🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 19
Emily came to say her final goodbye two days after all the celebrations of the royal wedding had ended.
“I think I should return home now, my lady.”
“What?”
Seren asked in surprise.
Because the number of attendants had increased enormously, there was hardly any work left for Emily to do. Even now, the one brushing Seren’s hair was a new maid assigned by the Duchess of Sons.
But the emotional support Seren drew from Emily was beyond words. They had been together since childhood, so although their relationship was formally that of employer and servant, in her heart Emily was closer to a friend. Having left her hometown to come all the way to this distant imperial palace, Seren had hoped Emily would stay by her side.
Knowing how Seren felt, Emily could not hide her guilt.
“I’m sorry, my lady. But I can’t keep living in the imperial palace.”
“Why not?”
“I’m just a commoner…”
“I’ll talk to the Duchess of Sons about that. What if you didn’t work as a maid and just stayed as my companion? However you want—”
“You mustn’t do that, my lady.”
Emily said this with reddened eyes, as if she were about to cry.
“Even if you did that for me, you know it would still be difficult for me to stay in the palace. And… I have to go home too.”
“Emily…”
“My parents are there, and my younger siblings. The master kindly said he would open a shop for me as a reward for serving you well, my lady. I plan to go back and work hard with my family.”
“I see…”
Seren answered hesitantly. Thinking about it, that was only natural. Emily had her own life and happiness, and those things were not here in this imperial palace. Just because Seren felt lonely didn’t mean she could force her to stay.
When Seren’s eyes filled with tears, Emily held her hand and began to tear up as well.
“I thought I would follow you when you got married… I’m sorry it turned out like this.”
“No. I’m the one who should apologize for saying something unreasonable. I was being too greedy.”
As she spoke, Seren looked around the room. Instinctively, she wanted to give Emily something nice before sending her off.
Soon she took the gold necklace from the dressing table and placed it around Emily’s neck, carefully fastening it under her collar so it would not be seen.
“M-my lady, this is far too precious…”
“I would have gladly given this to you even when it was far more valuable to me. Don’t tell anyone about it. Keep it safe, and if you ever need money, sell it.”
“My lady…”
“And if anything happens, you must contact me, alright? Whether it’s good news or bad… If I hear nothing from you, I’ll feel lonely.”
“Yes, my lady. You must be happy. You must. I’m so sorry…”
“What are you apologizing for?”
Even as Seren said that, Emily kept crying and repeating herself.
“I’m really sorry. Truly… Please be happy.”
Both of them knew they might not meet again easily. That made their farewell all the more painful and sorrowful.
Next to leave were her father and the other relatives, including Mrs. Maybek. Seeing Seren looking upset, Wayne spoke as if lecturing her.
“Well, everyone has to go home. Your father can’t just follow you and live in the imperial palace.”
“Do you have to take Mrs. Maybek too?”
Seren had never particularly liked the strict governess, but the thought of her leaving still made her feel sad. But Mrs. Maybek replied with a bright smile Seren had never seen before.
“His Majesty the Emperor has kindly decided to grant me a pension in recognition of my service to Her Majesty the Empress until now. With that, I think I can manage to live near my nephew’s home and take care of myself.”
“Ah…”
Seren knew it had long been Mrs. Maybek’s dream, so she couldn’t stop her. Wayne also said,
“You’re married now. You can’t keep relying on relatives like when you were a child.”
“Yes… you’re right, Father.”
If she had married in Esdel, she would have lived near relatives and friends and seen them often. But here, that wasn’t possible.
Even though she knew that, Seren couldn’t hide the loneliness she felt.
“I’ll be able to make new friends, right?”
Sitting on the bed with her knees hugged to her chest, Seren murmured almost like a complaint. It was less a question and more a hopeful wish.
Isbrant sat in an armchair holding a glass of brandy, watching her. Seren spoke again in a bright voice, as if trying to change the mood.
“I received the budget documents from the Duchess of Sons. Do you think I’ll be able to manage them well? I’ve only ever received allowance money before. I did learn how to keep household accounts at the girls’ school, but…”
“You don’t need to write the ledgers yourself, so don’t worry. The Duchess of Sons will recommend someone suitable. Just spend money where you want.”
“But isn’t it irresponsible to know nothing? I won’t get used to it all at once, so you’ll have to watch me make foolish mistakes for quite a while.”
“I’m not worried. Do as you please. Buy jewels, clothes, land—whatever.”
“Land?”
Seren widened her eyes in surprise and laughed.
“What if I become terribly extravagant?”
“I’m curious to see how far you’ll go.”
Isbrant smiled faintly.
At times like this, when they talked together, it felt as if nothing had changed from before their marriage.
Seren had spent five days in the bridal chamber prepared in the emperor’s quarters, then returned to her original room—the Empress’s chamber. After that, her days repeated themselves: learning palace affairs from the Duchess of Sons during the day, having dinner with Isbrant in the evening, or him visiting her at night like this.
Of course, many things had changed as well.
After finishing his brandy, Isbrant climbed onto the bed. Seren shrank slightly, feeling both shy and excited.
He took hold of her ankle. The little bell made a soft chime only the two of them could hear. That alone made Seren’s cheeks flush red.
Isbrant pressed his lips to the top of her foot, then lightly set his teeth against it. After hesitating, Seren said,
“Don’t bite. It’s embarrassing when I bathe.”
“I’ll try.”
“That’s a bad habit. You keep biting.”
“Because you taste sweet.”
Isbrant answered calmly, making Seren’s face grow even redder.
It wasn’t only painful. Even when he bit her, it was rarely as hard as the first night, when it left clear teeth marks. But on Seren’s pale skin, red marks often remained and later turned into bruises.
“Is it fine if I use my lips instead?”
He whispered softly as he pressed his lips to the inside of her ankle. As he sucked strongly above her ankle bone, Seren felt a shiver run through her.
“Is.”
“If you don’t like something, tell me.”
He said that, but Seren still couldn’t clearly distinguish between what she liked and disliked. Whenever she was in his arms, all her senses became tangled and overwhelmed by an almost unbearable pleasure.
His lips moved upward along her ankle, exploring the inside of her calf. Her long nightdress had been pushed up to her knees, and Seren instinctively grabbed the hem so it wouldn’t be lifted any higher.
“Don’t you like it?”
“You’re teasing.”
Isbrant chuckled softly. Then he took her hand away and lifted the hem of her nightdress.
“Ah.”
Startled, Seren let out a short gasp. A sweet scent rose from between her legs, and Isbrant eagerly buried his face there.
“A-Is… I don’t like that…”
Though she said she didn’t like it, Seren’s body quickly grew heated.
Her first climax came easily. Gripping the blanket tightly, Seren writhed as she rode through the now somewhat familiar wave of pleasure.
Only after she had gone limp did Isbrant release her body. Then, between her legs, he removed his clothes. Seren watched him with a flushed face, half buried among the pillows.
Isbrant’s lips were wet. His face, his body—this man who looked almost too beautiful to belong to this world—still didn’t feel real to her as someone who belonged to her.
Now naked, he bent over her. Seren took a deep breath while gripping his hand tightly.
Then she wrapped her arms around him with her whole body.
