When You Don’t Get Along With Your Husband - Chapter 30

She just glossed over it, feeling it was something she couldn’t quite bring herself to say. However, Gideon didn’t let her words slide.

After pondering for a while, he asked with one eyebrow furrowed, just in case,

“My rumor… besides the one about having issues with sexual function, and the one about having that kind of relationship with my sister or subordinates… is there perhaps another one?”

Tatiana was truly shocked and froze with her eyes wide open.

“Oh my.”

“……”

“What? You know it all?”

What, you know it all too? The two stared at each other blankly as if they had just seen the strangest person.

Gideon belatedly frowned and denied it.

“Surely you didn’t believe that too? It’s not true.”

Of course, Tatiana never believed it at all. If she had believed it, could she have gone around arm in arm with Princess Scarlet today, laughing happily?

However, because of Gideon’s questioning gaze, she ended up acting like someone who had committed a crime for no reason. Her exaggerated denial actually made it seem stranger and more awkward.

“No, no, I absolutely didn’t believe it, Your Highness.”

“……”

“How could I? Oh my. You’re being silly when you know everything.”

“I wonder. What? I’m not sure I understand.”

Gideon chuckled, thinking, ‘She really can’t fake her expressions.’

Tatiana also gave up on refuting, feeling like she was getting more entangled the more she tried to deny it. Instead, she asked about something she had been curious about deep down.

“But why did you just leave it be, Your Highness? Even though it’s not true.”

He had once said that if anyone spoke carelessly about his wife, he would tear their mouth. Yet when it came to rumors about himself, he seemed unconcerned.

“It’s such a crude story that anyone who believes it would be strange, and in my own way, there were some convenient aspects.”

“Like what?”

“Women didn’t approach me much.”

“…Oh my, Your Highness. That’s not because of the rumor, it’s because of your killing intent.”

“Anyway, I found it comfortable.”

But Gideon hadn’t known that the rumor had reached Tatiana’s ears as well. If he had known this would happen, he would have torn all those mouths in advance. He felt he had been too complacent.

But at that moment, Gideon suddenly felt like a light was blinking in his head.

He tilted his head and fell into thought for a moment, and a slow, sticky smile gradually bloomed on his lips. It was the smile of someone who could finally enjoy this situation. He couldn’t help but notice something now.

“But Titi.”

“……”

“Why are you suddenly talking about these things?”

The topics she had brought up today were all over the place. However, there was one intersection. It was the bedroom.

But Tatiana still didn’t want to mention it directly, so she reluctantly rambled on about something else.

“Well, you know. It’s not a very good rumor. The bedroom maids might think it’s strange…”

“What would they find strange?”

“We sleep together every night… The bedding is always the same…”

Gideon, who had been trying to tease Tatiana a bit, burst out laughing at those words. He wanted to ask how he should arrange the bedding to satisfy her.

“Just how amazing a night are you expecting?”

“Expecting? What am I expecting?”

“Suddenly I feel a heavy burden on my shoulders.”

“…Don’t tease me. It wasn’t easy for me to bring this up first.”

“Then what should I do? Should I honestly say I feel light because I’m so elated?”

You’ve already said it all, you know.

Tatiana made a sulky face and avoided his eyes. This made Gideon feel strangely more impatient.

He moved a bit closer to her and whispered a question,

“Titi.”

“……”

“Answer me honestly just once.”

“…What?”

“Do you want to do it with me?”

When he pressed, Tatiana finally nodded and answered.

“…I’m curious.”

So I want to know, her eyes were clear as she said this. But although her answer was honest, it fell far short of the level Gideon wanted.

Is it just curiosity about an experience she hasn’t had before? If that’s the case, couldn’t she do it with anyone, not just him?

Gideon, having pushed this marriage through with a one-sided proposal, wanted a more definite sign.

That sign would be enough with just a few words. That you want me too. That you didn’t just end up in this situation as if pushed along. That at least our first night was something we both wanted together, not just me.

He had been postponing this moment and waiting until now to hear those words.

Gideon asked Tatiana again, pressing her,

“You do want to do it with me, right? Titi.”

“Yes.”

“Not with someone else?”

This time, Tatiana clearly understood what he wanted. She nodded and answered.

“Yes.”

“……”

“I want to do it with Your Highness.”

Gideon kissed her cheek a few times and then said, ‘Wait just a moment,’ before leaving the bedroom.

How long, and for what exactly, did she have to wait? Tatiana was puzzled.

But Gideon didn’t leave her alone for long.

When he quickly returned to the room, he was holding a delicate silk pouch in his hand. He opened it wide and took out fragrances and bedroom items one by one. Then he bent down and kissed her lips deeply.

Tatiana seemed to respond to the kiss for a moment before gently pushing his broad shoulders away. There was something she wanted to say before things went further.

After hesitating for a long while, she finally managed to speak.

“Your Highness, I have a request before we do it.”

“What is it?”

“I’d like you to be gentle.”

Gideon was a bit taken aback, not expecting Tatiana to make such a request. But thinking about it, it wasn’t really surprising. After all, wouldn’t the physical burden be a bit greater for the person receiving rather than the one entering? It’s not like he’s small, either.

He asked, cautioning himself that he might be too caught up in his own expectations and not reading her anxiety correctly,

“…Are you scared?”

“No, it’s not that…”

Tatiana seemed unsure herself, pouting her lips and hesitating several times before continuing.

“I might not be able to endure pain as well as you’d expect. I might have a low tolerance, you know.”

“……”

“Actually, I’m not sure how much I can endure. I’ve never been hit in my life.”

Gideon was momentarily at a loss for words. Then, thinking this was a bit too much, he frowned.

“I’m not trying to hurt or assault you right n…”

But he stopped mid-sentence. He realized it might not be any different from his wife’s perspective.

He didn’t really know what sensation the act gives to a woman. And this was something he could never physically experience in his lifetime, even after sleeping with her. He could only hope and expect that Tatiana would tell him everything honestly as usual.

“Don’t worry so much. Although it’s my first time, I’ve always learned everything faster than others in any field. No matter what it is.”

“……”

“So I’ll get good at this quickly too.”

“……”

“Shall we bet on who’s better?”

Tatiana listened and then burst out laughing.

She actually knows that Gideon tends to learn things quickly. After all, she’s secretly watched him learn swordsmanship quite often.

But she didn’t want to lose to Gideon either. He probably doesn’t know how much competitive spirit she’s burned while secretly watching him train.

“I’m not the type to learn as quickly as Your Highness. But once I start something, I keep at it until I get good. I’m a bit stubborn, you see.”

“Is that so? That’s good to hear.”

Gideon buried his smiling lips in the nape of her neck, feeling like his good mood might be too obvious. And he thought to himself while swallowing his laughter.

‘But I learn quickly and I’m stubborn too. Then isn’t this a fight you’re bound to lose? What are you going to do now?’

The female body he had to let go of on their wedding night, leaving only his mark. Gideon left another bite mark in that same spot. And with his hands, he pulled at her gown. Just halfway, in case she might feel embarrassed, promising more for later. Instead, he unbuttoned his own clothes and threw them off without any hesitation.

Tatiana couldn’t look at him directly and kept glancing sideways, avoiding his gaze while pretending to be distracted. Gideon smiled even at her flustered expression.

“You’re very interested in the male body, aren’t you?”

“…When did I ever.”

But Tatiana felt too guilty to flatly deny the accusation.

He took her hand and guided it to his body, which was responding very honestly.

Tatiana had never once thought she would touch such a place. Even though she was married, it seems it was too difficult to imagine such embarrassing things.