Now You’re Obsessed - Chapter 34

…Of course, it was not a big deal for Lionel. If Caelo knew what actually happened inside the carriage he sent, he would probably have fainted.

Anyway, as soon as they found the largest and best inn on the mountain road leading to the capital, the carriage stopped in front of it. Though it wasn’t an inn in a big city, it was a large and luxurious inn meant for travelers to rest on their way. The coachman took out his watch and scratched his head.

“It seems we should rest here for a while.”

They had changed horses and taken breaks along the way, but they had been rushing and had gone two days without proper rest. Everyone needed to stay in an inn with beds. Soon, the coachman got off his seat and knocked on the carriage window.

“Miss Tenia! We’re about to take a break!”

There was silence inside the carriage. The coachman, puzzled, knocked on the window again.

“Lord Frenderick? Miss Tenia?”

“Yes, yes…!”

A slightly weak voice replied. It was a voice that sounded cracked, as if exposed to cold wind.

‘Did they leave the window open at night?’

The carriage was so large and sturdy, and the coachman was so busy driving that the situation inside the carriage didn’t reach outside. Caelo had chosen a good carriage for Ariel, fearing she might be uncomfortable, even while he tried to deny them time to enjoy their honeymoon.

“Your voice sounds quite hoarse. Are you alright?”

The coachman asked cautiously, unaware of the situation. A startled reply came back soon.

“Cough, cough! Yes! I’m fine, fine!”

After Ariel’s hasty reply, there was a commotion inside the carriage. There were sounds of shuffling and hurried tidying up.

Creak.

Soon, the carriage door opened.

Ariel, wrapped tightly in a cloak over the fancy wedding dress she wore when she first boarded the carriage, came out in Lionel’s arms. Her face was deeply flushed. The window on the opposite side of the carriage was also wide open, likely for ventilation.

“Oh my. If you left it open at night, it must have been quite cold.”

“I-it was stuffy, so we were airing it out.”

There were too many smells to get rid of inside the carriage. Lionel, who was holding Ariel, answered the coachman instead of her, as she couldn’t lift her head.

“You’ve done well. You should rest until the next departure.”

“Yes, I’ll see you in the morning then.”

The coachman looked at the two without much concern, contrary to Ariel’s worries. He just thought the newlywed husband was being unusually attentive to his wife.

“Then.”

After a light exchange with the coachman, Lionel adjusted his hold on Ariel. His face, which had been businesslike until a moment ago, softened as his eyes drooped gently, like those of a lamb. It was a sight that would have shocked those who had served as holy knights alongside Lionel, like Sophia.

“Are you alright, Ariel?”

“Yes, um…”

“Your back seems quite stiff.”

Lionel said this as he gently wrapped his arms around Ariel’s back and waist. Ariel hesitated, unsure how to respond.

‘It’s because of you.’

Except for brief stops, Ariel had been subjected to what felt like an endless wedding night for the past two days. Lionel’s body seemed to prove that he became aroused whenever he touched Ariel. It was hard to believe he had ever been distant or cold to her.

‘To think this was really possible.’

Ariel was shocked to realize that scenes from erotic novels could happen in real life. She learned that such positions were possible, that his c*ck could reach so deep, and that it could rise again immediately after ej*culation.

‘I wonder if I can take responsibility…’

Just as she was starting to feel weak, the stopped carriage provided a brief respite for Ariel.

“We can finally eat and bathe properly.”

Lionel, still holding Ariel tenderly, entered the inn. Ariel suddenly realized how this might look to others and began to struggle.

“I-I can walk in by myself!”

“You can barely stand.”

She had no counter to that. Her legs were trembling like those of a newborn fawn.

“You don’t need to lift a finger right now, Ariel.”

“But…”

“If you want to take responsibility for me, you need to rest now.”

After saying this, Lionel spoke to the innkeeper, got the key to their room, and carried Ariel up the stairs without hesitation.

‘Lionel must be tired from all the physical exertion too.’

But Lionel walked effortlessly, as if Ariel’s weight was nothing to him.

Rustle.

Soon, Ariel’s body was laid down on a soft bed. Feeling the texture of the sheets and noticing they were alone in the room, Ariel blushed.

‘This really is a situation fit for a wedding night.’

But she was too tired to continue. As she glanced at Lionel, worried he might pounce on her again, she clutched the sheets nervously.

“Would you like to eat first, or bathe?”

“Oh.”

“I would say me first, but…”

Lionel laughed as he gently stroked her arm.

“You seem tired.”

“B-bathing first!”

Ariel answered with her eyes tightly closed. Only after answering did she think maybe they should have eaten first, but she was more concerned about her body under the clothes.

Under the tightly wrapped cloak, her wedding dress had lost its function as clothing and was soaked with sweat and various fluids. Especially between her legs, where the sticky white substance clung, it felt uncomfortable whenever she moved. She needed to wash all of it off.

“Understood.”

Lionel answered calmly and went into the bathroom. Ariel sighed deeply and lay back on the bed. Staring at the unfamiliar ceiling of the inn, she finally felt the reality of being married to Lionel and moving to a new place. For someone who had lived her whole life in the Holy Kingdom, this was a huge adventure.

‘Can I do well?’

The unfamiliar scent in the air made her feel a bit anxious. It wasn’t so much weakness as it was a mix of excitement and anticipation.

‘I’ve prepared so hard.’

How useful would that preparation be? Ariel’s mind raced with thoughts.

‘I’ll probably be busy as soon as we arrive.’

There would be a lot to do once they entered Veloto within a few days. Though she had prepared extensively in the Holy Kingdom, actually settling down would require even more effort.

‘I need to choose a place to stay, prepare for the administrative exam, make my mark in society if possible, and also…’

She needed to support Lionel, who had quit being a holy knight.

She would have to work tirelessly. She might even have to run around to secure a position for Lionel. Having trained as a knight for years, Lionel would likely prefer and excel at active work rather than staying at home.

‘Yes. I really need to take responsibility!’

Once again, Ariel’s mind dismissed Lionel’s wealth from his noble lineage and the power and fortune he accumulated as a holy knight.

While imagining and planning their future, Ariel, who was thinking thoughts that Lionel would find endearing, soon fell asleep.

It wasn’t long before she felt something very warm and soft touching her body, waking her up.

“Hm?”

“Shh. You can rest a bit more.”

“Lionel…?”

Blinking her eyes, Ariel smelled the steam and fragrance in the air and realized she was in a large wooden bathtub. The tub was filled with warm water at a perfect temperature. She felt the firm, supportive chest behind her.

“Right now…”

“I thought it would be hard for you to bathe alone.”

A sweet voice whispered in her ear. Even in her drowsy state, Ariel felt the large hands lovingly caressing and lathering her body. When those hands gently squeezed her soft chest, she unconsciously nuzzled Lionel’s collarbone like a spoiled child.

“Hm.”

“…When you act so cute, it makes me want to do more.”

There was a hint of laughter in his voice. Ariel’s body, already weakened by sleep and relaxed by the warm water, felt softer and more pliable than usual. Her wet skin clung to Lionel’s hands as he held her.

“But I’ll restrain myself.”

“Mm, Lionel…”

Ariel, who had been about to say it was okay, found herself dozing off again.

She wanted to respond to Lionel, but the exhaustion from the past two days was stronger than she had thought. Her body, accustomed to studying at a desk, had been pushed to its limits by a man who had trained for years, making her feel like she was about to burst.

The proof was the stinging sensation between her legs when water touched it. Moreover, she had barely slept while accommodating him. Ariel felt the fatigue pressing down on her eyelids.

“I’ll just wash you for now.”

Lionel gently tilted Ariel’s head, which was about to fall into the water, and let her lean against him. He kissed her wet black hair tenderly and whispered in her ear.

“After you wash and sleep, we’ll go eat together.”

“Mm…”

“I heard the innkeeper here is an excellent cook. Both the food and the drinks.”

“……”

“We’ll eat well and then you can take responsibility for me again.”

As he said this, his hand playfully flicked the soft tip of her br*ast. It was a tender touch, more affectionate than lustful, like pinching a cheek.

Ariel flinched at the touch, about to agree, but then, unable to resist her drowsiness, she nuzzled her forehead against Lionel’s chest and fell asleep again.