Chapter 40

A Box of Cookies (6)

“Aren’t you tired? The morning for ladies starts late. You can sleep more.”

Cecil whispered as if he had noticed her mind wandering when she woke up. Rowena laughed because she liked his voice and cuddly arms.

Cecil grinned as Rowena dug into his arms.

What?

Something felt firm and hard in Cecil’s pants. Rowena’s waist jumped when she realized what it was.

Is it this big?!

Rowena looked at Cecil in bewilderment as his face flushed.

“What are you so surprised about? It became like this because you’re in my arms.”

“Y-you’re embracing me right now.”

Rowena was surprised and tried to push Cecil’s body away, but Cecil held on and did not release his arm, laughing deftly.

“Is there a fool who wants to stay away from my cute bride in the morning? At least not me.”

Then he laid Rowena’s body straight on the bed and kissed her on the cheek. They let out a sigh as they shoved their tongues deep and gently into each other’s mouths. At the same time, the thing in Cecil’s pants seemed to increase in size.

Can we do this? Oh, you’re not gonna do it in the morning, are you?

Rowena almost panicked, but Cecil’s kiss was ecstatic, leaving her helpless. It was strange to fall asleep in his arms, even if she liked it. Everything at the opera house was more tiring than she had expected, so she fell asleep quickly.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

“I’m hungry.”

As the Count’s daughter, Rowena’s rations were always limited, so she became hungry before mealtime. Cecil raised his head, kissing Rowena on the cheek.

“My bride shouldn’t be hungry. Let’s eat first.”

He lifted Rowena and held her in his arms. Rowena’s eyes widened. At this point, he seemed to do this often with her.

“Well, Your Grace, I can walk too.”

“I’m doing this because I want to hug you. Please excuse me for my pleasure.”

Rowena got out of bed in Cecil’s arms. Her face was flushed as he called the maid.

* * *

When Louis, the youngest member of the Adelia family arrived, he was able to go straight through the huge gate of the Imperial Palace. Not everyone could step into the estate of the imperial family, even if they were aristocrats. On a fixed day, it was only possible with an invitation.

Otherwise, if he applied for an audience meeting, it could take a month to be reviewed, after which permission would be given and a date to visit could be set.

Many nobles wanted to visit the palace, but most of them were rejected. Louis was flattered because he got in.

Yeah! Because I’m the younger brother of the crown princess-to-be.

He thought he would see Rowena right away, but he was guided by an attendant to a waiting room near the entrance to the palace.

He felt like he was treated well after coming out of the car right away.

“Did you make an appointment in advance?”

The attendant, who seemed unlikely to be disturbed, asked with an expressionless face. He had an attitude that seemed to be a role model for his servants.

“There’s no time to make an appointment! My sister went into the palace last night… I’m Lady Adelia’s younger brother, and I don’t have the right to see her?!”

He shouted like a habit, but the servant showed no signs of agitation.

“Please wait a moment. I’ll ask.”

If it had been like other noble families, it would have been possible for him to push the servant away and search for Rowena, even if it was only a high-ranking nobleman’s mansion. But this was an imperial family and his father had been through. Also, it was rumored that Rowena had seized the Prince’s heart.

“Louis, listen to me.”

Before he left, Theo had grabbed Louie and told him firmly.

“Our father won’t tell me, but I think that hand is the work of His Highness.”

“His Highness? Did Rowena go against his temper?!”

Like Paul, who blamed Rowena unconditionally whenever something happened, Louis was thinking similar things. Theo clicked his tongue.

“It’s the opposite. When Rowena and Dad go out together, you know how he treats Rowena.”

“…”

Paul didn’t always use violence, but he didn’t hesitate to slap Rowena’s face if he thought she would go against his judgment at all. Because his words were selfish and he was ruthless in his violence, there were many times when young Louis was surprised to see it.

So Louis was always afraid of Paul. He did not use violence against him, but there was no guarantee that violence against Rowena would not be inflicted on him.

That’s why he couldn’t stop his father from beating Rowena. Because he was scared.

Whenever Louis felt cowardly, he blamed Rowena. His father would never change, so

he realized that it was right for Rowena, the weakling, to change.

But Paul used to beat Rowena for reasons that even Louis couldn’t understand.