“Does it hurt?”
Lionel panicked as Riv nodded her head, tears in her eyes.
“Was I too intense last night?”
Lionel laid Riv back down on the bed and comforted her.
“You better get some rest now, Riv.”
As Lionel got up, Riv observed his upper body.
He had a sculptural body with well-developed muscles. He looked like a war god.
“Why are you blushing while looking at my body when we’ve done something much more lewd than this?”
Riv pursed her lips.
Lionel smiled and stood up.
“Lie down, Riv.”
After Lionel put on his pants, he opened the door to the Duchess’ room. He called for a servant.
“Bring breakfast dishes that are easy to digest.”
“Oh, why is the Duke leaving the Duchess’ room?”
The bewildered servant quickly assessed the situation.
“Oh, I see. Shall we bring the Duke’s meal too?”
“Later.”
She could hear the sound of the servant quickly walking away.
Lionel brought in soup and soft bread some time later. With a caring expression, he scooped warm soup and tried to feed her.
“Go ahead and eat, Riv.”
He brought the spoonful of moderately warm soup towards her mouth. Riv was startled by his actions and carefully opened her lips.
After swallowing, she pursed her lips and looked up at Lionel.
“Cute.”
It was the first time in her life that she had heard such a thing. Riv’s eyes widened.
Was this happiness? At this moment, this room felt like a paradise. Riv couldn’t take her eyes off the handsome man in front of her.
Lionel was deep in her heart.
She seemed to love him more than she did before.
After breakfast, Lionel went back to his room.
Riv, who had been resting in bed for a while, fell asleep.
When Riv opened her eyes, Claudel and her maids were cautiously walking into the bedroom, cleaning up. They saw that Riv had woken.
“Madame, are you awake?”
There were smiles on their faces, and Riv didn’t know how to react.
She wanted to hide in a hole.
“Madame, congratulations.”
Riv’s face blushed.
She was about to turn away when she saw the torn pieces of cloth Claudel had been picking up from the floor. It made her even more embarrassed.
It was her nightgown from last night.
Claudel casually said.
“Madame, you must learn to be unabashed. It’s okay to have your clothes torn off.”
They cleaned the floor and left. When they came back, they had packages in their hands.
“What are those?”
“These are presents that the Duke sent you.”
“Again?”
Riv stared at the roses which Lionel had given her the day before.
The roses hadn’t even withered and yet he sent more gifts.
“These are the things that the Duke prepared for you as wedding presents.”
“Oh, I see.”
Riv had no idea what they were, so she only nodded her head.
“Please open them.”
The maids brought the gifts closer and showed them to Riv.
Lionel’s gifts were of various kinds.
A pair of delicately crafted gold bracelets, diamond earrings, elegant hairpins and beautiful perfumes.
When she saw the treasures, Riv felt her drowsiness disappear.
She put on her robe and struggled to get out of bed.
“Where is the Duke?”
“After training in the gym with the knights, he is now in his office. Do you wish to see him?”
Riv shook her head.
“I am tired yet the Duke is full of energy.”
“The Duke is in good health.”
Riv was not surprised by Claudel’s words.
Lionel’s physical strength had been fully confirmed by her own body.
“The Master wants Madame to rest. If your body is uncomfortable, we will call a doctor.”
“There is no need to call a doctor. That’s too much.”
Riv cut her off quickly.
She couldn’t imagine calling a doctor because of the aftermath of a passionate night.
Riv glanced down at her chest. After seeing the red marks left on her collarbone, she pulled the front of her robe up and wrapped it around her body tightly.
Riv was worried that someone else had seen it.
“Nothing happened, Claudel.”
“Yes, I understand Madame.”
At Riv’s words, Claudel and her maids pretended to be ignorant, but their smiles did not fade from their faces.
Riv slept soundly and slept through dinner time.
Lionel was only able to see Riv that night.
After Lionel finished his bath, he went straight to her room.
“Riv.”
Riv, who had just woken from her sleep, stared at Lionel who had water dripping from his hair.
He was only wearing a robe.
“Can I sleep in your room?”
Riv looked at Lionel, and smiled.
“If I refuse, will you go back?”
“Of course not.”
Lionel had a mischievous expression.
Riv had no intention of convincing him to leave or to kick him out. In just two days, she had gotten used to his warmth and felt like she couldn’t sleep without him.
“Lionel, bring a towel.”
“Why?”
Lionel asked, but still brought a towel just as Riv had asked.
“You just came and didn’t even dry off properly.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
Riv sat him down and carefully wiped the water from his dripping hair.
Riv’s hand pressed against Lionel’s scalp and massaged it through the towel.
“That feels good.”
Lionel closed his eyes with a relaxed moan.
Riv suddenly remembered Lionel’s Southern estate.
Lionel had gone to his Southern estate shortly after his marriage to Marianne. He could have left Riv here and gone to his estate like before.
“Lionel, what kind of place is the Sentoren’s territory?”
“Hot. It’s a barren wasteland, and the sea smells fishy.”
“I want to go.”
Lionel had surrendered his hair to Riv, but he slightly opened his eyes and stared at her.
“There is no one there, but if that’s what you wish.”
“Will you take me?”
“Yes.”
Lionel’s hair was now dry. Riv removed her hands and stared at him.
Lionel sternly looked at her and then leaned his body towards her.
His scent was strong.
His shadow covered Riv’s lips.
It was a thrilling and dizzying moment.
They may not last forever, so these were precious moments.
“Are you okay?”
At Lionel’s words, Riv frantically managed her expression and asked.
“Are you going to do it again?”
Lionel laughed. He climbed on top of her.
“Of course I will.”
The Duke of Sentoren turned into a beast in heat.
***
Riv decided to have breakfast with Lionel the next morning.
They met in the dining hall. Lionel arrived before her.
“You’re here.”
Late into the night and early into the morning, the man who had hugged and expressed his affection to Riv was indifferent to her in the dining room.
“You came down first, Lionel.”
“Hmm.”
Lionel wore a loose shirt and trousers as usual. He glanced at Riv, revealing his displeasure.
“Riv, why are you wearing that outfit again?”
Riv glanced down at her dress with ruffles and embellishments.
Her dress had frills on its cuffs and a pearl necklace that was rich in color.
It was on the fancy side to wear for a simple meal.
“Does it not suit me?”
Riv became serious, stroking the pearls adorned on her chest.
But Lionel’s complaint was not due to that.
“There’s no skin exposure.”
“……”
Riv glared at Lionel, baffled by his answer. He was the reason why she couldn’t wear clothes that exposed her arms and shoulders.
“It was Lionel who left marks on my body.”
“Then, should I leave marks on parts that won’t show?”
The servants who were bringing in food flinched when they saw Lionel wink.
They saw something they shouldn’t have seen. They seemed to have been shocked.
Meanwhile, the meal prepared by the chefs was served and the two began to eat quietly.
“……”
There were only sounds of dishes and utensils, but Lionel often stared at Riv affectionately.
Riv couldn’t take her eyes off him, and the time they spent looking at each other grew longer.
“Lionel.”
“What?”
“Please eat. Don’t just slice the meat.”
Lionel was a carnivore and started eating the meat that he had sliced. Towards the end of their meal, the butler, Karl, brought a letter and whispered to Lionel. His expression changed slightly.
Lionel took the letter from Karl and notified Riv of its contents.
“Riv, the Earl of Murden has invited us to dinner.”
“The Earl of Murden?”
Riv remembered the Southern brown-haired man from their wedding guests.
He was a witness to the wedding and had said he was Lionel’s friend.
“The one with curly brown hair from our wedding.”
“The tall guy who laughed.”
It was the first time she had seen the Earl of Murden. Riv retraced her memories and confirmed that she had never met the Countess Murden, since the Earl of Murden had no contact with Queen Selina or Marianne. Riv received the invitation from Lionel.
The invitation was written in calligraphy, and invited the Duke and Duchess of Sentoren to a meal.
“Who will be attending?”
“You and I, the Earl and Countess of Murden and their children. They have three kids.”
Riv opened her mouth wide. She was worried. If they met the Murden couple, Riv’s actions would eventually make their way back to the palace.
Madame Katana would be on the lips of many once more.
Riv was concerned.
“If they meet with us, malicious rumors may form against the Earl of Murden.”