***

After lodging a formal complaint with the man’s family, Martian went into hiding for a while.

She had not visited the Moonlight House – which she usually visited at least once a week – for three weeks.

The Moonlight House was technically a brothel, but it didn’t just sell pr*stitutes or male courtesans.

At Moonlight House, the manager would arrange anything to do with s*x, as long as it didn’t seriously break the law.

He introduced clients with unusual tastes, such as Martians, and even rented out private rooms for those in complicated relationships or with particular preferences.

In short, if it made money, they would do anything.

“I should give the manager a bit of a hard time.”

The manager of Moonlight House had an uncanny ability to read people.

Thanks to this talent, Moonlight House had expanded enough to buy two large buildings in the centre of the Eastern Region.

Of course, it was still just a brothel, tucked away in a rural backwater, but it was the only establishment of its size operating here.

The manager knew Martian’s tastes very well.

That’s why he had introduced her to this worthless bastard.

It was a dog that could cry and cower just right, with particularly pale and soft skin.

She loved pushing such creatures to their limits, torturing them until they broke, and she took great pleasure in leaving marks on their pristine skin, like footprints in untouched snow.

Had he not stalked her or poked so obsessively into her private life, she might have kept him around a little longer.

Of course, she had never thought of marrying him.

Martian had no intention of hiding or suppressing her nature, but neither did she want to choose a mate based on her preferences.

Choosing a husband just because he matched her taste in bed would have been utterly foolish.

“You should marry someone who knows how to support you properly. Don’t you think?”

Martian said lightly as she stroked Ron.

His mouth was gagged and his eyes were puffy from prolonged torture.

During the time she had stayed away from Moonlight House, Martian had unleashed all her urges on Ron alone.

A silver chain connected the rings pierced through his n*pples.

She tugged gently on the chain, causing the rings to pull directly on his n*pples.

Ron swallowed a moan with a strained sound.

“What are you dreaming about? You don’t even answer.”

Only then did he begin to mumble something behind the gag.

Since she couldn’t hear him, Martian pulled the chain a few more times.

“Hnn, ngh, mmm-“

The flesh caught in the rings stretched and tightened.

His eyes turned red again and it was only when tears started to fall from the corners of his eyes that she finally released the chain.

“I would like to find a husband who will not only support me, but who will also bring a decent dowry…

Someone obedient on top of that would be even better…”

She looked at Ron for a moment.

He didn’t exactly enjoy humiliation or sadism, but he took her harsh treatment well.

Even if he sometimes acted like a callous lump, which could be frustrating, he was still a dog she had trained for a long time and so he was comfortable in many ways.

He knew how to behave in different situations without being told and responded skilfully to most of what she did to him.

“Hnn, haah-“

Ron moaned and rubbed his cheek against her thigh.

Muffled sounds came from the gag in his mouth.

His p*nis was fully *rect, but a thick rubber band wrapped tightly around its base, making it impossible to release.

He had been in a state of repeated *rousal and denial since the day before.

Without some form of cruelty, he felt he might lose his mind.

Ron rubbed his cheek and forehead against her thigh several times.

A full-bodied plea, a desperate show of affection.

The heat of his cheek against her thigh was unmistakable.

“Someone as well trained as you would also be ideal…”

Martian thought, even as she realised how childish this wish was.

To find a nobleman as well trained as Ron was simply impossible.

As she stroked his hair lazily, Ron whimpered and tried desperately to stimulate the inside of her thigh with his gagged mouth.

Finding it adorable, Martian laid him down on the bed and grabbed his c*ck.

“You want to c*m, don’t you?”

Ron nodded eagerly.

Watching his desperate expression, she gave his c*ck a light slap.

“Hnnnngh -“

He let out a moan as his body instantly stiffened.

Tears welled up in his eyes again from the unbearable tension.

The sight alone stirred her own *rousal.

“Stay still. You won’t get your chance until I’m satisfied.”

Laughing, she straddled him.

***

The Eastern Territories, including the Doan Estate, were on the far eastern border of the Empire on the map.

However, unlike typical frontier regions, they were not heavily policed or administered.

The eastern mountain range served as a natural fortress,

and since only animals ever crossed it, the central government had no reason to pay much attention.

Thus, only the lands below the end of the mountain range – the southeastern areas – were treated as borderlands.

These areas marked the true beginning of the Empire’s practical borders, and carried with them all the strengths and weaknesses of such regions.

The central government allowed these territories to maintain larger private armies and granted them many privileges, but at the same time kept a close eye to ensure that they didn’t stray from Imperial control.

“Viscount, a letter has arrived from the Sevan estate.”

the butler announced, causing Martian to raise an eyebrow in curiosity.

Sevan was an Imperial territory, administered directly by the central government.

Since officials were sent from the capital to administer it, there should have been no reason to send letters to neighbouring estates.

“Sevan? Why would an imperial territory send us a letter?”

“It seems that His Majesty has given the heir to the Duchy of Sebloard the Sevan estate, along with the title of Count.

Now that he has become a Count and will rule this region, it seems that he wishes to hold a banquet to which the Eastern nobility are invited.”

This is a formal invitation.

The invitation was made of luxurious material, decorated with gold leaf patterns.

Martian took it and saw the name written on it: Huey Sebloard, Count of Sevan.

Already a count, even heir to a ducal house –

she uttered a faint, distant exclamation, as if hearing of something happening in a distant world, and then tossed the invitation carelessly aside.

Social gatherings among nobles were always a nuisance and a trouble.

The butler immediately began to scold her.

“Viscount, attending such events is part of your duty. As a noble of the East, it’s an important opportunity for social exchange. You should prepare an outfit befitting the proud status of the Doan Viscountcy…”

“Butler.”

Martian sighed.

It was clear from the butler’s attitude that ignoring the invitation wasn’t an option.

“I understand that I must attend. But as for the outfit, I’ll just wear the pantsuit I wore before.”

“Absolutely not! That suit is almost ten years old! Surely many prominent nobles, including members of the ducal heir’s circle, will attend. For the dignity of the Doan family, you must have a new outfit…”

“So what if I look a bit shabby? As you said, there will be all kinds of people there. I’m just another face in the crowd. The estate’s budget is already tight. Why waste money on something so useless?”

Hearing this, the butler looked at her with renewed determination.

“Then we will get a proper tailor. If we get someone skilled enough, it won’t be a waste.”

“What are you talking about? I told you that the estate’s budget is tight.”

“Even if it’s tight, expenses associated with the viscount’s honour are necessary. I’ll take full responsibility for finding a tailor who will make you stand out at the banquet.”

Martian laughed hollowly.

What need was there to stand out at this banquet?

But then she stopped, suspicion flickering in her mind.

“Butler. I’m just asking -You’re not seriously thinking of setting me up with the new count, are you?”

“It’s not impossible. If you were properly dressed, you would undoubtedly stand out more than anyone else there.”

“Even if I were senile, I wouldn’t lose my mind like that.”

“If my senility could help you find a husband, I’d gladly accept it. As you know, marriage is necessary for the sake of the Doan family.

It’s part of your duty as a viscount.”

“Even if you nag, you should at least be realistic. The man is heir to a ducal house. He probably already has a fiancée. And even if he doesn’t, he won’t be looking for a bride in the East.”

The East was a relatively barren region.

Many of its nobles were content to maintain their estates and live far from the glittering world of high society.

The Duchy of Sebloard, however, was a house of enormous wealth and power.

Though now far removed from the Imperial throne, the first Duke had once been the Emperor’s brother.

A ducal house with Imperial blood coursing through its veins.

It was no exaggeration to say that the Sebloards had grown with the Empire itself.

Over the years, they had consistently served as the loyal protectors of the Imperial family.

‘A house that influences the course of the Empire itself…’

Instead of being impressed, Martian felt tired just thinking about it.

Managing even her small estate was enough of a headache; running a house of this magnitude must require ten or twenty times more effort.

She told the butler:

“Stop dreaming such ridiculous dreams.

“How is it ridiculous? You’re throwing a banquet just to meet the local nobility. That’s a realistic dream.”

“They are only doing this to save face after receiving a title and land from His Majesty. Just watch – they will leave a steward here and return to the capital soon enough.”

It was natural for titled nobles to seek marriage partners who would benefit their houses.

There was absolutely no reason for the Duke’s heir to be seriously interested in an eastern house.

When Martian so neatly dashed the butler’s hopes, his face turned sour.

She shook her head in despair.

The aging butler had served the Doan family faithfully since her parents’ generation, and had occasionally come up with such wild ideas.

Above all, the butler was one of the few who knew about Martian’s s*xual preferences.

And yet he could still say such things – it was baffling.