Chapter 27

"Good evening!"

"......Ah."

In response to Lili's cheerful greeting, Gesualdo only gave a subtle reply.

He hadn't expected her to really visit his bedroom again tonight, and he stood there, the door connecting their rooms still open.

Ignoring Gesualdo's stunned silence, Lili climbed onto the bed.

Something's wrong. Something is definitely wrong.

While useless words swirled in Gesualdo's head, he sat down on the bed as if nothing was amiss.

"Lili..."

"Yes?"

"Are you... Are you feeling okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine!"

"......I see."

When Gesualdo asked Lili about her condition out of concern, she gave a straightforward answer, just as he could see.

Still, Gesualdo let out a sigh of relief.

Even if it didn't seem like it, Lili was a first-timer.

Gesualdo understood this, but more importantly, there was clear evidence left on the sheets this morning.

Gesualdo, who had forgotten about it, was worried by the servant who discovered the bloodstains in the morning and had to make a strained excuse about a wound from sword training.

Fortunately, he usually entrusted all his personal care to a trustworthy servant—Dennis.

Moreover, Dennis was rather insensitive to such matters.

If it had been a chatty maid, he shuddered to think what rumors might have spread by now.

Realizing this, Gesualdo came back to his senses.

This wasn't the time for such thoughts.

Although he had been carried away last night, he thought it would be better to talk things over again. When he looked at Lili, she was waiting with an expectant gaze.

"Lili..."

"Yes?"

"Are you really okay?"

"Of course."

"......I see."

No one had ever looked at him so directly before, except for his parents.

Of course, he trusted many people, but due to his position or his eyes, they always averted their gaze slightly.

While he didn't fully trust Lili yet, her emerald-green eyes, which looked at him so directly, didn't make him feel bad.

Moreover, Lili was his official wife.

After some internal struggle, Gesualdo gently pushed her down.

While self-deprecatingly thinking that he was just a man, when he kissed Lili, she returned a shy smile.

Although she was still nervous, seeing her trying hard to control herself made him feel strangely affectionate.

Despite thinking it wasn't right, Gesualdo silently vowed to protect Lili if anything happened to her—so she wouldn't end up like Corina.

Lili, heart racing, let Gesualdo do as he pleased.

The kiss was pleasant, and his large hands were warm.

Lili had thought Gesualdo was a kind person because he was so considerate, but suddenly he stopped.

When Lili opened her eyes to see what was wrong, Gesualdo had a very cold expression.

"......Jed?"

Feeling anxious that she might have done something wrong, Lili called out, and Gesualdo was startled.

But he quickly pressed his lips to hers again.

It was very intense, and Lili was quite surprised, but as she accepted it, her head began to feel dizzy.

Eventually, when Gesualdo exhaled deeply and lay down, Lili also let out a sigh of relief.

She was a bit happy that it was much better than last night, even though she had been bracing herself.

(Yes, this isn't bad. The former lady-in-waiting to the Empress made it sound so terrifying, but Mother was right. If this can make a baby, I'm ready for it.)

Thinking this, she glanced to the side and saw that Gesualdo was covering his eyes with one arm.

Unlike Lili, who had taken a nap, Gesualdo was probably very tired.

Not wanting to disturb her husband's sleep, Lili quietly got up and put on her nightgown.

"Lili?"

Sensing her movement, Gesualdo propped himself up on his elbow.

However, Lili slipped off the bed and smiled at Gesualdo.

"Jed, thank you for today. Please get a good rest. I'll see you again tomorrow."

Continuing from last night, Gesualdo was dumbfounded by Lili's incomprehensible behavior.

While her words sounded quite formal, looking at Lili made him think otherwise.

Gesualdo watched Lili return to her room in a daze, but then he snapped out of it and hurriedly called her back.

"Lili"

"Yes, what is it?"

"Well, that..."

Having stopped her, he didn't know what to say.

To be honest, he didn't understand any of Lili's actions.

In the end, he said the first thing that came to mind.

"Tomorrow... I'll come to your room..."

"Understood. I'll be looking forward to it!"

Seeing Lili's face light up, he knew his words were right.

But, was this really the right thing to do? Gesualdo was troubled and spent another sleepless night.