One carriage moving on the Imperial highway came to a slow stop.
As we would be traveling for another day, it would be wise to give our horses some rest.
"You're going to keep on doing this?"
Ferzen, who had just opened the door to get some fresh air, asked his wife.
Beyond the carriage's confines, the beautiful Tisbe River blends with the natural flora of the region, creating a rather refreshing landscape, but Euphemia ignored all of that. Instead, she was staring at a sheet of paper.
She was giving her all in order to find a solution for at least one of the problems.
"Don't mind me… I'm busy."
"No."
Ferzen thought about dragging Euphemia with him, but he decided against it, thinking that she would be more comfortable having some time for herself in the luxurious carriage.
"Sigh…."
As Ferzen left the carriage, Euphemia promptly laid her body in an unrefined manner not befitting of a noble and gazed outside the carriage window.
'At least I'm on the right path now.'
At Ferzen's little hint on how this problem shouldn't be approached in a mathematical manner, Euphemia had the impression this 'formula' was essentially a comparison with something, but written in a different way.
For example, referring to a chalice like a cup or a goblet.
'6+8 may be a symbolism, and discovering this should be the key to the answer….'
14 and 2.
The answer is something that binds those 2 numbers in the same context.
'I can't figure this out…'
Maybe it's something simple, but I don't know.
Unlike Ferzen, who only had the best education possible, she was just a daughter of a poor countryside noble.
So I thought that maybe this is just an overcomplicated way to insult my intelligence.
'I should just give up….'
Even if by some miracle I solve the first question, there's no way I could do the last 2 before we reach the capital tomorrow.
"Ah… … "
But then I had an epiphany.
"Pfft… I did it."
6+8=14.
6+8=2.
The condition that those expressions are true.
Generally, people are used to saying 2 pm as a designation for the past 2 hours after midday, however as the day has 24 hours, 2 pm can also be written as 14.
So the meaning of 6+8 is the hour and minute hand of the clock.
Gulp-
"... !"
Ding!
Euphemia, still astonished by this realization, felt elated until Ferzen, who had left the carriage for a walk, joined her again.
She thought that maybe she would get scolded for sitting on the carriage with the wrong posture, but he didn't even glance at her, as if he wasn't interested.
"I… well… um."
Euphemia reached out her slender arm and grabbed the hem of Ferzen's robe as she struggled to speak.
"Say it."
"I-I solved it… The answer is the time of the clock."
Scribble, Scribble-
While she explained her reasoning, Ferzen listened to her in complete silence.
Then, using his usual calm and regal tone, he replied.
"That is indeed the correct answer."
Hearing his reply, Euphemia unknowingly puffed up her chest as she was impaired with a sense of accomplishment.
"Euphemia."
"What?"
"Take this gift for your efforts."
Just a simple Emerald – From Ferzen's point of view, that little gem was indeed simple.
A beautiful necklace, made at the expense of such a precious gem, was handed out as a gift, as if it was just a simple piece of worthless jewelry.
"Why would you give me something like this?"
"Aside from my promise of granting you one wish, had you completed all three questions before our arrival at the capital, I was going to give you a reward for every question you managed to solve."
Ferzen grabbed her shoulders and lifted her beautiful green hair.
"Keep your head down for a moment."
"I don't need it…."
Euphemia never liked using jewelry, even more so when it's Ferzen's way of 'taming' her.
Just like when used objects have marks, Euphemia didn't want to have Ferzen's traces on her body at all, if possible.
"Euphemia."
"I don't want this…"
"I won't force you then."
"... "
Surprisingly, Ferzen backed down without resistance.
No, I wanted to think that.
"I won't force you. However, I think people should at least have some backbone. If you don't like receiving things from me, then return the clothes you're wearing."
"What...?"
"Even stubborn fools know how to bow when the need arises."
Is he trying to break my spirit now?
This suspicion came into her mind. However, Euphemia could see that there were no falsehoods in Ferzen's words. The man truly meant what he said.
I wonder… if he truly will take my clothes if I don't accept his 'gift'.
"Tsk… give it to me."
Euphemia reached for the necklace.
"No."
"... "
"Funny, you refused to accept my kindness out of sheer stubbornness, but when threatened, you folded so easily. Had I wanted to see you naked, there was nothing you could do to stop me."
"… What do you want, then?"
"Don't you think it's natural to punish someone when they do something wrong?"
Under the weight of his gaze, Euphemia didn't have the courage to question whether she did something worthy of punishment.
The pressure of a true high noble was not something commoners could handle.
So Euphemia was naturally engulfed by his vainglorious aura.
The difference between the two was noticeable.
One was too overbearing, while the other was too soft.
The contrast between them was so striking that you would forget that both were nobles.
"If you are going to hit me, then just do it."
"I'm…"
Upon hearing Euphemia's words, Ferzen frowned.
"I will never use violence against you."
There is also that argument that physical violence is not the only version of violence, but Euphemia knew she already was on the losing side of this war between them. So she slowly approached Ferzen and put her hands behind her waist.
Because of this, her naturally defenseless belly was offered to Ferzen, as Euphemia turned her head to the side in order to hide from this humiliation.
"You lack sincerity. Know this Euphemia, there are times when one needs to bow in order to get things done, but if that doesn't work, then they need to get on their knees and beg."
"What more do you want from me, you hateful bastard…"
Does he really want me to lie down like a dog?
Facing her ashamed complexion, Ferzen then wrapped his arms around Euphemia's waist and pulled her to his lap.
Then, after giving her time for her to lean more comfortably against him, Ferzen lifted her dress and commanded her to hold it in place.
"I don't like it... "
This time it's different.
There's a big difference between Ferzen forcibly caressing her belly while she was wearing clothes, and Ferzen doing the same act but with her being forced to hold her own dress for him.
"Euphemia."
"... "
"Pull it up."
His voice contained the same solemn tone as before, but to Euphemia it seemed like a hungry wolf was growling in her ear.
She slowly lifted her dress and revealed her smooth and white belly.
As soon as Ferzen touched her navel, Euphemia's hands trembled and her grip on the dress tightened.
This sensation only seems to worsen as Ferzen starts to apply a little more pressure on his teasing movements…..
"Heungh──!"
When Ferzen applied a little more strength where her womb was located, Euphemia let out a shameful moan as her breath hastened.
"So you enjoy being punished now?"
The hungry wolf's voice echoed in her ears.
"Ah…. hunng!… S-stop!"
Ferzen pinched her joints in a more rough manner as the pressure above her womb increased as well.
"Oh, it hurts... "
Euphemia spoke in a heated voice with traces of pain, but Ferzen paid no mind to her.
But Euphemia knew.
She knew how to make this hungry wolf be more gentle in his punishment.
Rustle-
Holding the hems of her dress with her trembling hands, she lifted her waist to him.
This was an extremely shameful act, like a dog who defied his owner, flipped his stomach, and shook his tail so that he wouldn't get scolded, but….
"Ah... "
It worked, as Ferzen's large hands gently covered her navel and her body lost all its strength.
"You did well."
"Shut up…"
Because Euphemia didn't want to be praised for something this shameful, she turned her head to the side avoiding Ferzen's heated gaze.
And her shame only increased as Ferzen continued to stroke her navel in a gentle way, completely disregarding her resistance.
"Euphemia."
"... "
"If you don't have the will to resist me, then all you have to do is to stay by my side and listen to me."
"What if I resist you without breaking—"
Will you listen to me then?
In the end, Euphemia didn't have the courage to ask that.
Because she knew that he was never going to give up on trying to break her.
"... "
And the realization that Euphemia now understood how Ferzen Von Schweig Brutein thought, was not something she liked.
"If you drowned, your body wouldn't even float up due to how shameful it would be."
Euphemia sarcastically commented about Ferzen's fixation on his dignified visage…
"Then I will have you sink with me."
Euphemia shut her mouth at Ferzen's answer.
For some reason, it didn't sound like a joke.
* * * * *
Aside from Euphemia having the perfect golden ratio, her lowly origins are shown in the way she acts and behaves.
This causes a sort of response in Ferzen, as his aristocratic pride makes up a significant part of his personality.
But of course, With Seo-jin's ego, who was just an ordinary salary man, mixed in, a sense of incongruity grew in his subconscious, altering Ferzen's behavior bit by bit.
"Hey… How long are you going to keep doing this…"
Non-Violent taming.
No, it's better to call it a wife's training plan.
My original plan for Euphemia seems to have suffered some changes, but as long as the result stays the same, the methods don't matter.
"My… belly button… don't press it…"
Even though she was whining like a puppy. Her hand holding the dress never went down.
The sweet smell of her arousal filled the carriage, and it felt strangely good.
Despite not being together for long, my sense of smell got used to her natural scent, which is something I haven't noticed before.
It's oddly fascinating how her every reaction is always fresh and comforting for me.
──My Lord, we shall resume our travel in a moment.
Has it already been that long?
Hearing the coachman's voice from outside, I removed my hands from Euphemia's body.
Then, the disheveled Euphemia, who came down from my lap, took the seat opposite to me and fixed her clothes.
"Let me do it for you, else you won't be able to fix your clothes properly this way…"
With my talent, Euphemia's clothes were neatly fixed, as if they were brand new.
And seeing that she didn't reject my touch, I took out the necklace again.
"... "
There were no refusals this time.
She pouted and fiddled with the necklace before sighing and closing her eyes.
Maybe she thinks it's more of a leash than an accessory?
But I didn't want to worry about this, so I sat down and observed the constantly changing scenery.
And exactly one day later, we arrived at the Imperial Capital.
Soooo did anyone got the answer before reading this ch???