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Chapter : 20
Agatha lay back against the sofa in the carriage headed for the Aratus residence in the capital with Enoch.
“You must be tired.”
“I think my wife is more tired than I am.”
Enoch knelt on one knee before the exhausted Agatha and removed her shoes.
“Enoch?”
“This is how I used to relieve fatigue on the battlefield.”
Through her thin stockings, she could feel Enoch’s large, firm hands clearly.
“How does it feel?”
When his thick fingers pressed a certain spot in the center of her sole, her muscles loosened and a tingling jolt ran through her. Everywhere his fingers moved, that sensation followed in a chain.
Agatha pressed her lips tightly together and quietly entrusted only her feet to him.
If she opened her mouth, she felt like something strange might come out.
The hands that had passed over her feet now moved up to her calves. Unable to endure it any longer, Agatha placed her hand on Enoch’s shoulder.
“That’s enough now.”
“Your calves are very tense as well.”
“Even so.”
Enoch, who had been gazing at his wife’s flushed face, obediently withdrew his hands. As he picked up her shoes, his eyes lingered on her still-swollen feet.
“Enoch?”
“……”
After putting her shoes back on her wiggling little feet, he whispered in a low voice.
“Have you been having difficulties lately with matters outside?”
“Huh? No. Nothing like that.”
As Agatha wondered why he suddenly brought it up, she recalled the presence of Fernand she had nearly forgotten.
Her ex-husband, who was said to be coming this time as the representative of an unofficial delegation from Maynucor.
For a moment, Agatha’s body stiffened slightly. The man who had been looking up at her rose to sit upright and added casually,
“I know that wasn’t your intention, but when you said you wanted to leave all external affairs entirely to me for the time being, it felt sincere.”
“……”
“If not, that would be fine as well. If you need help, please tell me, Agatha.”
Watching the man slowly turn his gaze toward the window, Agatha hesitated and parted her lips slightly.
“I think I’m still okay for now. Thank you for worrying about me.”
He was an incredibly perceptive man. Should she think that he had already grasped her so well in such a short time? Or was he simply watching her carefully?
‘I didn’t think I’d shown it.’
In high society, postponing an answer while bolstering someone’s authority was a commonly used way of speaking.
Everyone must have thought she was just delaying her response using her husband as an excuse.
‘Maybe the fact that Fernand is coming was that much of a shock…’
Considering that she had uncharacteristically thought about her second marriage, that seemed likely.
If she was like this now, she wondered if she would be all right when she met him during negotiations.
While Agatha was lost in thought, the carriage continued on diligently and entered the Aratus residence in the capital.
“Welcome home, my lord, my lady. Welcome to the Aratus residence.”
In front of the main house, the head butler, Ben, was waiting with the servants. Assisted by Enoch, Agatha stepped down from the carriage and gave a slight nod.
“I’m glad for the warm welcome. It’s only for one night, but please take good care of us, Ben.”
“I will serve you with all my heart, my lady.”
The reason they had come to the Aratus residence in the capital today was because the renovations on the Second Nobilis Residence, which was to be used as their newlywed home, were not yet complete.
Spending the first night after the wedding at her husband’s residence.
“This way, my lady.”
Holding Enoch’s hand, Agatha stepped into the main house, which gleamed with an old-fashioned elegance even in the darkness.
Like many great noble houses passed down through generations, the Aratus estate had high ceilings and a vast hall.
Perhaps because it had recently been renovated, the interior felt both antique and new. As Agatha followed Enoch, she discreetly took in her surroundings.
Tapestries woven with the family crest of an eagle, sword decorations, suits of armor.
In the minimally decorated corridors, she felt his character strongly reflected.
Enoch stopped in front of a room with the most beautifully and delicately engraved door in the central corridor that ran through the third floor.
“The place you’ll be staying tonight is my room.”
Huh?
“Please, come in.”
Agatha, who had naturally assumed she would be staying in the room traditionally used by the marchioness, followed him inside with a dazed expression.
Her bewilderment lasted only a moment.
As she stepped into the inner chamber, Agatha’s cheeks warmed slightly.
It was a room just like the man himself. A clean white base, with only essential furniture—thin tapestries, a solid wood table, a leather sofa.
The only slightly unusual feature was the liquor cabinet placed to one side.
“Would you like to bathe first?”
Agatha nodded reflexively. As he loosened the tight collar and chain at his neck, he gave an order.
“Guide my wife to a closer place.”
“Yes, sir.”
Agatha followed the head butler, Ben, to the bathing room.
Illuminated brightly by the reflections of lamps and jewels, the grand residence had a quiet, antique beauty even without much decoration.
“The residence is beautiful.”
“It is thanks to the care you took beforehand, my lady.”
“Me?”
“Didn’t you send gold when you learned of my lord’s difficulties before the wedding?”
Ah.
Agatha now understood why the Aratus head butler had been so respectful and courteous from the moment they first met.
Her quick effort to prepare Enoch’s ransom had deeply moved an innocent butler’s heart.
“Still, there is a difference between having a mistress of the house and merely a butler to care for it. Now that this is also your residence, my lady, please visit often and look after it. I will serve you with all my devotion.”
At the entrance to the bathing room, Ben bowed deeply and opened the door.
“Yes. I look forward to working with you, Ben.”
Responding kindly, Agatha entered the bathing room guided by a maid.
The private bath for the head of the household had a charming wooden floor in places.
A bathtub filled with hot water sat directly beneath the window.
On one side were various items such as scented oils and a resting area. As the maid helped her remove clothes that quickly became damp from the warm steam, she spoke.
“My lady, shall I open the window?”
“Yes, do.”
A gentle evening breeze flowed in from outside, where the sun had almost set.
As Agatha sank into the tub filled with flower petals and sachets, a newly arrived maid presented a tray.
“My lord instructed that this be brought.”
While receiving a massage, she checked the tray. There was chilled white wine, thinly sliced grilled beef, cheese, and bite-sized fruits.
Looking out the window, Agatha sampled the light foods.
Small, soft bites. A body immersed in warm water, and cool white wine.
The only thing missing here was the view. There was a garden directly below the bath, but all she could see were green trees.
Nothing else.
This must have been the shortcoming the butler mentioned. The Aratus residence had been neglected for ten years, and there were limits to how much a butler alone could manage.
“If the garden were beautiful, it would be even nicer.”
“I’m sorry, my lady. I did try…”
“I’m not blaming you. This is the mistress’s role. Still, I’m in a good mood.”
After fully enjoying her bath, Agatha left the bathing room. During the brief meal and relaxation, her fatigue had already melted away.
Maids who had naturally become part of Nobilis’s inner circle attended to her.
“Which do you like, my lady?”
“Hmm, that one.”
After some thought, she chose a thin slip with a touch of lace. Draping a long robe over it and following the leading maid, she naturally began to feel tense.
Tonight was their first night. And the place she was heading to was his bedroom, which she was seeing for the first time.
Passing the inner door guarded by knights, she stopped in front of the bedroom. Knock, knock—the maid knocked on her behalf.
“My lord. My lady has arrived.”
“Bring her in.”
A deep, heavy voice flowed from beyond the door.
“We will take our leave now, my lady.”
“All right.”
The door closed behind her.
Once inside, Agatha quietly looked around the bedroom. Black and gray, blue and white were harmoniously mixed.
An antique yet still, cool-scented bedroom.
There, already bathed, Enoch was leaning against a table, wearing a robe like hers.
When he saw Agatha, he silently held out his hand.
“Did you wait long?”
“Not particularly.”
The soft carpet brushed beneath her thin slippers.
As she took his hand and stood before him, his thick, muscular arm wrapped around her waist.
Placed onto Enoch’s thigh, Agatha instinctively grabbed his robe.
“I didn’t wait very long.”
The man pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek and lifted her thigh.
“Did the refreshments I sent suit your taste?”
“…They were good.”
“I’m glad.”
The man smiled softly and walked straight toward the bed. Beneath the bright moonlight, the curtains fluttered gently.
She had never imagined he would be this forward.
Agatha let out a trembling breath and buried her reddened face in his shoulder.
Soon, the curtains were drawn aside.
