Chapter 44

“Demian!”

Briseyes looked at Demian in shock.

“What is this… scent in the room?”

When Demian looked at her questioningly, Briseyes turned around in surprise. However, Callisten, who should have been there, had completely disappeared.

“And where did His Highness go?”

Briseyes looked around in confusion and sighed.

“Cal left right after escorting me.”

She lied with a forced smile. Her heart was still pounding from the shock. She wondered where Callisten could have gone in such a short time, though she thought someone like him could probably hide quickly.

Then she realized. The door to the terrace leading to the garden was slightly open.

It was impressive that he had gone outside in such a short time, but she couldn’t help but laugh when she saw that he had even taken his clothes and chastity belt with him.

“Then what is this scent?”

“I accidentally sprayed some perfume I was going to throw away. The scent is too strong.”

When Briseyes spoke as if she knew nothing, Demian’s face reddened. He then checked to make sure Callisten was really not in the room.

“Ah, I see.”

He deliberately dropped his cufflinks near the bed to check underneath it. But truly, there was no trace of a man in her room.

He checked her closet and behind the curtains, confirming that only two people were in this room.

“What’s wrong? Is the perfume smell that bad?”

Demian realized again that she was truly ignorant about such matters and blushed. He knew this scent. He was a man too, and someone who had been to the battlefield.

“Yes, you should throw this perfume away.”

“I will.”

He approached Briseyes but then backed away as if coming to his senses.

“Bri, how about spending tonight in my room?”

“Haven’t you often spent time with Miss Delilah in that room?”

“Even if that’s the case, we didn’t share a bed.”

“I know.”

She saw him raise one corner of his mouth as he spoke and doubted the truth of his words.

“Did you come because you were worried about me?”

“Yes, since His Highness is also a man, staying in a room together for too long is perfect for causing gossip.”

She found his words amusing. A man worried about gossip who brings his mistress to hotels and boasts about it at the Academy.

“Demian, what if I absolutely cannot accept Miss Delilah?”

“That’s something you need to understand. Once Dili has a child and continues to treat you well like now, you’ll eventually open your heart.”

“What if it takes 5 years or 10 years?”

“Dili will work hard for that. That’s the kind of person she is.”

Briseyes had to forcibly suppress a laugh that threatened to escape at his words.

“What if Miss Delilah doesn’t want to make an effort?”

Briseyes looked at Demian while recalling how Delilah had pushed her down the stairs.

“Dili is already making her maximum effort. So now it’s your turn to make an effort, Bri.”

She knew how he had reacted when she told him about this incident.

“I see.”

“If you want to maintain your position as the primary wife, come to my room tonight. Shouldn’t you have a child first to save face?”

“What happens to the Academy if I get pregnant quickly?”

“What Academy for a pregnant woman? You’ll have to quit, of course.”

Briseyes momentarily lost her words at his statement.

“You need to be especially careful in early pregnancy.”

She didn’t want to talk about this topic anymore, perhaps because they had discussed it before.

“In other families, women need their husband’s permission even to go outside. I’m being generous enough to let you attend the Academy.”

Briseyes felt suffocated hearing his words.

“So you should understand Dili and fulfill your duty of pregnancy.”

“Is that what marriage means to you?”

“Why are you trying to ruin my mood again? Can’t you just obediently say you understand like Dili does?”

Briseyes gave a small laugh at his words and said:

“Fine. I understand. But tonight would be difficult since I’m still taking medicine.”

“…I understand. However, if you continue to avoid your duty, I won’t continue to act like a gentleman.”

“What do you mean?”

“We haven’t even hung the sheets yet. I’m saying I won’t wait for you anymore.”

When Briseyes looked at him, Demian’s expression brightened slightly, as if he thought his words had gotten through to her.

“I don’t want to take your first time by force.”

“Are you saying you’ll take me by force if I keep refusing?”

“I’ll have no choice.”

She felt like she couldn’t breathe at his words.

“Most women develop affection after spending the night together.”

“Even if it’s forced?”

“Yes. That’s how it is for everyone. How many noble couples marry for love like us? Everyone develops feelings after their bodies touch and mingle.”

“If that’s the case, is it okay for you to embrace your mistress while having me? Won’t feelings develop?”

“I’ll always return to you. You are my primary wife, and there’s no one as beautiful as Bri in this Empire.”

She felt like she might vomit at his words.

“Are you saying you’ll discard me if I don’t… maintain myself like now?”

“Women change after giving birth. I’m warning you to be careful about that.”

“Careful about what?”

“Even after having a child, return to your current state within a month.”

“That’s medically impossible.”

“Your stomach might not go down completely, but other parts should return.”

Briseyes didn’t want to talk anymore. She only thought that if she had known he was truly this kind of person, she would never have married him.

“You never said these things before. Back then……”

‘It’s more important that your body doesn’t get damaged after childbirth. I’m confident I’ll love Bri even if you become twice your current size.’

Recalling what he had said before marriage made her feel even more miserable.

“I was young then. Going to the battlefield made me realize.”

“Is that what the knights did?”

“Yes. And since you’ll be nobly staying inside the mansion, you should naturally maintain your beauty.”

She didn’t want to respond to his words, so she weakly smiled and nodded. Seeing her submissive attitude, Demian smiled with satisfaction.

Briseyes truly thought she needed to divorce him.

Even if it meant accepting Callisten’s help.

⁕⁕⁕

“Your Highness?”

Callisten had returned neatly from the garden and was pretending to look at flowers.

“I got lost. How do I get back to the main building?”

He had quickly put the chastity belt back on his lower body, which had nearly died from the strain. Because of this, a strange metallic sound could be heard again with each step he took.

“I’ll escort you, Your Highness.”

“Okay.”

Thus, he was able to return to the main building through the garden.

⁕⁕⁕

When evening came, Abenr Di Mays also returned to the mansion. She seemed to have gone to the bank to arrange money.

Briseyes inwardly mocked the matriarch as she saw that Aide Memphis had not appeared as expected.

“My lady!”

Ella seemed to be seeing Briseyes again after too long, perhaps because she had been busy with outside duties.

“Ella, you’ll get hurt if you fall while running.”

“Hehe. I have good reflexes, so I can land properly if I fall.”

Ella ran to Briseyes like a puppy and held her hand.

Abenr, the matriarch, who was heading to the dining room, clicked her tongue and looked at Briseyes, who seemed to be on good terms with her maid, as if she found it pathetic.

“You’re still the same. You must have been a dog in your past life.”

“I greet the Small Sun of the Empire! I do have strong loyalty! Thank you for the compliment, Your Highness!”

Callisten had somehow returned and stood beside Briseyes. Briseyes felt strange seeing him coming to the dining room now after staying in the reception room all this time, especially after what had happened earlier.

“Ella, dinner?”

“The chef will prepare mine. My lady, please go ahead and eat!”

Briseyes entered the dining room with Callisten.

He embraced her waist and whispered in her ear.

“I put the chastity belt back on.”

“Are you crazy?”

“My chastity belongs to you. I’ll only remove it when you unlock it.”

Her face burned at his words. Then he placed a necklace around her neck.

“You’re truly insane.”

The key to his chastity belt hung on a platinum necklace chain.

“Yes, I’m crazy because I want to possess Bri so badly.”

Briseyes sighed and moved away from him at his words.

Seeing their unchanged relationship, Demian unconsciously felt relieved. Demian was well aware of rumors from the battlefield that Callisten was actually homosexual and obsessed with Briseyes, who was like family to him.

So it seemed he was comfortable only with Briseyes, whom he didn’t view as a woman.

In contrast, Briseyes often showed an attitude of contempt toward him.

“What are you doing? Move.”

Callisten gestured for Demian, who was sitting at the head of the table, to move aside.

“I thought you would dine separately with Bri?”

“Since Bri came down to eat here, I had to come too.”

So Demian moved to the side and had to sit across from Briseyes. Abenr Di Mays sat next to him.

“Briseyes?”

“Yes, Mother.”

Abenr Di Mays intended to purchase the ruby mine in Endar today.

“Can I see you for a moment later?”

Briseyes saw through her obvious intentions.