TGDHC Chapter 140

Chapter 140. A Drunken Night (2)

Her face instantly burned red.

“Wh–When did I ever do that!”

“Don’t you remember? The day after I lost control—!”

“Be quiet!”

I hurriedly covered Loic’s mouth.

“Mmmph… you touched my ches—”

“Wow, I didn’t think you’d be such a talkative drunk!”

I grabbed his sleeve and tugged.

“Come on, go to sleep!”

“But you did touch it…”

“Quiet!”

After finishing my work, I lay down on the bed early.

The annoying Duke had gone back to the temple acting completely normal again, as if nothing had happened.

I was so tired from the long day that I thought I’d fall asleep right away.

But just as my eyes were about to close—

A huge shadow slipped quietly into the dark room.

Water dripped from the black silhouette.

I gasped when it came closer, about to scream—until a familiar cool winter scent hit my nose.

“Loic?”

“Annette.”

His drowsy voice softly called my name.

‘I definitely told a servant to help him bathe before we parted…’

“Why didn’t you dry your hair?”

“It’s dry.”

Loic shook his head like a puppy, scattering cold droplets all over my face.

“Ah! Cold!”

“Is it cold?”

He climbed up onto the bed and slipped right under my blanket.

“I’ll hold you so you don’t get cold.”

He gave a silly, playful smile.

‘How can someone who doesn’t even get tipsy from Snow Wine get drunk off a few berries?’

Then I remembered the rumor—that dragons could get drunk on Elfberries.

‘Wait… Loic does have dragon magic in him.’

I froze.

‘Don’t tell me he’s half dragon or something?!’

Before I could think more, Loic squeezed himself into my small bed, soaking the pillow with his wet hair.

“Annette. Why are you covering your mouth? You don’t want to kiss me?”

Loic slowly removed my fingers from my lips, one by one.

‘Oh my god. My half-dragon husband is drunk and crawling into my bed!’

It sounded even stranger when I said it in my head.

But the shock didn’t last long—Loic was pressing my hand against his cheek, silently begging for affection.

‘So when he’s drunk, he turns clingy, huh.’

I frowned slightly at the discovery.

“Loic, from now on, Elfberries are forbidden.”

“Your hand is so soft, Annette.”

He rubbed his face against my palm like a cat.

“Go to your room and sleep.”

“Can’t I sleep here?”

He put on a pitiful expression with his perfect face.

“Of course not!”

“But… isn’t this unfair?”

“What is?”

“I was the one who wished to travel with you… so why do other guys get to spend more time with you?”

“T-That’s…”

“Those knights got to enjoy themselves with you, didn’t they?”

He mumbled adorably, pouting.

‘…He’s not wrong.’

“Alright then…” I said, pretending to be generous. “I’ll grant you another wish instead. Tell me.”

“Really?”

I nodded. Loic bit his lip as if trying to choose his words carefully.

I could even hear him swallow.

“…?”

“What’s with all the suspense?”

After hesitating, he finally spoke.

“Lucion…”

“…Prince Lucion?”

“…Can’t it be?”

“Huh?”

“I just… don’t want you to meet that guy anymore.”

I blinked, startled by the random wish.

‘Why is Prince Lucion suddenly coming up?’

“Why?”

Loic fiddled with the edge of my sleeve, refusing to answer.

His lips puckered slightly, as if he were holding something back.

“…Loic, are you jealous?”

His voice came out in a low, sulky tone.

“I think that guy likes you.”

“We only met once.”

“If a man has eyes, he’d fall for you the moment he sees you.”

‘Duke, I appreciate the compliment, but you’re way off.’

Loic half-buried his face in the bed, waiting for my reaction.

His shoulders were tense, like he was scared I’d scold him.

Seeing that, my heart softened.

Instead of teasing, I gently brushed his dark hair away from his face.

“Loic, you said yesterday that you love me.”

“…”

Silence filled the air.

I could feel his entire body stiffen. Even his breathing stopped for a moment.

“I can’t answer that right away.”

His hand gripping the blanket around my waist tightened.

“…That’s okay.”

“There are things I can’t talk about yet. My situation is a bit complicated right now.”

I ran my fingers over the veins on his hand, soothingly.

“But if I ever decide to truly open my heart to someone—it will be you, Loic.”

He inhaled sharply.

His damp eyelashes trembled.

“I’ll never waver over anyone else. I promise.”

“That… that’s enough for me.”

His voice came out strained and trembling.

Loic found my hand in the dark and held it tightly.

His entire body was shaking through our joined hands.

“Annette, that’s more than enough.”

He leaned forward, pressing his forehead against mine.

His trembling fingers cupped my cheek, our eyes locking.

The moonlight through the small window framed his shadowed face, but his black eyes shone brightly.

“Really… enough.”

Loic gently kissed the bridge of my nose.

Then his soft lips brushed over my lips, my chin, and slid lower.

A warm breath traced down my neck.

He lightly ran his tongue along the sensitive spot of my throat.

“L-Loic?”

Smack.

A teasing sound followed as his lips trailed lower.

He moved down, and my pulse jumped.

‘Wait—he’s going too far!’

His lips touched the skin below my collarbone.

The hot, tingling sensation made me shiver.

His strong hands gripped my waist.

I couldn’t even move—just clutched his shirt shoulders helplessly.

His mouth hovered near the lace neckline of my nightgown.

‘If he goes any lower, he’ll—!’

“Your Grace, are you asleep?”

A voice suddenly came from the doorway.

‘Ack!’ Cecilia’s voice made every hair on my body stand up.

I quickly threw the blanket over Loic.

“C-Cecilia?”

“If you’re not asleep, I’ll come in!”

“Wait, don’t—!”

Before I could stop her, she quietly opened the door.

She was holding a tray with a glass of water.

“I forgot to bring you water after dinner.”

“It’s fine…”

I tried to sound calm while hiding the large lump moving under my blanket.

“It’s not fine! You can’t keep drinking holy water whenever you’re thirsty, Your Grace.”

Cecilia set the tray on the bedside table.

I could feel Loic squirming under the blanket, so I pressed down hard on it to stop him.

The large body flinched—then buried his face against my chest.

“Your Grace, are you okay?”

“Y-Yeah. Thanks, Cecilia. You should go get some sleep.”

His hot breath tickled my skin under the blanket.

Cecilia tilted her head suspiciously at my awkward tone but finally said goodnight and left.

Only when the door closed and her footsteps faded did I throw off the blanket.

“Loic!”

I was about to scold him properly—but his eyes were already closed.

‘Don’t tell me… he fell asleep?’

His broad chest rose and fell slowly and quietly.

‘Seriously? You fall asleep now?’

“Loic! Wake up!”

I shook him a few times, but only his eyelids fluttered faintly.

Because of how close we were, every time he breathed in, his lips brushed against my collarbone.

I tried to push him away, but his arms were wrapped so tightly around me that I couldn’t move.

‘I mean, yes, I did say I wouldn’t look at other men—but that doesn’t mean you can just cross every line like this!’

After struggling uselessly, I gave up.

I sighed and gently touched the back of his head.

His hair, finally dry, was soft between my fingers.

‘So that’s why he was upset about Lucion.’

As I stroked his head, I finally understood.

Now I knew why he’d looked so down in the carriage that day—
and why he got so tense around other men near me.

‘Because I’m the only one he has.’

But I didn’t want him to feel inferior or hurt because of someone like Lucion.

Loic had already suffered enough.

I didn’t need to make him worry more.

When I said Loic was perfect, it wasn’t an empty phrase.

To me, he was the warmest, safest place in this entire world I’d been reborn into.

‘You’ll never have to worry about anyone else. I promise.’

‘Annette, that’s enough for me.’

His breathing softened. He’d fallen asleep peacefully.

‘Even if I can’t avoid Lucion completely…’

‘I’ll make sure never to meet him alone.’

Wrapped in Loic’s arms, which felt like a living heater, my body soon relaxed.

Before long, my eyes slowly drifted shut.