Chapter 32

* * *

I had lunch with the maids.

Everyone was talking about this evening’s engagement dinner, but there was something else I was curious about.

‘How can I ask?’

‘How do I open the topic naturally?’

If I asked like I did yesterday, all three of them might just make a shy expression and not answer.

I bided my time, putting a little fresh green salad sprinkled with olive oil in my mouth with a fork.

Then I just threw it out without warning.

“Um, so I have a question about the first night of engagement.”

“Ah…!”

……Fortunately, only Seryl was surprised this time.

However, Laura and Maribel had a slightly embarrassed expression on their faces. They seemed to be pretending nothing was wrong, but they couldn’t hide their red cheeks.

I asked in an indifferent manner, looking at the salad.

“…What exactly do people do?”

Anyway, it was always going to be embarrassing to talk about this kind of thing. I decided to ask in moderation.

The maids looked at each other for a while and seemed to be deciding how to answer. So I helped them.

“So, on the first night, you make plans for your future marriage… or something like that?

When I expanded the question a little, it was only then that Seryl answered brightly and clearly as if she had gotten a grip on it.

“Your Majesty, that day is the same as the first night of the wedding!”

“Really?”

“It’s used to make sure that each other’s ‘bodies’ fit well. You’ll whisper love all night long!”

…Basically, it’s rated 19. But there was something I didn’t understand.

If you did it all in advance, what would be the first night of the wedding?

“Then, what do you do on the first night of the wedding?”

At that moment, Maribel, the most timid and least talkative, said with a blushing face like a wily chick.

“In. Ten. Si. Fied.”

“!”

“It’s an ‘intensified version’ of the first night of engagement, Your Majesty.”

‘The first night of engagement is rated 19, and the first night of marriage is rated 29?!’

‘Crazy country, Aktoum.’

I shook my head, and to hide my red face, I pretended to be preoccupied with slicing the steak.

At that time, Laura, the most rational, continued to explain with a smile.

“In Aktoum, we have the culture of loving only one spouse for the rest of our lives and actively enjoying marital love, Your Majesty.”

Laura was right.

Spinel and its people which were sexually conservative and reluctant to openly speak about it, was quite a different country to Aktoum.

The latter were people who actively showed and pursued pleasure. While enjoying entertainment, they drank and ate in abundance, and enjoyed playing sports under the warm stars.

Of course, their desire for sexual activity was also actively expressed.

On the other hand, when people of Spinel got together, they enjoyed playing instruments, watching plays, and reciting poems and novels for leisure.

They consider it vulgar to be too explicit about sexuality.

It was like a country of scholars?

‘The two are different. But Aktoum’s way is fine too.’

Many countries made it legal for nobles to have a mistress, but not Aktoum.

They considered it natural to be in love with their spouse for the rest of their lives.

Often, even if one did have a mistress, it had to be done sneakily as it was viewed as a very disgraceful thing.

I suddenly remembered what Rixus said in Spinel.

“In Aktoum, the relationship between husband and wife is very important.”

“……”

“Berylia, you’re always welcome. You can try this body before marriage.”

…At that time, he was just saying it was like that and I simply passed it on.

In its own way, it was a saying based on customs.

‘How the hell am I going to spend tonight?’

Like a warrior who was ready for war, my mind became solemn.

As I blushed slightly in embarrassment and fell into my thoughts, Laura calmly spoke to me.

“Your Majesty, but this is about the first night of engagement for ordinary nobles.”

“Then? Is it different for the imperial family?”

“I heard that elegant and noble members of the imperial family rarely talk about their marriage on the first night of their engagement.”

Holding a wine glass with dignity like a royal, Laura added.

“It’s not about the physical harmony of the couple, but about the harmony of their minds.”

“I see…….”

Which side was Rixus thinking about?

‘He is the most noble blood of the imperial family. But I still don’t know which one he wants.’

‘……I’ll have no choice but to open my eyes a little at the dinner party later.’

‘That way, I will be mentally prepared. Although I don’t know if that’s something that I can be prepared for…’

“Oh, right! I didn’t tell you this yet.”

Laura continued.

“On the first night of the engagement, you should prepare a small gift for your spouse.”

“Gift?”

“Yes, actually, it is a day to dedicate your ‘purity’ to each other, but if you have loved another before and gave your virginity to someone else…”

“It means you’re replacing it with a gift.”

Laura smiled, saying, “Yes.”

‘Looks like I’m going to get another present from Rixus.’

I had already received countless dresses, shoes and jewelry.

Besides, didn’t I even receive the rarest artifact of the imperial family as a gift?

The artifact was so precious that I couldn’t even wear it. I kept it safely in the oak box.

It was a treasure handed down for hundreds of years without being damaged, cherished and protected because everyone wanted to give it to their most important person.

This artifact must have been saved because there were people who wanted to protect someone else more than their own lives.

For the emperors, it would have been their descendents, and for Rixus… it was me.

‘I still can’t believe it…’

Due to the nature of Rixus, it was obvious that he would prepare an expensive and precious gift again this time, but what should I do?

It was when I was in the middle of contemplation.

“By the way, what kind of gift will Your Majesty the Queen prepare?”

Seryl asked me with her bright eyes twinkling.

“You must prepare in advance!”

“Huh?”

I looked at the maids in confusion.

Everyone’s harmless, innocent eyes were twinkling and looking at me.

‘Why does everyone think I have experience?!’

Well, I was rumored to be running a harem of lustfull, energetic men.

I was reluctant to look weak. I wanted to appear aloof and competent during these kinds of problems.

So, without denying anything, I smiled and wondered out loud.

“Hmm, well, what gift should I give to Rixus…”

In particular, I didn’t want to just give any random thing to Rixus.

“I have received so many things, so I want to prepare a good gift. I don’t have enough time.”

“Ah, the gift for the first night of engagement must not be more than 500 ferring!”

“…500 ferring?”

I was taken aback by the amount Seryl said.

It was the price of gum.

At best, I could only buy a simple hairpin.

I understand now. One wasn’t meant to give a real present.

It was just meant to be a shy way to tell your lover about your experience, before the first night.

‘…What the hell can I prepare with 500 ferring?’

I didn’t want to give him any gift, but the amount was too small.

After thinking about it all afternoon, I still couldn’t decide, and just like that, I went to the dinner party in the evening.

* * *

The large banquet hall was decorated in a splendid yet simple manner.

It was modest for an imperial family member’s engagement ceremony, but compared to a normal dinner party, it was very splendid and grand.

“Your Majesty, congratulations on your marriage.”

“Thank you, Marquis Vichy.”

As I entered, the nobles gathered like clouds to greet and congratulate me.

Their eyes were full of goodwill. It seemed that there were a lot of nobles who cleared the misunderstanding they had about me on the day the high priest visited.

Or maybe it was because they realized who was going to be in power in the future and were trying to line up.

Or, it could have been both.

‘Rixus…’

Ah, the new groom must be dressed in formal attire.

The white and indigo blue suit fit beautifully.

‘He’s especially cool today.’

Strangely, my eyes kept going to him.

Still, I didn’t look openly, but Rixus was staring at me very blatantly.

It was like a man obsessed with something, like how a hunter would aim a bow at his target.

He set his gaze on me and slowly followed me with his blue eyes. Then he followed the way I greeted the nobles.

If I went to the right, he would go to the right.

If I went to the left, he would go left.

Thanks to that, I was concerned the entire time I greeted the nobles.

Then, when our eyes met, he smiled at me, and every time that happened, my heart pounded.

‘How can I ask that face what we’re going to do tonight……?’

I couldn’t even imagine what his reaction or answer would be.

Maybe it was because of his fancy attire, he felt different from usual, and I was just as excited as I felt strange.

I was unable to hastily go to him as one of the nobles stood up and asked for my time. In the end, I finished the greetings and went to Rixus.

He held my hand gracefully and greeted me playfully.

“My lady, would you like to dance to a song with me?”

I lowered my eyelashes in a coy manner and said,

“Okay, Sir Aktoum.”

He laughed lowly.

When the waltz started, we naturally surrendered ourselves to the melody.

Thanks to the dance practice I did in my spare time, this time, I was quite natural without having to borrow his feet.

Rixus skillfully led my clumsy dance.

Thanks to him, we would look like an elegant and beautiful couple. I felt better and asked him jokingly.

“Why did you look at me like that before? I couldn’t even say hello because I was so worried.”

“You have no conscience.”

“…….I?”

He looked at me secretly and whispered.

“I can’t stand not looking at you.”

“!”

In response to an answer that I could not even imagine, my face instantly heated up and I glanced at him slightly. And briefly criticized.

“What a flirt.”

This time, Rixus narrowed his eyes as if he was wrongly accused.

“How many women have you met before and said those things without blinking an eye.”

He didn’t affirm nor deny, he just gently helped me turn.

‘…You dare not deny it?’

It was not without reason that I hated that he did not deny it. Ah, you’ve been in a lot of relationships? As for me, I was in a rush to survive because of someone, so I couldn’t even date.

I asked him, barely squeezing the churning of my stomach.

“By the way, Rixus… What’s the genre tonight?”(TL/N: Berylia is asking in a roundabout manner, just think of ‘genre’ as ‘plans’ ^^)

I turned slightly and asked a question.

He had met countless women, so I needed to be careful here too.

Yes, actually, I was still upset.

“Healing through a comfortable rest? Drama? Or a productive discussion about marriage…?”

Well, the third option was the most likely.

The Rixus today was definitely full of dignity.

This man who was like a model of the imperial family would surely spend the first night like an imperial family member, as Laura said.

“……”

A strange glint spread across Rixus’ sharp eyes.

Dark eyebrows moved upward playfully.

‘Why? What is it?’

‘What the hell is up with that expression?’

“…Tell me metaphorically. As a genre.”

Because it was a bit embarrassing to hear it directly.

At the same time as the strong trombone sound, he pulled my waist securely and hugged me.

A very masculine, pleasant scent penetrated deep into my lungs, and his breath tickled my ears.

That moment when my mind was somehow hazy–

He whispered precisely, the tip of his wet tongue stroking his teeth.

“Hardcore.”

“!”