Chapter 9

Such kindness is unwelcome.

Catherine glared at Henry, her body limp and devoid of energy. Her flushed, adorable face rendered her glare anything but intimidating. Henry, who had just set the handbell back in its place and was about to rise, noticed Catherine’s expression belatedly. He raised his eyebrows in surprise at her resentful gaze before shrugging his shoulders.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

His tone suggested he truly didn’t understand her reaction. n*ked, drenched in sweat and other fluids after their recent intimacy, Catherine lay there without a single word from Henry before he summoned Marina. 

How could he not realize how inconsiderate that was?

Well, he’s a man who only cares about producing an heir. That explains it.

Catherine threw him another glare before finally sitting up. Her abdomen and lower back ached from being bent over in that position for so long.

She knew that after a brief nap, her muscles would surely be overwhelmed by soreness. Catherine sighed and covered her chest with her arms. As she curled up tightly to hide herself, Henry finally glanced toward the bedroom door.

Marina would be entering the room within seconds, having heard the sound of the bell. Henry, who had been awkwardly staring at the blanket he had tossed aside earlier, climbed back onto the bed and reached out toward Catherine.

“W-what are you doing?”

Startled, Catherine recoiled as Henry reached for her again. She was already mortified at the thought of Marina seeing her n*ked body, let alone witnessing any further displays of affection between them.

“Come here.”

Contrary to her expectation that he might forcibly grab her, Henry simply extended his arms and waited. His open arms seemed to beckon her to come closer, and Catherine looked at him with suspicion.

“If you stay like that, Marina will see everything.”

Faint footsteps could be heard from the hallway outside. Catherine bit her lip anxiously, realizing she had no other options. She reluctantly moved closer and allowed herself to be embraced by Henry. The moment she did, he lifted her into his arms and turned around.

Just as Henry turned, the bedroom door swung open. Had Catherine hesitated even a moment longer, Marina would have seen her in a compromising position. Catherine curled up even tighter, nestling herself into Henry’s chest.

Marina entered the room without a word, as if she already knew why Henry had summoned her. She began stripping the bed of its sheets. Watching this, Catherine became certain that every maid and servant in the castle was aware of her and Henry’s intimate life.

The embarrassment was so overwhelming that she felt her face might burst into flames.

But what could she do? The lord and lady’s marital life was also part of the servants’ responsibilities. At times like this, Catherine wished she could abandon her noble status and live as an ordinary person. She clung tightly to Henry’s neck, afraid she might accidentally slip from his grasp.

Fortunately, Marina carried out her duties silently. With practiced efficiency, she replaced the sheets, brought fresh blankets, and even placed a basin of hot water on the bedside table.

“Have a pleasant evening.” 

Marina said as she left with the soiled sheets. The entire process took only a few minutes. During that time, Henry stood motionless, holding Catherine in his arms. Though Catherine was slender, she was still an adult woman, and holding her solely with his arms should have been tiring. Yet Henry showed no sign of strain on his face.

Once Marina had left, Henry walked over to the bed. He carefully laid Catherine down on the fresh sheets, which smelled pleasantly clean, and picked up a towel from the basin. Catherine, watching him curiously, wondered what he intended to do next. When he wrung out the towel and reached toward her groin, her eyes widened in shock.

“Why are you running away? It must feel uncomfortable being sticky like that.”

The redness that had subsided after Marina’s appearance returned in full force. As Henry had pointed out, the inside of her thighs was a mess from the fluids he had released inside her. Some of it had dried, making it even more uncomfortable. He intended to clean her up, but Catherine instinctively tried to pull her legs away. Henry grabbed her legs to stop her.

“Come here. I’ll clean you up.”

“I-I can do it myself!”

“Really? From that angle, you can’t even see properly between your legs. I’ll do a better job.”

Henry had no intention of letting her go. He held her legs firmly—not painfully, but securely—and pulled her closer. Knowing that resistance was futile, Catherine resigned herself to his care.

Once again, she covered her face with her hands.

She couldn’t bear to look at Henry as he examined the area between her legs under the bright light. This was the only way she knew how to cope with such an overwhelming situation.

Covering her face and lying still, she wished for time to pass quickly.

She shut her eyes tightly, ignoring the light that seeped through her fingers.

***

Her wrists throbbed where they had been pinned earlier. Catherine, tugging at her sleeves to hide the red marks left by Henry’s grip, straightened her back and composed her expression when Marina appeared.

“Madame, are you ready?”

“Yes.”

Today, Catherine had plans from early morning. Unlike her usual dull days of waiting for Henry while sipping tea, embroidering, or reading, she had a busy schedule ahead. When the maid brought out her gloves, Catherine extended her hands. As the maid carefully helped her put them on, she hesitated briefly upon noticing the red marks on Catherine’s wrists. Catherine hoped the maid would ignore them. But by evening, rumors about the lord and lady’s eventful night would likely spread throughout Leonard Castle.

Her outfit was completed with a fedora adorned with floral decorations. Having spent nearly a month in loungewear, dressing up like this felt almost novel to Catherine.

She smoothed the skirt of her deep purple dress a few times, admiring the color. Her grandfather had often criticized bright colors as vulgar, forcing her to wear only muted tones. White or gray dresses with minimal accessories were all she had known. His words echoed in her mind: ‘Don’t rely on jewels to shine; become a woman who shines on her own.’

That had been years ago.

Though she forgot many things, the Duke’s words lingered, haunting her. A bitter taste filled her mouth as she fiddled with the edge of her gloves. The gloves, made of lace, matched her dress. The fedora, dress, and gloves together created an ensemble she could never have dreamed of wearing in the Duke’s household.

While other noblewomen her age flaunted extravagant dresses and jewels at their debutante balls, Catherine had only been able to envy them. Despite claiming to cherish her, the Duke had been stingy with Catherine. Though he had hired expensive tutors to maintain the Orleans family’s reputation, he had spared no expense elsewhere, treating her more like a commoner than a noblewoman.

Now, dressed like a proper noble lady for the first time, Catherine felt a small thrill.

Even though he was a knight who only fought in battles, Henry had the title of Marquis. As the Marchioness, Catherine deserved to dress like this. Marina had insisted on it, bustling about since dawn to prepare her.

It was a pity that their destination was merely a clothing shop in the city. Still, the prospect of wearing a beautiful dress and leaving the castle filled Catherine with satisfaction.

Henry was aware of Catherine’s strained relationship with the Duke. Though she had never explicitly mentioned it, her failure to invite her only relative to her wedding made it obvious. Henry had never questioned why the Duke hadn’t attended. It was one of the few things Catherine was grateful for since marrying him.

“The carriage is ready outside.”

Marina adjusted the lace veil on Catherine’s fedora to cover her face before leading the way to the castle gates.

A knight, one of Henry’s men, followed behind Catherine. He seemed to be accompanying her on her outing today.

What was his name again?

“Sir Alto, please ensure she returns before sunset.”

“Got it, Marina. Don’t worry.” 

The mischievous tone piqued Catherine’s curiosity. She paused mid-step and glanced back to see who had spoken.

Ah, Alto.

She remembered the name because it was unusual. The tall, broad-shouldered man with blond hair and a friendly demeanor was almost as large as Henry.

“It’s an honor to escort you, Madame.”

He was the only person in the castle who seemed to like Catherine. Whether his affection was genuine or not, at least he didn’t openly display hostility toward her.

Catherine stared at Alto’s smiling face for a moment before turning away.

“Let’s get going.”

Her first time dressing up, her first outing.

Catherine’s heart raced uncontrollably.