Chapter 20
Chapter 20.
Agatha, who had boarded the carriage heading to the Aratus mansion in the capital with Enoch, leaned back on the sofa.
“You must be tired?”
“I imagine my lady 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 the thin stockings, Enoch's large, firm hands could be felt clearly.
“How is it?”
As his thick fingers pressed a certain spot on the sole of her foot, her muscles relaxed, and a tingling sensation like electricity flowed through her. Wherever his fingers moved, such sensations followed in a line.
Agatha kept her lips tightly shut, passively entrusting only her feet to him.
If she opened her mouth, she felt like a strange sound might escape.
The hands that had finished with her feet now moved up to her calves. Agatha could no longer bear it and placed her hand on Enoch’s shoulder.
“It’s alright now.”
“Your calves are quite tense as well.”
“Still.”
Enoch, looking at his wife’s flushed face, let go of her feet. The man’s eyes, as he picked up the shoes, remained fixed on her swollen feet.
“Enoch?”
“……”
After he had put her shoes back on her small, wiggling feet, he whispered in a low voice.
“Have you been having a difficult time with external matters lately?”
“Hm? No. Nothing like that.”
Wondering why he would suddenly bring this up, Agatha recalled the existence of Fernand, whom she had forgotten.
Her ex-husband, who was said to be representing the unofficial delegation from the Mainyucor side this time.
For a moment, Agatha’s body tensed imperceptibly. The man, who had looked up at her briefly, sat up and added casually.
“I know it wasn’t your intention, but your words about wanting to entrust external affairs entirely to me for the time being felt sincere.”
“……”
“If not, that would be fine too. Please tell me if you need help, Agatha.”
Agatha watched the man slowly turn his gaze towards the window and hesitated for a moment, her lips parting.
“I think I’m alright for now. Thank you for your concern.”
He was a man with incredibly sharp intuition. Should she consider him good at understanding her in such a short period? No, was he observing her closely?
‘I didn’t think I was showing anything obvious.’
Giving someone authority and deferring an answer was a common tactic in high society.
She had thought everyone assumed she was deferring answers by making excuses about her husband.
‘Perhaps Fernand’s involvement was that shocking…….’
Considering she had thought about her second marriage, which was unlike her, it seemed plausible.
If she felt this way now, she wondered how she would fare when meeting him during negotiations.
While Agatha was lost in thought, the carriage sped diligently towards the Aratus mansion in the capital.
“Welcome, Master, Mistress. Welcome to the Aratus mansion.”
In front of the main residence, the head butler, Ben, was waiting with the servants. Agatha, who alighted from the carriage with Enoch’s escort, nodded lightly.
“I am pleased by your warm welcome. It will only be for one night, but please take good care of us, Ben.”
“I will serve you with all my heart, Mistress.”
The reason for coming to the Aratus mansion in the capital today was that the second mansion in the capital, Nobilis, which was to be used as their honeymoon residence, was not yet fully repaired.
Her first visit to her husband’s mansion on their wedding night.
“This way, my lady.”
Agatha took Enoch’s hand and stepped into the main residence, which shone elegantly even in the darkness.
Like the mansions of other prestigious families passed down through generations, the Aratus house had high ceilings and a vast hall.
Perhaps because it had undergone recent renovations, the interior felt both antique and new. As Agatha followed Enoch, she discreetly surveyed the mansion.
Tapestries woven with the family crest of an eagle, sword decorations, and suits of armor.
The corridor, furnished with minimal decoration, exuded his disposition.
Enoch stopped in front of a room with the most beautiful and intricately carved door in the central corridor that spanned the third floor.
“The place you will be staying tonight is my room.”
Huh?
“Please come in.”
Agatha, who had naturally expected to stay in the room of the former Marchioness, stepped inside the opened door with him, her face bewildered.
Her bewilderment was brief.
As Agatha entered the inner chamber, her cheeks flushed slightly.
It was a room that seemed to reflect this man. The interior, with clean white as the base, was furnished with only essential pieces like thin tapestries, a wooden table, and a leather sofa.
The only slightly unusual item was the liquor cabinet placed in one corner.
“Would you like to wash first?”
Agatha nodded reflexively. He commanded, unfastening his shirt collar and chain.
“I will guide my lady to a more convenient location.”
“Understood.”
Agatha, guided by the waiting head butler, Ben, headed towards the bathroom.
The grand mansion, brightly lit by the reflection of lanterns and jewels, possessed a considerable antique and serene charm even when empty, with only its architecture.
“The mansion is lovely.”
“It is all thanks to the Mistress’s prior consideration.”
“Me?”
“Did you not send gold before your marriage, knowing the Master’s difficulties?”
Ah.
Agatha now understood why the head butler of Aratus had been so courteous and respectful from their first meeting.
Her quick preparation of the ransom money to help Enoch had touched the butler’s heart.
“Still, there is a difference between having the lady of the house present and merely having a butler look after things. This is now the Mistress’s mansion as well, so please visit often and tend to it. I will assist you with all my heart.”
Arriving in front of the bathroom, the butler, Ben, bowed deeply and opened the door.
“Yes. I will rely on you in the future, Ben.”
Agatha responded kindly and entered the bathroom, guided by a maid.
The master’s private bathroom had a wooden floor that added to its charm.
A bathtub filled with hot water was placed directly beneath the window.
On one side, various items, including perfumes, and a resting area were prepared. As the maid removed her damp clothes in the warm steam, she spoke.
“Mistress. Shall I open the window?”
“Please do.”
A warm breeze flowed in from outside, where the sun had almost set.
As she sank into the bathtub filled with flower petals and sachets, a newly arrived maid presented a tray.
“The Master ordered this to be brought.”
While receiving a massage, Agatha examined the tray. It held chilled white wine, thinly sliced grilled beef, cheese, and bite-sized fruits.
Agatha looked out the window and tasted the unpretentious food.
Small, soft morsels. Her body submerged in warm water and the cool white wine.
The only thing lacking here was the scenery. There was a garden directly below the bathroom, but only green trees were visible.
Nothing.
This must be the deficiency the butler had mentioned. The Aratus mansion had been neglected for ten years, and the butler had limitations in tending to it.
“It would have been even more beautiful if the garden were lovely.”
“I apologize, Mistress. I did try my best……”
“I am not blaming you. This is the role of the lady of the house. Still, I feel good.”
Agatha enjoyed her bath to her heart’s content and left the bathroom. While she ate and enjoyed herself lightly, her fatigue had already dissipated.
Maids from Nobilis, who had naturally blended in, attended to her.
“Which one do you prefer, Mistress?”
“Hmm, that one.”
After careful consideration, she chose a thin slip with a touch of lace. As she followed the maid, who put on a long robe over it, she naturally felt a sense of tension.
Today was their wedding night. Moreover, she was heading to his bedroom for the first time.
Passing the inner chamber door guarded by knights, they stood before the bedroom. Knock, knock. The maid knocked on the door for her.
“Master. The Mistress has arrived.”
“Bring her in.”
A deep baritone voice flowed from beyond the door.
“We shall take our leave now, Mistress.”
“Thank you.”
The door closed behind her.
Agatha, having entered the room, quietly surveyed the bedroom. It was a room with a proper mix of black, gray, blue, and white.
An antique yet static bedroom, smelling of coolness.
There, Enoch, who had bathed earlier, was leaning against a table, wearing the same robe as her.
Upon seeing Agatha, he wordlessly extended his hand.
“Have you been waiting long?”
“Not particularly.”
Soft carpet brushed against her thin slippers.
As she took his hand and stood before him, his muscular, thick arms wrapped around Agatha’s waist.
Agatha, who was then seated on Enoch’s lap, instinctively clutched his robe.
“I did not wait very long.”
The man, who kissed her cheek gently, lifted Agatha by her thighs.
“Did the refreshments I sent up suit your taste?”
“……They were delicious.”
“I am glad.”
The man, chuckling softly, walked directly to the bed. The canopy swayed under the bright moonlight.
She had never imagined he would be so proactive.
Agatha let out a trembling breath and buried her flushed face in his shoulder.
Soon, the canopy was drawn back.
