Chapter 4.4

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Once he finished tending to her, Liam lay down behind her, pulling her into his arms. His hands wandered to her soft chest, kneading gently.  

Her smooth, supple skin responded to his touch, her n*pples hardening briefly before relaxing again when left alone. Intrigued, Liam focused on teasing her sensitive spots, causing Yvonne to squirm uncomfortably.  

“Um, how long are we going to stay like this?”  

“Are you uncomfortable?”  

“It’s not that, but the sensation…”  

“What kind of sensation?” 

Liam asked playfully, pinching her n*pple lightly.  

Startled, Yvonne gasped and hunched her shoulders. Despite her reaction, his hands continued exploring her chest.  

“Ah… It feels strange… It keeps…”  

“Strange? Not good?”  

Good?  

Yvonne hesitated, pondering his words. Now that he mentioned it, the sensations were unfamiliar but not entirely unpleasant. In fact, they were stimulating enough to make her want more.  

Even now, his touch stirred her, causing her inner muscles to clench involuntarily and release more fluid.  

‘Is it normal to stay this wet down there? Is this how it’s supposed to be?’  

Yvonne thought back to her previous experiences and the lessons from her bridal training. Yet, no one had ever explained what was normal.  

“Your chest is fascinating.” 

Liam remarked.  

“Fascinating… Mm…”  

“When I touch it, it reacts like this. But when I leave it alone, it calms down. Can you feel it?”  

Liam alternated between her br*asts, teasing her n*pples persistently. Yvonne trembled under his touch, unable to suppress her reactions.  

“It feels like it’s asking to be touched. I can’t ignore it.”  

“Ah… That’s not…”  

Though Yvonne squirmed in discomfort, Liam continued to play with her chest. His relentless teasing drew soft moans from her.  

Meanwhile, the word ‘fascinating’ lingered in her mind. She recalled that the third son of the Conrad Family had said something similar when he took her for the first time.  

He had remarked that her chest was fascinating—how it reacted to touch.  

Though she hated remembering that time, Liam’s words made her wonder if there was truly something unusual about her chest.  

Aside from Liam and the Conrad Family’s third son, no one had ever commented on it.  

When she worked as a maid, the other maids who bathed with her never mentioned anything about her body. Perhaps they were simply being considerate.  

Philip, who had never touched another woman, didn’t notice anything different about her chest either. As long as touching her elicited some reaction, he didn’t think much of it.  

But Yvonne had no way of knowing this. Unable to find any answers on her own, she cautiously asked Liam.  

“Is it… really strange?”  

“Hmm?”  

“My chest. Is it different from other women’s?”  

Ah.  

Only then did Liam realize his mistake. It wasn’t wise to reveal his experience with other women.  

“I didn’t mean to compare you to others. And Jeanne, you’re the only one for me now.”  

“I understand. Monsieur, you are accomplished, so of course, you’d have experience…”  

“Call me by my name. We’re married now.”

Liam, concerned that Yvonne might dwell on his past experiences, kissed her cheek softly and whispered to distract her. He worried that she might keep thinking about his history.  

However, Yvonne’s thoughts were more consumed by the idea that her chest might be different from others. She wasn’t particularly concerned about Liam’s experience; after all, most noblemen weren’t expected to be inexperienced. Besides, she wasn’t a virgin herself. If Liam had been inexperienced, her guilt would have been even greater.  

“Anyway, I meant it in a good way. If I upset you, I apologize. From now on, the only woman I’ll be intimate with is you.”  

Yvonne’s face flushed bright red. Such crude language!  

It was a vulgar expression that didn’t suit Liam’s refined appearance, yet strangely, it fit him well.  

“I wasn’t upset. I was just worried… that you might dislike my chest… That’s all…”  

“How could I dislike such a beautiful chest?”  

As if to prove his sincerity, Liam resumed his movements, his hands caressing her once again. If he found it strange or unpleasant, he wouldn’t have continued touching her like this.  

“On the contrary, I like it very much.”  

Watching her worry over something so trivial made him smile. He felt an urge to tease her more.  

“It’s adorable. The way it reacts to my touch… It’s cute.”  

“Ah… Hah…”  

His touch grew more persistent, causing Yvonne to tremble. Then, she stiffened as she felt something pressing between her thighs.  

Noticing her tense shoulders, Liam chuckled softly and buried his face in the nape of her neck.  

He rubbed his nose against her neck, inhaling her faint scent mixed with fragrant oils. He didn’t usually indulge in smelling others, but her scent was sweet enough to make him want to keep inhaling.  

“Don’t be nervous. I won’t do more tonight.”  

“Why not?”  

“Why not? Are you disappointed?”  

“…”  

Yvonne opened her lips as if to say something but closed them again. Her shy demeanor made Liam chuckle as he pulled her closer into his arms.  

Truthfully, he wanted to spread her legs again and ravage her thoroughly.  

But doing so would only worsen her injuries, and they wouldn’t be able to be intimate for a while. He had worked hard to stretch her and couldn’t risk undoing that progress.  

‘If it closes up again, I’ll have to repeat the process…’  

If he indulged in immediate pleasure, it would be like killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.  

She might start questioning the act itself or even refuse him in the future.  

‘That would be unacceptable.’  

More importantly, unlike the other women who indulged in his desires without restraint, Yvonne was a pure and innocent bride who knew nothing but him. He wanted to cherish and protect her.  

“Let’s sleep now. If you keep pushing, I won’t be able to hold back.”  

Though her face wasn’t visible as he held her, her restless movements suggested she feared he might continue. She didn’t dislike it, but it must have been exhausting for her, so her reaction was understandable.  

Seeing her settle down, Liam kissed her neck repeatedly. He thought his actions would make him seem like a considerate husband who cared for his bride.  

Satisfied with himself, he closed his eyes to sleep.  

***

Earl Arthus’s mansion was located in Lambert, one of the estates belonging to the Arthus Region. When the windows were opened, the Seine River flowed right before one’s eyes, offering a breathtaking view.

Yvonne only came to fully understand the true appearance of this mansion late in the afternoon the following day. 

The previous evening, after the wedding ceremony, they had traveled to the estate and arrived when the sun had already completely set. With the night immediately dedicated to their first evening together, there had been no opportunity to explore. 

The grueling schedule and the strain her body endured from Liam left her unable to leave the bed for the entire morning. If Liam hadn’t awakened her at lunch, urging her to eat, she might have lost the afternoon as well. 

Feeling groggy, Yvonne ate the meal prepared by the maids right on her bed. Only then did her mind clear up, and she began to notice the soreness in her inner thighs, as though they had been bruised. 

Wrapping herself tightly in blankets to get up and wash, Yvonne climbed down from the bed, limping a few steps before grimacing in pain. 

Seeing her struggle, Liam, with a gentle warning not to exert herself, lifted her up and carried her into the bathroom. The same happened on the way back. 

During that time, the maids had cleaned and tidied the bedroom, even opening the windows. The curtains drawn aside revealed an enormous glass window that nearly covered an entire wall. Even while sitting on the bed, the scenery outside was clearly visible. 

The shimmering waves of the Seine River, sparkling under the sunlight and the breeze, were enough to captivate Yvonne’s heart. 

“It’s so beautiful…” 

“I’m glad you seem to like it.” 

“Who wouldn’t love such a view?” 

Liam smiled silently. Unfortunately, he was one of those rare individuals who didn’t share Yvonne’s sentiment about the scenery. 

Having grown up in the Conrad Marquis family, Liam was more accustomed to the meticulously trimmed gardens maintained by gardeners every dawn and the grandeur of fountains flowing endlessly throughout the day, rather than rivers with the faint smell of water. 

To him, the scenery of the Arthus mansion was merely a reminder of his banishment to the countryside. 

And yet… 

‘It doesn’t seem too bad.’ 

Seeing Yvonne’s delight made the scenery feel much better to him. She, too, had an unrefined charm. Apart from her pretty face, there wasn’t much elegance about her. 

She was the epitome of a rural beauty, and yet, he couldn’t understand why he liked her so much. 

They say men mature after marriage. Could that apply to him as well? If he had known, perhaps he should have married sooner. 

Had he done so, he wouldn’t have been exiled from the Conrad family… 

‘Foolish thoughts.’ 

No, this was nothing more than excessive self-consolation. Even if he had lived properly, he would have been cast out eventually. After all, he was the third son. 

The first son inherited the fortune, the second supported the first, and the third received nothing. 

If he had lived diligently, perhaps he would have been granted a small estate and lingered around the capital. But was staying in the capital even worth it? He wasn’t sure. 

Liam was grateful that his maternal grandfather had passed the Arthus estate to him. Though the reason was superficial—his appearance and eye color resembled his maternal grandmother more than any of his siblings or cousins—it had ultimately worked out well. 

Except for Earl Marlon, those around him were eager to gain favor with him, the highest decision-maker of the Rido Canal, and he had gained such a lovely wife. His life seemed far better than he had anticipated.