< — I love you — > (6)
Hugo and Lucia sat holding each other for a long time without saying anything. They both needed time to sort out their feelings which had surged up to the limit.
Lucia recalled the contents of a romance novel that Norman had written. The protagonist was thrown onto the path of tribulation from the moment she confirmed her love. No matter the adversity, the protagonist always prevailed. Lucia thought it was only possible because it was novel; reality was incomparably harsh. Which is why she felt that the sweet reality placed in front of her right now was miraculous.
“I was going to talk to you about our contract today.”
His low voice reverberated through her body. Lucia pulled away slightly from his embrace and lifted her head to look at him.
“You already gave me the consent form for the family register and Damian has been entered into the register. The terms of the contract have already been met and I know that calling it ‘termination’ is meaningless. So, I wanted to hear your thoughts.”
“The contract was meaningless already.”
Lucia calmly shook her head.
“Even if it wasn’t a term in the contract, I would have gladly taken Damian as my son. He is a lovely child that deserves to be loved. And, you’ve already promised me that you would be a faithful husband. Ah. There is one last condition left. If I confessed my love to you, you would give me a rose.”
Seeing him scowling, Lucia smiled.
“But you’re not going to give me a rose, are you?”
“…You’re going to keep tormenting me with that, aren’t you?”
“I won’t.”
Lucia chuckled. His face was filled with dissatisfaction and his expression was saying he felt wronged and frustrated but couldn’t say anything.
“Since when did you love me?” (Lucia)
His expression turned awkward.
“I don’t know.” (Hugo)
Lucia began to ask a little about specific events from the past, questioning, ‘was it then?’ and Hugo replied with ‘I think it was further than that…?’
“Then, what about when Damian came back?” (Lucia)
“Probably around then?” (Hugo)
“That long ago?”
“I thought I was going to run out of breath because you were so dense.”
So says the man who timidly kept everything to himself and suffered inwardly. If it was around the time when Damian came back, it had almost been a year. Lucia looked at him with a new gaze. So, he had been troubled on his own for almost a year. She felt sorry and also felt like laughing. Lucia spoke prudishly.
“You’re something else as well. I was much earlier than you, you know?”[1]
After a momentary pause, he yelled, ‘What?!’ and grabbed her shoulders with both hands.
“Ah really, you’re so cruel. And even with that, you declared you would never love me?”
Lucia retraced that particular memory and went, ‘Ah…’
“I didn’t know that incident bothered you.” (Lucia)[2]
Hugo gave a dispirited sigh. He wondered if his internal struggles this whole time had all been for nothing.
“Do you know how much I…” (Hugo)
He felt choked up for no reason and couldn’t continue speaking. Lucia patted his shoulders to comfort him. Seeing his annoyed expression, a small laugh escaped her mouth.
‘We were both so scared of each other.’
Lucia felt like she knew why the both of them took such a long time to get here.
“…You didn’t even tell me your name.” (Hugo)
“My name?” (Lucia)
“I’m talking about your childhood name.”
“Childhood name?”
“…Lucia.”
Lucia took a sharp breath. The moment her name came out of his mouth, she felt a sense of thrill. She didn’t think of the name her mother gave to her as a childhood name. ‘Lucia’ was simply just her name.
When Lucia looked at him without saying anything, Hugo began to grumble: Damian knows, even the butler knows but I don’t know.
“Hugh.”
Lucia laughed and stretched out her hands to cup his face.
“To me, the name ‘Lucia’ was special. Because it was the name my mother gave to me.”
The name ‘Lucia’ was her identity. In her dream, it was the pillar that kept her from collapsing, no matter what she went through.
“Princess Vivian was like another person that wasn’t me. It’s not that I tried to hide it from you, but because your wife is Vivian, I thought I should live as Vivian.
“You were uncomfortable with the name from the beginning.”
“Yes. I was. I thought ‘Vivian’ was a shell hiding my true self ‘Lucia’. Hugh. I found out that a name has meaning when someone is calling it. Every time you call me Vivian, the fake Vivian starts to become real. I am your Vivian. Only you can call me Vivian.”
Lucia acknowledged that Vivian was also herself. Rather, she was happy that she was able to live as his wife, Vivian. ‘Lucia’ was a weed and a wildflower. ‘Vivian’ was a beautiful flower. She wanted to be with him as Vivian.
“The name that only you can call is more special, isn’t it?” (Lucia)
“…”
His red eyes were slightly lukewarm but his ‘dubious but it sounds convincing’ expression was adorable. Lucia chuckled.
“I have something to ask you too. Why did you steal Damian’s handkerchief?” (Lucia)
“What do you mean ‘steal’? That word is not appropriate.”
He boldly protested. Lucia stared at his shameless face.
“Alright then. Why did you take it?”
“Speaking of which, when you make one for the boy, make one for me too.”
His attitude was basically ‘give me what you set aside for the boy’. Lucia ignored his request for now and went on the offensive.
“So that it can be taken by His Majesty again?”
“…”
Hugo sighed lamentfully and mumbled, ‘How merciless’.
“You usually have a lot of complaints about me. Don’t say you don’t.” (Hugo)
“Mm. It may be so. I had a lot of worries too. Worries that I wouldn’t have had if you had been courageous like a man. I did the proposing and I also did the confessing. Wow. Now I can see that the face of His Grace the Duke of Taran doesn’t count for much.”
“…Go easy. You’re really chopping your husband up.”
Lucia burst into laughter and hugged his neck.
“Even if you’re timid and a bad guy. I love you, Hugh.”
“Can’t you take out the first sentence?”
Hugo grumbled and picked her up from the sofa. He carried her to the bedroom, put her down on the bed and as she protested that she was still talking, he blocked her lips with his own.
“The conversation is taking too long. Let’s take a break.” (Hugo)
The speechlessness written all over her face didn’t faze him. Hugo quickly pushed her down on the bed and climbed over her. His hand lifted up her skirt and traced the inside of her thigh.
“Plus, the option you talked about. You have to test the performance, don’t you?”[3]
“I’ve tested it enough!”
Her rebellion was instantly suppressed.
* * *
It was the dusk of dawn. Hugo woke up at the same time of the day like always. He greeted the morning at the same time and started the day the same. It was a life where yesterday was like today, and today was like tomorrow. Sometimes, he wondered how much time he had left and felt a deep sense of emptiness.
Feeling the body temperature and soft skin next to him, Hugo turned his head. His wife, the only color that shone in his gray world. His love. His life obtained meaning because of her. He couldn’t imagine a life without her. He couldn’t sleep without holding her warm body in his arms.
Ever since she came to the capital, he had not used his bedroom. His bedroom, unused by its owner, was chilly even in the middle of the summer. Hugo put his arm under her waist, pulled her quietly sleeping figure to his chest and hugged her tightly. Then he carefully lay her down and covered her with the blanket. She tossed in her sleep and turned over to the side. He kissed her exposed, round shoulders then he came down from the bed.
Because the master of the house was an early riser, the mansion was awake early in the morning and active. Under the steadfast attendance of the always dedicated three siblings, Hugo changed his clothes. At the side, Jerome orally reported the miscellaneous things he didn’t report yesterday and simply received approval.
“Yellow rose. Why is it a yellow rose?”
Although his master’s question was abrupt, Jerome diligently replied.
“Do you mean why I chose to send a yellow rose?”
When Hugo nodded his head, Jerome said, “It’s because of the floral language,” and went on to explain that most flowers in the world had a specific meaning called the ‘floral language’.
“Floral language? Right…And what does a yellow rose mean in floral language?”
“It stands for separation.”
Hugo’s expression turned rather sour at Jerome’s reply.
“What flower has the opposite meaning in floral language?”
“Red roses stand for passionate love.”
“No roses.”
Hugo was sick of roses, regardless of the color.
“There is a flower called statice. In floral language, it means eternal love.”
“That sounds good. Have someone bring a bunch of those to my wife every morning when she wakes up.”
Hugo decided to erase roses completely from her head.
Translator’s Corner:
[1] Didn’t know how else to word this, she’s saying she felt in love with him wayyy before he did. She does not use the word ‘love’. It is implied.
[2] I believe this is when they had their first argument over her not wanting treatment for her infertility. I forget wt chapter.
[3] Option was [Virility](Re: male sex drive/stamina in bed). Just in case you forgot.
*.*.*
- Emilone’s Temptation Labyrinth – Chapter 67 - December 21, 2024
- Forget My Husband, I’ll Go Make Money – Side Story 21 - December 14, 2024
- Emilone’s Temptation Labyrinth – Chapter 66 - December 14, 2024
Thus they live a sweet, romantic and flowery life together 💖🌹
And got revenge on the King by being lovey dovey in front of him every time they meet. 😛
No roses pls
He sick of it.
NO ROSES 🌹🚫
Awww so set💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕 my tooth ache…
And I’m surprise there’s no smut scenes after confession..
Thanks for the chapter
Same here …. I Was expecting a ot and torride nigt but nothing ….. but in a way it make me smile …. when you can predict everything in a book that’s not fun XD so i welcome the surprise … For te smut well i believe ther going to be some scene later or i can just read some previous chapter
What’s funny is the flower, Statice, can be used to treat your toothache… In aromatherapy its to encourage a sense of well being and helping you let go of your worries.
It’s incredible that the author knows how to skip those.
I am actually happy with that ngl
Thanks for the new chapter!
Aww it wasn’t as steamy as I expected, but at least Lucia got to test drive the renewed option.
Ah yes it’s the time where their hearts are finally catching up to their libidos. Implied smut just means a heavy dose will probably come sooner. Pun intended. 🤭hahaha
Love this chapter so much, and now that they have come clean with their feelings. Is pregnancy coming? Or will Hugh step back knowing his conflicted on starting up a family? I’m pretty sure Lucia would want to have her own child now that she’s with the love of her life, will she cure herself from being infertile???? Oh my Geeee, there’s still more to gooooooooo
Not sure of how many chapters, but I think it’s about 168.
146 + sidestory
Thank you for the clarification, Ms Ruby
Do you still have all this chapters? I’m a little scared now, there must be a lot of bullshit ahead.
Fabian’s wife is probably rejoicing all the way to the bank! She may be a bit irritated and hit Jerome for not suggesting a more expensive flower though. :p
Rose are the most expensive flower …. if he explain te the duke hate rose then he have the perfect excuse ….
“Mm. It may be so. I had a lot of worries too. Worries that I wouldn’t have had if you had been courageous like a man. I did the proposing and I also did the confessing. Wow. Now I can see that the face of His Grace the Duke of Taran doesn’t count for much.” Now that you mentioned it…
Haha, the way Lucia tried to comfort him over “Vivian” by saying it’s special and his dubious expression lol.
HAHA that was my favorite line this chapter as well!
Amazing… it has actually reached chapter 95?! I felt like I started reading Lucia only yesterday. Hahahaha
Chapter 29:
She won’t beg for his love.
She won’t play the virtuous wife, obeying everything he says unconditionally.
Miss Ruby, being given too much sugar all at once is bad for the body you know.
Thanks for the hard work.
Awww sweetness overload! <3
Thanks for the chapter. 🙂
Thank you so much for the translation !
I starded to read this novel this morning and now it’s 23:30. I know translating is not easy and I really like your style!
Thank you for your hard work!
Amazing translation, as always Ms Ruby.
Cuteeee ❤
Hahahahaha Roses😂😂 The duke is traumatized of roses😂😂😂💕💕💕💕💕
Heartwarming💕
Yay! I’m so glad they confessed to each other. Now all I need is for Damien to visit! Thank you so much Miss Ruby for all the hard work!
I thought lavender carried the meaning of anticipation, memories and good wishes. and white lilies that was eternal love.
Oh finally!! I can sleep now 😤😑🙂😊
God these two dorks. so cute.
But I think Jerome wins Best Boy. (Roy is my close second, omg)
My heaaaaaart!!! So cuuuuuuteeeeeeee!! I love them uwu <3
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that Hugh got traumatized by roses by now XD
He is going to buy out all those flowers lmao
Omfg Hugo is so sweet :((((
Id read this novel last 2019 and came back 2020 to re read for i think 3 times and then here i am again 😅 i really missed the taran family ❤
I thought I was going to run out of breath because you were so dense.”
“Mm. It may be so. I had a lot of worries too. Worries that I wouldn’t have had if you had been courageous like a man. I did the proposing and I also did the confessing. Wow. Now I can see that the face of His Grace the Duke of Taran doesn’t count for much.”
“…Go easy. You’re really chopping your husband up.”
I cant i love their banters so much 🫶🏻 i can read a whole book of them just conversing lovingly
why cut the love making scene author so stingy it is like their first love making when they confess love and then nothing dissapointed
why cut the love making scene author so stingy it is like their first love making when they confess love and then nothing,,,,, SO disappointed