Chapter 23: < — Ducal couple — > (11)

< — Ducal couple — > (11)

TN: Part 2 should be coming in today or tmrw~

Jerome placed a large box wrapped in luxurious velvet on the table. Lucia slowly opened the box with an expectant mind.

"Huk!"

The maid next to her, peeking from the corner of her eye let out a gasped and exclaimed in surprise. It was not just the maid, Lucia was just as surprised. Inside the box was a dazzling, gorgeous looking white diamond necklace with countless diamonds hanging from it. Lucia did not really know the price of jewelry but this could not be simple jewelry, it was a treasure.

Were diamonds common gems? Normal necklaces would have a diamond present in the middle of it, resting on the breastbone, connected to a thin gold string. The diamond would just be an accessory to the rest of the necklace. For this necklace, the main character of the necklace was a huge diamond that made her suspicious if it was really a diamond or just a piece of glass.

She had never seen something like this before. She could guess that even if one of the noble ladies had something like this, they would be too afraid and wouldn't dare to have it on their necks when they are going out.

She hesitated, wondering in her heart if she should dare touch it then carefully approached and took the necklace in both of her hands. She almost missed its heavy weight the moment it touched her hands.

"Wear it and see, your Grace."

A maid brought a full-length mirror as Lucia grew more delighted. She fastened the necklace and stood in front of the mirror. The weight of the necklace made her feel as though someone was pushing down on her neck with two hands. Her entire neckline was densely covered with sparkling diamonds.

"It looks really good on you, your Grace."

Jerome was pleased and lavished her with compliments.

"Just what... is this?"

The necklace she was expecting was a cute or common female ornament not a rare item that seemed to have come from the royal treasury.

"Did he really buy this? As a present for me?"

"His Grace regrets that it took more time than he thought for the gift to arrive. He wanted to give you before he departed for the inspection."

"This...this is pretty excessive."

Jerome was bewildered by Lucia's reluctant response.

"It is not excessive, your Grace."

"If the recipient feels burdened, then it is an excessive gift. Jerome, if... I were to tell his Grace that I feel burdened, would he be upset?"

"Yes."

Jerome replied firmly. He had watched as his master chose this gift with quite the happy expression. It was the first time that his master had personally chosen a gift for a woman. In the past, he would only ask Jerome to pay for whatever item the woman wanted.

Jerome did not know if he would make a mistake while talking about his master's past relationships so he didn't say anything. He was specially watching his mouth as he had been pretty careless in the past because of Lucia's inquiries.

"You do not have to feel burdened, your Grace. From his Grace's standpoint, it is not an excessive gift at all."

'My master is wealthy.' was what Jerome was trying to say that but Lucia took the meaning of his words a bit differently.

That buying this gift was of the same significance to Hugo as buying a hair comb.

Lucia sat in the living room alone as she starred at the box which contained the necklace and fell into deep thought, trying to analyze just what underlying meaning lay behind the gift.

'It could just be a present to celebrate my first tea party. Since he's rich, it may not be any different from giving a small ring as gift.'

That was her first theory but Lucia didn't know that no matter how rich he was, that present was not something he would gift with a light heart. He was only able to acquire it by asking around and even paying a premium on it as the necklace was already won by a royal in another country in a jewelry auction.

Money was money but his efforts were clear. He wanted to give her a special gift. But because he gave the gift in such a simple manner, a small misunderstanding was created.

'Or...is it for a reward? Since he likes to sleep with me...'

That was her second theory. However the idea of giving her body and being paid like a prostitute made her feel terrible all over.

'Then, is it something like a habit? He has a lot of lovers so it could just be a routine to give gifts to women.'

That was her third theory. This theory was the same as the last in that in made her feel terrible. Nevertheless, the first theory was the easiest to swallow. She dug through her head but she couldn't think of any more theories.

She internally excluded the theory that it could be a present carrying a special meaning. Lucia sighed heavily. The gift, so precious that it was a bit difficult to bear, was like a stone thrown into her tranquil and asleep heart, causing a ripple.

Her marriage life with him was very different from her expectations. She had expected it to be dreary but it was full of joy and happiness. He never said unkind or sugar-coated words but still, he was affectionate. He was not snappy nor did he ever say anything that would hurt her feelings and he was not as scary or as ridiculously violent as the rumors had made him out to be.

'I already promised. I said I would not fall in love with him.'

But her heart kept wavering. Even though she tried to control her heart, telling it, 'you can't,' every time he laughed mischievously, every time his arms were wrapped tightly around her waist and every time his lips heatedly met hers, her heart shook like a reed. She blamed him inwardly as she stared at the necklace box.

'Why are you doing this? Making someone feel weird for no reason.'

The sound in her chest was deafening, but still, she had been enduring well till now. She was scared that she would one day, without even realizing it herself, cling to his trousers like a leech and then one day, receive a bunch of yellow roses. Simply imagining it was awful.

He was a courteous and refined nobleman therefore he was just treating her with manners befitting to Lucia's status as his wife. It would be troublesome if she were to misunderstand his kindness. He didn't seem to dislike her and she knew for sure he liked her body but that was just interest due to physical desire.

'Come to your senses.'

She took a deep breath.

'The way you have been till now is just right. Do not waver. Your heart should be made of stone. I can stay with him the way I have been till now.'

It was still okay. Until now, it was still ok.

< — Ducal couple — > (11)

TN: I would like to say I tried my best this chapter.... sigh. (*´▽｀*)

Lucia was wrapping up her second tea party after having an enjoyable time. She had invited only unmarried young noble women for this tea party. A red-haired lady sat in her seat till the end, then walked up to Lucia.

"I am Kate Milton, I greeted you earlier. My grand aunt has told me a lot about you. Ah, The Countess of Corzan is my grandaunt."

"Ah, I remember now. That day, Madam Michelle boasted of her niece and told me her niece would make a good companion."

"Are you talking about my grandaunt? That is bit hard to believe. Whenever she sees me, she raises her eyebrows and gives me a fierce look."

"I'm sure that's just her showing her affection, Lady Milton. She also emphasized that if Lady Milton does not like me, it would be impossible for us to be friends."

"In any case, that's just how my grandaunt is. Now, although I am not sure if I want to have a troublemaker like you as a friend but if by any chance, someone is saying that we should be friends, then I oblige and prostrate myself." [Kate]

The two women's eyes met and they both burst into laughter. Kate's open-minded words really matched her personality as she gave hearty laughter and extended her right hand.

"Please, call me Kate."

It was Lucia's first time seeing a noble lady offering a handshake as a greeting. Seeing Lucia's look of surprise, Kate was startled and withdrew her hand.

"This...apologies. I was disrespectful. It is a habit I have been unable to fix even after my grand aunt's scolding."

Lucia chuckled and stretched out her hand. She liked this cheerful and straight forward lady from the get-go. Kate smiled and held Lucia's hand.

"Call me by name, too." [Lucia]

'Vivian.' She was hesitant to say that name.

As Hugo kept calling her by that name this entire time, she had grown familiar with it and the sense of rejection she had in the past was pretty much gone but she was still uncomfortable with the name. A friend calling her by that name somehow made her feel like she was concealing the real her from the get-go.

"Lucia. Call me Lucia. It is a name from my childhood."

The two of them quickly became friends shortly after they had met. Kate liked the feminine Duchess and Lucia liked the energetic and cheerful Kate. They both found parts that were missing from themselves in the other.

Afterwards, Kate would often visit the Roam mansion, to chat, have some tea and then leave. Kate was two years older than Lucia and Lucia was complete charmed with the first friend she'd made. It took less than ten days for the two of them to become close friends.

"Could it be that his Grace does not like you going out?" [Kate]

"Ha-ha. It's not like that. He's not that type of person." [Lucia]

If Hugo were here, he would have immediately replied that he didn't like it. Hugo didn't control her movement; going out or not; because there was no reason to. There was no need to tell someone who always stayed within the mansion to not leave the castle walls.

"Don't you get frustrated just staying in Roam?"

"It's okay. I open a tea party sometimes and just like now, you come to see me pretty often."

"Ah, don't be like that, do you want to learn horseback riding? When I take a swift horse ride, I feel all my frustrations dissipating."

Kate wanted to let the extremely reserved Lucia learn the pleasures of outdoor activity. The world was vast and there were many ways to enjoy oneself.

"Horseback riding? Isn't that dangerous?"

"Not at all. You'll know when you see but they are no animals as mild as them. Of course, it can be a bit fast paced in the beginning but as you continually ride, you will grow more familiar. Ah, it is also a good exercise for the body shape. These days, it is the latest trend among women."

"Is that so...?" Lucia mulled over it for a moment then replied. "I'll have to receive permission from his Grace."

"Ahh...okay."

***

As she stroked his face, her hand trembled, falling, so she tried to hold onto his shoulders but her hands slipped on his sweat and fell to the bed. It wasn't only her hands as her whole body trembled and quivered in ecstasy.

The man groaned and thrust into her. At the peak of his pleasure, he twitched violently inside her, wrenching himself out and released.

"Ung....Hk!" (gasps)

Her moist eyes filled up like that of an overflowing fountain and her tears poured down her face. She could not focus with the waves of euphoric pleasure passing through her body. She felt as though she were floating in the air and then suddenly sank down, falling to somewhere unknown, like she was falling endlessly to her death.

He grunted fiercely, grabbing her buttocks with both of his hands, and entering into her soaked insides. He went a bit slowly, his sensitive part brushing slightly against her moist flesh as if to feel it out. He moved slowly, moved a bit faster, then moved slowly again, enticing her as he riled her up.

Her insides squeezed and clenched on him, as if it was furiously resisting his invasion. Her exterior was honest as it spasmed, letting him know that her body was approaching its climax. He pierced deeply into her highly sensitive insides with his member.

"Uuck...Hu...please..."

Lucia implored him as she whimpered. He was moving much harder and rougher than before. All her energy had been squeezed out and she couldn't summon any power. Her entire body was more sensitive so his hands simply sweeping across her skin caused her to ache in excitement.

"Huuu..... what do you want me to do?" (Hugo)

He shifted a little more weight down and thrusted in heavily. His rock-hard penis was not even slightly softer and the movement of his member deep inside of her was also tireless.

As the sexual organs of both of them met, the excitement from the movement and the pleasure that accompanied it were delivered to both parties without delay. But, although Hugo could handle it, Lucia could not.

"Hk! Ahh! No! Stop!"

Hugo looked at the woman who was squirming underneath his body. Her pupils were wide looking somewhat fearful and her eyelashes were wet. He lowered his head and licked the tears that had just fallen out of her eyes.

He captured her slightly open red lips and as he sucked on it, he wove his tongue into the open mouth. It was a short kiss and his tongue lightly caressed the inside of her mouth. Then he started kissing her again.

He suckled, licked, caressed and bit her lips. It was a passionate kiss that did not hide his tender but explicit desire.

"Should I stop?"

Even though he was saying that, he once again pushed inside of her. He was quickly wrapped in her innermost flesh and his breathing grew irregular.

"Hng...yes..."

"Alright."

Instantly, her teary eyes grew slightly round. The corners of his eyes curved and he laughed lazily.

"Just a little bit more."

Of course, she should have expected it. She was once again deceived. She felt so wronged that she began to sob.

'This is dangerous.'

Even though he mumbled that, his facial expression was full of hunger and greed, like that of a hungry beast in front of its prey. As the rims of her eyes grew redder, she began to wriggle around and his lower body immediately reacted.

She felt his provoked member grow more aroused as blood rushed towards it and it became stiffer. When he reached deep inside of her, she frowned and tightly closed her eyes. He laughed contentedly as he observed her reaction that was extremely cute to the extent he wanted to eat up her lips.

He thrust into her, hitting a spot that he knew she liked, causing her body to shudder and she let out a coquettish moan. The words to put an end to it were at the tip of his tongue but her moan was too much stimulation.

"Just one more time."

She panted as she looked at him suspiciously with her wet eyes.

'I won't be deceived this time.' Was what her eyes were saying. Although it was fun when he led the sex and ate her up when she grumbled and said no, this was really the last time. Her flavor when she tenderly enticed and actively reacted to him was also special.

"You really promised."

Her eyes appeared very docile. It happened every time but then she would think maybe this time. She had repeated the same mistake more than she could count. She gave him a small nod and the corners of his mouth went up.

'Ah, really. So cute.' [Hugo]

"Lie on your stomach and lift your butt to me." [Hugo]

Her body flinched as his warm member that was wrapped inside of her was swiftly pulled out. She hesitated for a moment looking at his enthusiasm that seemed like it would never end, then obediently turned around and lay on her stomach.

Her white and plump buttocks was distorted in his grasp. He appreciated her appetizing curves that started from her back to her waist, leading to her butt then swiftly thrust into her from behind. Her body instantly trembled intensely.

"Hnnng..."

"Hk! Haa...really. I'm going crazy."

He couldn't get enough of her taste no matter how many time he experienced it. Far from getting tired of it, every time he embraced her, it always felt fresh. This woman with such a heavenly taste was his. Nobody was allowed to touch her.

If he could, he would engrave a sign on every part of her body to show that she was his. Lately, whenever he looked at her, in the depth of his eyes, there was a dangerous and possessive aura.

It was a quiet and secret darkness that he would never reveal to her.

Translator's Corner:

* So, on a scale of one to ten, how did I do in translating the sex scene? XD

I drove to the airport and was gonna wrap this up once I came back buut... I had to start looking up terms for penis and synonyms for genitals and so on and so forth. I love this story hahahahah!

*cough*

Anyways, I hope I made it come across really well. If it was awkward, tell me too. (~‾⌣‾)~