Chapter 24

Robert turned and asked Celiana,  

“Celiana, which one should I buy?”  

Celiana shivered at the question.  

‘If he talks to me…’  

While Robert had been handling the peaches, she’d been stimulated down below, biting her jaw and struggling to keep her composure.  

It was impossible to answer specifically. She hadn’t even heard the vendor’s explanation properly.  

“You… pick a good one.”  

Celiana barely managed to reply. Fortunately, Robert didn’t press further.  

He hummed with anticipation, looking over the peaches.  

“Then, shall I choose this one?”  

He picked the most tempting peach.  

“It smells good, looks good.”  

His gaze was as if he’d peel and eat it right away.  

“And as for firmness…”  

He pressed his thumb into the peach. But it couldn’t withstand his strength.  

Squish—  

Juice burst out, soaking Robert’s fingers.  

At the same time—  

“Nngh…!”  

Celiana quickly raised her hand to cover her mouth.  

She felt his fingers pierce inside her, her inner walls tightening.  

“Oh dear.”  

Robert let out a short sigh. But for some reason, it didn’t sound regretful at all.  

“Oh my, I guess that one was a bit soft.”  

“But it smells wonderful.”  

Robert pressed his finger into the peach once more, then pulled out his thumb and licked it.  

“Tastes great too.”  

“Y-Yes! All our peaches are delicious!”  

“I’ll buy all these peaches.”  

“Thank you!”  

The vendor, having sold his entire festival stock in one day, bowed repeatedly to Robert in delight.  

After paying, Robert asked the vendor to send all the peaches to the mansion, then turned to Celiana.  

“Celiana, shall we enjoy the peaches at home?”  

“Y-Yes…”  

Celiana couldn’t say any more. She worried that the honeyed liquid running down between her legs might drip onto her feet and wet the ground.  

She prayed Robert wouldn’t notice the spot she’d left behind was wet even though it hadn’t rained.  

Of course, Celiana had no idea that Robert was enjoying her secret turmoil.

***

Before they knew it, three days had passed quickly.  

‘I only meant to enjoy it for a day.’  

Robert looked down at the ring. In just a few days, it had become as familiar as part of his body.  

Originally, Robert had planned to tease Celiana secretly for just one day at the festival.  

Afterwards, he intended to confess his preferences as planned.  

But Celiana’s reactions were so varied that Robert ended up teasing her for three days straight.  

No, to be precise, Robert had enjoyed it for three days himself.  

He recalled the past few days.  

With the ringed hand, he’d gripped a water bottle and pressed her neck as if choking her.  

He’d stroked a horse and felt Celiana’s waist, or tangled its mane and felt her delicate hair.  

And yesterday—  

At breakfast, he’d squeezed bread and felt her ample br*asts.  

While reading, he’d turned pages and pinched her n*pples with his fingers.  

‘She was always at a loss then.’  

Since Celiana kept wearing the necklace, maybe he could blame her a little?  

She was clearly enjoying it too.  

‘Maybe it’s time to tell her.’  

He couldn’t put it off any longer. He couldn’t keep Celiana in the dark forever.  

‘It’s a shame, but it can’t be helped.’  

To be honest, Robert was very pleased with the current situation.  

Knowing her secret preferences without her knowing his own was quite enjoyable.  

‘Does this make me a pervert?’  

But what troubled him was Celiana herself.  

His darker desires wanted to keep teasing her forever, pretending not to know.  

But after hearing her confession, he couldn’t just leave her worrying.  

He didn’t want his beloved wife to suffer emotionally.  

Besides, every time Robert touched her, Celiana would get excited and then secretly suppress her desires every night. He felt sorry for her.  

Over the past few days, Robert had figured out why Celiana kept sneaking out at night.  

Why hadn’t he realized sooner?  

He’d always assumed, in his narrow world, that Celiana was avoiding intimacy by leaving at night.  

‘I never imagined she’d do it alone.’  

Last night, Robert secretly followed Celiana as she left the bedroom.  

She quietly went up to the third floor.  

‘The study?’  

It was Celiana’s study.  

A space only she used—her most private place.  

Was she really going to read at this hour? Impossible.  

Robert had a good feeling. Maybe he’d uncover another truth tonight.  

Since hearing Celiana’s confession at Bondage Cathedral, his parched desert had received daily rain.  

At this rate, it might turn into a lush meadow.  

He waited about ten minutes after Celiana entered the study, then quietly approached and pressed his ear to the door.  

Slap—  

—Nngh!  

He heard a sharp sound and Celiana’s moan at the same time.  

There was a wall and door between them, but Robert could picture the scene inside the study.  

She was probably whipping herself, lost in pleasure.  

Listening secretly to her nightly ritual, Robert felt a growing tension in his groin.  

Before he knew it, his pants were straining.  

‘What should I do?’  

Robert licked his lips.  

No one ever came up to the third floor at this hour.  

His hesitation was brief. Robert roughly loosened his waistband and pulled out his aroused member.  

Leaning against the door, he stroked himself, feeling the heat rise through his body.  

Celiana had no idea.  

While she bound herself and indulged her secret desires, her husband was stroking himself just outside the door.  

Inside, Celiana was touching her flushed skin; outside, Robert pictured her lewd scene in his mind.  

Thump-thump—  

As the rhythm of his movements grew faster—  

—Nngh, Robert…  

He heard Celiana calling his name.  

“…Ha.”  

He swallowed a rough breath, scraping at his throat.

In truth, Robert wanted nothing more than to open this door right now and bury himself in her bare skin.  

But the door would be locked. Just for one day, he told himself, just one day—trying to hold onto his reason as he stroked his hardened desire.  

A tingling pleasure coursed through his body. As the tight sensation built, a rush of cloudy release spilled out.  

“…Urgh.”  

He clenched his teeth to keep from making a sound.  

That was exactly what happened last night.  

And today. With his reason barely regained, Robert secretly copied the master key to the study while Celiana was out of the mansion.  

Tonight, he planned to tell her everything.  

The night grew deep.  

Celiana quietly left the bedroom once more.  

She had no idea footsteps were following her.

***

Celiana had been spending the past few days in a state that was both painful and happy, thrilling and agonizing.  

It was all because of the magical necklace that had been hanging around her neck.  

On the day she went to the fruit festival with Robert, Celiana couldn’t even eat the peaches properly.  

Just smelling the peach reminded her of that day, and between her legs, she felt as if juice were bursting forth.  

For days, every touch from Robert, every stimulation delivered by the magic item, had left her flustered.  

Yet Celiana couldn’t bring herself to take off the necklace.  

The excitement and anticipation far outweighed any embarrassment or discomfort.  

It was like an addiction; she couldn’t easily give up the thrill, so despite her confusion, she kept wearing the necklace.  

The problem was, because of all the contact—by way of the magic item—her body was heated all day, making it impossible to sleep at night.  

Just yesterday, for example.  

She’d been busy in the study, using leather straps to strike various parts of her body, or pressing herself, recalling his touch to relieve her desires.  

Slap—  

“Nngh!”  

She could still feel the sensation of Robert’s fingers pressing into her.  

“Nngh, Robert…”  

Recalling that feeling, her entrance twitched in response. Celiana toyed with her sensitive spot, calling out for Robert.  

‘I can’t sleep.’  

Tonight was no different. The moon wasn’t even bright, but in the dim silence, sleep was nowhere to be found.  

The tingling deep inside her controlled her body. When she pressed her legs together, she could feel her entrance already soaked, sticky fluid seeping out again.  

‘At this rate, tonight too…’  

There was no other way. Celiana glanced over to check if Robert was asleep.  

His breathing was steady and regular; he seemed to be deep in sleep.  

Celiana quietly left the bedroom and headed to the study on the third floor.  

Click—  

As the study door locked behind her, Celiana let out a sigh of relief.  

Now, it was time for Celiana Dalton—her time alone.  

‘What should I use tonight?’  

She opened the space at the back of the study and pondered.  

She’d used a whip yesterday, and was tired of paddles. Maybe she should try candle wax tonight?  

‘Yes, let’s do that.’