Chapter 115

Chapter 115 – Honeymoon (2)

It was around sunset when we arrived at Hesarion. When we got off the carriage, I saw the villa manager and servants who had come out to meet me.

“Your Majesty, welcome. I am Cervan Kent, who is managing Hesarion.”

A middle-aged man with neatly ponytailed hair came to the front and greeted us.

“Baron Kent, I think this is the first time I’ve greeted you face to face.”

“I only saw Your Majesty from a distance during the coronation ceremony.”

Cervan gently curled his eyes. He mentioned that Hesarion would not be empty unless it were a major national event. Originally, he was going to attend this wedding though he couldn’t attend because we said we would travel here.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen the Empress. It’s an honor to meet such a precious person.”

He smiled benevolently and bowed his head to me.

“Nice to meet you. I heard that this is the most beautiful of the villas.”

“When you are surrounded by a quiet forest, you will forget all the worries in the world. I hope that Your Majesty will be able to enjoy the charm of this place as well.”

“Please take good care of me during our stay.”

Cervan responded by bowing his head slightly.

“We’ll do the Hesarion tour tomorrow. Noah, please organize the things and prepare a meal.”

Noah, who came with us, called the servants and started moving the luggage.

In the meantime, Cervan led us to our room. When we reached the third floor and opened the door, I could see the sky burning red through the wide and large windows. Below that, greenery grew around a large garden.

“Wow.”

Even coming by carriage, I thought there were many trees, but when I looked at it like this, the size of the forest was bigger than I thought.

“Do you like it?”

I liked the warmth from behind, so I leaned over as Declan hugged me tighter. In the meanwhile, Cervan and the servants seemed to have retreated as the surroundings were quiet.

“The forest with the sunset is so beautiful.”

“The sunset I saw in the desert was also spectacular, but it’s different here as well.”

How could we forget the sunset in the Byrne Desert? It was the first sunset I saw with Declan after I became a person in this world.

“It’s hard to tell the difference. Forests and deserts have very different charms.”

“I don’t think I’ll ever forget any of it. It’s all been with you.”

As he said, because we were together, this moment also felt precious. His lips rested on the crown of my head as I placed my hand on the arm that was looped around me.

“How about taking a bath together?”

“…Together?”

“I will attend your bath. What does the Empress like?”

His large hand reached up and began to remove the ornaments from my hair one by one.

“Huh? How did you know how to take off the ornaments?”

The hair ornament was firmly attached so that it did not fall down, so if it was not removed properly, the hair was pulled, and it hurt enough to make a sound. However, Declan did it skillfully even though it was his first time doing it.

“I received special training from Princess Este.”

“What?”

Surprised, I turned my head and he kissed my lips lightly.

“I will do it often from now on, but I don’t want to hurt you.”

Even while he was talking, he diligently moved his hands, and before I knew it, my hair came loose. Declan kissed my hair, gently grabbing the hair that hung down to my waist.

“Unlike when you were a doll, I can feel your warmth in your hair.”

“Really?”

I laughed at the sight of him seriously savoring my hair.

“It feels good when you touch it.”

“Me, too.”

I reached out my hand, lifting my heel, and Declan, sensing my intentions, bent over to me. It felt good to feel his soft, fine-grained silver hair slipping through my fingers.

“You’re the first one since my mother stroked me when I was very young.”

Declan’s mouth loosened as he closed his eyes.

“Ha, I think I’m going to get addicted.”

As he lazily opened his eyes and hugged me, burying his face in the nape of my neck, a hot breath tickled the nape of my neck.

“What’s wrong with getting addicted? I will always be by your side.”

I slowly stroked his hair and uttered as he pressed his body closer.

“…That’s why I’m happy.”

We started unbuttoning each other’s clothes.

When the last button was finally undone, Declan hugged me. Striding into the bathroom, steam was already rising in the bathtub. He carefully put me down and let me rest my head on the end of the bathtub.

“Empress, please be at ease. I will do everything for you today.”

I laughed when he spoke the lines that a maid would usually say.

“Alright, I’ll leave it up to you today.”

“I will do my best to make you satisfied.”

As he spoke solemnly, suppressing his laughter, Declan lowered his head and carefully tidied my hair.

Carefully, he poured warm water over my hair while each of his hands was lathering and rubbing me was soft and delicate. Before I knew it, I was comfortably leaning back in the bathtub, receiving Declan’s scalp massage.

“How is it, Your Majesty? Is it good?”

“Very cool and nice.”

It felt like even my headache was blown away by the gentle pressure on my scalp.

“I’m glad you like my work.”

When I raised my head after hearing his proud tone, Declan’s eyes softened.

Kiss.

The part where his moist lips touched my forehead tickled.

“Have you ever washed someone else’s hair?”

He must have been served all his life, yet it was a fairly skillful hand.

“None. You are the first.”

“But, how are you so good?”

“Did you like it that much?”

I nodded slightly, and a smile bloomed on him.

“Washing your hair isn’t such a difficult thing. What could I not do?”

Ah, yes, yes.

The feeling that was rushing in suddenly cooled down. Even so, he looked cute, so it was clear that I’m clearly blinded by love.

“Women’s hair is different from men’s. I just learned the order.”

“Did you learn this from Stella, too?”

I smiled vaguely at him as he nodded. It was clear that she must have had a hard time.

‘I’ll have to take care of her more when I go back.’

In the meanwhile, after rinsing my hair, Declan lathered the shower ball and began gently wiping my arms first. My body, which had been already relaxed in the hot water, became languid. As I closed my eyes without realizing it and came back to my senses, I was already in his arms.

“Are you awake?”

Every time he spoke, a vibration passed through my back against his chest.

“Did I doze off?”

“A moment.”

Splash.

With the sound of running water, a large, rough hand landed on my shoulder. It was refreshing to press on it with force.

“Of course you’re tired. Yesterday’s wedding and today’s carriage ride for several hours.”

“Not really, I’m not tired.”

Even as I spoke, my body continued to droop.

“I’m not as nimble-handed as you, but after a massage, your fatigue will be relieved.”

“Then please.”

“Leave it to me. I won’t let you down.”

After a careful massage, he got me up, rinsed my body and even applied the balm meticulously. And after putting on the gown, Declan also took a simple shower.

“Give it to me. I’ll dry it for you.”

In the meantime, he came out of the bathroom first and reached out to me with a towel as I was drying his hair.

“What’s wrong with this? Not only did the Emperor bathe me, but even dried my hair?”

“You’re the only one who I do this to, because you’re my wife.”

Loving the word wife, a smile painted on my face as Declan kissed me on the cheek.

“It’s nice to be alone like this, leaving the imperial palace.”

“Me, too. While I’m here, I forget everything else and think of just the two of us.”

“Yes.”

The soft smile that spread across his face was truly comforting. His shoulders, which had lived in tension and pain for the rest of his life, seemed lighter than ever, and I felt relieved.

After drying my hair for a long time, he wiped his own hair with a towel and finished it.

“Give it to me. I’ll dry it.”

“I’m okay. I’ll dry up soon.”

“I want to do it for you.”

When I asked with my eyebrows drooping, Declan reluctantly handed me the towel.

“I also wanted to dry your hair.”

“Why?”

“Did you know that the ends of your hair are always wet after taking a bath?”

“Really?”

“When I saw it as a doll, I wanted to dry your hair so much.”

Declan laughed.

“I still don’t understand why the chief attendant, who was overly concerned about you, left it alone.”

“Even Noah gave up.”

When I glanced at him curiously, he wrapped his arms around my waist and lifted his head.

“When you were a doll, I couldn’t relax even for a moment, wondering if you would get hurt. Noah didn’t say much, maybe because he knew that.”

The emerald eyes turned towards me and were sunken deep.

“I’m not a doll now. I won’t get hurt.”

“It’s because I miss you. I want to keep you in my eyes every moment.”

A pleasant low-pitched voice wrapped around my ears, making my heart pound. Declan then pulled me closer and put his ear to my chest.

“Every time I hear this sound, I am grateful. That you are alive by my side.”

While his heart-throbbing confession made the tip of my nose tingle, I buried my face in his wide embrace. We could feel each other’s body temperature for a while and enjoyed this moment together.

“Today, I will sing you a lullaby after a long time.”

“Just sleep now.”

“I still want to do it, with this soothing hand.”

When I said it while waving one hand, Declan let out a big smile and said he couldn’t stop it.

“Now, lie down here.”

Climbing onto the bed and patting the place next to me, Declan immediately lay down. As I started to sing while gently stroking his bangs, the green eyes that had been staring at me for a moment slowly closed.

The sound of insects outside the window and the lullaby I sang softly matched, and a gentle smile spread across his face like dissipating paint in the water.

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