“What’s wrong with spouses depending on each other?”

“It’s a problem because it’s not just a little.”

Despite Enoch’s pitiful expression, Luciella showed no signs of yielding.

“Anyway. See you in a week.”

As Luciella turned away coldly, Enoch, finally grasping the reality of the situation, desperately called out:

“Y-you’re lying. You’re joking, right? Luciella! What about meals? Sleep?”

Regardless, Luciella simply smiled innocently as she replied:

“Of course we’ll eat and sleep separately for a week. I’ll move to my old room for the time being.”

Thud. With those final words, the door closed.

Enoch was suddenly left alone in the room. Like an abandoned dog.

He stood there for a long while, staring blankly into space. Despite this, Luciella did not return.

After leaving the room, Luciella wasn’t feeling entirely comfortable either.

‘Was I too harsh?’

No, I need to set things straight from the beginning. Otherwise, he’ll eventually boldly follow me to ladies’ gatherings and sit there.

She had already been uncomfortable with how all the small services had become Enoch’s responsibility lately.

‘We can’t live like this forever……’

Luciella moved with a gloomy expression. She headed to the room she had been assigned when she was first sold to the marquis estate.

Entering the familiar space, Luciella formed a subtle smile. Everything was exactly the same.

Unchanged from when she first encountered this space.

After idly touching the furniture, walls, and sofa, Luciella eventually threw herself onto the large bed.

‘Nothing can last forever……’

He might be trying this hard now, but… this won’t last forever.

Luciella stared blankly at the chandelier on the ceiling as she thought.

‘If Enoch starts to change……’

When the time comes that he no longer brings water for my morning face wash, no longer worries about my well-being…….

How should I endure then?

The mere thought was terrifying. Luciella shook her head to clear her mind.

So that even if such a day comes, she won’t feel the emptiness too deeply…….

Yes, she knew this was just a tantrum born from fear of an uncertain future.

⁕⁕⁕

One day, two days, three days, four days…….

Time passed quickly. During this period, Luciella attended various social gatherings, meeting and conversing with many noble ladies.

Of course, whenever she encountered Enoch at the estate, she had to resist the urge to run and hug him when she saw his pitiful gaze fixed on her.

That’s partly why she wandered outside more. On days without gatherings, she would force herself to go shopping, taking a carriage into town.

And so, a week passed in the blink of an eye.

“Luciella!”

It was the morning of the seventh day.

As soon as the sun rose, Enoch rushed into Luciella’s room with a basin of water for washing her face.

She had just woken up and could only stare at Enoch before her with a drowsy mind.

“Mmm…… Enoch?”

“Yes, Luciella. It’s me. Enoch!”

Enoch began washing Luciella’s face tenderly, as if the week’s separation had never happened. By the time Luciella came to her senses and tried to stop him, the face washing was already complete.

“Enoch, you don’t need to do this anymore.”

“I’m doing it because I want to.”

“Still. Everyone will look down on you.”

At those words, Enoch, who had been drying Luciella’s face with a dry towel, paused. This was something he had heard countless times from the butler and the head maid.

“……What does that matter?”

“You have your dignity as the head of the household……”

“I don’t need such things. A commoner like me never had dignity to begin with……”

Watching Enoch grumble, Luciella couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.

“Still. You can stop doing these things now.”

Luciella gently stroked Enoch’s hair as he bowed his head before her.

“I’m worried I’ll get too used to this behavior of yours.”

“Getting used to it would be good. You worry too much.”

Looking at the grumbling Enoch, Luciella formed a subtle smile.

“But your feelings might change someday.”

It was a careful statement Luciella made after a brief silence. Hearing this, Enoch stared at her with a dumbfounded expression. Before he could respond, Luciella intercepted:

“I know, the current Enoch has no such thoughts. But I’m not a fool. They say love can’t last forever. Surely, as time passes, you’ll find these actions bothersome.”

“Huh, no……”

“Think about it. Other noble ladies can at least bear children to continue the lineage, but I can’t even do that……”

“Wait, wait. Luciella.”

Enoch spread his hands in front of Luciella, blocking her.

“You think that someday I’ll find you bothersome? Do you genuinely believe that?”

“I’m just…… worried. If you ever change, I’ll truly be alone then.”

“Is that why you suddenly wanted to attend social gatherings?”

“Partly, and I also need someone to talk to.”

Luciella fidgeted with her hands as she spoke.

“They say it takes at most five years for a man’s heart to cool. So……”

“Luciella.”

Enoch cut her off with a long sigh, his eyes becoming quite serious.

“When do you think I first developed feelings for you?”

Luciella paused, recalling events from the distant past.

“That five years passed a long time ago.”

Enoch’s hand carefully caressed Luciella’s cheek. Then he began planting light kisses all over her face.

“Where on earth did you hear such nonsense?”

“Still…… And if you start mingling with other nobles, there might come a time when you’ll want an heir……”

Annoyed by Luciella’s mumbling words, Enoch cut her off with his lips. Her plump lips were instantly devoured by him. To prevent her from continuing, his teeth gently nibbled on the soft flesh repeatedly.

Through her slightly parted teeth, a hot, soft tongue pushed its way in. The intruding flesh explored every corner of Luciella’s mouth as if it were its own home.

Saliva mixed and breaths intertwined. The heat from their pressed bodies was intense.

His muscular body firmly embraced Luciella and slowly climbed onto the bed. Then, carefully removing his lips, Enoch began whispering in a low voice:

“Luciella, there’s one thing you’re seriously mistaken about……”

“Mmm……”

Enoch’s lips made wet sounds as they traced her neckline down to her collarbone. His large hands skillfully removed her slip.

The thin fabric came undone, revealing the plump br*asts hidden within, which swayed as they appeared. Enoch took a n*pple into his mouth and continued speaking:

“Even if you could bear children, I wouldn’t have wanted an heir.”

“Mmm, you’re lying……”

“I don’t understand why you think it’s a lie. My top priority isn’t an heir or anything like that—it’s you, Luciella.”

The hands that had been gently washing her face just moments ago now roughly caressed her thighs. His large hands skillfully slipped between her underwear, beginning to rub between the plump mounds of her p*ssy.

“Luciella, shall I tell you honestly?”

“Mmm, ah, E-Enoch……”

“Actually, I’m very glad you can’t conceive. Pregnancy, childbirth—why would I welcome something that would needlessly harm and wear down your body? Have you bear a child, risking your life, for the sake of a mere heir to the marquis family? That’s ridiculous.”

He spread the plump flesh of her p*ssy, mercilessly pressing the small cl*toris between them. The tender flesh was repeatedly rubbed against his firm fingertips. Feeling pleasure after so long, Luciella exhaled shallow breaths and wrapped her arms around Enoch’s neck.

In response, Enoch pressed his body closer and whispered softly in her ear:

“I often think about how worried I’d be if you could get pregnant. Giving birth with this skinny body of yours. It’s horrifying just to imagine.”

“Mmm, ah……”

“I probably would have torn off my own balls. I don’t want to create anything that would put you at risk.”

Viscous fluid was flowing from her soaking wet entrance. Enoch scooped up the honey with his fingertips and gently spread it over her mucous membrane, smiling softly.

Every time Enoch’s hand brushed against the sensitive flesh with a slippery sensation, Luciella panted and didn’t know what to do.

“But if you’re still worried that I might desire an heir someday…… I’ll call a physician today. So you never have to worry about such things again.”

Understanding his meaning, Luciella pinched Enoch’s arm with all her strength, even amid the pleasure.

“Don’t say such things. Even as a joke……”

“I’m not joking.”

From those pitch-black eyes, which showed not a hint of humor, Luciella could tell he was serious.

“So if you’re worried, just tell me anytime, Luciella.”

Luciella answered by pinching Enoch’s forearm again. But his body, packed with muscle and hard as stone, wasn’t easy to pinch.

It was an astonishingly blunt answer. But Luciella found it amusing that she was reassured by such a response, so she buried her face in his chest.

With the sound of a belt buckle being undone, she felt a thick foreign object against her tightly pressed lower body. Recognizing what it was, Luciella involuntarily gasped.

“No matter what, Luciella, how could you stay away from me for a whole week?”

Enoch asked in a more urgent voice than usual, exhaling rough breaths. One of his hands was already gripping his er*ect c*ck, pushing between her legs.

The blunt tip immediately wedged against her p*ssy. The entrance, soaked with fluid, was slippery.

The hot skin began rubbing against her mucous membrane. Enoch’s rough breathing continuously reached her ears.

“D*mn time, why doesn’t it pass faster? I thought I was going crazy.”

It seemed he hadn’t expected an answer in the first place. He was showering kisses on her lips without giving Luciella a chance to respond.

“Mmm, but you didn’t go crazy, did you?”

Taking advantage of a brief moment when their lips parted, Luciella smiled mischievously and teased him. Enoch pouted as if feeling wronged.

“Luciella, your teasing has become quite mean lately.”