Chapter 9 (Part 1)

On their first day of marriage, Nathaniel and Cordelia washed up together, tidied the bed, and shared their first meal as a married couple. It was the wedding cake they had prepared the day before but hadn’t had the chance to eat. 

Fortunately, the cake had been waiting for them inside a glass dome, still perfectly intact and beautifully preserved. 

“Let’s cut it together first, but you should take the first bite”

Cordelia said. 

“Together? Why?”

Nathaniel asked. 

“It’s symbolic. No matter what challenges we face as a couple, we’ll cut through them together, just like this.”  

At her explanation, Nathaniel chuckled with amusement. He soon picked up a long cake knife and placed it beside them.  

“We don’t have to sit side by side for this, do we?”  

Without waiting for an answer, he lifted her effortlessly and sat her between his legs, holding her close as they prepared to cut the cake.  

“Make sure to cut it nicely. They say if the cut is clean, it means we’re a perfect match” 

Cordelia explained.  

“…Let’s do our best then. If not, we’ll just keep cutting until it is” 

Nathaniel replied.  

“I like that” 

She said with a smile.  

Nathaniel’s expression grew suddenly serious, which made Cordelia laugh lightly. Amused, he leaned in and kissed the corner of her lips before they both held the knife together and carefully sliced through the cake. The cut was flawless, leaving the cake perfectly intact.  

“Wow! Did you see that? We got it right on the first try! We really must be a perfect match” 

Cordelia exclaimed excitedly, leaning back against his shoulder as she chattered happily. Then, she scooped up a piece of cake and held it to his lips.  

The cake had layers of vanilla sponge, raspberry jam, and syrup, all topped with strawberry cream.  

“These strawberries in the cream… They’re the ones you planted for me. I noticed they ripened beautifully, so I used them for this. How is it? The color turned out well, but does it taste good?”  

Nathaniel, savoring the bite, suddenly looked surprised.  

“It’s delicious.”  

Cordelia beamed with delight.  

“Really? Then let me try…”  

But before she could take a bite, Nathaniel placed his hand over hers, stopping her. He quickly took another bite of the cake himself, then leaned in and kissed her.  

“Mm…?”  

The sweet taste of the cake spread through her mouth. She could taste the soft sponge, creamy frosting, and tangy jam. Once she had swallowed, Nathaniel’s tongue explored her mouth as if searching for more sweetness. His movements were slow and deliberate, making her head spin.  

“You… You weren’t very good at kissing when we first met” 

Cordelia murmured.  

“True. You even laughed at me, saying I was too stiff” 

Nathaniel replied with a grin.  

“Then why are you so good at it now? Did you practice somewhere?” 

She asked, half-teasing.  

Despite sharing the kiss, she found herself breathless and flushed, while Nathaniel seemed completely composed. Feeling slightly indignant, she pouted her lips, which made him laugh softly as he pulled her into an embrace.  

“How could I have practiced? Let’s just say you awakened my instincts” 

He said.  

“Ugh… Now I feel like I’m the one losing ground here” 

She grumbled.  

“That’s probably because your body is so soft… It makes me want to keep exploring” 

Nathaniel said, his hands brushing against her sides and stomach.  

When she squirmed from the ticklish sensation, his hand moved gently to her chest.  

“Let’s have a little more cake and then take a nap” 

He suggested, his warm breath tickling her ear.  

Was there a hidden meaning behind his words? 

The sensation sent a shiver down her spine, and she hesitated before responding.  

“Didn’t we just wake up to eat this?”  

Nathaniel, who had been watching her intently, suppressed a laugh and replied. 

“What are you thinking? I meant it literally—just to sleep. You’ve got dark circles under your eyes.”  

“Oh.”  

“What could you have been imagining to make your cheeks turn so red?”  

Embarrassed, Cordelia glared at him, but his teasing only made her more determined.  

“You’re making fun of me, aren’t you…!” 

She retaliated by smearing cake cream on his cheek and neck—a playful act that still seemed innocent enough. But her mischief didn’t stop there. She leaned in and began licking the cream off his skin while her hands roamed over his firm body, tickling him.  

“Hah… Ah… It seems our Madame is quite determined today. Fine, I give up. I surrender…” 

Nathaniel said with a breathy laugh.  

Nathaniel spoke softly, as if trying to dissuade her. However, despite the calm tone of his words, the firm sensation pressing against her stomach betrayed his true state.  

“Hmph, it’s too late to surrender now” 

Cordelia said, dipping her fingers into the cream again. This time, she smeared it on his lips before leaning in to lick it off.  

Her tongue brushed over his tightly closed lips, coaxing them to part. When he finally opened his mouth, she pushed the cream inside, meeting his tongue with hers.  

The kiss carried a sweetness that spread gently between them. Thinking that Nathaniel was experiencing the same flavors as her made her inexplicably happy, and she couldn’t help but smile.  

When she finally pulled away, she licked the cream from the corner of her own lips and remarked how amusing it was. Her teasing made Nathaniel’s face flush bright red.  

“You’re really… Sometimes, you’re so good at seduction without even realizing it” 

He muttered.  

“Really? I don’t think I am. I was just enjoying the same taste while kissing you, and it felt fun…” 

Cordelia replied, tilting her head in confusion.  

“Even now, look at yourself” 

Nathaniel said, his gaze flickering with something indecipherable.  

Curious about what he was imagining, Cordelia tilted her head again and asked hesitantly.

“Um… I’m just asking because I’m really curious.”  

“What is it?” 

He asked.  

“Have you had a lot of romantic experiences?”  

Nathaniel’s expression shifted slightly, as if he didn’t understand the question or was unsure of what answer she wanted. His face carried a look of confusion, but also a hint of curiosity.  

Cordelia pouted at his dazzling appearance and continued. 

“Well, we’re married now, so it’s not a bad thing. And since I’ve tied you down for life, you can be honest with me.”  

“What do you mean by that?” 

Nathaniel asked, his eyes narrowing slightly, as if he were guarding against something. He seemed uneasy, as though he feared she might bring up a painful memory from the past.  

But Cordelia wasn’t aiming for anything heavy. She spoke her thoughts plainly, with a hint of sulking.  

“It’s not a serious topic. I’m not trying to pry or anything. It’s just that sometimes you seem like a boy experiencing his first love, and other times you seem like a very skilled man. I can’t figure you out. So, I was wondering if you’ve dated other women before. I thought maybe I’d end up being compared to them. What if I’m a boring wife compared to them? I promised to keep you happy when we got married…”  

Cordelia’s voice grew quieter as she spoke, her mood turning somber. She couldn’t understand what Nathaniel found so enticing about her actions, nor could she shake the worry that he might find her dull eventually. After all, innocence often wore off quickly.  

Nathaniel’s reaction was unexpected. He opened his mouth slightly, as if in disbelief, then let out a short laugh before responding.  

“You? Boring? Not at all. Besides, I’ve never had anyone else before you. There’s no one to compare you to.”  

“Wait, really? You? Someone as handsome as you? There’s no way people around you left you alone” 

Cordelia said, her disbelief evident.  

Nathaniel chuckled softly and pressed his lips against her forehead.  

“Thanks for seeing me in such a flattering light.”  

“I’m not exaggerating. You really are amazing…”  

“But honestly, I don’t want to highlight my flaws, but people I meet outside have always found me intimidating. And I’ve never taken much interest in them either. To me, it felt natural. So, nothing like what you’re imagining ever happened. Like I told you before, you’re the first person I’ve ever loved. And you’ll be the last.”  

Nathaniel’s voice carried a hint of anxiety as he added. 

“Unless… Is my lack of experience bothering you?”  

Cordelia quickly wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him tightly.  

“No, not at all. I’m the same—it’s my first love too. We’re perfect for each other” 

She said brightly.  

She couldn’t understand why someone as extraordinary as Nathaniel would make her, a simple countryside girl, his first love. But she couldn’t deny her happiness either.  

She asked again, 

“Hmm… So, you’ve been thinking about me every single moment?”  

“Of course. Did I ever give you the impression otherwise? I really don’t have any other experiences. Everything is new with you. Honestly, I’m practically obsessed” 

Nathaniel admitted, his voice tinged with nervousness.  

Cordelia giggled at his words, reassured by his sincerity.