Sitting on the edge of the sofa with her, he said.

"Foot."

"It's okay if you leave this—"

"Foot."

At his resolute words, Molitia raised her feet, swallowing her cry. His eyebrows twitched when he took off her shoes, which revealed her bare feet covered in wounds.

As he gently glanced at her feet, he slowly opened his mouth.

"… was there really no one that bothered you?"

"No."

Who dares to bother the Bride at her wedding? However, the Duke's doubts did not subside.

"Really? You are not covering that person, right?"

"It's true. It's just a wound because I didn't try the new shoes in advance."

"Isn't that usually done by the attendant in advance?"

"…….."

Her mouth shut tight. She didn't even have a servant to ask for that simple thing. Even changing clothes every night was done by herself.

Fortunately, the Duke, who had not noticed it, turned his hand instead of listening to the answer. After crushing the medicinal herbs, the medicine turned into a thick liquid and was applied with a cotton ball and placed on the affected area, causing her feet to flinch.

"If it hurts, tell me right away, because I've never treated a person's wounds."

He added words as he moved carefully in every action. Molitia nodded slightly at his words. But this level of pain was familiar to her. She flinched a few times but said nothing until the bandage as white as her skin went up.

The foot slipped out of his hand as soon as the foot was bandaged. His eyes were on her toes as she wriggled shamefully.

"…Thank you for the treatment."

As Molitia said so, his eyes did not escape from her feet. The bare legs that were revealed during the treatment completely caught his eyes.

He felt it when he first met her, but her skin was exceptionally white, and it brought him a sense of joy when that white skin became red due to embarrassment.

She was like that. Since the first meeting, he has been unable to take his eyes off her. She gave an illusion that if you take your eyes off for a while, she will disappear.

And the feeling of burrowing into her body…

He thought it over and moved reflexively, and he snatched her toes in his hands and began to caress her legs.

"Duke?"

"How long will my wife call me duke?"

Though they were as dark as night, there was something in his eyes. As Molitia's eyes met his, he gave a smile.

"Would you like to make a bet?"

"Bet?"

"Yes, a bet."

Molitia's eyes widened at the sudden offer.

"What are we betting on?"

"A bet that stops when you call my name first. What do you say, easy?"

Her lips pursed at his words. Molitia had never called someone's name without hesitation, even if it was her younger brother.

For her, who never had a proper friend, the "name" was just too awkward—even the man who showed her everything.

"What if I don't do it…?"

"I will do things on my own until you call my name."

"What do you want to do?"

Her mouth stopped when his hand entered her skirt. The penetrating fingers heated her skin.

"Like this."

"…this is the lounge."

Molitia pointed out the surrounding situation. He chuckled at her words.

"It's a tranquil lounge. At least none of those who are attending the fancy reception would want to come here."

By now, everyone would have been busy making a rumor about the main couple that vanished from the banquet. Plus, the Count was not the object of his interest in the first place.

"But still…"

Her mouth searched for an excuse. Every time his fingers up her thighs, her eyes were desperately searched for the excuse.

"Do other people bother you?"

His hand touched the inside of his thigh. Her muscles tightened with tension as she pressed hard.

"Even though I don't care?"

How can she not care? The ink that signed the marriage certificate was not even dry yet. Besides, it was enough to rent a room at the banquet hall.

"Are we not a couple now? It's a secret thing about the newly married couple. Sometimes they can be out of place."