All because of that father and his daughter she met earlier. The girl who would soon become the duchess.

“I don’t want such news reaching Annelie’s ears anymore, Grandmother.”

The old duchess recalled her grandson’s face speaking decisively, when she called him to tell him not to control the press too strictly.

“Other articles are fine, but not those kinds involving other women.”

“……”

“This matter is already decided. It would be better to stop discussing it.”

“Duke Tevant.”

“If you’re truly concerned, we can appease the press by providing more funding.”

The old duchess could only let out a hollow laugh, never having seen her grandson so determined. The head maid who had long served the Tevant family asked the old duchess’s opinion with somewhat anxious eyes.

“Will it be alright? We’re dealing with a kingdom after all.”

“Well, it won’t be too bad.”

“……”

“I’ve always said this. Tevant must be a family that reads and stays ahead of the trends.”

Though marrying a commoner instead of nobility was radical, it wasn’t the first time such a thing happened. Several nobles had decided to marry middle-class ladies, bankers’ daughters, or businessmen’s daughters. Moreover, nobles weren’t what they used to be. How long would kingdoms last, and how long would their grudges last?

“I’m tired of praising the Duke of Tevant’s judgment.”

“Indeed.”

“Meeting her father, he seems quite honest and diligent.”

The old duchess took another sip of tea. Rather than in-laws obsessively scheming to invest in Tevant’s wealth and fame, having in-laws who knew nothing and simply worked hard at their own business would be more comfortable to have around.

Thinking that way made her feel this marriage wasn’t such a poor match after all.

However, what concerned her right now was…….

“But where has the groom gone when the wedding is so close? We need to take measurements to prepare ceremonial clothes in time.”

“Ah, about that……”

“Looks like he’s hidden away in some corner with the bride too. Isn’t the schedule urgent?”

“Should we bring them back?”

The old duchess fell into thought briefly before sighing and making a decision. They could take measurements from his existing clothes. Though he lost some weight while unconscious, they could fatten him back up by feeding him well until the ceremony.

“No. Let it be.”

“……”

“I didn’t know the Duke would be so indiscriminately consumed by a woman’s body. But what can we do about newlywed lovers.”

Tsk tsk. Though clicking her tongue saying these were truly the end times, the old duchess revealed subtle expectations while covering her mouth with a fan.

“Still, their marital relations are already so active.”

“……”

“We’ll see a great-grandchild soon.”

The old duchess smiled contentedly while fanning herself, not minding the head maid’s face turning slightly red. Her grandson who had kept women at such distance finally engaged in activities day and night.

Though she clicked her tongue at his uncharacteristically disheveled state, she ultimately ended up feeling such expectations.

The old duchess soon addressed the designer standing quietly beside the head maid watching for cues.

“Come back later.”

“Yes, Madam.”

“We’ll pay you generously, so use a different fabric.”

“The silk from Lambert Kingdom……”

“We can use it later for guest tablecloths.”

The old duchess’s gaze remained fixed toward the direction of her grandson’s bedroom even while the designer finished bowing and left. Yes. More important than taking measurements…….

‘Seeing an heir is far more important, of course.’

The day for Tevant to welcome both a new lady and heir was right around the corner.

The old duchess couldn’t hide her smile thinking of a great-grandchild running busily around the whole house. She could already hear the bright, cheerful laughter the child would make.

* * *

“Ah……”

Nelie let out a short gasp while bending her waist. She needed even a brief moment to catch her breath.

“Wait, Your Grace……”

“What.”

“Soon, the Madam will look for us……”

“Trying to escape with such words?”

The arm without a splint gently rose to grab her waist while she straddled the Duke’s body. Nelie swallowed when their lower bodies rubbed together through the smooth fabric. The Duke whispered teasingly to her,

“You said you’d do it.”

“That……”

“You’re the one who climbed on top saying you’d do it directly, Annelie.”

When a playful smile lingered on his thinner face, Nelie opened her mouth regretfully. The Duke slightly raised his upper body to burrow into her mouth.

“Ah!”

Before she could continue her gasp, the man’s tongue invaded between her teeth to entangle her tongue and suck it long.

Nelie closed her eyes and fluttered her eyelashes while he leisurely traced her inner weak membranes and teeth. Her small cheeks soon bulged full with his thick tongue. Saliva she couldn’t contain flowed between her lips to bead on her chin before dripping.

While she focused on the kiss, the Duke reached for her back to slowly undo the buttons on her dress. His hand movements somehow reminded her of when he lay among the debris that day, making her feel even more tender. Nelie tried moving her own tongue while suppressing her surging heart.

“…Ah!”

Thud. Her dress was suddenly stripped off in a moment of carelessness, ruthlessly wrinkling the well-kept pleats. Several buttons tore off too.

Soon the Duke hooked his fingers into Nelie’s undergarments and stripped them off roughly. Her p*ssy, exposed to cold air, twitched nervously. Goosebumps rose on her groin with light pubic hair.

“The dress was just fitted recently……”

“I’ll buy you another.”

“That’s not what’s important……. Uh!”

The Duke placed his hand on her thigh impatiently and traced circles with his fingertips. Just that much stimulation made saliva pool in her mouth.

Meanwhile, Nelie carefully pressed down the Duke’s raised upper body. He didn’t resist and leaned back against the soft cushion.

“Don’t overdo it.”

“This much isn’t overdoing……”

“Still.”

Nelie remained concerned about the his body. Her heart ached whenever she saw his shoulder scarred from injuries because of her, or his arm still in a splint.

“Is it really not fully healed yet?”

The Duke smiled, raising the corners of his mouth after seeing her worried gaze land on the splint. Then he continued nonchalantly.

“They say I used all my strength recovering consciousness, so the bone didn’t fully heal.”

“Really?”

“Yes. So you need to help me.”

Elroy swallowed watching Nelie’s face turn crestfallen. His prominent Adam’s apple rippled greatly.

Though she was sharp and bold when arguing about something. His lover who naively believed such an impossible lie just because he showed a slight weakness was lovely beyond measure.

‘There’s no way it’s not healed.’

His broken arm had quickly recovered while he was unconscious. However, they couldn’t remove the splint since the patient hadn’t regained consciousness, and after regaining consciousness he had rushed to Nelie’s hometown by train without thinking of anything else, only grabbing his coat and wallet. He had no mind to remove the splint.

In the end, Annelie met him looking like a patient who could collapse at any moment. That impression must have been so strong that Nelie still misunderstood his arm hadn’t healed.

The physician said it would be better to remove the splint soon but Elroy dragged it out. He liked Annelie clinging to him wanting to nurse him, and he liked her eyes full of worry welling up while looking only at him.

‘Plus she does such cute things too.’

“Come on, Nelie.”

Elroy whined once more while stroking Nelie’s thigh. Her waist started stiffening straight, feeling his touch.

“You said you’d do it. Why do you keep stopping halfway?”

“T-that.”

That was Nelie’s maximum courage.

She felt sorry for the injured Duke, and grateful that he rushed to her without even changing his clothes right after firmly regaining consciousness. Her heart also ached that his body took so long to recover.

Even after returning to Tevant together, that sympathy remained in Nelie. So she said she would help with anything, and the Duke asked if she really would. When he asked several times, she naturally said she would, but his response was…….

“I want you, Nelie.”

“What? What……”

“You know.”

Speaking that way while subtly biting his lip and touching her round bottom made Nelie’s face turn bright red. The Duke watched that delightedly and whispered shamelessly.

“It’s been quite a while since we did it. Almost a year now.”

“I-it hasn’t been that long!”

“So you hate it?”

There was no way to resist when he looked down with moist eyes asking that. Nelie ultimately nodded, entranced.

This was the result. Stripped completely n*ked, sitting atop the Duke lying in bed, not knowing shame.