However, Seina had not anticipated that the relationship between the Duke and Duchess would be this serious.

She already knew whose feelings were deeper, who was more serious. It was a reality so upsetting that it could bring tears, but what could she do?

Her baby loved him more.

Though dissatisfied with the Duke’s indifference, Seina did not loudly oppose the marriage.

In a reality full of forced political marriages or situations where one had to be sold off, being able to marry someone you love was a privilege. Perhaps a privilege that only Hyacinth Hener could enjoy in this kingdom.

How could she oppose a noble who wanted to enjoy her own rights? So, even though she knew the direction of their emotions, she turned a blind eye…

But. No matter what.

She hadn’t expected this.

“Didn’t he undress you?”

That was the first question Seina asked after hearing everything from Hyacinth. Of course, there are preferences for doing it with clothes on, but still. Still.

There was blood on the sheets… so the clothes must have been taken off… right?

“Huh? What did you say?”

“…”

“No, nanny, why would he undress me?”

Seina’s vision darkened at Hyacinth’s shock.

“Didn’t he come inside you, lady?”

So flustered that she used the old title.

Neither Hyacinth nor Seina cared. It wasn’t important right now.

Seina grabbed Hyacinth’s wrists and almost thrust the question at her.

“Didn’t His Highness enter you?”

Her big eyes rolled around. Seina, with her eyes wide open, waited for an answer, but finally, Hyacinth slowly, very slowly, shook her head.

Even though she had prepared herself, she felt dizzy.

“What came inside?”

“…”

“Tell me, nanny.”

“…”

“I want to know.”

A fragile expression, as if she might break. A pale face, as if she might collapse. Even her delicate body swayed here and there like a willow in a storm.

Sometimes, the truth is the most cruel to the one you love.

How much will Hyacinth crumble once she knows the truth? When she realizes that her beloved husband has never truly held her?

Ethan Erentis went too far.

He committed an excessively cruel deception.

He shouldn’t have married her at all. He should have revealed his true feelings clearly. He shouldn’t have deceived someone who knew nothing!

“Nanny.”

“…”

“Tell me.”

The woman’s expression, asking quietly, was as if she had made up her mind. As if she had let go of all greed. Seina’s heart shattered at her purely calm expression.

She couldn’t forgive him. She would never forgive him.

Seina clenched her teeth and made a vow. Then, holding the hands of the one who clung to her, she gently told the truth.

When Hyacinth finally heard everything, she smiled.

With effort. Struggling.

“Thank you, nanny.”

“…”

“Thank you for telling me.”

“…What will you do?”

If she claimed they hadn’t consummated the marriage, it would be annulled. That would be better.

Ethan Erentis, who didn’t know his place and held onto a noble lady, should lose Hyacinth forever. Only then would he realize how precious what he lost was. Bastard.

“I’ll cover it up.”

“Duchess.”

“I don’t want to be a pitiful woman who didn’t even have a first night.”

“…”

“Of course, that is the truth.”

Ah. Ah…

Seina flinched as if she had been hit. Hyacinth chuckled and shrugged her shoulders. As if to say, what can you do?

But her pretty, delicate hands were trembling. They were the only part of her that revealed her emotions. Seina covered those hands and hugged her beloved baby tightly.

Her baby was not pitiful. Never.

* * *

Hyacinth spent several days avoiding her husband.

She was afraid that the moment she saw his face, she would pour out her resentment. She feared she would just let it out, forgetting the place and the watching eyes. What made her feel most wretched was that, despite everything, a part of her still wanted to defend Ethan.

This marriage was made by her selfishness.

Hyacinth Erentis, madly in love, claimed.

This was achieved by my selfishness, the result of my unrequited love, so Ethan probably didn’t want to follow it honestly. If our hearts connect someday… wouldn’t he properly… properly hold me?

If such a pitiful woman claimed that, the last bit of rationality in Hyacinth Erentis sneered.

Fool.

A fool who says it’s okay to be deceived.

Even though she was thoroughly ignored from the first night…

What should I do? Hyacinth sighed deeply. If she told Tyche the truth as it was, her uncle would immediately annul the marriage.

Is that the ending you want?

The answer was no.

She had come to Bremlin, boldly declaring that she would eventually conquer that man and be loved someday. But if the marriage were annulled without even succeeding on the first night…

Of course, this might be petty pride, foolish stubbornness, or even more foolish obstinacy.

But Hyacinth could not admit defeat.

By nature, she was arrogant. That’s how she was raised.

She buried her face in her palms. Pouring out her sighs and thoughts through her fingers, she diligently consoled herself.

You knew, Hyacinth. You knew that he didn’t like you. Because he didn’t like you, he didn’t properly consummate the first night. From his perspective, it’s only natural. It’s funny to be discouraged now.

She heard a knock. Hyacinth slowly lifted her head and saw her cold and cruel husband walking in.

“Today…”

She stammered.

“You don’t have to.”

It’s not real anyway, not even a real consummation.

But why was it?

The next moment, Hyacinth collapsed onto the bed. The man easily pushed her down and climbed on top of her.

The sound of the bed creaking. The sound of her heart pounding with tension.

Amid all these irregular noises, the air grew heavy. It was strange. Hyacinth looked up with confused eyes, half frozen.

A dark shadow swallowed her whole.

“Ethan?”

Her husband didn’t answer. Instead, he lowered his hand and slowly stroked her thigh. At the unfamiliar sensation, Hyacinth convulsed as if she would jump out of her skin. She placed her hand on the man’s shoulder, who was firmly pressing her down, but unlike usual, he didn’t read the signal to stop.

“Ethan? Ethan!”

Hyacinth called her husband’s name again, almost demanding.

But his hand, caressing the line of her leg, was relentless and unhesitant. Goosebumps rose along her skin. Hyacinth hurriedly tried to meet his eyes while crumpling his clothes.

It wasn’t much of a move… just stroking the inside of her thigh as if he was caressing an arm, but because it was Ethan Erentis touching her, it felt creepy. Her waist twisted involuntarily. Her toes curled.

Ethan did not meet her eyes until the end. Or maybe he did, but she didn’t realize it. Before she knew it, Hyacinth was half panting, focusing on the sensation of the man tracing circles on the tender flesh of her inner thigh. It was a stimulus she couldn’t ignore even if she wanted to.

Strange. Really, so strange.

Hyacinth bit her lip, chewing over a single word. No matter what, she couldn’t let out an indecent moan. She endured, clutching the bed sheet, whether Ethan knew or not, he was more aggressive. His fingers kept digging inward.

Oddly enough, her chest hurt.

Every time her n*pples brushed against the fabric, it felt like they were being pinched. What is happening to my body? Whether Hyacinth knew she was having a foolish thought, the man’s hand pulled back the hem of her bliaut as if interrogating her.

A rather rough move. An unyielding hand.

From her ankles to her thighs, even her underwear was exposed. Hyacinth was so shocked she could only watch.

The situation became more distant.

From the man’s loosened pants, a pillar of unimaginable size sprang out, and Hyacinth almost screamed.

What on earth, no, I mean…

Her legs spread wide. Her current position was vulgar enough, but the scene before her was worse. She had never seen a man’s p*nis before, but it was so large and fierce that she couldn’t believe it had been stored in his pants until now.

Excessive. That, that was… excessive.

Ethan grabbed her thigh again and pressed down. As her waist curled, Hyacinth had to bury her head into the pillow. His hard member pressed against her tender flesh. From her thigh, further inward, to the sensitive part between her legs.

“Ugh.”

Hyacinth tilted her head, biting her teeth. Just the touch felt strange, but Ethan was rubbing and grinding recklessly. Every time he tried to enter the crack, her stomach twisted.

Below, she unknowingly grew hot and wet.

A very small squelching sound. The moment she recognized the sticky noise, Hyacinth had to cover her face with both hands. Incredibly messy, she was clearly reacting. The wet heat pooled below.

Not just on the silk.

Hyacinth looked up with tearful eyes, covering her mouth with her hand. The sensation of her teeth digging into her skin barely soothed her shivering feeling.

Unlike her, who didn’t know what to do, he looked relaxed. Moving leisurely with their groins joined. Every time an unknown part was rubbed and stimulated, it felt like something was being vomited from inside her. When he pressed and lifted a couple of times without a care, Hyacinth finally bit her lip and stifled a shallow climax.