CH 8

The subtle glance and whispering tone caused Celia’s face to grow hot as if it’s on fire. She should have said she hadn’t peered, but her flushed cheeks said it all.

Leonis smirked as he grabbed Celia and moved to the bathtub. The bathtub was large, almost waist-high but Leonis had no intention of soaking in the tub and relaxing.

The bathtub was simply there to prevent puddles from forming on the floor while they wash. They were only going to take a light shower in here.

Leonis made Celia stand on the bathtub’s base while he climbed inside. He loosened Celia’s dress with a gentle touch.

As the baggy loose dress fell to her feet, Leonis’s blatant gaze returned. Celia wasn’t as bare as Leonis, but she felt embarrassed. Leonis approached her while she hid behind her arms.

There was no place to back into since they were already in the bathtub. Leonis removed her underwear piece by piece with a leisurely touch, giving Celia the chance to refuse. 

Leonis grabbed Celia’s waist with one arm when he realized his heart was pounding loudly. He picked up the clothing by Celia’s feet and tossed it out of the bathtub, gently raising her up.

“Shall we wash now, ma’am?”

Leonis glanced at Celia’s lips in a peculiar whisper. Celia bowed her head, her heart throbbed and seemed to be on the verge of bursting.

This bath was allowed because I wanted to see that body! Why am I not looking at it?

However, thinking and doing are different things. Celia nodded, but she didn’t glance at Leonis. His eyes widened as he looked at her.

✦ ✦ ✦

He learned the reasons for her fiance’s betrayal from the letter, which was written out in great detail.

He would have immediately requested a duel if he had been in the fiance’s position. If it had been impossible, Celia would have fled the continent with him.

‘It’s enough if you make me forget.’

Her fiance had betrayed her, so even if they loved each other so deeply that they chose death, the feeling wouldn’t stay.

The ex-fiance hadn’t yet broken Celia’s heart, but he didn’t think he stood a chance based on her reaction. Waiting was torturous, but he could have done it if the rewards were as good. He’ll approach her gradually enough for her to accept. Of course, if he notices a hole, he will fill it right away. His demeanor was like that.

“…I think you can let me go now.”

His lips naturally loosened at the words murmured in a crawling voice. 

“Are you going to cry if I say no? I believe you will be really beautiful.” He whispered as he fiddled with Celia’s tomato-red cheeks….

But Celia stared at Leonis with a furious face.

Huh.

He can’t recall ever seeing a woman with a lovely appearance and thinking she was beautiful, but he thought that Celia was definitely pretty. 

“Hey, did you ask me to take a bath for this?”

“No, you’re just being cute and the audience has been won over. I’ll wash you.”

A bucket full of water was right next to the bathtub. Leonis lifted the gourd hanging on the wall of the water tank and poured hot water. He then lifted the scoop, which was similarly hung on the water tank’s wall.

“Tell me if it’s hot.”

He took a scoop of water and poured it over Celia’s body carefully. Although the mild warmth seemed to relax her body, she was still held in Leonis’s chest.

“Can I wash you up now?”

“Are, are you going to do it with your bare hands?”

Leonis didn’t have any more bathing tools in his hands. He smiled softly.

“You can’t expect bath soap or bath items in a place like this. I’m only going to clean you with water. Don’t complain; I’ll bathe you gently so you don’t get sick.”

“I’m not trying to complain…..”

“Are you not complaining?”

Leonis was eager to kiss her lips at the sight of her. It was because he remembered how much sweeter it was than it appeared.

“Celia.”

Her heart was beating and sinking as she listened to the sweet voice. Celia locked her gaze on his bright red eyes, which seemed to flash a faint smile. For some reason, she began to believe that he was seducing her with his entire body.

“Can I kiss you? I want to lick your lips.”

Whispers came out of Leonis’s lips as he drew nearer. Celia’s eyes seemed to swirl around in circles because she was so excited.

“I’m taking a bath. Wh-why kiss?”

“Do we need a reason to kiss? If you want to do it, do it.” Leonis continued to fiddle with Celia’s cheek while whispering. Celia’s waist was likewise wrapped in one arm, as if it was her seat.

No, why do you keep touching me! I’m holding back with what I want to touch! Uh? But we’re married so it should be fine! Is it okay if I also touch you?

Celia, torn between her throbbing mind and her desire to explode, eventually made an abrupt choice. If she was sane, she would not have done what she did.

‘Chest! I’d like to touch his chest, but Leonis is currently stroking my face….’

Judging that he ‘wouldn’t complain about this since it’s the same!’ Celia stretched her hand towards Leonis’s face.

She was just greedy to touch that handsome cheek, but Leonis’s reaction was meaner. He hurriedly bit Celia’s finger as he spotted it approaching his cheek.

“Huck!”

When she pulled back her hand in surprise, he smiled.

“I’m kidding. I won’t bite you. You can touch it however you want.”

She was about to get pissed, but she was taken aback. You were fiddling with my face without my permission!

For a brief moment, Celia’s trembling fingers turned downward rather than upward.

Her intention was to touch his waist as he placed his arms around hers, but something else caught her sight. 

“…….”

“…….”

With a firm contact of the hips on the palm of her hand, Celia’s face burned to the top of her head. It was fortunate that she didn’t touch anything else, but it was enough to make her freak out.

“Kyaahhh!”

As soon as Celia’s scream erupted, Leonis blocked her mouth with his lips. It was a wonderful idea to push his tongue in because her mouth was open. He gasped and murmured something to Celia, who was still stunned.

“My wife is also bold. Is there any part of my body that you want to touch more?” 

Leonis muttered, his face shining with glee like a boy who glistened at the sight of something to make fun of.

Celia glared at him in tears. I wanted to avoid it because I was embarrassed, but I was in a small bathtub and I didn’t think Leonis would let me go! 

“Ju-just wash up quickly. Don’t make fun of me….”

Leonis licked his lower lip at the sound of her faint voice. He wanted to swallow her from head to toe right now, but the timing was not right. If only her body had recovered, it would not have ended with such a joke.

‘A kiss would be fine.’

Leonis, who was staring at Celia with a burning gaze, couldn’t take it any longer and craved her lips once more.

✦ ✦ ✦

‘What the hell is wrong with you?’

Celia calculated that Leonis would tolerate her actions to some extent. Even more so since she is the one who softens his curse.

However, Leonis biting and sucking her was beyond her calculations.

While fooling around with the pretext of washing Celia’s whole body, they almost kissed each other throughout the bath. In fact, Celia considered it strange that he came out like that because bathing someone was too much work and annoying.

The heat of the water swiftly drained Celia, and the strain of being  in Leonis’s arms was washed away.

Leonis appeared to want to do more than kiss, but he was too satisfied and refrained from doing so.

That night in Leonis’s barracks, he slept on an extra bed placed there. 

Celia thought Leonis would sleep hugging her closely like he did in the bathtub, but he fell asleep next to a blanket. She found it considerate since she had not recovered and wished to sleep comfortably.

Thanks to this, she was able to face Leonis with a better appearance the next morning.

Leonis faithfully played the role of her servant. He assisted Celia in changing her clothes, and in the meantime he looked at Celia in her underwear with piercing eyes. He even assisted her in getting her hair done.

Celia was at a loss for what to do as she stared at him to see if he wanted to kiss her. Leonis, who had changed so drastically in such a short period of time, felt both compelled and hesitant to leave.

‘Because of the curse… .’

Contact with a Montague woman helps to alleviate the curse. Like in the world of rated 19 novels, the greater the amount of touch, the greater the effect.

Leonis would have noticed that too from yesterday’s kiss. From his point of view, he would like to have a relationship with Celia as soon as possible. In the original, Leonis did the same with Lily. 

Celia didn’t want to connect Lily and Leonis. After last night’s encounter, she didn’t feel particularly close to him.

In the original story, Lily realizes that Leonis loves her and commits suicide. It was her attempt to hurt him, realizing that she could not kill Leonis with her own power.

As a result, Leonis killed the emperor and three princes, who were responsible for the whole scenario, before killing himself. The princess was left alone, cursed by Leonis. Madness manifested, and she opened the gates of hell with a magic tool hidden in the imperial underground.

In a short, the plot concluded with all of the main characters committing suicide and destroying the country.

Since Celia did not die after ingesting poison, the ending may be different from the original….. 

But due to Lily’s nature, it was unlikely that she would try to seduce Leonis now. Unless Celia asked her for help.