Contract Marriage: Rewritten - Chapter 44
Chapter 44
Translator: Yonnee
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The next day, Laniakea returned to the Empress’s Palace with Lucy, who had come running from there at dawn to meet her.
She could sense a few of the maids sneaking glances at her as she entered early in the morning.
‘So they’re someone’s eyes.’
She knew full well how closely watched the imperial palace was.
Especially in times like now, when rulers changed in a frenzy and the current ruler held little power, the number of watching eyes only increased.
Those girls would surely report back to their masters, telling them what state Laniakea returned in after spending the night at the central palace.
‘In that case…’
Her body was tired from having fainted once, but not so much that she couldn’t think.
Laniakea deliberately placed her hand on Lucy’s shoulder and let her steps falter slightly. When Lucy, startled, rushed to support her, the watching maids’ eyes lit up even more.
They would talk. That the empress looked very exhausted upon returning from the central palace.
And the people hearing that would, of course, let their imaginations run wild.
‘It would do no good if people knew we didn’t actually go through with it.’
Among both the imperial family and nobility, producing an heir was the most important duty.
To fail at that?
Laniakea had seen firsthand how those with such rumors trailing them were mocked and looked down upon.
If the events of last night were to become known…
An emperor who ascended the throne without any real backing. An empress who, despite her title, hadn’t received a single congratulatory letter from her homeland, let alone a diplomatic envoy.
It was obvious how fragile the footing beneath her and Hyperion truly was.
And of course, the teeth would sink into the empress first.
In a situation like this, it was far easier and more beneficial to replace the empress and claim that position than to try to replace the emperor.
Once back in her room, Laniakea dismissed Lucy and entered the prepared bath, submerging herself in the warm water.
“Uuuaaah…”
A groan escaped her lips as the pleasant temperature enveloped her body.
After splashing her face a few times, Laniakea slowly raised herself and sat at the edge of the tub.
She hesitated for a moment, then clenched her teeth and gently spread her legs.
Her thighs were still tinged red. And then…
Laniakea carefully reached down and lightly touched herself. The soreness lingered.
And she could still clearly remember the pain she felt the moment she tried to take Hyperion in.
‘He really was sorry.’
When they were leaving the bedroom at the central palace, Hyperion had held onto her for a long time, hesitant and unable to say a word.
Then, with great difficulty, he finally said,
“I’m sorry. I was… too clumsy…”
There had been none of his usual confidence in his lowered gaze.
Laniakea had been caught off guard by his apology.
She had heard that men were extremely sensitive about bedroom matters.
That, because of pride, they would never admit when something was their fault.
But Hyperion had immediately said it was his mistake and bowed his head.
Even if she had lashed out at him, asking if he couldn’t even hold himself back properly, he would have had nothing to say.
Laniakea submerged herself in the bath once more.
Ducking her head completely under the water, she thought,
‘He said to return to the central palace again in two days.’
In that time, the Ensy couple would prepare lessons for the two of them.
Not together. Gemma would teach Laniakea, Tamil would teach Hyperion.
‘And they said there would be practical exercises.’
She had no idea what kind of exercises those could possibly be… or how they’d be conducted.
As she felt her breath tightening, Laniakea emerged from the water.
She wiped the streams from her face and steeled herself.
Whatever it was, she would give it her all.
If she tried hard enough, surely she could make it work.
Please… let it work.
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