A Reversal of Unrequited Love - ✿ dusk blossoms ✿

Previously, she could still care about how Ethan was looking at her, what expression she was making, but now she couldn’t care about anything. His c*ck continued to scrape and stimulate her insides, piling up the sensations.

“Ah…!”

At the moment of climax, her body, reaching its peak, twitched. Feeling his wife’s nails scratching his back, Ethan released himself deep inside her. He turned within her inner walls, meticulously spreading and coating her insides.

As his small movements continued, Hyacinth couldn’t rest and panted. The aftermath of her first pleasure and climax was cruel. It was too overwhelming for a beginner.

Of course, Ethan was also a beginner… but still…

“Hyce?”

Unable to respond to the voice calling her, Hyacinth fainted with a soft groan. She didn’t even have time to witness Ethan’s startled expression.

Was it shocking that she fainted like that?

The next morning, Ethan examined her face intently with a sullen expression. He seemed to be blaming himself for the part where he had mercilessly pushed her. Although it was unnecessary guilt, Hyacinth didn’t comfort him, as she felt a throbbing pain below her waist. She was upset with Ethan for not waiting as she had asked and for pushing her so hard.

The problem came afterward.

For ten days straight, Ethan spent the nights with her but didn’t touch her body. He did kiss her. He would also playfully touch around her shoulders and tap her feet with his. But… he didn’t get serious. It was as if it were a thing of the past life!

Having endured and endured until her anger built up, Hyacinth eventually had no choice but to grab a pillow as a weapon. She checked the time again and rose in a combative posture. Since she preferred having many pillows, there were about ten on the bed. That meant she had ten weapons aimed at Ethan Erentis’s handsome face.

Finally, the door clicked open.

And Hyacinth threw the pillow straight away.

Although it flew well in an arc, her opponent was a knight who had once won a jousting competition at the youngest age. Ethan reflexively caught the pillow and looked at Hyacinth with a bewildered face. His dumbfounded expression made Hyacinth even more annoyed, so she threw the next pillow straight away.

Ethan caught it again, but seeing his beloved wife’s sullen face, he realized what he needed to do at that moment.

The third pillow flew. He obediently took the hit and caught the falling pillow. The fourth, fifth, and sixth pillows followed. Before the seventh could fly, Ethan strode over to the bed.

He dumped all the pillows he held and lifted Hyacinth onto his lap. Her pretty calves, stretched out on either side of his waist, kicked vigorously. Hyacinth pouted, kicking the bed with her feet.

“Don’t treat me like a child!”

Ethan hugged his wife tighter, entwining his hands with hers. Though he didn’t understand why she was upset, her puffed-up cheeks were unbearably adorable. As he kissed her face everywhere to soothe her, Hyacinth initially resisted, turning her head this way and that. When Ethan didn’t give up and tried again, she finally accepted his kisses.

“What’s wrong, Hyce?”

“Hmph.”

“What’s the matter, hmm? Did I upset you?”

“……”

“What did I do wrong?”

At his serious question, Hyacinth’s lips turned downwards. Looking like a wronged child, she buried her forehead into Ethan’s shoulder. After a long while, she lifted her head and shot him a sharp look.

“Are you not going to do it anymore?”

“Huh?”

“Didn’t you… like it? Even though it was my first time…”

Maybe I wasn’t good at it… But if I try harder… Instead of adding more words, Hyacinth swallowed them down. Suddenly feeling very sad, she wanted to cry.

Ethan’s expression hardened instantly.

“I liked it.”

A firm answer that left no room for argument. Doubting if he was lying, Hyacinth scrutinized Ethan’s face. Seeing her giving him a look, Ethan gave a wry smile.

“My love, what kind of misunderstanding did you have?”

“If you liked it, why aren’t we doing it…?”

“Because you were in so much pain, and I, well, I was too aggressive then.”

Ethan cautiously added, watching her reaction.

“…More importantly, I enjoyed it, but it seemed like you didn’t.”

“So? Were you planning to live in celibacy forever?”

“I can’t force someone who doesn’t want to… Ouch.”

Hyacinth bit her husband’s lips firmly as he spouted nonsense. Rubbing his sore lips, Ethan looked at her in embarrassment.

“Was I being foolish, thinking you were upset?”

“Yes!”

Ethan whispered softly, seeing the accusing look in her eyes.

“I’m sorry.”

“Me too…”

“Hmm.”

“It, it was really hard and overwhelming at first… but in the end, I liked it. If we do it again, I mean, now neither of us is a beginner anymore…”

They say a married woman becomes more daring with her words, but maybe because she was still a newlywed, it was terribly difficult to say they should try to match each other. Blushing from her shoulders to the top of her head, Hyacinth looked at her husband.

Ethan didn’t respond. Being a perceptive man, he must have read her mind exactly.

His gray eyes, which were swirling with emotions, were fixed on her.

In the next moment, Hyacinth felt his hands unbuttoning her nightgown. Ethan Erentis’s face was now filled with determined resolve.

“…Ethan?”

A strong arm pulled her onto the bed. The kiss that split her lips and the movement that pushed her down were swift and precise.

Hyacinth watched with dazed eyes as her clothes, removed by her husband, were thrown aside. That was the last clear memory she had.

The next morning, Hyacinth blinked her sore eyes open and realized that Ethan was still inside her. Her effort to carefully pull away was in vain as Ethan woke up, and they had to spend an embarrassing time from the start of the morning…

Hyacinth vowed never to provoke her husband again.

* * *

No matter how passionate a honeymoon is, she had never seen a couple so on fire. Seina glared at the Duchess sitting at the desk with a white eye. The sight of her awkwardly sitting on the desk and occasionally tapping her waist was unbearable. Her precious baby was so… Seina sighed deeply, unable to continue her thoughts.

“What’s wrong, nanny? Is something the matter?”

“Just check the ledger.”

“What? What’s going on?”

“Nothing!”

Of course, the fact that the Duke and Duchess had a good relationship was something to be welcomed with open arms. What was the greatest duty of a noble couple? To produce an heir. For Hyacinth to establish herself as the lady of the North, she had to bear a child to inherit the title. In that sense, the Duchess was doing very well, but still…

“Hrgmmph, mmph, mmph, mmph.”¹

Seina couldn’t hold back her impulse and whispered through her clenched teeth. At first, Hyacinth didn’t understand because she was gritting her teeth so much, but soon she burst into laughter. As she laughed out loud, the nanny showed a face that wanted to scold her.

“What’s so funny?”

“No, I just didn’t expect you to say something like that.”

Seina hastily corrected her words as if she realized her mistake.

“Of course, Duchess, the duty of childbirth is naturally important. Don’t stop completely, but at least try until your baby arrives in this world.”

“……Will you love my children too?”

“Of course.”

“Love them as much as you love me.”

“Just give birth to them.”

“My children are lucky.”

Hyacinth smiled as she propped her chin on her hand. Even though a season had passed, Seina was still staying in the North without any problems. As long as she was here, she wouldn’t return to the capital. This life was proceeding smoothly, unlike the previous one.

“And nanny, in case you forgot, my back pain is due to my period, not Ethan.”

“Oh, your period is quite regular, isn’t it?”

“Your words… sound quite sharp…”

“When will it stop?”

Hyacinth switched the hand supporting her chin to the other side.

“It will stop when it’s time.”

“A bit more… Never mind.”

Seina clicked her tongue, seemingly dissatisfied with her nonchalant attitude.

Then she quickly regained her solemn expression. Hyacinth watched the nanny, who was now back to her usual composed demeanor, and glanced out the window. The clear northern sky was looking down at her.

Hyacinth blinked slowly a few times.

Each time her eyelids closed and opened, old memories surged back.

The bright sky darkened, and it seemed as if thick snow was falling. The dark times had come. Moments when she had to shed tears due to cold and sorrow. At the same time, Hyacinth could not forget. Even in the midst of the injustice that struck her heart, the only one who stayed with her was…

The child.

Hyacinth let out a short sigh and placed her hand on her abdomen. Only a flat belly met her palm, not a rounded one. She slightly tilted her head, pulling herself out of the gloomy recollection.

She knew the truth. Things were different now from back then.

In a way, the flow had changed so much that she couldn’t be sure if the small, precious soul that once came to her would come back again this time.

Despite that, Hyacinth quietly hoped.