Chapter 2.3

Next to the office was a small bathroom for quick washing. After a brief cleanup, they decided to bathe leisurely upstairs.

Too tired to move, Tina let Cherilian handle the quick cleanup. When she tried to get up from the bench, she staggered, her legs shaking like a newborn lamb.

Thanks to that, she had to be carried upstairs by her husband…

After a complicated bath, Tina found Cherilian sitting on the bed, sighing.

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t think the curse is completely gone.”

Cherilian looked at Tina with a face full of regret.

“…We couldn’t have done more anyway, right?”

Tina blushed and nodded. When she washed, she saw her lower half was swollen and a bit uncomfortable. Tonight, more was impossible.

As Tina approached, Cherilian offered her the chamomile tea he had prepared in advance.

“Thank you.”

Tina sipped the hot tea and organized her thoughts.

“At least I know one thing. To break the succubus’s curse, I need to say naughty and dirty things. At least once you’re aroused, it’s a relief we don’t have to keep going.”

“……”

Seeing her husband’s dissatisfied face, Tina gently pinched his cheek.

“Even if you don’t like it, you have to accept your fate!”

“D*mn.”

But their current skills weren’t enough—there was still much to improve. Tina clenched her fists. Her sky-blue eyes sparkled with strange determination.

“I’ll work hard! I’ll get even better at this!”

Cherilian felt his mind go blank. But he didn’t say anything to Tina, who looked so proud, like a plump golden duck, for solving her husband’s problem herself.

“Anyway, I’m so smart. Cherry, you really married well.”

Even her self-praise was cute and lovely.

Still, Cherilian cursed the succubus he’d killed with his own hands.

‘D*mn that curse.’

In all his dreams of making love with Tina, there was never any vulgar talk.

Especially about boars!

“Sigh…”

Cherilian slowly rubbed his face with his palm, thinking that the strange excitement her words brought must be part of the curse.

* * *

The s*xual knowledge Tina learned from her family was just enough for a high noble’s wife—safe positions, how to conceive, but never anything about vulgar or insulting language.

How did the village matrons learn and use those cheeky, naughty jokes at the laundry place…?

Tina was deeply curious, but there was no one who could answer her questions.

There were plenty of women with long marriages, but she couldn’t just ask about sensitive issues between couples.

“This isn’t Damsel, and I still want to seem mysterious to the people here.”

If rumors spread that she was collecting unpleasant answers, it would be a problem.

Luckily, Tina’s chance to solve her curiosity came by accident.

Passing an open space with laundry hanging, Tina saw a book spread open in a basket. It was an er*tic novel, apparently a maid’s personal item.

The maid, returning from the restroom, was startled to find Tina looking at her book and ran over.

“Is this yours?”

“I-I’m sorry, Madam!”

The panicked maid bowed at a ninety-degree angle, but Tina had no intention of scolding her for the er*tic book.

“It’s an interesting book. It’s your personal taste, so I won’t confiscate it. But I’m curious. You can’t just order these openly, right?”

“Um, there’s a place I visit in the city on holidays.”

“So you’re saying… there’s a place in the city where you can secretly buy these?”

Blushing, the maid nodded.

“What’s your name?”

“Sarah, Madam.”

“All right, Sarah.”

Tina spoke gently and kindly so Sarah wouldn’t feel pressured.

“Can you tell me where it is? I’m just curious.”

“Well…”

Sarah hesitated, watching Tina’s reaction. She seemed troubled that her favorite shop had caught Tina’s interest.

“Why? Is it bad to tell me? Is it dangerous?”

“It’s a bookstore in the safe city center, but it’s really not a place for someone like you, Madam.”

Tina, not understanding the reason, tilted her head. Sarah carefully checked the surroundings and explained more.

“If Duke Biente finds out I have, um, books like these, I’ll…”

“Oh.”

Tina understood immediately. If caught with er*tic books, Sarah feared Cherilian would scold her.

But Cherilian was the type to say, ‘If Tina likes it, it’s fine,’ and wouldn’t interfere.

Even if Tina had a wooden model among the noble ladies’ secret possessions, he wouldn’t say anything.

He might grin for a moment, but would just ask if it was safe.

‘Not that I’d ever need one anyway.’

“Um, Madam…?”

Lost in thought, Tina smiled softly at Sarah.

Tina reached out, and something slipped into Sarah’s sleeve. Sarah, who’d spent years in the little battlefield of the ducal residence, could sense things.

Sarah’s eyes widened in surprise as she looked at Tina. Tina nodded with a gentle smile.

“Keep it.”

Sarah’s gaze changed.

In Sarah’s determined eyes, Tina could see the loyalty of someone who’d charge into enemy lines to rescue a lion soldier.

“…I’ll serve you discreetly, Madam. Leave the directions to me.”

Getting what she wanted, Tina smiled brightly.

‘You have to spend a little money to use people well.’

Her second brother’s advice came in handy, and Tina decided to respect her family for a day.

* * *

If there was a knight Tina was closest to in the Biente Knight Order, it was Dame Rozen.

The only female knight, she was a bold and capable woman who, when first joining the order, knocked out ten men just for the chance to kiss the lady’s hand.

Being the same gender made things easier, but her easygoing nature and loyalty made her trustworthy.

Dame Rozen could chatter endlessly with colleagues, but was tight-lipped about her loyalties.

Leaving the residence with Sarah, Tina brought Dame Rozen as her escort.

In this city, Duke Cherilian’s face was well known, but Tina’s was not.

Tina wore practical clothes and wrapped a scarf over half her face. She persuaded armor-loving Dame Rozen to wear leather.

The three looked like ordinary maids serving nobles or the wealthy.

“Do we really need disguises just to buy a book?”

Dame Rozen asked, confused.

“It’s not just any book.”

Sarah answered for Tina.

The group walked down the main street, which looked like a marketplace. Tina was quickly distracted by her surroundings.

There seemed to be ten times more people here than in the small Damsel estate.

Dame Rozen was a skilled escort, always walking close enough to protect Tina whenever she was about to bump into someone.

Every time Tina received help, she thanked her with a glance, and Dame Rozen, who secretly liked pretty, precious, soft things, hummed happily.

After passing through the crowded area, when things got quieter,

“There, Madam.”

Sarah whispered to Tina, nodding toward a spot.

Tina looked around again. There were alchemy shops, used clothing stores—this street seemed to specialize in unusual goods.

[Madame Bonet’s Specialty Bookstore – Branch 2 –]

Tina read the letters carved into the wooden sign.

Dame Rozen opened the green-painted wooden door for her. Ding, the bell on the door rang brightly.

“Welcome.”

Contrary to their nerves, the inside was quite ordinary. The scent of sun-dried paper mixed with subtle herbs, making the atmosphere peaceful.

Her heart beat a little faster in the new environment. Tina whispered to Dame Rozen and Sarah,

“I want to browse slowly, so let’s split up for a bit.”

“Yes.”

“Understood.”

Both lowered their voices and answered, then headed off to spots they’d had their eyes on.