Chapter 2 – 【 Misunderstanding 】 (Part 2)

Cedric habitually put his hand in his inner pocket and fiddled with the handkerchief. Every time he saw the handkerchief embroidered with laurel leaves, he felt strange. It tickled somewhere deep inside, where he couldn’t scratch.

Last night, he wrapped his c**k with the handkerchief and masturbated. The soft texture felt just like Yuria’s hair, and he imagined wrapping that elegant hair around his c**k and teasing it. He ej*culated early, thinking of Yuria’s tearful face looking up at him as he held her hair.

“……”

Seeing himself acting like this even out here, he thought there must be something wrong with his father’s bloodline. Otherwise, how could his mother have two sons who are both perverts? One was crazy about showing off his s*x life, and the other was fantasizing about covering his c**k with the Princess’s hair.

No, this might simply be sexual frustration. 

It had already been fifteen days since he left the mainland. Having set out to sea for ten days, Cedric was struggling after a long time. The ship stolen by the pirates was specialized for speed. Moreover, having heard of Cedric’s notorious reputation, the pirates fled at the mere sight of a ship resembling his.

Cedric was irritated by the tedious game of chase. They had set out with ample food and alcohol, so this irritation must have stemmed from something else. Perhaps it was the Princess’s face, mumbling about a ‘handkerchief ‘in her sleep.

He had woken her up early in the morning to f*ck around, ensuring she wouldn’t get bored while he was away. Despite frowning and asking what he was doing so early, she took his c**k into her c*nt so well. She used to find it burdensome because it was too big, but after clinging to it for two months, she swallowed it easily.

When he thrust into areas she pretended to dislike, she would scream, and when he spanked her, she would clench her p*ssy tightly around his c**k. Her responsiveness made him feel good too. He had to try hard not to lose his rationality in the heat of the moment. The important thing was the Princess’s satisfaction.

By satisfying her desires, Yuria had completely stopped her affairs. She hardly went out anymore. Cedric had reached a point where, upon hearing rumors of a wife’s infidelity, he would question the husband’s virility. How unsatisfactory must the husband’s performance be for the wife to seek another man.

Whether it was brainwashing or something else, thanks to this, the Count’s mansion was peaceful. The Princess even embroidered a handkerchief for him. Until recently, such a thing was unimaginable.

He needed to push further, using jealousy-inducing tactics or whatever, to ensure she wouldn’t cheat again, but he had been away from home for fifteen days. If the Princess, who had come to enjoy his c**k, sought another man due to her emptiness below, it would be a problem.

Having tasted his c**k, she wouldn’t be satisfied with an average size, but one never knows. Just in case, he had ordered the butler to confine her if she showed any signs of meeting another man. However, if Yuria used her status to cause a commotion, there were limits to what the butler could do.

So, he needed to return quickly to soothe her aroused lower hole, but those damn pirates were not helping.

“Everything is sorted, my lord.”

The smell of gunpowder wafted from the subordinate’s collar as he approached to report. Cedric nodded briefly and headed to the deck. Over the choppy waves, the wreckage of the ship and overturned bodies floated.

“Tell everyone to come aboard.”

“Yes, sir.”

Glancing at the subordinates transferring the loot from the half-destroyed pirate ship, he gave the order.

“What should we do with the remaining ones?”

Despite all the cannon fire, some had survived. How bothersome. The protocol was to take them to land for trial, but who had the time to tie them up and guard them?

“Execute them immediately. Finish it as quickly as possible and set sail.”

Before the Princess had another affair.

* * *

They returned five days later than planned. Not knowing the situation of those at sea made it even more unsettling. Rationally speaking, widowhood was better than divorce. Widowhood wasn’t a disgrace.

But the thought of Cedric dying made her chest tighten. She found herself worrying about Cedric’s safety, despite having cheated on him so much before. She tried to wait calmly for Cedric, but when she heard that a ship was visible in the distance, she jumped up without realizing it.

She wanted to go to the dock to greet Cedric, but she hesitated. 

Should I? 

The wives of the soldiers on the ship would all be waiting for their husbands at the dock, but Yuria wasn’t sure if she should do the same.

Cedric might not be pleased. People might gossip about her behavior. Cedric would be embarrassed by such a wife.

“So, when will Cedric come home?”

“It will be late. After a naval battle, he always holds a gathering at the pier.”

“A gathering?”

“Yes, ma’am. It’s not the kind of gathering you’re thinking of. It’s a time for him to unwind with the soldiers who endured the hardships with him.”

It was a sort of small festival that started when Cedric first came to Ritano and eliminated pirates. Initially, it was just the soldiers, then their waiting families and the dockworkers joined, and eventually, it became an event where anyone by the sea could gather, chat, and drink.

“The Count usually stays late at such gatherings.”

“I see.”

Yuria, who had been about to run to the harbor, nodded gloomily. To the maid, it seemed the Princess was eager to go out and greet the master. In that case, she should prepare and go. Who could stop the Princess? Not even the master could.

But the Princess hesitated. The maid didn’t know why the Princess hesitated, but she knew the Princess needed a reason to be pushed.

“Lady Mowbray often attended such gatherings; she might come today too.”

“Charlotte?”

The Princess’s eyes lit up immediately. It seemed she hadn’t been eating her meals in vain.

“It has been a while since I last saw Charlotte…”

That was true. Since Yuria and Cedric started sharing a bed, Yuria had refrained from going out. She had only exchanged a few letters with Lady Mowbray, whom she used to meet almost daily.

“Shall I get you ready?”

“Then, bring out a dress that isn’t too flashy.”

The maid quickly began preparing for the outing, even though she might get scolded by the head maid or butler for taking the Princess to a gathering that wasn’t even a proper banquet. The better the relationship between the master and mistress, the more comfortable the servants were.

All the staff at the Count’s mansion had painfully realized this over the past three years. They didn’t understand why they had to be wary of the master when it was the Princess who was cheating, but being powerless and penniless, they had no choice but to endure.

However, recently, the master had been generous. Even more so than before his marriage to the Princess. With the same work but a lighter heart, their bodies felt more at ease. Thus, the staff at the Count’s mansion supported Yuria and Cedric’s relationship more than anyone else.

As a result, Yuria’s preparations for the outing were swifter than ever. The maids seated her in the carriage before she could change her mind, and the coachman set off faster than usual. By the time Yuria came to her senses, they had already arrived at the harbor.

“Where is the gathering?”

“Over there, ma’am.”

She planned to sneak in, gauge Cedric’s reaction, and if he didn’t seem pleased to see her, she would pretend she came to see Charlotte. But when she saw the place the maid pointed to, Yuria realized her plan was flawed from the start.

“That’s a ship.”

“Yes, the Count is on the ship.”

The entire area around the docked ships was a festival ground. The moment she stepped onto the ship, she would draw everyone’s attention. 

Should I turn back? Maybe that would be best.

“Oh my, Princess!”

As she hesitated, a familiar voice called out.

“Charlotte.”

“You came to see the Count. Come on up.”

“Um, Charlotte, I—”

“Princess, have you ever been on a ship? The taste of wine on the deck while looking at the sea is exquisite.”

Charlotte linked arms with Yuria and headed straight for the ship. Unable to refuse, Yuria was dragged aboard by Charlotte. Naturally, all eyes turned to them. Whispers of “It’s the Princess” made her shrink even more.

As she stepped onto the ship and met Cedric’s gaze, who was holding a crude beer mug in his shirt sleeves, Yuria completely shrank. His eyebrows furrowed, just like the first day they met.

He must hate that I’m here. He didn’t want others to see me. Why would he welcome an unattractive and ill-behaved wife? 

His gaze pierced her like a dagger.

“Princess?”

Had Charlotte not followed her up, Yuria might have bolted from the ship.

“Are you alright?”

“Of course.”

Yuria clutched her skirt, pretending to be fine, but her trembling eyes betrayed her. It was foolish to think Cedric might welcome her just because they had been intimate. She shouldn’t have come here in the first place.