Interlude: "It Hurts..."
Ferzen's call brought a maid who helped support Uriel as she made her way to the bathroom, but she paused midway, pressing a hand to her waist.
Her slender body had endured quite a rough first time, so it was no surprise she felt the strain.
Once inside the bathroom, Uriel stripped off her clothes and slipped into the steaming bath... only to find...
"..."
...Euphemia already there.
The mansion had two bathrooms. Ferzen was using one, leaving these two women no choice but to cross paths.
"..."
Euphemia met her gaze with those signature golden eyes, silent. No, it felt more like she was scanning her.
Scanning the blatant marks etched across Uriel's body—traces of her panting in Ferzen's arms.
As a woman herself, Uriel noticed immediately. Despite the ache in her waist, she straightened her posture and sank into the warm water.
"G-good morning."
"...Yes."
Uriel offered the awkward greeting first, and Euphemia replied in kind, just as awkwardly.
The atmosphere was strange, leaving the attending maids exchanging nervous glances and swallowing hard.
"Um."
"...What?"
"He's too much for one person to handle alone."
"..."
"Why don't you stop refusing him and take some of it? Last night... I really thought I was going to die."
As she swept back her wet hair, Uriel revealed the kiss marks scattered across her body.
It was like a bitch... no, like slaves proudly displaying the shackles on their ankles.
Uriel felt a surge of superiority deep down, while Euphemia subtly furrowed her brow.
But then she wondered why she should let something like this get to her and turned her head away.
"It's not that I'm refusing."
"..."
"He's the one holding back."
He's not holding back—he's just not touching you.
That was Uriel's inner thought, but then Euphemia gently stroked her lower abdomen and added,
"We can't risk hurting the baby just to satisfy his lust, can we?"
Uriel's expression went blank.
"The doctor said no relations until the 12th week. So until then... could you help take care of his needs?"
"..."
There was something called a teaser stallion. Before full mating, one that drained the mare's stamina and heightened her arousal.
Uriel bristled at being treated like one, but for some reason, she couldn't snap back.
"Ah... you said it was too much again? That's strange. It was fine for me. Whenever he does it with me, he always finishes quickly."
He enjoys my body more than yours.
Uriel was stunned by Euphemia's blunt, roundabout jab.
"Then I'll get out first."
Euphemia had bathed early that morning, so with no reason to linger, she rose from the bath and walked out with a leisurely stride that felt like mockery to Uriel.
"Seriously...?"
Left alone, Uriel turned to the maid behind her, lips trembling as she demanded confirmation of Euphemia's pregnancy.
The maid saw no reason to hide it from the new concubine and answered honestly.
"Yes. Madam is pregnant—currently in her 5th week."
"..."
Pregnancy wasn't usually announced publicly.
Not if there were political enemies—and even without, it was the easiest weakness to exploit if someone dug into it.
So unless the belly swelled unmistakably, it stayed private by custom.
Hearing the confirmation, Uriel bit her lip hard.
The superiority she'd harbored last night and moments ago... it all crumbled to dust.
"..."
Her smooth lower belly, filled with his seed, and stroking near her womb, Uriel felt a faint emptiness.
His semen leaked from between her folds, mingling with the water.
She clamped her legs together, pressed a hand to her crotch, and clenched tightly.
Even though it was the seed that hadn't filled her womb—it was spilling out anyway.
Still, Uriel wished even that would stay inside her.
"This sucks..."
The happiness from dawn shattered in an instant.
The worst.
* * * * *
Back in her bedroom, Euphemia changed clothes and sat by the window, quietly admiring the flowerbed.
How much time passed?
Bang.
The door flew open as Ferzen entered.
"..."
She half-rose to approach him, but hoping he'd come to her first, she settled back into the chair.
Click.
The door shut, and Ferzen approached Euphemia, who hadn't even glanced his way.
"Nothing happened overnight?"
He swept back her damp, glossy hair from her recent bath, fingers lingering suggestively on her pale nape.
At the ticklish sensation, Euphemia let out a soft moan and murmured,
"Mm..."
"I see. Then... let's go eat breakfast."
Meals were usually brought to the room, but with Uriel here, they'd have to go to the dining hall together.
Having her come here for breakfast would look odd.
"..."
Euphemia understood perfectly, but she didn't want to go.
So...
"M-my... belly hurts..."
She faked illness.
"I'll call the doctor right away."
Ferzen turned to leave without hesitation.
Grip!
But Euphemia grabbed his arm, shaking her head vigorously.
"N-not that bad... just a little stomachache..."
"With a baby, we can't take chances."
"It's really fine... just stay with me... don't go anywhere..."
"..."
At this point, Ferzen vaguely realized she was lying.
If it were real pain, even minor, she'd be as sensitive as he was—more so.
"Breakfast..."
"Can't they bring it here...?"
Euphemia glanced slyly, then bowed her head.
She doesn't want breakfast with Uriel...
That was the message.
"Very well."
Even reading her intent, Ferzen didn't call her out. He simply instructed the maid outside to bring breakfast to the bedroom.
Beyond mere anxiety, after a night with another woman, jealousy was natural.
Ferzen even found her jealousy a bit novel.
He returned to Euphemia's side, lifted her gently, and led her to the bed.
Creeeak...
Supporting her waist tenderly, he laid her down softly.
She nestled into his chest as he lay beside her, her alluring scent—different from Uriel's—tickling his nose.
I know it's a fake illness, but...
Pretending otherwise, Ferzen reached out to caress her lower belly.
"Ah, mm..."
Was it pleasant? Euphemia's face flushed as she let out a lewd moan.
Smack...
In a way that didn't suit her, she tilted her head up and planted a clumsy kiss on his throat.
"..."
Her hot breath lingered on his nape like a faint perfume.
This unfamiliar, uncharacteristic... yet desperate coquetry.
Ferzen found it endearing. He kissed her pale forehead, then slid his hand upward.
Pop.
Her blouse buttons came undone.
Slipping inside, he roughly kneaded her signature full, soft breasts.
"Ah... mm... ahn...!"
Her lascivious moans stirred his male instincts. Ferzen focused on savoring her body.
Watching him toy with her, Euphemia brushed the back of her hand against his crotch.
Ah...
She felt his throbbing erection through his pants.
What she'd told Uriel in the bath—that Ferzen finished quickly with her—was, of course, a lie.
She'd said it because she hated Uriel flaunting her deflowering marks like a trophy.
But part of her had wondered if he truly enjoyed Uriel more.
Now, seeing it pulse and radiate heat so fiercely... he clearly hadn't poured out all his lust last night.
Thrilled, Euphemia switched to her palm, stroking his crotch as she offered,
"Shall I... help you... with my mouth or hands...?"
Knock knock.
"..."
Before Ferzen could reply, a knock sounded.
He hastily straightened Euphemia's disheveled clothes, then called out,
"Enter."
Bang.
"Pardon the intrusion."
The maids brought in breakfast—not quite a full banquet—and left soon after.
Ferzen swept back his bangs.
An awkward, sticky silence hung in the air.
Euphemia broke it first.
"Sh-should we... skip breakfast...?"
"We must eat... for the baby's sake."
"..."
At his words, Euphemia fidgeted with her hands, squeezed her eyes shut, grabbed his pants, and leaned down.
"Euphe—"
"You eat... I'll... take care of the rest... your lust..."
Before he could stop her, Euphemia freed his cock and took it into her mouth.
Half-softened from the interruption, it draped limply over her tongue.
Squeeze...
But Euphemia pursed her lips adeptly, sucking until it hardened fully.
Thud!
Soon, it throbbed violently, slapping her palate.
Her small mouth strained around his girth, jaw aching, but she ignored it, bobbing her head slowly back and forth.
"Ha..."
Overwhelmed by the intense stimulation, Ferzen set down his utensils and placed a hand on her head.
* * * * *
"That's weird..."
"?"
"It's untouched. In a different way."
Much later, a maid entering Euphemia's bedroom to clear breakfast voiced her puzzlement.
The food was completely ignored, stone-cold.
"Even if she's not hungry, she'd usually take a few bites. No traces at all... is she ill?"
"You... are denser than you look."
"Huh?"
"Madam's clothes were disheveled."
The other maid shook her head pityingly at her colleague.
Ferzen had tidied them, but a misbuttoned blouse was obvious to a sharp eye.
... Ah, they were being intimate.
"Oh my!"
The first maid gasped dramatically upon realizing.
"Didn't they consummate last night?"
Amazed her master had energy left after such a passionate night—and starting again at breakfast—her cheeks flushed.
"Well... if Master's stamina is good and their marriage harmonious, it makes our lives easier."
"True."
The more wives under a husband, the harder it was on the maids.
Poor relations meant their squabbles fell on the maids to handle.
But a virile husband reduced conflicts—especially around conception.
Chatting amiably, the maids strolled down the quiet corridor.