Chapter 10 - Man's Gossip
"Ah!"
Before even touching the bed, Shirley, who had been walking ahead, turned around abruptly. Escar, trailing behind with his thoughts wandering, was jolted back to reality.
"About the first night, …."
GULP!
This is it!
The golden opportunity, …!
"I'm not ready to do it yet. And, if possible, not for the next few months either."
BOOM!
Like being struck by lightning, Escar froze in place.
His mouth hung open, and his eyes widened completely.
"I'll tell you when I'm truly ready."
Yes.
He was completely taken aback.
"Because it'll be my first time, and it's going to hurt a lot."
Ah, right.
The breaking of virginity!
Escar had read in an educational book that it would be very painful for women.
"So, could you give me some time?"
"…!" Escar nodded again.
Yes! That's no problem.
As long as Shirley didn't mind doing it later.
After all, they were both still very young.
No need to rush, right?
"There's nothing else we need to discuss, is there?"
Shirley continued toward the bed, casually settling herself on the right side before pulling the blanket over her.
Escar hesitated.
He awkwardly placed his bent right knee on the bed.
Then, before calling Shirley by tapping her small shoulder, Escar wrote something down.
TAP! TAP!
"…?" Shirley turned, raising an eyebrow at him.
["I'm sorry if I sound preachy, but, wife, isn't it bad to sleep with wet hair?"]
Her crimson eyes focused on Escar's note, filled with concern.
["Not only will it dampen the pillow and make it moldy, but it might also cause headaches and hair loss."]
"In that case, …."
Thinking it over, it made sense. Sleeping with wet hair was uncomfortable, especially with her long locks.
["May I dry your hair for you?"]
"…?" Shirley froze, stunned by Escar's suggestion.
What on earth was this man thinking?
How could he come up with such a thing without hesitation?
But, ….
"All right."
… Hm, there was no harm in it, was there?
Besides, Shirley considered Escar more of a servant like Ginger, who catered to her basic needs.
At the same time, it seemed to make Escar happy.
Her husband eagerly rummaged through the nightstand, looking for a dry towel.
When he found one, he rushed over with eager eyes.
"…."
"…."
They both fell silent again.
But unlike before, this silence was comfortable.
Despite his earlier enthusiasm, which Shirley thought would lead to clumsiness, Escar surprised her.
He wiped her scalp gently and dried her hair with utmost care, concern, and affection.
Meanwhile, on Escar's side, the young man fought hard to maintain control over his thoughts and heart.
He repeatedly reminded himself to stay rational.
No matter how intoxicating Shirley's natural fragrance was, he couldn't let himself be overcome by lust!
He couldn't risk acting out on his wife, who had been upfront about not wanting their first night anytime soon.
"Does it seem dry now? May I go to sleep?"
"Um!" Escar murmured softly, nodding.
Reluctantly, he put the towel away and watched Shirley adjust her sleeping space for comfort.
His gaze lingered deeply.
There was something he wanted to say, but....
… Never mind.
RUSTLE!
Escar lay down beside her with a sigh.
The two faced opposite directions.
While Shirley fell fast asleep, Escar remained wide awake.
Despite just having bathed, he began sweating nervously.
His strong hands gripped the sheets tightly. Shirley's enticing scent only grew stronger in their close proximity.
---
BAM!
The next morning, Sir Bashilian noticed his master, the Marquess, looking more exhausted than usual.
His eyes were bloodshot, with dark circles beneath them.
His disheveled hair and crooked clothing made him appear utterly defeated.
"Your Excellency, is there anything I can assist you with?" Sir Bashilian asked with concern, but the Marquess merely shook his head weakly.
Before Sir Bashilian could press further, a knock on the door interrupted him.
"Yo~ Escar!"
Without waiting for permission—or even introducing himself—the visitor entered uninvited.
"I've got something to ask you."
It was Duke Esclat, Lewin, a high-ranking noble with a cheerful demeanor, dressed in black-and-blue formal attire.
He approached Escar's desk without an ounce of guilt.
"About your first night …."
And then, without hesitation, he asked,
"Was it enjoyable?"
Escar replied with a blank stare, one that seemed to say: "Do I look like I've experienced it?".
"Haha, I knew it! Your first night wasn't going to go smoothly!"
Lewin casually sat on the windowsill, crossing one leg over the other.
"But don't worry! I've brought someone experienced to teach you—and me, for the future."
["What? Really? Who?"]
JTAK!
With a snap of Lewin's fingers, another person entered the room.
The newcomer adjusted his glasses with a single finger, trying to appear composed and cool.
It was none other than Count Darius Hellington.
"Ugh, why the sour face? He's experienced, you know!"
At first, Escar didn't care about the nonsense spewing from Lewin's mouth.
But, ….
"He's married and already has a baby! Baby boy!"
Upon hearing that Lewin's so-called advisor had real results, Escar's eyes widened with interest.
His enthusiasm returned, and the lethargy from before disappeared completely.
"Darius! Start sharing your wisdom."
"As you wish."
Meanwhile, Sir Bashilian tried to ignore the strange group now whispering and chuckling over what was undoubtedly an inappropriate topic.
"You all, …! Why are you discussing something so indecent?"
The stern knight tried to remind them firmly.
Unfortunately, his words fell on deaf ears.
Not long after, noticing his master giggling and occasionally blushing, Sir Bashilian's curiosity began to stir.
What exactly were they talking about?
"As I said, it's incredibly painful for women! Their hymens tear, after all."
"…!"
"You're right, Escar, just like we read in those educational books!"
"When you do it for the first time, please don't be rough! Make sure to be gentle~! Why? So that our women don't feel traumatized, and later … they'll ask for more!"
"…." Escar remained silent, his face flushed deep red as he smiled faintly.
Meanwhile, Duke Esclat, ….
"Khkhkh!"
… Struggled to suppress his chuckles.
"…?"
Naturally, this only fueled Sir Bashilian's burning curiosity.
Giving in to temptation, he reluctantly set aside his pride and sharpened his ears, eavesdropping.
"Is it really that pleasurable?"
"Of course! Why else would I keep doing it until we had a child? Ahem! Even after having a baby, we still—!"
—THUD!
Count Darius's storytelling came to an abrupt halt when something hit his back.
Turning around, he saw Sir Bashilian's head tilted sideways, ear pressed as close as possible to the discussion.
"…."
"…."
"…."
Both the uninvited guests—Duke Esclat and Count Hellington—and Escar, who knew Bashilian inside and out, stared at the knight with deadpan expressions.
Well.
Since the three of them were real men, surely one man could easily understand the thoughts of another, right?
"Come here, Sir. Don't be shy if you're curious."
SRUKK!
Sir Bashilian quickly stood at attention.
"W-what do you mean?!"
He spoke, but his words came out stammered.
His fierce, stoic face softened into something endearingly awkward, adorned with a bright red blush.
His typically dignified movements now appeared stiff, rigid, and clumsy.
A simple sight that effortlessly tickled the Duke's notoriously childish sense of humor to the point of bursting into laughter.
Unable to resist, all three men began feeling an itch in their lips.
Escar smiled faintly.
Count Hellington stifled a laugh.
And Duke Esclat, ….
"Buahaha! Bashil is embarrassed! Bashil is embarrassed!"
… Laugh out loud.
"Your Grace!!!"
Ah, damn it!
Sir Bashilian regretted letting his curiosity get the better of him.
Now, after being ridiculed by the uninvited guests and noticing his master smirking mischievously instead of defending him, Sir Bashilian felt utterly humiliated.
Left with no choice, ….
"Hey, Sir!"
… Sir Bashilian fled in embarrassment, stumbling as he ran.
"Oh no, what now? Sir Bashilian left. We were just joking."
["It's fine. That's just how he is when he's embarrassed. He'll come back on his own eventually."]
Escar explained, though he wasn't sure what Sir Bashilian would have to go through first to calm himself down.
---
THUMP!
"Ouch!"
Distracted by his frantic attempt to escape, Sir Bashilian lost control and crashed into someone—a woman.