Side Story 2

This dangerous situation only excited Celiana more.

It seemed she couldn’t help her inclinations.

“If you didn’t sleep well… Wait, are you just bragging about how happy you are with your husband?”

“Exactly. The Dalton couple is so enviable.”

“Haha, y-yes, I suppose.”

It wasn’t wrong. Her husband was still touching her, after all.

Secretly, in a very private way.

Just as Celiana liked.

While the noble ladies chatted among themselves, the space between Celiana’s legs was getting wetter and wetter.

They couldn’t possibly imagine what was happening to her.

‘Mm…!’

Even with careful control of her expression, she couldn’t stop her pupils from trembling.

The hand stimulating her inner walls slipped out and moved slightly forward.

Then, it began to rub her cl*toris. Already swollen, the sensitive spot grew hotter with each touch.

Celiana gripped her teacup tightly, raising it to her lips to stifle the moan threatening to escape.

Her mind went blank. The conversation in front of her faded, and all her attention focused on the intense pleasure gathering below her navel.

“By the way, besides libido, I’m curious about fortune too. My husband started a business recently…”

“The manufacturing sector isn’t doing well these days, so my husband is looking into other ventures. Seems we’re all in the same boat.”

Even the conversation right in front of her didn’t register in Celiana’s mind.

Her thighs squeezed tightly as her body prepared to accept intense pleasure.

Press—press—

‘…!!’

Celiana’s teacup trembled lightly. She gritted her teeth, enduring the overwhelming pleasure coursing through her.

Tingling—tingling—

Heat surged, and it felt like electricity ran through her body. While these women exchanged risqué jokes, Celiana was doing something far more er*tic.

“Ha… hng…!”

The climax was near. Her hole was dripping with excitement, already a mess.

Covering her mouth with the teacup, Celiana tried to quietly catch her breath, ready to reach her peak.

But then—

‘…Huh, huh?’

Suddenly, the stimulation that had made her hot vanished.

W-what? Robert?

Celiana, who asked her husband a question he couldn’t possibly hear from the distant imperial palace, realized after a few seconds.

There would be no next step here.

Robert’s mischief had grown stronger.

‘…How disappointing. I wish he’d done more.’

It was natural. She had slipped from the brink of climax, unable to cross over. Her overheated body had nowhere to release its tension and was left confused.

Pant—pant—her chest rose and fell heavily. After a few more breaths, Celiana regained her composure and quickly looked around.

She was worried someone might find her behavior strange.

But the ladies were chatting happily among themselves. No one met Celiana’s gaze.

Luckily, no one had noticed. Not this time, either.

Celiana let out a short sigh of relief and, avoiding their eyes, secretly focused her gaze on her palm.

She compared the length between her finger joints and the line below.

‘Anyone can see…’

Even by eye, the difference was obvious. Celiana’s was much shorter than the noble lady’s from before.

She discreetly clenched her left hand into a fist, hiding her palm lines.

She thought, I’ll have to check Robert’s palm lines tonight.

***

Randelon, the aide to Marquis Robert Dalton, who oversaw the Imperial Palace’s Finance Department, felt that coming to work had become much easier lately.

It was because his superior had changed, somewhat, no, quite a lot recently.

‘He seems happier these days.’

He felt it just now, after finishing his report.

The characteristic sharp atmosphere had faded, and he seemed somehow gentler.

Having seen him every day, Randelon’s intuition was surely correct.

If there was anything odd, it was that his superior kept pressing a soft ball of wool during the report.

He used to avoid unnecessary movements during work hours, but lately he seemed to touch objects around him more often.

Well, it wasn’t a big problem, so Randelon didn’t pay it much mind.

“Looks like your worries are resolved.”

Before Randelon stepped back, he asked Robert,  

“Does it seem that way?”  

Though Robert replied with a question, his response was essentially affirmative.  

A smile lingered on his lips.  

“Yes, I’m relieved.”  

Randelon’s face was filled with relief as he smiled.  

There had been times when Robert asked Randelon questions whose meaning he couldn’t grasp, or left work early, unlike usual.  

Fortunately, it seemed things had been resolved well.  

Now that Robert was back to arriving at work on time, the staff in the Finance Department could breathe easier.  

Because when their superior was at work, they couldn’t be absent, so waking up at dawn every day had been exhausting.  

Moreover, if Robert used to work from the residence only once or twice a week, recently, with His Majesty’s permission, he had increased it to two or three times.  

It was quite unfamiliar to see their superior avoid overtime and head home immediately at the end of the workday.  

There was likely only one reason for this.  

‘It must be because of his wife.’  

As expected, it seemed relations with the Marchioness had improved again.  

Well, the two were known for their good marital harmony, so any issue would be quickly resolved.  

However, judging from his superior’s personality, Randelon doubted he would be particularly attentive to his wife…  

Would he just spend time at home in silence?  

Randelon, after a brief hesitation, decided to meddle a bit.  

“Marquis, palm reading is in vogue these days. It might be nice to try it with your wife.”  

“Palm reading?”  

“Recently, the Empire began new trade with the eastern continental nations, didn’t it? Apparently, the delegation from there spread it, and since it’s a new concept, everyone seems to be enjoying it.”  

“Really? They do all sorts of things.”  

Palm reading.  

If it’s a social trend, would Celiana be interested?  

“I’ll try it if I get the chance.”  

Robert took it lightly for now.  

***

Robert always returned home by 5:30. He never wanted to delay his time with his beloved Celiana, not even a little.  

Tonight, as usual, it was time for their shared dinner.  

Celiana seemed to have something to say, her lips moving as if to speak.  

Robert noticed this and curiosity flickered in his eyes. He naturally tried to guess what she wanted.  

What could she wish to say?  

But only one thing came to mind.  

‘…Did I overdo it today?’  

He had meant to take it easy, but imagining Celiana struggling alone during tea time, he simply couldn’t stop himself.  

Perhaps she would ask him to restrain from stimulating her through the necklace from now on.  

That would be disappointing.  

Robert guessed as much.  

“R-Robert.”  

“Yes, Celiana.”  

“Could you give me your hand for a moment?”  

“My hand?”  

But Celiana’s words were unexpected.  

“Here you go.”  

Robert obediently offered his hand. But Celiana simply stared at his palm, rather than doing anything.  

‘What is she doing?’  

Robert observed her. Her eyes grew large, as if she’d discovered something surprising.  

“Th-thank you.”  

But that was all.  

She gave no reason for her request and returned to her meal.  

‘Why did she suddenly check my hand… ah.’  

Suddenly, Robert recalled what Randelon had said a few hours earlier.  

“Marquis, palm reading is in vogue these days.”  

Could it be, Celiana was checking his palm lines?  

The corners of Robert’s mouth twitched upward. He tried to hide his smile and asked her,  

“Celiana, why did you need my hand?”  

“Hm? It’s nothing. I just wanted to see your hand for a moment…”  

A cute excuse. If it were a bit more creative, he might have believed it.  

She had definitely checked his palm lines. What was she curious about? She wasn’t the type to care about trivial things like lifespan.  

Was it a topic too embarrassing to say aloud?  

Robert deliberately stared at Celiana, as if waiting for another answer.  

But Celiana, trailing off, didn’t reply further. She moved her fork faster, putting vegetables in her mouth, and Robert’s face was filled with delight as he watched.  

‘Adorable.’  

That’s how his wife was. Since they stopped hiding their tastes from each other, she unleashed her desires in bed, but outside of it, she was shy like this.  

So Robert didn’t ask her anything more.  

There was no need to ask now.  

There would be a better time later.  

“Is that so. By the way, I plan to finish the rest of my work after dinner.”  

Robert didn’t add any further words. But Celiana understood well enough.  

“In the study…?”  

Robert nodded, meaning yes.  

“It should take about an hour and a half. Could I ask you to bring me some tea?”  

“…Of course.”  

A blush lingered on Celiana’s face as she answered.  

She immediately understood the meaning behind Robert’s request.  

A peculiar light flickered in his eyes.  

A better timing.  

That would likely be just an hour or two from now.