However, with her conscience intact, Serena couldn’t fully blame him, knowing she had enthusiastically participated in their pleasure. 

Though Licht had carefully scooped out the pooled s*men earlier, it seemed impossible to reach what had settled deep inside her. 

While her long dress would prevent anyone from noticing, Serena’s nerves weren’t strong enough to walk around enduring the sensation of s*men trickling down between her legs.

“Should we use this?”

A familiar-shaped plug appeared. Should she call it a memento now? 

A strange feeling washed over her, and she closed her eyes to escape reality. But having no alternative, Serena reluctantly nodded.

“Tell me if it becomes uncomfortable because it’s too big.”

He was truly annoying. Though Licht had some boyish aspects, she had generally perceived him as mature, but after learning he was the same person as L*st, her entire image of him had been revised. 

Serena watched Licht in the mirror while feeling his hands pushing the plug between her l*bia.

Sometimes he annoyed her, sometimes her heart fluttered, some days she felt angry, and other days she was simply happy. His new aspects evoked various emotions, but ultimately, she still liked him.

Perhaps because Licht’s sizeable member had been inside her, the small plug felt somehow empty, she thought privately while waiting for him to finish tying the ribbon.

“Let me see.”

Fortunately, this was a place normally used for altering dresses or changing soiled clothing. 

Licht had neatly changed into different clothes after his pants were soaked with Serena’s embarrassing fl*ids. 

Though her n*pples were still somewhat concerning, her dress looked fine, and her smudged makeup had been fixed.

‘We’ve tidied up all the disheveled furniture and moved the wet… Sigh…’

Despite their best efforts to clean up, they couldn’t completely erase all traces of their lovemaking. Since such occurrences weren’t particularly rare, the imperial palace servants would take care of it, but the embarrassment remained Serena’s burden.

“I really didn’t intend for this to happen this time…”

Licht simply gazed at Serena with endearment while she buried her face in her hands and stamped her feet in embarrassment.

* * *

After the party ended completely, Serena and Licht, having exchanged lengthy farewells with Rosalia, left the imperial palace later than the other nobles. 

The journey to the Duke’s territory was longer than expected, and changing into traveling clothes took additional time.

“Wait!”

Serena, about to board the carriage, turned at the loud shout. Naturally, Licht, who was escorting her, also looked for the owner of the uncouth voice.

“W-where are you going now?!”

Licht hadn’t expected them to let Serena go easily, but he also hadn’t anticipated they would wait outside for this long. 

They were the last people he wanted Serena to encounter. His lips, which had maintained a subtle smile throughout, gradually hardened as the Bluebell rabble approached.

“You should obviously return home with us!”

“I will not be returning to that mansion anymore, Father, Mother.”

At her resolute answer, the Marquis and Marchioness quickly exchanged glances. Their immediate priority was to somehow persuade Serena to come home with them. 

Even for a Marquis, harming someone who had officially become the Duke’s fiancée would be unreasonable.

But since things had come to this, they thought they might be able to manipulate and use her. For example, securing a few more contracts beneficial to the Bluebell family, just like before.

“Serena. How can you just announce such shocking news and leave home? We’re your family, shouldn’t you explain the situation to us and have a conversation with us? Hmm?”

Appealing to emotions and pressuring was more the Marchioness’s specialty than the Marquis’s. She wasn’t consciously calculating her behavior. 

She had simply lived her entire life this way, so the words flowed effortlessly like breathing.

“That’s right! And Duke, it’s problematic for you to take our child away so abruptly. Although you became engaged today, you’re not officially married yet. Taking her to your mansion without consulting her parents is inappropriate.”

While the Marchioness tried to persuade Serena, the Marquis addressed the Duke. He kept his tone respectful to avoid offending him, but emphasized his position as Serena’s father in his content.

‘What a maddening team play.’

It was ridiculous that they thought such a clumsy approach would work. He sensed how lightly they regarded both Serena and himself. 

Serena had probably been a good daughter until now, and they subconsciously thought of Licht as much younger than themselves because of his appearance.

‘My personal history is probably longer than the entire Bluebell family history…’

The saying that extreme absurdity leaves one speechless proved true. Licht crossed his arms and observed the situation, curious to see how far this would go.

“Taking her like this won’t be good for Serena either. If unsavory rumors start before the wedding!”

“Why would that matter?”

“It would be bad for her reputation… Pardon?”

“She’s going to marry me anyway, so what does it matter if she’s associated with me in rumors?”

“W-well, you might think that way, Duke, but you should consider Serena’s position…”

“I’m fine with it too, Father.”

The Marquis and Marchioness stared blankly at each other, wondering if they had heard correctly. The predictable gossip would arise if an unmarried couple lived together before marriage. 

No matter the engagement, the future remained uncertain. Obviously, Serena would suffer from such unsavory rumors, and they had expected a different answer from their intelligent daughter who should understand this.

“Besides, Serena isn’t coming with me simply as my fiancée.”

“Then what…?”

“She’s been scouted as the director of the new magical engineering research institute I’m establishing. I see you weren’t aware.”

Magical engineering research institute? 

The Marquis urgently looked at Serena for confirmation, finding this news as ominous as her becoming the Duke’s fiancée.

“I’ve already submitted my resignation letter. You’ll probably be able to confirm it as soon as you return.”

Serena remained unshaken despite the Marquis’s threatening and the Marchioness’s desperate gazes. Her voice, resolute to the point of coldness, seemed unfamiliar to the Marquis couple.

“D-dear child. Do you know how nonsensical this is? If you leave like this, it’s not just bad rumors about you. Are you okay with damaging the entire Bluebell family’s honor because of you? Hmm?”

This was probably the kind of statement that had hurt her most in the past. The idea that everyone suffers because of her. Back then, she thought they were warning her out of concern for her mistakes, but now she knew it was merely intimidation.

Serena snorted derisively and took Licht’s hand. The slight mocking sneer was one of L*st’s characteristic expressions. She was truly becoming more like him in every way.

‘But that’s not a bad thing.’

Leaving a brief final greeting to the Marquis couple, Serena boarded the carriage.

“Even if there’s some damage to our honor, won’t you just hear people say you raised your child poorly? Oh, but you’re probably used to that already because of Cecil since his academy days. Well then, goodbye.”

Though Serena disappeared into the carriage, the Marquis couple remained frozen, unable to leave easily. They couldn’t decide whether to cling to her while crying or intimidate her with harsh words. But Licht’s large frame blocked their view of the contemplating couple.

“Instead of standing here like this, wouldn’t it be better to return to your mansion as quickly as possible and contemplate the numerous misfortunes that will befall you?”

“Misfortunes? Why should we suffer such things?”