"So what's my name love"
She looked at the Duke who was curious and closed her eyes and took a deep breath "…Sera...feim…."
The red lips were small and sweet. His mouth was drawn in a cordial line when a sound he would not have heard had it not been for a quiet night fell into his ear.
"Yes, that's what you call it in the future. Don't call me the Duke anymore."
"Okay."
Her behavior, grumbling on the pillow, slowed down. The half-wet eyes soon began to close completely.
"Are you sleepy?"
"Yes...."
His body was still shouting that it wasn't enough. That's why he didn't let go of her body.
He's been thinking of her ever since that day. Her body had a faint fragrance. He had been suffering from frustration because of that thrilling feeling of digging into her narrow opening.
"Hmm… I want to do more."
He squeezed into her lips with an honest desire. As she opened her closed mouth and took a breath, her eyelids trembled, revealing purple eyes.
"I'm really sleepy…"
It wasn't just that, but it hurt as well. It was clear that doing it one more time will make her sick. He sighed softly at her resolutely blocked action.
"Okay, I won't do it. Don't stop my touch instead." "I'm sleepy...."
A tender hand touched his arm. She whined about trying to get rid of his hand, but her strength couldn't help but disappear because of sleepiness, and she could not push his strong arm away.
"Rosaria ."
His hand, which was touching her chest, went down to the belly button, but no sound was heard from her mouth. Instead, when he saw her sleep with a sweet face, his hand stopped.
"Ha."
He wondered if he could properly sleep this long night.
Rosaria slowly lifted her eyelids as the intense sun poked her eyes. Her eyes blinked several times to adapt to the light, looking around her in a disheveled manner.
'Ah.'
She groaned as she tried to move. It was because the pain from the lower half of the body had grown from last night.
Her hand on the bed shook as she lifted her upper body. It hurt, but not to the point of death.
She was dressed in a nightgown. and her long silver hair plaited as if she had worn it again. Seeing that the dress was lying on the floor like rags, it was clear that the servants had dressed her.
Her cheeks flushed red with shame. They saw red spots all over her body.
She swallowed the shame and looked around, seeing no one around. Her side was empty.
'You said you couldn't help it that day.'
She puffed her cheeks unevenly. It wasn't their first time, but it was their first night as a married couple. It's said to be polite to stay by each other's side until they wake up the first morning. The knowledge she had read in the book was often useless in front of him.
Clothes were placed on a narrow table near the bed as if he had not wholly forgotten manners.
As soon as she moved her legs to stand up on the bed, the sound of pain came out.
Every time she moved her legs, her muscles screamed. The numbness of the pain poked her lower body like a needle.
Eventually, she gave up getting out of bed and fastened her gown tighter. Knock-knock
"Who is it?"
"My name is Portio, I will be your butler."
He came at the right time. Rosaria reconfirmed her appearance before speaking.
"Come in."
The owner of the voice came in after opening the door. He bowed politely and was the one who came out to welcome them yesterday.
"Good morning. Did you sleep well, your grace?"
"Yes, thanks. I didn't expect my room to be ready." "It was the master's request."
"Really?"
She thought he wouldn't be interested in this kind of thing at all.
Most of the time, it was left to the butler to take care of the house.
"I came to say hello, because I didn't think I could say hello yesterday."
He said so, lifting from his bow.
"I'm Portio, the head Butler in charge of this mansion. I knew your mother my lady"
"You knew her?" questioned Rosaria
"Yes, I am the son of the baroness Emilia who was the nanny of the Viscountess after leaving and now serving the Duke of Eklostead"
"Oh really, Did you know my mother"
"Certainly she was a goddess and treated me as her sibling. it's sad to see her in heaven but by sword pierced into my heart, I swear to serve you well. So, Please take good care of me from now on, Duchess."
He said with a small smile; he looked a little young to be called a butler.
"Please take good care of me, too."
She smiled at him, and for a moment, Portio stared at her and the frown at his brow seemed to be out of place.
"Do you want me to call a doctor?"
"What?"
While the sudden question puzzled Rosaria , he spoke carefully.
"You look a little… you look pale."
"Ah."
Rosaria tried to laugh. She couldn't properly control her body in the morning because of weak blood pressure. But it wasn't something that would require calling a doctor.
"Not to that extent. Don't worry."
"Shall I carry breakfast?"
"No breakfast. Where is the Duke?"
"Master went out early in the morning for business."
"I see."
The butler glanced at Rosaria . He was anxious because of his
master's behavior, who left the bride on their first night. Of course, he did not make his anxiety obvious.
But she didn't say much. Her eyes were only serene as if she were no longer curious about her husband's whereabouts.
"Something has arrived from the Lord Duke's, calling it a Madame's item. Where should I put it?"
"Would you put it in my bedroom? I have something to check, so please don't organize it and leave it as it is."
"Okay."
He gave her a gentle nod. It was only the owner who could handle her things at will. He thought he should move the tightly sealed luggage.
"Sir Portio, you are in charge of this house, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"Then you must be familiar with this house."
"You can say that."
"Then can you tell me about the house today?"
"Of course, if you stay in this house, it would be better to know these things."
She didn't want to be caught in a sick body, so she pulled out the effortless energy.
"Okay. Oh, I'd like to wash first. Is there a bath?"
"Of course, I'll have the maids wait on you."
Do I need to call the maid to wash up? While she was pondering,
the butler quickly went out of the door without giving a moment of thought.
Rosaria , who tried to call him back and say he didn't have to call the maids, stopped her hand. She thought it wouldn't be wrong to be served. Plus, she wanted to move her body as little as possible because of muscle pain.
Rosaria slid her legs; the movement was still painful, but moving them was more comfortable than before.
She stepped slowly on the floor, carefully, like a deer with a fresh foot.
'Ugh.'
She swallowed a silent scream into her mouth. She felt like rubbing her cheeks on the pillow again. The fluffy bed behind her was tempting, but step by step, she moved forward.
Rosaria grabbed the doorknob of the bathroom and took a small breath. It's a mess up to this point. Even if she walked, she shouldn't mess anymore. To not let people detect her fragile body, she had to behave as normal as possible.
She straightened her back and pulled her upper body. She thought she could hear a thud coming from her ear, but she tried to ignore it.
"Whoo."
As she took a small breath and opened the door carefully, hot air sprang up. The maids, who she did not know when they had arrived, found her and bowed.
"My name is Korina, and I'm going to wait on you from today."
"My name is Penelope, who came to serve on you."
She was ashamed to see them in the bathroom, but she couldn't ignore them, so she gave them a nod.
Rosaria , who had taken her gown off, carefully dipped her toes in the tranquil bathtub. A smile spread over Rosaria 's face as the warm touch spread up from the tip of her toes.
The heated water at the right temperature was just right for her to enjoy. Properly warm water loosened her stiff muscles.
Leaning in the bathtub, she slowly closed her eyes. It felt good to be tired.
After some enjoyment, she got up in the bathtub. The pain that dulled eased her forehead.
When she stood up, the maids next to her naturally held towels and wiped her body. She felt awkward as she never received much attention from the servants in the Lord Duke's household.