My Favorite Smut Author Is My Husband! - Chapter 16
“Please clear away the teacups. And guide me to the Duke’s study.” After saying it, Lily wondered if her tone had been too commanding, so she added a softer comment.
“The tea was truly delicious.”
This place was so different from the Count’s estate, where she had grown up freely, lounging about, demanding this and that, asking to play or have tea together. Here, everything was so…
“I’m glad it suited your taste, Madam.”
“Would you like me to accompany you to the study? If you wish, I can also provide more details about the estate along the way. If you’d prefer not to be disturbed, I can walk just a step ahead.”
It was all so overly formal. Lily couldn’t help but feel that the people here were just like Ashulin, treating her like a fragile doll that would break if touched.
Though she didn’t entirely dislike it, she bit her lip with a slightly awkward expression and gently nodded before hurriedly adding,
“I’d prefer if you could explain the estate as we go. Would that be alright?”
“Of course, Madam. I’ll escort you right away.”
Unaware that she had nervously grasped the hem of her dress with her small hands, Lily nodded. Meanwhile, the servants who watched her softly stepping away only blamed their master. They believed the Duke must have somehow rushed her into marriage within a single day, tricking such a gentle and innocent lady.
***
“So many books!”
Listening to the unexpectedly interesting explanations of the Duke’s estate, Lily arrived at the study sooner than she expected. After requesting a full explanation of the entire estate next time, she entered the study alone.
She wasn’t just browsing for a book out of casual interest. There was a specific one she was looking for, so she didn’t want anyone else accompanying her.
“Maybe I should have asked them to explain the layout at least.”
While she hadn’t thought the Duke’s library would be small, the sheer size exceeded her expectations. For someone like Lily, with very limited knowledge of books, the challenge was figuring out how to find the one she wanted in this vast space.
“Now that I think about it, Ashulin wrote the book himself, so it’s probably not just tossed onto a random shelf.”
Would it be in his personal quarters rather than the library? That’s when she realized she hadn’t even seen Ashulin’s room yet.
Though they were married, personal spaces were still private. Since they hadn’t even been married a week yet, it felt too soon to ask, “Could I see your room?”
“Ah, I should have at least thoroughly gone through the documents my parents gave me about the Duke’s estate!”
But it was too late for regrets.
They were already married. Even though things hadn’t progressed as she expected on the wedding night, they had spent that first night together. Still, it felt strange to realize she knew so little about him.
If someone asked what kind of person Ashulin was, she would say he was a good man, a man of great stature. But if they asked if she loved him, she would shake her head. Innocent as she was, Lily understood the difference between affection and love.
“…But I don’t think it was a bad decision!”
As Lily casually wandered through the library, resigning herself to the thought that finding K’s book might not be possible today, she muttered to herself, cupping her warm cheeks. For some reason, her face was suddenly burning, though she couldn’t pinpoint why.
As she fanned herself and raised her head, something caught her eye at the edge of her vision.
“That… what?”
Lily’s gaze fell on some familiar yet slightly unfamiliar books placed at the very top of a high bookshelf, tucked away in the farthest corner. What made them stand out was not just their location but how their spines looked distinctly different from the other books.
“This is a little different from the ‘K’ author’s books I know.”
But… her instincts screamed at her to check them out.
Almost entranced, Lily pushed the ladder over, secured it, and slowly began to climb. Though she wasn’t afraid of heights, she knew she couldn’t afford to cause an accident, and she cherished her body, so she calmed her anxious heart and carefully took one step at a time until she reached the top.
Cautiously, she pulled out the book her instincts had led her to. The cover was ornate, but there wasn’t even a title.
She swallowed hard. All of the ‘K’ author’s books were like this. The embarrassingly explicit titles were always written on the inside, out of consideration for the reader.
“Eek…!”
Lily had been certain she’d find a title she recognized inside, but she couldn’t help but be shocked.
“First editions! They’re all first editions…!”
In typical ‘K’ fashion, there were no long-winded dedications or excessive notes, just a simple signature. But the difference here was that the signature wasn’t printed — it was written in ink.
Usually, first editions were given as gifts to close or cherished acquaintances, but it seemed that there had been no one to gift these to. So, it was clear Ashulin had kept these as personal mementos.
“Wow, they’re all first editions!”
Any thoughts of staying calm to avoid getting hurt were quickly forgotten as Lily excitedly pulled out each book to check the insides.
Had she not been on the ladder, she might have jumped up and down out of habit. Overwhelmed by the thrill of finding these first editions, she now felt certain that Ashulin was indeed the mysterious author.
