Chapter 142

 

Iona closed her eyes, twisting her head, and repeatedly sucked on his lips.

 

She didn’t have the courage to look into his face, but she didn’t want to stop this pleasant act either.

 

If there was one fortunate thing, it was the fact that closing one’s eyes while kissing felt more natural.

 

Iona embraced his body, hiding the ripple in her chest.

 

There was no awkwardness in her touch.

 

Both she and he had become overly accustomed to entangling their tongues, like real lovers.

 

Their lips, which had been locked together, finally parted after a long time.

 

Leroy, with a light sweep of his tongue over Iona’s wet lips, gazed at her with an excited look.

 

Leroy, with their foreheads touching, spoke with a conflicted tone.

 

“If I don’t go back now... it might be a bit troublesome for both of us.”

 

‘A young man visiting a young woman’s house and only leaving the next day.’

 

It was a topic that people would gossip about.

 

Leroy, aware of this, seemed to be getting ready to leave, dressing up.

 

However, Iona didn’t want to send him away just because of others’ eyes.

 

Anyway, they were soon leaving for the duchy, and they wouldn’t be attending social gatherings in the capital much.

 

In that case, what did it matter what the people here said about them?

 

More importantly, they were no longer in a position to be so formal about sharing a bedroom.

 

Iona spoke firmly.

 

“We are already married. It’s late at night.”

 

“...You haven’t eaten anything since lunch. I think it would be better to have a quick meal first.”

 

“I won’t die from skipping a meal for one day.”

 

Iona firmly retorted.

 

Leroy, as if his bad memories were stirred, frowned and gently reprimanded her, “Don’t say it like that.”

 

After thinking for a while, Leroy found another reason and spoke again.

 

“It’s late at night, so if you want a bath, we have to call someone now to get the bath water.”

 

“Then, should we wash together?”

 

Only after asking did Iona remember that Leroy had already washed while she was asleep.

 

She reached out and carefully played with the hair that had fallen forward, then tucked it behind his ear.

 

Because he used the items from her bathroom, he smelled just like her.

 

That made Iona feel very strange.

 

“If you don’t want to... you can wait here for a while.”

 

As he didn’t answer for a long time, Iona, feeling embarrassed, added in a small voice.

 

No matter what, she didn’t want to send him out of this bedroom.

 

At least while he was beside her, she could feel that what had just happened was real, not a dream or a fantasy.

 

She wanted to prove that this wasn’t a moment that would disappear like a mirage.

 

Iona glanced at his expression and reached for the rope close by.

 

At the same time, she worried about what to do if he disappeared while she was gone.

 

Just as she was considering whether to order a maid not to prepare a carriage for him, Leroy grabbed her arm.

 

Leroy’s fingers slid between Iona’s clenched hand.

 

Leroy, who spread her fingers and dropped them from the rope, looked at her palm and said quietly.

 

“It seems like you only want to provoke me.”

 

“...”

 

“Shaking me who is barely holding on.”

 

He pointed out Iona’s provocation, telling him not to hold back.

 

In truth, Iona had only ever encouraged him every time he approached, never once pushing him away.

 

It was something she had repeated countless times in her past life.

 

She had remarried him to avoid living the same life as before.

 

Leroy supported Iona’s waist and gently laid her down.

 

Iona let her body sink into the bed without resistance.

 

She had known from the moment they started kissing.

 

That he was suppressing his desire out of a sense of obligation to act gentlemanly.

 

Until now, Iona had been sitting astride his thighs, and therefore she could easily guess his state without needing to ask aloud.

 

The courage Iona had to hold him stemmed from the certainty that he would respond to her.

 

“How far are you willing to go if I want it?” Leroy asked, his hand caressing down her lower belly.

 

The rationality in his gaze had long vanished, replaced by a lingering, intense desire.

 

“Everything.”

 

“...”

 

“Everything...”

 

Iona answered sincerely.

 

Her voice trembled slightly with the weight of her emotions.

 

Iona was willing to do anything he wanted.

 

Absolutely anything.

 

Leroy seemed to understand that she wasn’t lying without much difficulty.

 

Unable to contain his passion, he lunged at her.

 

Iona’s answer remained the same this time as well.

 

She willingly accepted his burning desire, intertwining her hands with his and gasping for breath, like people who didn’t distinguish between day and night.

 

It was their true wedding night after their marriage.

 

***

 

Leroy finally rose from bed as dawn broke.

 

Despite having gone to sleep particularly late, his ingrained habits meant his waking time remained largely unchanged.

 

The faint sunlight streamed in through the west window.

 

It wasn’t very bright, but it was much lighter than during the night.

 

Leroy gazed down at the sleeping face of Iona for a long while with sleepy eyes before he finally snapped out of it and got out of bed.

 

Thanks to his careful movements to avoid making noise, Iona remained deeply asleep.

 

She seemed to be in a deep sleep due to the continuous ‘attention’ he had given her, making Leroy feel a bit awkward.

 

After washing his face in the bathroom, Leroy paused as he reached for a towel.

 

There was an unfamiliar piece of clothing hanging in a noticeable spot, clearly not Iona’s.

 

He remembered they had asked for bathwater together at dawn, and it seemed the staff had left the clothes while tidying up.

 

It was fortunate, as he couldn’t return home in the same clothes he wore yesterday.

 

Properly dressed, Leroy quietly left the room.

 

Although he usually started his day early, there were always people who began even earlier to serve him.

 

The same was true for Iona, as he saw a familiar face approaching from the corridor.

 

Just as Marsha, who greeted him with a deep bow, was about to continue on her way, Leroy called out to her.

 

“The Countess is still asleep. It’s best not to wake her.”

 

“The Countess always wakes up at this hour, ah…”

 

Marsha trailed off, realizing why Iona was sleeping in.

 

It was obvious since the two of them had gone into the room together and hadn’t come out until morning.

 

For the same reason, the kitchen staff she had just passed by were probably debating whether to bring up breakfast or not.

 

He had calmed them by saying he would ask the Countess directly, but now he had his answer before even meeting her.

 

As Marsha began to thank him, Leroy preemptively spoke.

 

“It seems there’s no rush with your tasks, so I’d like to have a word with you.”

 

“...”

 

“If possible, without the Countess knowing.”

 

He added gently.

 

Despite his kind demeanor, it was clear that the conversation he sought was not entirely pleasant.

 

Marsha felt a twinge of unease but nodded obediently.

 

After all, she couldn’t refuse a conversation requested by someone as important as the Duke.

 

Marsha could only vaguely guess that it might be related to the commotion from the day before.

 

At that time, the only ones left in the room with Yvonne until the end were the two imperial knights, a maid, Leroy, and Iona.

 

After the situation was handled, it seemed they had kept a tight lid on things, as no word had leaked out about Yvonne’s hostage situation.

 

Suspecting that confidential matters were about to be discussed, Marsha led Leroy to the office.

 

Not only was it the closest place to Iona’s bedroom, but more importantly, it was well-soundproofed.

 

Marsha watched as Leroy went to sit on the sofa, then she clasped her hands politely and asked.

 

“Shall I prepare some tea?”

 

“No, let’s get straight to the point.”

 

Despite his words, Leroy hesitated for a moment, unable to begin.

 

Could it be that he had summoned Iona’s close subordinate to ask for dating advice or something?

 

Was he dragging his feet because he found it embarrassing to bring up such a personal topic?

 

No other reason came to mind.

 

Marsha waited in place for quite a while, awaiting Leroy’s command.

 

Finally, Leroy spoke.

 

Marsha realized then that his hesitation wasn’t to choose his words but to suppress his anger.

 

“I want to hear about Iona’s father, or rather, the former Count.”

--- End Of The Chapter ----

 

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