If I Disobey the Duke

Beginning of the Attestation (2)

Lily’s heart was beating so loudly that her chest throbbed.

Maybe it’s better not to see your face?

That body was the one that embraced her. Every time she interacted with him, the sensations that dominated her body came to mind.

Even that alone made her memory fly away.

Lily’s face was fit to explode.

As her husband, they had slept together quite a few times, but it was the first time they met face-to-face in bed, so it was strange.

It was an unfamiliar close relationship.

Regardless of how strange it all felt, he climbed up next to her, slipping under the blanket. “Take off your clothes.”

“Ah, Vlad…!”

She was slightly awake, but her body felt heavy. She didn’t think she could do it today.

Does that matter? After all…

As if reading Lily’s thoughts, he sat down next to her and muttered calmly, “Don’t worry, I won’t do anything, so take off your clothes.”

Lily hesitated even at his relaxed tone. “Why won’t you do anything…?”

“It’s what you need.” He took off his clothes and just stared at her quietly.

Lily eventually submitted to his request.

It was not the first time she had taken off her clothes in front of him.

A lick of shame tickled her stomach, like an inexperienced virgin taking off her clothes in the early morning.

Lily lowered her head, hiding her peach-red face. Touching her hair, she carefully pulled her arm out of her negligee. She grabbed the end of the skirt. The rustling sound of the fabric echoed in the quiet bedroom.

Closing her eyes tightly, she pulled it to her chest, next to her collarbone, and then completely over her head. The cold air completely enveloped her body. Goosebumps erupted on her skin.

It was cold, and the pink peaks of her breasts stiffened in response.  Feeling embarrassed, Lily covered herself with her arms.

Vlad pulled Lily into him. His hard, hot body laid her down and hugged her tightly.

“Ah…!”

His thick arm went under her neck.

Lily had his arm as a pillow under her bare upper body as she melded to his side. One hand was placed on his broad chest.

His body temperature was as hot as summer, and his heartbeat was audible as well.

Do tall people all have such a fast heartbeat?

“You have to stay naked and help your body temperature rise quickly. On the battlefield, when a cold wave hits, even the men are naked and hugging each other. There are no complaints.”

His voice sounded even lower in her ears.

Their bodies were tangled up a while ago, but suddenly her body was warm. His body temperature warmed the blanket.

Lily blinked a few times as if stunned. “Are you… really not doing it?”

He frowned, an undercurrent of pain in his expression. “You have been ill for three days. How…?”

“But…”

“…I said I don’t think of you that way.”

Lily swallowed her dry saliva. “Sorry.”

Why are you apologizing?

“I don’t like it when I have to say things twice.”

“…”

He breathed deeply. Lily’s head moved along with his chest.

“…Don’t worry about your dreams anymore.”

Lily’s body gradually relaxed due to the warmth, blowing away all her previous awkwardness.

His heart was still beating swiftly. It seemed to be pounding harder than before. Fortunately, the sound quickly seemed to be drowned out by the tension.

I’m lying next to him

Lily wiggled her toes. This was something she had never imagined. She unconsciously moved to his side. The soft skin of inside of her thigh rubbed against his leg.

Vlad’s back stiffened.

Her firm, supple skin…

He did not regret his choice. But he felt like his self-control was being tested.

“By any chance…  Aren’t you uncomfortable?” Lily’s breath carefully tickled his chest.

Eventually, blood rushed to his front. He took a deep breath, feeling a deep sense of shame. “To answer that, I think we need to define what kind of discomfort it is.”

“Yes?”

Fingers clenching irregularly, he wrapped his arms around her head. “It’s nothing. How about you?”

Her ears itched at the low voice.

Me… How I feel…

“A little…  It’s uncomfortable.”

The body was definitely warm. But it wasn’t about that.

Her stomach felt bloated. She also had a strange feeling which Lily herself couldn’t define.

Despite that answer, Vlad did not let her go.

For a long time, the bedroom was filled with only the sound of breathing. After some time passed, the first person to open his mouth was Vlad.

“People around you said that you’re a cursed… woman…”

Lily flinched. It was because she was quite embarrassed to try remembering what she had babbled about before fainting.

Actually, she couldn’t even remember what she said.

Vlad spoke calmly, “If you think a lot of people around you are dead, then I’ve probably killed thousands… No, ten thousands more. It’s not a big deal for people to die during war, so don’t worry too much. Anyways, no matter what others say, it’s not your fault.”

Because she was lying next to him, she swallowed what she wanted to say next.

Lily’s breath stopped for a moment.

This was a first for her.

She didn’t answer at all. She just curled her fingers and toes.