Obsession Beyond the Wall of Courtesy - Chapter 101

He remembered. The feeling suddenly rose up inside me.

“I thought maybe you had forgotten…”

Before I could finish my sentence, Cedric wrapped one arm around my shoulder. In an instant, his presence surrounded me. His familiar scent and intense gaze focused on me.

“How could I forget that I married you? I couldn’t forget even when you weren’t by my side.”

His low voice tickled my ears more than usual. His deep blue eyes seemed to remember that time. I was a little shocked and asked,

“Then why didn’t you write that in your letter?”

“It wouldn’t have meant as much if I said it in a letter. I wanted to see your face and say it in person. I planned to come back for our anniversary no matter what.”

“Then you should have told me. I didn’t know anything and…”

Tears welled up in my eyes before I realized it. I wasn’t usually this emotional. Embarrassed, I looked away. Cedric handed Vincent to a servant for a moment, then hugged me tightly. I was buried in his broad chest in an instant. Even I thought it was silly to cry over this, so I mumbled,

“I’m crying because I’m happy to see you. It’s been almost a week.”

Cedric pulled me closer and let out a small laugh. He buried his face between my shoulders. His breath warmed my skin, and his lips brushed against me.

“I should have come sooner.”

His voice, now so close, was even more intense than before. His scent, breath, and warmth were everything I had been imagining.

I had felt all of this a week ago too, but now my senses were strangely sharper, and my heart jumped on its own. Every time his breath touched my bare skin, my heart beat faster.

His firm chest pressed directly against me as he held me. My face turned bright red.

I smiled awkwardly and gently pushed him away. Even as he moved back, Cedric studied my face seriously. I couldn’t meet his eyes and turned away. After watching me for a while, Cedric suddenly spoke.

“Revril.”

I was surprised by the sudden call and answered without thinking.

“Yes?”

Cedric gave a relaxed smile, either because he found my flustered face funny or because he had already guessed what I was thinking.

“It’s only been a week, and you’re already pushing your husband away?”

His tilted face showed both calm and sharpness. I changed the subject like I knew nothing.

“Aren’t you hungry? You must’ve come early this morning…”

“I came last night.”

I blinked in surprise. I thought I had smelled Cedric for a moment last night…

“Then did you come to my room too?”

“I went there right after arriving at the mansion. You seemed to be in a deep sleep, so I didn’t wake you.”

“You should’ve woken me. It’s been a week.”

Cedric smiled and took my hand.

“It was already late, and it’s much better for you to wake up in the morning.”

Cedric knew me very well—even the fact that I didn’t like being woken up in the middle of the night. I felt truly thankful that he thought about me this much.

As I simply smiled, Cedric gently pulled me along.

“Breakfast is ready. It’s our anniversary, so we can’t eat an ordinary meal.”

My heart thumped. It seemed Cedric had prepared something without telling me too. I bit my lower lip and spoke carefully.

“I prepared something too.”

Cedric smiled smoothly.

“Then we can enjoy what you prepared for dinner.”

For a moment, I felt like he knew exactly what I was planning. I asked just to make sure.

“Did you know I was preparing something for our anniversary?”

“No. I didn’t know.”

Even as he said that, Cedric smiled happily. I felt a little suspicious.

“…You did know, didn’t you?”

Cedric gave a small smile and kissed my cheek.

“I missed you, so I had someone report everything going on at the mansion. Letters didn’t tell me enough about how you were doing.”

Now that I thought about it, I hadn’t even written him proper letters. My face twisted with guilt. Cedric looked at me and asked,

“Don’t you like it?”

“What?”

“That I was getting reports about you.”

“No, I don’t really mind that.”

“Then what is it?”

Cedric looked at me with concern. Before, I would’ve just avoided the topic or made something up. I thought what I was feeling was too small or silly to tell him.

But now I didn’t want any more misunderstandings between us, and since he respected my feelings, I spoke honestly.

“Actually, I wanted to write to you. But since I didn’t know when you’d come back, I worried too much and couldn’t write anything. I thought I was preparing well for our anniversary…”

I almost sighed, but Cedric hugged me tightly.

“I’d love to get a letter from you, but it’s enough for me that you waited for me.”

I barely heard the second half, and the first part just kept repeating in my head. As I thought, Cedric really did want a letter. Since I didn’t say anything, he kept watching my face.

I still felt guilty about not writing, but I smiled anyway. Just the fact that Cedric had come was a great joy.

And I had something prepared too, so I was determined to write him a letter before dinner.

Cedric smiled softly and led me to the formal dining room. His hand holding mine felt warmer than ever. Feeling at ease, I asked,

“So, is the work in the territory finished?”

“It’s all done, so I won’t be going back for a while.”

My face lit up.

“Then you’ll be staying here?”

Cedric smiled and nodded, like he understood how excited I was. I spoke faster, full of joy.

“Honestly, I was a bit bothered every time you had to leave. Not that I hated it—I understood because you were busy… And every day at 4 o’clock, you’d send me flowers, so I’d look forward to that time too…”

Cedric let out a small laugh and looked at me. I started to regret saying that. I’d been so happy that I just blurted everything out.

‘I should have collected my thoughts and told him properly that I missed him.’

At that moment, Cedric kissed my cheek. The soft touch lingered briefly, and then a low voice echoed in my ear.

“I’m glad I’m someone you’re happy to see.”

“Of course. I waited for you all week.”

I didn’t even get to say that I read and reread every word in his letters. That was my little grudge—because he made me wait. Even thinking that, my lips itched to speak. I wanted to tell him how much I’d been thinking of him, and just when that feeling reached my throat—

“Revril.”

It was a low and pleasant voice. When I looked up, Cedric was staring into my eyes and gently held my cheek.

“Then, can you go with me to the territory now?”

“It’s okay. I only have bad memories there, but… I still want to be wherever you go.”

I meant it. I hoped Cedric wouldn’t hold back because of me anymore. His deep blue eyes looked like a still lake. I suddenly felt shy under his gaze and looked away.

Then his lips touched mine. I was surprised at first, but soon, he softly bit my lip and relaxed my feelings. As our lips met, our breathing grew heavier.

Suddenly, my back touched the wall. Cedric moved between my legs and kissed me even more deeply.

His hot breath made my breathing quicken. His hands naturally wrapped around my waist. I trembled at the feel of his hands through the thin fabric of my dress.

I barely managed to push his shoulders. He slowly backed away. His excited breath still lingered close by. Cedric’s gaze was still intense with desire, as if he might come back at any moment, so I quickly spoke.

“I want to eat the breakfast you prepared.”

Cedric lifted one side of his lips and held my hand.

As we arrived at the dining room, the decorations were more splendid than I had imagined. The food especially looked amazing—full of things I had never seen before.

From rare cactus decorations to soft pink roses placed just right, everything around us felt magical, like another world.

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