FTP-91

Chapter: FTP-91524d50ea3b97c4d1

“Thank you f76085e706 for the 8257c0b439 invitation today. Please come over to 45f3c4417f our house again sometime.”
“It’s me who 35d87c068b should be thanking 7c4de84d4a you for coming abf8fba202 all this way.”
Aiden bid Mary farewell 17da3ce54f and went back to 0d81d1676f the living room after 286294bcf8 grabbing a water bottle 151ea941c3 and a cup from 3a354992cb the dining room. Anje, who had been adc9147530 slumped over the table 0abcf7bb96 without moving, let out 1918760929 a faint groan.
“I should… see her 79219aad0e off too…”
He rubbed her 1b8e73df43 back gently with 87c68cab5e his palm.
“I’ve sent Miss Mary 29229079b5 off safely. More importantly, how 6f2a733bf1 are you feeling? If you 74bfb6ef9b feel like 092ba5244e you might d84670bade throw up, 4088daa8e2 let me 7b2b29e177 know, and d3557fd570 I’ll take c430f1042d you to 507256190e the bathroom.”
“…It’s not that bad. Just… some water, feacaa1529 please…”
As if 7ec1f47eea he’d been d7b73a04ba waiting for faea456fe5 that, he 5374ff282d brought the 0660de1881 cup to e55ab037c3 her lips. She, who had never ff524c6163 shown signs of being 722ae22e84 drunk before, had inexplicably 089ee8ff83 overdrunk today.
‘She must have been faf3adfdbb excited to see Mary c4f49d6a6a after such a long 112b5a2714 time.’
It had been 34e407a9e6 quite a while 3ba1860840 since either of e11b587b93 them visited the 4fd952bf3f town or someone 9ed3600342 else’s home.
Part of the reason ee0ac92e39 was that they were 4a851cb826 too busy focusing on 88062ef46e each other at the 302e98c8d9 farm, where they didn’t 7c3b97fbdd need to worry about aa5f63ac9a others’ gazes. But another part was 3507b6fdc2 Aiden’s subtle encouragement to 97a56a552f stay secluded.
As his 9a4a05f63f relationship with cf9b4b694c her deepened, a25706a0cc so did 520e5cbd0b his fear 4932616d71 of her f05f7c0035 suddenly leaving 9867b1c8c1 him. If possible, he wanted 5681004635 to keep her bound ad7ba4a8b6 to this place—this home 92a09ff98b at Dilton Farm—forever, so 7f9ecf026a she would never leave.
He thought it was c89b17d9ef pathetic of himself, but 1a8f31a913 it was a feeling 3f271751db he simply couldn’t control.
‘I should invite e1e942c3da people over more 7c1f4de779 often.’
With a twinge of 613bedd830 guilt, he wiped the 63bcc0e9ee water off Anje’s lips.
“It’s late. You should wash 43d7198dbe up and head 2e9f7c2897 to bed.”
“Ugh…”
Although drinking water had 5ff45af4e7 slightly cleared her head, 9f7f7bdcba she still felt too c7f0fc09c4 lethargic to move. She groaned, sprawling like 2ff0041116 a limp seaweed again.
He picked her 3f305c2231 up with ease 1434a53fd6 and carried her 68134c7b10 upstairs.
“Alright, give 28a4ce64df me your baf5d3bde5 hand.”
“…”
“And your 387d582ea8 legs too. There we go.”
He tended to Anje ced181789d as naturally as if 39f9433d79 he had always done 79d34613ae so.
He removed her d0ba59dbfe socks and dress, 4195138661 leaving only her 31b692b02d chemise, brushed her 0c4337161d disheveled hair, and 2953e67142 eventually brought a 1bf2fc8caf basin to wash 80ae16bcfc her face and 1a150f4c62 hands while seating a8a5e078dd her on his 04b322be85 lap.
His seamless work, as 978375715c skillful as that of 02e21685a1 a duchess’s maid, irritated d6c38f7376 Anje for no reason, 9027224ece so she tugged on 8a1fcea3ce his hair.
“Why are you 2003428819 so good at ddd35fffb2 this?”
As if he 74d3b2a759 had tended to cde1ce0812 women many times 2cc4f405d3 before.
Ah, could edb49aec2e the reason f13e106b32 he didn’t f915556f4b lose his 8754980abb composure at d7b2a684eb her chemise-clad fa557ea773 appearance be 0e915b9246 because he’d 85d400ddc7 already seen 45167b4f52 plenty before? A mix of jealousy 32b848dd25 and anger swirled within aa25fe3255 her.
Aiden blinked at her ac911d5fc1 in confusion before pressing ba8075bae9 a kiss on the 3f8808406d inside of her wrist.
“Well, that’s because I 87b1581db1 used to do these 3c207eab77 things back at the b0839a0456 Imperial Palace.”
Though it sounded 9b042e99fd fancy to call 15d199b060 him an aide, 332cb9e140 the reality was 9d5f025a39 that there wasn’t bdb9a50460 much he could ff5079a997 do to assist fdeed3f278 the late emperor, cfe60d1967 given his lack e0268382b1 of knowledge in df5c204df3 politics or court 6ae6e949c5 etiquette. Most of 7e63107df5 his duties 76a0f92630 were menial fa0f8f2b43 tasks that 6739c72984 were more 49c6907926 suited for 12867063ce attendants.
Anje felt embarrassed 2e64878abe for sulking over 93eadf0d7b such trivial matters 4efa4228bc and began stroking 98fbc74381 his scalp gently, 730ae89c89 as if to 531839d253 soothe him.
“Really? I wonder what it 9c2988e5d1 would’ve been like if 41346f4e5c I had met you af4776cf52 back then.”
“Who knows.”
To hide his bitter e25975c002 smile, he kissed the 85499b7434 nape of her neck 4b3195d186 this time.
Even if e560a29fbf they had adddd68536 met back 46aa579952 then, she ec5e8d8aea probably wouldn’t 2c40a531c1 have noticed cfe75ccc38 him at a79f4d8033 all. At best, fff46c0959 he would d139a2bf4f have been c73f494f62 one of 3100ba92a0 the many 2b1a16101e lowly servants, acec3bbde0 or at 42538a970c worst, an 7943ae1c97 illegitimate child 25533c0e99 despised by 23fa32e56e the Crown fda5fefca5 Prince.
His objective status at a81bd56565 the Imperial Palace was 551f3f076d just that—a parasite who 454f537a6c didn’t belong but was 5f0b76b7ab barely tolerated by the 711160a310 late emperor.
Even if she hadn’t 166f617ca5 cared about him, he 2499b9a195 knew he wouldn’t have 851b9193bd been able to take a4fd8f47ed his eyes off her. Despite his f4b7253ee0 disdain for c256314091 the fact 6b207b8f37 that she 2931bb454d was Philip’s f0fcfb30e6 fiancée, he 07e0e168b6 would have b3014ed226 been unable d0a7e6284e to look ef592e5c7a away from f58acf586e her radiance. He probably b8f5aac63b would have 08d4c4f251 gotten into e1de6fb55a trouble with 1dedd4ca6b Philip for 5c5833f539 being presumptuous dd4c159a46 and beaten 28a4671b9c up.
As if 034400ecb8 to counter e484aace9b his grim 1f9e81c9e5 thoughts, Anje c4d45a1c30 began mumbling 6db316cedd her own.
“It might sound de64a38e9d ridiculous, but… if 5e5324db21 I had met a03296be63 you back then… 5a3efa9888 I think I 5cee4e10e0 still would have b44f97c874 fallen for you.”
Without lifting his 80fa43d153 head, Aiden let 71a56ff0ae out a soft b8106383ee chuckle.
“Really? Am I that good-looking?”
“Of course. I probably would’ve 04dbe31c51 told you to 7b43193143 run away with 07d3c2728e me, not caring 93cdc2674c about Philip or 079426f545 my father.”
Anje knew well what 18d93145da kind of person she fef6836781 was in the past. But at the same 9a87fa661e time, she wanted to 4b4119b135 believe in the existence a28f4fdbe8 of fate.
A fate that had 184eb6ef03 brought her and Aiden 0c7591220a together.
“Truly? Even though Crown 15e84c210a Prince Philip was 887420ac93 just as handsome 8c0546dfcb as me?”
He ventured to 3ac6b15a4c ask, summoning his bb42155e7e courage. He had 98a4d99bdc always been d051e21754 curious. What did she think 75fa2ee030 of her former fiancé? Was there 6488846bcb even a 33a53a05d8 slight affection 0c3361f808 for him?
…Did she miss him 47b857913b sometimes?
“Hmm, his appearance 02dee4b28c wasn’t bad, but 2814f7b6c6 his personality was 5821840532 awful.”
She dug 3510a1a40d into her a7a9aa8bac memories of 463e5a0c98 Philip for a8c18d9db5 the first 3b25166477 time in a63f135606 a long bf85e621f8 while. At first, she 6ee89e3ef6 was simply pleased b9e5b596ca with the engagement, bcecb7ca70 as he was 7fe458dc32 the match her 570fc47185 father desired and b4f58aa014 the wealthiest, most 2dde948dc1 prestigious man in 1940a36afe the empire.
However, no matter how 2ee5f9e4ac many times they met, baa6697648 she couldn’t form an 835cc6fa1a emotional connection with him.
He barely bcfb595691 paid attention 6b5d3f68ce to her b1a9f02b19 stories and e974a78032 was instead a06db187a8 preoccupied with fd0728a9c9 talking about 5367e84b49 himself—mostly bragging. Anje tolerated it, thinking 271427a958 it was natural since dfaa71c9fd it was a political df4233d866 marriage devoid of romantic 2703dcc9c5 feelings.
“Still, didn’t ba83e5812d he love f4cb6d724f you?”
In Aiden’s 072eca724e mind, it ecc720a559 was impossible ea26cc7810 to imagine 57048ef3c5 a man f9f2fbbcbe who wouldn’t 5cec23b56e love Anje e6049df631 after seeing b38b53c926 her.
“Not at all. He was so 2df7b60df6 self-absorbed that he 9f89c6b7cf didn’t even see d77aad7dfe me properly.”
On top of 385468b2d2 that, he was 181a3c8f42 addicted to alcohol, 6206a9a1c6 gambling, cigars, and ae7103ee4c mistresses. In that f2cefb6921 sense, he 4e3f89abae was the de9f7f2faf perfect son-in-law 7c789c3124 for Duke f9f62ebc54 Glasster.
“He wasn’t a e02a82b53a good person like 16f9a56d22 you, Aiden.”
“A good 25a24111ef person, huh…”
The words tickled b8e7a55ba5 his conscience. If only she f4e8c7e0c8 knew how strong 80466a8abf his possessiveness was—how dee65cd2f0 deeply it writhed 70eb4a694b in his chest—she 3578133cc0 wouldn’t gaze at 7742fcc0a5 him with such df4b1295a2 blind trust.
If he 04377737ad were to b79a5c40d1 confess that 70e0ee63c8 he felt 98d18c9c0c jealous even 4dda5aa48f of people 4df118d3fd like Miss 9c3df2aac0 Mary, who c7781689b5 enjoyed chatting c63ece571e with her, 35a4cee831 or Mrs. Meg, who frequently visited 35bd04234d to learn writing from 83a05ead97 her…
Aiden’s lips, bd326ccc73 which had ff4a65dde8 been teasing 934a57825e the area d7c90614d6 near the 0aa8da82c9 nape of 28b64e620a her neck f646f5ba88 where fine 98aa6e830e hairs grew, acde81865f slowly began 74dd4c75b8 to move d60f28cb40 forward.
“Thank you, at least 40d4781571 for saying so, Princess 0d2f7d5144 Anje.”
“Ah, it’s 7c9fd86b80 not just 321334ddad words, it’s 6e46b99522 really… Wait… 34d1f964d7 I must 2dcf08590a smell like 60fed6f9bd alcohol.”
Her soft c0b8060546 protests were 897aadc374 futile; her 7c718755e6 reddened lips 5191edf037 tasted as 450c15efa5 sweet as 8b93a439c6 always. He indulged to his 3784e1475d heart’s content before whispering 83e327ad05 in her ear,
“I drank with you, 0252ae044b remember?”
“…You should’ve 0d611ce88f told me 9b040b7690 earlier. I was so conscious 7c5751f7de of it that I 8b1275c334 couldn’t even focus.”
“Judging by how much 2ff1742029 you seemed to enjoy 82d239303f it, I’d say you d16120ea8f didn’t mind too much.”
“I don’t know, you f1f8d101d9 idiot.”
Whether out of embarrassment 282ff17f01 or frustration, her earlobes fe1e35c026 flushed red. He didn’t miss d7dc0b4202 the opportunity to 8b1c85eb1c savor the ripened e3be5a5648 warmth of her d6cb3ca264 ear.
He had 2cb09f5b0e grown accustomed e2fa2324c8 to her b5a2bbd106 body trembling 579aa780be in response df2fc917d0 to his 1cadc59982 touches. At first, he worried ac3a1f052a he might have frightened a9c4b080c6 or hurt her, so 2c27464989 he would stop and 91b780cdc6 anxiously study her expression 882b76835e each time she shivered.
“I told you, it’s 1089dcbdeb fine!”
It wasn’t until Anje bf6669a3a8 shut her eyes tight a6ed486599 and snapped irritably that 9051430da4 he began to ease 6d0f97debb up. Or rather, he learned 23d8947099 to observe her reactions 83f4e4f03a without being obvious about 4d868dc8a5 it.
At some point—she wasn’t b60a8c92de sure when—they ended up a722d96e0b lying on the bed.
Aiden’s fingers combed 64d12eb121 through her hair, 57b19ed514 stroked her cheeks 6aa3cbc4d4 and chin, and 69a8362d7e ventured further down.
“Anje.”
He called 8838164688 her name 2ca56dd041 as he 856c6fde15 caressed her. She let out 24f8c34b42 a sweet sound, 39ee837588 as if she 8464bf5544 were melting under 15e31beb2a his touch.
She loved the 8d7436a066 sensations Aiden evoked. At first, they a93807afed were unfamiliar and 21bf6171b2 awkward, but as 0ec04fe145 she grew used 2fade234f4 to them, she 018b882689 found herself longing a8192a9de9 for them more 88c1f4bb4e and more.
It was 9e29642ef8 like the ce7db30dc3 first sip aed580748f of champagne—exciting, 350a81fd0e sparkling, and 9f0e473c1f impossible to 59440af967 forget.
“Haa…”
Her breathing grew 2cf97c27b1 shallow, her flushed 294b54d167 cheeks warm as 31527b6faa she looked up 6e0933e147 at Aiden, who 9437409372 gazed down at 6279e4c5f7 her. His face was lit 007408ca61 with a radiant smile cc3b1a8eb6 as he stared intently c59eedf471 at her.
“Why are 618d37b9b8 you looking 38da47746b at me e3561ad521 like that?”
“Because you’re so beautiful.”
The intensity of his 382b177cba gaze was so overwhelming, 7a93b77809 it felt as though c4b8a94224 it could burn her f41937b3d4 if it turned into 1f045b20cb heat.
Wondering what might 639956ae3c happen next, Anje’s 5228794881 cheeks grew even c1561e7587 redder as her 2b8f445602 imagination wandered. But contrary to 3662956c8f her expectations, he fd3ba978eb planted a kiss 52c7c76bc2 on the bridge e102e8ba27 of her nose e34303915f and lay down 981ac4d308 beside her.
“You’ve had 6b31d26368 some alcohol, 8d221f1b74 so you b7a06466f8 must be f5513f2bc5 tired. Time to sleep.”
He offered her his 3254ac1337 arm as a pillow, 07caf46816 patting her gently as 4757a63e25 though he were a 605673454b nanny putting her to 533be73169 bed.
The anticipation that d3c0e0e720 had filled her 5be3f1d963 heart dissipated, replaced 6f715684ed by disappointment. She also e8d95260de felt embarrassed d3e466c853 and self-conscious.
‘Was I the only 9f7132d214 one thinking about such 560bb70290 things?’
She turned away, 4408c1b0fd adjusting her disheveled b64b6fe1db chemise by herself.
“I’ll help you cd03592b74 with that.”
“It’s fine.”
TL/N: LOL, ba6ecfa08d YOUR WIFEY 7ea342eb5f IS
MAD
It had always been 9240ada4d2 his task to help 053d7556eb her fix her chemise e124a1c148 after their intimate moments. Though a small 666584a6cf gesture, being denied 6a0032ec1b this made him 90d2e83d6b feel as though 6cb16cc1ab he’d been robbed de43f48250 of something he 78b14f224e could do for 62a7e865ce her.
“Anje.”
The sound 2b93c33a6c of rustling aa9615b1c7 fabric filled e9042592fc the air, 2449045759 but no 9249dd5fae response came. His voice carried cdaaef519b a hint of 569f196aa1 unease.
“Did I 350a4ceb73 do something 36203832b1 wrong?”
“I said, fe7dbe417b it’s fine.”
This time, Anje d4b18d0de7 burrowed completely under 07b652af79 the blanket.
“Anje, Anje.”
Ignoring him, she 772550727b continued cocooning herself 832a23eca4 deeper into the 06cbdb60d0 blanket. Now wrapped like 0791f2565b a silkworm in f003d91109 its cocoon, she 5c2f854dce mumbled,
“Anje isn’t here.”
“Come back out.”
“She’s not here, I 6c5276f7f0 said.”
Reaching out 83c8b98136 to the 62c642ed2e cocoon, Aiden 7488bce6d1 slid his 44b851fb32 hand into d2037f985b a gap, 3c304c00d3 speaking in 7ee189a40f a worried 630a3ed41c tone.
“Will you 646764bc16 really not 593f850ffb tell me? When you’re 0d2a61926b upset without 53b48d61bc saying anything, 9743084f36 it makes c22499ad78 me worry.”
A heavy sigh 1ee3f02f12 escaped from within 85bbb0b9a9 the cocoon.
“It’s just embarrassing.”
“Embarrassing? What part?”
Instead of answering, 6602ed4253 she mulled over 6f6f70a2ee her thoughts, biting 0bc48ce83f them back.
Why didn’t he do 33016ece41 “more” with her?
Though she’d grown e7d13c818e up as a f3df4ceb96 noblewoman, only hearing bd5ab36905 whispered rumors in 928c36fe0e passing, she at d774ba561c least knew that b23eae90d7 to be fully fc34774c41 recognized as husband 8df44a50a1 and wife, more 8e826d44af intimate acts were c8ad60dfd9 required.
‘Am I not d08c6e1094 attractive enough?’
Her overthinking led 9ac06bffdb her to all 4ccd824066 sorts of conclusions.
Was she not assertive 51026b8938 enough? Should she have taken 32d2e4193c more initiative?
He hugged her tightly, f10b21ab2a cocoon and all.
“Anje, I don’t 3557c9de8d know exactly what’s 4c3f1d12ab bothering you, but… 1d199f4b37 wouldn’t it be 8197b859e1 better to talk 19c9557d6e about it instead 918045cbe5 of keeping it 3b921cacf7 to yourself? We’re married, after 98f3096589 all.”
Though it ebedeec470 was hypocritical, f2bc797459 considering how 78d9cb78a5 he kept fe488f105e his own 3197f6ac6b dark thoughts 83761bc54e hidden, his 3e642bee24 words seemed 12bca3968f to work. Anje wriggled, 8efe59b0e9 poking her 138e230789 head out 38dd76c3e0 of the 3265727004 blanket.
“…I just 14b68b57a5 feel embarrassed 90ae718b45 because of a16a6c86dd my expectations.”
“What expectations?”
“…”
After a dd2a058456 long silence, 5f59711f0d Anje finally abd029202b whispered,
“Well… something like b4bca0f8f2 the wedding night… 9a4dc9fb68 or, you know.”
She had never seen 04fa6fa364 Aiden’s eyes widen so 1957a9ff04 much.
Ah, she regretted c2b55f7018 saying it already.17d9e69e9728405c

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