Chapter 4.1 – The First Honeymoon  

Yvonne accepted Liam de Arthus’s proposal. Marceau laughed as if he had anticipated it. After all, only a fool would reject Liam and choose Natong instead.  

Marceau thought this way because he didn’t realize that if Liam hadn’t persistently persuaded Yvonne, she might have made such a foolish choice.  

Afterward, Marceau sent Natong a letter of annulment. Liam willingly offered to cover all the costs required for the annulment.  

Suddenly faced with the annulment, Natong flew into a rage. Upon learning that Yvonne’s new marriage partner was Liam, he even went as far as to visit the front of Debroge’s estate himself.  

Of course, Liam had stationed soldiers ahead of time at the estate’s entrance, preventing Natong from entering. He caused a commotion outside instead.  

“Monsieur Debroge! Are you even sensible? The wedding is only a month and a half away, and now you annul the engagement? And that Arthus fellow—does he have no shame? Stealing another man’s bride?”  

However, no one who heard the news sympathized with Natong. While arranged marriages are meant to pursue practical benefits, many secretly believed he was being overly ambitious.  

Thus, there were more people supporting Yvonne’s annulment and new marriage than criticizing it. The sole exception was Liam’s closest aide, Gabriel.  

Since only the groom had changed and the bride remained the same, preparations for Liam and Yvonne’s wedding proceeded smoothly.  

Originally, the wedding was scheduled to take place a month and a half later. However, Liam, unable to wait to marry his beautiful bride, decided to move the date forward, pouring money into the arrangements.  

As a result, the wedding was scheduled for two weeks later. Liam pushed the craftsmen to prepare the wedding ring quickly to match the new date. As promised to Yvonne, it was a gold ring adorned with a teardrop-shaped sapphire paired with diamonds.  

On the eve of the wedding, Liam enjoyed a bachelor party with Gabriel. If he had married while still part of the Conrad Family, the party would have been far more extravagant and attended by many.  

But in Arthus territory, Gabriel was his only friend, so the party was modest.  

Despite its simplicity, Liam found it not unpleasant. Compared to the revelry he had indulged in all his life, he was more excited about tomorrow’s wedding. Though Gabriel’s constant interruptions were somewhat annoying.  

“Poor Mademoiselle Debroge… A delicate flower has fallen into the hands of this devilish man, unaware that this is her downfall…”  

“Shut up before I rip your mouth open.”  

“Ah, just thinking about Mademoiselle Debroge makes my heart ache. This guilt I feel… You’re truly a terrible man, you know that?”  

“No need to remind me.”  

Liam scoffed as he placed a cigar between his lips. After taking a puff, he downed a glass of absinthe that matched the color of his eyes. The vivid green liquor mirrored him, captivating and alluring.  

“Mademoiselle Debroge should know what you’re like right now.”  

“She won’t. Once we’re married, I’ll quit everything.”  

Alcohol, tobacco, and women.  

Well, not women—he couldn’t quit women entirely. After all, Jeanne de Debroge was a woman too.  

Liam laughed again, puffing on his cigar.  

Yvonne wore dresses made of fabric thick enough to ensure no skin showed, even in the summer.  

Considering this alone, one could say she dressed quite modestly. However, empire dresses were designed to emphasize the chest with a waist ribbon tied just below it.  

Thus, many noblewomen added padding or extra fabric to make their chests appear fuller. Liam, having encountered countless women, could always tell.  

Yvonne was no exception. Liam could estimate her figure just by her attire and was confident it was genuine.  

If undressed, her body would undoubtedly be as beautiful as her face. Her skin would be pale, and her chest would fit perfectly in his hands or perhaps be slightly larger.  

The thought of having to guide her, being a virgin, was somewhat bothersome. But the idea of being her first man wasn’t bad—in fact, he liked it.  

How amusing. He had never cared whether other women were virgins, yet now he found himself concerned.  

Liam finally understood why men who had lived recklessly still wished for their brides to be pure before marriage.  

The thought of molding a pure woman’s body to suit him, making her a woman who desired only him, caused his lower body to swell instantly.  

The tension was so intense it bordered on pain, but rather than seeking relief, Liam preferred to continue imagining Yvonne.  

As he alternated between his cigar and his glass, Gabriel looked visibly disgusted. Liam’s expression was so blatant and lascivious that it was hard to ignore.  

“Seriously… Treat Mademoiselle Debroge well, alright?”  

“No need to worry. I’ll treat her well without you telling me.”  

“Fine. But… what about your past rumors? If Mademoiselle Debroge finds out, she’ll be shocked.”  

“She won’t find out unless you tell her. Only you, my late grandfather, the butler, and the head maid know that I’m from the Conrad Marquis Family. I’ve made sure everyone keeps quiet.”  

“What about the central aristocrats?”  

“They wouldn’t come here even if they were insane. Except for you and me.”  

“That’s true, but… Ah, poor Mademoiselle Debroge.”  

“If you feel so bad for her, why don’t you warn her yourself?”  

Gabriel silently dissolved sugar cubes into his drink. When the pale yellow-green liquor turned cloudier, he drank it in silence.  

‘Even if he tells me to warn her…’  

Gabriel knew that revealing Liam’s true identity to Yvonne would cause chaos. Liam, aware that Gabriel wouldn’t do so, casually extended his glass.  

“Just congratulate me.”  

“Don’t live well. Let Mademoiselle Debroge live well.”  

The sound of glass clinking echoed as their drinks collided. Liam’s curses mingled with Gabriel’s reluctant congratulations.  

***

The wedding was held at a cathedral in Debroge. After a brief reception, Liam placed Yvonne into a carriage and headed straight for Arthus. The rest of her belongings were to be sent gradually by Marceau.  

The carriage carrying only Yvonne arrived at Liam’s mansion in Arthus exactly three hours later.  

When Yvonne stepped out of the carriage, she was still as she had appeared at the wedding. Despite a long day and the extended carriage ride, her face, visible through the translucent veil, looked slightly fatigued but still lovely.  

As soon as they reached the floor where the bedroom was located, Liam lifted Yvonne into his arms. Startled, Yvonne clutched his shoulder and asked,  

“W-wait! Aren’t I heavy?”  

“Not at all. You’re as light as a feather.”  

Liam, though tall, had a lean and well-proportioned physique. Yvonne, surprised that he could lift her so effortlessly, wrapped her arms around his neck without protest.  

Soon, they entered the bedroom. The room, prepared in advance for their first night together, was filled with a subtle, sweet fragrance.  

Liam set Yvonne down on the bed and cut open a pomegranate on the table, selecting the red seeds and placing them in his mouth. Then, lifting her veil, he passed the fruit to his hungry bride.  

“Wait, mmph…”  

The slightly crushed pomegranate seed passed into her mouth without warning. Startled by the sudden contact of Liam’s lips, Yvonne placed her hands on his chest.  

Yet, she couldn’t resist the sweet juice spreading inside her mouth. Having fasted in anticipation of the wedding and barely eaten all day, she was famished. The only thing she had consumed was water with mint leaves.  

As she gently sucked the pulp surrounding the seed, savoring the juice, Liam, who had been watching her lips intently, remarked,  

“You’re good at this.”  

Yvonne froze mid-bite. Her face flushed crimson.  

Though Liam seemed to be merely stating what he saw, the words carried a suggestive undertone. The fact that it was their first night together added to the atmosphere.  

Yvonne hesitated, debating whether to explain that she was simply hungry. Before she could decide, Liam pressed his fingertip against her reddened lower lip and whispered,  

“You should spit out the seed.”  

Caught off guard, her lips parted slightly, and a bit of saliva escaped, wetting Liam’s hand. Unbothered, he pressed his thumb against the tip of her tongue.  

The pomegranate juice that had dripped from his lips was as red and pure as the lips it had stained.  

Almost instinctively, Yvonne rolled her tongue and spat out the seed. Only then did Liam smile and withdraw his hand.  

“Well done.”  

It felt as though he was treating her like a child…  

Embarrassment washed over her belatedly. Yvonne raised her hand to wipe her lips, which Liam had just touched, with the back of her glove. The lace glove absorbed a faint trace of pomegranate juice.  

‘Oh no…’  

As she stared at her soiled glove in dismay, another pomegranate seed entered her mouth. Startled, she looked at Liam, momentarily forgetting her glove.  

“You must be hungry. Let’s eat a little before we proceed.”  

“P-proceed with what…?”  

“Tonight is our wedding night.”  

“…”  

“Drink this. It’ll help you relax.”  

Liam handed her a glass of wine. Yvonne, still flustered, accepted the glass stiffly.