TGDHC Chapter 182

Chapter 182 – The Couple’s Bedroom

My waist trembled as strong fingers pressed into my tight muscles.

“…It hurts.”

“Please endure it a little longer.”

When I complained, his low voice gently soothed me.

As he kept massaging me, my stiff muscles slowly relaxed.

Loic’s body is so warm… I can’t even wake up properly.

I tried to force my heavy eyelids open, but Loic moved closer and pressed his body against mine.

“You can sleep more.”

It seemed he had already finished training and washed up. His slightly damp, bare chest touched my face, carrying a fresh scent.

I can’t believe he secretly combined our bedrooms like this.

Until now, I had thought of my husband as a wolf—or maybe a big puppy.

But he actually had a sly, fox-like side.

The Night After the Opera

After watching the opera, we returned to the main castle.

When we reached the second floor, Loic stopped in front of a large door facing the central staircase.

It was the room that had been locked when I first came to the Grand Duke’s castle.

— “Annette, there’s something I want to show you. I hope you like it…”

Looking nervous, Loic held my hand and opened the door.

“…Wow. It’s huge.”

A luxurious and elegant room spread out before me.

In the center stood a beautiful canopy bed.

On one wall was a gold-trimmed dressing table and a small table.
On the opposite wall was a large, finely decorated fireplace.

The pillars and carvings were delicate and beautiful.

Anyone could tell this was the master couple’s bedroom.

I turned to Loic silently, asking for an explanation.

He shyly held my fingertips.

— “I wanted to sleep in the same bed as you… I was wondering if we could combine our bedrooms.”

Combine our bedrooms?

Well, Loic had been living alone on the third floor to isolate himself because of his curse.

When I didn’t answer right away, he trembled his lips slightly.

— “Of course, if you don’t want to, it’s fine. I just thought… it would be wonderful if the first thing I see in the morning is your face.”

Where did he learn to speak so sweetly?

I bit my lip without realizing it.

— “I look terrible in the morning…”

He tilted his head in confusion.

— “But I already see your face every morning.”

— “It’s still different.”

His lips curved upward slightly.

Realizing I wasn’t rejecting him, he gently pulled me into his arms.

— “The Annette I see in the morning is the most beautiful in the world.”

He whispered that he wanted to see the side of me that no one else could see.

Then his familiar breath covered my lips, and in the end, I gave my silent permission.

After combining our bedrooms, I had to admit—

Waking up and seeing Loic’s face first thing in the morning was the greatest happiness in the world.

Back to the Present Morning

“Annette, can’t you show me that again?”

While pretending to massage my waist, Loic’s hands wandered here and there as he asked.

“That?”

Excited, I pulled both hands out from under the blanket.

I held my palms facing each other with some space between them and focused.

Ha!

A white glowing sphere appeared clearly between my hands.

“How is it? I’m good at it, right?”

Recently, I started learning how to control holy power from Miel (male priest).

I still couldn’t do much, but I could now draw out holy power like this whenever I wanted.

— “Your Highness’s holy power is truly incredible. You can draw it out so forcefully even without fully controlling it yet!”

Miel had praised me like that.

“Miel said I did well.”

I looked at Loic proudly, waiting for praise.

“Every time you show this,” Loic said, holding back a smile,
“your serious expression while concentrating is very cute.”

“Cute? Not cool?”

“…Cool.”

He answered while trying not to laugh.

At that moment, my stomach growled loudly.

Loic burst into quiet laughter.

“Don’t laugh. It’s because I used energy because of you.”

“I’m sorry.”

Still smiling, he gently stroked my lower back.

“Please endure a little. I already told them to bring breakfast up.”

I nodded, relieved I didn’t have to get up.

“Then since we still have time…”

Loic’s hand slowly moved elsewhere.

Pressing his waist against mine, he began rubbing his body against me in a heated way.

“Loic…”

My body quickly warmed up pleasantly.

Just as my breathing grew heavier—

Loic suddenly stopped and bit his lip.

“…Why haven’t they left yet?”

“What?”

“Wait a moment.”

He pulled the blanket up to my neck and quickly stood up, roughly putting on a robe.

Then he strode to the door and flung it open.

“Eek!”

“Y-Your Grace!”

Outside stood Cecilia and Perel, frozen in place.

Outside the Bedroom

Cecilia had rushed to the bedroom after hearing from the butler that the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess had combined their rooms.

But no matter how bold she was, she couldn’t knock on a married couple’s bedroom door.

While she hesitated, Perel hurried up the stairs.

“Lady Cecilia? Why are you standing in front of the bedroom?”

“Why are you here?”

“I have urgent business.”

“So do I! Good. You knock.”

“Sorry, I only have one life!”

“And I have two?”

“Judging by how you act, I thought you had at least three!”

While they were whisper-arguing, the door suddenly opened.

“What is it?”

Loic’s cold voice made Cecilia shrink.

Perel quickly spoke.

“There is urgent news. An invitation has arrived from the Imperial Palace.”

Loic opened the envelope and frowned.

“How troublesome.”

Perel then nudged Cecilia.

“Didn’t you also have urgent business?”

Loic’s gaze turned to her.

“Um…”

Cecilia froze.

She had rushed here to show Annette an interview with Antonel, who had become “the most hated adulterer among all noblewomen.”

The interview said:

“How do I feel? Honestly, I feel like I’m flying. It means many people love Goddess of Revenge. Even if they curse me, I’m happy. The most memorable insult? ‘You trash, take me instead!’ (laughs).”

Cecilia had thought Annette would find it hilarious.

But now, compared to an Imperial invitation, her news felt small.

“It’s… not urgent.”

Just then, Bernie arrived pushing a trolley.

“Your Grace, breakfast is here!”

Loic’s tense face relaxed immediately.

“Now that is truly urgent.”

Bernie prepared a rich breakfast.

Since it felt rude to send Cecilia and Perel away, I invited them to eat with us.

We sat together in the small dining room connected to the bedroom.

“I want to read the invitation…”

“You may read it after eating,” Loic said firmly, placing a spoon in my hand.

“Eat before it gets cold.”

Only after I finished dipping soft bread into corn soup and scraping the bowl clean did Loic hand me the letter.

It was from the Empress.

Strangely, the letter was addressed to Loic—but the invited person was me.

It said:

“I have heard that the Grand Duchess has been working hard in Blenheim.
Thinking of such a young noble lady struggling alone in a remote region without guidance from her elders troubles my heart.
Am I not your family before I am the Empire’s Empress?
As the lady of the Imperial Palace, I wish to give the Grand Duchess advice.
Therefore, prepare for your wife to visit the capital as soon as possible.”

The final villain of the original story… inviting me?

It was something I had never expected at all.