Chapter 33

“Then, if it’s not out of pity, may I ask why you chose to make me your wife?”  

“……I couldn’t recall your face at the time, but the nervous tremble in your eyes, despite pretending to be composed, left a lasting impression on me.”

That was when he thought he wanted to help her. Perhaps it was a form of sympathy. Maybe because she reminded him of a childhood friend who had left, or of his uncle, who had helped siblings suddenly orphaned. He might have wanted to help Lyzbel in the same way.

But spending each day with her, who had become his wife, brought him joy. He instinctively realized that this was what it felt like to love someone. He adored her smile, the way her cheeks flushed, and even the sensation of her clinging to him when they were intimate.

If only he had confessed his feelings earlier, they might not have misunderstood each other so deeply.

“It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with you.”

He even felt a dark desire to bind her to his side, so she could never leave. Such emotions were new to him. He loved her so much that he could hardly contain himself. He loved her long golden hair that reached her waist, her light green eyes, her touch, her voice—everything about her.

He loved waking up beside her in the same bed every morning. Eating meals together, walking, laughing, and holding hands. Though it had only been a little over a month, every day felt sweet to him.

He wondered if she felt the same. He hoped she experienced the same emotions every day.

“I was scared.”

The words spilled from Lyzbel’s lips as she listened to his confession. She had been afraid—afraid that while she loved him, he might only feel pity for her. The fear had been so overwhelming that she buried it deep inside, unable to ask. If they had talked like this earlier, they would have learned so much more about each other.

When she lived with the Baron and Baroness, any conversation usually led to the worst possible outcome. Under parents who saw her as nothing more than a means to a profitable marriage, she had stopped voicing her opinions altogether. She didn’t even think about marriage because she didn’t want to become like them.

It was Felix who had changed her. She had fallen in love with him. These feelings were new to her, and she found them awkward. But one thing was clear: she had never once viewed her marriage to him negatively.

And because of that, she had been even more afraid and unable to speak easily. If only she had been as honest as she was with her friends, she wouldn’t have suffered so much.

The two of them, with tears streaming down their faces, looked at each other and laughed like fools. Then, soaked from the rain, they embraced each other.

“……I love you.”  

“I love you too, Felix.”

It was the first time either of them had felt this kind of love for someone else. It wasn’t affection or familial love—it was a fiery, passionate desire for another person. It felt like a once-in-a-lifetime emotion. Embracing each other, they shared their warmth.

The cold that had seeped into their bodies gradually gave way to heat. It wasn’t a painful sensation but something strange. As they remained in each other’s arms, they shared a light kiss.

Though it felt like their usual kisses, today’s kiss was deeper. The soft sounds of their lips meeting filled their ears. Feeling each other’s warmth through their wet clothes, they clung even closer. Their lips licked, pressed, and sucked against each other. Then their eyes met.

“……Shall we continue this back inside?”  

“……Yes.”

With that, the two of them, covered in towels, left the rainy maze. They got lost and stumbled several times, but they didn’t mind. Their clothes were soaked with rain and mud, but they didn’t care. Now that their hearts were in sync, all their worries seemed to vanish.

Of course, as soon as they entered the mansion, chaos ensued. The Earl and Countess, drenched like wet mice, entered with pale faces.

“Oh my, I’ll prepare a warm bath immediately.”  

“It’s fine. Just clean the floor.”

Then, hand in hand, they dashed off. Though the floor was slippery, and they could have fallen, they didn’t. Instead, they held each other up whenever one of them nearly slipped.

The Earl and Countess, who already had a good relationship, seemed even closer today. Once inside their bedroom, the two headed straight to the bathroom and began undressing.

Their clothes were so wet that they were difficult to remove. Yet neither of them showed any signs of frustration.

“Next time we go out, we should at least bring a parasol.”  

“Indeed. We wouldn’t want to catch a cold.”

As they helped each other undress, their bodies shivered slightly from the cold. But the warm bathwater was ready in no time, and the two of them quickly stepped in. In the spacious tub, they clung to each other, laughing as they gazed into each other’s eyes.

If she listened closely, she could hear Felix’s heartbeat. It was hard to believe that the worries they had each carried were now resolved.

“Felix.”

At Lyzbel’s call, he looked down at her with a gentle expression. Lyzbel wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. In the warm water, the cold was no longer felt. Soon, Felix, who had his arms around her waist, deepened the kiss, exploring her mouth.

The wet sounds of their tongues intertwining echoed loudly in the bathroom. Just from kissing, her body trembled strangely. It wasn’t from the cold, but a soft laugh escaped her lips.

“Ah, mm, Fe-Felix.”  

“……Lyzbel.”

They called each other’s names repeatedly. No matter how many times they said it, it felt like they couldn’t get enough. Realizing that she would never leave his side, they kissed passionately. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she caressed his back. Sitting on his lap, she kissed him persistently.

“Ah, mm, ah!”

Heat began to spread through her body. Unlike usual, even the kiss made her tremble. It wasn’t just her—Felix’s arousal had been evident for a while. Feeling the hardness pressed against her, her spine tingled.

“Ah, mm, ah, mm.”

Though he wanted to thr*st into her immediately, he held back, afraid of hurting her. Both Felix and Lyzbel managed to restrain themselves and stepped out of the water. Moving to the powder room, Felix set Lyzbel on the table. With mirrors on both sides, their faces were clearly visible.

Their flushed, aroused expressions were reflected in the mirrors. To prevent her from catching a cold, he draped a blanket over her shoulders. Though they were both still damp, their shared excitement overshadowed any discomfort.

He held her two feet in his hands. Kneeling beneath her, he kissed the tops of her feet, making her giggle from the ticklish sensation.

The light kisses continued. From her feet, his lips traveled up her legs.

“Ah, mm……”

He focused intently on her sensitive spots, his hands stroking them gently. Soon, Felix spread her thighs and kissed the pale skin there. He left marks on her thighs, and with each one, her body trembled in anticipation of the pleasure to come.

Lyzbel let out a shallow breath, gripping the edge of the table tightly. Though their kisses were as they had always been, today they felt more thrilling. Perhaps it was because their hearts were now in sync—everything felt new.

As he kissed and sucked on her thighs, Felix eventually buried his face between her legs.

“Ah, ah.”

Her entrance, already slick with anticipation, was glistening. He licked her thoroughly with his tongue, savoring her. To make things easier, he placed her legs over his shoulders. Then, his tongue teased her sensitive nub and entrance relentlessly.

“Ah!”

Each time his hot tongue pressed against her, her body jolted involuntarily. No matter how many times she experienced it, the sensation never became familiar. Her stomach tightened, and her head felt hot. She tangled her fingers in Felix’s wet hair, urging him on. The more she did, the more intense his movements became.