Chapter 5.1 –  Respecting Her Husband’s Preferences

There’s a wonderful old saying from the sages:

‘Knock, and it shall be developed!’

Tina thought this wise scholar’s saying was meant for times like this.

Something she’d once hated so much she never wanted to do it with her beloved husband had now truly become a preference.

“I—I told you, didn’t I? Nothing lasts forever except diamonds…”

“Ah, does this count too?”

At his teasing voice, Tina shot him a sulky glance.

Cherilian’s lips nibbled her neck. His hand slipped between Tina’s thighs, gently caressing sensitive skin.

He parted the hair and softly teased the hidden bud with his fingertips.

“Ah…”

Though Tina’s lower belly was flat, it wasn’t as if she had no flesh at all. Cherilian, after kneading her soft side, moved his hand up to cup her tender chest.

The sensation was delightful, like kneading elastic dough. Cherilian rubbed her n*pples and licked Tina’s long, white neck.

With his hands teasing her, Tina moaned. She spread her legs as Cherilian wished and leaned into his strong back, sighing.

“All the things I said before… did they excite you? I thought you were struggling, forced by the curse.”

Cherilian answered honestly, with a slightly complicated look.

“They did. I didn’t expect you to try so hard.”

Tina replied proudly, her face flushed.

“See? Effort works.”

“Then, how about you appreciate my effort now? Hm?”

Cherilian traced the cleft he’d so diligently caressed with two fingers. As he stroked up and down, her entrance pulsed and released moisture. The hidden bud peeked out between her folds.

“Hng…”

As more fluid flowed, he pressed two fingers together and gently inserted them. With a wet sound, he carefully massaged and rubbed the inner walls.

“Ah, ah!”

As he teased her entrance, Cherilian also stimulated himself, becoming fully aroused.

“Have you seen this? Doggy style.”

“Mhm. I’ve seen it… when dogs mate.”

“Ah, I remember. The nanny ran over and covered our eyes.”

“Cherry, I’m… now…”

“I know. I’ll put it in.”

He was just as eager. Cherilian gathered her legs and placed them over his shoulder. Gripping himself, he aligned with her entrance and thrust in urgently.

“Ugh…!”

Her entrance stretched tightly, gripping him. Cherilian clenched his jaw, the muscles in his sharp chin tensing and relaxing.

As he filled her completely, both let out gasps. Cherilian moved without warning, instinctively reaching the deepest spot, rubbing and stroking where she felt most.

Her pressed flesh seemed to beg him not to leave. Cherilian stifled curses, exhaling rough breaths through his teeth.

“Haa, ha…!”

“Mm, mm, hng!”

Holding her legs over his shoulders, he kept thrusting, hips meeting her soft bottom with a steady rhythm.

Her entrance, stretched to hold him, looked like plump shellfish, flushed from bathwater and excitement.

His movement caused his body to press against her, and as he cl*maxed, he released thick fluid.

“Ah, ah! Hng, mm!”

Even after climax, he didn’t lose strength, continuing to move. Sticky fluid coated his length, spreading along her inner walls.

“Hng…!”

Cherilian lowered Tina’s legs from his shoulders and turned her over, intending to join like the dogs they’d watched as children.

He gripped her hips to position her. It was her first time from behind, so Tina’s back tensed stiffly.

“Shh, Tina…”

To soothe her tension, Cherilian curved his body and scattered gentle kisses along her spine. The ticklish, loving sensation slowly eased her unnecessary stiffness.

He gently pressed into her entrance, still slick from earlier, making this time much easier.

“Haa, Tina…”

Cherilian grabbed her pale hips and began thrusting strongly. His reddened length moved in and out of her narrow entrance, emerging coated in white foam.

Tina, sounding like a small, pitiful animal, gripped the cloak beneath her tightly. She was drenched not in bathwater but sweat.

“Mmm…”

Burying her face in Cherilian’s scented cloak, Tina moaned deeply. Her lower body trembled, her walls pulsing.

As she twisted her hips, she released clear, scentless fluid, enough to dampen her hair with their mixed fluids.

Cherilian hugged Tina tightly, whispering in her ear with a roughened voice.

“Tina, you always know the way to me.”

Tina’s eyelashes trembled, and her moist, sky-blue eyes gazed at him in pleasure.

“Take care of me from now on.”

“Mhm…”

Panting, Tina wrapped her arms around Cherilian’s shoulders. Their hearts beat together, pressed close.

* * *

After their leisurely afterglow, the two had just finished dressing when two Biente knights arrived, ambling over. The heavy downpour had already stopped.

“Captain, we didn’t come late on purpose…”

Worried they’d be scolded for being slow, one knight spoke quietly. Cherilian, who was absentmindedly checking Tina’s saddle, replied,

“No, you did well.”

The knight’s eyes widened at the calm praise, while Tina, who wore Cherilian’s cloak due to the chilly weather after the rain, stepped outside the treehouse.

“Cherry, I’ll ride back the way I came, not by carriage. I want to feel the wind.”

“Alright. I’ll help you up.”

Tina’s cheeks were still flushed, her bangs sweat-damp and a bit messy.

The knight who insisted on following Tina looked dazed. As he hesitated, the other knight nudged him with an elbow.

“Sir, I told you. You have to give them at least two hours.”

“…Yeah. Otherwise, we could’ve really gotten in trouble.”

They’d nearly interfered with the family planning of someone with absolute power.

The knight brushed his chest, chilled not just by the damp armor but by the situation.

* * *

Cherilian and Tina completed their first estate inspection and returned to Biente Castle. Though called an inspection, given the size of the Biente Duke’s lands, it was really just a tour of the front yard.

After returning to the castle, they received a backlog of visitors. The vassals under the Biente Duchy came to the castle to make their presence known.

So for about a month, things were hectic.

“Haah…”

Tina lay face down, resting her face on her arms, and let out a languid sigh. Her body, still warm from the peak of pleasure, was relaxed.

“Next year, let’s visit a wider variety of estates. We should also meet the vassals of families who couldn’t come to greet us this time.”

Tina recalled a request she’d received discreetly from the wives of the vassals. One of the duties of the Duchess was to look into marriage prospects for the vassals.

“You’re already planning for next year?”

“Mm-hmm. You know I’m diligent.”

Unlike Tina, who was so exhausted from the soft yet persistent lovemaking that she couldn’t move, Cherilian still seemed lively. She could feel his gentle gaze looking down at her.

“And… I want to visit the capital too. I want to attend the New Year’s event at the royal palace.”

His hand, which had been tidying her messy hair, paused.

“Tina, do you want some water?”

“Yes.”

When Cherilian sat up, the mattress softly dipped. He slipped on his silk slippers and headed to the alcove where the water was.

Cherilian didn’t like the customs of the capital. No wonder, since affairs among married nobles were so common there. Even the King openly kept a mistress, so that said it all.

Among the men who had only looks and nothing else, many aimed to become consorts to high-ranking noblewomen.

Cherilian didn’t think Tina would fall for such temptations, but if even one man became infatuated with her character and looks, he didn’t know what kind of cruel thing he might do.

“In the capital, they say people form close friendships regardless of gender. Do you want to do that too, Tina?”

Tina quietly opened her eyes and gazed at Cherilian’s back as he poured her water from the alcove. All she could see were his broad back and flexing muscles, but she could imagine his face.

Jealous Cherilian was cute. She couldn’t help but smile.

The thought that Cherilian would have no complaints about whatever she did was wrong.

‘Let out whatever’s in your heart. I’ll accept anything.’

Just as she’d said, Cherilian had expressed himself to her in many ways. Very timidly, really.

“Here you go.”

Since Tina didn’t drink plain water because she found it tasteless, there was a slice of lemon in the crystal glass.

“Cherry. Now that I think about it… It might be hard to travel around next year.”

Cherilian tilted his head slightly, waiting for her to continue.

“My period is late. Of course, it might be nothing, so don’t get your hopes up… Eeek!”

Tina burst out laughing as she tried to avoid the shower of kisses Cherilian rained down on her.

* * *

Tina lay stretched out on the chaise lounge, listening to Cherilian read fairy tales to her in a gentle voice.

Of course, these were innocent fairy tales suitable for children.

Even pleasant sounds become tiresome after a while, so Tina, bored with the same stories, pulled out her secret collection and asked him to read those instead.

But with a soft, unspoken pressure that this was a bit much, she had no choice but to quietly hide the books back in her secret bookshelf space.

Cherilian, turning his head so Tina wouldn’t know where he was hiding them, used the keen senses he’d honed in the monster wars to discover her secret bookshelf.

He’d resolved to one day get rid of all those naughty books she went down to the city once a month to obtain.

He hadn’t acted on it yet. Maybe he never would.

“And so, the two lived happily ever after.”

Cherilian looked lovingly at Tina as he closed the book. Her belly was just slightly rounded.

“It seems the baby hears Dad’s voice more than Mom’s.”

Tina wiggled her bare feet, not wearing her silk slippers. Seeing her bare feet, Cherilian’s brow creased slightly.

“I told you to keep your feet warm…”

Since her feet often swelled, even that felt uncomfortable. Cherilian brought her socks made from warm fabric.

As he was about to put them on for her, a mischievous glint appeared in her sky-blue eyes. She moved her feet toward him, sitting at her feet.

“Tina…”

Cherilian looked troubled and unsure what to do. Tina spoke in a deliberately casual voice.

“This really happens at any time, huh.”

“You with your feet… Ugh.”

Cherilian’s ears turned as red as his hair. As a sigh of endurance—not pain—escaped him, Tina felt a slight thrill and sat up.

Her belly wasn’t very big yet.

Tina, with a curious gaze, watched as she stimulated herself with her wet underwear and watched Cherilian’s arousal grow.

“You know…”

Tina started meaningfully, her sky-blue eyes sparkling mischievously.

“I heard somewhere that some men like it when you touch their back entrance.”

Cherilian’s broad, strong shoulders flinched.

‘What did I just hear?’

“Where did you hear that kind of thing?”

“Just listen! Honestly, I can’t go that far, but… If you want, I can try, Cherry.”

“…I appreciate the thought, but I’m really okay. Really.”

Tina, moving her hips closer, stroked him with her hand. As she touched his sensitized arousal, Cherilian let out a soft sound and lightly furrowed his brow.

Tina spoke slyly.

“Really? I’m not sure, but I also heard that some people like having their urethra stimulated… Maybe I could do that. Don’t need it now?”

“……”

Cherilian gave his wife, who was suspiciously knowledgeable for someone who claimed not to know, a wary look.

It seemed his wife saw the male urethra as a goldmine of pleasure. He wondered where she’d picked up such obscure knowledge.

Eventually, he muttered with a strangely enlightened expression.

“Not every entrance is an entrance, Tina. It’s always an exit…”

Reading his subtle refusal, Tina blinked her clear eyes.

“Ah, I see…”

The way she smacked her lips in disappointment was probably just his imagination. Why was his wife like this? Could it be…?

After hesitating, Cherilian summoned his courage and spoke.

“Tina. If you ever develop that kind of preference… I’ll match you this time.”

Tina had diligently matched his embarrassing and new preferences. Now it was his turn to make an effort. It was perfect give and take.

But unexpectedly, Tina didn’t seem all that pleased. Or rather, she looked flustered, almost as if caught.

“What? I don’t have any such thing. I just… wanted to be considerate of you, Cheri…”

Cherilian looked at her curiously, unable to understand her reaction.

Hadn’t she once shyly but earnestly put a dog’s collar on his neck? Why the sudden modesty?

“I was being considerate of you too. No need to feel pressured. If you want, you can do whatever you want to me.”

Cherilian’s face was gentle and calm, as if he’d always expected this moment.

Tina, face flushed, insisted she didn’t, and the two spent a long time practicing the virtue of humility.

It was obvious whose wish this pointless debate would end with.

After all, it is a universal truth that wise wives should be entrusted with the intimate affairs of the household.

『Developing My Husband’s Taste』 The End