Chapter 83

“…Wow. The underground part of this castle is just stunning.”

Louise marveled as she gazed at the castle’s grand underground, while still nestled in Alec’s arms. The underground was decorated like a temple, with all the elegance and dignity of the castle itself. The entire area was paved with marble, leading to Wiltsbrook Castle.

Without mentioning the centuries-old legend of vampires being sealed here, Alec turned away. Since their journey to the snow-capped mountains, Alec had been showing Louise around the castle’s unexplored areas. But since she was too weak to walk, he carried her the whole time.

“Aren’t you tired from carrying me all this time?” Louise asked, her arms looped around his neck.

Shifting her slightly in his arms to hold her more securely, Alec replied,

“Even if I was, I wouldn’t stop carrying you.”

Louise’s eyes softened at his words, a small smile appearing on her lips. Alec quickly averted his gaze, trying not to focus on her face, fearing he might get too distracted by her lips.

“I’ll take you back to your room for now. You need to rest, especially after being out in the cold.”

“Alright.”

Louise looked at him with affectionate eyes once again.

As they were about to head back upstairs, there was a loud crashing sound from somewhere.

“Oh my!”

Mrs. Greta had dropped all the dishes she was holding.

Louise, who noticed Greta a little late, spoke up.

“Oh, Greta. What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

Greta, seemingly startled, pressed her hand to her chest. She bent down to pick up the fallen items but soon stopped, clasping her hands tightly instead.

Strangely, there were a few tears welling up in Greta’s eyes.

“Greta?”

When Louise asked again, Greta continued pressing her chest and approached a little closer.

“I… I couldn’t help but be shocked seeing you two so close.”

“Oh…”

Louise slightly parted her lips, as if understanding Greta’s emotions, while Alec bit his lip softly.

With tears of joy in her eyes, Greta clasped her hands together even more tightly.

“I never imagined that the two of you had grown so close. I couldn’t have imagined it.”

“Thank you, Greta. Actually, I’ve been trying to walk less, so Alec has been helping me.”

“Oh, I see. I must have been too surprised because I hadn’t seen you like this before. We’ve all hoped that you two would become closer…”

“…”

At last, tears glistened in Greta’s eyes.

Alec, feeling increasingly at a loss for words, was relieved when Greta spoke again before the moment became more awkward.

“Well, I’ll be off now. I don’t want to disturb your time together. I’ll inform you when dinner is ready.”

“Alright, thank you, Greta.”

As Louise smiled warmly, Greta quickly gathered the fallen items and hurried away.

“…”

Alec hesitated for a moment before resuming their walk.

It was remarkable that carrying her had moved Greta to tears like that.

After three years of marriage, had the original Alec and Louise been so distant that such a simple act shocked her?

Though they hadn’t shared a marital relationship because of mana, it still felt strange that Alec had seemingly kept his distance from Louise.

Suddenly, Alec sensed Louise turning her head to look up at him.

“Alec?”

“Yes?”

“It seems the servants are relieved that we’ve grown closer.”

“…Ah, yes.”

“Seeing how happy Greta is makes me feel warm inside. I’m sure the other servants feel the same. They’ve probably been hoping for us to get along all this time.”

“…”

Had their arranged marriage been so distant that even the servants were rooting for their relationship to improve?

If he had a wife like her, wouldn’t it have been impossible to avoid her, no matter how hard he tried? Alec must have been truly unusual.

‘Could he really have had feelings for men?’

But then, why did he promise to be the perfect husband to Louise?

Was it simply out of guilt?

Hmm.

With such curious thoughts in mind, Alec finally reached the top of the stairs and opened Louise’s bedroom door.

He gently laid her down in the warm room, kept cozy by the fire that had been lit.

As her back softly met the bed and her head rested on the pillow, their eyes met.

“…”

Her violet eyes glistened, filled with his image.

Alec couldn’t look away from her gaze, swallowing dryly.

Suddenly, she opened her lips.

“Alec.”

Her tongue moved sweetly as she called his name—no, her real husband’s name.

“I think I’m falling more and more in love with you.”

“…”

* * *

How much time had passed?

Above me, he lay on top, putting in a lot of effort.

He was filling and expanding every part of me, his constant, lingering kisses pulling me in deeper the more we kissed.

‘Ha…’

This sweet moment truly felt like we were a married couple.

The fact that I was holding him within me made me feel as though I held the whole world.

‘…But it’s strange. I felt like I was going to collapse this morning, but now I’m fine even after doing it again?’

Maybe it was because I asked him to be gentle, and he really was gentle.

Even the muscles in my body, which had been aching so much, seemed to have calmed down a little.

Come to think of it, I was supposed to take a painkiller.

“Ah, ha…!”

Suddenly, a wave of ecstasy washed over me like a deep tide, and I let out a soft breath.

Perhaps because of my condition, he was gentler and more tender than the night before.

It made me long for more, but this deep, gentle movement, like we were floating, was also good.

If I could get to the point where this became as natural as breathing, married life would feel like being dipped in a jar of honey—so sweet.

Though my chest ached with emotion, my breath kept coming out in gasps.

His firm body pressed against mine, melting into me, and with each repetition, our skin stuck together.

I could feel the movement of his back as he exerted strength, pulling me in closer.

A body far more extraordinary than I had ever known.

‘…My husband uses magic.’

I had vaguely suspected it, but never truly believed it.

I had thought this world contained no magic at all.

Could there be other magicians besides Alec in this world?

Although I, too, carried a rare secret, his abilities were unbelievably astonishing.

“Ah! Hmph…”

When he slightly lifted his upper body, the new angle made me let out a moan.

“Are you alright, Louise?”

With a slight frown, he asked, leaning down to brush my lips with his fingers.

He gently grasped and caressed my body with one hand.

“What do you prefer?”

“…What?”

I looked up at him through my dimming vision.

His eyes, shadowed by the darkness, were deep and narrowed with utmost seriousness. His body, bathed in moonlight, appeared even more voluptuous and enticing than usual, with a lustrous sheen that made me swallow hard before answering.

“I’ve only done this twice… Uh, I think I need to do it more to know… what feels good…”

“….”

His gaze stiffened slightly, as if he were caught off guard. His intense eyes, focused solely on me, made my heart race. It was the first time since the wedding that I felt so moved by him.

He planted a deep kiss on my neck, then pulled away. A warm, ticklish breath brushed my ear.

“Then, I’ll try everything, one by one…”

“…”

“Feel everything slowly.”

“Haa…”

Just how much does he plan to do?

Even his words made my mind go blank with dizziness.

* * *

Two shadows were cast thickly against the wall. Louise’s breath, eager and erratic, matched the rhythm of his movements.

Her face, blissfully disheveled as if she were not of this world, and her soft body clinging tightly to him ensnared and captivated him. The sensation from within, driving him mad, was indescribable.

The act went on for quite some time.

“Ah!”

He flipped Louise onto her stomach, and his upper body collapsed on top of hers. He slid his hands beneath her arms, grasping her tightly with one hand.

“…Haa.”

The sensation of his hands and body touching every inch of her skin was soft enough to melt her mind.

“Alec…”

Louise trembled uncontrollably, clutching the bedsheets. He lowered his head and pressed his lips to her hand, licking it.

“Hng…”

Startled by the sudden stimulation, she tried to pull her hand away, but he bit down gently on her delicate hand.

Louise’s hand was as tender and soft as her lips.

“I think I’m falling more and more in love with you.”

Her words echoed in his mind, igniting an even greater heat inside him. There was barely any pause between the movements. It was as if the rhythm itself quivered.

“Haa.”

A sweet, shocking sensation shot through his body from the top of his head to the tips of his toes. He wanted to please Louise. But no matter where or how he touched, her body twisted in sheer ecstasy.

“Ugh…”

TL NOTE: More advanced chapter of this story is already up to the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories