Chapter 1.4

Tina looked out the carriage window in awe.  

After a month-long journey with part of the Biente Knight Order, she finally arrived at the city where Biente Castle stood.  

The historic Biente Castle was magnificent and imposing, visible from anywhere in the city due to its high location.  

The city was as large and bustling as the capital she’d visited a few times.  

Even before the Duchy was incorporated into the Kingdom, the city governed by the Biente family was a hub of transportation and commerce, so there were many fascinating things to see.  

The main road was temporarily blocked off for the Duchess’s safe passage. On the sides, spectators gathered to watch Tina’s splendid carriage.  

Arriving at the castle, Tina received a warm welcome as Duchess.  

Her brother had worried that, as the Damsel family was minor nobility, the castle staff might treat her coldly.  

But Tina thought it was needless worry, and she was right.  

“Welcome, Lady Tina Damsel, Duchess Biente.”  

The butler and head maid were extremely polite. In fact, they seemed so nervous about Tina that she felt awkward and embarrassed. The assistant who helped the Duke with his work was so tense he stammered his words.  

When Tina asked them to be more relaxed, the assistant jumped and exclaimed, “I prefer formal relations!” making Tina laugh.  

“But Cherry isn’t here.”  

The butler quickly picked up on the Duke’s nickname.  

“His Grace is visiting other territories and will return tonight.”  

“Alright.”  

When Tina replied, the head maid stepped forward to say she’d prepared bathwater and comfortable indoor clothes.  

“Dinner will be ready soon as well.”  

Fatigue, delayed by nerves, suddenly washed over Tina. She stifled a yawn and nodded.  

“Thank you.”

* * *

After her bath and meal, the butler offered to show Tina around the castle.  

She declined, wanting Cherilian to introduce her personally. She went up to the Duke and Duchess’s room, took a nap, and woke to find it already dark outside.  

Wanting some water, she pulled the bell rope, and soon a maid entered.  

“I was just about to wake you.”  

“Oh, has Cherry arrived?”  

“Yes, Madam.”  

The maid handed her a glass of water with lemon. After Tina drank her fill, the maid took something from the wardrobe.  

It was a very daring negligee.  

“The head maid said you held a wedding with a stand-in groom, so you didn’t have a wedding night. There was a special order to pay extra attention to you.”  

Through the finely woven thin veil, Tina could see not just her silhouette, but even the color of her skin.  

She wondered if this was what the Emperor in the childhood fairy tale wore—the one who was n*ked.  

It seemed to serve no practical purpose at all.  

‘Well, it’ll definitely raise someone’s blood pressure.’  

“Don’t you like it?”  

As Tina silently looked down at the negligee, the maid asked carefully.  

“It looks like it’ll tear. I’m scared to wear it.”  

Embarrassed, Tina said anything, and the maid replied seriously,  

“That’s the point.”  

Poor veil-weaving artisan.  

Tina decided to be brave. As soon as she said she’d wear it, the maid skillfully undressed her and put on the negligee—or at least tried to.  

As expected, it hardly felt like she was wearing anything. Her visible body felt awkward.  

It reached her knees, but the thin fabric made her n*pples stand out.  

‘Does Cherry like this sort of thing…?’  

Thinking it over, Tina realized Cherilian didn’t seem to have specific tastes. He always liked whatever Tina liked or gave him.  

“But where’s Cherry?”  

The castle maid flinched at the unfamiliar nickname, but quickly responded, hiding her surprise.  

“The Duke isn’t ready yet. The room is too dark, so I’ll light more candles.”  

“Yes, please.”  

The maid swiftly finished her tasks and disappeared.  

Tina was left alone in the Duke and Duchess’s bedroom, feeling awkward.  

Cherilian was preparing too—what kind of preparations was he making? Was he wearing a matching negligee meant to be torn?  

Trying not to laugh, Tina tidied up the canopy bed she’d just slept in.  

Then she heard a click beyond the door. Startled, Tina quickly dove under the covers, sitting up and pulling the blanket up to her chin.  

It was Cherilian Biente.  

He wore indoor silk slippers, a loose sheer veil shirt, and black trousers.  

His dark red hair was perfectly dried, and it looked like he’d styled it a bit.  

“Tina.”

He too, with a face full of tension, carefully watched Tina’s expression. Was she tired, was she feeling alright.

“Did you wait long? I was a bit late because I was being thorough with washing.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than loud laughter and chatter erupted beyond the closed door. Cherilian suppressed his annoyance and gestured at the doorway.

“There were some bothersome people on the way here.”

Fortunately, the noisy sounds soon faded away. Despite his status as Duke, Cherilian was generous with his own people.

It seemed his knights had teased him once again. Tina, who had picked up many stories about Cherilian from the knights on the way to Biente, smiled softly.

Seeing her smile, Cherilian stared at her blankly for a moment, then hurried closer. For someone so large, he made no sound or presence at all.

When he climbed onto the bed, the mattress dipped heavily. She gazed at him as he drew near. Suddenly, Cherilian’s body seemed truly enormous.

If that was the case, then perhaps below as well…?

Gulping, Tina tried hard not to look down, but it wasn’t easy.

Cherilian seemed to notice the direction of her gaze.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Cherry, um, it won’t hurt… too much, right?”

“……”

Cherilian’s eyes widened. He licked his lower lip and swallowed. To set the mood, fewer candles than usual were lit, but even so, his face was visibly flushed red.

“Tina. I’ll say this in advance, but I’m not experienced in these things, so you might feel… a little, just a little uncomfortable. It’s my first time too.”

His whispering voice tickled her ears. Tina resisted the urge to scratch her ear and tilted her head.

“Your first time?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“I heard men sometimes have experience before marriage.”

Cherilian frowned as if he’d heard something unpleasant.

“Don’t compare me to those guys. I’ve kept my premarital chastity perfectly.”

His reply was a subtle plea for praise. Though Cherilian had grown into an adult who made her heart flutter with unfamiliarity, sometimes his childhood self showed through.

“But why have you been hiding under the covers since earlier?”

“Oh.”

Tina realized she still had the blanket pulled up to her chin.

She awkwardly shifted her eyes and slowly lowered the blanket—only down to her upper body.

“……”

Cherilian checked her clothes and took a quiet breath. He remained silent for a while.

Before she could ask if something was wrong, Cherilian sighed and spoke in a hushed voice.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen you wear something like this.”

“Is it weird?”

“No.”

Cherilian pulled Tina into his arms. He buried his nose in the deep U-shaped opening at her neck and inhaled slowly.

“It’s wonderful…”

Tina didn’t know what to do with her hands, so she clenched her fists on her thighs. Her tense waist was stiffly straight.

“It’s really cute.”

“Not s*xy?”

“Oh, of course, it’s that too.”

Cherilian, still holding her waist, slightly pulled his face away.

“But even if you wore something that covered you completely, I’d feel the same.”

Cherilian met her eyes and grinned. His half-lidded gray eyes curled with delight, looking mischievous.

The Biente knights she’d gotten to know said that when Cherilian smiled, it was never a sign of something good.

Why did such a clear, beautiful smile seem like a harbinger of doom?

Suddenly, Cherilian lightly brushed his fingertips over the n*pple visible above the negligee. A strange sound escaped Tina’s lips.

Cherilian grabbed Tina’s hips, wrapped in the blanket, and pulled her down. Tina, who had been sitting against the headboard, was laid flat on the sheets.

“Huh?”

She was bewildered by the sudden change in position, but Cherilian gently kissed her before she could speak. Tina held her breath, startled.

Though she’d kissed Cherilian many times, Tina still wasn’t used to it. Her heart was pounding, she didn’t know what to do with her arms, and her shoulders were stiff.

Cherilian, on the other hand, quickly became skilled at using his tongue and controlling his breath after just a few kisses. Even now, he stroked her shoulders and neck gently, leading her softly.

They’d kissed many times while preparing for the wedding, but tonight felt different.

“Mmm…”

Cherilian persistently teased her tongue. When Tina ran out of breath, he’d pull away for a moment, nibble her jaw, and tickle her ear so she couldn’t relax.

“Stick out your tongue, yes, like that…”

Tina, breathing quickly, stuck out her tongue as he asked. Cherilian groaned softly and sucked on her tongue.

His hand stroked her flat belly. Warmth seeped through the thin fabric. When Cherilian touched her lower chest, Tina instinctively covered her br*asts with her arms—not because she disliked it, but out of reflex.

“Tina…”

Cherilian gently held her wrist and coaxed her.

His lips pecked at her mouth like a bird pecking at grain, making her dizzy.

When Tina relaxed her arms, Cherilian swiftly grabbed both wrists and raised them above her head. She’d known his hands were big, like a knight’s gripping a giant sword.

“Oh, this is…”

She felt embarrassed to have both armpits exposed. He moved his lips, nibbling at her armpit.

“Ah, that tickles! …Cherry!”

“It’s so cute, this little hollow.”

Embarrassed, Tina muttered in a pouty voice that everything was cute. Cherilian chuckled lowly.

But his laughter faded quickly as he pressed his face into Tina’s chest. His hot breath tickled her n*pple.