Chapter 25

Elise nodded weakly, unable to lift her head or summon the strength. A shiver coursed through her body, despite the thick cloak that enveloped her. She couldn’t fathom why she felt so feverish, until she realized her hair was drenched. Not only her hair, but her entire body was damp from the plunge into the lake after the carriage accident. The cold seemed to seep into her bones, unyielding despite the layers of protection.

“We’re almost there. Please hold on a little longer,” came a voice.

Despite her bedraggled appearance, Elise realized her condition wasn’t as dire as she had feared. No injuries or bruises marred her body, and she could move without difficulty. It was a miracle, really. Had Andrei’s magic somehow shielded her from the impact?

A faint memory tugged at the fringes of her mind. When I fell into the lake, it felt like something was leaving my body, she thought. Was it possible that the barrier had failed to hold up, leaving her exposed and vulnerable?

She clenched her hand, searching for any indication of magical ability, but found none. Elise had always been painfully aware of her lack of magical prowess, a source of shame in a world where it was prized above all else.

If that was the case, then it seemed like the breaking of the barrier was just a hallucination, Elise mused. It was because the barrier that she was in was in such good shape.

With a determined cough, Elise managed to clear her throat, relieved to find her voice intact. “I can walk now. I’m fine,” she assured Rezette, though he regarded her as if she was crazy.

“You’re not okay. Even a knight wouldn’t come out of a fall from a cliff into a lake unscathed,” he pointed out, his tone firm.

“But I have no broken bones or injuries. My brother’s magic seems to have worked well,” Elise countered, feeling a pang of regret that she had wasted the barrier she had saved in case of any mishaps that might happen when spending the night with this man. It had served its purpose, however, shielding them from the onslaught of arrows that had rained down upon them.

“Please let me down,” she pleaded, hoping to convince Rezette to release her. “I’m feeling much better now, so it’s really okay.” Elise waited for his response, but Rezette remained silent. He found it pointless to answer to what he considered to be worthless words.

Elise sighed, shifting the topic. “Where are we going?” she inquired.

“We’ve arrived in a nearby town. We plan to stay here for a few days,” he replied, leading her into an inn. Ruben handed Rezette a key and informed him that the bathwater was being heated on the third floor.

“As soon as it’s ready, let me know,” Rezette instructed him.

“And the rations, sir…”

“And the rations… half a day. Until midnight. Don’t leave anyone behind. That includes you, Ruben.”

Rations? What rations? Elise was puzzled, but Ruben simply bowed and left, his expression stern.

Elise couldn’t help but ask, “Do the knights of Rotiara receive rations?” 

Rezette’s response was sharp and unsympathetic as he rushed up the steep staircase of the inn, leading them to a cozy third-floor room with a blazing fire. “They failed to do their duty and protect their master. They are only receiving the appropriate punishment, so don’t worry about it,” he said.

Elise thought he would let her down now, but Rezette surprised her by continuing to carry her inside, his arms still holding her close. He closed the door behind them, leaving Elise feeling bewildered as she looked around the room. Though it couldn’t be called luxurious, even in the most generous terms, it was a well-appointed bedroom, complete with everything one would need, certainly a far cry from a shack or a prison cell.

The duke’s voice was gruff as he spoke, “I heard Ivetsa hurt her arm.” The news seemed to darken Elise’s face, as she had hoped to avoid any injuries. However, she felt relieved that it was only her arm that was hurt. “Since there are no other female servants in the mansion, I will help for the time being,” he continued.

Elise was taken aback, “What? Female servants…?” she muttered in surprise. Rezette, who had been standing by her side, gently guided her to lie down on the circular carpet beside the bed. As his body warmth dissipated, Elise’s body began to tremble. “But sharing the same bedroom…” she trailed off, her mind racing.

“It’s not unusual for a husband and wife to share the same room,” Rezette replied, his tone firm. Elise’s cheeks flushed at the reminder that she was indeed married to the duke, despite their hasty arrangement.

As Elise pondered her predicament, the duke approached her and began to undo the layers of her robe that enveloped her. Startled, Elise instinctively blocked his hand. “I-I can do it,” she stammered.

Rezette observed her trembling form and spoke again, “Your body is an ice box. I can see how hard it is for you to lift a finger.” Elise was rendered speechless, unable to offer any resistance. Her arm, which had been blocking the duke’s hand, dropped limply to her side. Without wasting any time, Rezette covered Elise’s cheek with his palm. 

After a moment of intense heat, Elise realized how cold her body was now. The Grand Duke muttered something, and for a moment, Elise detected a hint of nervousness in his expression. “Your body temperature…” he trailed off, his gaze fixed on her.

Elise’s earlier insistence of being able to handle things on her own now seemed futile. Rezette deftly removed her soaking wet cloak, which made a heavy thud as it hit the ground. Her drenched dress was next, and he untied the waistband and undid the buttons from her collarbone to her spine in one fluid motion.

As the dress fell to the floor with a thud, Elise felt a weight lifted off her body. However, her chemise and undergarments were also drenched and translucent, offering no protection to her modesty. Her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment. It’s all going to be visible, she thought, pushing her wet hair aside in an attempt to cover herself.

But Rezette didn’t stop there. He fumbled behind her neck and unbuttoned her blouse before deftly grabbing both her underwear and blouse straps at once. Elise was taken aback by his sudden boldness, and she startled at his touch. “H-Hey…?” she protested, her voice trailing off as her heart raced.

As Elise shrank back, her prominent breastbone became even more pronounced within the transparent chemise. Rezette’s voice cut through her thoughts, “You shouldn’t keep wearing wet clothes,” and he draped a thick fur around her soaking wet body.

Gently, he slid his hand under the fur to remove the last piece of clothing that was sticking to her skin. “It will take time to heat up the water. If you keep waiting, your body temperature will keep dropping,” he explained.

Elise hesitated, unsure of what to do next. Suddenly, Rezette’s hand was lingering on her bare waist, and she gasped in surprise. She was now completely naked under the fur, and Rezette’s hand was still under it, touching her skin.

As she stood there, frozen in place, he let out a short, deep breath. “Grandel’s dragon, Sameshita, was known as a thunder dragon, but also had a flame attribute. I have the same ability,” he explained, his voice low and intense. Elise was left speechless, unable to find an excuse to refuse him. She was drawn in by Rezette’s embrace, unable to back away, as he used his power to warm her chilled body.

As Rezette held Elise’s back to keep her from retreating, his other hand slipped under the fur. Elise’s gaze wandered aimlessly, unsure of how to react to his touch as his fingers trailed down her spine, spreading warmth everywhere they touched. A dizzying sensation overcame her, perhaps from the sudden invasion of heat into her body.

This was the first time someone other than a maid had touched and caressed her in this way. But Elise realized that there were certain things she would have to do with this man in the future, and it didn’t make sense for her to be ashamed to show her naked body when she had boldly suggested being the first to bear his child. She tried to relax her body as much as possible, but every time his fingers moved, her body twitched involuntarily. Her mouth went dry, and her toes curled up on their own.

Rezette’s touch was agonizingly slow, and every path his fingers traced sent waves of sensation through her body. As Elise writhed in his arms, Rezette squeezed her tightly, almost as if he was tying her up.

“Stay still.”

His hand had already reached her thigh, and the heat on her bare skin was making her senses go into overdrive. She felt suffocated, not just because of his touch and the heat, but also because of his unsettling demeanor.

Elise took a small breath and lifted her head to look at him. His grip was so tight that she could only see his chiseled jawline. He was gritting his teeth hard.

Was he angry…?