It was one thing for Kallian to be granted a title and land – though even that seemed a little excessive – but for Theodor to suddenly declare a banquet under the guise of a celebratory reception was nothing short of shocking. 

Not only the vassals were taken aback, but also those in Kallian’s knights’ quarters, such as Dylan and Sien. 

Sien, who had returned with Dylan in tow, asked.

“A banquet? What kind of banquet?” 

“Is it a reception to celebrate Sir Kallian’s – no, Viscount’s – marriage?” 

“He said it would be in three days, in the evening.”

Kallian replied with a casual shrug. 

Elliope, equally astonished, widened her eyes in disbelief. 

‘Why on earth?’ 

Hosting a banquet for a woman who was once supposed to be his wife, and for the knight she was now allied with – it was hard to tell if this was an act of excessive generosity, or if Theodor had an ulterior motive. 

“But a banquet? We also have to prepare for the move to the Viscounty of Elsen…” 

“I’ll take care of the preparations for the banquet. I’ll leave the rest to you, Dylan…” 

As soon as Kallian had given his answer, Dylan hurried away, moving so fast that it was hard to believe that such speed was possible for someone his age. 

Sien grabbed Emma’s arm immediately.

“Come with me. Let’s call a dress designer.” 

“Huh? Oh, okay!”

Emma, well aware of the lack of suitable clothing for Elliope, nodded and left with Sien. 

A few other servants, watching the scene, quickly dispersed to attend to their own duties. The whole thing had happened in the blink of an eye. 

Elliope muttered absentmindedly.

“It’s not like I have anything to wear…” 

“…Unless you want to go out half-dressed, I’d suggest you leave that to them.” 

At his words, Elliope’s face turned red. She stammered without realising it.

“It’s not… not that I’m that short of clothes…” 

“Of course, my lady, you’re beautiful even without dressing up.” 

“…….” 

Before she could find the words to reply, she suddenly felt herself lifted into the air. Startled, she instinctively wrapped her arms around Kallian, who had picked her up effortlessly and was now carrying her up the stairs. It was the staircase leading to the quarters bedroom. 

Somehow she had a clear idea of what Kallian was up to. Clinging to his neck, Elliope spoke hastily.

“I-I just had breakfast…” 

“You did well. I’ll have lunch brought to the bedroom.” 

“But still…!” 

Her attempt to protest was cut short by his next words. 

“If you keep whispering against my neck like that, I’ll have to take it as an attempt to seduce me.” 

***

“Ah, ah, K-Kallian…” 

“Ugh.” 

Kallian let out a short moan as he slowly withdrew from inside her. The lingering sensation of his hard p*nis clinging to her inner walls faded reluctantly. She could feel the thick fluid pooling between her thighs, flowing like cream.

Without even looking down, it was clear what the situation was.

“…….”

Somehow she had managed to take it in, and it was both shocking and surprising how something so absurdly large moved in and out of her with more ease than before. Elliope was still…

By now she had taken it in, and it was both astonishing and surprising how something so absurdly large could move in and out of her body with greater ease than before.

Elliope sat there, her legs still loosely spread, breathing heavily as her chest rose and fell. She couldn’t help but worry that the area underneath had become slightly swollen.

Kallian, staring intently at her, lowered his lips to her br*ast and began to nibble gently at her skin. Even after taking as much as he had, he still seemed unsatisfied.

“We need to prepare.” 

“I’m aware of that.” 

“Liar.” 

How could someone who supposedly knew that use the excuse of helping her get ready, undressing her under the guise of changing clothes, only to pull something like this? 

Emma, who had come to show her the newly-tailored gown for the banquet, didn’t even step inside and immediately turned back. These days, every time Emma saw Kallian, her eyes widened like saucers before she scurried away. 

The thought of it made Elliope’s face blush again. She pressed herself against him with trembling arms. 

“Seriously, we need to prepare.” 

They had to attend the banquet Theodor had suddenly arranged. Although Kallian pulled away with a dissatisfied expression, he began to plant kisses on her palms. 

When she let out a long sigh, he finally got up from the bed and went into the small adjoining room that was connected to their bedroom. When he returned, he was holding a bowl of warm water and a towel. 

As Kallian gently cleaned her, Elliope surrendered her body to his care and tried to focus her scattered thoughts. 

‘I can’t believe this is happening.’ 

A few days ago, he had pulled her straight into the bedroom in the morning and they had cuddled until just before lunch. 

When the food arrived, Kallian had carefully fed her a variety of dishes, making sure she ate her fill. Then, under the guise of helping her digest, he had returned to her. By dinner, the pattern had repeated itself – feeding her and then clinging to her again. 

By the third day, this had become her routine. 

Apart from trying on clothes that Emma and Sien had brought, or choosing accessories from a visiting jeweller, Elliope spent most of her time in the bedroom with Kallian. Even her meals were brought up to her at mealtimes instead of her having to come downstairs. 

Dylan, who occasionally came up to report to Kallian, might have been expected to have something to say about the situation. But he always wore a cheerful expression and said nothing. In fact, there were moments when he looked at Elliope with an almost reverent gaze, as if he were looking at an angel, which made her feel a little uncomfortable. 

Yet no one objected. It was as if everyone had silently agreed to let things be. Kallian, as if to make up for the mornings they hadn’t woken up together before, started each day with her in his arms and woke up with her snuggled against him. 

In any case, no one said a word about her behaviour. As if to make up for not waking up together on their first morning, Kallian started each day with her in his arms and woke up with her in his arms. 

When she asked if he didn’t need to attend to his duties, he simply replied that the handover wouldn’t begin until they reached Elsen territory, and that there was no need to mobilise troops as Seor had remained quiet. 

After three days, she began to worry that she had been mistreated. Her once soft and pale skin had turned into a colourful canvas, marked with the traces Kallian had left behind, like a piece of paper scribbled by a child. 

‘I never thought he’d take it this far.’

Contrary to rumours that Kallian disliked women, he was strangely fixated on Elliope’s body. 

“Ah, ah, ugh!” 

“Does that feel good?” 

“P-please… Ka-Kallian!” 

“If you keep calling my name like that…” 

“Ah, ugh!” 

His hands roamed relentlessly over her body, touching and teasing every nook and cranny as if studying her reactions. It was almost as if he wanted to imprint her body on his hands, leaving no part of her unexplored. 

If she hadn’t known that he had long since reached adulthood, or if she hadn’t known how coldly he had regarded both her and Theodor’s lovers in their past lives, Elliope might have believed that Kallian was a boy in the throes of puberty, completely overwhelmed by his first encounter with a woman’s body. 

No, even if he was such a boy, she couldn’t help but wonder how it was possible for someone to be so relentless, always ready and persistent. 

‘How could anyone be like that?’ 

Wasn’t this marriage supposed to be a strategic arrangement to achieve their respective goals, rather than one based on affection? 

In a marriage like this, such physical intimacy seemed not only excessive, but completely unnecessary. After so much, even the incident at Theodor’s funeral, where she had been involved with him, now seemed like a trivial matter. 

As she looked at him with a somewhat tired expression, Kallian replied with a calm demeanour.

“My lady, you were the one who first offered the dog a piece of meat.” 

“…….” 

“The dog had been starving for a long time.” 

It was a very bold stance.

‘What on earth’  

Not only was it astonishing that he kept making such remarks, but comparing her to a dog was rather odd. If anything, he felt more like a massive wolfhound than a dog she would tame.

While she was still confused, Kallian carefully cleaned her body and dressed her in layers. It wasn’t until he began to pull the soft silk stockings up her slender, pale calves that she became fully aware.

“You don’t have to do this…” 

“It was you who said the maids would be embarrassed.” 

Of course she had said that, but that didn’t mean he had to dress her himself. 

In fact, it almost seemed as if Kallian had anticipated this, for when he opened the bedroom door, the banquet dress she was to wear was already hanging on the doorknob.

It seemed likely that Sien had anticipated this and left the dress there. 

“…….” 

Perhaps because of the last few days of undressing her, Kallian managed to dress her in women’s clothing with surprising ease. He showed no hesitation, especially when it came to putting on her underwear.

There were a few moments of confusion as he dressed her, but whenever Elliope, despite her embarrassment, asked him to do this or that, he followed her instructions with ease. He seemed to be a man who learnt quickly. 

It wasn’t until he slowly buttoned the back of her dress and planted a deep kiss on her neck that the outfit was fully in place. It was a red dress, one that felt more mature than the ones she usually wore.

The thin lace that covered the area around her collarbone and shoulders thankfully hid the marks Kallian had left on her body. The dress clung gently to her waist, hugging her figure, and then flowed into a full skirt at the bottom. It wasn’t a colour she usually wore, which made her feel a little uncomfortable.

Just as she was about to say that she wasn’t sure if it suited her, Kallian unexpectedly took her hand and slipped something on her ring finger. 

It was a ring. 

“It suits you perfectly.” 

“This is…?” 

“It may be a little late, but…” 

Although it was a ring bought in a hurry in just a few days, it looked surprisingly elegant and expensive. A ruby glimmered softly in the centre of the band. 

“Would you put one on for me?” 

Elliope couldn’t refuse the request and gently took Kallian’s large hand in hers. Her fingertips trembled slightly as she slid the ring onto his finger.

Undoubtedly, this act felt more exhausting than spending three days in the manor with others.

As she slipped the ring onto the tip of his ring finger, Kallian whispered softly.

“This is the collar you have filled, my lady.”

It felt as if a seal was being branded on my ear.