ETDO Chapter 48

I was nestled tightly against Ethan’s chest in the narrow bed. A single bed occupied the small room adjacent to his study.

Originally intended for short rests during work, since early yesterday morning, this bed had been relegated to a tool for indulging in our wanton lust.

We lay there, a thin blanket covering our naked bodies, still stained with various fluids and semen. Ethan’s cock, hardening again, pressed against my stomach, but I was too exhausted to move so I simply lay there with my eyes closed.

A large hand gently stroked my shoulder and back as I rested my head on his arm. Lately, Ethan had become much more affectionate, always gently caressing and kissing my body after our passionate lovemaking.

His cock, nestled between our intertwined legs, pressed uncomfortably against my lower abdomen, and I shifted in his arms. I heard a soft chuckle above me.

“Ethan.”

I murmured softly, my eyes still closed.

“Hmm?”

“Tell me stories about when you were little.”

“What kind of stories?”

“Anything. A funny secret, something like that.”

“A secret?”

“Yes.”

I nuzzled my cheek against his firm chest, keeping my eyes closed.

“Even trivial things are fine. Anything that only we know, a secret between us in this world.”

“A secret only we know…”

He rested his lips on my forehead, lost in thought. I fidgeted in the cramped space, but it was useless unless the bed magically grew wider.

“Lily, I can’t think with you squirming like this.”

Ethan’s amused chuckle drifted down from above. I buried my face in his chest again and mumbled.

“Then hurry up. This thing keeps poking me in this already narrow bed.”

The bed shook with his suppressed laughter. I felt him getting up, and then my body was lifted into the air.

I yelped in surprise, clinging to his neck. Ethan had already put on his robe. He held me close and wrapped my naked body in my bedroom gown I wore last night before coming to his study.

“What are you doing?”

“Bath time.”

He carried me towards the third floor. The master bathroom was already filled with steam as if he had prepared it in advance. Hot water sloshed invitingly in the bathtub.

We entered the water together. The hot water enveloped me, a comforting warmth that almost made me groan. It felt just like when I had soaked in the bath after our first time together.

As I splashed water on my face, Ethan pulled me closer. He settled me on top of him in the water. As I rested my head on his broad chest, he poured warm water over my shoulders and arms, the parts of me exposed above the water.

I closed my eyes, enjoying the sensation of the remnants of our passionate night being washed away. Ethan’s gentle hand caressed me as he continued to pour water over me. Then, he suddenly spoke in a low voice.

“You know we met when we were little, right?”

I was drifting off to sleep, lulled by the warmth and the lingering exhaustion from our passionate night, but his words startled me awake.

“Huh? When we were little?”

“After Arthur and you met for the first time, I met you too. You don’t remember, though.”

I see. 

I remembered what Lady Wellington had told me. It was to be expected, considering the twins shared everything. Trying to sound indifferent, I asked,

“Mmm… Really?”

“Arthur came and bragged about it. He said he saw a real princess, just like in fairy tales. So I pestered him to let me see you.”

He poured more warm water over my chest.

“You really were just like how they describe princesses in storybooks. I remember staring at you for a long time, fascinated by your black hair, pale skin, red lips, and those fascinating golden eyes. You sat next to me, chattering nonstop.”

I was wide awake now, intrigued by this story I had heard for the first time.

“I asked if you were a real princess because you looked like one, but you insisted you weren’t. With your big, round eyes wide open like a little white rabbit. I could almost see your pointy rabbit ears twitching.”

Ethan whispered behind my ear, his tongue licking my earlobe. I shivered at the ticklish sensation, shrugging and squirming, trying to push him away, but he ignored me and moved even closer.

“Then you saw the box in my hand and asked if it was a present for you.”

“A present box?”

He nodded.

“It was quite large and had a ribbon on it like a present, but it wasn’t actually a gift. It was a new toy I had just bought that day. But you, little miss, spoke so confidently, as if you were entitled to it, that I involuntarily nodded.”

“S-so?”

Ethan’s lips, which had been tickling my ear, trailed down to my neck. I squirmed from the ticklish sensation and managed to ask,

“And what did that cheeky rabbit say?”

“That cheeky rabbit said that if I gave it to her, she would forgive me for stealing from her apple tree yesterday.”

His words reminded me of a story Arthur had told me once. Now, understanding how it all connected, I was intrigued.

“So what happened?”

“Well…”

Ethan hesitated. When I looked up at him questioningly, he shrugged and continued.

“Like I said, it was actually a new toy. It was packaged in a box like a present, and something pops out when you open it…”

“Oh? What… what popped out?”

I stared at him, a puzzled expression on my face. 

Ethan avoided my gaze and mumbled.

“Um… A jack-in-the-box.”

“What?”

My jaw dropped. I finally understood what he was talking about.

I had seen one of those once. A box that, when opened, a grotesque goblin with a bright red tongue sticking out would suddenly spring out.

They sold them in nicely painted wooden boxes with ribbons, making them look like real presents. The advertisement I had seen boasted that this made them even more effective. No doubt, poor girls like me were their usual victims.

“So what happened next?”

As I pressed him for details, Ethan continued to avoid my gaze and mumbled.

“Well… what do you think? You screamed and cried… but just I laughed…”

I glared at him, speechless. 

Seriously? Whose memory is this supposed to be for?

“Wow… Really…!”

“But then Arthur appeared out of nowhere and scolded me.”

“Arthur did?”

I was surprised. 

Ethan nodded. He continued, pouring more warm water over my shoulders

“He allowed me to meet you, but he must have been worried. He was hiding and watching us. I guess he didn’t expect me to show you the new toy I had just bought. So, I got a huge scolding from Arthur that day.”

I finally chuckled and nodded.

“Good job, Arthur.”

Ethan chuckled at my praise, which sounded like I was scolding a child.

“But actually, you were the most formidable one out of the three of us. Arthur wasn’t there when it happened, so he didn’t know about it.”

“Me? Why?”

I tilted my head. 

Was there more to the story?

“The next time we met, you said that since you had been subjected to such a mean prank for no reason, you deserved compensation. You even threatened to tell my grandfather if I didn’t.”

My jaw dropped again. I was bewildered by how different my younger self, whom I couldn’t even remember, seemed to be from my current self. 

Had I been more audacious back then?

“S-so?”

“You demanded that I show at least some sincerity, whatever I had on me.”

“I really did that? No way!”

I turned around sharply, finding it hard to believe. 

Me? The timid Lily? There was no way I would ever have done that. 

But Ethan’s expression, which I expected to be amused, was unexpectedly serious.

“I told you you were like a rabbit, remember? But do you know how scary rabbits actually are? Their docile and weak appearance is all a facade.”

“What?”

What was he talking about? Is the rabbit he’s talking about the same rabbit I know? The one with fluffy white fur? 

As I tilted my head in confusion, Ethan murmured as if reminiscing about a distant past.

“The son of the stable master at the Ducal mansion used to raise a few rabbits. Actually, people don’t know this… but the docile rabbits you imagine are actually very rare. Most of them are quite short-tempered and surprisingly aggressive. If they’re annoyed, they don’t care who you are. They’ll bite anything.”

“How does a precious young master from a distinguished Ducal family know that?”

When I asked with wide eyes, Ethan suddenly smacked his lips and averted his gaze. I realized something as I looked at him, seemingly embarrassed.

“You got bitten before?! By a rabbit?”

A wide grin spread across my face as soon as I imagined the formidable Ethan being bitten by a small rabbit. Glancing down at my amused expression, Ethan grumbled in displeasure.

“That was a long time ago before I even met you. I was much younger then.”

“Of course, of course it must have been. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been bitten. But tell me anyway, I’m really curious.”

With a sullen look on his face, he reluctantly began to confess.

“If they’re annoyed, they’ll chase you to the ends of the earth and bite you. They’re really aggressive. And their kicks are no joke.”

He must be speaking from experience. 

I chuckled, feeling a sense of satisfaction as I watched Ethan explain, still grumbling.