“……Don’t get hard from the morning.”

“Impossible.”

He kissed along her bare shoulders and spine. The ticklish sensation made her toes curl. Rosetta pushed him away reluctantly.

“Now…… ugh, time to get up.”

She slipped out of his embrace and the bed at the same time. The sheet barely clinging to her waist naturally slid off her body. Her full breasts, flat stomach, and slender legs were fully exposed under the sunlight. She stretched like a sated leopard. She wasn’t the type to be embarrassed by her nakedness, so she felt only carefree.

Looking back, Cardier was narrowing his eyes with an impatient expression. His gaze slowly descended, then leisurely rose again. Reading the desire in his eyes was easy.

Through Cardier, Rosetta saw the past, but every time she noticed his changed demeanor, she also felt the passage of years. Four years ago, Cardier would hurriedly turn his head whenever she revealed her body. Back then, he was a naive boy unaware of the kind of desire he felt for her, and Rosetta had never once been ashamed of her body.

When she casually stripped off her clothes, the boy, bound by all sorts of etiquette for treating a lady, was adorably flustered…… but she had never been a lady to begin with.

When it was hot, she’d take off her top and wash with the men, sharing a wet towel. The fools who lunged at her body were personally drowned in the sea, and she felt no guilt disposing of such trash. Her education was so brief she barely learned to read, and holding a spoon was the only etiquette she knew. No matter how you looked at it, there was no reason for a refined young lord to pine for her.

Yesterday, somehow swept up in passion…….

It wasn’t as if she’d never done this with other men before. She wasn’t one to hide her desires, and she somewhat enjoyed the warm sensation of skin against skin. The sailors were all appetizingly built, though they were disappointing once uncovered…… but anyway, giving in to the emotions of the night and mingling bodies was no big deal.

So, the scene from last night was all the more surprising the more she recalled it. A sensation she’d never felt before…… the tingling heat flowing down her spine. Relentlessly teasing her until she felt it. Thinking of last night, the space between her thighs throbbed with yearning again. Could this maddening desire be so easily called love…….

Unlike the night before, with her reason now returning, she couldn’t help but look back skeptically. Of course, she was certain she liked Cardier. There was a sense of pride and satisfaction, like seeing a beloved puppy grow up well. But considering no one sleeps with a dog, could it really be such a simple emotion?

The love she knew belonged to the realm of sacrifice. It was clear that Cardier loved her. That’s why he married her, despite her being a woman lacking in every way. That was true sacrifice.

In contrast…… Rosetta examined what she could sacrifice for Cardier. Well, she didn’t know yet. Perhaps her feelings were far shallower than his.

“You’re thinking something complicated again.”

“Again?”

“You hate complicated things.”

“…….”

“How could I not know you?”

Half-sitting up, he kissed each of her fingers. Then, as if something ominous suddenly came to mind, his perfect expression faltered.

“Or…… were you not satisfied?”

“……What?”

She was momentarily stunned and asked back. Last night was, quite literally, a beastly night. If she wasn’t satisfied, it wouldn’t have been like that.

In the brief moment she didn’t immediately retort, Cardier’s sculpted face froze in shock, as if he’d reached some horrific imagination.

“If that’s the case, please tell me. I’ll make sure you’re not disappointed next time.”

……Damn, is this the thrill of raising a younger man? Grabbing his chin and roughly pressing her lips to his, Cardier obediently lowered his gaze. Their tongues entangled eagerly, and the next moment, Cardier wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her onto the bed. As expected, her wrists were pinned down. Swallowing a wry laugh at the swiftly reversed dynamic, she spoke.

“……Don’t we have to leave soon?”

He smiled leisurely. His deep, elegant eyes curved mischievously.

“We’ll arrive tomorrow morning.”

Montrosa Castle.

The famous admiral’s castle was located on a cliff along the eastern coast, far from Siclid’s city center. Its accessibility from the city was poor, but it was perfect for overlooking Siclid at a glance, and considering nobles were always eager to distance themselves from commoners, there couldn’t be a better location.

Despite her irritation, Rosetta couldn’t help but gasp in admiration as the carriage wound along the curving path. It was truly a picturesque scene. A cloudless blue sky, an ancient castle, and the vast sea stretching beside it. If it was this beautiful from here, she couldn’t even imagine the view from the castle’s balcony.

Passing through a tall iron gate and an avenue of evergreens for a few minutes, the immense grandeur of Montrosa Castle finally came into view. She’d thought it impressive from afar, but up close, its scale was staggering.

Rosetta swallowed a wry laugh at the sight of servants—seemingly twice the number of those at Valdemore Castle—lined up in formation. The carriage came to a gentle stop in front of the castle steps.

“Come in, dear.”

As soon as she stepped out of the carriage with Cardier’s help, an elegant elderly woman at the front grabbed both her hands warmly. Overwhelmed by the unilateral affection, Rosetta froze. Then, she barely recalled seeing this face at the wedding.

It was a face she shouldn’t have hesitated over or forgotten, even for a moment. Among the countless people she greeted that day, she’d made an effort to etch this face into her memory. Following Lady Valmont’s training, Rosetta gracefully bent and straightened her knees.

“Duchess Montrosa. We’re a bit delayed.”

By proper etiquette, she should have held her skirt, but with both hands held, it was unavoidable. The duchess’s expression softened, as if finding even this awkward courtesy endearing.

“Yes, yes. What does it matter? I’m just so glad you came. Aren’t you tired?”

“I’m fine.”

Was there some special connection that warranted such a warm welcome? Come to think of it, they said it was Duchess Montrosa who enthusiastically pushed for the wedding with Lea. As she pondered, the duchess gently took her arm.

“Lea…… oh, is it alright to call you that? I called you Lady Valdemore in formal settings, but we’re beyond such stiff formalities now, aren’t we?”

“Of course, you may…….”

“I always wished for a beautiful daughter like you. The luggage from Valdemore was only sorted this morning. I thought you’d arrive a couple of days ago and was worried, but thankfully your schedule was delayed.”

……Yes, it was sudden. Cardier’s passion. Rosetta tried to ignore the vivid memories of the past two days’ carnal revelry that flashed through her mind.

“I didn’t touch the clothes you packed privately, and the books Duchess Valdemore said you enjoyed reading are shelved in the library. If there’s anything you don’t like, feel free to change it.”

“…….”

“Oh, shall I have lunch set up in the garden?”

It was a veritable storm of chatter. She didn’t know Duchess Montrosa’s true nature well, but the excitement was palpable on her refined face. Seeing that face, the wedding came back to her. Yes, the duchess had the same expression then.

“The chef mostly prepares simple eastern dishes, so I’m not sure if they’ll suit your taste. If it’s hard to get used to, we can request from the Valdemore family within a few days…….”

“Mother.”

Having given instructions to the coachman and servants carrying their luggage, Cardier turned around, narrowing his fine brow.

“You’re making Lea uncomfortable.”

As if her warm demeanor had been a lie, the duchess frowned and waved dismissively at her son.

“You go on upstairs.”

“……Why are you being so excessive today?”

“And why are you acting like I’m some cruel mother? Showing my daughter-in-law around the mansion is my job.”

“It’s precisely the butler’s job, not yours.”

“It’ll only take half a day…….”

“Even half a day is too precious.”

It was a complete shutdown. Her gaze at her son was as if she were looking at something unsightly, yet her lips curved happily, as if she were overwhelmed with joy.