Duke, Please Stop Because it Hurts

When he went to pick up each one of his clothings, Molitia quickly erupted in laughter. The clothes were not only wrinkled, they were also all over the place. Nevertheless, his messy appearance was more than enough to make her feel comfortable.

“All right, now?”

“Yes.”

As she had already deemed it satisfactory, Raven quickly cuddled with her yet again. He held her in his arms before covering her with a thick blanket once more. The warmth eventually permeated within the blanket.

“Raven.”

“Yes?”

“Please tell me if you happen to get sick. I’m pretty good at nursing as well.”

All of a sudden, Raven gazed down towards Molitia, with his eyebrows slightly raised.

“I want to take care of you as you had done for me.”

But that didn’t mean he should be sick. He simply nodded at the minor additions of hers. It couldn’t have been said out aloud, but he also thought that it wouldn’t be bad for her to stay close to him as well.

“I will.”

Molitia then carefully stretched out her hand. Could she stay by his side under these taut arms of his? She hesitated as her cautious personality made it hard for her to reach him.

Wouldn’t he feel quite pressured? She carefully reflected on some of her own words—worryingly.

“Are you going back today as well?”

“How did you know that?”

“I don’t really know how. It’s just that when I woke up, your space beside me was already cold.”

Raven felt bad at the words she just said.

“…Your sleeping face was too enticing, so I had to leave. I didn’t want to be branded as a husband who dared to attack his own wife.”

“Ah.”

So, all he had done so far was… As soon as Molitia’s cheeks were tinged red, he embraced her even stronger while a soft breeze was tickling her head.

“…I won’t go though. I have to get over my wife’s sleeping face.”

“Now, you’re just being absurd.”

“Who’s going to say that?”

A small grumble had escaped his lips.

“Go to bed, My Lady. Before your sly husband makes his move yet again.”

As she was surprised by Raven’s words, Molitia straight away closed her eyes tightly. Raven then stroked her hair before closing his eyes as well.

After that evening, Raven could have never been found in his bedroom ever again.

——————-

Molitia had eventually made all of the servants understand her current condition.

As she had already recovered completely, they also had learned steadily that she would no longer forfeit her life from moving that much. Hence, she was able to expand her range of movements gradually.

“Madame, Madame! We have company!”

Molitia’s head turned at once when Lili had rushed into the bedroom. Her hands were still spreading out, amidst her moment of embroidery.

“Is it the Knights Templar?”

“No, it’s actually the Clemence…”

Right at that moment, all of Molitia’s senses seemed to cease their functions. Pillen was still watching her from the side when she quickly grabbed hold of her hand in surprise.

“Madame!”

The sharp needle had punctured her hand mercilessly before blood started oozing out. As the blood trickled down from the body of that fine needle, Pillen immediately retrieved the needle from her hand.

“It’s dangerous. So, it’d be better for you to put off embroidery for now.”

“Who is here, Lili?”

Blood was no longer significant in Molitia’s mind. On the other hand, Lili’s voice trailed off when she noticed that Molitia was being slightly unusual.

“Well, Count Clemence is here to see you.”

Once her father’s name was mentioned, Molitia straight away felt that her heart had already sunk and wrecked. She managed to close her trembling lips tightly, but she still couldn’t prevent her fingertips from turning white.

She was barely in her right state of mind when the butler, who had been waiting for her, bowed his head.

“Butler.”

“You have arrived. The Count is already in the parlour.”

“……”

Molitia couldn’t open the door to the parlour that easily. In fact, she could already feel the man’s presence even beyond the door.

The butler inspected his Madame’s ashen white face and immediately felt pity towards her.

“Would you like me to announce that you are not feeling so well?”

“No, he already said that he wanted to see me. So, it’s better for me to see him personally, myself.”

“Okay.”