In a Political Marriage, Isn’t It Normal to Treat Your Fiancée Well? - Chapter 17

“I had a lover. She wasn’t nobility. She was a commoner. We were supposed to get married after I graduated from university. I’d promised to marry into her family. They ran a fairly large business, you see. Quite wealthy for commoners.”

“……”

“I commuted to university from her house. Unlike nobles, commoners don’t bother with formal engagement contracts. A verbal promise is enough.”

“……”

“But marrying into the ducal house was already decided. So, I broke up with her too.”

“……”

I couldn’t speak.

All I could do was silently listen to Lord Ravil’s story.

“You’re not happy with this marriage either, are you? I can tell without asking. You’ve made no effort to interact with me since our engagement. Though I was being stubborn too, you never voiced a single complaint. This marriage was decided by the royal family. Even if you complained about being neglected by your fiancé, there would be no fault on your part. Yet you took no action toward either the ducal house or your family home. Surprisingly so, to be honest.”

“……”

Lord Ravil was right.

I never once complained or expressed any dissatisfaction to him.

Because I didn’t know what to say.

How could I complain to a fiancé who wouldn’t even reply to my letters?

Lord Ravil says I should have told the ducal house or my family, but…

“I’ve decided we don’t need to understand each other. We don’t need to love each other. Congratulations. You’ve been splendidly branded as unqualified for the ducal house. Deemed unsuitable to be the next Duchess. Your only role is to bear children so the ducal bloodline doesn’t die out. Don’t expect anything more than that.”

“……”

“Ah, you needn’t worry about social matters. We’ll be leaving for the ducal territory in a few days. We won’t be coming to the royal capital, so you can rest easy. Since you apparently knew this would happen and didn’t interact with me, I assume you have no complaints? I don’t know what your family told you, but it’s impossible for a Count’s daughter to suddenly become a Duchess. The education itself is completely different. I was waiting for you to ask to be taught the ducal house’s manners, but there was no word from you for two whole years. Even His Grace the Duke was surprised.”

I should apologize.

That I didn’t mean for it to be like this.

But no voice comes out.

It’s not just my voice. My body is growing hot too.

“Finally taking effect, I see. That fruit wine you drank earlier was spiked with an aphrodisiac.”

“Aph…ro…disiac…?”

“Indeed. You’re going to be taken by me now. It’s our wedding night, after all. We must perform our marital duties, mustn’t we?”

Ah, so that’s why my body felt hot.

But why fruit wine with an aphrodisiac?

“Well then. Shall we get to work?”

Lord Ravil’s arm reaches for me.

I’m growing breathless, my thoughts becoming unfocused.

Unable to even voice a “stop”… I was pinned down by Lord Ravil.

An act without gentle consideration.

Merely a task for producing children.

It should hurt.

It should be painful and difficult.

But whether due to the aphrodisiac or not, my heated body could only experience pleasure.

Without our eyes ever meeting.

Lord Ravil called out another’s name, not mine, over and over.