Chapter 5 (Part 5)

There was no time for her heart to flutter. Cardin inserted his member into her wet entrance. As it thrust in deeply, her waist lifted. Cardin’s brow slightly furrowed.

“You’re tense.”

His low gaze was on her. She shook her head, and Cardin hugged her, exhaling roughly.

“Ha, but why are you so…”

Cardin couldn’t continue and pressed his thigh closer. She instinctively grabbed Cardin’s shoulder, but he moved his waist as if driven by instinct.

“Hmph, Cardin. Uh.”

Cardin exhaled roughly and bit her lips. As he thrust his member in and out, he didn’t pull away from her lips. As a result, a suppressed moan escaped her.

“Hmph, uh, uh.”

His hot, sticky body pressed down on her. As his firm muscles moved, the sound of flesh hitting flesh grew louder. Her breath was increasingly stifled. His member suddenly went deeper.

Unknowingly, she grabbed Cardin’s shoulder. At that moment, Cardin pulled away from her lips. Exhaling hotly, he began stimulating the spot she felt intensely.

“Ah, ugh, huh, uh.”

She clung to Cardin’s body instinctively. Grabbing his shoulder, she let out instinctive moans. Her mind was already filled with excitement, unable to gauge how loud her moans were.

Her entire body shook with his rough breaths. Her chest bounced, and her hair scattered messily on the bed. She felt she couldn’t handle more intense pleasure.

“Uh, stop, huh.”

Instead, Cardin thrust his member even deeper. As his member struck her peak, her breath hitched, and her waist bucked. Cardin pressed his body close to hers. He exhaled heavily and looked at her.

As their eyes met, Cardin kissed her roughly.

“Uh, uh.”

Without a chance to catch her breath, his soft tongue slipped into her mouth. Perhaps because their bodies were hot, her whole body felt like it was burning.

Though it seemed he had cl*maxed, Cardin didn’t pull out and subtly moved his waist. Each time, his member stimulated her inner walls, and pleasure crept up.

She thought she was completely drained, but her breath came out hotly again. Cardin cupped her cheek with one hand, preventing her from shaking her head, and fixed her thighs with his legs, making it hard to escape.

Then he persistently moved his waist. As if swallowing her lips with his tongue.

“Hmph, uh, hmph.”

Her mind was hazy. Her entire body shook with pleasure and stimulation, letting out moans.

He seemed tireless, constantly exploring her body.

‘I don’t think it was like this before.’

That thought didn’t last long. Deep pleasure came again.

* * *

end

She didn’t know when she fell asleep. When she woke, Cardin wasn’t beside her. Checking the clock, it was well past the time Cardin usually left.

It was almost lunchtime. Feeling she had slept too much, Brienne tried to get up, but her whole body ached.

Moreover, red marks covered her chest, belly, and collarbone. Her body felt dry. Even the blanket.

She finally got up and put on the robe hanging on the chair, pulling the bell cord. Shortly after, Melin entered. As soon as she saw her, Melin smiled.

“Madam, you finally woke up.”

She awkwardly lifted the corners of her mouth.

“Cardin already left, right?”

“He left early for work today and said he’d be back late.”

Cardin indeed seemed busy. He came home late yesterday too. 

Did he even sleep? 

It seemed he slept less than she did.

“Did Cardin seem tired?”

“Not at all. He seemed rather pleased.”

It was strange. Cardin had practically stayed up all night like her. At that moment, Melin offered a silver tray.

“Madam, several families sent letters.”

Looking at the pile of letters on the tray, there were quite a lot. It was her first time receiving such attention. Even as an academy student, she hadn’t received letters like this.

Opening each letter, they were all from noble families she had never heard of. Some letters were quite prestigious, with high-quality paper and elaborate decorations.

Most of the content congratulated the upcoming marriage. They didn’t particularly mention her name, focusing on Cardin getting married.

It felt strange. As if her presence was subtly omitted.

Of course, she hadn’t been a noticeable figure in society before, and even if she would eventually be excluded from this marriage, it felt odd.

As she looked at the letters for a while, Melin stood beside her.

“Madam, you must be tired. Shall I reply to the letters briefly for you?”

Brienne was already feeling overwhelmed at the thought of replying to each one. Even if they didn’t directly congratulate her, it seemed she should respond formally.

“Please do. Thank you.”

“It’s nothing. Helping you is my job, after all.”

Melin gathered the silver tray. Then, as if remembering something, she showed her a black jewelry box.

“What is this?”

“Lady Hernes sent it as a wedding gift.”

Opening the box, she saw pearl earrings with a radiant shine. They didn’t look like the common cheap ones sold on the streets. Mesmerized by the mysterious glow, Melin spoke.

“Lady Hernes also sent the tea and pills she previously sent. Would you like to take them?”

“Didn’t Cardin throw them all away?”

“She sent new ones this time.”

Brienne was conflicted. Cardin had told her to throw them away, suspecting an ulterior motive, but receiving them again made her hesitant to refuse.

Melin seemed to gauge her mood and spoke.

“Though Your Grace was concerned, since Lady Hernes sent them, perhaps you should try them?”

After some thought, she nodded. Brienne couldn’t forget the sweetness she tasted from the pills before.

* * *

Cardin attended a royal meeting early in the morning. Perhaps this would be the last time he faced the King at this hour. He usually sent a proxy or didn’t attend unless it was an important meeting. But this time, the King personally chaired the meeting, and he had to attend.

The King tested whether he was suitable for the Messerode family with this trade ship investment. Perhaps it was resentment for taking the mineral rights.

In reality, the trade ship investment didn’t benefit the Messerode family at all.

The mineral rights were obtained to pressure his mother into silence, and he focused on this only to increase the private soldiers to find Brienne.

He personally visited and confirmed which trade ship to invest in, considering the surrounding political situation, cultural preferences, and suitability. He spent days and nights on this.

Previously, aside from finding Brienne, he devoted himself solely to this, and as he expected, the trade ship investment was very successful. It yielded more benefits than the King anticipated.

As he entered the conference room, Roquek glared from afar. His cousin. The one who frivolously filed lawsuits to seize the Messerode family.

Cardin glanced at him briefly and took his seat. Shortly after, the King entered. Seeing Cardin seated, the King smiled and sat at the top seat beside him.

Once everyone was seated, the King spoke.

“I wanted to inform you as soon as possible that the trade ship investment is almost concluded, so I called you early this morning. Didn’t everyone work hard on this?”

Nominally, the King entrusted this task to the nobles present. Among them, he specifically told Cardin he would watch him.

Thus, among the high-nosed nobles, Cardin had to show definite results. The King’s unspoken command that he would overlook it only if he succeeded couldn’t be ignored. It was a matter of the Messerode family’s honor.

The King smiled at Cardin and continued.

“Anyway, everyone worked hard, but the Messerode family made a significant contribution. The results came a month earlier than expected, which is very satisfying.”

Cardin hurried more than ever, thinking he would marry Brienne in the future.

Roquek, sitting far away, glared with anger. The King smiled contentedly and looked at the documents in front of him.

“What is this? From the clumsy writing, it doesn’t seem like you wrote it.”

Then a quick voice rang out.

“Your Majesty, I submitted it. This investment is risky, so…”

“Didn’t I already say earlier? It’s almost concluded.”

“But now, Cardin isn’t the rightful heir of the Messerode family and is in litigation…”

The King’s eyebrows slightly furrowed. He immediately turned to Cardin.

“Come to think of it, aren’t you getting married soon? The woman’s family isn’t much, but you must continue the lineage quickly.”

Continuing the lineage. It was of utmost importance in this kingdom. Cardin felt a tiresome frustration but calmly spoke.

“I don’t intend to rush.”

“No, you must hurry. At your age, I had three children.”

“……”

“Isn’t having children important in the Messerode family? I understand the lineage barely continued.”

Then Roquek chimed in.

“That’s right! But it took time for Cardin to inherit the title after the previous Duke of Messerode passed away. Just that alone…”

“That’s not something to say in front of me. Say it in court.”

At the King’s dignified words, Roquek blinked and bowed his head.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I was rude.”

The King glanced at Roquek dismissively and spoke to Cardin as if advising.

“I want to see the Messerode family’s lineage continue well. You know what I mean, right?”

A smile formed on his solemn face. To someone seeing the King, he might seem benevolent, but to Cardin, that smile was filled with endless greed.

The royal family ultimately wanted the Messerode family to continue and remain a supporting power.

“I fully understand Your Majesty’s intentions. I will strive.”

His calm yet firm words spread. The King nodded in satisfaction and stood up.

“We gathered here early in the morning, so let’s end it here today.”

Then he left the conference room without hesitation.