TGDHC Chapter 102

Chapter 102 — I Like It

“Wait, didn’t Sir Norton tell you?”

Perel scratched his forehead with a blank look, as if he didn’t understand what Cecilia was saying.

“Could you explain a little more clearly?”

“That maid has been wandering around everywhere! Didn’t you notice?”

“Ah.”

Perel nodded.

“I know about that.”

“And yet you still offered her your arm? Acting all fluttery?”

“She said she twisted her ankle, so I just helped her walk.”

“You actually fell for such an obvious lie?”

“Well… how could I refuse a lady’s request?” Perel protested, looking a bit wronged.

“And I wasn’t fluttering at all.”

‘What a noble gentleman, really.’

“Be careful! Remember that you are the Grand Duke’s chief aide!”

Cecilia fumed as Perel scratched his head, looking like he had no idea why he was being scolded.

“I’m telling you, she really found the perfect target.”

Back in her room, Cecilia was still ranting.

“Since Perel was the only one who reacted, that maid will definitely cling to him from now on.”

“Perel does have a soft heart,” I said, remembering how his hands shook on our wedding day as he placed the ring on my finger.

“When I first came to Blenheim, everyone was cold to me for being the Marquis’s daughter. But Perel was always polite.”

“See!” Cecilia cried, nodding firmly.

“He’s too soft. How can someone like that work as an aide?”

She muttered worriedly that he might one day be tricked into spilling the castle’s secrets.

Too soft?

Sure, Perel was unusually kind for a northerner. But…

“I don’t know,” I said with a tilted head.

“To me, he seems rather firm.”

“Firm? That pudding-like man?”

While planning the marketplace with him, I had noticed that beneath his gentle manner, Perel had a surprisingly sharp and decisive side.

He usually let small things slide, and he clearly disliked conflict. But—

‘When it’s something he truly disagrees with, he’s merciless.’

“You don’t see it because His Grace is also too soft,” Cecilia said confidently.

But since the argument wasn’t worth dragging out, I just nodded.

“Loic, are you asleep?”

“Annette?”

Loic startled awake in his bed, confused.

He hadn’t heard the door open, but Annette was suddenly there, her hands resting on the mattress.

Her thin nightgown rustled softly.

“I couldn’t sleep… Can I rest in your arms, like last time?”

Before Loic could even answer, Annette climbed onto the bed, slipping her knee up.

Flustered, he lifted the blanket so she could come in.

“Ah…”

Settling against him, Annette let out a small sound of surprise.

“Loic, you’re not wearing your robe?”

“Huh?”

Loic looked down in alarm. Indeed, he had taken off his robe out of laziness. His bare chest shone pale under the moonlight.

Annette’s cheeks flushed.

“You… like my chest, don’t you?”

Loic blurted without thinking.

“How did you know?”

Her sapphire eyes sparkled mischievously.

With a small smile, she slowly laid her hand on his chest.

He flinched. Her soft touch across his pectorals sent a shiver racing down his back.

“You’re so solid everywhere… I want to keep touching you.”

Her hand slid down to trace the firm line of his abs. Loic quickly caught her hand.

“P-please, stop.”

“Why?”

“Because… if you keep doing that, I won’t be able to hold back.”

“What is it you can’t hold back?”

Annette looked up at him with knowing, teasing eyes.

“You don’t have to hold back.”

She slowly licked her lips, provocative.

How could he possibly remain composed after that?

As if enchanted, Loic brushed her lips with his thumb.

The soft, moist sensation was addictive.

He pressed gently on her lower lip, making her mouth part slightly.

The teasing Annette now looked a little shy, her gaze lowering.

Loic leaned in, his shadow falling over her face, and kissed her softly.

Her lips, cool and warm at once, were a joy to him.

“Mmh…!”

Their breaths mingled, heat filling the air.

“Loic… I’m out of breath,” she panted like a fragile bird.

Afraid she might fly away, he held her tightly against his arm, trapping her slim waist.

They kissed again and again, until Annette’s fingers trembled from exhaustion.

Loic pulled back just enough for her to catch her breath, brushing her cheeks with light kisses.

She giggled softly, then wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Loic,” she whispered lovingly, “when we kiss like this, You don’t feel sick at all. Is that true?”

“Yes. Thanks to you,” he murmured in a husky voice.

Thank goodness for such an excuse.

“I’m glad,” she smiled, watching his clenched jaw.

“I have something to confess.”

“What is it?”

Annette hesitated, then leaned close to whisper in his ear.

“I like kissing you.”

Loic’s heart pounded so hard he could hear it in his head.

Her voice melted into his ear, sweet as sugar.

“Do you know why?” she asked, eyes glimmering.

She licked her lips slowly and murmured,

“Because it’s delicious.”

Delicious? How could she say such a thing—

Loic’s face burned red all the way to his ears.

“And you, Loic?”

She tickled the back of his head with her fingers, coaxing him.

Of course, he had often thought of devouring her whole from head to toe…

The teasing touch made him tense all over.

“M-me too…” he managed.

“I like it too.”

You taste so good…

But he couldn’t bring himself to finish the thought, only blushed harder.

“It really is delicious, isn’t it?”

Annette smiled sweetly.

“The spicy tomato stew, I mean.”

“…What?”

And then Loic woke up.

The dark canvas of his tent came into view.

It had all been a dream.

“Haa…”

He was on campaign, away from the castle.

It was already the third night he’d dreamed of Annette like that.

I’m a beast.

Trying to calm his pounding heart, he shut his eyes again.

“Spicy tomato stew…” he muttered with a sigh.

The day without Annette already felt unbearably long.

By the fourth evening away from the castle, Loic and the First Knights had set up camp at the foot of a mountain, near a village.

The knights worried that the monsters’ habitat seemed to be expanding compared to last year. Loic, however, stayed silent, lost in thought.

“What should we make for dinner?” Leon asked his senior, Johas.

“Tomato stew,” Loic suddenly said.

“…Pardon?”

“Make it spicy. Spicy tomato stew.”

All the knights turned to stare.

“What?” Loic snapped, glaring.

Quickly, Johas and the others covered their mouths with fists, pretending to cough.

‘His Grace never comments on the menu. Why now?’

‘And of all things, spicy tomato stew!’

Leon and Johas exchanged a glance. Everyone in the order knew that the Grand Duchess’s favorite food was spicy tomato stew.

Is he thinking of her?

Leon forced down a grin.

“In that case, allow me to show some skill,” he said brightly.

If nothing else, he would make the dish perfectly—just as the Grand Duchess loved it.

Soon after, Leon was browning meat in a large pot.

“How do you make this dish?”

Loic had quietly stepped beside him, watching closely.

“It’s fairly simple,” Leon explained, stirring.

“First you sauté the meat, then add some vegetables, then water, and let it boil.”

“All the ingredients go in at once?”

“No, no. Meat first, then the vegetables…”

“When do you add the water?”

At first Leon thought it was casual curiosity, but Loic pressed on intently.

Answer after answer, Leon ended up explaining the whole recipe in detail.

“…Then you add red wine and simmer until the tomatoes are soft. As for the hot pepper, add as much as you like.”

“The Grand Duchess’s…”

Loic hesitated, eyes serious.

“…To suit her taste, how much should I add?”