Married To A Savage Duke - Chapter 57-1

“Have you returned home, my lord?”

Even before Cherryl could speak, Lily bent down in a hurried curtsy. Cade entered the castle with his subordinate, who was as sturdy as himself. Both men were dressed in black capes with metal sheets on their shoulders and some light equipment. They must have left the castle and just returned home. Cade, who was about to ascend the stairs as he walked, turned the instant he saw Cherryl. Cherryl remembered that Cade was by her side until just before she closed her eyes in bed. And, before that——— With her eyes fixed on Cade as he approached, she gave him an awkward bow as a greeting but then she immediately regretted it.

‘It wasn’t like I was the one who initiated it. What’s wrong with me?’

Cherryl rebuked herself for acting strange. Other couples treated each other casually even after doing what they had exactly done. She should also be grateful that she was able to communicate with her lover and earn his understanding and sympathy. But, did her distance from him, which had already narrowed, became distant once again because of that intense physical contact this morning? It shouldn’t be. Then, why did she greet him like a shy turtle? It was a stuttering movement to the point where an astute person would think that there must have been something between Cade and her. However, the subordinate standing next to Lily and Cade didn’t seem to notice. Cherryl secretly wept.

“Your Grace.”

Cherryl greeted Cade who stood one step apart from her. Then, Cade noticed her exposed palm shivering as if she had been cold. Upon realizing that his future wife had worn her heart on her sleeve at that moment, Cade suppressed a smile.

“Did you sleep well? You look much better.” He spoke to her in a friendly voice while examining every nuance of her expression. Cherryl smiled slightly as she swept her cheek with her knuckles.

“You must have gone out this morning, Your Grace.”

“I have something to do for a moment. I left you in your room without telling you because you were sleeping so soundly. Aren’t you upset?”

“What?”

“That I wasn’t next to you when you woke up.”

Cherryl’s eyes widened in surprise. She wondered if she had heard it wrong so she asked him without thought. Nevertheless, Cade’s answer was diligent. From that indirect response, he might as well announce to everyone who had ears that he had slept with her. Cherryl clutched the hem of Cade’s clothes and suppressed the urge to shake him.

“I wasn’t upset, Your Grace. But if you ask me that in public, I might be disappointed. I better go now.”

“Are you on your way to meet the princess?” Cade asked, catching Cherryl’s arm as she tried to run away from him. She stopped and nodded.

“As promised, we decided to drink tea together in the breakfast room. She should be coming down from the Guest Hall by now.”

“The princess and her party will leave the castle by the end of the day, so please finish it as soon as possible.”

His willingness to drive Rosaline away from the castle seemed firm. With a short reply, Cherryl tried to take another step but he didn’t budge. Cade was staring down at her as if he had a lot more to say. As if sensing something, Lily, who was looking at him, courageously opened her mouth to speak.

“Isn’t the Lady more beautiful today, milord? With her gorgeous hair tied up like that, her ears and neckline are more exposed, so she looked very elegant.”

Cherryl wanted to shut Lily’s mouth. It wasn’t only Cade who was staring at her now but also his subordinate standing next to him. The man had impressive grey eyes whose dark pupils in his irises were slightly narrowed beneath the lights as if they belonged to a cat. He must be Viper, one of Cade’s closest aides. Rolling her eyes, Cherryl slightly turned to hide from Cade and said, “It’s no different than usual. Then I’ll go now.”

“You’re just as pretty… as usual.” Cade’s bluntness held her by the ankle again. She stared at him with bewilderment, wondering if his statement was a joke. Mischief was all over his handsome face as he scrutinized her peach-colored cheeks. Looking back at their intimate physical contact, Cherryl wasn’t very passive. Even when he kissed her, she didn’t act as stiff as a stone. And even when she accepted his one-sided initiation last dawn, she tended to react without hesitation. However, the next day or at some point, she would often blush like a nervous schoolgirl. Did she really care about other people’s opinions and how she might appear to them or was she just overthinking? If it was the latter, what kind of complicated thoughts were coming and going in that small head of hers? Whatever it was, it was a lot of fun to watch Cherryl every time her chubby cheeks flushed with embarrassment. That was probably why he wanted to touch her for no reason even if she was trying to be on her way right now. Cade’s gaze glided to Cherryl’s slender neck. A rather persistent look lingered for a long time.

“I have to go now, Your Grace.”

A warm hand clasped one of Cherryl’s cheeks before she could take another step.

“Finish it quickly and come to me.”

Cade lowered his head and pressed his lips against Cherryl’s cheek and her shoulders shrank in surprise. The spectator who watched the couple express their affection so freely seemed unfazed at the sight. Cade glanced in the direction leading to the corridor on the first floor and left first.

Unlike Lily, who made all kinds of fuss from her countenance alone, Viper looked at Cherryl blankly before following Cade.

Cherryl moved calmly, comforting her thumping chest. Her arms and legs were going out in the same direction at the same time.

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