ALL NOVEL Chapter 153
“Whoa…?”
As Rudell opened his eyes, emitting low groaning sounds, it was already after ten on a late morning.
“Why haven’t the handmaids come to wake me up?”
With that thought, Rudell propped himself up, blinking to shake off the lingering fog in his mind.
A moment later, as his vision began to clear, he looked beside him at Leje, who was still sound asleep.
Leje was softly snoring, oblivious to the world.
Watching her, Rudell reached out with a faint smile and gently caressed her cheek.
“Uung…”
With that, Leje stirred awake, letting out a baby-like groan as she slowly opened her eyes.
“Oh, sorry. Did I wake you?”
“Rudell…?”
Still seemingly confused, Leje spoke with drowsy eyes.
A moment later, she slowly sat up, stretching out with a big yawn.
“Good morning…”
“Good morning.”
In response to her greeting, Rudell lightly pressed his lips against Leje’s.
Though still in a daze, Leje accepted Rudell’s kiss.
After the short kiss lasted only a few seconds, Rudell pulled back, stretching his stiff body and asked,
“How are you feeling? Is it too hard?”
“I feel like I can’t get up… My back hurts…”
Considering it was both of their first experiences and they’d tangled all night, it was actually strange that they felt even remotely okay.
Rudell felt just as heavy as if he were carrying a hunk of metal.
“Want to lie on your stomach? I’ll give you a massage.”
“Please…”
With low groaning sounds, Leje flipped onto her stomach, presenting her back to Rudell.
He climbed on top and pressed down on Leje’s back and waist with his hands…
“Hreeeuh…”
With a long, drawn-out voice, Leje let out a deep sigh.
“Is it okay? If it hurts, tell me.”
“It feels amazing. Keep going.”
Thus, after Rudell worked out the tension in Leje’s waist, not long after, she stretched out her body like a cat.
Then, looking much refreshed, she sat up.
“I feel a lot better. Thank you.”
“Thanks are unnecessary. More importantly, what about breakfast?”
Feeling empty in their stomachs, likely because they had slept in, Leje echoed his thought.
“Can’t we just eat here? I don’t want to move.”
“Hm…”
It was obvious, but breakfast time had long passed.
It wouldn’t be appropriate to ask the handmaids to prepare another meal just for the two of them.
“Alright, just wait a moment. I’ll head to the kitchen.”
It was a little unfair to the chef, but Rudell decided to get something simple to fill their stomachs and stood up to change clothes when…
knock, knock.
[Young master, breakfast has been prepared.]
A familiar voice came from behind the door, followed by someone knocking.
“Janice?”
Upon recognizing Janice, the head handmaid, Rudell raised an eyebrow.
What was she doing here at this time?
With that thought, he nodded at Leje, who pulled the covers over herself and curled up, trying to hide as if no one was there.
Rudell opened the door to find Janice dressed in neat handmaid attire, bowing her head along with the other handmaids who were with her.
“What’s going on so early?”
“Milady asked me to bring you breakfast.”
“Mother?”
“Yes. She mentioned you might be running late for breakfast and instructed me to prepare a separate meal for you.”
“Oh…”
Seeing Janice nod and realizing she had brought two servings startled Rudell.
Should he be happy about this or not…?
He pondered, frowning, as the handmaids entered and placed the plates of food on the table.
“Janice.”
“What can I do for you?”
“Did my mother say anything else?”
“No, she didn’t.”
“Is that so…”
Rudell nodded at Janice’s dry response.
“Then we’ll be going, I guess…”
After that, Janice and the handmaids left, bowing their heads…
Rudell, who watched them leave, wore a perplexed expression as he carried the plates of food back to the bed.
“W-wait, do you think we got caught…?”
“It seems like it.”
After all, there was no other reason they’d bring two meals.
As Rudell nodded in response to Leje’s question, he felt even more anxious.
“Ahhh…!! W-what do we do?!”
“It’s fine, eventually everyone will find out anyway.”
What was with the dramatic reaction now?
With that thought, as Rudell took a bite out of a sandwich, he handed it over to Leje, who lay sprawled on the bed.
“More importantly, let’s eat quickly; I’m starving, you know?”
“Ugh…”
And so, a peaceful morning passed by.
*
After finishing their meal, Rudell and Leje made their way down the hallway.
“Good day, Young Master. Duchess.”
“Good morning.”
The handmaids in the hallway bowed their heads towards them, and Rudell returned the greeting.
Under normal circumstances, that would’ve been the end of it, but…
“…”
“…”
Over there, in the distance, a bunch of handmaids whispered among themselves.
How far spread were the rumors?
With that thought, Rudell and Leje continued walking down the hallway.
As they strolled, how long had passed?
“Hm?”
“Young Master?”
Over there, at the end of the hallway, Rudell stopped upon seeing a familiar figure.
Tall and lean with striking black hair and red eyes, it was none other than Kyle.
“You were really here, Young Master.”
Kyle approached Rudell, incredulity in his voice, and knelt on one knee.
“It’s been a while, how’ve you been?”
“I’ve been well, and I’m glad to see you’re safe, Young Master.”
“It’s been a while, Kyle.”
“And how about you, Duchess?”
Kyle raised himself upon greeting Leje.
“So, are you on patrol?”
“Yes. Since a new path opened in the mountain range, there have been instances of monsters crossing over.”
The newly opened passage through the Bladehook Mountain Range made it easier for people to travel, but that also meant it made it easier for monsters as well.
Consequently, the monsters dwelling in the Bladehook Mountain Range and the Eternal Winter Plains beyond were far more ferocious and dangerous than those in the Count’s Domain, making constant patrol necessary.
“Nothing special happened while I was gone, right?”
“There were incidents involving those suspected to be in league with the Church, but I’ve handled everything on my end.”
“As expected. I can always count on you. I appreciate your continued support.”
“Of course, but I have things to attend to, so I’ll take my leave…”
Pleased with Kyle’s satisfactory answer, Rudell nodded, and with a polite bow, Kyle walked past them and out of the hallway.
Moments later, the two arrived at a room where the other guests were staying…
“Oh, you’re here!?”
“It’s pretty late for breakfast.”
“Welcome.”
Once inside, Silphier, Eleor, and Kurt greeted them warmly.
“Good morning. I hope the guest room was satisfactory.”
Welcoming guests was one of the key responsibilities of the heir of the Count’s House.
After all, they couldn’t afford to be criticized for neglecting their hospitality.
“Oh, it was amazing!”
“It’s much better than the Temple. The view outside the window is really beautiful.”
“That’s a relief.”
Silphier and Eleor responded to Rudell’s inquiry, and he nodded with a satisfied smile.
“Um, but are you two okay? You look really tired…”
“Huh? Oh, it’s nothing; I just had a bit of a sleepless night.”
“Y-Yeah! It was so noisy last night that I couldn’t sleep!!”
Rudell and Leje stuttered in response to Silphier’s question.
“Was it? I didn’t hear anything until dawn…”
“Uh, uh~ Silphier, it’s better to just let the little things go.”
At that answer, Silphier looked confused, tilting her head.
Then, Eleor approached her, lightly placing a hand on her shoulder while winking at Rudell and Leje.
“…”
“…”
Just how far had the rumors spread?
Rudell and Leje genuinely wondered as beads of cold sweat appeared on their brows.
Then, suddenly…
“You don’t need to worry too much. I’ve informed others well.”
“Huh? What do you mean by that?”
“Wait, you didn’t tell anyone else?”
At Kurt’s ambiguous remark, Rudell and Leje exchanged puzzled looks.
Informed them well? About what?
“I sent the handmaids who came early back after explaining the situation. I told them you two must still be tired, so to come back later.”
“…!!”
“…!!”
At that, both Rudell and Leje looked at Kurt with identical expressions of shock.
Then…
“Were you the culprit?!”
“Were you the culprit?!”
Their voices echoed loudly in the reception room.