Chapter 3.1

If one were to turn back time, it all began in the morning.  

Throughout breakfast, Erta kept her eyes fixed on her plate, avoiding her parents’ gaze.  

‘The letter will probably arrive by this afternoon.’  

Reitan Ephelmar would surely inform the Duke and Duchess of what had happened yesterday, and the marriage talks would naturally be annulled.  

She could already picture the disappointed expressions on her parents’ faces, which made it impossible to meet their eyes. 

Knock, knock—  

A low knocking sound echoed from the dining room door. It wasn’t so much asking for permission to enter as it was simply announcing someone’s presence. The door opened, and the head butler stepped inside. 

Normally, the household staff were instructed not to disturb family time during meals. 

For the butler to interrupt breakfast like this, something urgent must have happened.  

Erta glanced at him with a worried expression.  

“I apologize for interrupting your meal, Marquis. You instructed me to bring any correspondence from the Duke of Ephelmar’s household directly to you as soon as it arrived.”  

The mention of a letter from the Duke of Ephelmar’s household made Erta’s fingertips tremble.  

Surely, that letter contained…  

Her mind felt faint and distant.  

“Oh, well done. Hand it to me immediately.”  

Completely unaware of Erta’s inner turmoil, her father took the letter from the butler with an eager expression.  

Rustle— 

The sound of fine parchment being unfolded echoed through the dining room.  

Her mother, just as excited as her father, waited expectantly for him to read the contents aloud.  

As his eyes scanned the parchment, no one dared to speak. Everyone, including the butler, focused their attention on Marquis Geranion.  

During that brief moment, Erta’s heart pounded violently in her chest.  

What if, after reading the letter, her father asked her what had happened at the banquet last night?  

“Erta.”  

“Y-Yes?”  

“Did you, by any chance, speak with Lord Ephelmar at Her Majesty the Empress’s birthday banquet last night?”  

Thud.  

It felt as though a heavy stone had dropped into her chest.  

What should I say to my father? Should I admit that I had shown a sharp reaction to the lord?  

But then again, wasn’t it his fault for acting improperly first? 

Erta’s mind was in turmoil. However, no matter what, she had to say something. Her lips parted slightly.  

But before she could answer, her father spoke again.  

“The Duke of Ephelmar’s household has formally proposed marriage talks.”  

“…What?”  

Formal marriage talks? Not annulment? 

Erta hurriedly sought confirmation, unsure if she had heard correctly.  

“Formally? Not annulled?”  

“Of course, formally. Where else would they find a bride as suitable as you? It seems the Ducal household is quite eager. Sending a letter so early in the morning—perhaps Lord Ephelmar took a liking to you at the banquet last night.”  

Erta was dumbfounded, but her parents seemed to think she was simply surprised by the early news of the proposal. 

“Well, of course, dear. They must be worried that another family might try to snatch up our Erta. The Duchess must be quite anxious.”  

With smiles of happiness, her parents finished their breakfast.  

However, Erta was left feeling utterly confused by how events had unfolded so differently from her expectations.  

‘Why? Could it be that he prefers sharp-tongued women?’  

Could that really be the case? But aside from that explanation, she couldn’t make sense of the current situation.  

In any case, she hadn’t disappointed her parents, so the outcome was ultimately a good one…  

Thud—  

“Haa.”  

Back in her room, Erta collapsed onto her bed, her emotions in turmoil.  

An arranged marriage with Lord Ephelmar.  

If it were annulled, there were too many things to worry about. If it were finalized, it would clash too strongly with her own personality, making it emotionally difficult for her.  

On the other hand, if the marriage went through, Erta would become the future Duchess of Ephelmar, rising to an even higher position where she could enjoy wealth and prestige.  

The public image of “Erta Geranion,” which she valued so highly, would also become even more solid.  

Moreover, it would provide a significant boost to her parents’ business ventures.  

If the marriage were annulled, none of these benefits would be attainable.  

And now that news of the marriage talks between her and Lord Ephelmar had already spread, would it even be possible to find a better match?  

Her reputation would inevitably take a hit.  

Besides, even if this marriage didn’t happen, it would be nearly impossible to find someone who matched her preferences.  

Of course, the fact that Lord Ephelmar was exceptionally ascetic posed its own challenges…  

But even putting that aside, going forward with the marriage seemed to be the right choice.  

‘Yes. This is a fortunate turn of events. I should accept it.’ 

She couldn’t afford to act spoiled any longer. Erta was a proper adult who knew how to fulfill her duties. 

***

‘But still!’  

She really hadn’t wanted to come.  

‘No, I didn’t have a choice.’  

Looking up at Bondridge Cathedral, Erta pushed away the thoughts swirling in her mind and tried to justify herself.  

The determined resolve she had shown earlier was nowhere to be found.  

‘There was no other way. I was too frustrated, too suffocated.’  

Yesterday, Erta had learned a harsh truth: carnivores need meat, and herbivores need plants to survive.  

No matter how much you were offered food that didn’t suit your tastes, it would only make you crave your staple diet even more. That was the conclusion she had come to in such a short time.  

The self-reproach she had felt yesterday, blaming herself for how even trivial actions seemed indecent due to her heightened desires, had completely vanished.  

‘If I’m going to be married anyway, I might as well enjoy myself until then!’  

Once she was married to a man as ascetic as Reitan Ephelmar, she’d have to live a life of restraint forever. Shouldn’t she at least find some happiness while she still could?  

Erta convinced herself that, at this moment, there was no other choice but to come to Bondridge Cathedral.  

‘Yes, what if the cathedral disappears while I’m hesitating? I need to enjoy it while it’s still here.’  

Before her marriage to the ascetic Reitan Ephelmar, she resolved to enjoy the time she had left.  

Having completed these mental gymnastics, Erta stepped into the cathedral. 

“Welcome, Sister. What brings you here today?” 

 “I’ve come for confession.”  

Erta explained, as she had the last time, that she was here for confession.  

The difference this time was that she didn’t feel nervous or uneasy.  

If anything, she felt calm and at peace.  

Was this the comfort that came from holiness? 

For a brief moment, Erta even imagined herself as a devoted follower of the cathedral. She followed the priest down the familiar path.  

At the end of the now-familiar corridor, the door of salvation awaited her once again.  

“May you find peace during your time here.”  

The sound of the priest’s footsteps grew distant as he walked away after guiding her.  

Left alone in the hallway, Erta placed her hand on the doorknob.  

Click—  

The sound of the door opening echoed in her heart like a signal of freedom.  

Was this how animals felt when the latch of their cage was finally undone and they were released?  

As she stepped inside, Erta savored an unparalleled sense of liberation. 

In the few steps it took to reach the chair, she shed the restraints and burdens of chastity and felt the true freedom of her desires.  

It seemed almost contradictory to feel such emotions in a cathedral dedicated to praising the grace of the Lord, but she didn’t care.  

As if entranced, Erta sat on the chair and carefully opened her lips.  

“…It’s me.”  

It had only been a week since the first visit. Could the priest on the other side recognize me if I simply said, ‘It’s me’?  

She knew it was a bit much to expect, but she didn’t know how else to start the conversation. 

“You’ve come, Sister.” 

“……!”  

Erta’s face lit up with surprise. He remembered her. She hadn’t truly expected him to recognize her immediately.  

The corners of her lips quivered slightly, unable to fully close.  

‘He remembered me.’  

The priest on the other side greeted her warmly with the same calm voice as before.  

Erta felt relieved. Sitting in this chair felt like the most comforting moment in her 23 years of life. For now, even the worries about her arranged marriage had faded away.  

“What brings you here today? Is it a new topic to discuss, or perhaps a continuation of the last one…?”  

It was strange. When he asked her questions in that calm voice, it felt as though she could tell him anything.  

“Would you like to continue the story?”  

Even though the man on the other side of the confessional couldn’t possibly see her, Erta nodded in affirmation.  

“To be honest, I’ve found myself wanting something stronger since that day…”  

Was this what divine providence felt like? Even though it was an embarrassing topic, her lips opened naturally.  

For someone like Erta, who had never believed in the divine, this confession made her feel as though she was beginning to develop faith in the Lord.  

“Something stronger… Do you mean something other than being struck or bound?”  

“……Yes.”  

When words about her s*xual preferences flowed from his lips, Erta unconsciously lowered her voice again. It was certainly embarrassing to hear it from someone else’s mouth.

But the priest across from her responded today as well, asking in detail as if earnestly addressing Erta’s story.

“Then specifically, what do you desire?”

Perhaps gaining confidence thanks to his question, her answer came out more boldly than before.

“Well… I started imagining wearing a dog collar and being… penetrated from behind like a dog.”

“So you imagined being roughly taken like a dog. Naturally, you’d prefer having your bottom slapped while it happens, wouldn’t you?”

Her lips froze before she could answer.