Maylily - Chapter 136

On the table, pale-colored roses and smaller summer flowers were neatly arranged. Sitting upright on the sofa, Maylily trimmed the stem of a soft yellow rose with pruning shears, placed it into the vase, and quietly looked down at it. Her expression was slightly downcast, as if she wasn’t satisfied with the result so far.

Maylily had been learning flower arranging from the housekeeper in Prowden since last week. It seemed that, among the qualities she chose to cultivate as a countess, flower arranging was included.

Something that could simply be left to the servants.

The words that she didn’t have to work so hard at everything lingered at the tip of his tongue. But looking at Maylily’s face, full of enthusiasm, Hugh offered a brief encouragement instead, telling her to keep at it.

“It’s much more fun than I expected. When I breathe in the scent of the flowers, it feels like my mind is being cleansed. Once I get better, I’ll make sure to arrange the flowers in your study beautifully every time.”

Fortunately, Maylily was finding genuine enjoyment in something she initially began out of a sense of duty. Hugh, who had been quietly watching her as she remained so focused she didn’t even notice someone approaching the doorway, gave a faint smile and stepped inside.

“It seems your political lesson ended, so I came right away, but has the next lesson already started?”

At the low voice that gently stirred the air, Maylily turned her head. A bright smile spread across her blue eyes when she saw Hugh.

“No, I was just practicing what I learned yesterday.”

“Shall I see how well you’re keeping up with your lessons?”

Maylily glanced between Hugh, who approached at an unhurried pace, and the vase on the table, then pressed her lips together and shifted slightly inward. Hugh sat close beside her, and his gaze moved to the vase.

The uneven lengths of the stems, the ambiguous color combination. Looking at a vase no better than the clumsy centerpiece he had seen in Cartia seven years ago, Hugh pressed his lips together to suppress a smile. It seemed that when God created Maylily, all artistic talent had been poured entirely into music.

“Please take into account that it hasn’t even been a month since I started learning flower arranging. And that I haven’t had much time to practice because I’ve been busy….”

Murmuring like an excuse, Maylily carefully watched Hugh’s expression as he turned the vase this way and that.

Since his answer didn’t come right away, it seemed even finding empty praise wasn’t easy. I guess it really does look strange to him. The ends of Maylily’s brows drooped weakly as she set the pruning shears down on the table.

“I guess I don’t have any talent for flower arranging. When I do it with Mrs. Carradine, it still turns out decent… but when I do it alone, it always ends up like this.”

“This is more than enough. You can be in charge of the vase in my study from now on.”

“That’s a lie. I saw your expression just now.”

Maylily pouted slightly, clearly dissatisfied with Hugh’s answer. At the rare sight of his precious wife sulking, something he didn’t often see, Hugh finally let out a short laugh.

“I mean it. It’s good like this.”

Hugh took Maylily’s hands, which rested neatly on her lap, and held them gently. His gaze grew deeper. Sensing the sudden shift in atmosphere, the gloom quickly vanished from Maylily’s face, replaced by a soft blush.

Perhaps because it was the hottest time of the day, a sudden warmth spread through her whole body. It was a summer with unusually many hot days. Feeling a slight thirst, Maylily cleared her throat lightly and quietly slipped her hand out of his grasp.

“I… can’t be satisfied like this. I want to become a wife you can be proud of in every way.”

Hugh and Deborah had never shown it, but Maylily knew. They were deliberately keeping their distance from high society out of consideration for her, since she still wasn’t accustomed to its order and culture.

Even though the Everscourt estate was adjacent to Lurollei, the stage of the summer social season, the fact that their interactions with other families this summer were few enough to count on one hand made it clear. Hadn’t she seen it herself the first summer she visited Prowden with Hugh? How many guests used to come and go from this place.

She wanted trust rather than consideration. At the same time, she wanted to stand proudly before people as the Countess of Everscourt as soon as possible. There was a time when Maylily had neither the will nor the confidence to belong to Hugh’s world, but Hugh gave her both determination and courage.

“You’re already that kind of person to me, Maylily. No husband wouldn’t be proud of a wife who has become the best in her field.”

“That’s an achievement I made as a singer. I want to do well as your wife too. So I’ll work harder. I’ll show those who criticized our marriage that what’s wrong isn’t us, but the way they think.”

Maylily’s resolute gaze and firmly set lips were quite stubborn. Within that expression burned a will to accomplish anything for their sake.

Words like, “people’s opinions can’t leave even the slightest scratch on us, as long as you’re by my side everything is perfect,” wouldn’t change Maylily’s mind.

So Hugh simply embraced his wife without a word. If Maylily had set her heart on achieving something, there was no way to bend that will. And the sight of her clenching her small fist, burning with determination, was deeply endearing.

Receiving the encouragement within the embrace, Maylily relaxed her clenched hand and gently wrapped her arms around Hugh’s broad back.

“I survived even in the harsh world of opera, so I can do well in high society too.”

Her voice sounded both like a promise to Hugh and a vow to herself, innocent and pure.

No one could deny that Maylily achieved success through her own strength. However, she had no idea that Hugh had always built a breakwater out of sight to keep her from being swept away by external storms.

From now on, Hugh’s role would continue at Maylily’s side as she stepped into the storms of high society. Hugh chose to accept that fate with gratitude.

“Of course. My wife can do anything.”

Hugh placed his hands on Maylily’s shoulders and gently widened the distance between them as he spoke into her water-colored eyes. As if she had been waiting for those words, Maylily smiled brightly, still like a single pure lily of the valley.

“That’s right, I’m strong.”

Maylily clenched her fist just under her chin and nodded firmly. The strands of golden hair that had fallen beside her ears swayed lightly and glimmered. Hugh’s lips tilted as he neatly brushed them back into place.

“Then, to become an even more admirable wife than you are now, shall we set aside for a moment the things others can do for you and focus on the role only my wife can fulfill?”

Startled by the warm hand wrapping around her waist, Maylily glanced around hurriedly and muttered softly.

“It’s still this bright….”

“All the better for dancing.”

“Dancing…?”

At the unexpected answer, Maylily blinked blankly. Hugh released the arm around her waist and sat with a little distance between them. As he adjusted his clothes and casually crossed one long leg over the other, he looked impeccably elegant and composed.

“We’ll need to dance together at the imperial ball in autumn, so it’s better to get in sync from now on. You said you want to become a wife I can be proud of in every way.”

“Ah….”

Maylily let out a dazed sigh. Not even realizing Hugh was trying to help her so seriously… she felt embarrassed for the improper thoughts she had entertained on her own.

“What were you thinking to make your face this red?”

“No, nothing. Dancing, let’s dance. That’s fine!”

Maylily hurriedly cupped her cheeks with both hands and forced an awkward smile, as if that could hide the embarrassing thoughts that had just crossed her mind.

***

Through the open window, the distant sound of waves flowed in with the afternoon sunlight. Amid it, the faint sound of the mahogany dressing table shaking seeped through. Maylily’s slender arms, leaning diagonally against the tabletop, trembled faintly.

He said they would practice dancing, and brought her to the bedroom…. It didn’t even take thirty minutes before Maylily ended up naked, taking Hugh into her body.

“Liar… you… haa… liar.”

Lifting her head weakly, Maylily glared at Hugh in the mirror, her breath ragged. Standing behind her, gripping both her hips firmly, he curled the corner of his lips slightly and pushed into her. A high moan slipped past Maylily’s full lips.

“Ahh.”

“Why are you acting coy? I’m giving you what you wanted.”

“Who… ngh… wanted….”

Thud. Hugh thrust into her from behind, cutting her off. His fully erect penis pushed tightly between her soaked thighs and drove deep inside her.

“Ahh!”

The intense sensation shot up her spine and pierced her mind, making Maylily cry out. Her toes, barely holding onto the carpet, curled on their own.

“Isn’t this what you were expecting?”

Thud, thud. A mischievous smile laced Hugh’s heated voice as he violently slammed into her. Her vision shook in time with the wet sounds, clouding her senses.

“I thought about it, but I didn’t expect….”

“If you don’t like it, should I stop?”

Thud. Hugh pulled out halfway, then pushed back in deeply before stopping completely. In the spotless mirror, his blue-gray eyes stared at Maylily intensely.

“Say it, Maylily.”

“….”

Her face flushed red, Maylily bit down on her trembling lips, still quivering from the waves of pleasure.

How… how could I not like it?

Even if it was embarrassing to be held by Hugh in this position in broad daylight, she didn’t dislike it at all. Maylily had no choice but to admit that she had become someone who could no longer refuse Hugh in any moment, in both body and heart. As if surrendering, she slowly shook her head.