Chapter 8

Afterward, the heads of the two families announced that the marriage had been legally established, and Alice safely became Daniel’s wife.  

Daniel received congratulations from all around, and his father suggested that, now that he was married and officially an adult, he should formally receive the title of Young Count. As they began planning Daniel’s investiture ceremony, the evening arrived.  

After finishing the dinner welcoming Alice as a new member of the family, the two of them bathed and met in the marital bedroom.  

Seeing Daniel properly dressed in ordinary pajamas tonight, Alice felt somewhat relieved. Yet, as she recalled Daniel’s n*ked body and what she had seen standing tall in the morning, her face flushed with heat. Alice quickly climbed into bed and pulled the blanket up to her neck.  

“Shall we sleep now? Can I turn off the light, Alice?”  

When Daniel asked, Alice nodded. Daniel turned off the light, and the room fell into darkness. Lying in the unfamiliar room as it turned dark, Alice felt comforted by Daniel’s warmth and scent as he lay beside her.  

When she moved closer to snuggle into Daniel’s arms, he seemed startled at first but then lifted his arm to give her a pillow and wrapped his other arm around her.  

This man, who now carefully held her as though cradling something precious, was legally her husband. Alice smiled bashfully in the darkness.  

‘I’ll never let him go.’  

Although Daniel had no interest in anyone else and only followed Alice around, she knew there were quite a few noble ladies who admired him.  

Daniel was tall, well-built, and the heir to the family that owned the kingdom’s largest port. To other young women, his chivalrous treatment of Alice, as if she were a precious flower, seemed highly romantic.  

Nobles rarely married for love. Especially in households with daughters, parents discouraged their daughters from falling in love. There were cases where noble ladies, blinded by love, became pregnant before marriage and had to marry hastily without a proper ceremony. Such women found it difficult to show their faces in society.  

A noblewoman unable to participate in social circles would bring shame to both her family and her husband’s household.  

For this reason, when Daniel first began pursuing Alice, many in the Duke’s household worried about her engaging in a romantic relationship. However, Daniel had simply and devotedly followed Alice with pure intentions.  

If he hadn’t been that kind of man, the Duke would never have allowed him to become Alice’s fiancé.  

Alice extended her arms and hugged Daniel tightly, rubbing her head against his neck. She had always wanted to do this at least once after getting married. She found Daniel’s firm, warm body very much to her liking. The softness of the bed and the warmth of Daniel’s body enveloped her, bringing her immense satisfaction.  

“A-Alice.”  

However, when Alice exhaled against his neck, Daniel, flustered, called her name. Feeling his body grow increasingly warmer, Alice lifted her face from his neck.  

“Daniel? Are you running a fever?”  

“N-No, it’s just…”  

“You feel hot, though.”  

“It’s not a fever…”  

Alice reached out in the darkness to place her hand on Daniel’s forehead. His face felt warm to the touch, and even his cheeks were hot.  

“You’re so warm, though.”  

“…”  

Daniel remained silent for a moment, then sighed. He placed his large hand over hers, gently rubbing his face against her palm. The sensation of Daniel nuzzling her hand made Alice’s heart and hand tingle. Her eyes, now adjusted to the darkness, caught sight of Daniel’s flushed cheeks.  

“Your face is red too. You must have a fever…”  

Before Alice could finish speaking, Daniel’s face moved closer to hers. He lightly kissed her cheek with a soft “chu” and gazed into her eyes. A strange intensity burned in his eyes, and Alice felt overwhelmed by his gaze.  

“…Can I kiss you?”  

Alice instinctively knew that the kiss Daniel was referring to wasn’t the soft, gentle kiss he usually gave her, but the more passionate one from last night. Yet, captivated by his gaze, Alice found herself wanting to agree.  

‘Wouldn’t people think it improper for a woman to kiss a man so passionately?’  

The moral line she had upheld her whole life warned her against it, but her heart rebutted.  

‘Daniel is my husband now. Isn’t it normal for married couples to do such things?’  

Caught in Daniel’s gaze, Alice answered softly.  

“…Yes.”  

As soon as Alice gave her consent, Daniel captured her lips. He took a deep breath as Alice hesitantly parted her lips, allowing his tongue to slip into her mouth. Daniel held her tightly.  

Though his actions seemed urgent, his tongue moved slowly, carefully enticing her. Worried that Alice might be startled, Daniel gently brushed his tongue against hers. The soft, delicate touch of his tongue was so unexpected that Alice felt like laughing.  

‘His body is so firm, yet his tongue is so soft.’  

Cautiously, Alice began to respond to Daniel’s kiss. When she moved her tongue to meet his, Daniel’s body flinched, and his tongue began moving more fervently in her mouth.  

As his tongue explored her mouth, teasing her tongue and brushing against every corner, Daniel’s hands gently stroked her back through her pajamas. The soothing and pleasant sensation made Alice unconsciously let out a small “Mm.” Startled by the sound she made, Alice opened her eyes wide, only to find Daniel gazing at her while still kissing her lips.  

Before Alice could say anything in her embarrassment, Daniel deepened the kiss even further. His hands, which had been on her back, slid down to her waist, and Alice shivered at the tender touch, letting out a louder sound than before. She felt ashamed of herself.  

“D-Daniel.”  

“Shhh, just a little more.”  

Alice, overwhelmed by the unfamiliar and ticklish sensations coursing through her body, tried to stop him, but Daniel continued to kiss her. As his hands roamed over her body, Alice felt both embarrassed and exhilarated by the newfound pleasure. She was discovering a new world of sensations she had never known before.  

At some point, their bodies were pressed closely together, and Alice felt something hard pressing against her thigh. It was likely Daniel’s “thing,” standing tall once again.  

‘Is he planning to…?’