60 Minutes of Everyday Life
If something had happened in those short 60 minutes of daily routine, Ferzen speculated that Uriel was the most likely culprit.
Of course, she wouldn't have pressured Euphemia by leveraging her family or tormented her personally. But recalling the physician's words that women in early pregnancy were prone to depression and needed careful mental care...
Uriel's very existence might have acted as a catalyst, amplifying Euphemia's insecurities. When he'd first mentioned taking a concubine, Euphemia had said it was fine—but facing the reality might be different.
He'd made an effort, in his own way, to be attentive. But subjective best efforts didn't always align with objective perfection.
"Euphemia."
Calling her name, he approached. He gently touched her shoulder and guided her to the sofa. Fortunately, she didn't resist.
He was inwardly grateful for this body's sharp eyes and her clumsiness at hiding emotions. If she were skilled at masking them and he were oblivious... it would surely have been a ordeal.
"If you don't want to talk, you don't have to."
"……"
"But if it's out of some misguided consideration for me, then speak."
"……"
"I've never asked that of you. So... feel free to be selfish as much as you want."
Each word deliberate, soft and low. As his voice resonated in her ear, Euphemia quietly nestled into Ferzen's embrace.
His large hand gently stroked the back of her head. Feeling the affection seeping through, she mustered a small courage and spoke.
"Then... could you tell me now... why you like me...?"
In the past, Ferzen had promised to tell her after she bore a child. But Euphemia wanted to hear it right now.
If she truly had a unique strength that Uriel lacked... it would ease her heart immensely.
"That's... sorry, but I can't break that promise."
"……"
Yet Ferzen refused. In truth, it wasn't hard to tell her. But what gain was there in revealing it now?
Once she knew, she'd obsess over maintaining her perfect proportions. And she'd worry about the child to come.
Considering her pregnancy and the intent behind her request, which he'd vaguely discerned, it was a choice with far more losses than gains.
"I... see..."
Euphemia smiled bitterly, weakly clutching at Ferzen's clothes.
"The truth is... there isn't one, is there?"
"There is."
"I'm sorry... I know it's just me whining..."
Her voice carried a faint sob.
"But... it doesn't feel okay..."
"……"
"She's a far more beautiful woman than me."
"……"
"Far more... helpful to you than me."
"……"
"I try to accept it calmly, but I can't..."
"……"
"It frustrates me, this petty heart of mine... and I hate you for it... I really... hate you..."
"I'm sorry."
Was this why arranged marriages in a polygamous world followed custom? Unlike bonds forged from personal emotions, those tied for family gain... bred conflicts that surfaced differently.
"Lately, I've been so worried... that you might prefer bedding her... and start ignoring me..."
"That won't happen."
"I hate that being loved by you depends only on your heart..."
"……"
"That's why what you said is contradictory. I'm afraid of your hatred... so how can I be selfish..."
"……"
"That's why I wanted to know..."
Hearing her festering inner thoughts laid bare, Ferzen spoke in a low voice.
"Don't compare yourself to Uriel."
"You're cruel... how can I not compare..."
"……"
"You picked up a roadside pebble and called it a pretty gem... but now you've brought a real, stunning jewel..."
"……"
"How can I not compare..."
"……"
"I even thought once... if only Ciel were alive, you'd love me more—!"
There, Euphemia cut herself off, sealing her lips. She knew that single utterance was utterly ugly, even to her own ears.
"……"
Gazing down at Euphemia sobbing in his arms, Ferzen loosened his necktie.
He laid her trembling body on the sofa... and pressed a tender kiss to her eyelid, licking away the tears trailing down her cheek.
"The reason I like you... is utterly unique."
Ferzen von Schweig Brutein.
To him, others were mirrors highlighting his ugliness. But Euphemia alone was different.
She was like the free sky he could gaze upon endlessly.
Thus...
"If you were the Emperor's woman, I'd defy this body's blood and gladly sever his head."
Again.
"Even if you were history's greatest villainess, I'd soil my hands for you and vanish into obscurity."
Therefore.
"Believe our love is eternal, Euphemia."
I.
"I won't shatter that belief."
An eternity bound by finite lifespans. Yes, contradictory. But he'd carry on without minding the paradox.
Ferzen whispered softly into her ear.
...A sweltering summer morning. Here, unmelted snow existed.
After scheduling a meeting with the Second Imperial Prince at the palace and returning home, Ferzen glanced at Euphemia clinging tightly to his side.
On the way back, she hadn't uttered a word. Perhaps ashamed of her emotional outburst, she merely hooked her arm in his and trailed along.
Ferzen gave a faint smile and, instead of heading to the dining room for lunch, made for the bathroom.
"Ah..."
Euphemia halted at the door, glancing up at him slyly.
"Ack..."
Finding her adorable, Ferzen nudged her back.
Click.
As he locked the door, she flinched and turned to face him, hands neatly clasped over her chest.
He took them, pulled them down, then reached out...
Pop.
...unbuttoning her blouse.
Thud.
Her bra fell to the floor. Her ample breasts shyly revealed themselves. Perhaps due to the heat, a bead of sweat trickled from her collarbone into her cleavage.
"……"
Worried about any sour sweat scent, Euphemia stepped back—but...
Slide.
Ferzen's large left hand encircled her slender waist, refusing to let her.
"Ah..."
As his right hand moved to lower her panties, she instinctively grabbed his thick forearm. But her grip lacked strength—a futile resistance.
Thud.
Her pristine white panties hit the floor, exposing her tightly clenched, smooth mound to Ferzen's gaze.
She wanted to press her thighs together, but instead, she obediently clasped her hands behind her back, offering her naked form for his viewing pleasure.
His eyes roamed every inch, making her feel utterly exposed. Blushing, she peeked at his crimson eyes, brimming with clear lust. It sparked faint arousal and filled her lacking self-esteem.
"S-stop staring... you too... t-take off your clothes..."
Being naked alone was familiar yet still deeply embarrassing.
"Ah...!"
In response, Ferzen tightened his grip on her waist, pulling her close. The slick bathroom floor made her slip slightly, so she steadied herself with hands on his chest.
His low voice murmured in her ear. She gazed up at him...
Pop.
...and awkwardly reached to unbutton his shirt.
"This is..."
With all buttons undone and shirt spread open, the scar Laura had carved during the full moon's curse stood vivid.
Nearly healed, it wasn't unsightly, but worried, Euphemia traced it with her fingertips.
"When..."
"Long ago."
"……"
"Don't worry. No scar will remain."
At his matter-of-fact tone, she lowered her hand, brought her face close, and gently licked the wound like a cat grooming.
Caught off-guard—a rare occurrence—Ferzen didn't push her away but softly stroked her back.
After licking for a while, Euphemia slowly pulled back, slid her hand down, and gripped his waistband.
"……"
But seeing his flaccid, unaroused member even after stripping him fully... it dampened her mood considerably.
Smack.
Standing on tiptoe, hand on his shoulder, she kissed him first. After briefly tangling tongues...
Squelch.
...she dropped to her knees and took his cock into her mouth, sucking with lewd sounds.
"Ha..."
A soft groan from Ferzen. His gradually hardening length filled her mouth, prodding her throat.
"Ha... mmph...! Cough!"
Spitting it out at the foreign sensation, she saw his fully erect cock twitch against her cheek—not annoyed, but beaming.
Smack.
She kissed the sensitive spot below the glans, rose, took his hand, and led him to the large tub.
Splash!
In the steaming tub, they sank together, sighing pleasurably. Euphemia wedged his rigid cock between her thighs, leaning back against his firm chest—but...
Whoosh!
"Eek...!"
Ferzen poured water over her head, startling her into curling up.
"Stay still."
Lathering soap, he meticulously washed her hair.
"Mm... ah..."
Unlike the maids, his touch was clumsy. Her long hair tangled midway, his flinches evident. Each detail felt novel, delightful. It made her feel loved as a woman, as a wife.
Whoosh...!
With a soft sigh, he rinsed her clean, then applied scented oil—massaging it through like conditioner to avoid dryness.
As he withdrew his hands, Euphemia turned, flushed, intending to wash him in return—but...
"Ah...!"
He grabbed her arm, lifting her out. He sat her on the tub's edge.
Without warning or words...
...he seized her legs and spread them wide.
"W-why...?"
Feeling his piercing gaze on her gaping pussy, she shyly covered it with her hands. Her voice trembled with bewilderment.
Ferzen chuckled faintly, murmuring she'd be the only one he'd do this for, then...
Slide.
...brushed her hands aside and buried his face.
"Hik...!"
Yes—his tongue touched her sealed folds. The unfamiliar sensation made her waist quiver, body tense.
But the warm, soft flesh delving inside brought indescribable pleasure. Deeply shameful, humiliating... yet...
Squeeze!
She gripped his hair, emitting the female cry to please her male.
"Ahng...! Haaang...! Aaang...!"
Physical ecstasy was one thing. But his words—that he'd do this only for her—made her deep-seated possessiveness writhe in joy.
"Kkik...!"
Roll.
His tongue teased her shyly protruding clit. Her legs shook. Painlike yet not, stinging yet soothing—an itchy pleasure climbed her spine to knead her brain.
Squelch...!
His middle finger plunged in, stimulating the bumpy spot midway. A sharp urinary urge made her gasp.
Squeeze!
Her slick walls clenched his finger from all sides, as if begging it to stay—but couldn't hold it.
Tension melted; she pressed his face deeper by his hair.
Crunch.
As he lightly nipped her cute clit with teeth...
"Ah..."
For an instant, the world flashed blinding white like snow.
"Ah... ah..."
Her body trembled sporadically, weak moans escaping.
Squelch!
As his finger withdrew...
Squirt!
...thin, sticky love juices sprayed like urine.
Euphemia's eyes unfocused, mouth agape in afterglow. Patting her glossy pussy, it parted lewdly with wet smacks.
Lifting her limp body, even the slight skin contact drew whimpers and more fluids.
"Euphemia."
No response to her name.
Splash.
Back in the tub, he spread her legs loosely and thrust his cock into her hot depths.
"Hngk...!"
Dazed yet instinctively tightening her belly to warmly embrace him.
"You can sleep."
No intent to move further, he caressed her lower abdomen, whispering tenderly.
Euphemia blinked slowly, murmuring softly.
"When I wake... you'll be... there, right...?"
"Yes."
With that, he pressed his glans flush against her cervix.
"Mm...!"
That unity brought surging relief; she closed her eyes.
"Use my body... however you want... it's okay..."
She wanted to please him more. Sleep overtook her. Secretly, she hoped he'd use her sleeping form freely for his lust.
Confessing that might seem too vulgar, too lewd.
"Sleep well."
His pleasant baritone lulled like a lullaby.
Feeling his faint heartbeat against her back, she surrendered her drowsy body to sleep.
A happy time. She wished this moment lasted eternity.