“Your Highness, if the water gets too cold, your body will get cold. Please let me help you.”
At that moment, Lauren was heard knocking on the bathroom door. Cecilia rang the bell next to her, allowing Lauren and the maids to enter.
Under the hands of the maids who moved in unison, Cecilia soon finished her bath and looked like a bride about to have her first night.
“I’ll tell everyone not to come near you until you find us.”
Lauren led Cecilia to the bedroom, opened the door for her, and spoke. Cecilia nodded and crossed the threshold.
“Cecilia.”
While Cecilia was alone in the bathroom for a long time, Eden came back. Cecilia walked calmly and stood in the center of the bedroom.
“You worked hard today. Would you like some wine?”
“I’m fine. Have all the guests gone home?”
Cecilia turned down Eden's offer and walked away. Eden got up from the chair he was sitting on and pulled out a chair for Cecilia to sit on.
“I offered to provide a guest room for those who couldn’t return, but they all said they would just go.”
"Yes."
“You look very tired.”
Cecilia nodded slightly in agreement with Eden's question.
“I think my feet are swollen.”
Cecilia spoke, her feet tapping in her indoor slippers. Eden frowned slightly as soon as he heard that sound.
“Can I take a look?”
Without hesitation, Eden bent one knee in front of Cecilia. Cecilia lifted her slender leg exposed under her gown, swept away by Eden’s touch.
Cecilia pretended to be surprised and tried to move her legs. Any ordinary girl would have responded by asking why he was looking at a woman's feet like that.
'Why are you looking at my feet, Your Highness?'
And in the past, Cecilia was actually horrified by Eden's reckless actions.
'I need to check to see if you're hurt.'
Eden, who had no difficulty stopping Cecilia from struggling in fright, eventually pulled out Cecilia's feet hidden under her pajamas.
'You seem embarrassed.'
He smiled faintly as he watched Cecilia cover her face with both hands in embarrassment at the extremely embarrassing moment. It was impossible to know whether his attitude of asking why she was so at a loss was sincere or not.
'It's a foot! It's dirty!'
'It's so small and cute.'
‘...Why are you doing that without even knowing it’s embarrassing?’
He held onto Cecilia's feet as she sobbed and laughed softly. The question in his eyes as he stared at Cecilia, who was screaming in an angry tone, was something to be desired.
'We're a married couple anyway, so what, Cecilia?'
He was indifferently affectionate. That was what made Cecilia of the past fall in love with him so helplessly.
“There’s a cut on my heel. My toes are red too.”
After a brief recollection, Cecilia looked down at Eden. Eden was carefully holding Cecilia’s feet and examining them.
“Isn’t it dirty?”
“It’s so small and cute.”
Eden said that Cecilia would be embarrassed. He had not changed. He was still the same as before he became the Emperor.
Cecilia's gaze passed over the large hand holding her foot, his arm, his shoulder, and then to Eden's face. Their eyes met in the dim light created by the flickering candlelight.
“Cecilia.”
Eden carefully placed Cecilia's feet on the floor. Then he grabbed Cecilia's face with one hand and brought their faces closer. It wasn't the first time he had kissed her, but somehow her heart sank at the warmth of his lips touching hers.
Their lips simply remained touching. Cecilia and Eden’s eyes met straight ahead, as neither of them closed their eyes. Eden’s lips naturally parted slightly, and he slid in.
As Cecilia closed her eyes, Eden's shirt chest tightened with tension.
“...”
Cecilia closed her eyes and moved as he led her. She hid her body, which was shrinking because she didn't want to be touched, by grabbing the sheet. She had to accept the night.
Eden pushed her body like a large animal. The two leaning bodies were thrown around on the bed. The shawl that Cecilia had been wearing on her shoulders spread out like a decoration on the bed, and the neckline of her nightgown was also wrinkled.
Eden kissed Cecilia's flushed ears, her slender neck, and the center of her chest where he could clearly feel her heartbeat. Cecilia squeezed her eyes shut.
'I wanted to kill you too.'
I have to endure it.
But the moment his cruel voice came to mind, her whole body felt as if she had been splashed with cold water.
Is it okay to give yourself to this man so easily from the beginning? Even if your mind is not the same as before. What if your heart is stolen again?
Only a few people have separate bodies and minds, and Cecilia wasn't one of them. What if, by any chance, she were to have his child tonight?
"Your Highness.."
Cecilia's shrill voice stopped Eden's actions. Eden lifted his upper body, which had been pressed against her, and looked down at Cecilia.
“What kind of couple will we be?”
It was an unexpected question. Eden blinked with a troubled expression. Cecilia raised her hand and gently stroked his strong arm that was draped next to her face. Eden flinched reflexively.
“Just like any other normal couple.”
“Like a typical couple, they have children, continue the family line, and then live together with each other and have lovers?”
Eden couldn't answer. He's never really pictured a future life like that, but that's how most couples around him see themselves.
“Your Highness the Grand Duke.”
“Tell me, Cecilia.”
Cecilia's slender fingers ran over Eden's arms and shoulders, touching his jaw and ears.
“I want to be loved.”
“...”
“Not an unhappy life without even affection, but a life where you love me.”
Eden reacted strangely to the warmth of another person brushing against his skin. Every time Cecilia's hand moved, his eyes moved somewhat anxiously.
“So I don’t like it today.”
Cecilia took advantage of his confusion at the unexpected turn of events to make her opinion clear.
“I know that Your Highness does not love me. Perhaps never will.”
It was a confident, yet not hurt voice. Eden narrowed his eyes. It was strange. When making such a confession, they usually felt sad and wouldn't have such an indifferent expression on their face.
“Cecilia.”
“There were times when that made me sad.”
But the next moment, Cecilia's voice erased his doubts. Cecilia's voice was wet with moisture.
However, what he did not notice was that the feeling she was feeling was not the sadness that he did not love her. It was the pity she felt for Cecilia, who had suffered alone in her previous life.
“If you think about it, that’s only natural.”
“...”
“I want to spend the night together after confirming that we both feel the same way. But that’s also nonsense.”
Cecilia smiled faintly. It was impossible for the Grand Duchess, who was supposed to continue the family line, to refuse to sleep with him for the simple reason of love.
“Please wait just a little longer, just a little longer, until I am mentally ready.”
But this was the best way to kill time.
If Cecilia knew, he wouldn't force her wife, who said she wasn't ready, to sleep with him. And even more so if what Cecilia was asking for was something he couldn't give her right now.
“I have no intention of rushing anyone who is not ready yet. Don’t be afraid.”
It was as expected. Eden comforted Cecilia and pulled up Cecilia's flowing pajamas. Her shoulders, which had been completely exposed, were covered again.
“I will sleep on the sofa today.”
He backed off cleanly, without forcing anything. It was clear that Eden was trying to take Cecilia out of a sense of duty. Cecilia thought that maybe he would feel grateful to her.
“Come next to me.”
But she didn't expect him to be just grateful. Cecilia blinked innocently and grabbed Eden's sleeve as he tried to get out of bed.
“I hope you don’t have an uncomfortable sleep.”
Eden looked troubled at Cecilia's hanging on. As the time of worry grew longer, Cecilia hesitated and let go of his sleeve. It seemed like she was doing it reluctantly as if she didn't want to burden him.
But he couldn't be cruel when he discovered Cecilia's intentionally displayed worry and anxiety. Eden slowly lay down on the bed. Eden, who had his head resting on one arm, patted the spot next to him.
“Lie down, Cecilia.”
It was a plain attitude. Cecilia lay on her back, facing Eden. It seemed like it had been a long time since she had seen his face properly.
“Take a rest.”
No, it wasn't a mistake. Thinking back, it had been a long time since they had seen each other's faces this close. Especially when it was a human face like this.
“Your Highness."
Cecilia pretended to sleep and leaned closer to Eden. The closeness of their body temperature and the soft touch of her skin made the back of his neck tense up a little.
The current Eden thought of Cecilia as an innocent young lady. Not knowing that Cecilia was deliberately plotting something, he was at a loss and was just flustered.
It was funny. This man would eventually hate her so much that he would want to kill her, but now he acts like he's considerate.
“...”
Cecilia's hands gripped the sheets on the bed tightly.
“If you can’t sleep because you’re uncomfortable...”
At the rustling sound, Eden opened his mouth quickly. Cecilia shook her head and hid her face in his arms. Eden didn't have time to escape.
“It’s not uncomfortable. I’m just excited.”
She couldn't predict whether experiencing a second life would be a stroke of luck or a stroke of misfortune. She just wanted to inflict the same pain.
“It’s what I was hoping for, I like it...”
Ilya Nova, who was her maid. Count Nova went from being a vassal to a traitor. Countess Casper was trying to become a maid of the government from being the maid of the Empress. And even Eden.
I wanted to return the terrible pain I felt at that time to the people I believed in and trusted, but who betrayed that trust and drove me to death.
At that moment, Lauren was heard knocking on the bathroom door. Cecilia rang the bell next to her, allowing Lauren and the maids to enter.
Under the hands of the maids who moved in unison, Cecilia soon finished her bath and looked like a bride about to have her first night.
“I’ll tell everyone not to come near you until you find us.”
Lauren led Cecilia to the bedroom, opened the door for her, and spoke. Cecilia nodded and crossed the threshold.
“Cecilia.”
While Cecilia was alone in the bathroom for a long time, Eden came back. Cecilia walked calmly and stood in the center of the bedroom.
“You worked hard today. Would you like some wine?”
“I’m fine. Have all the guests gone home?”
Cecilia turned down Eden's offer and walked away. Eden got up from the chair he was sitting on and pulled out a chair for Cecilia to sit on.
“I offered to provide a guest room for those who couldn’t return, but they all said they would just go.”
"Yes."
“You look very tired.”
Cecilia nodded slightly in agreement with Eden's question.
“I think my feet are swollen.”
Cecilia spoke, her feet tapping in her indoor slippers. Eden frowned slightly as soon as he heard that sound.
“Can I take a look?”
Without hesitation, Eden bent one knee in front of Cecilia. Cecilia lifted her slender leg exposed under her gown, swept away by Eden’s touch.
Cecilia pretended to be surprised and tried to move her legs. Any ordinary girl would have responded by asking why he was looking at a woman's feet like that.
'Why are you looking at my feet, Your Highness?'
And in the past, Cecilia was actually horrified by Eden's reckless actions.
'I need to check to see if you're hurt.'
Eden, who had no difficulty stopping Cecilia from struggling in fright, eventually pulled out Cecilia's feet hidden under her pajamas.
'You seem embarrassed.'
He smiled faintly as he watched Cecilia cover her face with both hands in embarrassment at the extremely embarrassing moment. It was impossible to know whether his attitude of asking why she was so at a loss was sincere or not.
'It's a foot! It's dirty!'
'It's so small and cute.'
‘...Why are you doing that without even knowing it’s embarrassing?’
He held onto Cecilia's feet as she sobbed and laughed softly. The question in his eyes as he stared at Cecilia, who was screaming in an angry tone, was something to be desired.
'We're a married couple anyway, so what, Cecilia?'
He was indifferently affectionate. That was what made Cecilia of the past fall in love with him so helplessly.
“There’s a cut on my heel. My toes are red too.”
After a brief recollection, Cecilia looked down at Eden. Eden was carefully holding Cecilia’s feet and examining them.
“Isn’t it dirty?”
“It’s so small and cute.”
Eden said that Cecilia would be embarrassed. He had not changed. He was still the same as before he became the Emperor.
Cecilia's gaze passed over the large hand holding her foot, his arm, his shoulder, and then to Eden's face. Their eyes met in the dim light created by the flickering candlelight.
“Cecilia.”
Eden carefully placed Cecilia's feet on the floor. Then he grabbed Cecilia's face with one hand and brought their faces closer. It wasn't the first time he had kissed her, but somehow her heart sank at the warmth of his lips touching hers.
Their lips simply remained touching. Cecilia and Eden’s eyes met straight ahead, as neither of them closed their eyes. Eden’s lips naturally parted slightly, and he slid in.
As Cecilia closed her eyes, Eden's shirt chest tightened with tension.
“...”
Cecilia closed her eyes and moved as he led her. She hid her body, which was shrinking because she didn't want to be touched, by grabbing the sheet. She had to accept the night.
Eden pushed her body like a large animal. The two leaning bodies were thrown around on the bed. The shawl that Cecilia had been wearing on her shoulders spread out like a decoration on the bed, and the neckline of her nightgown was also wrinkled.
Eden kissed Cecilia's flushed ears, her slender neck, and the center of her chest where he could clearly feel her heartbeat. Cecilia squeezed her eyes shut.
'I wanted to kill you too.'
I have to endure it.
But the moment his cruel voice came to mind, her whole body felt as if she had been splashed with cold water.
Is it okay to give yourself to this man so easily from the beginning? Even if your mind is not the same as before. What if your heart is stolen again?
Only a few people have separate bodies and minds, and Cecilia wasn't one of them. What if, by any chance, she were to have his child tonight?
"Your Highness.."
Cecilia's shrill voice stopped Eden's actions. Eden lifted his upper body, which had been pressed against her, and looked down at Cecilia.
“What kind of couple will we be?”
It was an unexpected question. Eden blinked with a troubled expression. Cecilia raised her hand and gently stroked his strong arm that was draped next to her face. Eden flinched reflexively.
“Just like any other normal couple.”
“Like a typical couple, they have children, continue the family line, and then live together with each other and have lovers?”
Eden couldn't answer. He's never really pictured a future life like that, but that's how most couples around him see themselves.
“Your Highness the Grand Duke.”
“Tell me, Cecilia.”
Cecilia's slender fingers ran over Eden's arms and shoulders, touching his jaw and ears.
“I want to be loved.”
“...”
“Not an unhappy life without even affection, but a life where you love me.”
Eden reacted strangely to the warmth of another person brushing against his skin. Every time Cecilia's hand moved, his eyes moved somewhat anxiously.
“So I don’t like it today.”
Cecilia took advantage of his confusion at the unexpected turn of events to make her opinion clear.
“I know that Your Highness does not love me. Perhaps never will.”
It was a confident, yet not hurt voice. Eden narrowed his eyes. It was strange. When making such a confession, they usually felt sad and wouldn't have such an indifferent expression on their face.
“Cecilia.”
“There were times when that made me sad.”
But the next moment, Cecilia's voice erased his doubts. Cecilia's voice was wet with moisture.
However, what he did not notice was that the feeling she was feeling was not the sadness that he did not love her. It was the pity she felt for Cecilia, who had suffered alone in her previous life.
“If you think about it, that’s only natural.”
“...”
“I want to spend the night together after confirming that we both feel the same way. But that’s also nonsense.”
Cecilia smiled faintly. It was impossible for the Grand Duchess, who was supposed to continue the family line, to refuse to sleep with him for the simple reason of love.
“Please wait just a little longer, just a little longer, until I am mentally ready.”
But this was the best way to kill time.
If Cecilia knew, he wouldn't force her wife, who said she wasn't ready, to sleep with him. And even more so if what Cecilia was asking for was something he couldn't give her right now.
“I have no intention of rushing anyone who is not ready yet. Don’t be afraid.”
It was as expected. Eden comforted Cecilia and pulled up Cecilia's flowing pajamas. Her shoulders, which had been completely exposed, were covered again.
“I will sleep on the sofa today.”
He backed off cleanly, without forcing anything. It was clear that Eden was trying to take Cecilia out of a sense of duty. Cecilia thought that maybe he would feel grateful to her.
“Come next to me.”
But she didn't expect him to be just grateful. Cecilia blinked innocently and grabbed Eden's sleeve as he tried to get out of bed.
“I hope you don’t have an uncomfortable sleep.”
Eden looked troubled at Cecilia's hanging on. As the time of worry grew longer, Cecilia hesitated and let go of his sleeve. It seemed like she was doing it reluctantly as if she didn't want to burden him.
But he couldn't be cruel when he discovered Cecilia's intentionally displayed worry and anxiety. Eden slowly lay down on the bed. Eden, who had his head resting on one arm, patted the spot next to him.
“Lie down, Cecilia.”
It was a plain attitude. Cecilia lay on her back, facing Eden. It seemed like it had been a long time since she had seen his face properly.
“Take a rest.”
No, it wasn't a mistake. Thinking back, it had been a long time since they had seen each other's faces this close. Especially when it was a human face like this.
“Your Highness."
Cecilia pretended to sleep and leaned closer to Eden. The closeness of their body temperature and the soft touch of her skin made the back of his neck tense up a little.
The current Eden thought of Cecilia as an innocent young lady. Not knowing that Cecilia was deliberately plotting something, he was at a loss and was just flustered.
It was funny. This man would eventually hate her so much that he would want to kill her, but now he acts like he's considerate.
“...”
Cecilia's hands gripped the sheets on the bed tightly.
“If you can’t sleep because you’re uncomfortable...”
At the rustling sound, Eden opened his mouth quickly. Cecilia shook her head and hid her face in his arms. Eden didn't have time to escape.
“It’s not uncomfortable. I’m just excited.”
She couldn't predict whether experiencing a second life would be a stroke of luck or a stroke of misfortune. She just wanted to inflict the same pain.
“It’s what I was hoping for, I like it...”
Ilya Nova, who was her maid. Count Nova went from being a vassal to a traitor. Countess Casper was trying to become a maid of the government from being the maid of the Empress. And even Eden.
I wanted to return the terrible pain I felt at that time to the people I believed in and trusted, but who betrayed that trust and drove me to death.
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