Chapter 5.4

Having conversed with Reitan more than expected, the evening had already turned into night.

‘It’s already this late.’

Though most of their conversation had been about Bondridge Cathedral, the priest, and the Holy Kingdom, it hadn’t been an unpleasant time.

Erta was about to say that she should be heading back.

“Well, then…”

“Actually, I’d hate to send you away so soon. Since you’re already here, would you like to see more of the mansion?”

But once again, Reitan spoke before she could.

As if he could read her thoughts completely.

It was the same situation as when they had watched the play.

However, Erta couldn’t quite understand why Reitan was making such an offer.

After all, Erta would eventually be living in the Duke of Ephelmar’s residence, so there was no real need to examine the mansion in advance.

She would have more than enough time to see it later.

But refusing his offer here might make it seem like she had no interest in the ducal family, so she couldn’t do that either.

In reality, from the moment he made the suggestion, she had no real choice.

“Why not? I’m quite looking forward to it. After all, the Duke of Ephelmar’s mansion rarely hosts parties.”

Uttering words completely contrary to her inner thoughts of wanting to see the place briefly and then return home, Erta smiled with feigned excitement.

“I do hope it will be to your liking, my lady.”

Was there really anything about a mansion to like or dislike?

Reitan Ephelmar often made such puzzling remarks.

That was what gave Erta this inexplicable sense of unease.

Nevertheless, since he was the man she would marry, Erta decided to focus only on his positive aspects as she began to tour the mansion under his guidance.

The ducal residence was certainly spacious—enough to get lost in.

While the Geranion marquis residence was impressive in its own right, it clearly couldn’t compare to Ephelmar’s.

‘If we see everything, it’ll be dawn before we finish.’

By now, she had sufficiently honored his proposal.

Erta was about to suggest that it was time for her to leave.

‘Huh?’

If only a secluded corridor hadn’t caught her attention.

“What’s over there…?”

Erta’s footsteps halted.

Her gaze naturally fixed on the end of the corridor.

She couldn’t understand why it had caught her eye. She was simply curious about the space at the end of this corridor.

It was just an ordinary corridor with a door, which made it all the more strange.

Erta soon realized the nature of this peculiar feeling.

She had felt this sensation once before.

‘Bondridge Cathedral.’

Though no one had told her, the answer immediately surfaced in her mind.

Yet she couldn’t fathom why, of all things, Bondridge Cathedral had come to mind, or what connection there could be.

‘What commonality does this have with Bondridge Cathedral?’

Forgetting that Reitan Ephelmar was beside her, Erta instinctively turned toward the corridor.

Just as she took a step toward the dark corridor—

“Are you curious?”

Flinch—

Erta’s shoulders jumped at the gentle question from behind her.

She had been so distracted that she’d forgotten she was in the Duke of Ephelmar’s mansion.

“Ah, that’s… over there…”

Erta gestured toward the end of the corridor while looking at Reitan.

Her action contained the implicit question of what kind of space lay there.

But instead of answering, Reitan nodded toward where Erta’s feet were pointing, granting permission.

The usual Erta might have politely declined. She likely would have turned back to continue on her way.

But now was different. Her instinct was telling her:

Walk down this corridor.

As if entranced, Erta moved forward.

Click, clack.

Without anyone instructing her, Erta continued walking toward the dark end of the corridor.

As she drew closer to the door, her heart pounded harder and harder.

She wondered what could possibly be beyond it that would cause her entire body to react this way.

It felt just like standing in that corridor on her way to make a confession.

Finally facing the door, Erta opened it without hesitation.

Click—

“This is…”

But the room beyond the door was pitch black. Nothing was visible except darkness.

“It’s too dark now, isn’t it? For you to confess your sins, my lady.”

“What?”

Flash—

The moment Reitan’s incomprehensible words ended, a magic stone lit up, dimly illuminating the room.

Though the light from the magic stone was faint, it was enough to take in the sight of the room at a glance.

And what was inside was truly astonishing.

Various whips and paddles hung on the walls, along with different types of ropes.

The room was filled with tools like handcuffs and gags.

Some items were so strange that even Erta couldn’t guess their purpose.

Why would such things be in the Duke of Ephelmar’s mansion?

Erta couldn’t believe the scene unfolding before her eyes, this situation.

“My, my lord. What exactly is this place…?”

The only person Erta could ask why such things were here was Reitan Ephelmar.

But before Erta could finish her question, Reitan whispered thickly from behind her neck.

“Sister, are these not the things you confessed before God?”

“…!”

“So lewdly.”

Erta’s eyes widened.

She couldn’t utter a word, only sharply inhale.

Click—

The door had been closed by Reitan without her noticing.

The moment they were cut off from the outside, the air against her skin felt heavier. Though closing a wooden door couldn’t possibly change the air.

Step, step.

Reitan walked into the room with leisurely footsteps.

The smile he usually wore was nowhere to be seen.

It was that occasional look of his, where his true thoughts were impossible to discern.

A few dim magic stones cast a faint light on the room and Reitan’s face.

“Look, my lady, do you remember this collar?”

A collar was thrust before Erta’s eyes.

The leather collar was, of course, something she had never seen before.

“Ah, it might be difficult to remember with just your eyes. What if I put it around your neck?”

The sensation of leather touched Erta’s frozen neck.

Flinch.

Erta’s body trembled. But Reitan carefully wrapped the collar around Erta’s neck and smiled with satisfaction.

Throughout this process, Erta couldn’t move at all.

The puzzle pieces fitting together in her mind were causing too much confusion.

“Now you must remember, my lady.”

“My, my lord. This is…”

“With this collar around your neck, when I thrust my c*ck into your p*ssy, didn’t you moan and writhe in pleasure?”

Obscene words poured from that beautiful face that could be mistaken for an angel’s.

“Surely you remember this rope as well.”

Erta couldn’t properly form words.

“What, exactly…”

Though frozen in place, her gaze instinctively turned to the rope he was pointing at.

“Seeing the deep marks from that rope on your delicate wrists made my c*ck so hard. That day was rather difficult for me.”

Reitan slowly moved his hand from Erta’s shoulder to gently caress her wrist.

Erta’s captured wrist trembled. She couldn’t believe it.

But Reitan’s words didn’t end and continued.

This time it was about another object.

“You must recognize this whip too. Those moans you made each time it struck, as you dripped wet between your legs.”

Reitan’s low whisper lingered in her ear.

“They made my c*ck so hard it nearly burst.”

Erta doubted her own ears.

This can’t be happening.

“How, how could you, my lord…?”

To Erta, who couldn’t close her mouth in shock, Reitan whispered.

“Did you not confess to me that you desired and imagined all these things, Sister?”

Erta felt as though she were dreaming.

Having experienced so many surreal events, perhaps this too was a dream?

It really might be.

“Now tell me. How did it feel when what you so desperately wanted came true?”

Otherwise, how could something like this happen to her?

Her fiancé, Reitan Ephelmar, was actually…