Chapter 77

Once the child was born, it became a pretext to bind her to Rotiara indefinitely, offering a perfect escape from the emperor’s troublesome meddling. Despite this seemingly advantageous situation, there was a significant complication: Elise no longer harbored the desire to be pregnant. Even in moments of intimacy, her expression betrayed despair, signaling her reluctance to welcome a child. What had once been her voluntary and sought-after decision had now transformed into its opposite.

However, the significance of Elise’s desires appeared inconsequential. She, too, had missed the opportune moment. Rezette couldn’t be abruptly subdued. Observing him immersed in these thoughts made it clear that he was not in his right mind.

Ah… or perhaps.

Contrary to expectations, it was quite the opposite. This state of mind was, in fact, a step closer to regaining his sanity. The present Rezette embodied the very image he had detested throughout his life—a person unable to control even the most basic instincts. He had become a wretched individual succumbing to violent impulses, resembling a wild beast driven by madness, indulging in anything that seemed precious.

Ultimately, he found himself returning to the past, all because of this woman, effortlessly pulling him back. Surprisingly, it wasn’t an entirely unpleasant sensation. Leaning over the slumbering woman, Rezette breathed in the delicate air that touched his nostrils. Even through her closed lips, a sweet fragrance emanated.

Undeniably captivated, he hesitated for a moment before attempting to kiss her.

In the topic that had pushed him to the brink thus far, Rezette stood in front of her lips for an extended period, grappling with conflicting emotions. The Royal Church’s chapel had been the initial site of their kiss. Perhaps it was the setting of a mixed-race Mass before God that bestowed upon Elise’s lips an aura of sanctity, an area not to be carelessly defiled.

However, now that traces of him adorned her, did such significance still hold weight?

The boundary had been breached long ago, and there was no turning back. He wouldn’t forsake the gratification that this ecstatic body offered, and he certainly wouldn’t relinquish it willingly.

If Elise rejected him, he could make her desire him—it was merely a return to a few days ago, a simple task. The inexplicable discomfort and impatience would likely fade away.

Rezette willingly yielded to temptation. As their lips finally met, the experience was as sweet as the first taste of a newly discovered fruit.

***

I must return to my senses.

It took Elise a full two weeks before she could muster even somewhat coherent thoughts.

For three days straight, her actions were confined to crying, whimpering, dozing off, and waking up in tears. Apart from the moments when Rezette carried her to the bath or fed her on the sofa, she remained confined to the bed, a natural outcome.

Even during her baths or brief sofa respites, Rezette never left her side. He adeptly soothed her; when he sensed her mind drifting, he handled her assertively, evoking gasps. However, as she slumped in his arms, weary, his actions swiftly turned tender.

He planted kisses on her cheek and ran his lips through her hair repeatedly. Feeling his touch, as if cherishing the most precious person in the world, Elise couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming desire to cry incessantly.

Yet, the phase of sorrow and emptiness passed swiftly.

When Rezette took charge, an intense mix of pain and pleasure overwhelmed Elise beyond comprehension. Enveloped by that tidal wave, she lost herself in an instant. Merely locking eyes with Rezette now blurred Elise’s vision, her heart racing.

As his heartbeat pulsed through her like a rhythm, sorrow and resentment dissolved, leaving only instinct. Despite attempts to resist and fight, she inevitably found herself clinging to him with unwavering strength.

No.

It was a feeling that should not have intensified further. Even as she was ruthlessly swept away by the pleasure of relentless physical sensations, Elise somehow managed to construct a barrier around her heart.

Yet, perhaps influenced by her mood, whenever Elise forced herself to close her eyes or loosened her grip around him, Rezette sensed it instantly and pulled her back. Initially dismissed as coincidence, she believed it to be part of the copulation process, an aftereffect of escaping the overwhelming ecstasy. However, every feeble attempt to escape or resist prompted him to press his lips against her body again, as though an alligator were dragging her into a swamp by the ankle.

As this repeated for three days, it became undeniable. This was clearly intentional. Rezette was denying Elise any chance to regain her senses.

Could it be because he’s aware that I’ve heard Genovia’s story?

Perhaps, sensing Elise’s determination, he was preemptively closing off any potential escape routes. But why? Was it because he was unwilling to let her go? If borrowing Genovia’s expression, was she the most prized trophy he had ever obtained? Whatever the reason, it seemed he had no intention of allowing Elise to escape with her entire being. Hence, whenever she displayed any inclination to avoid him, it felt like he would mete out punishment.

This was likely the reason for his persistent and cruel pursuit. Rezette showed no hesitation in exploring every inch of her body. At one point, he even maneuvered her completely, making her lie down. Even though Elise wasn’t entirely sure of her own appearance, a profound sense of shame overwhelmed her.

Moreover, the sensation of something trickling down her lower back intensified her discomfort.

Her violently trembling vision whitened several times as Rezette forcefully pulled her collapsing upper body, arms trembling, toward him. He didn’t relent even when she was breathless. At most, he would delicately nibble on her earlobe and place kisses on her cheek.

Each time, the restrained breath and occasional moans of the man tantalized her ears. There was no trace of his usual coldness and indifference; he poured all his attention into leaving his mark on her. His body temperature seemed to rise with each passing moment.

“Re…zette.”

Pausing in adding a new stamp to the bruise on her shoulder, Rezette halted his lips. Elise spoke hesitantly with a cracked voice.

“I want to see your face,” she murmured.

Though it seemed like he himself was not aware, he clearly had something he desired from her.

Occasionally, while cradling Elise, Rezette would shoot her a chilly look, indicating a dissatisfaction simmering within him.

“Come closer,” Elise said. Without hesitation, Rezette raised Elise, who nestled against his chest, drawing deep breaths as she contemplated her words. Her throat felt dry, apprehensive that he might handle her roughly again.

She sought words that would pacify him, urging a kinder demeanor. Suddenly, Elise recalled the primary motive behind this interaction.

“When will the baby arrive…?” She murmured hesitantly, realizing that those words held the key. A fleeting emotion appeared in Rezette’s eyes, a gaze distinct from the earlier fervor. It was as if an emptiness had unexpectedly been filled. After a moment of silence, Rezette asked slowly, “Do you want it?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Still?”

The meaning of “still” remained ambiguous, but Elise promptly nodded. She was aware of the answer, offering no reason to delay her response.

“Yeah, still…”

She yearned to break free from the brutal ecstasy that threatened to consume her at any moment. The need to halt Rezette’s complete dominance over her was urgent.

Continuing on this path for a few more days filled her with dread, fearing that she might lose herself entirely. The prospect of transforming into a wanton woman who abandoned family and homeland for the allure of a man haunted her.

Terrified of succumbing to his control and being unable to break free even as autumn approached, Elise, feeling as though she were chaining her own ankles, finally spoke words that might soon turn insincere.

“I want it. You, and the baby…!”

Once genuine, these words now carried a shadow of doubt, threatening to turn false. The man’s firm hand covered Elise’s belly, his warm breath in her ears sparking a strange joy.

“Our child, Elise.”

Before she could fully comprehend the voice that felt like it could shatter her eardrums, she spiraled into climax once more. The white wave covered her vision again. It was becoming an unbearable repetition.

Sensing the heat of breath against her neck, Elise allowed her mind to go blank with a subdued sound.

***

The effectiveness of Elise’s chosen method remains shrouded in uncertainty. Following that particular day, Rezette did ease his grip on Elise to some extent, yet the reasons for this shift were unrelated. It was because Elise had commenced menstruating.

Originally, her menstrual cycle was irregular—sometimes appearing without her awareness, leaving only faint stains, while at other times, it would skip altogether. Since fleeing Argan, possibly due to mental fatigue, she had consistently avoided it until reaching Rotiara. However, this time marked a departure.

Awakening to a piercing sensation in her abdomen, Elise realized that menstrual blood was flowing. It was only natural that Rezette had taken notice.

“Why is there sudden blood again?” he muttered.

“This… this is…!”

He was on the verge of checking by spreading her legs when he heard Elise’s trembling voice, leaving him perplexed. However, Rezette’s furrowed forehead betrayed a different concern.

“Menstruation…”

Something about it unsettled him.

Despite the pain-induced dizziness, Elise recognized that this was truly her final opportunity. Even though unintended, tears streamed down her cheeks.

“My stomach hurts…” Elise complained. Leaning against Rezette’s chest, she sobbed, aiming to appear as pitiful and wretched as possible in that moment.

“I want to rest…”

It was an unreasonable request, yet it managed to stir some semblance of conscience in Rezette. As he held Elise, he sighed deeply and eventually reached for the cloth.

The seemingly endless three days and nights eventually drew to a close.