Elise’s attempt to subtly shift her position while watching Karan’s reaction was thwarted.
Karan tightly embraced Elise’s waist. He buried his head deeply into her neck.
His desire began to squirm, asserting itself strongly.
“…Don’t worry about it.”
As Elise expressed her discomfort with a fidget, Karan muttered.
How could she not worry?
At this rate, it seemed impossible to have a conversation about the engagement ceremony. Yet, going to bed with Karan was a concern for tomorrow.
Their night always ended with the sunrise. Unless Elise lost consciousness…
“Your Highness, I’m truly sorry.”
“What are you saying, Elise?”
Karan’s brow furrowed. Did she have something to apologize for?
“I’ll build up my stamina to become someone who can properly satisfy you, Your Highness.”
Elise spoke with a solemn determination.
“You are not lacking, Elise.”
“No, I am lacking. I can’t satisfy you in bed every time, can I? Even now, I…I’m sorry, but I can’t do it today.”
Karan blinked slowly. So Elise was talking about, well, his potency, wasn’t she?
And she was saying she would build up her stamina for his sake, to match him?
Ah, what was he to do with Elise?
Karan covered his face with his large hand.
She was cute, uttering such bold words with her refined appearance.
Her heart, which didn’t condemn his desire as dirty but tried to match it, was endearing.
“That, Your Highness?”
As his desire swelled even more, Elise flinched and shuddered.
“Elise, please stop talking.”
Karan’s neck turned bright red. His chest heaved with deep breaths.
Her words were meant to soothe him, but Elise failed. Instead, she had provoked him.
Karan’s reaction was ambiguous, but it didn’t seem like he was pleased.
‘Did I sound like I was avoiding him?’
According to the customs of Tetris she had read about in Bedrokka, Tetrisian enjoyed intimacy and fulfilled each other’s needs.
‘Maybe I should have just done it.’
Elise parted her lips, which had been pressed together.
“If it’s too hard, Your Highness, then let’s do it.”
“Elise, ah, please.”
Karan flung his hand down and grasped Elise’s wrist, pulling her closer.
Their bodies, already close, were now completely pressed together.
While Elise’s willingness to match him was appreciated, Karan felt uneasy on the other hand.
It seemed like he was pushing her too hard.
“I can endure it.”
“It’s hard, isn’t it?”
“No, it’s not hard. We promised to do it next time, didn’t we? That’s enough.”
In reality, it wasn’t enough.
Next time, today, right now, Karan wanted to roll around with Elise if he could.
“Are you really okay?”
Elise stole a glance at Karan.
Karan removed his hand and spoke tenderly.
“I made you worry too much.”
He nodded and placed a gentle kiss on Elise’s flushed cheek.
“From now on, give me a signal whenever you’re ready. I’ll ignore it if you do.”
“How can I ignore it when you’re like this…”
So vigorous.
“I’m like this all the time. If you matched me every time, we’d never leave the bedroom.”
It wasn’t just an empty threat. He was right. But aren’t men supposed to have constant desires?
After Elise remained silent for a while, Karan turned his head and moved closer to her face.
“Your Highness, you’re too close.”
It was too late to back off now, after being so intimately close until now.
Karan playfully kissed the tip of Elise’s finger as he held her hand up.
“Don’t tempt me!”
Elise exclaimed. Not because she didn’t want to, but because she was heating up.
“Just a little, Elise. I won’t go all the way. Can’t I, hmm?”
Karan coaxed Elise. At that moment, he was only going to want her a little bit, just a little bit.
Really.
****
Mornings for the maid serving the loving noble couple could often be awkward.
Regina stood outside the door with a tea tray in hand.
Since no one had seen Karan leave Elise’s room last night, they must have stayed up all night.
Timing was crucial in such situations. Going in too early meant facing Karan’s cold gaze, while going in too late would disrupt Elise’s daily schedule.
‘Miss must be awake by now.’
Regina checked outside the window. The sun was rising nicely.
Regina took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
“Miss, I’m coming in.”
A rustling sound came from inside.
‘Timing was perfect this time as well.’
Regina smiled and opened the door wide. As expected, Karan was on the bed.
The half-naked Karan leaned against the headboard, gently stroking Elise’s hair as she had just woken up.
He looked at Regina.
“It’s early in the morning.”
He indirectly scolded her for coming too early.
“No, Your Highness. It’s late. You have a lot to do today, don’t you?”
Thanks to Elise’s intervention, Regina avoided Karan’s piercing gaze. Relieved, Regina quickly approached Elise.
“I’ll prepare your bath, Miss.”
Regina prepared Elise’s tea and hurried into the bathroom.
As Regina disappeared, Elise’s eyes slowly closed. She was sleep-deprived.
The act that had suddenly begun yesterday ended with Elise feeling more satisfied.
‘I need to build up my stamina.’
Since she had come to Tetris, which values the relationship between couples more than anyone else, she had to make an effort, not avoid him.
Elise laughed at the thought that Karan would be delighted if he heard her.
‘The reason for building up stamina…’
She had said it yesterday, but it was really too bold of her.
“Elise, are you very tired?”
When Elise frowned, Karan gently massaged her shoulders.
“If you’re very tired, why don’t you take a day off?”
“No, Your Highness. I told you yesterday. I’m trying to select people to help prepare for the engagement ceremony. Is there anyone who can help?”
“I’ll talk to Haltbin and see.”
“Well, that’s good, but is there anyone among the young nobles of Tetris who would volunteer?”
Elise wanted to establish a connection with the nobles of Tetris.
“I also want to learn about the culture of Tetris. Wouldn’t it be easier to learn and master the manners of the nobles than the stiff etiquette of the palace?”
“You have nothing to learn. Rather, you should learn from here.”
The noble culture of Tetris was heavily influenced by Bedrokka. Originally, they rejected the culture of Bedrokka, calling it a complete body, but they began to admire it, and it spread like a trend, and it took a considerable place.
“Still. There’s something called atmosphere.”
At Elise’s plea, Karan reluctantly nodded.
“There may not be a single volunteer. Not because they hate you, but because I’m bad.”
“Don’t worry too much, Your Highness. Isn’t there a single person on my side in this vast Tetris? Even if there isn’t, there will be applicants. Even if they’re just curious about me.”
Elise was confident.
“But before that, Your Highness, can you give Regina a position?”
“What position do you want, Elise?”
“Anything. I wish Regina could move around this palace a little more comfortably.”
Elise recalled the last time Regina was rebuked at the gate. She couldn’t let her go through that humiliation again.
“Hmm, rather than a suitable position…let’s give her a title.”
“Huh?”
The one who was surprised was not Elise, but Regina. Regina, who had finished preparing the bath and was looking for a timing to join the conversation of the two, dropped the towel with a thud.
“Regina, were you listening? We were talking about you. Come here.”
“What, what did I hear, Miss? A title? A title for me?”
Regina was a commoner. The way for a commoner to become a noble was simple but difficult to achieve.
It could be done by making a great contribution to the country.
Of course, there were shortcuts, but Regina was too poor to take them.
So she never even dreamed of becoming a noble.
“If you’re going to continue to serve Elise as her closest aide, it would be good to have a title. Elise, what do you think?”
“If you can give her one, I would be grateful. But is it possible, Your Highness?”
The noble title is bestowed by the king. Karan lifted his lips.
“Just tell me one thing. Would it be helpful to you if Regina became a noble?”
Elise nodded her head. It wouldn’t make her work much easier if Regina became a noble, but it would definitely reduce the times Regina was ignored by the courtiers of Tetris.
It would make Elise’s heart feel at ease, so what could be better than that?
“Yes, it’s okay. Very much so.”
Perhaps she was too happy, Elise hung around Karan’s neck like a child. As a result, the blanket that had been covering her chest slipped off.
“Ah, my eyes!”
Regina had to turn around in a hurry, covering her eyes.
****
Regina’s noble title came out two days later.
Baronetess.
Although it was just a title with no inheritance, no territory or money from the country, Regina was happy.
With this, she could stand tall among the courtiers.
And she could also intervene in the conversations of the noble ladies who slandered Elise and lay down the law.
To Regina, the title was like a ticket to enter the battlefield of tea time.
‘Just try to badmouth our Miss. I’ll crush you all!’
Regina’s fighting spirit flared up.
“Regina, you’re too eager. The people interviewing will be scared and run away.”
At Elise’s words, Regina came to her senses.
“Ah, yes. Um, right.”
Regina coughed loudly and straightened her posture.
How many people had come, surely not one had not come.
“I’ll open the door now.”
With half tension and half worry, Regina opened the door to the reception room.
