Chapter 2

“Celiana, how was the gathering today?”

It was Robert who broke the silence first.

“Thanks to your advice, the atmosphere was good.”

Celiana gave brief thanks.

The women Celiana met at tea time today were all wives of prominent nobles in the Empire.

In other words, as the new Marchioness Dalton, Celiana needed to maintain good relations with them.

Reputation and connections were everything in noble society.

So, that morning, Robert had given Celiana a tip.

“In about a month, the Empire will raise tariffs on imported goods.”

He added that if there were any import deals, it would be best to finish them this month.

His intention was clear.

He wanted his wife to use her power as the wife of the Treasury’s head.

It meant Celiana could wield influence among the noble ladies.

Celiana gladly used the card Robert had gifted her, in the form of information.

As a result—

“They were all interested.”

Satisfaction flickered in Robert’s eyes.

“It seems it worked.”

“Of course. Most of them are hostesses of families involved in import-export.”

Celiana recalled the reactions of the women at the tea party.

“Oh my, did Marquis Dalton say so?”

“My husband has a deal scheduled next month.”

‘It did work.’

When she brought up the topic of tariffs, the ladies’ eyes sparkled.

But at the same time, Celiana felt bitter.

‘But that was all.’

Information gave her the power to sway them. But nothing more.

It meant she could never truly share her heart with them.

Celiana was sure that wasn’t the way to get close to the noblewomen.

She remembered the moment when their eyes had truly lit up.

In fact, they responded best not to helpful information, but to topics they genuinely enjoyed.

Noblewomen grew close by sharing their hearts, not by talking about tariffs or imports.

Robert would never know that.

“It’s all thanks to you, Robert.”

But Celiana offered Robert polite praise.

She couldn’t possibly tell him that the ladies were far more interested in topics like compatibility and nights with their husbands.

Robert, oblivious to her true feelings, simply smiled warmly at Celiana.

His slightly upturned lips and warm eyes—just one look, and all the ladies in society would fall for that smile.

Even she, his wife now, felt her heart flutter again.

Yes, seeing that smile made Celiana’s heart race.

But what Celiana desired was something else.

If asked whether she disliked Robert Dalton as her husband, of course not.

In fact, since childhood, she had never imagined having any husband but Robert.

She was simply greedy, unable to accept Robert as he was.

‘I do like Robert, but…’

Celiana was confused.

‘I don’t know.’

Lately, it felt as though her desires were overtaking her reason, and she hated herself for it.

“If it were you, you could win the hearts of the noble ladies instantly.”

No, that’s not it.

Celiana denied it inwardly.

Robert knew nothing.

“There is no woman as elegant and exemplary as you, Celiana. Surely you charmed even the most discerning ladies.”

Celiana was not elegant.

Nor was she exemplary.

No one knew just how lascivious her thoughts were.

Robert simply hadn’t gotten close to the truth—that Celiana harbored deeper desires than the noblewomen who enjoyed such risqué stories.

And those desires were different from ordinary people. How could she ever speak of it?

For now, Celiana’s answers were limited.

“…I must do my best. As the Marchioness of Dalton.”

Afraid Robert might notice, Celiana lowered her gaze to her food.

She slowly cut a piece of meat and brought it to her mouth, but couldn’t swallow properly.

It felt as if a part of her chest was blocked, like indigestion.

She felt that nothing would change tomorrow, or a month, or even a year from now.

Would she have to keep living like this in her marriage?

She was already in her second year.

Celiana felt lost, unable to see how much of herself she would need to keep hiding into the future.

If there was one thing certain amidst all the uncertainty,

It was, unfortunately, that her husband Robert would never be able to understand her.

Robert Dalton, who had always lived a life perfectly planned and executed since his childhood.

There was not a single flaw in his life.

So Celiana believed that as his wife, she too had to be flawless.

Her reputation, the way she appeared before him—

No one had ever forced her, but she felt she had to do so.

That was the life of the Dalton Marchioness.

But, but Celiana…

‘It’s so hard.’

Lately, her desires had grown even stronger, and she found it harder and harder to resist them.

After all, she had tastes different from others, and couldn’t speak of them even to those close to her, suffering alone.

She couldn’t even utter them aloud. If anyone found out, they would surely look at her with disgust.

Of course, she could never tell her husband Robert.

She even avoided intimacy with him for fear he might discover it.

Could he ever imagine?

His wife, Celiana Dalton’s…

Celiana glanced down at her wrist, hidden beneath the lace sleeve.

On the surface, there was nothing strange, but if she rolled up her sleeve,

Red marks embroidered her pale skin.

Robert would never know, not even in his dreams.

That Celiana wanted to be bound, tied with rope.

Recently, Celiana had begun to release her hidden desires in secret.

There were moments when she struck her own thigh with a thin whip, watching the skin swell red, and felt satisfaction.

This time, she wrapped a newly acquired rope around her wrist, enjoying the sensation of being bound.

Yes.

Celiana Dalton had masochistic s*xual preferences.

***

After dinner, when the two were about to leave the dining room together,

Robert, as always, approached to escort Celiana, and noticed her dress sleeve.

The lace ribbon on her sleeve had come undone.

Without thinking, Robert reached for Celiana’s wrist,

Clearly intending only to tie the lace ribbon for her.

But—

Smack—

Celiana quickly brushed Robert’s hand away. Without hesitation, as if by reflex.

Startled,

Celiana shrank her shoulders, embarrassed by her own reaction.

A moment of silence passed between them.

“Celiana?”

Robert’s voice was marked by curiosity. It was a reaction he had never seen from her before, so it was only natural.

Though the tingling sensation on his fingertips was unfamiliar, Robert calmly waited for Celiana’s answer.

“Uh, well…”

Celiana was just as flustered.

How could she have predicted Robert would reach for her wrist at that moment?

But she had no time to think that far.

“S-sorry. I’m just a little tired today, I didn’t mean to…”

She had to smooth over the situation immediately.

Her rambling excuse spilled out.

Celiana’s face remained flushed, unable to calm down.

‘What if he thinks something’s wrong? What if he finds out…’

Her worried feelings were plain on her face.

At that moment,

“I’m sorry for startling you.”

Robert’s voice settled quietly between them. His reply was gentle, filled with the usual kindness.

“Ah…”

Celiana finally felt relieved.

He hadn’t misunderstood, hadn’t seen the marks on her wrist.

“The ribbon was undone, so I was going to tie it for you.”

“The ribbon?”

Celiana looked down at her sleeve. Just as he said, the lace ribbon was untied.

It was clearly a misunderstanding on her part.

“R-right.”

He had only meant to help, but she had jumped to conclusions.

“Let me tie it for you.”

Robert, with clear intent, reached out again.

At that moment, Celiana hesitated.

‘Should I refuse and say it’s fine?’

She worried he might accidentally roll up her sleeve and see the red marks. If Robert found out, it would be a disaster.

But—

‘How can I refuse?’

She had already brushed away her husband’s hand. Refusing again would look even more suspicious—anyone could see that.

Celiana really had no choice.

“T-then, please.”

“…Are you sure?”

But instead of immediately tying the ribbon, Robert paused and asked again.

It was just a ribbon, yet he was overly cautious.

He must have been concerned by Celiana’s startled reaction.

Robert Dalton was that kind of man.

He never did anything Celiana even slightly resisted.

Since that night when they hadn’t consummated their marriage,

Though they shared the same bed every night and had countless opportunities, Robert never approached Celiana.

He had surely noticed that she kept avoiding intimacy.

Yet he never showed disappointment—his consideration was constant.