Capítulo 186: [Chapter 186] The Last Murderer
The troublesome dilemma was surprisingly resolved quickly.
There was a very polite suggestion about spending the night in the Duke's chamber tonight, mentioning the tradition of the bride using a room in the groom's house on the first day she enters, if it was okay.
Yes, it was the duty of a married couple. Regardless of whether a child was conceived, they could simply sleep together. Abelus had such an obligatory conjugal visit, and men said they felt like it sometimes.
Neris was serious and solemn as she prepared to cross over to her husband's chamber, treating it like preparing for war. She had a massage with fragrant bath oils, applied rose oil all over her body, and donned a newly made gown that transmitted her heartbeat to her brain throughout the preparation.
And finally, the night became complete.
Dora led Neris to the Duke's chamber right next to the Duke's chamber, wearing a cloak made of black panther fur over a thin silk nightgown.
Knock, knock. As she knocked on the door, footsteps were heard from inside.
"I will withdraw."
Dora quickly turned and left.
The moment had arrived. Neris watched with a tense expression as the door opened without a sound.
The person who opened the door was Kledwin. There was no one else in the room. Neris's fingertips grew cold because of his unfamiliar face.
Why was she so nervous? It wasn't the first time. She laughed at herself, but Neris knew the answer.
She was afraid. Afraid that he would be disappointed in her, a plain and unremarkable woman.
Thinking back, Abelus had complained about her throughout their marriage. About her unattractive face, her thin body, her lack of charm...
Neris had been praised for her diplomatic and governmental skills more than an experienced professional, but when it came to relationships between men and women, her knowledge was limited to anatomical facts and hearsay until marriage. So, she only realized how 'unimpressive' she was after getting married.
She knew that he wasn't particularly fond of her as a friend. She had heard it painfully throughout her school years. But she never expected her body to be such a problem as a wife.
Abelus was good at complaining, but he never taught her how to improve. So, Neris was left figuring out what to do on her own.
There was one memorable experience, though.
In her previous life, Neris had accidentally entered her husband's chamber and witnessed Megara and him together. Through a gap in the bedroom door, she saw them entwined. She even noticed the red mark on Megara's white thigh.
It was a brief moment, but it was a strange and impressive sight, unlike the affectionate moments she had witnessed between the prince and his wife, which were filled with pain and duty.
Soon after recovering from the shock, she left the room, but somehow Megara knew about it that evening.
"Your Lordship, even if the door is open, it's a bit intrusive to peek into someone else's private life."
A sweet sigh, a blissful touch, a sticky kiss... Those were the elements that should have been there.
If Neris wasn't so lacking...
The memory surged, causing a flutter in her chest. Kledwin looked at Neris's stern face and raised his eyebrows.
"Why? Are you tired?"
He embraced his wife's waist, naturally pulling her into the room and closing the door.
Their lips barely touching, the kisses landed softly several times. Somehow, she felt more tense yet somewhat relieved by the warmth.
At least Kledwin wouldn't hurt her feelings by speaking out of turn. He was that kind of man.
With each kiss, Kledwin's bright gray eyes lowered. Neris's eyes, mainly because she didn't know how to react, remained tightly shut.
As Kledwin's eyes almost closed, the embrace deepened.
Their chests pressed tightly against each other beyond their clothes. He slowly explored his wife's lips and mouth.
From her stiff posture, she awkwardly began to mimic his movements.
From then on, everything accelerated.
"Ah...!"
Neris felt her fingertips go cold. No, were they getting warm? A shivering sensation ran through her body simultaneously. The cloak fell off with a thud.
While her lips were eagerly seeking, Kledwin's hands remained annoyingly calm. After removing his shirt, he lifted her arms around his neck and gently laid her on the bed.
It was beginning. She was unsure how to respond, her body tensed. But her husband's arms around her neck were gently holding her.
He was surprisingly large in stature. Being held in his arms made it evident. And he was warm. Her fingertips, which had felt frozen moments ago, now seemed to melt from his heat.
Her chest fluttered like waves. Her heart raced madly. The bed behind her was soft and plush, while the body above her chest was hot and firm.
Gradually, the tension eased. The fact that she was completely overwhelmed oddly comforted her. At least there would be no chance of feeling inexperienced to the other person...
Her breathing quickened slightly. Strong hands slipped under her clothes.
She finally whimpered. With each kiss, each touch, it intensified. A sensation she had never felt before, a feeling of endlessly falling somewhere...
Lips trailed from her cheek to her ear. The unfamiliar sensation brought a surprisingly strange thrill. Simply touching her body, kissing her ear, nibbling on her neck...
And finally, when she thought 'it' was about to happen.
Neris anticipated that everything would proceed as expected and tightly shut her eyes. The fear of pain and the possibility of disappointing him momentarily took her breath away.
However, Kledwin's next move was different from what she had imagined.
Suddenly, Kledwin held Neris tightly from above without moving. After a moment, he kissed her forehead and pulled the blanket over her from the disheveled bed.
"Sleep well."
Her startled body was embraced by him again. Half relieved, half confused, Neris clung to her husband's arms.
Thankfully, she couldn't help but have such thoughts.
Even after experiencing the world in this way, Neris still didn't know how to act right with her husband on a simple bed.
She chuckled at her own silly thoughts and rested her nose on her husband's shoulder.
Then, she closed her eyes and fell into a surprisingly peaceful sleep.
❖ ❖ ❖
The grand hall of the palace was bustling with people. While it was common for many to be seen in the palace to impress the imperial couple, today the number was unusually high.
"Is it true that the new Duchess is coming to the palace today?"
"It must be true. They said she arrived in Hwando yesterday. The Duke may be clueless, but the Duchess, being of humble origin, would want to establish her position..."
The Emperor on the high throne disdainfully glanced at them whispering elegantly. The Empress sitting beside him interjected.
"It's too noisy."
The Emperor chuckled.
"We can't help it. We can't just kick them all out."
While muttering as if the other party had become too forward, in reality, everyone knew that they were the ones eager to see the new Duchess in person. Gossip was the most entertaining activity in the dull palace life.
The nobles had been gossiping about the 'new Duchess' every day recently. But honestly, the Empress had no interest in whoever the new Duchess was.
What mattered was the balance of power.
And it was evident.
No matter how much the Duke built alliances with the new Pope and laughed at imperial decrees, showing up at the palace and bowing was what maintained peace in the empire.
"Ah, Mama, Mama."
"Oh, Keimil is here."
As people quickly made way, the eldest Princess Keimil approached.
"Keimil rarely appeared unless it was absolutely necessary. The Empress called her daughter to stand beside her and asked,
'Did you come to greet the Duke as well?'
At first, it sounded like a simple question about whether she had come to see the expected visitor today, but in reality, it was a reminder to Keimil of her position.
A suspicion that she might be trying to assert her presence in front of the nobles and take her younger sibling's place.
Keimil answered quietly,
'I came to see the Duchess. I've never actually met her before, and if I don't see her now, I might not get another chance.'
'Well, keep it appropriate.'
The Emperor, who knew that his daughter had falsely accused the lady, spoke coldly.
'There's no need to bother her, and if you do, she's a troublesome opponent.'
'Yes, Mama.'
Keimil responded meekly to the Emperor.
The palace staff glanced at Keimil with curiosity as she rarely revealed herself. Although she had relinquished the position to her younger sibling, Keimil also exuded the inherent 'dominant' atmosphere unique to the imperial family.
While her appearance was ordinary, her strict training in the palace and subtle aura of authority garnered admiration from many.
There were persistent attempts to arrange a marriage for her, but she had rejected them all, perhaps not wanting to be constrained by her parents, which was disappointing.
And then it happened.
'His Excellency Duke Kledwin Maindlandt and Her Excellency Duchess Neris Maindlandt!'
The booming voice of the herald echoed.
The nobles gathered in the hall fell silent and turned to the entrance. In the next moment, their eyes widened.
A man, clad in a black cloak over a robe adorned with gold threads, exuded a dangerous aura as he stepped into the hall like a harbinger of death.
Beautiful and sharp gray eyes.
A near-smile gracing perfect lips.
Undeniably, he was a beautiful man.
The people present here thought of him as a monster. Not only because of the rumors that he had killed all his enemies, but he always seemed different from others. They had joked at least once about how pitiful the future Duchess who would marry the Duke would be.
But today, there was a woman by his side.
Due to various complex rumors and allegations of impropriety, the nobles had expected her to be vulgar, cunning, and merely pretty-faced. However, the moment they laid eyes on her, all suspicions vanished, leaving only admiration.
Her densely packed features drew delicate lines, yet there was no hint of timidity. With clear and composed eyes.
She was captivating.
Not only did she possess the ground she walked on, but the entire hall as if it were naturally her noble estate.
The Jewel Anvil. The news of the Jewel Anvil's appearance, a rumor heard only in whispers, was indeed true. The nobles were shocked.
The Maindlandt Duchess, holding her husband's hand, walked lightly as if she were a fairy. The perfectly balanced and elegant gait of the couple, along with their stunning appearance, seemed otherworldly.
Even without the Jewel Anvil, the Duchess's attire proved her noble lineage next to the imperial family. Some even gasped at the sight.
"When she was the Princess, Neris had to wear clothes that showcased the majesty of the palace rather than what suited her.
The dress that bared the shoulders and had a thick, long skirt made tall royal women look like celestial beings descended from heaven.
However, the same design made Neris, who was petite with narrow shoulders, look as if she were buried in the clothes.
As the current Duchess, she no longer needed to wear such clothes.
The purple dress that elegantly wrapped her neck and arms before flaring out from the waist down and finishing crisply at the floor made Neris's slender body look incredibly elegant. The silhouette was simple, but the luxurious fabric and generous use of jewels left no doubt about her status.
Arriving beneath the Emperor and Empress's throne, the Duke and Duchess lightly greeted.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness."
"The Duke has arrived. This way..."
Under the Emperor's sharp gaze, Neris smiled.
"All hail the great Emperor, whose majesty is awe-inspiring down to the smallest detail. I am Neris Maindlandt."
As the attention shifted between Neris and the Emperor, Keimil's gaze turned sharply hostile.
Keimil had never missed a target before. But that... slipped away. Several times.
Neris recognized the persistent hunter-like gaze. However, she stood taller, more confidently.
After years, they finally faced each other.
The last murderer.
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