'Ah.'
The shrill sound of glass echoing in the peaceful banquet hall made Rosaria close her eyes. In a short time, people's booing and the count's angry voice quickly ran through her head.
"You must be exhausted."
Instead of the sound of glass shattering in Rosaria 's ears, the Duke's voice was heard. When her closed eyelids were lifted, he placed the now spilled and empty glass on a nearby table.
"Otherwise, you would not have made such a silly mistake."
He wiped his wet hands with a napkin. He frowned after he had rubbed his hands several times to remove the sensation left due to the sweet champagne.
"You're tired, right?"
"Ah yes."
She answered faster than she. It was right to say that she didn't know herself because her own words overwhelmed her. She looked at him without even thinking whether he felt the overwhelming energy of the surrounding people.
"As expected."
He relaxed his expression as if he liked Rosaria 's answer.
"I'm afraid we'd better take a break for now."
"Yes."
She was sure that Lord Aaron would scold her for disappearing before the reception was over, but it was important for Rosaria to know how to survive from the Duke in front of her.
"My wife seems to be exhausted. May I take her?" "Of course, Duke."
The wives who were talking to Rosaria excused her. Rosaria , who had quickly stepped out of the reception hall because of Duke Eklostead's neat escort, looked around. The cold air touched her face.
"There is a room here."
Her eyes questioned the Duke's words, and the Duke's brows slightly frowned, not knowing what he wanted.
"We could take a breath there, let's get some rest." "Oh, yes."
Rosaria , trying to move at his words, frowned. The pain she had forgotten was felt strongly in her feet now. She took several steps while pretending to be calm, but in the end, she stood still.
The Duke ahead turned his head when the footsteps behind him stopped.
"What's the matter?"
"That…"
Rosaria Mumbled
Only a few hours ago, he threatened her to behave well. It was hard to tell him to move slowly as her feet hurt.
As Rosaria 's reluctance continued, the Duke sighed and approached her.
"What is it?"
"I've remembered I have something to do. Go ahead, and I'll follow you."
"Do you know where the room is?"
Rosaria was speechless again. He sighed when it became clear that she didn't know the way.
"What do you need to do?"
"That…"
She hesitated but eventually stretched out her feet, which had been covered in a bountiful skirt. His pupils dilated when her swollen feet were revealed under the smoothly stretched calf.
"Why are you like this? Who stepped on you?"
"No. I was wearing new shoes."
Can this be done by wearing new shoes? One of the Duke's eyebrows lifted. He has tried new shoes several times, but his feet have never been swollen. He had neither seen nor heard of such a thing.
He sat down as he stared at her feet with a frowning expression. Moving the frightened Rosaria a few steps back and carefully lifted her foot to observe.
Perhaps because of the white skin, the reddish wound looked more prominent. In particular, the wound on the heel had blisters and peeled skin.
"You were walking with these legs.?"
A small crack was carved into the Duke's forehead. It was questionable how the foot that was a little bigger than his palm could
hold her up properly.
If left like this, they may walk in the hallway all day long. The Duke thought so and stood up.
"Ah, wait!"
As he stood up, he hugged Rosaria and lifted her. Surprised, she made a small protest, but the Duke stopped it.
"I don't think so. Just hold on."
His words shut her up. She couldn't bring herself to speak in front of the angry Duke.
He made it to the lounge where it would have taken a long time for Rosaria to reach on her own. The Duke, who opened the door, looked around and found a soft-looking sofa before putting her down there.
"Thank you…"
"There must be some emergency medicine."
He turned away, not answering her, and as he looked around, he took out a medicine box on the side of the lounge.
Sitting on the edge of the sofa with her, he said.
"Foot."
"It's okay if you leave this—"
"Foot."
At his resolute words, Rosaria raised her feet, swallowing her cry. His eyebrows twitched when he took off her shoes, which revealed her bare feet covered in wounds.
As he gently glanced at her feet, he slowly opened his mouth.
"… was there really no one that bothered you?" "No."
Who dares to bother the Bride at her wedding However, the Duke's doubts did not subside.
"Really? You are not covering that person, right?"
"It's true. It's just a wound because I didn't try the new shoes in advance."
"Isn't that usually done by the attendant in advance?"
" "
Her mouth shut tight. She didn't even have a servant to ask for that simple thing. Even changing clothes every night was done by herself.
Fortunately, the Duke, who had not noticed it, turned his hand instead of listening to the answer. After crushing the medicinal herbs, the medicine turned into a thick liquid and was applied with a cotton ball and placed on the affected area, causing her feet to flinch.
"If it hurts, tell me right away, because I've never treated a person's wounds."
He added words as he moved carefully in every action. Rosaria nodded slightly at his words. But this level of pain was familiar to her. She flinched a few times but said nothing until the bandage as white as her skin went up.
The foot slipped out of his hand as soon as the foot was bandaged.
His eyes were on her toes as she wriggled shamefully.
"…Thank you for the treatment."
As Rosaria said so, his eyes did not escape from her feet. The bare legs that were revealed during the treatment completely caught his eyes.
He felt it when he first met her, but her skin was exceptionally white, and it brought him a sense of joy when that white skin became red due to embarrassment.
She was like that. Since the first meeting, he has been unable to take his eyes off her. She gave an illusion that if you take your eyes off for a while, she will disappear.
And the feeling of burrowing into her body…
He thought it over and moved reflexively, and he snatched her toes in his hands and began to caress her legs.
"Duke?"
"How long will my wife call me duke?"
Though they were as dark as night, there was something in his eyes. As Rosaria 's eyes met his, he gave a smile.
"Would you like to make a bet?"
"Bet?"
"Yes, a bet."
Rosaria 's eyes widened at the sudden offer.
"What are we betting on?"
"A bet that stops when you call my name first. What do you say, easy?"
Her lips pursed at his words. Rosaria had never called someone's name without hesitation, even if it was her younger brother.
For her, who never had a proper friend, the "name" was just too awkward—even the man who showed her everything.
"What if I don't do it…?"
"I will do things on my own until you call my name." "What do you want to do?"
Her mouth stopped when his hand entered her gown,The penetrating fingers heated her skin.
"Like this."
"…this is the lounge."
Rosaria pointed out the surrounding situation. He chuckled at her words.
"It's a tranquil lounge. At least none of those who are
attending the fancy reception would want to come here."
By now, everyone would have been busy making a rumor about the main couple that vanished from the banquet. Plus, the Lord Duke was not the object of his interest in the first place.
"But still…"
Her mouth searched for an excuse. Every time his fingers up her thighs, her eyes were desperately searched for the excuse.
"Do other people bother you?"
His hand touched the inside of his thigh. Her muscles tightened with tension as she pressed hard.
"Even though I don't care?"
How can she not care? The ink that signed the marriage certificate was not even dry yet. Besides, it was enough to rent a room at the banquet hall.
"Are we not a couple now? It's a secret thing about the newly married couple. Sometimes they can be out of place."