Chapter 25

After a brief consideration, Celiana chose a leather collar and candle wax.  

She planned to restrict her movement with the collar, and let the dripping wax create a situation where she couldn’t resist.  

‘Bare skin would be best, right?’  

Celiana slid down her slip. From her left shoulder to her br*ast, she left herself exposed.  

Thunk—  

The heavy leather collar was fastened around her neck. Celiana hooked the collar’s handle onto the armrest of the chair and lay down on the floor.  

‘Oh, this isn’t bad.’  

Pulling her neck back, she found herself held firmly, unable to move—quite satisfying.  

Now Celiana prepared the candle and placed it on the desk, adjusting the angle so the drops would fall on her.  

Strike—lighting a match, she set the candle aflame, her heart pounding as she waited for the first drop.  

Drip—  

“Nngh!”  

The hot wax fell onto Celiana’s left shoulder. It was a special candle for skin, so it was safe, but the heat made her toes curl.  

‘Ah, that’s nice.’  

The heat on her shoulder made her breathe out hotly.  

Drip—  

The second drop came faster. This time, it landed unexpectedly near her shoulder blade, making Celiana’s shoulders tremble.  

“Nngh. H-hot.”  

With her neck restrained, she couldn’t escape; being forced to accept the falling wax excited her.  

Her legs were now wetter than before, and she felt the fluid running down her thighs.  

Soon, Celiana lifted her upper body as far as the collar allowed. This time, not on her shoulder…  

Drip—  

“Mmm…!”  

When hot wax fell right on the tip of her br*ast, Celiana shivered all over.  

A sharp pleasure spread from her chest to her head, then down below her navel.  

The melted wax hardened on her skin, and the sensation was dizzying.  

“Ha…”  

‘Now, should I try the right side too?’

Celiana was thinking that when—

Clatter—  

“……!!”  

Celiana’s pupils shook as if in an earthquake. Her body froze like a statue. What was that sound just now?  

If she hadn’t misheard, it was the sound of a key and lock turning.  

This study was her private space. She was supposed to be the only one with the key. 

‘Who—no, how could anyone…’  

Click—  

But unbelievably, the doorknob turned and the door slowly opened.  

Celiana’s mind went blank with shock. She forgot all about hiding the collar and wax, just staring at the person entering the study.  

“R-Robert?”  

Oops. She’d called his name without thinking. Celiana, startled by her own reaction, quickly closed her mouth.  

‘What, what? Why is Robert…’  

No, that wasn’t the problem now. Reason finally started to return.  

Look at her state now.  

Her slip was pulled down, exposing her chest, she was wearing a collar, lying in front of the chair, letting wax drip onto her br*ast from the desk.  

“Celiana.”  

Robert entered the study and met her gaze.  

Click—  

The study door closed again, and then the sound of the lock being set.  

A brief silence fell between them. Celiana was stunned, not knowing what to do.  

“Um, well…”  

An alarm sounded in Celiana’s head. She quickly pulled her slip back up and took off the collar.  

She hurriedly blew out the candle and started rambling excuses to Robert.  

“No, what you saw just now, that is…”  

What could she say? How could she explain this situation?  

Her mind wouldn’t work. She felt as if cold water had been dumped over her. Her fingers trembled, though she didn’t notice.  

But then—  

“You don’t have to make excuses, Celiana.”  

“…Huh?”  

“You like this, don’t you?”  

“Wh-what do you mean…”  

Celiana couldn’t understand what Robert was saying. She only stammered, unable to get anything else out.  

“You don’t have to hide it. Not anymore.”  

Robert continued his confession.  

“I’m the same. With you.”  

“……”  

“The difference is, you want to be struck, restrained, treated roughly, and I want to do the opposite.”  

“Wait, Robert, you mean…”  

“I want to strike, restrain, say crude things, and degrade you. That’s what I want.”  

She was hearing it, but she wondered if her brain was really processing his words.  

Was she so scared that her mind was just accepting whatever he said as a defense mechanism?  

“Really? Truly?”  

“Celiana, I’m sorry for leaving you lonely, for not giving you trust.”  

Robert’s apology continued.  

“I’m not the gentlemanly, noble man you think I am.”  

Celiana felt like she was dreaming. Was it so desperate that the old woman had granted her wish again?  

“On the contrary, I’ve looked at you with desire, had dirty thoughts.”  

Otherwise, how could words like this come from Robert’s mouth?  

In front of Celiana, whose eyes were wide with surprise, Robert calmly told his story.  

“Every time I see you, sadistic urges rise up. I imagine locking you away where only I know, expressing my dark desires.”  

Just like when Celiana had confessed to him in Bondage Cathedral.  

“This is the kind of person I am. And I’ve hidden it, afraid you’d run away or hate me if you knew my true nature.”  

In truth, he added, he was even worse than she was.  

Now, only Celiana’s answer remained.  

Robert was both curious and worried about how she’d react to his confession.  

Whether their preferences matched wasn’t the only issue; he wondered if she’d feel betrayed for being deceived.  

Would she be disappointed that he was so different from the man she thought she knew?  

“What are you saying, Robert! Why would I hate you?”  

But her reaction was outside anything Robert had expected.  

“I like you, no matter what kind of person you are.”  

A sincere confession spilled from Celiana’s lips.  

“I—it’s me who was afraid you’d be disappointed in me.”  

Her voice trembled noticeably. This was the first time she’d spoken her true feelings before him.  

From the start, she’d feared that her submissive tendencies meant she wouldn’t feel anything during intimacy with Robert.  

She’d been afraid he’d be disappointed if she responded like a stone.  

Now, even her fingertips were trembling. But then, a warm, large hand gently clasped hers.  

“There’s no way I’d be disappointed.”  

Robert slowly shook his head, his answer sincere. He didn’t care what kind of person Celiana was.  

He recalled the answer Celiana had given at Bondage Cathedral.  

“Do you love your husband?”  

“Huh? Of course. No matter what kind of person he is, even if he can’t accept my preferences.”  

Even if they couldn’t mix like water and oil, she said she wanted to be the one closest to him, and smiled.  

Robert had been truly happy to hear that. He’d felt a satisfaction that couldn’t be compared to anything else.  

“I feel the same, Celiana.”  

Now it was Robert’s turn to express his feelings.  

“No matter who you are, I like you.”  

So he opened his heart, saying she could tell him anything, hide nothing.  

“Robert…”  

The trembling in her voice was gone. Her hand rested comfortably in Robert’s.  

Celiana realized that Robert had been worrying about the same thing. Both of them had kept their feelings hidden out of concern for each other.  

‘If Robert had asked for something different from my preferences, what would I have done?’  

Celiana asked herself a small question. But the answer came quickly. Even if she were surprised at first, she would have accepted his request.  

Because she loved Robert himself.  

All the agonizing she’d done until now was just foolish worry.  

A relationship where they could show their true selves, with no secrets between them—  

Isn’t that what marriage is?  

“We haven’t talked enough.”  

Celiana threw her arms around Robert.  

They’d spent so much time apart, they needed more conversation to truly know each other.  

“I won’t hide anything from now on.”  

“I promise, too.”  

Robert embraced Celiana in return. Her scent filled his nose, just like that moment when he’d bitten her neck at the peak of pleasure.  

Naturally, a question came from Robert’s lips.  

“There’s something I want to ask.”  

“Hmm? What is it?”  

“Do you remember? The two nights we spent together.”  

Robert wondered if she remembered those times as he did.  

“Y-Yes?”  

Celiana was honestly surprised. Two nights?  

“Once before the Ephelmar Duchy’s banquet, and again a few days later. I wondered if you remembered.”  

Of course, Celiana knew. But while she accepted the first, she’d always believed the second was a dream.  

So, the second time wasn’t a dream either.  

‘But why does Robert remember it?’  

More than anything, she was shocked that she wasn’t the only one who knew.  

Had Robert pretended not to know all along? She’d never noticed. Her confused face gave away all her thoughts.  

Her expression was enough of an answer for Robert.  

“So, you met that old woman too.”  

“Robert, you met her as well?”  

Celiana and Robert ended up sharing all their stories about the old woman.  

The more they talked, the more surprising it was. Not only had they worried about the same things, they’d had the same experiences.  

“Then, what was that old woman really?”  

Celiana couldn’t even guess. Had she somehow hypnotized one of them at a time?  

Was there really someone who could make such surreal things happen?  

Robert, on the other hand, didn’t seem troubled.