I Had No Complaints About This Marriage - Chapter 55

By the second day, she decided this wasn’t a bad strategy. Let the whole ducal household see just how obsessed Herman was with his wife. Then, when she finally made her grand entrance at the Duke’s banquet and acted like a nightmare of a spouse, the contrast would be even more striking.

But by the third day, Esina started genuinely worrying. At this rate, they’d spend the entire week-long invitation rolling around in bed without ever stepping outside.

Food was delivered to their room—eat, f**k, sleep, repeat. She couldn’t keep this up for a whole week. She was already pushing her physical limits, and…

‘We really need to attend tonight’s ball…’

The evening ball seemed like the perfect opportunity. It was the one event where outside guests would flood the estate.

Yet Herman showed no signs of stopping, too busy lavishing attention on her swollen b*****s and hardened peaks while trailing kisses down her back. His lower half had long since buried itself deep inside her, wreaking havoc.

“Haah… Herman…!”

Squelch. Lewd noises and frothy white bubbles spilled from where they were joined. Even as Esina panted, Herman—who hadn’t left her body for hours—ignored her, sinking his teeth into her nape instead.

“I—I really need to go this time…”

“It’s only been three days.”

Unlike Esina’s ragged, split-apart voice, his was smooth as it curled over her shoulder. Then he thrust deeper, spilling heat inside her, and Esina shuddered violently, burying her face in the sheets.

“Ah, hng…!”

Her vision whitened, then flickered at the edges. As Esina lay face-down, gasping, Herman slowly pulled away and began cleaning her up—just like every other time.

“Tired?”

“……”

“You should just sleep like this tonight, Esina.”

His voice was tender as he whispered, and Esina, half-submerged in drowsiness, let his hands tend to her.

Knock knock knock.

A hurried rapping at the door. It was the attendant who usually came to inform them of schedules or assist them.

“Y-Young Lord…?”

“……”

“You… should come out. The Duke is…”

Esina, half-asleep, heard Herman click his tongue lightly near her ear. A sharp exchange followed between him and the attendant outside before his breath brushed her earlobe again.

“Sleep well, Esina.”

“……”

“I’ll be back soon.”

After tucking the blankets around her, Herman opened the door and left. The moment it shut, Esina’s nearly closed eyes flew open.

‘What’s going on?’

Her drowsiness shattered the instant the Duke was mentioned. While she’d been lazing around, the Duke had finally summoned Herman.

‘Should I have stopped him?’

What could the Duke possibly want to propose? A creeping worry took hold. Trembling slightly, Esina pushed herself up and began dressing.

No elaborate preparations were needed. She’d only brought dresses that were either scandalously light or excessively gaudy—perfect for playing the role of a vulgar wife who scoffed at propriety.

‘No way I can put on a full ballgown by myself…’

A lightweight, revealing dress was manageable alone. Still, to cover the marks Herman had left all over her, she piled on every piece of jewelry she could find.

The end result wasn’t far off from a full, ostentatious ensemble.

‘Now I look like some jewel-obsessed crow.’

The black satin dress—low-cut, backless, and barely grazing her ankles—was drowned under diamond necklaces, gem-studded capes, rings, earrings, and bracelets. A perfect image of gaudy extravagance.

Pleased with the infamously tacky look, Esina smirked. Then, legs still trembling, she stepped out of the room.

The Duke had given them an entire guest wing, so the main residence—where Herman had likely been summoned—stood glittering in the distance.

Esina clicked her tongue lightly and quickened her pace as much as her exhausted body allowed. By the time she stepped into the garden adorned with countless flowers, she was already panting.

Boom!

“Whoa.”

Not far away, fireworks erupted over a small, glittering hall.

‘Is that where the ball is being held?’

Since she was already heading to find Herman, she might as well stop by and cause a scene.

With that thought, Esina turned her steps toward the fireworks. True to the Telloien Ducal House’s extravagance, the display was on another level. Smiling faintly in admiration, she tilted her head back to watch the sky as she walked—

“Ah!”