“None.”

“Not even one? Oh, do you mean you happen to have none right now?”

“I’ve never had any! And I don’t plan to!”

Daniel denied it loudly in agitation.

“How strange. I thought you’d easily have three or so.”

What Lenore meant to think internally accidentally came out of her mouth. Daniel was shocked, asking why she would think that.

“Why would I need lovers when I have you, wife! And three at that!”

“Is that your question to me?”

“Yes! Please tell me honestly why you thought that! Did I do something suspicious?”

Daniel huffed in agitation. Lenore wanted to give a vague answer that she just had a feeling, but she had vowed to be honest. Though he might get angry, she told the truth.

“I thought you’d need about three to satisfy your s*xual desires.”

“That makes even less sense. Why would I feel desire for others when I have you, wife?”

“But you’ve never fully satisfied yourself with me? Even on our wedding night we didn’t finish. And nothing since then.”

“I held back. Since you didn’t seem to want it, I had no choice but to hold back.”

Daniel grumbled as if he had a lot pent up.

It was hard to believe he had been holding back all this time. But one thing she had learned about Daniel was that he couldn’t make eye contact when lying. Right now he was looking straight into her eyes while getting angry, so it didn’t seem like he was lying.

Well, it wouldn’t matter if he had lovers anyway!

Lenore smirked inwardly. If he had no lovers, that meant his helplessly floundering behavior was exclusively hers.

“It’s my turn to ask. Please answer honestly.”

While she was consciously trying to lower her shoulders that had risen smugly, Daniel spoke.

“Wasn’t that just your question?”

“You asked several too. You asked three, so I have two chances left.”

So he had been counting.

Lenore thought that while he was soft, he surprisingly made sure to get what he wanted.

“Did I traumatize you by being rough on our wedding night?”

Daniel carefully asked while watching her reaction.

“You won’t get angry if I answer honestly?”

Daniel’s face crumpled, afraid of what answer might come. He nodded while looking at Lenore through narrowed eyes. He felt that might somewhat lessen the impact of her words.

Though it probably wouldn’t help.

“I thought you were nothing short of a tyrant.”

“Wife, about that time, I truly deeply regret it and can promise such an unfortunate incident will never happen again. If you don’t want it, I won’t touch even a fingertip, and if you say stop, I’ll stop…”

Daniel went on and on. Lenore cut off his seemingly endless repentance.

“I understand. Though I doubt if that s*xual desire can be controlled, I’ll try to believe you.”

“I’ve been holding back until now. I can do it.”

Daniel closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Though he spoke with what seemed like a reverent face, Lenore still found it hard to believe him. Glancing secretly at his pants, they already seemed noticeably bulging beyond normal.

Moreover, they were now in Lenore’s bedroom, specifically on the bed. Originally they had been practicing acting with the book in the library, but since the scene started with Lucy lying on a bed, they moved locations. At Daniel’s strong insistence.

A man who led her to the bedroom and then claims he can control himself. How trustworthy could he be?

For now, Lenore didn’t trust him much.

“I’ll ask my final question. May I sleep here with you tonight?”

See? I knew this was coming.

Lenore narrowed her eyes and glared at the liar.

“Ah, I won’t do anything! I just want to sleep beside you, beside my wife, and wake up together tomorrow morning.”

Daniel waved his hands in denial. Lenore glared at his flustering before smirking.

“Alright. But there’s a condition.”

He should have realized when her smile felt somehow ominous. Shortly after, Daniel learned what happy torture meant while lying in bed next to Lenore.

He was happy to finally be attempting to sleep in the same bed as Lenore, which he had dreamed of for so long. Since they hadn’t slept on their wedding night, this was the first time.

However, sadly, there was a big gap between Daniel’s dreams and reality. He had wanted to fall asleep looking at Lenore’s face. But because Lenore had piled pillows between them, he couldn’t see her face even when he turned to his side.

“This is too much…”

His sadness got no response from her. Only her sleeping breaths could be heard from beyond the pillows.

Daniel was truly happy. Though strangely it felt like he might cry, he believed at least the happiness part was real.

* * *

The acting practice continued afterwards. The two didn’t limit themselves to lines spoken to Lucy, but expanded to scenes like threatening subordinates.

Daniel mildly protested that he didn’t want to imitate Count Tivonne this much, but was rejected. All of this was originally for Lenore to enjoy watching him squirm. He had no right of refusal.

“I thought I told you not to m-meddle in my affairs. It seems you don’t value your life… right? Yes, that’s right.”

Though his acting skills weren’t improving much, Daniel worked hard. They practiced in the garden and sometimes even during meals.

“If you won’t follow my orders, I’ll kill your parents.”

It was an odd situation where Daniel speaking looked more terrified than Lenore listening. When Daniel spoke awkwardly like reading a book, Lenore would counter with fake tears.

“I’m sorry, Count. Please spare my parents at least. I’ll do anything, whatever you command.”

Rumors spread among the servants about the couple’s strange behavior. That the Count threatened his wife every night and even used violence.

Daniel felt wronged and troubled. But he couldn’t stop imitating Count Tivonne. Because Lenore wouldn’t interact with him unless he acted the villain.

“You’ve become more natural than at first.”

Not knowing how her husband was being misunderstood by people, Lenore just enjoyed herself thoroughly.

Know what the problem was? When she enjoyed herself, Daniel felt it was okay even if his image was tarnished. Happy at her praise, he grew more and more confident.

But there was still one complaint.

“If we’re going to act, I’d like to act as Count Tivonne after marrying Lucy.”

Count Tivonne, who had worked hard to push Lucy away, changed completely after marrying her. He actively expressed love to his wife. Though the lines were somewhat cheesy and embarrassing, they were still better than threatening to kill her parents.

“They said it was the most beautiful jewel in the world, so I stole a look, but it doesn’t live up to its reputation. Your eyes shine much brighter than this.”

Daniel spoke with an enraptured expression while gazing at Lenore’s eyes. It was easy to act because he could put his true feelings into it.

“We’ve already done all those.”

Though he wanted to spend time overflowing with love using Count Tivonne’s words, Lenore refused. As she said, they had already used up all of Count Tivonne’s sweet lines. There weren’t many to begin with, so they finished quickly.

Can’t we do them again even if we’ve done them before?

Daniel pleaded with a sad face, but she turned away sharply. As long as Lenore had complete control over which scenes to act, it seemed he would have to keep speaking harsh words forever.

There must be some way. One day while considering whether to write to the author requesting a 1000-page sequel about Count Tivonne and Lucy’s romance, he found an interesting idea.

“Wife, it’s time we moved to the next level.”

Daniel proposed that instead of imitating scenes from the book, they create lines that Count Tivonne might say in the current situation. Fortunately, Lenore showed interest in this free-form acting and allowed it.

Success. Daniel clenched his fist before immediately taking action. He pulled her waist close and embraced her.

“Lenore.”

“If you’re going to call someone, it should be Lucy…”

Daniel placed his index finger on Lenore’s lips, stopping her words. When she blinked, the corners of his mouth turned up gently.

“Have you ever danced while imagining the music playing?”

Lenore blinked as she searched for the familiar line’s source. Though he said free-form acting, he used a line that was actually in the book. The difference was that in the book it was just a question, not actually leading to dance.

She decided to watch what else he would do.

Daniel began leading. With no words exchanged, only rhythmic footsteps echoed in the bedroom. Without even music or counting beats, they had to focus even more on each other.

Daniel, who had stepped on Lenore’s feet at the party, now danced well without mistakes. Their feet stopped simultaneously with a tap. Breathing heavily, Lenore looked up at Daniel’s face.