TGDHC Chapter 99

Chapter 99 – Crossing the Terrace (1)

Under the moonlight, Loic paced restlessly in the reception room.

Heat surged through his body, making it impossible to sit still.

‘Why can’t I calm down?’

Even though he had trained longer than usual at the training yard today, his energy refused to settle. Perhaps the wine he had drunk only made things worse.

But truly, the cause was something else:

—“Her Grace said what she likes most is how gentle and kind you are.”

After hearing those words earlier, he couldn’t stop smiling. He kept pressing his hand over his mouth to hide the way his lips kept curving upward.

‘How could she think… someone like me is gentle?’

Yes, he had always been careful not to frighten her—never showing her how he tore through monsters, never letting her see when he left his knights bloodied during training.

But still…

‘This lovely woman… what am I supposed to do with her?’

His heart pounded violently.

Of course, he knew Annette’s meaning was different from his own. She wasn’t thinking about devouring him whole, as he secretly longed to do with her.

But for now, none of that mattered.

‘Before I leave… I want to see her again.’

In one week, the foreign delegation would arrive. He planned to patrol and strengthen defenses for several days, ensuring nothing interfered while they were here.

That meant leaving before dawn tomorrow. Tonight might be the last time he could see her.

Thanks to Raphael constantly calling Annette to the annex, they hadn’t even shared dinner.

His chest burned with desire.

‘I want to hold her again.’

If only he could embrace her once more, lose himself in her soft body and sweet scent…

Once he thought of it, the longing wouldn’t leave.

But summoning her at this hour would be improper. And he couldn’t simply walk over—the maids were still moving about the halls, and last time he’d almost run into one when escorting her back.

As he wrestled with his thoughts, his eyes fell on the bright moonlit terrace.

***

Knock, knock.

Annette, already lying in bed a little early, froze at the faint tapping sound.

‘What’s that? Leta already left for the night…’

For a moment she remembered the night Norton had pounded on her door, begging for help for the Duke. She jumped up, heart racing, and hurried to the door—without even putting on a robe.

But the knocking didn’t come from the door.

Knock, knock.

It came from the terrace window, curtains drawn.

‘An intruder?’

That seemed unlikely—the Grand Duke’s castle wasn’t so poorly guarded. Still, she crept forward and peeked through the curtain.

To her shock, Loic was standing outside.

“Loic?”

She quickly unlocked and opened the terrace door.

“Why are you out there?”

He hadn’t left through her door, which meant he must have come from outside…

“Don’t tell me you climbed across from your room?”

“…I crossed over a few terraces.” His face was slightly flushed, black hair tousled by the wind.

“And the stairs? You skipped those because…?”

“I didn’t want to run into the maids.”

Annette rushed to the railing, looking up at the towering wall. His bedroom was on the third floor, far at the west wing; hers, on the second floor, far to the east.

She began counting terraces, but gave up around twenty.

‘This foolish man! He could have asked Whitley to clear the maids—or simply called me over. Why leap across terraces like this?’

“What if the knights saw you? You’re the Grand Duke, you have appearances to keep!”

“I’m a Swordmaster. No one can detect me if I don’t wish it.”

He sounded proud, but the way he stole glances at her expression made it impossible for her to scold further.

“May I come in?” he asked hesitantly.

She almost laughed. “If I said no, would you really go back the way you came?”

“….”

His dumbstruck expression made her sigh. She tugged his sleeve.

“Come in already.”

His large frame easily followed her inside. She shut the terrace doors behind him.

***

“Your hair’s a mess.”

She reached up instinctively, and he lowered his head obediently. Her fingers combed through the dark strands, smoothing them back into place.

The night air still clung to him, cool against her skin.

“There, all fixed.”

Since entering, Loic had been unusually silent. When he straightened to his full height, his broad shoulders blocked out the moonlight, casting the room into shadow.

The silence grew heavy.

“Let me light a lamp—”

But he caught her wrist lightly.

“No… it’s fine like this.”

His low murmur sent her heart thudding.

She forced herself to sound steady. “Then why did you come?”

“Because tomorrow I leave at dawn. I won’t see you for several days… and I wanted to look at your face.”

His hand was hot around her wrist.

Her first instinct was to joke—‘Then you’ll need light if you want to see my face.’ But she swallowed the words. If she lit the lamp now, he would see how red her cheeks were.

“Tonight too…” he whispered.

“Could you hold me again?”

She heard the faint movement of his throat as he swallowed.

Well… if he was leaving for days, she couldn’t refuse. She didn’t want him suffering alone.

Biting her lip to steady her trembling voice, she nodded.

Immediately, his arms wrapped around her. Thick muscles pressed firmly, making her body immovable within his embrace.

His warmth enveloped her, and the flow of his mana seeped into her, turning her limbs languid.

Yet soon, something else stirred—an unexplainable heat, a thirst rising from deep inside.

‘It feels… unsatisfying. I want more.’

Without thinking, she burrowed deeper into his chest. Loic’s body jolted at the movement, and he exhaled roughly.

When she looked up, his once-tender black eyes now glowed with burning intensity.

“Annette.”

Her name left his lips in a husky, pleading tone. She clutched his collar unconsciously.

His hands cradled her face as he leaned closer. His breath was hot against her skin.

Then his lips brushed hers—lightly, fleetingly.

The soft touch sent a sharp jolt through her.

‘Too short…’

Her lips parted instinctively, wanting more.

He noticed, and kissed her again, longer this time. His lips pressed and lingered before pulling back, sending waves of tingling heat through her.

When he drew away, he licked his lips slowly, as if savoring the taste. The sight made her shiver.

“…What am I going to do?” he murmured hoarsely.

He cupped her head firmly and descended once more.

This time, his mouth fully claimed hers.

Her gasp left her mouth open, and his tongue slipped inside, soft and insistent.

At the same moment, his mana poured into her body like a flood, making her tremble.

Their breaths tangled wildly as his long fingers threaded through her hair, while his other hand pulled her waist tightly against him.

The intense current left her gasping for air.

‘I can’t breathe…’

Breaking away, she panted hard. His pupils, now glowing faintly gold, stared at her with raw hunger.

The ferocity of his gaze made her shiver.

“Loic, that’s enough—”

She tried to pull back, but he whispered desperately:

“Just a little more, Annette. Please… I can’t stop now.”