Elliope silently scanned the bedroom for a moment.

“……”

As she took in the sight of the room after so long, old memories briefly flashed through her mind.

“Ahaha!”
“Truly, you’re no different from a statue!”
“I told you to become a virtuous woman, but it seems you’ve taken it literally and turned to stone.”
“Your Grace, really!”

The mocking voices, now long faded, echoed one after another in her mind.

She could almost see the traces of spilled fruit juice scattered around the room. The cold air from the walls still seemed to linger, and she had the illusion that Theodor’s mistresses’ underwear was still carelessly scattered on the floor.

But in reality, everything was clean – spotless walls and an equally spotless floor.

The once cold and gloomy walls had been repainted a bright cream colour. The stone floor where she had always stood barefoot was now covered in layers of soft, plush carpets.

Even the bed had been enlarged. The foot had been lengthened and a new lace canopy draped over it. The bed was now large enough to comfortably accommodate more than two people.

The image of Theodor and his mistresses rolling around on the cramped bed didn’t even enter her mind.

‘When had all this changed?’

Come to think of it, she vaguely remembered seeing workmen coming and going in the Grand Duke’s residence a few times. They were supposed to be repairing and renovating various parts of the palace.

Despite the Grand Duke’s absence, the territory continued to function as if nothing had changed. Ruben continued to train the knights as planned.

Meanwhile, those who had once eagerly flattered Theodor – such as Chief Chamberlain Taleon – had long since been purged and stripped of their positions. 

Dylan wandered through various parts of the Grand Duke’s residence, offering his thoughts on the relocation of the burnt-out annex and the Ilmos family tomb. 

At the same time, Emma and Sien were busy inspecting the interior of the palace, casually suggesting changes and improvements that could be made.

Still, she had no idea how much this bedroom had changed. She was the busiest of them all – constantly attending meetings with the vassals and leading discussions.

As such, she had left all decisions regarding the interior to others.

Now, looking at the room that had changed without her knowledge, she felt a strange sensation.

‘I thought I would never set foot in here again.’

She had thought that returning to this place would fill her with overwhelming disgust, but that wasn’t the case. Instead, seeing how much it had changed only made her more aware of its transformation.

“…Ah!”

While she was lost in thought, Kallian lowered her gently onto the bed. The weight of his body pressing down on her was unexpectedly comforting.

The thick blanket underneath her sank slightly, wrapping softly around her body.

Even the bedclothes had been changed. It was no longer the red blanket she had seen in her past life, but a smooth black silk coverlet with a luxurious sheen.

She also noticed a stuffed dog, resembling Kallian, nestled between the pillows.

Just as Elliope’s gaze happened to land on the stuffed dog –

“I am right here, my lady.”

“Mmm.”

Kallian slid his hand under her dress without hesitation.

When his hand suddenly slipped between her undergarments, after gliding gently over her silk stockinged calves and brushing against her smooth thighs, Elliope gasped softly and parted her lips as she exhaled a warm breath.

“Ha, ugh.”

“It would be annoying if you were looking at another dog, wouldn’t it?”

As Elliope shook her head slightly, Kallian slid his fingers, which had been rubbing against her v*gina, between the folds.

“Ah!”

“I’d prefer you to look at me instead, not another dog.”

“Ha, ugh!”

Kallian moved his fingers inside Elliophe for a while before raising his hand and biting the tip of his glove to pull it off.

“Eung!”

Soon his rough, bare hand was pressing against Elliope’s gr*in. His index and middle fingers glided along the smooth inner walls, and soon even his ring finger pushed in with some difficulty.

“Ha, ugh!”

The black bedding was quickly dampened with Elliope’s spilled fl*ids. Her dress had been removed and was now slipping off the edge of the bed.

There was no doubt about his right to use the archduke’s bedroom. After all, Kallian’s true lineage had been quietly revealed after Theodor’s death. As a result, most of the Archduke’s vassals and retainers regarded Kallian as the rightful successor.

If the Emperor – already seething over the question of Imperial succession – were soon to recognise his status and accept him as his son-in-law, Elsen’s restoration to power would only accelerate. At this point, no one would object to their use of the Archduke’s bedroom.

Yet there remained a subtle uneasiness – a lingering sense of guilt in the act.

Not the guilt of merely occupying someone else’s bedroom, but a strange, electrifying thrill that came from accepting Kallian’s touch in a place that was never meant to be hers.

“You must die a v*rgin, Princess.”

Theodor had said these words while keeping his gaze fixed on Elliope, even as his hands roamed over the bodies of his mistresses and pr*stitutes.

The heat of the bedchamber had never reached her.

To her, that bed was a forbidden place – one she should never belong to.

But now…

“Ah, ahh, ahh!”

As Kallian undressed, he pressed down on Elliope’s body and devoured her with relentless kisses. Her chest was already soaked with saliva, trembling with every movement, while faint marks had begun to appear on her skin.

“Haa…”

The moment Kallian lowered his lips softly and took her most sensitive place in his mouth, Elliope instinctively jerked and pushed him away.

“Madam?”

As Kallian withdrew from between her legs, Elliope pulled him towards her and quickly pinned him to the bed.

“Kallian…”

Elliope climbed on top of him, pressing him against the bed. Her soaked v*gina rubbed against his p*nis, grinding against him with deliberate friction.

“Kh…!”

Kallian let out a strained m*an and gripped Elliope’s waist tightly as he began to move her slowly back and forth. She followed his rhythm, pressing his p*nis against her warmth and sliding in sync.

His p*nis, growing harder and more imposing, pressed hard against her, hitting her lower abdomen and sensitive flesh. Each time the flushed sh*ft made contact with her cl*t, Elliope’s lips parted helplessly, soft m*ans escaping her throat.

“Ah, ah… Elliope.”

Kallian stopped suddenly.

Elliope, her expression dazed and unfocused, arched her back before lowering herself onto his hardened p*nis.

“Ah… hmph! Ah!”

She felt her inner walls quiver as they enveloped his thick p*nis, pulling him deeper. A feeling of overwhelming weight settled over her lower body, anchoring her completely.

“…Ha.”

Meanwhile, Kallian grabbed her waist and held her still.

The tendons in his neck and jaw stood out sharply, his chest taut with defined muscles and his arms visibly tense with restraint.

Through his clenched teeth, she could feel his struggle to resist his instincts, to keep himself from thrusting recklessly into her.

Elliope’s slender legs trembled uncontrollably.

“Ah… ugh!”

The moment her body completely enveloped him, Kallian finally lost control. With a sharp slap of skin against skin, he began to thr*st upwards, lifting her with each powerful thr*st.

“Ah! Ah… ahhh! Ahhh!”

Overwhelmed by the relentless waves of pleasure, Elliope shook her head, but her hips moved instinctively in response.

“Ha… ugh!”

“Kgh….!”

Kallian’s firm grip on her waist burned against her skin, and the relentless friction between them only intensified the heat coursing through her body.

His deep, powerful thr*sts felt as if they could pierce right through her core, reaching places she had never thought possible.

A flicker of fear coursed through her at the intensity of it, but a subtle pleasure pooled deep within her, spreading warmth throughout her lower body.

Her inner walls, already familiar with the shape of Kallian’s p*nis as if imprinted like a fingerprint, clenched and shifted around him, tightening instinctively with each movement.

Kallian’s thick, reddened p*nis struck deep inside her, skilfully pressing against the places he knew she loved, rubbing and pounding with relentless precision.

“Ah… ugh! Ah!”

“…Madam.”

Thr*st! Thr*st!

Lewd, wet sounds filled the air from their joined bodies—the slick friction of skin against skin, the sticky echoes of moisture gathering, and the obscene squelching of their most intimate parts meeting and parting.

“Ahh!”

Each time Elliope bounced off Kallian, droplets scattered in all directions, glistening in the dim light.

Somehow, the sensation was electrifying.

A wave of overwhelming satisfaction surged through her body, even greater than when she had tangled with Kallian in Theodor’s study.

“Ahhh!”

At the moment Kallian burst deep inside her, Elliope’s body collapsed onto his chest, as if seeking refuge in his warmth.

His hand moved gently down her back, tracing slow, soothing strokes.

“…Kallian.”

She whispered his name, still lying on top of him, unwilling to part from his embrace.

“I will be your wife… forever.”

The words fell from her lips without hesitation.

Kallian, still savouring the lingering pleasure, stroked her waist gently before murmuring in return.

“So will I.”

“……”

“I will be your eternal husband.”

His sweet words poured over her like a gentle cascade, sinking deep into her heart.

“And your devoted dog… for all eternity.”

As she trembled at his confession, strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her close.

In an instant, their positions shifted. Before she could fully catch her breath, Kallian – now pinning her beneath him again – thr*st deep inside her, filling her completely as he moved with relentless intensity.

***

“Madam.”

Kallian gently stroked Elliope’s cheek and hair as she lay asleep beside him. A deep sense of satisfaction and fulfilment settled in his chest, anchoring him in the warmth of the moment.

As he had said, the choice was ultimately hers.

Whether or not he would inherit the imperial throne was of no concern to him. As the last heir of Elsen, he was already destined to inherit the Duchy, making the continuation of the Imperial line irrelevant to him.

“Make the choice you desire.”

Saying this, Kallian planted a soft kiss on Elliope’s sleeping forehead and patted the bed gently.

“So that you may do this.”

“…….”

“I will help you whenever you need it.”

With these words, Kallian smiled brighter than ever and pulled the sleeping Elliope into his embrace.

At last, their victory was complete.