My Favorite Smut Author Is My Husband! - Chapter 24
“…You’re late, Your Grace.”
“There was much to do. Lily… I assume the Duchess has already dined?”
It was true he had a lot of work, but Ashulin had also spent the afternoon enduring a rather intense “lecture” from His Highness. Before he knew it, night had already fallen.
He sent a hurried message, but the thought of Lily waiting alone had him so rushed that he didn’t even fully change out of his clothes, which caught the attention of the butler, who looked on with a curious expression.
Not realizing it was not just because he’d rushed back but also due to the fact that the butler was holding his coat haphazardly, Ashulin frowned and repeated his question.
“I asked if the Duchess had eaten.”
“The letter arrived late, so the Duchess waited for you and only had a little to eat not long ago. And even then, it was just a small portion.”
Of course, this was a bit of a stretch. When Ashulin was delayed, Lily thought he was simply busy with work and prepared dinner without any further thoughts. Just as she was about to start eating, however, the letter arrived. Since she hadn’t eaten anything before the letter came, the butler felt this wasn’t really much of a distortion. Even so, recalling the gossip that had been circulating among the servants all day, he held back from raising his voice at his master.
“Only a little?”
“She ate about as much as a bird.”
This, too, needed some clarification. The gossip had reached the kitchen, and as a result, an exceptionally lavish meal had been prepared. While Lily ate more than usual, there were still leftovers.
“She’s already delicate and frail, and yet she didn’t eat properly. What were you all doing? I’ll go to her right away.”
“She’s just had her dinner and should be resting. Allow us to inform her that you’ve returned. Why don’t you wash up and have your own meal first?”
“No, I’ll go to my wife first.”
“Do you intend to approach the Duchess in that filthy state?”
As the butler blocked his path to Lily, Ashulin, who had been growing increasingly stern, stopped in his tracks. The butler couldn’t help but think how completely his master had fallen for the Duchess, even after having witnessed their very first meeting.
“I’ll skip washing and dinner then.”
“……”
For this reason, the butler was also the only one in the estate who didn’t fully believe the rumor.
He decided to confront his master directly, both to understand where the truth had become distorted and to help his master, who was practically clueless when it came to matters of love.
“Your Grace, a rumor is circulating through the estate that you are neglecting the Duchess.”
“……”
“What on earth have you done to leave the Duchess fretting over her nights? And she has been visibly downcast these past few days…”
“……..”
“I’ve served you since you were hardly as tall as my knee, but I can’t teach you the facts of life.”
“…Butler.”
“Glaring at me in a low voice won’t change the facts. This is your honeymoon—how can you be so oblivious to matters between husband and wife? You love the Duchess, don’t you?”
He loved her more than words could express.
Though he couldn’t bring himself to answer, hearing that the estate was rife with rumors about his “neglect” and that Lily had seemed gloomy recently struck Ashulin like a blow.
Was his tone or behavior too cold, enough that others would see it as “neglect”? If so, he was willing to make any changes needed.
But it hadn’t been a lack of passion that led him to sleep separately from Lily in the days after their first night; he’d been following someone else’s advice.
“Come now, it’s hardly a time to interpret ‘first night’ literally. Nowadays, some couples wait longer, and some get to it even sooner!”
That very night, the evening when he had dared to relieve himself after seeing his wife, he had restrained himself, worried he wouldn’t be able to treat her gently. Yet, the fallout of that restraint had even affected his work the next day.
Lost in the memory of her on that night, he hadn’t managed to conceal his expression when the Crown Prince, who had tricked him into confiding his honeymoon anxieties, offered his own “advice” with a sly tone.
“…So waiting longer is possible?”
“Judging by your tone, it seems your wife is as innocent and gentle as the rumors suggest.”
“Please, refrain from making baseless assumptions about my wife.”
“Oh? Are you about to draw your sword? Such a fierce look! Here I am, as your old friend from the Academy, merely offering marital advice, and you act as if I’ve insulted you.”
“…….”
“As I was saying, if only you’d dated more back then, you’d have gained some experience with women.”
“I have no desire to treat people as casually as you, Your Highness.”
“So now you insult royalty openly, hmm? I wonder how the Duchess managed to capture such an upright man’s heart.”
It was less advice and more teasing, truthfully. Yet, given the Crown Prince’s impressive reputation for handling numerous relationships without any scandal during his Academy days, Ashulin couldn’t entirely dismiss his “advice.”
He only wanted to give his beloved wife the best of everything.
“You must have approached your delicate new bride like a beast on the first night, hmm? How terrifying that must have been for a young woman who grew up sheltered and knows little of such matters.”
