His Breeding Obsession – Chapter 176

Author: Nikss

Grecian’s cautious actions, deep gaze, and tender words felt awkward to her.

On the other hand, her feelings were strange. No one had ever treated her like that before.

Rather, they had treated her like an unshakable mountain peak, not something fragile that could break if held too tightly.

‘Come to think of it, it’s always been like that.’

Calling her weak. Even when she possessed the power of the Great Witch, Grecan was still in a state where his powers were feeble, far from awakening.

Yet, he sincerely treated her as if she were a weak person.

‘It was so absurd that I clutched the back of my neck.’

‘Haha!’, laughter spilled from her lips.

As Grecan’s consistency became newly apparent, her heart softened strangely. His attitude was the same as before, but the outcome had changed.

Unlike in the past when he often ruined things, now he was quite useful.

‘Grecan has always been like this, it’s not that he’s suddenly become strange.’

Mirania repeated this to herself. Yet, her restless heart showed no signs of calming down.

💫

That day, which she thought had ended as a mere incident, after having that dream, Mirania could no longer treat Grecan as comfortably as before.

Whenever he approached, she felt as if frost had formed on her heart, making it crackle.

Even though she had concluded that Grecan was the same as ever. Feeling bewildered, she decided to take some time to figure out the reason.

However, naturally, Grecan couldn’t tolerate her sudden distance.

Mirania lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling.

Thud—

Grecan approached her with an angry face.

“Grecan?”

Startled, Mirania sat up, and he reached out his hand just as he came close.

Not too fast, not too slow, just the right speed. But as his hand was about to touch her chin, Mirania unconsciously pulled her head back, avoiding his hand.

Grecan’s face twisted.

“Did I do something wrong again?”

Mirania blinked, then hesitated.

“What could you have done wrong?”

“Then why did you avoid me?”

“I didn’t avoid you.”

“You didn’t?”

“Why would I avoid you?”

“But you did.”

Grecan narrowed his eyes. Mirania frowned.

“Isn’t it strange to just stay still when someone suddenly reaches out?”

“You’ve always stayed still before.”

“That’s not true.”

As she stubbornly denied it, Grecan stared at her with a suspicious look.

“I’ll keep an eye on you.”

“…How petty.”

Hiding her flustered feelings, she scoffed.

💫

As evening fell, the dining table in the room was filled with food.

Except for the feast on the day they drove out the troublemaker from the noble family, the meals provided by the lord’s side were, to put it nicely, simple, and to put it bluntly, rather shabby.

The commerce and industry had collapsed miserably, and agriculture was struggling as well.

The finances of the territory, which collected only meager taxes from them, were not in great shape.

Mirania had no complaints. She was the type to make do with just an apple for a meal.

But Grecan wouldn’t stand for it. He would disappear somewhere and return with his arms full of food.

“There’s a lot of food again today.”

Mirania, as usual, reached for an apple, but Grecan grabbed her wrist.

“That’s for dessert.”

When Grecan tapped on another dish, Mirania frowned.

“I won’t be able to finish it all.”

“Just take a bite of each.”

Grecan’s smiling gaze seemed to say, ‘You can handle that much.’

Mirania shrugged and tried to pick up some salad with a fork. Grecan snatched that away too. Mirania raised an eyebrow.

“Are you telling me to eat or not?”

“I’ll feed you.”

Mirania flatly refused, “No need.”

“Why?”

“I have hands too.”

“It’s fine. You said you don’t like moving a finger.”

“When did I say that?”

“A hundred and ten years ago.”

Mirania was dumbfounded. Grecan stared at her with a look that said she had indeed said it.

“Don’t remember? ‘Lady Mirania, did you have just an apple for a meal again? That’s why you’re so weak. Let me make you some soup at least. Eating is such a bother. But I can’t feed you, can I?’ That’s what you said.”

Grecan recited it without changing his expression, and Mirania blinked rapidly.

Though his voice didn’t sound like hers at all, and his tone was flat, the conversation seemed to replay in her mind.

Chera’s nagging. Mirania swallowed a groan.

“You remember that word for word? Creepy.”

Grecan smiled oddly, “Think that’s all? Don’t you remember lamenting, ‘Now even washing is a bother’?”

Her face stiffened, and she said firmly.

“Enough.”

“Tsk.”

Grecan picked up some salad with a fork and brought it to her mouth.

Afraid he might bring up the bathing incident again, Mirania quickly opened her mouth and chewed the salad.

Grecan meticulously attended to her meal. He scooped up soup made with all sorts of fine ingredients and brought it to her lips.

Worried she might spill, he cupped his hand underneath and leaned in close. Mirania stiffened her shoulders.

‘He doesn’t need to go this far.’

The narrowed distance was awkward, and her body stiffened, but she didn’t pull away.

Grecan, who had threatened to keep an eye on her, was watching intently. His eyes gleamed. He was checking to see if she would avoid him or not. Beads of sweat formed on Mirania’s forehead.

“Mirania.”

The soup went down her throat.

Though it was made with healthy ingredients, she couldn’t really taste anything.

After swallowing the bland soup, Mirania nearly choked under Grecan’s intense gaze.

Grecan gently rubbed her back.

“Mirania.”

“Why do you keep calling me?”

She snapped back irritably. Grecan tilted his head.

“Why is your face so red?”

Their eyes met. As Mirania opened her mouth to speak, Grecan pulled her wrist.

Grecan’s lips quickly closed in, as if to kiss her.

Mirania’s eyes widened in panic. Grecan stopped just inches from her.

Afraid their lips might touch if she spoke, Mirania pursed her stiffened lips inward. She could feel his breath.

Grecan’s dark eyes stared intently at Mirania, who was tense and rigid.

“Wh-what are you doing?”

Mirania was flustered.

Truly flustered. She had been close to someone’s lips before, but it had felt as meaningless as the touch of fingertips.

But now, Grecan’s slow breath and his lips, so close they might touch hers, made her heart pound wildly.

As she tried to push him away, Grecan tilted his head to the side. Then, he carefully pressed his lips between her cheek and her mouth.

The softness of his skin. Not fingertips, but the gentle touch of his lips. Her pulse raced. He pulled her tightly into his embrace, her body stiff and unyielding.

“I love you.”

Time seemed to stop. Her heart raced. She was nervous, wondering if Grecan might ask how she felt.

If he asked, Mirania had no answer to give. She didn’t know what to say.

But Grecan didn’t ask her anything. He only confessed his feelings.

‘I love you. I love you.’

His whispered voice held no trace of laughter, making it all the more firmly etched into her ears.

Deeper than any confession of love he had made before.

Her pulse raced. Between her lips and cheek.

Grecan’s arms around her shoulders, neck, and back. His voice brushing against her earlobe, her ear.

Even her cheek, so close yet not quite touching, pulsed with her heartbeat.

‘This is strange. This state…’

[I can’t control myself. My heart tightens, my vision brightens, and I can only see that person. That’s when I realized. Ah, I’m in love.]

[Love is when you can only see that person.]

[Intimate contact makes you tremble with happiness rather than discomfort.]

[You said you’re trying to understand love, so you came to me? Well, for me, it’s like my heart beats twice as fast, as if I’ve taken some medicine. Blood rushes through my body, and I can hear the sound of my pulse, which I never noticed before. I become extremely sensitive. I’ve only experienced it once, so I don’t know much else. Was that helpful, Lady Mirania?]

Her pulse raced. Mirania hurriedly observed herself. Her soul was shaking. Her mind and body were slipping out of her control.

She had experienced this only twice in her life.

The first time was when, after endless cycles of regression, she saw Grecan, and rage shook her soul.

The second time was now.

It was now.

Grecan pulled his face away. Mirania’s expression, as she looked at him, was filled with confusion.

‘Do I… love you?’

Grecan’s face turned red.

“Don’t look at me like that.”

He then rested his forehead on her shoulder.

“Why?”

Mirania whispered in a choked voice.