My Favorite Smut Author Is My Husband! - Chapter 35
However, not wanting to shatter the image she had of him, he chose to remain quietly silent.
“So, I was wondering, would it be all right if I borrowed your books, Lily? If not, I can buy my own copies…”
“No! You don’t need to buy them! Oh no, where should I start?”
Since the day Ashulin confirmed he wasn’t the mysterious author, all of ‘K’s first editions that had been in the library were moved to Lily’s room.
He hadn’t considered them gifts, but Lily had cherished the books so much that day—her eyes even reddened with emotion—that he thought she might dislike anyone else leaving traces on them.
But now, seeing her willingly offer the books, Ashulin couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride, certain that her love for him outweighed her attachment to the books. Following Lily as she quickly made her way to her room, his heart felt lighter.
“Ta-da! These are the books I originally owned. I brought them with me from the Count’s estate when we got married.”
However, instead of taking out the carefully displayed first editions, she retrieved a book that looked slightly worn from use.
“When you love a book, you keep separate copies for preservation and for reading, right? Actually, whenever I want to reread something, I use this one.”
“I see… Thank you, Lily.”
In an instant, Ashulin found himself becoming a man jealous of an inanimate object—a book. As he restrained the urge to clench his jaw and did his best to keep his expression from twisting, he accepted the book from her hands. Lily’s smile grew even brighter in response.
“I’m not a slow reader, so you can give me all of them.”
However, she handed him only one book. Ashulin, who preferred to finish tasks quickly once started, naturally made the request to have all the books. But Lily widened her eyes in surprise, her expression questioning.
“But this isn’t just some document to read; it’s a book you need to savor. Even just soaking in the emotions from one book can take quite a bit of time… Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
“I’ll be fine.”
After answering, he worried briefly that he might have come across as planning to skim through a book she loved. But Lily didn’t seem particularly bothered. She merely looked at him with wonder, as if amazed he could approach it that way, and handed him a few more books.
“Thank you, Lily. I believe I can finish them all by tonight, so it might be good to draft the letter in advance so it can be sent tomorrow.”
“Oh…”
“The earlier we get the first edition, the better, isn’t it?”
“That’s true! Thank you for being so thoughtful, Ashulin. You really didn’t have to push yourself this much.”
He had simply wanted to get it over with quickly, but now it looked like he was going out of his way to read the books for Lily’s sake. Once again, he didn’t want to correct her misunderstanding, so he chose to keep quiet and nodded his head instead.
When he lowered his head, the books without titles on their covers seemed to greet him warmly.
“Then enjoy yourself, Ashulin! I won’t disturb you until dinner!”
If he wanted to finish quickly and spend the rest of his vacation with Lily, it was only right to start reading immediately. However, Ashulin couldn’t help but feel a little resentful toward Lily as she saw him off at the door. Practically pushed out of her room, he returned to his own quarters, sat at the desk where he usually reviewed documents, and opened the book.
Determined to tear apart every sentence and provide a scathing critique, he began speed reading.
The beginning wasn’t bad.
No, even the middle wasn’t bad. Perhaps it was just the book he happened to pick, but it wasn’t the obscene novel he had anticipated. Instead, it was a story with a lyrical and emotional depth that stood out.
Ashulin gradually realized it had been quite some time since he had read a storybook—he was usually focused on practical books that aided him in his work at the Imperial Palace or as the head of his household. Slowly, his reading pace began to relax.
As he reached the latter half, the story started to take on a subtly sensual tone, but it wasn’t excessive. It felt natural within the flow of the romance. Despite himself, he refused to admit that he had, in some way, been looking forward to such scenes, and he continued reading with steady focus.
When the more explicit moments began, he noticed that the book seemed to open more easily at those pages—perhaps because Lily had kept the book open there for some time. Even in such trivial details, he found himself feeling a strange affection, and he began to wonder how she had felt when she read this story.
Ashulin spent the entire afternoon immersed in ‘K’s books without even stopping for a cup of tea.
*Knock, knock.*
“Your Grace, it’s time for dinner. Should I ask for it to be delayed?”
“No, I’ll head down now.”
“That’s good to hear. The Duchess has been waiting for a while.”
“Next time, start with that.”
Just as Ashulin was closing the final book, lost in the lingering emotions of the story, the butler knocked on his door. On hearing that Lily was waiting, he quickly straightened his attire and left the room, setting aside the residual sentiments from the book.
Ideally, he should have finished his reading well before dinner, but he had taken longer than expected.
“Ashulin, come on in.”
“Sorry for being late, Lily.”
“It’s all right. I used to skip meals entirely whenever I was engrossed in reading. My parents would scold me because of it.”
Ashulin couldn’t help but chuckle as he imagined her clutching a book tightly and refusing to eat, shouting in protest. He could understand how the Count and Countess must have felt.
Even if her defiance had been adorable, they probably broke into a cold sweat trying to ensure she ate properly.
“Did you have a pleasant time, Ashulin?”
“…Yes. It was such a good story that it made my stubbornness seem foolish. I’m also very curious about your thoughts on it, Lily.”
At first, after reading one or two books, Ashulin tried to deny it. But in the end, he had no choice but to admit it—the blasted Imperial Prince might actually have more talent in the arts than in politics.
Hearing his honest opinion, Lily’s face lit up with joy, and she busied herself between eating and talking with her small mouth. He, too, was delighted to discover that they shared similar emotions over certain scenes and was intrigued by her surprising perspectives on others. The couple spent a warm and lively evening together.
After dinner, it was only natural that they continued their conversation as they returned to their shared bedroom.
“That’s why I’m so excited about the new release! Don’t you think ‘K’s novels always have such a profoundly human touch? And so far, every story has ended happily. But this new book sounds more intense than the previous ones, so I’m dying to know how it turns out.”
“Overall, the stories have been about trust and love between people, haven’t they? But since this one seems to start with significant conflict, it’s understandable that you’d be curious.”
“Oh, come on. You’re curious too, Ashulin.”
Sitting on the bed, leaning against each other’s shoulders, Lily playfully poked Ashulin’s cheek and laughed.
Although there hadn’t been a single unhappy day in her recent life, today felt even more joyful for Lily. It wasn’t just because she now had someone to talk with about ‘K’s novels. She was deeply moved by the fact that this man, who had clearly been reluctant to read the books, had done so for her sake. Even his awkward reaction when she poked his cheek made her feel blissfully happy.
Of course, after finishing the books, Ashulin had found himself deeply immersed in them, sharing his thoughts with Lily. Considering his naturally sensitive nature, this might have been an inevitable outcome.
“Ashulin, I’m so happy that I can now share my daily life and hobbies with you.”
“Lily…”
“I’ve already written the letter. When the new book arrives… how about we read it together this time?”
Her suggestion to read a book together—one that would undoubtedly be provocative—made her cheeks flush slightly. At this, Ashulin’s gaze instantly darkened with intensity. Slowly, she found herself reclining as Ashulin leaned in to plant a kiss on her cheek.
“That’s an excellent idea, my wife.”
But Ashulin took things a step further. He lightly nibbled on her earlobe, his lips trailing from there down her neck to her collarbone.
“Before that, though, how about we revisit what I read today?”
Lily, who had been giggling from the ticklish sensation, lit up at his words. Her bright, sky-blue eyes still carried an innocent look, but Ashulin now knew better—they also hinted at something deeper.
“That’s an excellent idea, Ashulin.”
When he pressed his lips to hers, her lovely laughter softened, only to escape again in playful bursts each time their lips parted. In the end, Ashulin chuckled low in his throat, wrapping her in his arms.
It was a blissful night.
