A lot of strength went into Pervin’s body. His whole body heated up, and he couldn’t control the sweet expression he made without realizing it. It was because he could feel Irwen’s lips quivering in his arms. There was a thin shirt between them, but it seemed worse than nothing. He clenched his teeth so hard that they almost broke. His large hands pushed Irwen away from him, but she moaned and snuggled back into his arms. The sound of her breathing coming from above the bed mixed with the sound of his violent breathing as he struggled to control himself. Pervin decided to seal her squirming in his arms by pressing her lips tightly. He held Irwen tightly in her arms and whispered in her ear.
“How can you sleep comfortably without me? Am I unattractive? Not to your taste?”
As if she were giving her answer, she wrapped her hands around his waist. It was just a grumble that she was so sleepy that she didn’t know what to do. But all of this was a temptation to him.
“Yes, anyway, it was me who loved first, and it was me who wanted.”
He stroked her wife’s soft hair and pressed his lips against hers for no reason. He closed his eyes and tried to sleep. Since he couldn’t endure it with a sober mind, he was trying to at least sleep and bury the painful time. Then, he felt Irwen nuzzle her face as she took a deep breath in his arms.
“Hmm…”
The moment when the true nature that was put to sleep awakens. Pervin decided to just give up his sleep. Because it made no sense for him to sleep over someone he loved in the first place.
… How many hours had passed? Pervin lay for a long time with Irwen in his arms. Unsurprisingly, he couldn’t sleep. This cabin had been a refuge where he had escaped several times from Irwen’s harsh words, but now it had become a refuge for his love. His whole body felt hot and feverish. He put Irwen down from his arms for a moment and took off the shirt he was wearing without hesitation. His hot body was exposed to the cool air due to the rain. Even with his sculpted upper body exposed, it was so hot that he frowned.
“Okay…”
Irwen curled up with her body as if she was cold. Pervin hurriedly grabbed the blanket in his hands to cover her, and then suddenly took her in his arms. Irwen seemed to be warmed by the hot energy radiating from his body. She pursed her lips with her eyes closed. With her eyes closed, she was fast asleep. Pervin smiled at that sight without realizing it. Now that he thought about it, he didn’t know how many years it had been since their wedding that he held her like this. Irwen, who seemed as cold as ice, was quite warm. Had her heart become this warm too? If only he could know her insides as much as he touched her, he thought. Ever since she fell and got back up, he couldn’t figure out what was inside her. She used to be extremely grumpy, but she was honest and let all her spiteful thoughts out of her mouth. Now she was kinder, but he didn’t know what’s inside. Of course, there was something else he wanted to hear from her. His own wish that he had kept secretly from the moment he first saw her until now. He whispered, gently running his hand through Irwen’s hair.
“I love you.”
He wanted to hear this. From the time he first met her until now. She pressed her body against him as she moaned in her sleep at his touch. A squishy sensation was pressed against his chest. Pervin bit his lip hard as he felt her soft insides through her thin dress. It wasn’t just that her face was flushed. Pervin felt his body flush and swallowed his moans with difficulty. He fought it off by biting the middle finger of his right hand. His own body reacted to everything she did. He reluctantly took his lips away from his fingers and headed towards her face. His lips, hot as if they were about to burst, tried to land on Irwen’s lips, but then went lower. Pervin gracefully kissed her shining white collarbone, as if worshiping the most sublime thing in the world. He could barely stop himself from biting her lovely lips. It was because of her own conscience that he could not kiss her without her permission. He was continuing to endure it. However, he wasn’t sure how long this would last. Irwen seemed to show this defenselessness because she completely trusted his self-control, but he could no longer trust his self-control. Today, he restrained himself due to the pain of harming her, but when the day of union decided by the adults in the family comes, if he could win Irwen’s heart by then… Pervin found himself reaching for her lips, and bit his finger again.
“Oh.”
Red tooth marks were clearly engraved on his hand. And all that night, he tried to cover up his desire with pain. The blood from his hands was spreading all over the white bed sheets.
* * *
Next day.
I woke up to the strong morning sunlight. This was my bedroom, with ivory wallpaper embroidered with lily of the valley and roses, a red carpet, and a silk blanket that made a rustling sound. To be precise, the couple’s bedroom that I occupy and use alone.
“My lady!”
Mrs. Tilly was opening and dusting her curtains when she saw me and came running. He looked happy, as if he had discovered the most precious treasure in the world.
“You’re awake! “It would have been better if you had woken up when the master went out earlier.”
“Wait, wait a minute.”
I paused for a moment in Mrs. Tilly’s chatter.
“Why am I here? You were obviously in the cabin last night, so why did you wake up in the bedroom?”
“Oh, look at my mind. You came here asleep, so it’s natural that you don’t know the circumstances.”
Mrs. Tilly said with ecstatic eyes, folding her hands together.
“The master came to the mansion this morning with his wife in his arms. He brought his wife here! Isn’t it true that you treated your wife so carefully that you held her so gently, as if you were freshly baked pottery?”
“Is it so?”
A voice full of doubt came out of my mouth. I couldn’t imagine Pervin treating me as kindly as freshly baked pottery. Mrs. Tilly added excitedly.
“The master said that from now on, he will come here and sleep on the day of the annexation. Ma’am, you said you would sleep there if you preferred somewhere else, but this is actually the couple’s bedroom, right?”
“Couple’s bedroom…”
“We will do our best to help you both avoid any inconvenience in the future, ma’am. We have already informed the elders of the Carlisle family, but they are also very pleased with the atmosphere between the two and have already received advice from an astrologer for their union. Oh my goodness, something is finally happening!”
Mrs. Tilly was so overcome with emotion that her body shook violently. Her reality seemed to be weighing quite heavily on her shoulders. Since she said she was obliging, she had no choice but to observe Hapbang Day.
“We only share a room together on the day of the merger…”
A sigh escaped me unintentionally. But it seems that Mrs. Tilly completely misunderstood what I said. She said to me, rolling her eyes slyly.
“Ma’am, don’t worry. Could it be that the master wants you to stay here alone every night, alone? He will often stop by here to see his wife as soon as he finishes his official duties.”
I was embarrassed and rolled my eyes again and again. But she soon regained her composure. You have a pact with me, so you won’t mess with me. I respect doing my duty, but it’s clear that I think having children is separate from duty. Okay, at least that’s a relief. Mrs. Tilly waited on me and she busied herself with her mouth. It was my first time seeing her this excited.
“By the way, madam, did you have a good time last night? Well, I didn’t know you two would be spending the night in a cabin, but it seems so romantic in its own way! But, I don’t know if that musk bag had any effect. How precious it is is that it is a precious musk pouch, one of only three in the empire, and was a special gift to the owner from the elders of the family. The effect is also very special. They say that even if a couple has become cold or is on the verge of divorce, their love for each other will gush out like a waterfall if they just do this… Have things gotten better?”
Mrs. Tilly’s eyes were shining brightly with anticipation, and she turned her head to see how unreasonably burdensome she was. The musk bag wrapped in leather was placed on the table, as if Pervin had brought it back. How much trouble did I have to endure because of that? Pervin even got this strange idea that I was trying to seduce him because of her thing! There was a lot she wanted to say, but Mrs. Tilly’s burdensome gaze drowned out her complaints.
“I don’t know about anything else, but that musk sac. Please do not use it in the future. “It was too much.”
“Oh, that’s right.”
Mrs. Tilly made that strange expression again.
“Well, my master wanted you so much even without this musk sac. It was my mistake.”
“Aunt, Aunt Tilly!”
Madam Tilly’s niece, Marianne, came running in, panting and pounding on the door. she asked as if she was worried about Mrs. Tilly, seeing her expression as if her world was falling apart.
“What is it, Marianne? What kind of news is this that’s causing such an uproar?”
Marianne looked at me and reported excitedly.
“I heard the owner is coming early today too. I heard he’s coming around 2pm and going to the dressing room with his wife. So should I prepare dinner early?”
She looked at me as if Mrs. Tilly was embarrassed.
“I think it’s because of the outfit you’ll be wearing at the prom next week… Have you ever heard anything like this from him, madam?”
“No.”
I got into such a weird situation yesterday, but I didn’t have time to talk about it.
“There’s a letter here too, ma’am.”
Marianne handed me a letter written on fine parchment. This was written in a letter with traces of ink pressed here and there, as if she had written it carefully. -I’m getting ready because I’ll be here at 2pm today, and I’ll go straight to Madame Bertin’s dressing room.
“Madame Bertin? Oh my god!” cried Mrs. Tilly, her voice filled with delight.
“A dress from the arrogant Madame Bertin, who only deals with the imperial family! This is such a proud clothing room that even takes reservations for dresses for Her Majesty the Empress months in advance! Ma’am, it’s clear that your master is making every preparation for you at the ball next week!”
I was puzzled by this courtesy from Pervin. We said we would do our duty to each other, but I have no idea why they are showing us this favor. Although I was embarrassed, I didn’t feel bad about the tingling in my heart. However, I was curious as to why his attitude had changed so much since he had always been so stiff in front of me. At that time, Marie Anne secretly asked me next to her.
“By the way, ma’am, did you have a fight last night, or did you have sex…? …It hurts, Aunt Tilly!”
Mrs. Tilly tugged at her Marie Anne ear, glanced at me in embarrassment, then lowered her head.
“I’m sorry, ma’am. I will teach you proper etiquette again.”
I waved her hand for her to let go of her Marie Anne. I was curious about the cause of the curiosity on Marie Anne’s face.
“No, it’s okay. What exactly are you curious about, Marianne?”
“There were blood stains all over the bed sheets, not just one, but in several places.”
I looked around my body in confusion. When told that there was blood on it, she had a reasonable doubt, but shook her head. I slept too well last night to have such doubts. All the muscles and fatigue in my body were completely relieved because I slept well last night. Next to me, Mrs. Tilly looked at me and spoke quickly to Marianne.
“What on earth did you see? It wasn’t a blood stain, it was a wine stain. I washed it myself, so you can’t tell.”
“The owner was the type of person who spilled wine? The owner is the person who caught me last time when I was carrying a wine glass and tried to drop it.”
“I guess you made a mistake because you were drunk. Of course, all sorts of things happen.”
The tone of his speech seemed somewhat vague.
* * *
Pervin Carlisle woke up an hour earlier than usual, but went to work an hour later. This was how he moved Irwen to her bedroom and admired her long after the morning sun had risen. Since he was the one who guarded his time like his sword, everyone was curious about why was he late.
“What happened, Duke of Carlisle? Is something going on at home?”
“You’re an hour late. Are you in pain somewhere?”
“No. It’s not like that.”
In contrast to Pervin’s sharp answer, a faint smile appeared on his face. It was quite surprising to see a ray of warmth seeping from his face, which was always as cold as ice. People noticed right away. Something good happened!
“I heard that your relationship with the Duchess has improved recently. Do you think the rumors are true?”
“Oh, well…”
Pervin only twitched his lips as if he was reluctant to speak. However, the back of his neck was already irritated. People continued to speculate actively as his mood became much softer.
‘How much has he changed that you can see the Duke of Carlisle’ smiling?’
After the day she suddenly collapsed and recovered, news began to come from all over that the Duchess of Carlisle had changed. Not long ago, there was news that she invited several nobles and members of the royal family to show off her beautiful songs. The Emperor liked her singing, the Duke of Sibelom praised her for her unfailing beauty, and the social butterfly, the Marchioness Célestine, was smitten with her refined stage manners and said she was a must-see for her. She openly said that she wanted to have tea. Everyone was curious. How on earth has the Duchess changed so much that everyone wants to be friends with her?
“Everyone who attended the party held at the duke’s residence praised my wife for her beauty, singing skills, dignity, and everything. When will we be able to see her wife?”
Pervin’s eyes widened at this interest from others. His brilliant platinum-blonde hair sparkled even more, as if reflecting his refreshing mood.
“You will be able to see my wife at the Imperial Palace Ball next week.”
“I’m looking forward to it. Isn’t this your first time bringing your wife to the imperial ball?”
“That’s right. I would like to come and say hello.”
In the past, Pervin’s face would have hardened due to the intense interest surrounding Irwen, but now he was wearing a coy smile. He felt good just thinking about her. In his unusually gentle mood, the people around him continued to have pleasant conversations. One of them seemed to be intoxicated by the atmosphere and without hesitation brought up the topic everyone was curious about.
“Now that your relationship is quite good, can we expect news of a successor? Ha ha ha!”
Without noticing Pervin’s face harden for a moment, he continued speaking.
“Since you both are healthy. It will only be a matter of time before you have children. Later, I will send your wife some medicine that is good for pregnancy.”
“That is a matter for my wife and me to take care of, and…”
Pervin’s face changed from a warm one to a cold one in an instant. He added firmly, looking at the people who were at a loss.
“I will not allow you to burden Irwen.”
Everyone stiffened at his strong tone. They looked down from his cold eyes and noticed teeth-mark-like wounds on his fingers, and they nodded in unison. Ah, he could clearly see the speculation floating in the air that his relationship with his wife had become bad again recently. Pervin hastily hid his fingers and his face became even more rigid. He couldn’t be embarrassed like this. What he didn’t realize was that the traces of suppressing his desires last night could cause misunderstanding in others. Without even having time to cool down his dizzy spell, he faced the king of misunderstanding.
* * *
“Waaaaaa!”
“As expected, you are the Emperor!”
“Duke Carlisle, you look great today as well!”
When Pervin appeared on the dance floor with the Emperor, the guards greeted him with loud cheers. Unscheduled visits by the emperor were frequent, and each time the emperor would request a sparring match with Pervin. Pervin, the commander-in-chief of the empire, sparring with the captain of the guard also attracted the attention of the members, but his sparring with the Emperor was explosively popular. It was especially popular when Pervin, the best warrior in the empire, showed off his extravagant swordsmanship against the Emperor.
“I hope you have a great game today too!”
“I think you’ll fall in love!”
“I am already in love with the Duke of Carlisle, please accept my heart!”
The two took off their outer clothes while receiving cheers from numerous soldiers. When Pervin handed the robe to Sir Daubre, Master of the Guard, he blushed with reverence. Lord Dovre, a fit man, stood next to Pervin, but he was no match for Pervin’s strong body. The emperor flashed a mischievous smile as he saw the white shirt clinging to his muscular body as if it were about to burst.
“We haven’t known each other for a year or two, so I don’t know why you’re so shy. How long are you going to dress up and spar?”
“Even in this state, sparring is enough.”
“I’m not good enough.”
In an instant, the Emperor took off his shirt, revealing his bare, lean body. Pervin looked at him in confusion, but he was stubborn.
“Today, let’s take off our clothes and clash swords. It’s not like you’re not confident in your body, right?”
Pervin’s eyebrows rose closely at the emperor’s provocative words.
“It can’t be. The thing I’m most confident in is my body.”
Unlike before, when he hesitated, Pervin coolly took off his clothes and threw them away.
When the Emperor opened his mouth, perhaps expecting him to hesitate, Pervin raised his eyebrows as if nothing had happened.
“Why are you uncomfortable to look at?”
“There’s too much comparison between your body and mine! Why do you think you’re feeling better?”
Pervin made a humming sound, saying it was natural, without replying. Appreciative cheers erupted from the soldiers around them.
“It’s art, it’s a statue!”
He was a man who received tremendous respect from all the women and men of the empire. His muscle-filled white inverted triangle body was always sculptural. He picked up his sword and began sparring with the emperor. He held up a sword with no intention to kill. How many times did he strike? After observing Pervin closely, who looked particularly flushed today, he asked outright.
“So, did you have a good night with your dear wife?”
Instead of answering, Pervin hurriedly clashed his swords with him.
“What are you talking about, Your Majesty?”
The emperor narrowed his eyes and pointed to a deep wound on his right hand. It was the wound he had accidentally bitten on his finger last night while trying to suppress his lust for Irwen.
“That wound, I think it was made by a woman.”
“Focus on sparring. I don’t regard you as your majesty.”
Pervin’s face fell, so he swung his sword harder and harder. The Emperor was pushed back as if he was exhausted, but he couldn’t stop the amused laughter that came out.
Flash!
That time when sharp blades come into close contact. The Emperor whispered darkly into Pervin’s ear.
“It’s okay, Pervin. There are often women who leave marks on their men’s bodies during relationships. So don’t worry about the hurt. I guess you got hurt too much.”
“I said it wasn’t like that.”
Pervin’s green eyes sparkled hotly. He couldn’t say that he bit himself while trying to control his lust for Irwen. However, he didn’t want to actively explain it here. Especially in this place with so many people in front of him. Instead of his mouth being silent, the tendons on the arm that wielded his sword stood out.
“Oh, make it easy, make it easy! Don’t bully me.”
The Emperor was so stern that he seemed like he was going to collapse at any moment, but his face was filled with laughter as he wondered what was so funny. He seemed to conclude that the wound on Pervin’s finger was inflicted by his woman.
“So, let’s do it a little more gently. How hard can you do it?”
Pervin’s face brightened. He quickly overpowered the Emperor with his overwhelming skills. As the Emperor fell to the floor, the sword he had taken from him was thrown away. Applause praising Pervin’s victory erupted from those around him. Leaving behind the loud noise, Pervin bent down to the Emperor lying beneath him.
“Your Majesty, it’s not like you’re interfering with someone else’s couple without even knowing it.”
“At least it seems clear that your couple’s love is back on track now.”
Seeing the Emperor’s face smiling like a friend meddling in someone else’s love affair, Pervin kindly told her.
“Are you smiling even though you lost in sparring?”
“It’s not like I lost to you once or twice, so what? Anyway, I always said, you should show off your handsome body rather than your flashy speech. Have you seen any effect?”
“…”
The memory of yesterday, when he tried to push her but failed, came to his mind clearly. Instead, Irwen fell asleep and his restless body suffered all night long. As Pervin’s face turned nervous, the Emperor muttered quickly.
“Ah, I guess your body isn’t to your wife’s taste.”
—————————————————————
Translator Note:
Hello there! This is RJR. I hope you liked it <3
If you like my work please support me with Ko-fi or Patreon. Next post will be released on December, 9.
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