“Now, finally, we are alone.”

Casius’ smooth lips parted as he spoke in a low voice.

“How long I’ve waited for this day. The day you become mine.”

Slowly, his lips curved into an elegant arc.

Then he tilted his head and leaned towards Adeline.

Soon their lips met. In the silence that settled around them, only the sound of wet kissing lingered.

“Mmph…”

The hot breath that invaded between Adeline’s teeth intertwined chaotically.

Casius messily explored Adeline’s mouth, and as if unsatisfied, he continuously sucked her in. As if trying to swallow her whole.

“Ah… W-wait…”

It felt like she was about to lose her breath.

Adeline briefly turned her head and barely managed to exhale the breath that had risen to the top of her throat.

As she turned her head, this time Casius lowered his.

He began to lick down her slender neckline.

Then, briefly distanced by the dress blocking at her collarbone, he raised his hand to undo the strings at the back.

A sense of liberation from the waist. As the front of the dress parted completely, cool air briefly enveloped Adeline.

In that moment, her body tilted backwards.

The man’s leg invaded between the parted dress at her waist.

Her mind was hazy from his thigh firmly pressing down, preventing her from moving.

However, as if that wasn’t enough, he leaned his upper body towards Adeline.

“Take it off.”

A whispered voice at her ear. He was asking her to remove the shirt he was wearing.

She raised her hands and began unbuttoning one by one.

Meanwhile, Casius buried his face in Adeline’s exposed chest.

“Ngh.”

Wherever his hot breath brushed, flowers of heat bloomed.

Adeline, who had only unbuttoned half of his shirt, squirmed unable to hold back.

It wasn’t her first time, but even his small touches and breaths made her whole body tremble.

He looked at Adeline like that, then removed her hands that were hovering near his shirt and lowered them.

The thread-like remnants of reason were about to be consumed by desire.

Growing impatient, he tore off his shirt.

The sound of shirt buttons rolling away was brief.

“I can’t hold back.”

Soon Casius raised his hand to lift her chin and sucked in her lips.

The erotic sounds created by the two entangled in disorder echoed in the bedroom.

Before long, the cool air disappeared and only hot passion remained.

As the air in the room heated up, the two’s breathing became rougher.

Their first night as a married couple was hotter and more passionate than any other day.

From early morning, Adeline finished bathing and grooming in one go with the help of maids.

She was wearing an outdoor dress, as if going out somewhere.

After finishing preparations, Adeline headed to the first floor where the duke was said to be.

The neighing of horses could be heard from outside.

As she left the mansion, the duke standing with Eric alongside a large prepared carriage came into view.

He turned around, seeming to sense Adeline’s presence.

“Where are you going so early in the morning?”

“The harvest festival in a nearby territory.”

“Harvest festival?”

At first, she asked as if not knowing, but soon Adeline remembered.

“When we return, let’s go on a short trip together on a nice day.”

To go to the upcoming harvest festival together.

It was what he had said before leaving for the flood-damaged village.

“The harvest festival this year is even more meaningful because of the flood damage. There are few villages that weren’t affected. Moreover, now that you’ve become the duchess, you need to come with me to inspect the territory.”

Adeline soon nodded in agreement.

No matter how impure the intentions behind their marriage, Adeline was now the Duchess of House Torpeo.

Moreover, since the flood damage was severe, there was a need to show their faces at the harvest festival and comfort the people of the territory.

“I see.”

As Adeline’s expression darkened, Casius placed his hand on her shoulder.

“You don’t need to be so serious about it. The Torpeo duchy’s harvest festival is no different from a festival. It will be a time for everyone to enjoy, so it should be quite a sight.”

“…”

“I’d like you to think of it as a trip. Let’s depart now.”

At his words, Adeline’s hardened expression softened.

Although there were still concerns, excitement soon grew larger.

It was the first outing and trip for the newly married couple.

The carriage carrying the two stopped after not even a few hours of travel.

It really wasn’t far from the duke’s castle as they had said.

The two alighted from the carriage.

For a local festival, the village festival was quite grand.

Perhaps because the Torpeo territory itself was quite large, the village was bustling with many people.

“Is it always this crowded?”

“This year it’s a bit more crowded. As it’s a harvest festival to comfort the flood-affected territory residents, it’s being held on a grander scale.”

“It wouldn’t be lacking compared to festivals held in the capital.”

Casius smiled softly at Adeline’s words.

The two had deliberately not announced that the duke and duchess would be visiting the territory.

They wanted to see and experience the harvest festival as it truly was.

Moreover, the protagonists of this harvest festival were not the two of them.

Adeline looked around busily. She looked so innocent, turning her head here and there like a child.

The Credion viscounty’s territory bordered the capital. As much as it was backed by the imperial family’s authority.

Moreover, Viscount Credion resided in a townhouse within the territory rather than the main mansion.

It was to be able to rush immediately at the empress’s call.

Therefore, Adeline might have been unfamiliar with such territorial culture.

“Du- no. Mel, look over there. It seems they’re about to perform an ensemble.”

She unknowingly stopped herself from calling him duke.

Then, naturally calling him Mel, she led him to where people were gathering.

The street band’s performance was beyond imagination.

“Even though they’re a street band, their skills are good.”

The two had listened to the performance without feeling their legs ache despite standing for a long time.

As people retreated and Adeline, who had stayed until the end, took out a few gold coins from her pocket and put them in the hat the performer had put out.

“Oh my, thank you madam!”

A man who was tidying up his instrument approached and bowed his head. Then his eyes widened as he looked at the two of them.

“Oh, could it be… Your Grace? We hadn’t heard that the duke would be visiting this year. It’s an honor!”

“Oh my. To think someone would recognize me.”

“This isn’t the time. I should go tell people…”

Casius waved his hand towards the band member who was about to raise his voice.

“That’s enough. As this is an unofficial visit, I’d like to enjoy quietly and leave. Would you do that for me?”

“O-of course. It’s Your Grace’s territory after all. Please enjoy comfortably.”

Having received a promise from the band, Adeline and Casius moved towards the inner part of the square.

They spent time walking the streets, eating food, and stopping to watch performances.

Before they knew it, quite some time had passed.

The two, who had decided to rest briefly before walking again, sat down on a street bench in the square.

She had refused Casius’s suggestion to go to a teahouse.

“Maybe because it’s been a while since I’ve been out, but I prefer sitting here.”

“Isn’t it uncomfortable with so many people around?”

“It’s fine. It just means it’s that much more lively. It’s good to see that the territory residents seem to be overcoming well.”

He looked as if scanning the bustling street, then nodded.

“It’s thanks to the relief supplies arriving on time to the flood-affected villages. Moreover, with support materials being sent from the imperial palace as well, the damage has been restored to some extent.”

“I was honestly worried. You were on your way to inspect the flood-damaged villages when you returned.”

Adeline cautiously brought up the past incident.

On the day she had decided to run away and left the castle, the duke had been on his way to inspect the villages.

However, upon realizing she had disappeared, Casius had turned back.

She found out later that Casius and Eric had returned to the castle, and only sent knights to deliver relief supplies.

To think the Iron Duke would lose his reason because of her…

It felt like it was all her fault that he acted so unlike himself, which kept weighing heavily on her mind.

But coming out to the territory like this in person made her feel much lighter.

“I’m glad they seem to be overcoming the crisis well. I was worried. I’m so happy we came out today like this. Actually, I’ve never properly enjoyed a village festival before.”

“…”

“The street performances, the food, everything was new and good. Thank you.”

Adeline gave him an innocent smile.

Casius’s eyes darkened at the sincerity he felt from her.

The letter he had sent to the imperial palace a few days ago floated over her face.

He had told Crown Prince Trashi that he would soon visit the palace with the duchess.

Even knowing that Adeline extremely disliked the crown prince, he had no choice.

He too had matters that could no longer be delayed.

“Mel, look at the sunset. Isn’t it like a painting?”

Adeline pointed to the sky turning red towards him.

The setting sun peeking through the clouds was extremely beautiful.

“Indeed. It’s beautiful.”

However, unlike the excited Adeline, Casius could not smile.

He simply could not take his eyes off Adeline.

Because he knew that in just a few hours, this innocent smile would disappear.