Side Story 1 Chapter 4

 

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The wedding itself was quite exhausting, and we had to tour the estate in a carriage decorated with flowers in the name of Dietrich as the High Lord of the North. 

Arriving at the mansion at the end of the night, I was led by Marilyn and soaked in a bathtub filled with lavender essential oil.

“You must be tired.”

“Yeah. I feel like dying.

Marilyn carefully started rubbing my arm as I collapsed my weary body against the bathtub.

“Your arms and legs are very stiff.”

“I don’t even have the strength to lift my fingers.”

“That’s a big problem.”

I opened my closed eyes at Marilyn’s worried voice.

Since we had the wedding ceremony today, tomorrow’s schedule should be empty. 

“Why? Do I have anything to do tomorrow?”

“It’s not that but even though His Grace is not like Master Yuric or Lady Veronica, in the end, he is still a Lagrange.”

“What do you mean?” 

“People with Asmodeus’ blood have been rumored to have extraordinary energy since ancient times.”

“Uhuh.”

As I was playing with the water using my feet, I swallowed an embarrassing hiccup at Marilyn's answer.

“Moreover, even if he’s not skilled in women, since my lady’s body is exhausted, I’m not sure if you’ll be all right.”

“No, that’s….” 

As I tried to deny her words by shaking my head, I frowned at the sudden suspicion.

‘Now that I think about it, didn’t his actions seem so natural?’

As I had little to no experience, I didn’t know what he was good at but what I knew was that Dietrich’s behavior was definitely bold. 

‘Did he have a woman?!’

I left it to Marilyn to wash me and quickly wore my gown and went outside. 

The bedroom, which Vanessa and Tally chose to decorate with their heart and soul, had a very different atmosphere from the bedroom I was using, but the subtle red lighting caught my eye.

“Dietrich.”

Sitting on the bed and shaking his wet hair with a towel, he raised his head obliquely at my call.

It was cool when his handsome forehead was exposed, but when he lowered his shaggy hair, it felt unusually gentle, which made me feel strange.

‘No. I can’t be swayed by his face!’ 

I struggled to pull myself together and cleared my throat a lot. 

“I have something to ask you.”

As soon as I got closer, I gently slapped the back of his impatient hand that grabbed my gown, and I opened my mouth calmly.

‘It’s not something to be angry about.’

“Answer me honestly.”

He hardened his chin at my serious face.

I opened my mouth, stroking the corners of his deep-seated eyes. 

“Have you done it with someone else before me?”

“What?”

“What I’m saying is, uhm, do you have experience?”

His eyes swayed in all directions enough to know his agitation without using Eredia's power.

I pouted my lips as I stared at his unopened lips.

“Whatever. I also have experience!”

“What?”

“I…I met a man, too!”

What met with a man bull. I’ve never even held hands with anyone else. 

But my pride was hurt for no reason so I raised my voice.

Then Dietrich's face, which was looking at my complexion with a bewildered look, twisted violently.

“What kind of bastard did you meet and what did you do?”

The low-pitched voice was quite brutal, so I thought I belatedly made a slip of the tongue.

When I remained silent and unable to answer, he grabbed me and knocked me onto the bed.

The fluffy gown slowly sank with a plop.

“Answer me. I think I’m going to get really angry. 

I felt deflated for no reason and mumbled.

“You already did it too so why are you getting angry?”

“Did what exactly? Don’t talk nonsense.”

“Then why are you flustered?”

“Because I thought I made a mistake. I was wondering why you were asking.”

My eyes widened at his excuse-like answer and opened my mouth. 

“You really haven’t done it? Then what was all that touching here and there that you did? How did you know all that?”

At my question, Dietrich just lowered his gaze and turned his head.

“Huh? Why aren’t you saying anything?”

As I continued to urge in frustration, he answered slowly, covering his face with his hands as if he didn't really want to say anything.

“.....From Yuric.” 

I asked that punk Yuric.

I nodded my head at what he added in a voice that was barely audible.

‘No wonder. Yuric was carrying a sword I’d never seen before.’

Moreover, it looked like it was quite an expensive sword. 

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“Are you awake?”

I slowly blinked my eyes at the low, sweet voice ringing in my ears.

‘Huh? It’s still dark.’ 

Seeing that the pain in my spine that reverberated had subsided a lot, it seemed that a long time had passed, but the room was still dark as if it were midnight.

“It's not dawn yet, so get some more sleep.”

Dietrich raised his hand and pressed it against my half-raised shoulder.

Thanks to him, I was buried in the soft blanket again, floundering in my languid body, and then drooped.

I closed my eyes because it was still dawn, so I thought I should sleep a little more, but my mind began to clear up more and more even though my body was sore here and there and there were no parts that did not hurt.

In the end, unable to sleep after tossing and turning, I exhaled and poke Dietrich in the side.

“Dietrich, are you sleeping?”

“No.”

I turned at the quick reply and placed my hand on Dietrich's cheek, clearly outlined under the yellow lamp.

“I’m out of sleep. I feel refreshed as if I slept really well.”

As if waiting for my words, Dietrich got up and placed his hand next to my head.

As I watched the muscles of his firm forearms and the connected shoulders twitch, I couldn't help but blink quickly in embarrassment.

“W-why are you suddenly getting up?”

“You said you’re not sleepy.”

“And?”

“It’s because you’re not tired enough.”

“No. My body is really ti–ngh.”

I grabbed his shoulder at the soft tongue that dug into the inside of my cheek without warning.

I tapped his sharply woven back muscles quite hard, but he didn't budge.

“W-Wait a minute!”

“Why?”

“I’m still in pain.” 

Dietrich clicked his tongue at my liquid voice.

I cried even more because I pretended to be sick—even though I was actually sick—but I wanted it to work.

“Where is it that hurts so much?”

“My back hurts, my waist hurts, and my legs hurt.”

“Was it too much?”

He mumbled softly as if he didn’t understand my fuss. 

It wasn't painful enough to die, but my whole body was tingling with muscle pain.

“Yeah. It was too much.” 

It was strange that Dietrich looked fine that I gave him an askance look.

After receiving my fierce look, he stretched out his long arm and began to rummage through the drawer next to me.

Soon he held in his hand a glass jar with sparkling clear water.

“Drink it.”

“What’s this?”

“Holy water.”

“..........”

As I looked down at the holy water flowing like waves under the flickering candles, I laughed in shock.

How much did this holy water in one bottle cost and yet he’s telling me to drink it just for muscle pain? 

“No. I don’t want to.”

“You said you’re hurt.”

“I can just rest it up.”

I stopped Dietrich's hand as he pulled out the cork, still ignoring my words.

“Even if you rest, you’d still be in pain.”

I frowned as I stared into his black eyes filled with concern.

“It’s still dawn. A little time has passed so it’s normal to still be in pain……”

Instead of blaming Dietrich, I got up from my place and went to the window.

When the thin chiffon curtain was removed, hard glass touched my fingertips.

It was still pitch black outside, and it looked like a curtain of night had been cast.

‘But there was definitely a moon last night.’

It was a bright night with a full moon, but no matter how much I looked out the window, it was dark without a single light.

“Baal.”

“.....Yes?”

“Move. Before I purify you.”

Opening the window in doubt, I sighed and called Baal's name, and removed the slippery mist. 

As Baal, who was stuck to the window like a membrane, stepped aside, the strong sunlight began to fill the room.

“That’s amazing.”

“........”

“Dietrich said that it was dawn earlier but the sun is up?”

When I said that the sun seems to rise even at dawn these days, Dietrich hesitatingly rose from his position and approached me.

“Because if I told you it was morning you'd be antsy to go out of the bedroom.” 

“Then what’s the point of not going out? Nevermind. No, don’t answer that.”

I knew clearly what he wanted to do.

I tapped his slightly gaping lips with the palm of my hand, bringing my brows together.

He grabbed my hand that fell after touching his face and peppered feathery kisses all over my palm. 

I struggled with the ticklish sensation but couldn’t push him away.

“What time is it now?”

Judging by the intensity of the dazzling and scorching sun, it felt like it was well past noon, not early morning.

“Aren’t you going to work? Is it fine for the head to play hooky like this?”

He briefly shook his head with a slow smile at my question.

“I’ll go. Don’t look at me like that.”

“Why?”

“I can’t hold back just thinking about yesterday.”

I quickly lowered the corner of my eyes and drove out Dietrich, who didn't want to move, as if he had hidden something to eat in the bedroom.

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