The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 435: A Newlywed Couple’s First Argument

Chapter 435: A Newlywed Couple’s First Argument

As Sylvia entered the main hall, she was greeted by her mother and two elderly ladies, who appeared to be midwives based on their attire. A foreboding sense quickly overwhelmed her at the sight of the two unfamiliar figures.

The Countess of Medhir set down her teacup and rose, a bright smile lighting up her face at her daughter’s arrival.

Sylvia’s personal maid, who had fetched her, stood aside with her hands clasped firmly over her stomach, giving way for the noble ladies’ discussion.

"Oh, Sylvia! Congratulations!" Denise exclaimed, enveloping her daughter in a warm hug.

"Congratulations for what?" Sylvia asked, confused.

The countess smiled sheepishly.

"Well... your maid handed me the purity cloth, and we saw the proof. You surely did well last night!" she praised.

Understanding her mother’s remarks, Sylvia’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure.

Drystan had warned her about this before she stepped out of her chamber upon receiving her mother’s summons. He had just finished bathing and was dressing, and Sylvia, not wanting to keep her mother waiting, had decided to leave first.

"I did what a wife should, mother," she replied steadily.

"Yes, yes! I’m sure you did. So, did Drystan say anything?" Denise asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"About what?" Sylvia replied, feigning innocence.

"About whether he was satisfied with you or anything like that!" The countess grinned.

"Mother!" Sylvia gasped.

Her face turned another shade of red, and her eyes widened as she glared back at her mother, shocked by the daring question.

"There’s nothing to be ashamed of. You need to tell me his response so I can teach you better. A good husband is hard to find. Yours and your father, my husband, are the special ones. So, tell me the truth!" the countess insisted.

Sylvia hesitated but knew how persistent her mother could be.

She bit her lower lip and, after considering the most suitable answer, replied, "He... he kissed my forehead, said I did amazingly, and thanked me. He also hugged me the whole night until morning."

It wasn’t a lie.

Drystan had indeed mentioned that he had embraced her and patted her to sleep, and when she woke up, she was still in his arms.

Perhaps it was merely a way for the knight to show solidarity with their friendship and reassure her that everything would turn fine, but she couldn’t deny the warm feeling it brought her. His attentiveness made her feel safe, and in that moment, all her worries faded away.

"That’s so great! Oh, Sylvia! I’m so proud of you!" Denise exclaimed. "Now, let’s move on. These two ladies are the midwives I called to verify the consummation. They’ll conduct a short physical examination to confirm it," she said, introducing the two women to Sylvia.

"A physical examination? But... but... I thought you already had the purity cloth as proof!" Sylvia protested, her voice turned to panic.

"Yes, but a physical examination is still required for nobles. Don’t worry too much. This is just a formality. It’ll be over in a blink of an eye! Let’s go to my chamber and get this done. Your father is already out this morning for work, so now is the best time. Come along, Sylvia!" Denise urged.

Fear washed over Sylvia at her mother’s insistence. At this rate, the truth would come out, and she would face terrible repercussions. Her heart raced, and her eyes darted around, searching for an escape that seemed impossible.

"Sylvie! There you are!"

Drystan’s voice echoed in the main hall like a divine intervention. A wave of relief enveloped her as she saw the knight striding toward her.

His long, quick steps brought him swiftly to her side. He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close as if claiming her as his own.

"I already missed you!" he said, smiling brightly at her.

"D-Drystan! You’re here!" she stammered, her hand instinctively resting on his chest.

She longed to hug him and thank him for arriving just in time, but three pairs of eyes were already watching them.

"Good morning, Mother," Drystan greeted Denise warmly. "Ladies."

He nodded respectfully at the two midwives, who bowed in response. The countess greeted him back with a teasing tone.

"Good morning, son-in-law! I heard you had a blissful night!"

Sylvia’s face flushed crimson again.

"Drystan, I... I..." she began, struggling to find the right words.

She was fearful that the knight might disagree with what she had revealed to her mother.

"Don’t talk, sweetie. The more you move your lips, the more I feel the urge to kiss you," Drystan said, placing a finger gently on her lips.

"My Sylvie here truly worked wonders. If I had known she was this remarkable, I would have hurried the wedding along much earlier. She makes me so happy and content," he added, glancing at Denise.

Drystan had witnessed Kyren’s infatuation with Anna, and he thought that adopting a similar approach would create a more romantic spectacle of his bond with Sylvia for others to see.

The countess and the midwives exchanged bashful smiles at his words.

"I’m glad to hear you’re happy with her," Denise replied.

"Now, if you don’t mind, can I take my Sylvie with me? We haven’t had breakfast yet since we woke up a bit late today. Please excuse us as we head to the dining hall," Drystan requested.

"Oh, wait!" the countess exclaimed. "Sylvia needs to come with me for an examination."

"Examination? Examination for what?" the knight asked, raising an eyebrow, pretending.

"It’s just a health checkup for women. I promise it won’t take long, and you can have her back in no time," Denise explained.

Sylvia gulped nervously, anxiety creeping in. How would Drystan refuse her mother’s request?

"Actually... I do mind," the knight said, surprising everyone present.

"Why so?" the countess inquired.

Drystan turned to Sylvia, noticing the worry in her eyes. He blinked and smiled reassuringly, raising his hand to rub the back of her head gently.

"Sylvie hardly got any rest last night, and she’s still tired. I asked her to lie in bed longer, but she insisted on getting up to pay her respects to the elders. She might feel uncomfortable if anyone else examines her today," he explained.

"Sylvia wouldn’t mind! Besides, I would be accompanying her," Denise urged.

Drystan’s expression shifted, suddenly appearing remorseful. Sylvia couldn’t decipher his next move in this unfolding drama.

"I would appreciate it if you didn’t, Mother. The truth is, I’m worried you might reprimand me," he confessed.

"What do you mean?" the countess asked, puzzled.

Sylvia had told her they had a wonderful wedding night. What else could possibly be wrong for her son-in-law to say that?

"Actually... we both got a bit too excited, and I think I may have overdone it." He turned to Sylvia, asking, "How’s the injury, dear? Are you sure you’re all right?"

Sylvia looked back at her husband, understanding his intent. As if everything clicked into place, she responded in line with his plan.

"I’m fine... just a bit sore," she admitted.

"How did you get injured? Where’s the injury?" Denise exclaimed in a sudden panic.

Being the only granddaughter of the Sylvere family, Sylvia received meticulous care while growing up and was rarely hurt. Everyone in the family treated her with special affection. The countess would definitely not tolerate any injury to her daughter.

"Show them to mother, Sylvie. I know you feel reluctant because you don’t want me to be reprimanded, but it’s fine. I owe this one to you," Drystan encouraged.

Sylvia knew exactly what she needed to do, but hesitation gripped her. Her eyes flicked between her husband, her anxious mother, and the two midwives.

"It’s all right. Don’t worry that they will blame me. It’s all my doing, so I should be responsible for it. Here... let me help you with your outfit," he added.

Drystan lifted his hands to the knots of her attire at her chest and skillfully untied the loops, revealing her marked and bruised skin.

Denise’s eyes widened as she took in the sight. Soon, she and the midwives’ faces flushed red with embarrassment while the knight maintained a severe façade.

"Oh, my! These look even worse than last night! I should’ve held back and been gentler since it was your first time! Forgive me, my dear love!" the knight exclaimed, raising Sylvia’s hand and kissing the back of it several times.

"I promise I’ll behave next time. You won’t push me away from bed, will you, Sylvie?" he asked, his eyes pleading.

"Why would I ever do that? You’re my husband. Also... you were hurt, too," Sylvia replied.

"Ah, that!" Drystan said, pushing aside the high collar of his tunic and rubbing his neck.

A dark bruise with deep teeth marks was visible as he touched the area.

"It doesn’t sting much after the bath. I’m perfectly all right."

The countess and the midwives were momentarily speechless, unaware they were being deceived. The knight’s performance was so convincing, filled with profound emotion and persuasive words.

"That must have hurt a lot!" Sylvia said, raising her hand to touch the bruised skin on Drystan’s neck.

Concern washed over her as she noticed it had worsened since last night.

Suddenly, Drystan caught her hand, surprising her.

He grinned and said in a low voice, "It doesn’t hurt, and I wouldn’t mind if we did it again. It was an unforgettable moment for me. At least, that’s how I feel."

Their eyes locked in that moment, and somehow, the other figures in the room seemed to fade away.

As Drystan gazed deeply into Sylvia’s eyes, a fiery desire consumed him. The urge to possess her surged within him, reminiscent of the feelings he had experienced the night before.

Was this merely a fling? Or was it born from genuine emotion? He couldn’t find an answer.

Sylvia’s pink lips parted, quivering slightly, inviting Drystan to delve deeper into their passion. He struggled to restrain his emotions, but the intensity was overwhelming, and he couldn’t suppress his desire to claim her lips.

In that brief moment, Drystan pulled Sylvia close to his chest, their bodies colliding as he encircled her waist.

"Forgive me for everything, Sylvie... but I won’t apologise for this!" he declared, lowering his head to capture her lips.

Their kiss was sealed with the delicate tenderness of unity, sparks of emotion resonating between them as they revelled in their passionate embrace.

Drystan’s soft tongue danced with Sylvia’s, tasting the sweet enchantment of their connection. The noble lady, too, felt a yearning desire to surrender wholly to him.

"Ehem!"

The intimate moment shattered as they returned to reality at the sound of a throat clearing nearby. Sylvia pulled away from Drystan, her body slightly trembling from the aftermath of the kiss.

"You two really are passionate about each other!" exclaimed Denise, blushing after witnessing the fiery romance between her daughter and son-in-law. Her worries faded upon realising that the ’injury’ Drystan had mentioned stemmed from their intimacy.

It took a moment for the knight to respond, still dazed from the brief kiss he had shared with his wife.

"We do... and I can’t help but feel the urge to keep Sylvie by my side always. The moment we parted felt like an eternity. Forgive me, Mother, for harbouring such sinful thoughts about your daughter," he said.

"That can never be sinful, dear son-in-law. I suppose there’s no need for further verification now that we’ve seen so much, right, ladies?" Denise asked the midwives.

"Yes, my lady. We noticed how devoted my lord was to the young lady. It’s rare to see such affection in an arranged marriage, and it was truly heartwarming," one of them replied.

"It may be an arranged marriage, but we have fallen in love as we’ve gotten to know each other better before the wedding. It’s a remarkable feeling and hard to describe," Drystan added.

Denise smiled, feeling satisfied. Sighing in relief, she said, "You scared me when you mentioned she was injured. Now that I know, I’m not worried anymore. As long as both of you enjoy yourselves, there’s no need for concern. What you are experiencing is perfectly normal for newlyweds. However, once Sylvia is pregnant, I hope you will be more understanding and gentle with her."

"Of course. I will always ensure her safety and protect her," the knight declared with determination.

"All right then. Since this matter is settled, go on and have your brunch. I won’t be joining you, as I have other things to attend to, but your grandfather and uncles will. I believe they are already in the dining hall," the Countess replied.

"Thank you, mother. In that case, please excuse us," Drystan said, bowing as he held Sylvia’s hand. His grip was firm, as if he had no intention of letting go.

"Yes, yes... oh, fix your attire first! Others might think differently if they see you like this," Denise advised, smiling mischievously.

Drystan’s gaze fell on Sylvia. The opening of her dress at the chest was half undone, revealing her fair skin. His collar, too, was wide open, displaying the marks on his neck.

"Ah! Will do!" the knight replied. "Let me tie the knots back, Sylvie."

With deft fingers, Drystan worked on the ties of her dress before adjusting his own, ensuring that they both looked presentable again. The pair then left the main hall and traversed the hallway toward the dining hall.

As soon as they were out of sight, Sylvia turned to Drystan with a stormy expression.

"What was that kiss for?"

Her tone was sharp, and her face reflected her anger.

"What do you mean? Didn’t I just save you from the physical examination your mother insisted on? You should be thankful for that!" the knight retorted.

"You could have spared the kiss! That was my first kiss, and you said you’re not even sorry for it!" she exclaimed.

"Calm down! Lower your voice! Others might hear you!" Drystan responded, glancing around.

"You shouldn’t have done that! It goes against our agreement! You didn’t discuss it with me and acted on your own without considering how it would affect me! You’re always like this!" she vented.

Drystan halted in his tracks, and Sylvia mirrored him, crossing her arms over her chest, her dissatisfaction clear.

"Look, I didn’t mean to disregard you. It just happened instinctively! If you didn’t want it, then why didn’t you resist me?" he countered.

"Resisting my husband’s advances in front of others? Wouldn’t that make me a disobedient wife? You know the customs dictate that a wife should always submit to her husband!" she shot back.

"What do you expect me to do? Your family wants us to be all hearts and flowers! Have I not played my role exactly as I should?" the knight countered.

His words silenced her. Drystan had anticipated this reaction, but he had no intention of apologising for being the first man to kiss her. Still, he hadn’t expected her anger to be this intense.

He had hoped that their contractual marriage could evolve into something real after last night, but her fury indicated there was little room for that possibility.

"Fine! I won’t do it again since you truly hate it!" he exclaimed, a mix of disappointment and anger washing over him as he turned away.

Sylvia sighed, feeling remorse for her own action.

"I’m sorry if I overreacted. But please! Just talk to me first before doing anything!" she urged.

Drystan took a deep breath. After a moment of composure, he said, "All right. Now that we’re heading to the dining hall, how do you want things to go?"

"I... I don’t know," she admitted.

"You’ve got nothing, yet you scolded me for saving the day! How great!" he replied sarcastically.

Sylvia looked down, her expression gloomy.

"I’m sorry! I really am!" she said quietly.

Seeing her on the verge of tears, Drystan swallowed his anger. It disheartened him to see her in such a state. So, he buried his anger and decided to share the idea he had in mind.

"I thought of visiting my family in Oldmie in two days. That was my initial plan. But now that you’re so upset, I don’t know if we should go."

"We should! No, we must go!" Sylvia interrupted. "It would be disrespectful if we don’t. Besides, mother had just talked about pregnancy. That conversation will definitely continue once we enter the dining hall, and I don’t think it’ll let up for days. I really need a break from hearing about it."

Drystan pressed his lips together, staring at his wife. Did she detest children so much that the discussion of it grated on her? Nevertheless, he felt a similar annoyance, too, after hearing the same thing over and over again.

"Fine, we’ll go," he decided. "Let’s move on. They must be waiting."

Sylvia nodded, and the pair continued their walk, this time in silence, wearing solemn expressions.

Drystan was frustrated with his wife’s reaction, which seemed to resent their first kiss. Yet Sylvia was grappling with much deeper emotions. The noble lady had finally realised her feelings for the knight after their kiss.

Fear gripped her, and the wrath she had was not because of him but more towards herself for being unable to control her own emotions.

What if Drystan decided to leave her and dissolve the marriage after she became more infatuated and attached?

The thought sent a chill through her heart, and she struggled to envision how she would face the impending separation.

Deep down, she prayed that day would never come, for her heart was already blooming for him.

As difficult as it was to admit, she could no longer deny it—the love she had for her charming husband, Drystan.

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