Bridal Class - Chapter 71 - X. My Grand Duke

※ This book contains depictions of confinement, dubiously consensual and/or non consensual acts due to hierarchy and power dynamics. Please take this into consideration while reading.

X. My Grand Duke

“Do you really have to go, Rosen?”

“Yes. If you respect me even a little, let me go.”

“Alright…”

Unable to stop Rosen’s resolute response, Iscarion reluctantly nodded. The wedding of the Grand Ducal household was postponed with a suitable public reason. It wasn’t entirely canceled, but all ongoing preparations were put on hold.

After Rosen learned that the time she spent confined in the annex was actually part of Iscarion’s ‘bridal lessons’, their relationship had reversed. Iscarion made every effort to persuade her not to leave, but the more he tried, the colder and more closed-off she became.

Eventually, Rosen decided she wanted time alone to stand on her own. Instead of stopping her from going to Dhanas for a few years, Iscarion sighed softly and added:

“Alright. But you can’t go with Esther. I’ll take you there.”

“…You will? Dhanas isn’t close, and you’re too busy.”

“No, I’m not. Besides, there’s somewhere I want to stop by with you on the way. It’ll only take a moment.”

“Where is it?”

“You’ll see when we get there. There’s something I really want to show you… it’ll just take a moment.”

“Okay.”

Rosen had expected that he might try to stop her by any means necessary. Contrary to her worries, he readily agreed to let her go, and she couldn’t refuse his last request.

***

The carriage of the Grand Ducal household, which had been running for a long time after leaving the capital at noon, finally turned onto a secluded forest path. Though the path was somewhat uneven, the sturdy carriage, equipped with cushioned seats, made the ride relatively comfortable.

“Rosen.”

As the procession slowed down, Iscarion, who had been riding a separate beside her carriage, approached the window. In the past, he would have naturally ridden in the same carriage, staying by her side. Since the ‘bridal lessons’ however, she hadn’t allowed them to be alone in a confined space, always keeping her distance.

“Are you feeling any motion sickness? If you feel uncomfortable, let me know right away.”

“No, I’m fine.”

Rosen had been somewhat worried that Iscarion might use this trip as an opportunity to scheme again. After all, she had been confined simply for trying to leave his side before. While she had prepared herself for such a possibility, it seemed he was truly respecting her decision now. His demeanor was polite and straightforward, devoid of any ulterior motives, and she began to feel it was just her own unfounded fears.

“Would you like some chocolate?”

Standing by the window, he pulled a small leather pouch from his pocket and offered her a round chocolate ball. Though she intended to refuse, she inadvertently opened her mouth and accepted it as his hand approached without hesitation.

Habits were indeed frightening. Since childhood, Iscarion had often fed her, and during her confinement, she hadn’t once fed herself, finding it more natural now to accept food from his hand.

As his finger lightly grazed her tongue, brushing her small teeth, he then withdrew his hand without any ulterior motive, and rode away. Savoring the slowly melting chocolate, Rosen felt a strange sensation.

Despite it being a familiar act, it felt distinctly different from before. That is, before the ‘bridal lessons’…

It was probably because she now knew how skillfully those long fingers could explore her intimate places, how the pronounced joints felt against her sensitive walls. She could never return to the ignorance of those sensations.

Watching his tall, retreating figure, she naturally recalled his sculpted physique and broad shoulders.

‘…What are you thinking, Rosénia? Are you crazy?’

Startled by her own heated imagination, Rosen quickly shut the carriage window. Clack! She lowered the shutter and even closed the curtain.

Telling herself this was just a physical reaction, not her true feelings, she tried to calm down. Still, she couldn’t stop thinking about the lewd acts they had shared, even in her dreams. Her awakened body and inner desires longed for his touch, despite the intense pleasure it brought.

Lately, she felt uncomfortable being attended to by the maids, preferring to bathe alone. Inevitably, she would end up indulging in embarrassing self-pleasure in the bathtub. But because she knew the extreme pleasure he could bring, her solitary efforts left her feeling unsatisfied and flushed.