“Haah.”

Elliope shuddered at the feeling of not even having the strength to lift a finger. The plush cover pulled her body down like a swamp.

“Madam.”

Instead of Emma and Sien, Kallian had brought up breakfast and placed it on the small table beside the bed.

“It’s time for your breakfast.”

“Uung…”

“You can’t skip your meals.”

Kallian said as he drew back the curtains. The pale morning sun of Ilmos gently caressed Elliope’s white shoulders as she lay lazily in bed.

Kallian kissed her shoulder.

“Today’s breakfast is eggs with vegetables and a meat dish.”

“Hmm…”

“It’s the speciality of this innkeeper.”

With practiced ease, Kallian took fork and knife and cut the appetising eggs and meat into bite-sized pieces.

“Elliope.”

Elliope buried her head in the pillow as Kallian carefully cut the food into bite-sized pieces. It was only when he called again that she finally managed to lift her head.

“My throat hurts.”

“Shall I get you some water first?”

But what came next was not the cool touch of the water – it was the soft, yielding feel of his lips.

Kallian’s lips suddenly pressed against Elliope’s, enveloping hers as he naturally transferred the water from his mouth to hers.

“Huup…”

The water, which should have been cold, had warmed slightly from his body heat before flowing into Elliope. Even though it was no longer as cool, her parched throat eagerly welcomed it.

In her desire to drink just one more drop, Elliope instinctively sought Kallian’s tongue and unconsciously deepened the kiss. Startled, Kallian hesitated for a second before cupping her chin and gently sucking on the soft flesh of her cheek.

The moment she lightly bit his tongue, a sharp sensation ran through him and a few drops of water trickled down the corner of her lips.

“…Haah.”

Only when the water trickled down Kallian’s hand did the kiss finally end. But as if it wasn’t really over, he continued with a series of light, teasing kisses, sucking gently on her lips.

“Kallian.”

Elliope’s brow furrowed slightly, causing Kallian to chuckle against her lips without pulling away.

She was glad he smiled more often these days, but…

“I want to drink properly.”

“In that case, I could give it to you a hundred times over.”

“……”

“And it would be even better if His Grace the Archduke could witness this sight.”

Even though the deal with Seor had been successfully concluded and Kallian was no longer in danger of being brought to trial, Theodor did not allow the couple to leave.

“The Imperial Court has not yet responded. And you dare to say that you’re leaving?”

Frustratingly, Theodor’s words were not wrong.

The Imperial Court had not yet responded to Kallian’s declaration that he would reclaim the Nahir Plains, nor had they given any indication of their stance. It was unclear whether they intended to take the fifty million gold by force or punish Elliope instead.

In the end, even after Ambassador Seor was brought in to resolve the matter, the two remained confined to the Grand Duke’s castle.

Kallian, however, did not seem to mind. Regardless of the fact that they were not in the viscount’s residence, but in an outside shelter, he embraced Elliope every night.

Just as he had done in Theodor’s study, he sometimes made sure that their displays of affection were overt – as if to provoke Theodor himself.

Often, even when they were out on the streets, Kallian would kiss Elliope without hesitation, or run his hand along her waist. And every time they returned from such an outing, it always ended the same way.

It wasn’t that Elliope wasn’t used to Kallian’s overwhelming attention, but…

Absentmindedly, she lowered her gaze to her own body.

The sticky sensation of the dried liquid that had once soaked her thighs and the space between her legs was still there, rubbing lightly against her skin with every movement.

And the reason it was still there…

When Kallian withdrew after moving wildly inside her, his p*nis, still covered in thick, sticky fluid like an unbroken thread, brushed against her thigh.

Elliope covered her face with a pillow. Just remembering the scene made her feel as if the swollen area underneath her was getting wet again, making her nervous.

As if fully aware of her condition, Kallian cunningly ran his fingers down to touch her.

“It stings.”

As she spoke, she tightened her legs around his hand as it tried to slip inside her. Understanding her intention, Kallian gently stroked her thighs before withdrawing his hand.

“To think I’ve gotten used to this…

Feeling a little indignant, she lightly pinched the back of his hand that had been idly kneading her bare skin. In response, Kallian nuzzled his face against her shoulder, as if seeking affection.

“You’re not going to blame me for this again, are you?”

“No. This time I blame Ambassador Seor.”

“And why is that?”

“Because last time you seemed to enjoy your conversation with him quite a bit.”

Elliope looked completely taken aback by his words. After all, her conversation with the Ambassador had been an attempt to put an end to something that could be detrimental to Kallian.

Besides, Ambassador Seor had not been very kind to her in the end.

“You really are an amusing person, Viscountess.”

“……”

“And what’s even more irritating is that I can’t deny what you’re saying.”

As he spoke, there was a certain boldness in the Ambassador’s gaze – one that could even be interpreted as aggressive.

But Kallian did not seem to take it that way.

“If he had said one more word, I would have ripped his tongue out.”

“If you rip out his tongue, he won’t be able to help you with it.”

“Madam.”

Kallian, who had been nuzzling her shoulder, fell silent for a moment, as if deep in thought, before finally speaking again.

“Of course, if that’s what you want, madam, I have no objection to bringing another person… into our bed and watching us make love.”

“What?”

At the abrupt remark, Elliope unconsciously parted her lips in shock.

Although Kallian claimed to have no objections, he had a look on his face that suggested he did. But the real problem was that such a thought had never crossed Elliope’s mind.

“Still, that man is out of the question.”

“Wait a moment, Kallian.”

“I understand that you’re more attracted to delicate-looking men.”

“That’s not true at all.”

She made excuse after excuse, but she couldn’t help wondering if she really needed to explain this. She had no idea why Kallian would even think that her preference was for delicate-looking men.

In fact, it was because Theodor himself was of that delicate and handsome type that Elliope had become completely fed up with him. As a result, she had also lost any particular interest in men with refined and gentle features.

‘Or more precisely…’

“…I don’t have much interest in other men besides you.”

She said it because it was the truth, but for some reason her chest felt hot the moment the words left her lips.

Hearing this, Kallian stopped nuzzling her shoulder. Instead, he looked at her with an intense, unwavering gaze, as if scrutinising every inch of her expression.

“Didn’t you say your hot?”

“What’s that got to do with…”

“Then why would you say such a thing?”

Kallian continued to mumble words she couldn’t quite make out before suddenly pulling her into his arms.

As the warmth of his body enveloped her, Elliope felt a strange sense of comfort.

Still holding her, Kallian suddenly asked,

“Do you have a fever?”

“It’s not too bad.”

“I’m going to get some medicine. I’ll let Dylan know too.”

“There’s no need for that…”

“I’ll be back before you finish your breakfast.”

With that, Kallian kissed her hair before getting up.

Meanwhile, Elliope grabbed the strands of hair he had caressed and buried her face in the pillow once more.

“……”

Her face still felt hot.

Soon the maids entered with gentle smiles and carefully checked her condition before dressing her.

Only when she was fully dressed in her indoor clothes did Dylan quietly enter the room.

A smile had always been on his face lately. He seemed genuinely happy that the ordeal he had been so worried about had been safely resolved and, most importantly, that he could once again serve the Master he cherished.

Seeing Dylan now showing a more animated demeanour than his usual calm and cautious self, Sien had even jokingly remarked that it was as if he had regained his youth.

“You have a fever.”

“I don’t feel sick or anything.”

“Could it be that you’ve overexerted yourself?”

When Elliope realised what kind of overexertion Dylan was referring to, her face turned slightly red.

Although Dylan apologised, he couldn’t help but mutter,

“I’m really glad you and Lord Kallian have such a good relationship, but sometimes I wonder if he’s not too hard on you.”

“It’s not really like that…”

“If it happens too often, it might be hard for you to imagine…”

Although he had whispered it softly, not only Elliope but also Emma and Sien heard it clearly.

The three of them jumped in surprise, while Dylan immediately clapped his hand over his mouth and smacked his own lips lightly, as if to scold himself for saying too much.

“I’m sorry, madam.”

“That…”

“The old fool has spoken out of turn again.”

“Oh, really, Dylan! You’re making madam uncomfortable!”

Sien took Elliope’s side, subtly expressing her displeasure.

Meanwhile, Emma, who had been watching Elliope closely with a serious expression on her face, whispered softly,

“He’s not wrong, madam.”

“…….”

It was only then that Elliope remembered that Emma had been one of the maids who had helped train her in the ways of the bedroom before she married into the Grand Duchy.

At least Emma had given her some advice, telling her that if things got too painful, she shouldn’t hold back and allow herself to be better prepared downstairs.

“Although it hasn’t been long since you were married, your… activities have been quite frequent.”

Hearing these words, Elliope couldn’t help but blush.

There was no point in denying it – she and Kallian had been far too active in this house where these very people lived.

Whenever their intimacy intensified, her voice would surely have echoed throughout the residence. There was no point in pretending otherwise in front of them.

Gently tucking Elliope’s hair behind her ear, Emma asked cautiously,

“Just to be sure… have you been feeling unusually sleepy lately? Cravings for sour foods perhaps? Or sudden mood swings? Anything like that?”

At her question, both Sien and Dylan immediately turned their eyes to Elliope.