Chapter 2.3

The next morning, Erta woke up as usual. 

The ceiling mural she had commissioned greeted her, just as it did every morning. 

The warm sunlight poured into her bedroom, starkly contrasting the darkness of the previous night.  

Erta raised her arm and clenched her hand into a fist. Both hands moved freely, entirely under her control. 

‘Huh?’ 

Suddenly-

Erta quickly sat up with a confused expression. 

The vivid memories of last night felt like a lie. Otherwise, how could there be no trace left behind? 

But…  

The large and firm organ that had ravaged her insides, the tongue that had sucked so hard it felt like her n*pples would vanish, and the hands that had slapped her flesh countless times— 

If those weren’t real…  

Erta bit her lower lip hard.  

She couldn’t believe it. Yet, the ordinary morning seemed to deny the events of last night. 

Could it really have been a dream? 

‘A dream? That’s ridiculous…’  

Reluctantly, Erta accepted reality and nodded to herself. It truly didn’t make sense. 

‘Right. How could anyone bypass the security of Geranion?’ 

The Geranion Marquisate, one of the most powerful families in the Empire, was known for its impenetrable security. The idea of someone breaking through that, let alone entering the bedroom of the Marquis’ daughter, was utterly implausible.  

Erta’s shoulders slumped.  

Perhaps her subconscious desires had surfaced after her confession at the Bondridge Cathedral, leading her to dream such a vivid and explicit fantasy.  

Having never experienced penetration before, it seemed she had confused dream and reality.  

‘So, it really was a dream.’  

It was disappointing to think that the thrilling sensation of her brain melting while a hot organ filled her wasn’t real.  

Had my confession at the Bondridge Cathedral only intensified my desires instead of relieving them?  

Erta weakly swung her legs off the bed.  

“Hngh.”  

But a sudden ache below caused her legs to give out, and she collapsed back onto the bed. Her face showed clear bewilderment.  

“…Could it be?”  

She quickly rolled up her sleeve to inspect her wrist.  

Where her wrist had always been unblemished, there were now red marks—clear traces of having been tied up the night before.  

Erta couldn’t take her eyes off her wrist. She blinked a few times, her mind blank.  

Then, her gaze shifted to her pajama sleeve. The elaborate embroidery on the fabric caught her eye.  

But as her eyes followed the sleeve down her arm, she realized she was wearing beige silk pajamas.  

Erta never wore silk to bed. She preferred soft cotton fabrics, and her maids knew better than to bring her anything else.  

All of this could only mean one thing.  

‘Did that… really happen?’  

Erta’s face lit up with joy.  

‘It wasn’t a dream!’  

As she examined her body further, she lifted the hem of her pajama skirt to check her thighs.  

‘They’re red.’  

Her pale thighs bore a reddish hue, swollen from the repeated impacts of the man’s organ.  

Surely, her white hips must be in a similar state.  

Erta’s lips curled into a smile. She couldn’t stop the giggles that escaped her. 

But who was he? 

Now that she was certain it had been real, she couldn’t help but wonder about his identity.  

The man had sought nothing but physical intimacy with her.  

He hadn’t harmed her, nor had he taken any of the valuable items in her room. On the contrary, he had erased all traces of his presence and even dressed her in new pajamas before leaving.  

Who could he be, this man who had fulfilled her fantasies and disappeared without a trace? 

‘Will he come again?’  

However, Erta’s curiosity about the man’s identity was just that—curiosity. What she truly desired was his return. 

Looking back, last night had been her first experience, and she felt regretful that she hadn’t been able to enjoy it properly due to her nervousness.  

If the man were to visit her again, she believed she could do better. If that were possible, she thought, his identity wouldn’t even matter.  

Having even remembered to take effective contraceptives, Erta’s heart fluttered with anticipation.  

From the confession at the Bondridge Cathedral to the mysterious man who visited her in the night—  

Could so many happy things happen in just one day?  

Lately, Erta’s life had been filled with gloom, but it now felt as though a bright light was finally shining on her. 

***

“Erta Geranion greets Her Majesty, the Empress.” 

 “Lady Geranion of the Marquisate, you grow more radiant with each passing day.”  

“Your Majesty, I earnestly wish to learn the secret to your everlasting beauty. I wish you a heartfelt congratulations on your 40th birthday.”  

Today was the Empress’s birthday banquet. High-ranking nobles, the pillars of the Empire, all attended to celebrate the Empress.  

The banquet hall was filled with rare sights and delicacies, a display of the Empire’s power.  

The attendance of the Geranion Marquisate was, of course, expected. After offering her congratulations to the Empress, Erta made her way back to her parents.  

“I’ve returned, Mother.”  

The Marquis and Marchioness smiled warmly at the sight of their daughter greeting the Empress on her own.  

“Our Erta has grown so much that she’s ready for marriage.”  

The topic her parents brought up yet again was marriage.  

But perhaps because of the happiness she had experienced a few days ago, Erta didn’t feel as resistant to the idea as she usually did.  

After all, she had found hope when she had once despaired that her desires would never be fulfilled.  

“Oh, Mother, there’s no need to rush things.” 

Even so, Erta, who had little interest in marriage itself, gave a vague response, intending to end the conversation quickly.  

“Erta, aren’t you curious about who your match might be?”  

“…Who might it be?”  

But her mother’s question revealed her intent. Erta’s words about not rushing had fallen on deaf ears.  

Not long ago, her mother had said she would look into potential matches, but it seemed she had already found someone.  

With a delighted smile, her mother revealed the answer.  

“It’s a family you know. We’ve been discussing a match with the heir of the Duke of Ephelmar. Keep that in mind.”  

The Marchioness seemed more excited than Erta herself.  

The heir of the Duke of Ephelmar. Erta couldn’t possibly not know who that was.  

Reitan Ephelmar.  

He was a prominent figure in social circles.  

If Erta was the most notable young lady among the nobility, then Reitan Ephelmar was undoubtedly the most talked-about young lord.  

“Mother, but if it’s Reitan Ephelmar…”  

Currently, however, he wasn’t even in the Empire.  

The attention and rumors surrounding him stemmed from the fact that he was studying abroad in another country.  

A nobleman of his status, the son of a Duke, and his absence from social circles only added to his mystique.  

These factors were the main ingredients shaping his image in the social world. 

But to discuss marriage with a man who wasn’t even in the Empire—could that even be possible? 

Noticing the doubt in her daughter’s expression, the Marchioness continued.  

“The young lord recently returned to the Empire. How could I miss such a perfect opportunity? To stand beside you, our Erta, he should at least be the son of a Duke.”  

The Marchioness’s eyes sparkled as if seeking praise for her excellent work. Erta had no choice but to nod in agreement.  

“The heir of the Duke of Ephelmar is more than suitable. As expected of you, Mother.”  

Among noble children of marriageable age, there was naturally a hierarchy.  

Since Erta’s marriage would be a political arrangement rather than a love match, her partner’s family, wealth, and influence had to be carefully considered.  

By those standards, Reitan Ephelmar was undoubtedly an excellent match.  

It was the best choice the Geranion Marquisate could make, and the same was likely true for the Duke of Ephelmar’s family.  

“Although no formal marriage talks have been held yet, be mindful of your behavior until then. Of course, our daughter, you have always conducted yourself impeccably.” 

The Marchioness, unaware of what her daughter had done with a mysterious man a few days ago, urged Erta to maintain proper behavior until formal marriage talks were finalized.  

“Don’t worry, Mother.”  

Erta hid her indifferent feelings and nodded with a smile.  

‘It’ll be the same there anyway.’  

For someone like the young lord of Ephelmar, there must have been a line of noblewomen eager to marry him. Among all those women, even if he had only met a few, it was likely he had already lost his purity—or perhaps even grown jaded.  

Besides, who knew where he had studied abroad? There were countries far more sexually liberal than the Empire.  

‘Wait, could it be…?’ 

The thought suddenly struck her: if the young lord of Ephelmar, an overseas scholar, turned out to be rather promiscuous, he might even understand Erta’s preferences.  

He could be much better than the stiff, traditional noblemen who had only lived within the Empire.  

“Yes, the Duke and Duchess are both remarkable individuals.”  

At that moment, her father’s voice interrupted Erta’s train of thought.  

The Marquis, who had remained silent until now, chimed in to support his wife’s words.  

“Exactly, dear. Erta, if you become part of the Duke’s family, you’ll have much to learn from them.”  

“The young lord of Ephelmar is likely attending the banquet today. Why not try talking to him, Erta?”  

“Having been raised by such exemplary figures, it’s certain that the young lord has an exceptional character. I hope you’ll find him to your liking.”  

It seemed Erta’s parents were more excited about her marriage than she was.  

For the Geranion Marquisate, securing ties with the Duke of Ephelmar’s family was an unparalleled opportunity.  

‘Didn’t Father say the largest investor in his mining business was the Duke of Ephelmar?’  

Erta wasn’t ignorant of how the world worked. Everything revolved around mutual interests.  

Still, she knew her parents loved her.  

No matter how beneficial the connection might be for business, if the family’s reputation were poor, they wouldn’t have considered sending her there.  

As a noblewoman born into the Geranion family, Erta understood that fulfilling such duties was inevitable.  

It had already been about a week since that thrilling night. The man hadn’t visited her again during that time.  

Perhaps it was a matter of waiting a little longer, but it could also have been both the first and last time.  

Clinging to hope would only make things harder for her, so it was easier to think of it that way.  

‘I need to let it go.’  

She decided to bury that night deep in her heart and prepare herself to fulfill her duty as a member of the Marquisate of Geranion.  

“Understood. As you and Father suggested, I’ll try to talk to him if the opportunity arises.” 

If the young lord of Ephelmar was making his first appearance in social circles today, he would likely already be surrounded by other noblewomen. Still, Erta gave a polite response.