person who recklessly poured out the oil and was clumsy enough to make things hard for me.
“…”
“…”
We silently exchanged glances.
It wasn’t something to brag about to others anyway.
The fact that he was incredibly skilled for a first-timer and had amazing stamina was something no one else needed to know.
Usually, a servant should stay nearby to help with the meal.
But today, it seemed they were going to leave after setting the table on Klen’s orders.
Linda poured water into a glass one last time and stepped back.
“Please call for us when you are finished with your meal.”
As she quietly opened the door to leave, she seemed to remember something and turned back to speak.
“Ah, and Lord Klen. Lord Fabian asked for you to come to him as soon as you wake up today.”
“To separate a couple who just had their first night together.”
Klen grumbled unhappily.
Ignoring Linda’s gaze, he hugged me—blanket and all—and buried his face in my neck.
He acted like a child throwing a tantrum because he didn’t want to go.
Of course, since he wasn’t actually a child, I got goosebumps as he brushed against the skin he had touched so obsessively last night.
Besides, even though Linda couldn’t see any of my skin below my neck, it didn’t mean I wasn’t embarrassed.
I lowered my head to avoid her gaze.
When I moved to push him away, a much stronger force held me tight.
“…Wait,”
“Don’t struggle too much.”
His low whisper flowed down my spine.
“What if your skin is exposed to Linda?”
“Ugh.”
Only then did my body, which had been acting up out of embarrassment, freeze and stop.
If you’re worried about that, you’re the one who should let go.
But with my lips pressed shut, I couldn’t even say that.
Satisfied, Klen’s lips lightly touched my earlobe and then pulled away.
My body shivered involuntarily… but Linda, standing far away, probably didn’t see it.
“Tell my brother I will go as soon as the meal is finished.”
“I understand.”
Having received a clear answer, she left without hesitation and closed the door.
Did she keep that calm expression until the end because she didn’t notice anything?
Or was it because she was a maid who handled everything skillfully?
Once the door was completely closed, I pushed him away, and he surprisingly let go easily and began to put on his clothes.
Since I couldn’t stay naked forever, I tried to get up too.
“Argh.”
But at that moment, every muscle in my body began to scream.
The pain I had forgotten for a moment rushed back, and I curled up on the bed.
Perhaps this was the result of neglecting my training lately.
To think I’d end up like this after just one night.
“Can you put on your clothes?”
“I can do it.”
I managed to pull on my other clothes somehow.
But because my hands were shaking so much, I had to leave the buttons to him.
Since he was just doing the buttons, I should have just looked at his hands.
But he kept his eyes locked onto mine while his hands moved down to fasten them one by one.
The soft smile on his lips wouldn’t go away.
The energy that usually felt cold was very warm this morning.
Once my clothes were neatly arranged, he put his hand behind my knees and supported my back, lifting me up.
“I can walk this short distance!”
“It hasn’t been long since I was scolded for not treating a person who is unwell with care.”
“Urgh.”
It wasn’t that I couldn’t walk a few steps just because my muscles hurt.
He went through the trouble of carrying me to the table, and didn’t spare any effort in setting me down in the chair.
Every movement was so careful, cautious, and gentle that it made me embarrassed.
Fearing my face would turn red again, I quickly looked down at the table.
The meal was quite simple.
A well-boiled stew, thinly sliced salted pork, salad, and fresh fruit.
These were things that wouldn’t be a burden for me since I couldn’t eat much right now.
Smelling the delicious food made my stomach growl.
Even so, it felt like a chore even to pick up the spoon.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
