Marian had been through some tough times, and since Anna knew the Grand Duchess better, I was left in her care. Julian said he had something to talk about with his father and the military.
“Don’t think about anything else today and just rest.”
“I will do that.”
“Don’t just talk.”
"I'm really going to rest. You should finish quickly and rest too. Yes?"
We were so caught up in countless words of encouragement that we didn't know how to part ways. I held Julian's fingertips, and he stared down at me. His gaze was so full of the emotion of cherishing something precious, it sent tingles down my spine.
“Madam, you really need to rest now.”
Only after Anna urged us on did we each go our separate ways. Julian went back out of the Grand Duke's residence, and I headed to my room on the third floor.
“Madam, it’s not you.”
"Yes?"
When I turned around, Anna was smiling brightly. She led me to the fourth floor. The atmosphere there seemed to have changed, becoming brighter than before.
The dark blue wallpaper had been changed to white, and the red carpeting gave the room a luxurious feel. The ceiling lights also radiated a bright light.
Anna continued her explanation as I was amazed by the completely changed atmosphere on the 4th floor.
"While Madam was in the East, His Highness the Grand Duke made various renovations to the fourth floor. So, Madam's room was also on the fourth floor..."
Anna spoke and opened the door right next to Julian's room.
“You moved here. How is it?”
The spacious room, like the fourth-floor hallway, had white wallpaper. However, the wallpaper was decorated with a luxurious gold pattern, adding to its elegance and beauty.
The gold candlesticks hanging on each wall were clearly crafted by a skilled craftsman, and the furniture had a subtle, pinkish hue, as if it had been carefully crafted. I couldn't help but marvel at the way they looked, like finely chopped jewels scattered throughout.
“Furniture this expensive...”
“If you say you can’t accept it, His Highness will be really upset, right?”
I glanced at Anna, who seemed to already know what I was going to say. Still, she smiled broadly, as if in a good mood. She looked like she was just waiting for me to return and show me this room.
“...Who wouldn’t accept it? I wonder how they managed to prepare it in such a short time.”
Even when I told a lame lie, Anna just laughed it off. I couldn't even dare touch the sofa, which looked like a work of art, and just looked at it.
“Go wash up. Then you can wander around the room and look around.”
“Shooting around.”
“Don’t think about anything else today and just rest.”
“I will do that.”
“Don’t just talk.”
"I'm really going to rest. You should finish quickly and rest too. Yes?"
We were so caught up in countless words of encouragement that we didn't know how to part ways. I held Julian's fingertips, and he stared down at me. His gaze was so full of the emotion of cherishing something precious, it sent tingles down my spine.
“Madam, you really need to rest now.”
Only after Anna urged us on did we each go our separate ways. Julian went back out of the Grand Duke's residence, and I headed to my room on the third floor.
“Madam, it’s not you.”
"Yes?"
When I turned around, Anna was smiling brightly. She led me to the fourth floor. The atmosphere there seemed to have changed, becoming brighter than before.
The dark blue wallpaper had been changed to white, and the red carpeting gave the room a luxurious feel. The ceiling lights also radiated a bright light.
Anna continued her explanation as I was amazed by the completely changed atmosphere on the 4th floor.
"While Madam was in the East, His Highness the Grand Duke made various renovations to the fourth floor. So, Madam's room was also on the fourth floor..."
Anna spoke and opened the door right next to Julian's room.
“You moved here. How is it?”
The spacious room, like the fourth-floor hallway, had white wallpaper. However, the wallpaper was decorated with a luxurious gold pattern, adding to its elegance and beauty.
The gold candlesticks hanging on each wall were clearly crafted by a skilled craftsman, and the furniture had a subtle, pinkish hue, as if it had been carefully crafted. I couldn't help but marvel at the way they looked, like finely chopped jewels scattered throughout.
“Furniture this expensive...”
“If you say you can’t accept it, His Highness will be really upset, right?”
I glanced at Anna, who seemed to already know what I was going to say. Still, she smiled broadly, as if in a good mood. She looked like she was just waiting for me to return and show me this room.
“...Who wouldn’t accept it? I wonder how they managed to prepare it in such a short time.”
Even when I told a lame lie, Anna just laughed it off. I couldn't even dare touch the sofa, which looked like a work of art, and just looked at it.
“Go wash up. Then you can wander around the room and look around.”
“Shooting around.”
“Oh my, have you become quieter since you had a baby?”
Anna seemed impatient to tease me after such a long time. Knowing how much she must have suffered, I decided to accept all her teasing.
I was about to follow Anna's lead into the bathroom when I glanced at the door in the corner of the room. Anna must have seen the curiosity in my eyes, so she pointed me in the direction.
“That door leads to His Highness the Grand Duke’s room.”
“Yes?”
When I looked at Anna as if I was wondering, Anna covered her mouth and laughed.
“You’re so naive. It’s a door that couples use.”
How naive! Despite my appearance, I've been married twice. However, in my marriage with Kaiser, there was no such secret. Kaiser didn't have that much affection for me.
Thinking about it that way, the door felt a bit racy, but also cute. I touched the wooden door, then suddenly came to my senses and blushed.
“Let’s wash up quickly.”
I went into the bathroom and washed myself under Anna's care. Just as I was about to get into the bathtub, I heard a faint noise outside.
It sounded like it was coming from the room next door, not mine. I asked Anna, who was floating flower petals in my bathtub.
“Has His Highness returned?”
“I think so. Should I check?”
“You can see it later.”
As I said that, I was flicking the petals with my fingertips and playing around when suddenly an interesting thought occurred to me.
“Anna, can you check if His Highness has entered the bathroom?”
"Yes yes!"
After Anna left, I lifted my wet hair and squeezed it out. Then, I got out of the bathtub, gently dried myself, and put on a robe. Anna, returning to the bathroom, looked at me and exclaimed, "Oh my!"
“Why are you already wearing a gown?”
“I can’t go out naked.”
“Oh, where are you going?”
Instead of answering Anna's question, I chuckled.
“What about Julian? Did he go into the bathroom?”
“Uh... yes. He’s probably taking a bath now.”
"Good. Anna, would you mind going into the next room and handing over all the servants?"
Only then did Anna seem to realize what I was trying to do. She covered her cheeks with her hands and blushed.
“Madam, you must be careful during the early stages of pregnancy!”
“If a couple loves each other to death, is there only one way?”
“Oh my gosh.”
Anna had a look on her face that said, "There's no way our innocent lady would do this!" but she headed straight to the next room, perhaps worried that someone might see my gown. She returned shortly thereafter.
“I sent them all out.”
“Thank you, Anna.”
I let my hair fall to one shoulder and opened the lovely, sultry door that led to Julian's room. As Anna had asked, the room was empty. I walked over to the bathroom and knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
Julian spoke in his characteristically stiff voice, as if he thought I was a servant. I opened the door and stepped inside.
Julian closed his eyes and didn't even turn his head, enjoying the relaxing bath. His bare shoulders were visible outside the tub, his muscles taut and tight, looking as hard as steel.
I suppressed a laugh and grabbed a handful of flower petals from the bathroom. Julian, perhaps disliking the clutter, didn't dissolve them in the bathwater.
I scattered flower petals in Julian's bathtub. Just a gentle ripple rippled across the water, and Julian opened his eyes. He looked at me, blinked lazily a couple of times, and then smiled.
“I was like, who dares to walk around in my bathroom?”
“Well, this isn’t the right reaction.”
As I sat down on the bathtub, seemingly displeased, Julian closed his eyes again. I pondered for a moment, then leaned down and kissed Julian's nose. It was adorable how his prominent nose pressed gently against the tip of my lips.
“Julian. Open your eyes.”
Julian said nothing. I kissed his cheek, his red lips, and finally the corner of his eye.
Then, Julian's eyelids fluttered open, revealing his crimson pupils. I felt as if I were drowning in the vivid wine. Reflected in his eyes, I was half-naked.
Julian's gaze swept across my pale shoulders, then turned to the ceiling. I couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Ma'am."
“Yes, Your Highness.”
I playfully replied and stepped into the bathtub. The petals strewn all over the bathtub concealed my naked body, but my shoulders and neckline were still visible above the water.
I pressed my body against Julian's upper body and hugged his neck. Julian groaned, but still hugged my waist. His thick, strong arms made me feel trapped in this bathtub. That slight pressure felt good.
“It’s still early.”
“I just came in to take a bath.”
Julian still had his head tilted back and was staring at the ceiling. He seemed determined not to look at me.
Yet, I loved how he couldn't bring himself to kick me out. I pecked Julian's chin and whispered.
“Look at me.”
Julian finally bowed his head to my earnest plea. It was a moment when our eyes met, very close together.
Julian pulled me closer to his neck and kissed me. It was a breathtaking kiss, completely different from the one I'd given him.
"Hmm..."
The moment our lips parted slightly, I exhaled. Julian hugged me, rested his nose against my neck, and inhaled. I stroked his back with my fingertips and spoke.
“Of course, we have to be careful, but wouldn’t it be okay to touch it a little bit?”
Those were our last words. We touched each other's bodies and rubbed our lips together. Every now and then, when Julian let out a low, almost unbearable breath, I felt a tingling sensation from head to toe.
Still, nothing crossed the line. The baby's presence made us adults in a different way.
Needless to say, this bath was hardly relaxing, and at one point, I blacked out. When I opened my eyes again, I was lying on Julian's bed, wearing silk pajamas.
As always, Julian lay beside me, watching me. After confirming I was awake, he stroked my eyes. They were sore from the few times I'd cried in the bathroom.
I asked playfully, smiling with slightly puffy eyes.
“I hope the baby grows up quickly, right?”
Julian looked at me as if he were dumbfounded, then quickly laughed.
"Yes."
It was only natural that that short answer made me happy.
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