!NSFW!
Just before the castle gate closed, Rensley, who arrived at the Grand Castle by a hair’s breadth, went straight up to his room on the second floor.
Now that he was alone, he felt almost embarrassed by the hurried return, as if he were caught in a compulsion. Anyway, at this late hour, he wasn’t going to visit someone else’s room.
Leaning against the door, he took a long breath, as if spitting out venom. He felt unbelievably exhausted. Parties, alcohol, dance, or singing had always invigorated Rensley, and there had never been a time when they made him tired.
‘Has it been too long since I’ve gone out?’
The noisy tavern, the night wind that hummed in his ears, passing through the streets—finally arriving at the room that was warm and quiet. Rensley wiped his feet, washed his face a few times with the water, and, although he wanted to take a bath, it was too late to get hot water. He roughly wiped his body, put on the indoor robe hanging on the wall, and was about to put it on when he was surprised.
It was so unexpected that, for a moment, he stared with his eyes wide open. Without any presence or sound, the man appeared like a large shadow. Rensley could only send a short greeting toward him.
“Your Grace.”
After calling him, he realized that he was momentarily stunned. Rensley straightened his shoulders and offered the customary knight’s salute.
“I thought you’d be in your bedchamber.”
“If you think about it, you must know that I’m often awake at this hour, right?”
Gezell’s tone felt somewhat blunt. Only then did Rensley smile as usual.
“That’s true, but it’s still late.”
“Did you go outside? You said you’d be in the room, but I couldn’t find you anywhere in the castle.”
“Yes. I went out for a night stroll after a long time.”
The approaching man slowly opened his reddish eyes. He gently stroked his slightly disheveled blond hair and bowed his head to Rensley’s eye level.
“You smell of alcohol. And tobacco too.”
“I had a little to drink, and someone next to me was smoking.”
“There’s also the scent of perfume.”
“I guess I got it while dancing.”
“You haven’t been going out much lately… Did you get bored spending so much time in the castle?”
Rensley raised his gaze. The Duke’s face, which met his gaze again in the night, seemed to contain a bit of curiosity, a hint of displeasure, and a gentle warmth displayed in front of him.
Or perhaps he was just wearing a nonchalant expression, and Rensley was projecting patterns onto his face, much like decorating a mask to see what he wanted. With no response from Rensley, Gezell nodded slightly, as if showing something visible yet unspoken.
“I understand. I know you like to socialize with people. I didn’t think it would be right to confine you to the Duchess’s room.”
“Are you upset because I came back late?”
“Anton and Samlet said they didn’t know your destination. I was worried because you weren’t here, but I wasn’t angry.”
Gezell raised an eyebrow slightly.
“But if you had been a little later, I was going to send a search party. It’s fortunate that you came back in time.”
“Really? A search party?”
“If something were to happen to you, it would be a big problem for everyone.”
Maybe? Wouldn’t it be best for everyone if I quietly disappeared like smoke? Rensley chuckled and lowered his head.
“I apologize for causing concern. You don’t need to worry; I can take care of myself anywhere.”
“If it weren’t for healing magic, the wound from the dog bite wouldn’t have healed. It’s too early to let your guard down.”
“I have one more thing to apologize for, Your Grace.”
“What is it?”
“I ate tomatoes before anyone else.”
It was supposed to be a confession like a joke, but as soon as he spoke, his heart became as heavy as a soaked sponge.
As Rensley fell silent, Gezell also remained silent for a while, then uttered a short soliloquy.
“Oh dear.”
The questioning continued.
“With whom did you eat?”
As heavy as my heart became, Gezell’s reaction was more serious than I expected.
Rensley quickly decided that it would be better not to mention Stan’s name. It would not be wise to attract unnecessary attention from the Lord by wrongly choosing a friend.
“Just… I shared it with several fellow knights.”
“Why did you do that?”
“I’m sorry. It just happened…”
“Rensley.”
Rensley’s shoulders shook for a moment. It was the first time he had been called by his name outside the bedroom. However, Gezell, seemingly unfazed by the use of his name, just stared at Rensley.
“You seem upset.”
“Yes? I’m angry with myself.”
“What happened?”
Rensley’s mouth slightly opened. Unable to recover from his surprise, he belatedly raised his head. He had spoken without thinking, causing unnecessary misunderstanding.
“It’s ridiculous. I have no reason to be angry with you. I receive your grace every time and only receive excessive gifts… How can I harbor such unworthy emotions when I’m always in a position to receive?”
“It’s something I don’t understand. After ruling a country, I’ve come to realize that the most challenging thing in everything is aligning our understanding with each other. Even if I bestow something with good intentions, if it’s a gift the other party doesn’t desire, it might breed resentment.”
“Your Grace! Absolutely not. I’ve never been ungrateful for your grace. It’s just that…”
Just… ? When Rensley paused, Gezell’s eyes widened slightly. Rensley closed his mouth to organize his thoughts, then spoke slowly.
“I just wanted to know more about Aldrant. Now I am one of the people of Aldrant. It’s been quite some time since I started living here and joined the Knights. To truly become a person of this place, I need to examine the situation outside Roudken Castle, make friends with people, so I can truly become one of them, right? That’s why I’ve been spending more time and enthusiasm mingling with others. Please dispel any misunderstandings.”
“I spend almost all my time inside the Grand Castle.”
“Can an outsider like me and the Lord be the same?”
Rensley met Gezell’s gaze, avoiding it vaguely. Divorce is just a pretext. Everything in the world is like that. You can disguise it with lies and create plausible reasons.
“I’ve been thinking that way lately. I want to know more about this country…”
“It’s a thought befitting someone who enjoys adventures.”
Gezell’s words were almost amusing. The difficulty in aligning each other’s understanding was indeed true. Human affairs are not simple; the closer people become, the more they may have different thoughts even though they seem to look at the same thing.
“Your Grace, I have something to tell you.”
“Whatever it is, feel free to talk.”
Rensley led him to a comfortable chair and sat him down, taking a seat across from him. He put some force into his hands resting on his knees a few times. Tension built up. Gezell seemed to sense it too as he leaned back against the backrest, lightly resting his chin on his hand.
“Aldrant is a vast country. Although the habitable land is scarce compared to the vast territory, no one denies that it is a powerful nation. As you mentioned, Your Grace, you govern various regions, and each region has its own characteristics and culture.”
“That’s true. There are some differences, of course.”
“So… I want to go see other regions.”
After finishing his words, Rensley glanced at Gezell with a hint of hesitation. The Duke did not immediately respond, as if he wanted more explanation.
“As you said, Your Grace, I enjoy traveling around and have a lot of useless curiosity. Since I’ve come all the way from my hometown to live here, I thought I might as well experience a broader world. Even if it’s difficult to go too far, if Your Grace permits, it’s possible to visit other places within Aldrant.”
Gezell seemed to ponder for a moment, averting his gaze, and then fell silent. His black hair silently slid beside his ears as he tilted his head slightly. The silence did not last long. He simply nodded his head.
“Yes, that’s a good idea.”
“Your Grace, if that’s the case…”
“You traveled a long way from Cornia to here, and as soon as you arrived, you got busy with study and training without a break. I’ll give you some time off. I still can’t leave the castle, but if you go with someone from the city, that problem should be solved.”
“…”
“There’s a beautiful place near Roudken with a lake. How about that? There’s also a famous brewery there that makes wine with wild strawberries in spring. Now, sit down over here. Let’s discuss where would be good. Taking a break in such a place will surely lift your spirits too.”
Rensley blinked. While it couldn’t be said that he and Gezell were similar types of people who could lie, there seemed to be no day when their words didn’t quite align as much as today.
“Your Grace, that’s not what I meant…”
Of course not. It was natural. He was hiding what he truly wanted to say and narrating something else.
“In other regions… I want to stay. For example, the territory of the family that the commander mentioned could recommend… Or anywhere that needs people. I understand that it’s presumptuous and an inappropriate request given that Your Grace graciously placed me in the Knights, but…”
Feeling the weight of falsehood, Rensley’s throat constricted. Why was he asking for this? While he continued to speak slowly and hesitantly, Gezell remained silent.
He didn’t glare at Rensley, furrow his brows, interrupt, or twist his lips threateningly. He simply listened to the story with an expressionless face.
However, his gaze became as chilling as the frozen plains of a deserted night. There was no doubt about the gradually sharpening coldness.
Finally, as Rensley finished his request with a blurred end to his words, the axe-like response fell without mercy.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“I disapprove.”
“Tbeg Xgjmf…”
“Qtja sbe’gf rjslcu revvfcis lr ecmifjg. Ktf lrref bo atf Xgjcv Gemtfrr lr cba sfa gfrbinfv.”
“Ktja’r kts, Tbeg Xgjmf!”
Pwqeirlnfis gjlrlcu tlr nblmf, Efcrifs jygeqais mibrfv tlr wbeat. Dea la kjr jigfjvs abb ijaf. Cvperalcu tlr qbraegf, Xfhfii vfwjcvfv jc fzqijcjalbc.
“Qtja vbfr la wfjc? Qtja vb sbe wfjc ys ‘atja’r kts’?”
“Forgive me. I misspoke.”
“Words are weapons, a command. Explain what you mean.”
Rensley’s pupils reflexively narrowed at those words. Discomfort, anger, rebellion, and such emotions he had tried never to show in front of him gushed out like a river.
Rensley gritted his teeth. Angry? Yes. Sadly, it seemed his words were correct. He had forgotten himself in anger. Not only that, but he was now throwing a tantrum like a child, hoping for recognition of his twisted sentiment.
“Do you need an explanation? Your Grace can command me at any time. If you order as you wish, that should be enough. Why are you curious about my thoughts?”
“Are you sincere?”
It was an impudent and absurd anger. There was no one to blame, and therefore, no way to resolve it. When he first arrived here, he thought it would be fortunate if he didn’t face execution for deceiving the Duke. Yet now, he was making a scene, hoping for understanding, like a child wanting recognition for his clumsy affection.
Knowing it in his head, but what could he do? Rensley Maelrosen, a prince with a commoner’s background and an emotional human being, could not behave as logically and rationally as a noble-born man with a noble origin, power, and a calm demeanor like Gezell Jivendad.
“Today you’re indeed strange. Something must have happened.”
“No, nothing.”
“Don’t hide it. Even if you don’t speak, if I investigate the people around you, I’ll find out the reason. The steward, the commander, the knights. Especially with Stan Simon, who cut your hair, among them. You’re also close to the kitchen cooks and servants, laundresses, and frequently meet Max, the owner of the tavern, and the gamblers there. By talking to each person, we’ll eventually find out why you’re angry.”
Rensley was dumbfounded. Even though he knew it in his head, he stared at the man in front of him for a moment. Blinking his eyes quickly, he was late to ask a question.
“Did you surveil me?”
“The lord overseeing a guest’s life isn’t considered surveillance. If I had surveilled, there would be no need to ask where you were or why you’re acting like this. If I thought I would hear such words, I should have surveilled you as suggested from the beginning.”
“Your Grace!”
“It’s not only you; I monitor many people and have established mechanisms to do so. Not only high-ranking officials but also lords from different territories, residents outside the main castle, and lords of other regions. Aldrant and Roudken are like the borders of the entire continent. It’s my responsibility and duty to thoroughly examine everything in this country.”
As his words concluded, a sharp silence fell, enough to make one’s ears ring. Gezell’s tone became even more forceful.
“So, explain.”
Rensley’s expression, which had been distorted with surprise and shock, slowly smoothed out. Anton’s words had a cooling effect, like a splash of cold water.
‘Issues like marriage are trivial to him.’
After a brief intake of breath, Rensley wiped his face. The unease that accompanied his arrival on unfamiliar grounds had long faded. Spending time in the comfortable palace provided by the Grand Duke, it felt like his senses were malfunctioning. Like a child pleading with busy adults to play, the world around him had become so small and confined.
He disliked this feeling. He didn’t want to be a person who threw a tantrum over trivial matters in front of someone burdened with significant responsibilities. Rensley Maelrosen had never been such a person, and he didn’t want to regress in this way.
“I saw a portrait of the princess sent from another country.”
Rensley’s voice remained calm. Gezell raised an eyebrow slightly but remained silent. Without urging, Rensley continued with his explanation.
“It wasn’t something someone deliberately showed me. I happened to witness people carrying the painting near the greenhouse. Curious about what it was, I followed and secretly observed it. Forgive my rudeness, I was just curious.”
“…If someone didn’t show it to you, how do you know the purpose of that portrait?”
“There are specific rules and sentiments for portraits that display a bride and groom. Having grown up in the royal family, I’ve seen the portraits depicting princesses from households which would be sent during marriage. I know what it looks like.”
Rensley stood up and approached Gezell. When they were alone, he would sit next to Gezell, facing his strong thighs as if they were designated seats. Rensley lowered himself to one knee, looking at Gezell’s instep.
“Your Grace, please don’t postpone it any longer and work towards stability through the Grand Duchess. Bear a resilient successor to secure the future of Aldrant. Our relationship won’t last long anyway. It was a plan that started with a short-term trick and ended after organizing the situation. Please, isn’t it time to find the Grand Duchess and ensure stability? Even if I’m recognized as the Grand Duchess, I cannot become one. I don’t want to become one. I can’t give birth to a child, and even if by chance I am acknowledged as the Grand Duchess, many adjustments would be needed. Your Grace mentioned the precedent of a male Grand Duchess, but it’s an old story from the past. Today’s Aldrant is more stable and peaceful than ever before. People say that this peace is thanks to Your Grace’s wise rule. Your Grace, who cares for the country, wouldn’t want to create unnecessary turmoil.”
“I told you to get up.”
Rensley, unable to endure any longer, slowly stood up. Gezell, who had also risen, showed no signs of relenting. His tone remained as cold as ever.
“Are you using the pretext of broadening your horizons to leave? Didn’t you say that even if I arrange a marriage, you can continue with your duties as a knight?”
“I apologize for rashly bringing up those words. However, consider this: if I and Your Grace return to a relationship as lord and servant, it might be the end of it. But from the perspective of the Grand Duchess, I am a man you once spent nights with. If I keep that fact a secret, it would be deceitful, and if I reveal it, the Grand Duchess might find it difficult to trust me as her subordinate.”
“Isn’t this different from what you said before? Wasn’t it someone else who suggested having a harem established? Now you’re concerned about the Grand Duchess’s perspective, who hasn’t even arrived yet?”
“Yes! You are correct; I am a messy individual. However, Your Grace, you wouldn’t tolerate such a relationship.”
Once again raising his voice, Rensley bit his lip. Maybe thoughts could change. Now is different from then. At this moment, he didn’t want to suggest having a harem established.
Rensley’s tone lost its strength. His slightly lowered voice flowed gently.
“Or… has Your Grace’s perspective changed? Even if a new marriage takes place, do you want to keep me as part of your harem?”
“Sir Maelrosen, raise your head. I will tell you one thing.”
Gezell waited silently until Rensley looked into his eyes. His voice, too, regained its usual composure and warmth.
“That painting is a portrait of the princess of Sidesburn. The reason I refused the engagement has nothing to do with you, but rather concerns my relationship with them.”
“…”
“The king of Sidesburn has not only a son to inherit the throne but also two ambitious princes. They have long wanted to establish their influence in Aldrant. If I accept the princess, they might want to seize a territory or title here using the pretext of marriage. Although rumors of frailty surround her, Aldrant still has a reigning Grand Duchess. Why would they send a portrait if not for some interest? While Aldrant may seem isolated from other countries, Sidesburn is geographically close. I would prefer a Grand Duchess from a distant land. Even the past emperors, when choosing a Grand Duchess for Aldrant, took that into consideration. Your arrival from faraway Cornia is not a mere coincidence, as gossip suggests.”
Rensley’s expression turned bewildered. Stunned by the sudden revelation, he stared at Gezell, trying to process the information.
“It wasn’t because of me…”
As he understood the meaning behind Gezell’s words, his face flushed. Anton’s words about not worrying about the Grand Duke but about him echoed in his mind, making him feel embarrassed to the core. Just as Anton had said, he was the only one swayed by the situation and emotions.
Gezell spoke again after confirming that Rensley understood his words.
“Don’t worry. I will uphold the lineage of the Aldrant Grand Duchy and fulfill my duties. As head, I will carry out my obligations. Didn’t I mention before you unveiled your identity? In the morning, I perform rituals, attend meetings to discuss important matters, and monitor the situation within and outside the castle, including guarding against monster incursions. For me, marriage is just a part of these responsibilities. It should be the same for the Grand Duchess and, also, to live as the Grand Duchess of this country, it’s essential.”
“But…”
“What is required for a strategic marriage is the alignment of interests, a sense of duty, and responsibility, not affection or favor.”
The violet eyes stared at the black-haired man without blinking. As if to check if Rensley understood, Gezell’s hand briefly touched his firm cheek before sliding down. There seemed to be a hint of anxiety in the commanding voice that exuded authority.
“I have no intention of making you a part of the harem. It doesn’t align with the merits of a king who has gone through the marriage ceremony. However, if you stay by my side in another position…”
“…”
“I will grant you whatever you desire. If you want a title, I will give you one; if you want a territory, I will grant it. If it’s challenging for you to continue with the duties of a knight, I can arrange another position for you. If you wish to travel, you may do so. If you want to visit Cornia, I can facilitate communication with their royal family, ensuring you return without any difficulties. However, after your journey… I hope you come back.”
As his words came to an end, the room fell silent. Their usual silence when together was like a spell that calmly soothed the busy thoughts of the day. In the quiet, even small sounds could be heard distinctly – the rustling of fabric when moving, the occasional crackling of the fire breaking a twig, and the wind outside, crying at the window, all mingled with the silence. In those moments, Rensley sometimes found himself smiling at Gezell without any reason. And then, without asking why he smiled, Gezell would gently touch his cheek or run his fingers through his hair, occasionally meeting his lips.
If it were someone else boasting of granting anything—fruits that never grew on cold soil, a greenhouse built of expensive glass—it might be dismissed as a cheap joke. However, because it was the Duke speaking, it became true. Had there ever been such a heartfelt confession in his lifetime?
Just one thing, excluding the position of a queen.
In that position, there was no connection with love, affection, or any emotional ties. Gezell Jivendad only wanted a political ally for that role.
The reason he couldn’t even make a joke about wanting that position was because Rensley Maelrosen himself had absolutely no confidence in fulfilling that role…
Rensley smiled this time, seemingly as usual. Extending his arms to embrace the Duke, he paused for a moment, then slowly embraced Gezell, gazing at him in a way that didn’t quite fit.
“If you act like that, everyone will hate the cunning foreigner who bewitched you for his own gain. I don’t want to be hated by the people of Aldrant.”
“I will make sure they don’t speak recklessly.”
“That’s what I mean. I don’t want to create such a situation.”
Rensley chuckled. Gezell’s sharp gaze, which had seemed tense and piercing, gradually softened. Rensley seated him again, placed himself in the designated seat the Duke had been encouraging, and crossed his legs.
“I also seem to be a half-hearted royal.”
“What are you suddenly talking about?”
“Your Grace’s words are somewhat unfamiliar. When I think about it, even my married brothers in Cornia did marriage in a similar way. Before me, Ivet almost came here for similar reasons…”
Rensley wrinkled his forehead slightly and gave a mischievous smile. The man holding him, with the strictness of a ruler fading from his face, blinked slowly, looking at Rensley.
“If Your Grace arranges a new marriage and doesn’t make me part of the harem, we won’t be able to spend nights together anymore. Are you okay with that?”
“…I will get used to it.”
“Can you really? Even if we can’t kiss or sit together like this?”
As if asking casually, Gezell’s face showed a faint bitter smile that was barely noticeable unless you looked closely. He closed his eyes, then, resting his face on Rensley’s neck, he put strength into the arm that held his waist.
“It’s not comparable to you leaving.”
“…Um. Seeing you say that so easily, it seems Your Grace still doesn’t fully understand the joy of the night. How can I corrupt Your Grace into a slave of desire completely lacking reason?”
“It’s already good enough as it is. Isn’t it difficult for Sir Maelrosen to ask me to stop every time I reach that point?”
“Come to think of it… If Your Grace marries again, I might also be able to marry or pursue a romance with someone else.”
Gezell’s eyebrows twitched slightly. Rensley sighed as if he had reached a conclusion.
“Oh, what should I do? I feel like I’ve become a fully grown man now… If Your Grace can’t embrace me, I might have to find another man.”
Gezell remained silent, keeping his mouth shut. There is a certain demeanor for a ruler. Perhaps, with no words to explicitly deny it this time, his expression, which had become rigid in its stubbornness, indicated that there was no appropriate answer. In any case, Rensley refrained from laughter, holding back the urge to laugh at the unfamiliar firmness in his expression.
However, it was only for a moment. Eventually, when a burst of laughter that couldn’t be contained erupted with a hearty “puhaha,” Gezell, still embracing Rensley, suddenly stood up, lifting him.
“Isn’t it against bedroom etiquette to say such things at a time like this?”
“I apologize, Your Grace. I got carried away with practical thoughts suddenly.”
“Let’s just sleep in my room tonight.”
Before Rensley could respond, the location had changed. Lips were pressed together, clothes were discarded layer by layer before Rensley could even speak. The bedroom bathtub was filled with water. Stripped bare, Rensley sank into the tub rather than the bed. As he submerged in the fragrant water, the remaining tension melted away, and he pulled at the fabric of the man’s clothes with wet hands.
“Please come in as well, Your Grace.”
“I bathed just a while ago.”
“Come on. Bathing is not the purpose, right?”
Responding to that suggestion, Gezell slowly removed his clothes. Rensley observed the revealed body like appreciating a work of art, as each layer of clothing fell away, revealing his form.
There is no life in clothes or jewelry, and they cannot lie. Yet, whenever Rensley witnessed the sight of Gezell Jivendad taking off his Duke’s attire, he couldn’t help but feel as if he were facing the most honest side of Gezell.
But whether Rensley Maelrosen was wearing clothes or not, he was never truly honest. His sincerity did not depend on attire. With his face leaning against the edge of the bathtub, Rensley whispered secretly.
“Your Grace, I wasn’t anyone special from the beginning. But even then, you were kind to me. That kindness was probably your courtesy, responsibility, and duty toward your fiancée.
“But do you know? There aren’t as many people in the world who fulfill the responsibilities and duties given to them as you might think. So, to me, you became special more quickly than expected.
“Your Grace may wish only for responsibility and duty from the incoming Grand Duchess, but look at us. People’s hearts don’t flow as planned. Whoever comes from whichever country, will undoubtedly fall in love with you.
“Responding to that love is the most important duty of a spouse. You cannot deny that, even with your formal self. I apologize for deceiving you. I am an inadequately educated, immature king’s son who cannot calmly watch that sight.
“But until then, let’s continue to spend good times like now. If you give me a little more time, I will finish what I started.”
While Rensley whispered to himself, Gezell, like Rensley, had become naked and entered the bathtub. Becoming bare like that, the difference in status felt vaguely blurred for a moment. Now in the bath, just the same as sitting in the chair, the man insisted Rensley sit on his lap.
“Come here and lean on me.”
“But Your Grace’s face will be hard to see like this.”
“You can see it plenty later.”
Smiling, Rensley approached him. Leaning against his upper body, he laid down, letting his weight rest on Gezell’s chest, the firm chest supporting his back. In the warm water, even sorrow seemed to soak away in the pleasant scent. Rensley, chuckling, pressed his head against Gezell’s chest.
“I’ve really come to like bathing here. People in Cornia naturally bathe, but it’s rare to immerse themselves in hot water like this.”
“Do you wash your body with cold water?”
“Young children and young people do wash with cold water, or even if not, they use lukewarm water. Many people like rinsing themselves with water rather than getting into a tub at home because they like the feeling.”
Saying so, Rensley suddenly splashed water, making a splashing sound as he turned his body. Facing each other in the tub, their legs crossed, and their groins met. Gezell squinted his eyes slightly, but Rensley continued as if he didn’t notice.
“Especially in the valleys of the forest, you have to be careful. There are many young children near rivers and seas, but the deep forest is dangerous, so children are rarely sent there alone. Most people who play in the valley are adults.”
“I’ve read about it in books, but it’s not easy to imagine. Going into the forest valley.”
“If you do that in this forest, you might attempt suicide.”
Rensley, chuckling, patted Gezell’s chest. In response, Gezell reached out and swept Rensley’s back with his hand. His long fingers delicately explored the contours of Rensley’s spine, much like playing a musical instrument. Wherever his fingers touched, a faint warmth lingered like small springs. Rensley took a slight breath and continued speaking.
“So… wandering carelessly in the valley might lead to encountering people engaged in intimate activities. The warning to be careful means that.”
“Inside the valley?”
Gezell’s eyes widened slightly. For a man born and raised in the cold north, who originally did not favor outdoor activities, the idea of having intimate relations outdoors or coupling underwater seemed quite surprising. Rensley laughed.
“You seem surprised… Wasn’t there any mention of that in the book you were reading?”
“There wasn’t. That book mainly focused on the positions during coupling.”
Having said that, he soon firmly stated, “Interesting story.”
Before the words could finish, Gezell pulled Rensley towards him. The hand that had been caressing his back suddenly exerted force. Before he knew it, Rensley was sitting on Gezell’s thigh. The hand that had swept down his wet skin lightly grasped his buttocks.
“Oh, Your Grace…”
“Have you ever had relations in the forest?”
“Well… I don’t know. Questions about past experiences seem to violate bedroom etiquette…”
“I see.” Gezell, who answered briefly, did not inquire further. Gezell just kneaded his buttocks like dough, as if to tell him that although it was impossible in the valley, it was still possible in the bathtub.
Lips descended from just below the chin, tracing along the neck. As they approached the collarbone, they nibbled as if biting into it, causing Rensley, who had been struggling to maintain composure, to shudder briefly. The sharp teeth, sliding down the wet skin, gently teased the bumps on the chest, like droplets forming on the peak of a mound. Rensley’s breathing quickened. The nipples, constantly tormented with each encounter, had now transformed into an area where he felt complete sexual sensation.
Gently pulling and tugging, he repeated the process of arousal. Moans that had been held back erupted spontaneously. With a sucking sound, Gezell’s lips worked on Rensley’s chest. The originally tingling nipples, as well as the white skin near the areola, were now reddened. Rensley’s breath became faster.
Every now and then, the lips sucked near the collarbone, making Rensley unable to bear it, and he tilted his head back.
“Oh, Your Grace…”
“Is it uncomfortable?”
“I’m sorry. If you stimulate for too long, it tingles…”
Then, the warm tongue gently licked the erect nipple. While Rensley suppressed his moans, the hand slowly moved towards his bottom.
Instead of delving deep inside, the long fingers gently teased the perineum and entrance. Rensley closed his mouth, bowing his head towards Gezell’s shoulder. The body, which had lost its resistance in the warm water, relaxed more easily than usual.
The frictionless skin was trying to swallow the fingers effortlessly. As the fingertips probed and pressed into the deeper parts, Rensley had to recall the shape of the hand he had been observing until a while ago.
Gezell was gruff, but when it came to necessary words, he did not hesitate, and surprisingly, he often used his hands. Perhaps the small gestures he unconsciously made, which showed the attitude of a ruler he had internalized for a long time, displayed itself without any disorder.
When the fingers that had moved so neatly began to touch his private parts, thoughts started to surface. The hot sensation surged as if prompted. Clenching the waist unintentionally and twitching, Rensley felt a sudden warmth near his ear as a low voice murmured.
“Rensley, you’re impatient again today.”
“This is just a reflex… Ah, ah…”
His excuse was cut off by the fingers that had finally started to enter his body. Despite thinking it would be easier to enter in the water, the instinctive movement to prevent water from entering actually made his back tighten.
The fingers, not even able to reach the second joint, gently pressed against the mucous membranes near the entrance. Although the area touched by the hand was the shallow inner wall, it felt as if the deep inside of his belly was constantly trembling. Rensley’s voice also trembled.
“Uh, ha… Your Grace, please stop now…”
“Are you already saying that before it even starts?”
“Let’s do it over on the bed… I feel like water might get inside…”
However, the fingers only exerted more force and continued to enter. As his back opened up, Rensley felt as if water would truly enter, so he gasped and raised his waist. But Gezell’s thick arms still firmly enveloped Rensley’s body, and aside from the sound of splashing water, Rensley couldn’t escape from his embrace.
“Didn’t you teach me the meaning of wanting to do it underwater?”
“No, no… Uh…”
Denying it was futile. Gezell Jivendad, who had begun to harbor his own conviction, was acting more freely than usual, as befitting a king.
With force behind the fingers, he continued to conquer Rensley’s insides. Before he knew it, the roots of the long fingers had penetrated between Rensley’s buttocks. Although incomparable to what would follow, this alone gave a feeling of fullness. Rensley struggled to relax, attempting to release the tension.
While his efforts were conveyed through the moving fingers, Gezell’s lips swept across Rensley’s wet cheek. Slippery lips covered Rensley’s open mouth. While the tongue slowly tasted the inside of his mouth, the fingers caressed the area below. Rather than forcibly widening it, he gently pressed and slightly twisted the moist tongue.
“Ugh, uh, ugh…”
The tickling sensation, which at first only made his stomach clench, gradually accumulated, increasing his pleasure. The fingers moving inside were still slow and cautious, but Rensley’s breath, trapped between Gezell’s lips, became rougher and faster.
Unintentionally writhing his waist and lightly biting his lower lip, Gezell’s teeth clamped onto it. Before moans could escape due to the stimulating sensation of his bitten, swollen lips, the breath was swallowed again. Rensley grabbed Gezell’s shoulders, as if hanging on to them, his mind melting even though the act had not yet entered a state of frenzy.
How could he, by whimpering alone, corrupt the esteemed Grand Duke, turning him into a slave of desire? Rensley gathered his scattered thoughts. He moved the hand that was gripping Gezell’s shoulders and slid it down the well-defined chest and abdominal muscles to grasp the large, erect penis.
The fully erected penis responded sensitively to Rensley’s touch. It twitched and hardened even further. Ha, the low and hot breath slightly escaped before the lips met, and the damp whisper continued.
“Are you in a hurry?”
“I just want to touch you, Your Grace…”
Then their bodies got even closer. As the movements of the fingers widening the back accelerated a bit, his organ and Rensley’s pressed against each other. Rensley kept pressing his body forward, bringing his own to be closer to Gezell’s. His slender waist twisted in response to the continuous stimulation, not too forceful but not lacking.
“Shall I touch the front?”
“No… No, Your Grace…”
He didn’t want the stimulation to intensify further here. Rensley lowered his head, holding Gezell’s penis with the hand that had been gripping it, allowing his own to lean against Gezell’s palm. While he couldn’t hold both their thick and erect penises together, he could make them adhere more closely.
In the water, weight lost its meaning. With just one hand lifting the back, Rensley’s body swayed up and down, and their rubbing penises teased each other.
“Ah, ah, uh…”
The hand that had been stroking Gezell’s thick penis suddenly stopped, holding still. Rensley’s penis gradually ground more tightly against Gezell’s firmly fixed one.
Feels good…
“Haah, ah, ah.”
As Rensley shook his waist, rubbing the glans together, Gezell’s gestures also quickened. With a splashing sound, the irregular movement behind became more intense.
As the intrusion repeated, the busy breaths turned into rough panting, and the rigid organ that had stood firm began to tremble with Rensley’s lower abdomen. Rensley urgently pushed Gezell’s shoulders away.
“Oh, Your Grace, stop… at this rate, it seems like I might…”
“Indeed… it’s worrisome to move recklessly.”
His breath was also becoming faster. After finishing speaking, Gezell embraced Rensley’s waist. With the sound of falling water like a small waterfall, their bodies floated into the air.
Rensley thought they were finally going to the bed, but instead of getting out of the bathtub, Gezell seated Rensley on the spacious stone edge. Immersed in water, the penis that had been hiding somewhat was now fully revealed, standing erect. As Rensley, feeling a bit embarrassed, brought his thighs together, a command followed.
“Spread your legs.”
“Your Grace, why…”
“Hurry up.”
Gezell, saying so, tilted a bottle of fragrant oil that he had placed near the bathtub and applied it to his hand. Helplessly, Rensley spread his legs. Since there was nothing behind the bathtub, he might hit his head if he fell backward. Fortunately, the arm that was holding his waist now supported his back. The hand, wet with water and oil, sparkled in the candlelight.
Rensley followed the movement of that hand with his eyes. The hand, gently sweeping up between the spread thighs, soon reached back and lifted the buttocks.
“Lean more on my arms with your back.”
Even if he resisted, it was obvious he wouldn’t be heard. Rensley gave up and leaned his body against Gezell’s arms. As his back was laid down, the wet edge of the bathtub, where his buttocks had been clinging, slipped away, revealing the entrance that had been covered by fingers just a moment ago.
As with other parts of the flesh, the damp area was strangely relaxed rather than tense in the water. Sensing this, Rensley lowered his gaze, closed his mouth tightly, and suppressed his shame.
“Ah…”
But Rensley’s closed mouth soon had to exhale a deep breath. A large hand pushed and entered between the spread legs. Not only water but also the oiled fingers easily slipped inside, and the cautious probing of the fingers quickly gained strength.
Three long and thick fingers teased the lower part like a penis. The sound of splashing in the water was even louder than before. As the sound increased, Rensley’s voice also grew louder. Even if he tried to endure, it was futile.
“Uh, Your, ha, ah, uuuh!”
The sensations of the fingertips scratching the swollen insides were so vivid that it made him dizzy. The gestures that struck the most sensitive area relentlessly were more cruel than kind. When the fingers were driven all the way to the roots, the palm pounded on his bottom, eliciting pleasure from deep inside the body.
Rensley wrapped his arms around Gezell’s neck. Leaning his forehead on Gezell’s shoulder, he shook his head heavily. The damp blond hair shook heavily as he buried his face, but Gezell did not take his eyes off Rensley’s face. When Gezell’s fingers and wrist exerted force, Rensley’s waist trembled together. The hot and vivid pleasure stabbed his belly. There was a thud-thud sound, and the wet bulge seemed to be struck by Gezell’s palm.
“Ah, ah, uh! Ugh, ugh, ah!”
The stage of resistance had been crossed. Trying to swallow his breath as much as possible to keep his voice from getting too loud, Rensley entrusted his body to his lord.
Rensley gasped for breath. The fingers, now having stopped exploring, were firmly inserted, and with the hand still inside, he quickly flicked upward into the sensitive part of Rensley’s deep abdomen.
With each strong shake of Gezell’s wrist, Rensley’s waist quivered. The hand, still inside, was now half-buried in the wet mound, repeatedly hitting a deep part of Rensley that could not be reached by thrusting alone.The drenched, pulsating flesh responded vividly to the movement of the fingers, as if it were dancing to an intense rhythm.
“Ah, ah, ah!”
The escalating sensations were so overwhelming that Rensley couldn’t hold back his voice. His voice echoed in the bathroom, a mixture of pleasure and desperation.
“Uh, Your, ha, ah, uuuh!”
Rensley’s moans grew louder, and he clung to Gezell’s neck, his fingers digging into the flesh as if seeking support.
“Ugh, Your Grace, I don’t like it. I can’t, alone…”
“Rensley, don’t say that, and show me.”
“Ah, ah, ah!”
“I also enjoy watching how you feel by yourself.”
He wanted to ask why that was enjoyable, but a counter-question couldn’t form into words. The fingers that were stirring his insides became faster and more persistent.
As the pulsating sensations intensified, Rensley clung to Gezell, burying his face in Gezell’s shoulder to muffle his own moans.
The widely spread inner thighs trembled several times and quickly convulsed. “Your Grace, Your Grace.” The voice, mixed with sobs, continued to call out without a clear purpose. Gezell closed his eyes, and his lips swallowed Rensley’s tongue.
“Hoo…!”
At the same time, a white fluid poured out from the erect penis. Gezell was still holding his fingers behind. The spilled semen moistened Gezell’s hand and dripped into the water in the bathtub.
Rensley, with weakened eyes, looked down at the sticky lower abdomen. Despite his will, his trembling body felt sore everywhere.
Embarrassment crept in as the situation became awkward. It seemed he wasn’t used to being embarrassed each time. He pushed Gezell away, trying to clear his muddled mind.
“Your Grace, please let go… This time, let me…”
Always opposed to the idea that a servant like him should take care of like that. Although the shaking of his waist and legs didn’t stop after finishing, Rensley moved his body and groaned.
However, instead of releasing Rensley, Gezell lifted his own body. Still holding Rensley’s back, Gezell pressed the firm tip of his penis against the open entrance, now free from fingers.
“Your…”
Rensley, who was trying to restrain him, widened his eyes, and his neck stretched out long.
The organ, thrusting in without warning, did not pause for a moment, sliding all the way to the root. It was a sudden and unexpected insertion without any forewarning. If Gezell’s arms hadn’t supported his body, he might have fallen backward and hit the floor.
“Ugh, ah! Haah…! Hu, huk.”
It was a sudden coitus. Rensley grabbed Gezell’s arms with both hands, shaking his body. The head, which had been warming up since earlier, was too dizzy to think.
The suddenly filled belly contracted as if surprised by something large. Gezell, who had thrust all the way in, exhaled a long breath. He did not move for a while, then slowly swept down Rensley’s back before embracing him in his arms. The buttocks, emerging from the edge of the bathtub, were caught by Gezell’s two hands.
“This way… we can do it underwater as well.”
“Ah…!”
The man embracing Rensley, instead of leaving the bathtub, lowered his body, still connected. Although the water was only knee-deep when standing, the pleasure made Rensley’s head spin. His arms clung more tightly to Gezell’s as he tried to resist sinking like someone who didn’t want to drown. A damp and low laughter seemed to pass by his ears as he exerted more strength on the hanging arms.
With a firm organ buried inside him, Gezell held Rensley’s waist and slowly began to thrust his body. The splashing sound resonated, slowly spreading ripples. In the water, Rensley’s body floated easily, rising and sinking with each movement.
“The relationship in the water… I wondered if it would be special…”
The softly flowing voice made Rensley’s eyelashes tremble.
“Yes, hu, yes…”
“Hoo… It’s beautiful that you’re still wet… it makes you even more beautiful.”
Rensley’s lips trembled with embarrassment. The neck and ears, already accustomed to this, turned a deeper shade. Usually, Rensley was much more talkative, but like a dumbfounded fish, he couldn’t say anything. Meanwhile, Gezell’s movements became more intense.
Even the posture of sitting facing each other gradually collapsed, and Rensley’s back touched the edge of the bathtub. Gezell’s movements became faster. His actions were rough, not like an elegant Grand Duke but more like a huge beast devouring its prey.
The hot internal walls clashed, scraped, and repeatedly received the thrusts. The aftermath of the climax a while ago had not yet cooled. Rensley, despite trembling, absorbed the overwhelming pleasure without mercy from Gezell’s forceful thrusting.
“Ah, haa, ah… aa, hooaaa!”
The sound of heavy breathing and the splashing of overflowing water onto the floor made the spacious bedroom noisy. Rensley’s voice gradually grew louder, as if he believed his moans would be drowned out by the loud splashing sound.
In the meantime, Gezell’s breathing also became irregular. Along with the sound of water pouring, he rose from the bathtub this time, still inside Rensley. Without removing the insertion, he lifted Rensley and held him. With each step, the vivid sensation of the penis’ mass pounding inside was palpable. Rensley couldn’t bring himself to say to stop, continuing to cling to Gezell’s shoulders.
Without wiping their wet bodies, they lay down on the bed. Rensley’s legs were raised high, and his slender calves rested on Gezell’s shoulders.
For a while, Rensley’s skin, which had been violated in the bathtub, bloomed with marks all over. His expression, tangled with pleasure, was chaotic. Gezell stopped moving and looked down at Rensley. Whispers that sounded like mutters were mixed with sighs.
“That’s right. It won’t be easy…”
What is he saying?
Before Rensley could ask, a firm pelvis and a warm bulge collided with him. The insertion, carrying Gezell’s weight, descended like a stake from top to bottom.
Thud, thud, thud. The sound of flesh colliding resonated louder than the previous splashing.
“Ah, ah! Ha, haa.”
Rensley, raising his eyelids that kept getting heavy, looked up at the intent man. Pleasure seemed to be fair to everyone, and even Gezell’s usually composed face couldn’t hide the aura of ecstasy.
Slightly furrowed long, thick black eyebrows, parted lips, and heavy breaths reaching the disheveled hair. Staring at the man, Rensley felt the pleasure that had covered his lower abdomen rising to his chest.
Rensley covered his mouth with the hand that had been holding the duke’s strong arm, wiping his face up to his eyes. His eyelashes were damp, suggesting he was crying.
The more he resisted, the more Gezell’s strength grew as he twisted his waist against the pleasure.
“Ah, ah, ah…! Huk, ahh…!”
His actions, scratching and constantly stirring the sensitive area, blurred the line between violence and pleasure. It felt like a hot lump licking and striking the insides, roaming all over his body.
Rensley finally sobbed with his face covered. When the pleasure that had become excessive began to turn into pain, a large hand grabbed Rensley’s wrist.
“Haa… Rensley, show me your face.”
Gezell’s hand firmly held Rensley’s wrists, placing them next to his face. Hands secured, Rensley sobbed while shaking along with Gezell’s movements.
“Your Grace, Your Grace! Huk, a little, slow down…!”
Despite desperate pleas, nothing changed, and the second climax approached. The abdomen, contracted from the inside due to squeezing the penis, swayed. Legs trembled, and toes curled. If his hands were free, he might have pushed away the man relentlessly thrusting into him.
Amidst muffled moans and cries between tightly intertwined lips, Gezell’s relentless penis continued to thrust and pound, showing no sign of stopping.
Even in the midst of overwhelming sensations that blurred all senses, Rensley had to think. Whether it was an outlet for the previous argument or something else, today, his master seemed more violent than usual.
Already exhausted, Rensley Maelrosen’s day had ended in a near-suffocating affair.
Between the legs of the sleeping figure, there was a sticky wetness that didn’t discriminate between front and back. Evidence of the ejaculate he had expelled and the traces of the carnal act he had received from behind.
Even when Gezell spread the gap and wiped it with lukewarm water, he did not wake up. Rensley’s eyes, immersed in a suffocating sleep, were slightly moistened by the tears he shed during the long act.
Gezell sighed and, this time, gently pressed Rensley’s eyes with a soft cloth soaked in cold water.
“I apologize for acting on my own.”
Having delivered an apology that wouldn’t be heard, Gezell slowly traced Rensley’s bare skin and pressed his index finger against the center of his chest. As Gezell moved his hand as if drawing something on the skin, a faintly glowing line appeared where his fingertips passed.
It looked as if he was creating a shining tattoo.
However, the one drawing the pattern slowly stopped his hand. After a moment of hesitation on his expressionless face, Gezell took a short breath and withdrew his hand. The incomplete drawing lingered on the smooth skin for a moment, and then disappeared as if it had never been there.
Gezell bent down and kissed Rensley’s forehead. He whispered something to the still-unconscious man, but with a voice so soft that nothing could be distinguished.
<End of Volume 2>
I so want more to read. What a cliffhanger:) thanks!!!
hehe~ ur welcomee~😁💛
Ahh! What was he drawing!
The smut scene was also so well made ty for the translation ❤️
glad you liked it~😆💛
Oh mi gowd ! I feel Angst incoming.
Gezell getting wild & possesive & jealous & & so on 😆 ‘I disapprove’ – so blunt.
You can’t go on without touching him my Duke , you can’t bear that torture. So make up your mind soon .
What ritual he was doing at the end !? I’m so curious.😮
This was such a long chapter. You guys are insane. 😍(ノ^_^)ノ
I just wanted to drop a quick note to say thanks a million for your awesome support on my novel’s comments! It means the world to me, and I’m thrilled to have such amazing readers like you😍💛
Ayeee!!! (≧▽≦)
Journey is still long. I’ll travel with you all the way to the end 😄😆
thank you for the chapter, can’t wait for what’s next ❤
thank you for the support QAQ <333