101st Confession - Side Story Episode 15 - Herwin\'s Troubles (2)

Side Story Episode 15: Herwin’s Troubles (2)

“Madam, I don’t know what taste you want, but I’ve prepared it using my skills as much as possible.”

“Thank you. But… your lips feel a bit swollen?”

“Oops… Ouch! I guess tasting the sauce was too much……”

The chef covered his mouth and left the room.

How much she longed for this dish. Lucia, as if she had been waiting, skewered it and took a bite.

“Mmm! This is it!”

It was a fiery dance in her mouth, with heat enough to make sweat bead on her skin.

Perhaps because it was the first spicy food she had eaten since moving up north, the spiciness felt more intense than before.

Of course, she welcomed it.

“Herwin! Thank you so much! I’ve been craving this so much!”

Lucia expressed her gratitude sincerely as she quickly devoured one skewer. But for some reason, Herwin’s gaze was lower than hers. Following his gaze, it landed on her plate with the skewers.

As she moved her plate around, Herwin’s gaze involuntarily followed.

“Do you want some too?”

“Hot!”

Herwin snapped out of his daze.

No, he didn’t particularly like spicy food, nor was he good at eating it, so why did that look appetizing?

Instead of answering, Herwin swallowed his saliva. Lucia laughed and handed him a skewer.

“Here, have some.”

“Oh, no! You should eat more.”

“I’m full. I had lunch already. And you can always ask the chef to make more.”

As Lucia offered another skewer, Herwin couldn’t resist the temptation.

The visual alone made his mouth water. But as much as his mouth tingled, he couldn’t help but take a bite.

His red eyes sparkled for a moment.

“Heheh! Oops! Sp-s-spicy……!”

Herwin searched for water but couldn’t let go of the skewer. He kept repeating how spicy it was until he finally finished the skewer.

His mouth felt as if it were on fire, and his stomach churned, but somehow, he remembered the taste again.

After that day, the duke and duchess began enjoying spicy food together at lunch every day. 

Of course, the duke continued to ask for water in between.

* * *

After the spicy food incident, Lucia regained her appetite.

At first, there were concerns about whether spicy food was good for the baby, but ultimately, it helped relieve Lucia’s stress, and the baby was growing healthy. So now, the servants took it upon themselves to bring back famous spicy foods from the north.

Thanks to that, Lucia’s round cheeks gained even more weight.

With eyes filled with honey, Herwin embraced Lucia and gently stroked her chubby cheeks.

Lucia looked at Herwin with a subtle expression, not sure whether to be happy or sad.

“Stop touching me.”

“Why. The texture feels so nice, all soft and squishy.”

“Are you saying I got fat now?”

“Huh? No? It’s because you’re cute?”

His honest reaction made it clear that there was no lie.

His lips, which were about to pout, retreated a bit.

“I feel like I’ve been eating too much lately. What if I gain a lot of weight? What if people don’t recognize me when I go down to the capital?”

Lately, Lucia’s main concern was her weight.

It’s natural to eat a lot when pregnant, and gaining weight is expected, but who would be happy about it?

Herwin did feel sorry for Lucia being stressed, but honestly, he didn’t fully understand her words.

‘She’s already thin enough.’

She’s anxious about Lucia because she is naturally small and skinny as if she could be blown away by the wind. Now that she had gained weight, she looked even better.

Of course, he refrained from saying this outright, knowing she would be upset.

Instead, Herwin buried his face in Lucia’s neck.

“Don’t worry. You’re the most beautiful in my eyes.”

“…Not even a little happy?”

Even as she said this, Lucia’s lips curled up slightly. Herwin found her so beautiful that he couldn’t help but swallow his saliva.

He began to feel a slight response in his own body.

‘No, stop it.’

Since Lucia got pregnant, Herwin hadn’t touched her at all.

During the early stages of pregnancy, he was told not to engage in vigorous exercise until she reached a stable period, and now, he couldn’t burden her with any additional weight, as she was already uncomfortable moving around.

To be honest, whenever he looked at Lucia, his dormant instincts stirred.

After their honeymoon, they spent almost every night passionately together. But due to the sudden blessing, he was forced into abstinence, and his skyrocketing desire could only lose its direction.

“Hah…”

Herwin exhaled lightly, trying to regain his composure as much as possible.

‘Good thoughts, good thoughts.’

As time passed, the heat subsided somewhat. Herwin sighed in relief and buried his face in Lucia’s neck again.

For now, he should be satisfied just by smelling her scent.

Meanwhile, Lucia felt a subtle sadness as she watched Herwin, who wore a contented expression.

Since becoming pregnant, physical intimacy with Herwin has decreased significantly.

They often exchanged light kisses and hugs, but they didn’t go any further.

Where did that wild side of him from their honeymoon go?

Creating a person like this…

As her thoughts continued to spiral, tears welled up in Lucia’s eyes without her realizing.

Herwin, who had been closing his eyes in contentment, opened them at the faint sob.

Lucia was shedding tears silently, which hurt Herwin to see, but he was too startled to speak.

“Lucia…”

“…Is it all a lie when you say I’m pretty?”

“No, no, why would you think that?”

Hurriedly, Herwin kneeled in front of her, gently holding her cheeks in his hands.

Lucia flinched away from his touch, and each of her tears felt like a dagger piercing his heart.

“Don’t cry, Lucia. I don’t know how to handle it if you cry.”

Seeing Herwin’s pained expression, Lucia sniffled and glanced at him.

She knew his fiery red eyes still looked at her with longing, knew he loved her deeply.

“Maybe I upset you unintentionally. I’m sorry. I messed up everything.”

“Do you know what you’ve done wrong?”

“I must have done everything wrong. Tell me. I’ll try to fix it all.”

‘If you promise to fix everything like a fool, it might seem like I’m being petulant.’

Lucia pursed her lips and then lowered her head. As she did, Herwin carefully lifted her chin with his warm hand.

Seeing only affectionate red eyes that worried only for her, something inside Lucia burst.

As Lucia showed more tears, Herwin didn’t know what to do.

“…?”

At that moment, Lucia finally spoke.

“Why don’t you touch me anymore?”

Huh?

Herwin, who had been on the verge of tears, blinked in disbelief. Startled, Lucia glared at him with flushed eyes.

“Even during our honeymoon, you couldn’t keep your hands off me at night. Why don’t you do anything now?”

Did he understand correctly?

Herwin’s lips trembled. Lucia grabbed his collar and pulled him closer.

With the touch of her soft fingers and her warm breath, a red signal flashed in Herwin’s mind.

Meanwhile, Lucia felt even more disheartened by Herwin’s lack of response.

Eventually, Lucia slipped out of Herwin’s embrace.

“That’s enough. I guess I’m not attractive anymore, huh? There’s never a time when you say I’m pretty…”

Sweetheart, it looks like your father won’t be reading bedtime stories tonight. No, not just tonight, but for a while.

With such a miserable heart, Lucia didn’t want to share the same bed with Herwin.

Lucia passed by the frozen Herwin and got off the bed.

“Let’s sleep in separate rooms.”

Tears blurred her vision as she reached for the door handle.

“Where are you going?”

Gently yet firmly, Herwin wrapped Lucia in his arms and laid her back on the bed.

Tears flowed down her cheeks as her vision cleared. Herwin was glaring at her with a deeply furrowed brow. His expression reminded her of the times when he didn’t like himself, and it hurt her deeply.

“Let go! I’m leaving.”

“No, you can’t. You haven’t heard my answer yet.”

“…Ha! I don’t need to hear it! Don’t you know by now? Am I not attractive anymore because I’ve gained weight?”

“Lucia…”

Seeing Herwin’s pitiful expression made her feel even more repulsive.

Eventually, despite the tears pooling in her eyes again, Lucia tried to pull her wrist away from Herwin’s grasp, but he didn’t budge.

Staring fiercely at him proved futile. Instead, Herwin lowered his head and chuckled softly.

“You’re laughing? Is this a joke to you?”

“Hahah… Well, you just sound so cute when you’re mad.”

“Let go when you’re saying nice things. I’m really angry right now.”

“Lucia Phoenaeus.”

Her full name spoken with a tender tone made Lucia pause.

Herwin, now blushing as if asking when he ever frowned, wore a mischievous expression.

He then pressed his body closer to Lucia. Feeling his warmth against her hips, Lucia flinched.

“…Even like this, do you think I don’t like you?”

“W-What… Wh-Where did that reaction come from all of a sudden?”

Whenever he tempted her, her blushing face now seemed incredibly cute and lovely.