Upon his master's return to the mansion, Jerome received his master's coat and reported the small incident that happened earlier in the day.
"So. In summary, you do not know where that guy is."
"Yes, Your Grace. I am sorry."
Roy woke up after getting a long lazy sleep and stealthily slipped away. Maybe he got scared since Hugo was about to return. If that fellow made up his mind to escape, no one could find him, and even if they knew where he was, there was no one with the ability to drag him back unless Hugo went there personally.
"When he shows himself later, tell him I said he should stay put. Do not try to seize him by force."
"Yes, Your Grace."
After taking a bath, Hugo went into his wife's bedroom. He went up behind her as she sat in front of the dressing table, kissed the back of her neck and fastened the necklace he bought on her neck.
At the coldness on her neck, Lucia flinched and looked in the mirror to see what was on her neck then her eyes widened in surprise. The teardrop-shaped jewel twinkled brightly in the mirror.
"You don't like it?"
"Ah no, it's not that. It's pretty. I was just wondering what day it is."
"Gifts aren't only for special occasions."
"I'm asking because I don't really know but...this isn't an exorbitantly priced jewelry, is it?"
When she thought of the present he gave her for her birthday in the spring, she felt overwhelmed, like her stomach was still upset. Following his first gift of a white diamond necklace, he presented her with a red diamond necklace in the spring.
Because its diamonds weren't as heavy as the ones on the white diamond necklace, she had worn it to her next tea party. A noble lady, particularly interested in jewelry, had instantly recognized the red diamond necklace, and mouthed off about how much it could be won for at a jewelry auction.
Hearing the enormous sum, Lucia had felt faint. She had expected it to be expensive but the price was way above her expectations.
"Do you want something like that? Maybe at the jewelry auction next month..." (Hugo)
"No!" (Lucia)
Seeing the serious look on her face, Hugo chuckled and turned around. He climbed onto the bed and plopped down with his hands on the pillow.
"Your husband is rich. Try to enjoy being a woman that has a rich husband."
Instead of giving an answer, Lucia smiled weakly. She was born poor. Even when she lived as Count Matin's wife, she was unable enjoy the luxury. She didn't have to worry about starving to death in the dream but she always worried about her livelihood.
It was not that she lived with the values of honest poverty, but that the circumstances were just not well.
However, Lucia could not forget the Duchess that she saw in her dream. The Duchess was draped in expensive garments and ornaments but she did not seem happy at all. Lucia felt like she would change and become like the Duchess from her dream if he were to leave her; Unable to escape the luxury that was once tasted, and trying to fill the void in her heart with it.
She didn't want to step into that inescapable swamp.
"Do you dislike jewelry? Or is it that you dislike it because of the person giving it?"
"Why do you say that? I am grateful. It is pretty and I like it."
"I know you're not being sincere."
He didn't expect her to react dramatically like other women did but he was upset that she looked strangely burdened by his gift.
Time and time again, he was shocked by the fact that she asked him if he would cheat in the capital. It was as if she would give him anything when she opened up and fully accepted him on the bed but in reality, her heart was closed and she did not trust him. What other way was there if she refused even his gifts?
She did not acknowledge his persistent efforts to obtain her heart. Just the sight of her made him feel her preciousness, and the mere thought of her made him feel jittery inside, yet his ice witch did even think of melting at all.
"Are you angry?" (Lucia)
"I am not."
He replied sourly, contrary to his words. Lucia gazed at him in thought.
'If it were in the past, I would have been hurt by his blunt words.'
She probably wouldn't have said a word and suffered in silence. However, now, she could afford to not worry too much even if he was grumbling. When did she become able to confidently tell him, 'you can go and sleep in your room today'.
Lucia stood up, her gaze fixed on him. She slowly took off her bathrobe and it fell to the floor, revealing her nude body underneath. Hugo, who was lying down indifferently, jolted upright at this sight.
Feeling his stunned red eyes staring at her intensely, she looked at him and her eyes curved beautifully as she smiled. Looking at his wife smiling like an enchantress as the amber necklace glistened off her fair naked skin, Hugo's mind went blank.
Lucia walked towards the bed without looking away from his hardened center. Her boldness surprising even herself.
He always gazed at her passionately. His gaze was as if he was seeing the fantastical beauty from the rumors. At first, she felt embarrassed but as she got used to his gaze, she began to think, 'maybe I am a little attractive.'
And when she enticed him, she became confident that she could go forward with it. She climbed onto the bed and slowly approached him on her knees. She looked into his wavering red eyes that were as though she had seized them and smiled.
It was a crafty smile that she herself did not realize. Hugo was frozen stiff as he watched her climb over his body and mount him. She sat down as tightly as possible on the center of his thighs.
His rigidness peaked from beneath his bathrobe, pressing hard against her behind. His Adam's apple moved flinchingly. She grabbed the necklace on her neck and lifted the yellow sapphire to her lips, kissing it, then she gave him an odd smile.
"The necklace, does it suit me?"
"...Very."
His voice sounded strained.
"It's not that I don't like the gift but I have a small liver(1). Please understand that I worry of you going bankrupt."
"Even if the sky splits in two, that won't happen."
Lucia slid her hands into his bathrobe and slowly caressed his firm chest. Meeting his quivering gaze, she felt a thrill of excitement from the situation she was leading.
"They say the luxury of a woman can shake the foundation of a nation."
Much less that of a family. Although Hugo knew what she meant, in his mind, if she wanted it, he would set up a nation and give it to her.
"Shake as much as you want."
The Taran family could handle that much. Even though Hugo grit his teeth at the disgusting history of his family, he acknowledged its strength. At his arrogant confidence, Lucia smiled as if it couldn't be helped. Humility was not the virtue of Hugo Taran.
He drew in to kiss her but she tilted her head backwards slightly. He tried again, but she avoided it again.
His seething expression revealed his wonder at her actions and she kissed his lips, catching him by surprise then she quickly pulled away. Seeing his eyes ablaze as he panted, Lucia burst into laughter. He was at the brink of pouncing on her.
She caressed his cheeks and kissed him again. This time too, he was unable to refuse her attack. Unwilling to be outdone, he held the back of her neck, kissing her fiercely.
She followed the movements of his tongue as it deeply fondled every corner of her mouth and her hands clutching the front of his robe trembled. His hot tongue wrapped around her tongue, drawing her in. The frenzied kiss continued for a long time.
In the meantime, his hands explored above her waist, sweeping up to her shoulders. After a good while, he moved away and Lucia gazed at him with misty eyes. Like an afterimage, she could still feel the movements of his tongue occupying her mouth.
Looking at her swollen lips, Hugo licked his lips.
"Where did you learn these things?"
Lucia laughed at the puzzlement in his voice.
"From you."
"I don't remember that."
"Applying what one has learnt is the attitude of a good student."
He gave an odd smile as if saying he was in trouble then mumbled.
"It's a good thing I'm not king."
"Huh?"
Hugo felt like he would become a wild king that ruins his country because of a woman. While muttering that to himself, he wrapped his hands around her waist and took her pale breast into his mouth.
"Ah!"
In an instant, he stole the initiative. Lucia moaned and twisted at his intense caresses. He always wanted her passionately. And she was also the same.
With every intense thrust from behind, Lucia's body shook tremendously. She squeezed the sheets tightly, trying to hold on, but her arms kept wobbling.
"A-! Aah!"
He grabbed her waist and mercilessly thrust his penis in and out of her. Because of their position, his thrusts could reach deeper and her insides felt jittery. It was too deep. She couldn't tell if it was pain or pleasure as she screamed coquettishly.
"Ah! Ang!"
Whenever his thigh hit her butt, her body shook in response and her eyes glistened with tears. His relentless thrusts showed no signs of ending. Unable to bear the pressure any longer, her arms fell and her upper body collapsed.
Her knees could barely support her and were trembling in exhaustion. She felt herself running out of breath as her cheeks rubbed against the sheets. Her eyes heated up and tears fell from her eyes and onto the sheets.
"No...No more. Hk..."
In spite of her pleas, he slammed against her butt, pushing even deeper. At the stimulus, her insides squeezed his penis tightly causing him to flinch then he resumed his intense thrusts.
The sensation of his firm manhood plunging deep into her caused her body to jerk and twitch. Every time he ravaged her insides, a thrill ran up her spine and her sight flickered repeatedly.
"Hugh...Haa...Tired...I'm tired."
"Good girl. It's almost...over. Just a little more."
His voice was cracked and heavily subdued as he spoke in a soothing manner. Lucia knew from experience. The him right now was like something had snapped in his brain. Pleas wouldn't get to him.
It was only once in a while but there were times he would keep pushing ruthlessly. Every time that happened, she would feel like she was bitten and drained by a large fang.
"...I'm in trouble. You're squeezing so tight...can't even breathe." (Hugo)
"Hk. Don't...say that..."
Lucia wanted to block her ears. Even though his erotic taunts were embarrassing, she was more embarrassed at the excitement that coursed through her body at his words.
Every time he rammed into her, her body trembled threateningly as though it would fall. If it weren't for his strong hands holding onto her hips and thighs, she would have already fallen. Even though she was extremely tired, she could feel her vagina walls going into spasms.
Every time her inner walls pulsed like a heartbeat, his breathing grew rough. His muscular frame drove her curvy body and his flowing sweat fell onto her back.
It was the first time she was led to climax so many times while only being taken from behind(1). Since it was an exhausting position for her, it wasn't one that they usually maintained for long.
Her tears and pleas as she trembled and accepted his penis, stimulated his beast-like desire for conquest and possession. She was his. His woman. No matter how much of her he had, it was not enough.
"Hugh. Please...Hhng!"
"If you want me to stop.....stop tightening. You won't let me go."
One of his hands began to knead her breast and she felt a smarting pain from his bite on the back of her neck. This time she groaned. She had no strength to move her waist. His raging erection showed no sign of abating and he repeatedly penetrated her body with great force.
His semen, from his several previous ejaculations, drooled down her thighs with every merciless thrust. The sound of squelching and smacking could be continuously heard as his thighs repeatedly met her buttocks.
Lucia felt dizzy from her constantly shaking vision and closed her eyes. He grabbed her hair, controlling his strength to avoid hurting her.
His other hand wrapped around her stomach and lifted her up in order to elevate her buttocks. Her hands closed around the sheets, gripping it tightly.
"Hk!"
He gave a heavy thrust and released into her. At the feeling of his searing hot fluid pouring into her vagina, her entire body shuddered and trembled.
Filled with enjoyment from the sexual pleasure, Hugo let out a subdued moan. He wanted to sow his seeds deep inside her womb. If his seeds were to take root and sprout in the depths of her body, she might become his completely.
'Damn it.'
That was impossible.
When her inner walls finally stopped convulsing and her tightness had loosened somewhat, he began to pull out slowly. He released his hand supporting her body and like that, she quietly fell onto the bed.
Apart from her shoulders moving up and down as she panted, she didn't move an inch. Cloudy liquid, unswallowed by her vagina, ran down her thighs. Seeing this, his red eyes ignited as though set on fire.
Hugo's throat felt parched. It was akin to drinking salt water to quench one's thirst; his thirst seemed like it would lessen if he held her but worsened instead. It was extremely hard to reign it in.
Hugo slowly closed his eyes and reopened them. Upon doing so, his eyes that were murky with desire had become much clearer. This was enough. He forced down his turbulent desires. He brushed away her hair wet with sweat and revealed her round forehead.
Her eyes were closed and she was breathing heavily. It was unknown if she was asleep as her wet eyelashes rose tremblingly. Before shutting her eyes, she had fixed him a gaze full of reproach.
His lips curved gently and he stroked her hair, feeling apologetic. The slight crease on her delicate forehead slowly unfolded.
He put on his robe, wrapped her body with the sheets, and lifted her body into his arms. She opened her eyes slightly and closed it again. She had no strength to respond and her body dangled from his arms.
He walked out of the bedroom and headed towards the bathroom. A prepared warm bath should still be available.
* * *
Lucia slept like the dead and woke up when the sun was high in the sky.
'I'm so stiff.'
It wasn't a bad thing that her husband was a man of great stamina but sometimes, it was a problem when he went over the limit.
After groaning and finally getting up, Lucia was greeted to a small pile of jewelry that was delivered in the morning.
In the receiving room, a stack of jewels lay piled up on the table as though presenting themselves to Lucia. The maid's eyes twinkled with pride as though saying 'hurry up and see them'.
'This man, really.'
Lucia was stunned speechless and couldn't believe her eyes. Even for presents, there was a limit. How much would all this be? She felt a headache coming.
She thought of telling him her thoughts on his excessive spending when he came back in the evening but, the events from the previous night flashed into her mind.
'...He'll get upset.'
He certainly would. Yesterday, he was sulking that she received his necklace unenthusiastically so if she asked him to return them, he might get angry. There was no need to make him feel bad after he had gone out of his way to give her a present.
[Even if you are gifted a single flower, embrace him and thank him like there is no gift more precious in the world, and if there is any passion, that passion will overflow.] (2)
The advice that she heard from the northern noblewomen came to mind.
'Alright. It's being given anyways so let's accept it rather than leaving it to rot. Besides, it's possible to get money if we resell it.'
As she could not see all the contents of the gifts from just looking at it, she carefully unpacked the contents of the boxes, one by one and the afternoon passed with her trying each one on herself.
In the evening, he came back early and they were able to have dinner together.
During the meal, he said, "Tomorrow, a designer will be visiting. I am of the opinion that you need a dress."
"...a dress?"
"This is the capital. If you wear outdated dresses like in Roam, you will be subject to ridicule. The prestige of the Lady of the House is the prestige of the family."
Lucia did not say anything to that because his words were true. The nobles of the capital were particularly sensitive to fashion. In particular, the attire of high-ranking noblewomen was the main gossip of many women.
Even if she could not to become a fashion leader, it would be difficult if she drew ridicule upon herself with her attire. Indeed, it would seem that the dresses she had presently were not suitable for her upcoming social activities in the capital.