Duke, Please Stop Because it Hurts

“I’d like to have breakfast at ease, a little more in the morning. Can you come back when I call you later?”

“Understood.”

Silence crept into her bedroom as soon as Pillen had stepped out. Molitia immediately closed her eyes tightly.

She felt that she was engulfed in a soft, fluffy bed as she curled herself with her blanket. She looked like she had already herself given up.

‘Just do this, you will get better soon.’

When she had gotten sick during her time at the Count’s residence, she would be fine after she left it be for a while. Therefore, she was always reprimanded for faking her illness. However, due to the fact that she had to endure it for such a long time was more than enough to make her lose herself to the ailing sensation.

She closed her eyes like the dead, as no one had ever been worried or even cared for her.

“…Tia.”

“Molitia.”

The voice that was calling her name sounded sweet to her. She forced herself to open her eyes, which then revealed a very familiar face.

“Raven? What brings you…”

His blank stare was infused with his dreadful worries over her. She was quickly made to come back to her senses.

“Oh, is it already time for dinner?”

“No, I just came back for a short while.”

Instead of being honest, Raven gave a little white lie. Either way, he was absolutely right to visit his mansion at that moment.

He pulled her into a hug to assist in lifting her upper body. His hands then naturally reached towards Molitia.

“…it looks like you still have a slight fever.”

At the cool touch of his hand, Molitia was so close to tears. It was a touch that she hadn’t received in such a long time.

She knew how exhausted a gentleman could be when he had to encounter such dismay. Molitia wriggled herself while pouting playfully.

“You must have been busy with your work. It’s too sweet of you to return just to have a look at your wife.”

“I was just worried that I might have pushed you too hard last night.”

“…why don’t you do less then, if you’re aware of it?”

“Well, that’s quite a thing to consider.”

His big hand gently swept through her flushed cheeks. Was his hand too cold for her? Her cheeks were still quite warm.

“What about food?”

“Ah…… I haven’t eaten yet.”

“Then, you wouldn’t have taken any medicine either.”

Molitia avoided Raven’s gaze as she listened to his words.

“I’m worried that you might starve yourself in this manner. I will join you for a meal.”

“Well, wait a minute. I have yet taken a bath and my clothes…kyaa.”

He lifted her petite body and immediately strode to the bathroom.

“Would you like me to dress you up—piece by piece, my wife?”

“I didn’t mean that.”

“Then, you’d better get dressed before my patience runs out.”

He lowered his gaze to the naked body of Molitia’s. As his eyes feasted upon his traces left from last night, his body was inflamed with desire.

“Or I could really dress you up myself.”

“…I’ll be back with my appropriate clothes soon. So please, step out for a moment.”

Raven set her down with a big grin on his face. The soles of her feet were suddenly assaulted by a sharp but dull pain. Nevertheless, she didn’t reveal it on her face.

“Pillen, Lili!”

As soon as Raven had stepped out, Molitia called the two of them at once. They immediately showed up as if they were already waiting for her call.

“Could you prepare some hot water for me? I’d like to wear something light as well.”

“Understood.”

“Please hurry.”

The bathtub was swiftly filled with hot water at Molitia’s order. After checking the water with a stir of her hand, she slowly immersed herself in the bathtub.

“Haa…”

Unlike previously, her muscles seemed to scream in pain as she soaked in the hot water. Molitia tried moving her body gradually as if she were to have a broken bone.

Every single of her joints was numb. Following the amount of days spent in bed had appeared to be taking a toll on her entire body, which had made them stiff constantly.

‘I don’t want to be caught…’

She didn’t want to witness how his once affectionate look would transmute to exude a burdensome gaze. She no longer wanted to experience another warmth of one’s hand leaving her side.