The Cold-Hearted Grand Duke Obsesses Over Me After My Death - Chapter 57

Episode 57. Dancing with Him (1)

‘Did I eat too much?’

Soaking in the bathtub, Emilia touched her waist and stomach. The body that had once been so thin had filled out over the past few months. It felt like only yesterday she’d curled up in that cold tower, clutching her empty stomach as she fell asleep, and now she was worrying about gaining weight.

‘He said he’d teach me, but he must be busy.’

She had asked Louid to teach her how to dance, but since he was always busy, she thought she would probably have to teach herself. With only a week left until the banquet, if he missed even a few days, the event would already be upon them.

‘I should read a book about dancing tomorrow.’

Planning to visit the library, she quickly washed up and slipped into her nightgown. As always, she sat at her desk and began sketching designs. But today, what she was drawing wasn’t a dress. Holding her pen, she was sketching the upper part of a man’s formal suit when the door suddenly burst open.

She hastily covered her drawing with an open book and turned around. Louid was striding toward her.

“You’re back?”

Not expecting him to return early, Emilia widened her eyes.

His hair was damp as if he’d just washed, and he was wearing a robe. Louid took her hand without warning and pulled her to her feet.

“Place your right hand on mine.”

Staring at him as if in a trance, Emilia did as she was told. Louid pulled her closer with his right hand, wrapping it around her waist.

“Oh.”

As their bodies pressed together, Emilia let out a small gasp. When his large hand wrapped around her waist, her body stiffened from tension.

‘So she really has never danced before.’

One of Louid’s eyebrows twitched. Until he had entered Emilia’s room, he hadn’t been entirely convinced that she didn’t know how to dance.

“Don’t tense up. Put your left hand on my shoulder.”

“Yes.”

Looking into Louid’s crimson eyes, Emilia swallowed hard. Her body was still stiff like a block of wood.

“One, two, three. One, two, three.”

Counting out loud, Louid led her in circles around the room.

“Now, turn.”

He spun her quickly enough to make her dizzy, lifting his hand high above her head. Still holding one of his hands, Emilia twirled beneath his arm.

“Ah!”

Losing her balance, she squeezed her eyes shut.

“…?”

She thought she would fall to the floor, but when she opened her eyes, she was in Louid’s arms. His face was right in front of hers. Meeting his gaze directly, she swallowed again.

“Alright, again.”

After staring at her lips for a moment, Louid straightened her up and began to dance around the room once more. Emilia was dragged along helplessly by his movements.

Soon, the room was filled with Louid’s complaints.

“Emilia, don’t you get it? Step, step, step. Step, step, step.”

“Like this, right? Step, step, step—ah!”

Moving stiffly like a wooden doll, Emilia stumbled to the side.

‘Her mother was a dancer, so how does the daughter have no talent at all?’

Louid sighed as he looked down at her. She truly had no talent for dancing.

He had learned how to dance from an imperial tutor when he was young, but since moving north at fifteen, he’d only danced a few times in his life. Still, Emilia couldn’t even keep the rhythm.

‘Jamie must have had a hard time.’

He suddenly felt a little sympathy for Jamie, who had taught Emilia swordsmanship.

“Why is this so difficult and complicated? Let’s just dance however we want.”

Emilia reached out and grabbed both of his hands. Louid flinched, but she ignored him and started spinning in place.

“Da-da-da. Da-da-da.”

Counting the rhythm with her mouth, she spun around wildly. Sometimes she turned in place, sometimes she raised and lowered their joined arms, whirling around every corner of the room.

“Isn’t this more fun?” Emilia asked, catching her breath.

“Perhaps. But since you’ll have to dance properly at the banquet, make sure to practice the way I showed you.”

Louid, who had been quietly matching her rhythm, returned to his usual strict expression.

“Yes, I understand.”

Despite her answer, Emilia lifted the hem of her slip skirt slightly and began dancing however she pleased.

‘She always answers so well.’

Louid sighed as he looked at her. It seemed even his stern expression didn’t work on her anymore.

“Let’s dance again.”

After catching her breath, Emilia took his hand. Louid let her take it without resistance, thinking that although she was clumsy, she was passionate about everything she did. Whether it was horseback riding, swordsmanship, painting, or tending the greenhouse, she always gave her all.

“This time, let’s do it properly.”

Gaining confidence, she took his left hand.

“Alright.”

Louid pulled Emilia’s waist closer than before. Their lower bodies pressed tightly together, leaving no space between them. Blinking her blue eyes in surprise, Emilia began counting the beat loudly as if to focus.

“Tan, tan, tan, tan, tan, tan.”

‘How spirited.’

Louid smirked faintly. He had expected her to be dispirited after the kidnapping incident, yet Emilia seemed even stronger. Though they might not have been meant for each other, he liked her resilience.

“Ah!”

As Emilia spun under his arm, she lost her balance again.

‘Louid will catch me.’

Tilting to the side, she closed her eyes calmly.

“…?”

Her back hit the surface beneath her. Emilia’s eyes flew open. Thankfully, it didn’t hurt, but this time, Louid hadn’t caught her. She quickly looked around in confusion.

“Phew….”

Fortunately, she had fallen onto the bed. And right in front of her was Louid’s face. His crimson eyes glared down at her, burning like fire.

“Louid? W-would you mind moving for a moment?”

“….”

Even at her request, Louid didn’t move. Worse, he wasn’t holding back his weight, and she could feel every bit of it pressing down on her. Emilia was completely trapped beneath him.

‘Ugh, he’s heavy.’

When she twisted her body to escape, he frowned as if in discomfort.

“Hold still.”

“You’re heavy.”

Emilia shot back without backing down. She kept squirming, though it barely made a difference.

“You’re the one who caused this!” Louid snapped.

“Ah.”

Only then did she realize something felt strange. Something heavy was pressed against her lower stomach. Emilia reached out and confirmed what it was. His manhood was already large and hard.

‘Did I get too close while dancing?’

It was her fault for being clumsy. Still, the lesson was done, and she had achieved what she wanted: to learn the dance. It was time to make him move away. She wrapped her arms around Louid’s neck and pulled his head down.

Their lips met without a single gap. Louid didn’t resist and simply let her do as she wished. But soon, he parted her lips and slid his tongue inside.

“Mmph.”

The sound of their lips and the wet friction of their mouths filled the room for a long time.

After a long kiss, Louid lifted his lips and pressed his nose to the pale curve of her neck, inhaling deeply. The now-familiar scent of wildflowers stirred his desire. When he sucked at the pulsing spot on her neck, a red mark appeared almost immediately.

With a satisfied smile, he left more marks along her collarbone and chest. Like a beast marking its territory, it was a private joy only he knew.

“Louid.”

Emilia called his name in a trembling voice. As if that single word had triggered something, Louid roughly pulled down the strap of her slip. Then he found her nipple and sucked on it hard. Still, nothing came out, but he continued, as if he were drinking something sweet and vital.

“Ahh… haah….”

A tingling wave of pleasure spread through her whole body, and Emilia let out repeated moans. She had meant to bring him to his climax quickly so she could escape from beneath him, but she lost sight of that goal and drowned in pleasure instead.

Louid sucked hard on her other nipple, and she twisted her waist.

“Haa.”

He let out a short breath. The more Emilia writhed beneath him, the rougher his breathing became.

From the moment his body had brushed against hers while they danced, he had already been reacting to her. He couldn’t tell if they were dancing or if it was some sort of test of endurance.

When Emilia bent backward, entrusting her body to him, his patience had already reached its limit. It was impossible to hide the hard length between his legs any longer.

That was why, when she bent her back for the second time, he didn’t support her on purpose.