Droit du Seigneur: His Lordship's Right of the First Night - Chapter 71
A while back, when he met Mildred near Louise’s house, he took out a golden brooch engraved with his family’s emblem from his pocket and handed it to her.
“You said you can’t accept pocket money, but this should be okay, right?”
“What’s this, Mister?”
“Do you see the flag on that castle? If anything happens to your sister or if she needs help, come find me at the castle and show them this. They will bring you to me.”
He placed the brooch in Mildred’s tiny hand and pointed to the large flag fluttering on the lord’s castle’s spire in the distance.
“And can you keep it a secret from your sister that you met me today?”
“Uh-huh, okay!”
Mildred clutched the brooch tightly in her little hand and nodded.
***
After listening to Mildred’s story and understanding the situation, Richard had immediately rushed over with his knights. Having explained everything that had happened, he pulled a small leather pouch from his chest.
“That man was already wanted for selling illegal substances that were banned for their dangerous effects. The anesthetic they used on you was one of those substances.”
“Illegal substances?”
“They’re cheaper, but unlike medical drugs, they’re unsafe. If not neutralized within a certain time, they can cause fatal side effects depending on the person.”
Clatter—
As he turned the leather pouch over, a large, round pill fell out. Richard crushed the hard pill with his teeth.
“Good thing we have an antidote. However, it will taste extremely bitter.”
“…It’s okay.”
Richard stroked her small face, which still looked tense, and smiled softly.
“Are you sure you’ll be okay? If it’s too hard to take, I can give you something sweet with it.”
“Ah, yes. If you have some candy… Mmh, mmnnh.”
Holding the crushed bitter contents in his mouth, Richard leaned in and pressed his lips against hers.
As if it were the most natural thing, he found her small, soft tongue and held it. Gently mingling their tongues, the granular medicine gradually dissolved and slid down Louise’s throat as she swallowed. Amazingly, despite the bitterness of the antidote, she didn’t taste it at all while they kissed.
“Ah, mmm. Ahn…”
“Mmh…”
Even after she swallowed all the medicine, Richard didn’t pull away, continuing to gently suck on her lower lip. He thoroughly explored her mouth, savoring the softness of her gums, her inner cheeks, and her tongue as if savoring sweet sugar.
It was only after a long, sweet kiss that he finally pulled away. As their lips parted, a silver thread of saliva glistened between them.
Luckily, the antidote had taken effect to some extent, and her pale face had regained some color. Richard lightly tapped her soft cheek with his fingertips and whispered.
“The medicine didn’t taste too bad, did it?”
“…No. It’s sweet.”
Louise murmured, her cheeks flushing.
“Sweet? Really?”
He echoed her words with a slight laugh.
“So, what is your answer to my confession?”
“I… I love you too, my lord…”
She had long kept her feelings to herself, thinking it was a one-sided love. Realizing now that her first love was reciprocated made her heart flutter. Richard nodded with a satisfied look but quickly changed to a stern expression.
“But you did deceive the lord by daring to take another’s place for the first night and deceiving the imperial family, so you must face punishment.”
“…….”
Louise tensed up at his words, but Richard, holding her, looked down at her and confessed again in a pleasing, low voice.
“How about spending the rest of your life sharing my bedroom as punishment? Not just for two months.”
“My lord!”
“From now on, call me Richard, forever.”
“But I… I…”
“I’ll hear your answer later.”
His intent was clear. No matter what her answer was, he had no intention of retracting his words. He captured her lips again, showing his determination.
As Louise absorbed his intense affection, she thought,
‘If this is a dream, I hope I never wake up.’
***
“I’m leaving now. You don’t have to see me off, the wind is cold.”
Richard spoke with a tone of concern as he draped a thick coat over Louise’s shoulders.
Fortunately, thanks to the quick antidote, she had no severe side effects despite the near-lethal dose of the anesthetic. She had also regained much of her strength since coming to the lord’s castle. Nonetheless, Richard had been overly protective, even preventing her from stepping outside.
“I’ve been cooped up in the bedroom, feeling stifled…. Can’t I take a walk?”
“Then wait for me, and I’ll accompany you when I return. It shouldn’t take long.”
“Okay. Go and come back.”
As he was about to leave the room, Richard turned back, planting kisses on her forehead, small nose, cheeks, and lips in succession. This had happened several times already, so Louise, wanting him to leave properly, gently pushed his back.
There were so many things left unsaid and feelings left unexpressed that it would take days to resolve everything.
They had been in love from the start but had always missed each other.
Now, as lovers who could finally look at each other fully, they wanted to spend all day together.
