Leitman's residence.
Temporarily requisitioned as the royal palace.
Elisa was in her room. Her snowy hair was being carefully brushed by her aunt.
"In the blink of an eye, Michelle has grown so much."
"..."
"When you were little, you only reached up to my waist."
"..."
Elisa glanced at her aunt's breasts. She thought she wasn't small herself, but her aunt's were a full size larger.
"Auntie."
"Mmh?"
"..."
Elisa curled her toes. "Even after the heirloom strengthened it, the hypnosis still doesn't work on him."
"Eh?"
"But I think it's lucky it doesn't work. I'm... about to marry him, yet I'm still so insecure. If I want to know something... I should ask him directly and honorably."
"...Is that so?"
"It's just, I think he looks too... too handsome in that tuxedo. So many noble ladies in the Holy City used to have secret crushes on him."
"It's alright. You only beautify him because you love him. To me, he's just slightly better looking than average."
Her aunt couldn't help but recall the image of her little niece squatting before Silas, taking that thing—which her mouth could barely contain—and sucking it down.
Slurp, slurp.
It looked incredibly delicious.
Ah.
No, stop thinking about it.
"Is that true?"
"Yes."
"..."
Elisa pressed her toes together.
Her heart was beating even faster than it did during the coronation.
"Auntie, you must have experience with children, right?"
"Children?"
"Y-Yes... as his wife, I'll definitely have to give birth. He seems to like children very much."
"Er... of course, Auntie is very experienced."
"Giving birth... does it hurt a lot?"
"Probably."
"One..."
Elisa counted on her fingers. "I can definitely endure the pain for one, but what if he wants ten? Will I die?"
"How could you."
Auntie couldn't help but laugh as she tied up Elisa's hair.
"Th-That... if he cums inside, I'll get pregnant, right? The Courtesan said..."
"...Eh?"
Auntie's smile froze.
She hadn't experienced such "advanced" matters herself.
"Actually, he can control it, but I... sometimes I can't help but pester him for it without realizing."
"Alright, let's get into the wedding dress first. Mmh, it's a very beautiful dress."
"But I really like that warm feeling... the way it comes in pulses."
"..."
Auntie was reaching her limit.
Could you please not say such things to an older virgin?
"Don't worry. Our race can't get pregnant through normal methods."
"Eh?"
Elisa was stunned.
"It's the butt... mmh, anyway, you have to use that place to get pregnant."
"Eek?!"
"...So don't worry. Ordinary people would never even think of it."
"..."
Elisa fell silent.
She remembered being in the boar cave, proactively spreading her cheeks, covering the normal entrance and asking him to plug the rear one.
"The butt? I... I already... let him cum in there. Wh-What should I do? I'm not ready to be a mother yet; I'm still immature myself..."
"Alright, this topic ends here. Hurry and change."
Auntie's mouth twitched.
Young people nowadays play so dirty?
Mouth stuff in the morning, feet stuff under the table, and they've already used the back door behind everyone's back?
Watching Elisa put on the pure white gown, spin around, and lift her skirt.
She truly marveled at Elisa's beauty. Truly her sister's daughter; they were carved from the same mold.
"..."
However, she didn't quite understand why she wore white stockings under such a long dress.
"These look good on their own, but with the dress, they're useless, right?"
"They're useful~ Auntie doesn't know, he... mgh, he just likes feet."
"..."
Auntie regretted it.
She shouldn't have asked. Asking only meant being forced to eat dog food.
However, there was one other thing she had to ask.
"Michelle."
"Mmh?"
"I saw you gave him the heirloom during the coronation. Do you know? Once he holds that heirloom, none of your abilities will work on him."
"They didn't work to begin with. And it's fine. He doesn't care about that at all."
"...I see."
Auntie had been thinking about it these past two days.
She could see her niece loved that man dearly. But that man... she couldn't see through him.
But.
What was there to doubt?
He was the one who personally placed her niece on the throne. Just hearing the nickname "The Disemboweling Knight" in the city told her how ruthless he could be.
The scary part was...
She actually wanted to reclaim a bit of dignity as an elder in front of him. But facing that forceful tone, she just wanted to submit... how terrifying.
But such a man probably truly loved her niece to be willing to stay by her side. Otherwise, based on her decades of wandering, a man like him would have had a harem long ago.
It was rare.
Only Elisa remained in the room.
She checked for wrinkles in the skirt, then lifted it to see if the silk stockings were smooth.
She took off her shoes.
Pressed her toes together.
Making sure no one was looking.
She leaned in and sniffed. No strange smells.
'Snowy, you smell good.'
She involuntarily remembered Silas's strange words while they were being lewd after the coronation.
Liars.
How could someone covered in sweat smell good?
Even for a succubus, it was impossible.
She secretly sprayed some perfume. Sniffed again. Now she really was fragrant from head to toe.
The lamp flickered in the room.
Will I... really get pregnant from the back?
She thought they had done it about four or five times in that place.
If it happens, it happens!
Anyway, her belly wouldn't get big that fast. Her mother said it took eleven months to carry her.
If there's a child.
There would be breast milk.
That idiot will definitely want to suck it... mgh.
"..."
Unconsciously, she touched her hair again.
The sensation of Silas placing the crown on her head still lingered.
She secretly peeked inside her collar at her lingerie. She had worn the fancy set.
It's so unfair.
Why am I the only one so anxious while he doesn't have to care about lingerie...
Is he very nervous right now too?
"..."
If only she could turn the tables and mock him.
Probably impossible.
A man like that. Even when she's Empress, he's still reckless... bullying her whenever he wants.
But why was she so happy?
Just like what Dorothy said about "sadists" and "masochists."
Dong...
The bell rang.
Elisa immediately sat up straight. She dignifiedly pressed her thighs together and placed her hands on her skirt, smoothing out the folds.
Immediately.
She remembered it would take a while for the carriage fleet to get here from the house.
She checked again for any oversights...
Wait.
Riding in the carriage with him back home. Doesn't that... mean announcing to everyone in the Holy City that she's going back with him to do lewd things?
Elisa suddenly became nervous. She hadn't thought of that layer before.
He had been in such a good mood since morning; could he have thought of this long ago... no, if he had, he would have brought it up to bully her.
"I-It was bound to happen sooner or later!"
Anyway, she'd be living with him from now on.
Let the announcement be made!
In a moment, she'd show him the power of an Empress. Even if he didn't ask for "Confucian teachings," she could take the initiative herself.
"..."
The more she thought, the more her hands and feet sweated from nerves.
Why isn't he here yet?
If he doesn't come soon, she won't have the courage to step out the door!
She didn't know how long it had been since the bell rang.
The oil lamp grew dimmer, yet there was still no movement.
Could he have prepared some surprise? But this was far too slow. Her butt was getting numb from sitting. Elisa rubbed her cheeks and couldn't help but stand by the window to look out. The outside was still decorated with lanterns; on this day of double celebration, they intended to party all night. They were also looking forward to seeing the Duke and Empress come out.
Knock, knock.
The door was knocked urgently.
"Your Majesty. Are you inside?"
It was Leitman's voice.
"I-I am!"
Is the fleet here?
Elisa sat back on the bed, obediently waiting for the Duke's voice.
"There's a problem. To put it simply... the Lord Duke has suddenly vanished. He's nowhere to be found. Did he come here ahead of time?"
"Eh? No."
"...I thought so. The Lord Duke wouldn't break etiquette at such a moment. But that's strange."
"..."
Elisa opened the door.
She saw Leitman's grim face.
"I really hate to tell you this, but it's true... I went to remind Lord Silas it was time to depart, but there was no response. The room was empty. Do you know where the Duke might have gone?"
"..."
Liar.
No matter how much he bullies people, he wouldn't choose this moment. It would make both of them laughingstocks. He wouldn't do such a thing.
"Go back. Don't worry. I think... the Duke has some other ideas."
"Is that so?"
"..."
Ignoring Leitman's confusion.
Elisa returned to the room and sat on the bed.
Really, having to pull a surprise at a time like this... does he love me that much?
"..."
Gradually, as the sky grew darker. The horizon began to pale. The people in the Holy City yawned and muttered. They were all wondering why the wedding hadn't started yet.
And Elisa, sitting in her room.
Her hands and feet were ice cold.
Several people who had gone out to find Silas were now by her side. Her aunt, Leitman, and the maid Dorothy were all there.
"Auntie... what do you all think?"
"Ugh..."
"What reason could he have to suddenly not want me? Just this morning... he said I was cute."
Elisa's eyes blurred, her body shaking uncontrollably.
Why?
He wouldn't do this. He definitely wouldn't; it was supposed to be like that. But he didn't come. Dawn broke, and he still hadn't appeared.