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~Chapter 43~
I was staring down at the books, lost in thought.
As long as he had any sense at all, there was no way he wouldn’t understand my intention in giving him these books.
A wife giving her husband books on sexual education—anyone could read that, even upside down or while doing a triple axel. It clearly meant I wanted a deeper relationship, a more intimate marital bond.
Even someone as oblivious as Grar couldn’t possibly fail to notice such an overt message.
But the problem was that the message was far too blatant.
Apollion was modest to the point of being overly cautious, bordering on timid. Giving a man this shy a gift like this… could it really be a good idea?
I knew why he had refused the wedding night before, and charging ahead with these books felt selfish.
If I misjudged, it could even make the wall between us even thicker.
“Still… I can’t just do nothing…”
I couldn’t leave Apollion forever under a curse.
Inside my head, my desire to help him break the curse—laced with a little selfish longing—clashed with the thought of being considerate of his feelings.
“Right. It’s just sexual education books, after all. How bad could it be?”
Though I said that, my hands were trembling uncontrollably.
Having made up my mind, I pulled the bell cord with a solemn expression. A servant waiting outside entered the study.
“Did you call for me, Your Grace, the Duchess?”
“Where is the Duke right now?”
“He’s in a meeting with the knights.”
“I see.”
Good. I’d been debating whether to give the books to him directly or have someone else deliver them. Clearly, the heavens were telling me to have someone else handle it.
Gaining a bit more courage, I spoke.
“Then please take these to the Duke’s study.”
As I said this, I opened the desk drawer.
At that moment, a panicked voice called from outside.
“Your Grace, it’s René. May I come in?”
He seemed to have rushed over, panting heavily.
I nodded, and the servant inside turned the door handle. René bounced into the study.
“What’s the matter?”
I asked with concern.
“There seems to be a problem with the chandelier in the ballroom. You need to go quickly!”
“What?”
I sprang from my seat. How could the chandelier, such an expensive piece, have a problem already?
The chandelier was heavy, made of glass and crystal. If it fell, many people could be seriously injured.
“Understood. Let’s go. You, take these books to the Duke’s study.”
I handed the books from the second drawer to the servant. This drawer contained only the books for Apollion, so I didn’t need to check them. Urgency was more important.
“If he asks what they are… just say you received them from somewhere else!”
I left the servant behind and followed René toward the ballroom, my mind still nagged with worry.
＊＊＊
After finishing his meeting, Apollion changed into comfortable indoor clothing and headed to his study.
As usual, he had much to do that day.
Writing letters to the Emperor, reviewing documents for a coastal breakwater installation, reading reports about the Monster Forest…
Apollion scanned the papers quickly.
He sorted them immediately, distinguishing which documents to approve and which to reject.
Looking at the neatly stacked papers, he felt a strange sense of satisfaction.
At that moment, someone knocked at the study door.
“Who could it be?”
He developed the habit of checking visitors after marrying Petunia. Petunia would sometimes arrive without warning, and he had been caught off guard more than once.
“Your Grace, the Duchess sent some items.”
“Come in.”
His tone was normal, but his eyes betrayed unease.
“Items from my wife? To me? Why?”
The servant, unaware of the turmoil in Apollion’s mind, stepped in politely and handed over the items from Petunia.
“…What is this?”
Taking the items, he muttered, not really asking the servant but rather to himself.
“The only instruction was to see it for yourself. No other explanation was given.”
“I see. You may leave.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
As soon as the servant left, Apollion picked up the items and began inspecting them. His movements were precise and swift.
Petunia had sent a few thick books and some papers resembling documents needing approval. The unevenly clipped papers fluttered, catching his eye.
He examined the papers first. They detailed plans to hold a tea party for noble ladies soon and to set up tables and chairs in the garden.
“Is that all?”
He flipped through the papers quickly. Nothing significant was written. Decorating the estate was entirely the responsibility of the lady of the house, and there was no reason for him to approve it personally.
He knew that.
Feeling a little uneasy, Apollion stamped the documents and approved them.
He then turned his attention to the books.
“…!”
Seeing the covers, he rubbed his eyes, checking if he had misread them.
His eyesight was perfectly fine—no near-sightedness, far-sightedness, or astigmatism.
The first two books were titled:
“Our Curiosity and Desire About Sex”
“Sex for Adolescents”
Apollion’s face twisted slightly behind the mask.
He flipped through the pages. The illustrations were comical, showing children observing the secondary sexual characteristics of human bodies.
For an adult, the books were incredibly childish and trivial.
Yet Apollion finished reading both volumes in one sitting.
The books, intended to gauge his reaction to Petunia’s intentions, had unexpectedly brought him minor enjoyment.
Coming back to his senses, Apollion felt a strange discomfort and set aside the previously read books. He couldn’t understand why he had found them somewhat enjoyable.
He shook his head vigorously, trying to clear his mind, and reached for another book.
The third book had a black leather cover with embossed lettering. Unlike the childish first books, it looked more refined and familiar.
“Towards Elegant Etiquette”
This book, unlike the previous two, was harder to anticipate from the cover alone.
Opening it, he found the contents similar to what he had read years ago during his heir training.
It was filled with advice on treating ladies as a gentleman, producing a healthy heir, and maintaining an ideal married life.
Apollion frowned and closed the book. Such stodgy matters gave him a headache just by looking at them.
“Why send this…?”
He muttered softly. Sitting deep in his chair, he rubbed his jaw thoughtfully.
Had Petunia thought he didn’t know the basics? Or was she dissatisfied with how he treated her?
Or perhaps…
A wave of possibilities washed over him. Apollion closed his eyes, his face burning.
He wanted to believe otherwise, but the subjects of the books were too explicit to ignore.
Based on Petunia’s previous behavior… it was entirely plausible.
With trembling hands, he picked up the final book.
Unlike the previous books, it was neither childish nor stiff like a manual. It looked perfectly ordinary.
Its title: “Summer Forest”
The title alone evoked freshness. Summer was Apollion’s favorite season.
Though a bit hot, sitting in the grass and feeling the breeze was exhilarating. Even the occasional sound of frogs at night was pleasant.
His lips curled into a smile at the thought. The book offered a delightful imagination.
He opened it, and within five minutes, closed it again.
As he turned the pages, his straight fingers began to tremble like a trembling aspen.
The serene smile on his face had frozen like a winter lake.
“What… is this…?”
He barely managed to whisper, only four syllables.
Yet his heart raced as if it had spoken ten sentences without taking a breath.
He shook his head violently.
“Perhaps I misread.”
No, it couldn’t be. His eyesight was perfect.
Taking a deep breath, he turned the pages again.
His eyes scanned the text rapidly:
“To escape the late-summer heat, there was no better place than beneath the zelkova tree. The mottled shadows of the leaves embroidered her body like stitching. Slowly, his firm body pressed heavily upon hers.”
“E-Eric…”
The heated woman gasped his name. The scorching sunlight licked over their bodies.
Thud!
He slammed the book shut. The dull sound of the pages colliding echoed through the room.
