The Broken Ring: This Marriage Will Fail Anyway Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Tw: Sexual content

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It felt like days cursed, but in reality, since no one had cursed him, Cárcel simply anxiously counted down the remaining vacation days.

If anyone had cursed him, it was him who had told such a needless and strange lie in his dream. [ʏᴜʟʜᴇʏᴜɴ] There was no one to blame, and the prospect of lifting the curse became more and more distant.

Cárcel no longer attempted fruitless trysts. It was not that he had lost the will to resist Ines in his dreams, but rather that he had realistically judged what kind of blow it would be to his own reputation.

Three failures have already been dangerous enough. Now, he seems to have been dismissed as ‘so proud of himself that he didn't feel like it because he had nothing to be sorry about.’

Cárcel's mind was filled with hopeful thoughts and productive wishes that when he returned to the coast of Calstera, everything would be as if nothing had happened, as well as the expectation that his broken head would naturally find stability once he became physically separated from Ines Valeztena.

'…I must get away from Mendoza as soon as possible.’

He feared that if things continued this way, someday he might find himself on his knees in the reception room of the Valeztena estate, begging to his crow-like fiancée. ‘I know it's impetuous and rude before getting married, but please, just once, let me be with you…’ Just the thought alone was enough to arouse him.

However, on the other hand, there's a lingering feeling that if she were to nod her head, he might find himself begging after all.

Cárcel, with a nervous sigh, looked at the empty seat where Ines should have been. Marquis Vicente's concert invitation they received had, as usual, ended in a partial rejection.

The natural consequence is that he attends and his fiancée does not.

From a young age, she only moved minimally, as if tired of social interactions. Already known for her arrogant behavior, she wouldn't even consider attending unless summoned by the imperial palace, and at times, she would even decline those invitations.

The reason why everyone invited her even though they were gossiping and saying 'look at that rudeness' was because the value of the event was elevated just by her rare presence.

And because she had betrayed the Marchioness Vicente's expectations, he had to lie and explain the circumstances of Ines, which he did not know, even today.

Nevertheless, it was fine. It was better than enduring torture by Ines's side.

‘Why are a man's upper and lower halves so distinctly separate..’

His mind warned him not to go crazier than this, insisting that without Ines Valeztena's madness, there was no acceptance. Yet, his body was plagued by the impulse to burst through Valeztena's constraints and rip apart his fiancée's naive dress. [ʏᴜʟʜᴇʏᴜɴ] He wanted to witness that prim appearance distorted with his neat face all messed up. He wanted to swallow the lips that claimed not to like him. He wanted to confirm the vision in his dreams…..

‘...This is not just ordinary danger.’

Dangerous. It was a dangerous situation in many ways. If it weren't for the fact that he was in the process of being handed over one of his minor responsibilities as a minor duke, he would have returned to Calstera long ago and been head down in his garrison.

Cárcel gritted his teeth, staring indifferently at the piano performance of the Marquis de Vicente, who, along with a couple of great musicians, were making their performances.

He shouldn't have come here in the first place. Just looking at Ines's empty seat seemed enough to reignite his dirty imagination.

For example, kneeling under her feet as she sat gracefully watching the performance, lifting her dress and burying his face between her legs... He caresses her private parts like that and cries like a dog. Please just once…

‘...Damn it, why am I begging again? I'm not even a beggar...’

Cárcel rested his forehead in disgust at the thoughts that had infiltrated his once completely dirty imagination.

Now, he had to think again.

The wedding night inevitably approaches, and it's not too far off in the future.

And then, they will be compelled to share a bedroom for the rest of their lives. After all, that's how marriages in Escalante work, whether the couple loves each other or not.

With this perfect... no, good... no, just expected future ahead, is there really a need to plead for just one night together?

He thought confidently.

Firstly, it seemed too desperate. Secondly, him? Begging Ines? It was an absurd image. Thirdly, whether Ines Valeztena liked him or not, they were bound to be together. For a lifetime. Until death.

To the point of tedium.

Contrary to what he always thought would be a monk-like future, it didn't feel so bad now. And right there, Cárcel's pride was wounded.

Despite trying to control himself with rational thoughts, the desire for Ines remained like a malfunctioning lower limb, refusing to be fixed. He couldn't admit it. Why, of all things…….

“I’m sorry, I’m late.”

Cárcel turned stiffly to the voice that sounded as quiet as a lie, and looked at the seat next to him.

“I tried to come on time, but Luciano…… “

Ines kept her lips pursed as she interpreted the fact that people were so surprised by her appearance that they were all staring in this direction without even paying attention to the performance.

However, Cárcel couldn't close his slightly parted lips and stared blankly at her.

His heart raced, as if it had malfunctioned. [ʏᴜʟʜᴇʏᴜɴ] It was clear that he was now unable to distinguish between reality and was in heat.

When you are in heat, your heart is racing.

Cárcel looked down at her face in confusion, and then turned pale because the sight of the hem of the dress reminded him of himself with his head underneath it.

In that moment, Ines's hand gently pushed his face, bringing it back to face forward. Damn it, why aren't these hands wearing gloves again……

“…..Why did you come?”

Cárcel asked lowly, as if in a whisper, while facing straight ahead. She took out her fan and waved it around, responding equally softly.

“Because my lord was coming.”

"What the.… Damn, that's enough.”

It felt like a dream, but the sensation of short fingernails digging into the flesh within his clenched fist made it abundantly clear that it was not a dream.

He had hoped not to see Ines again until the end of the vacation, but if, under unavoidable circumstances, he were to encounter her, he had one wish—that reality would be different from his dreams.

In fact, because the Ines of his dream was so exaggeratedly sublime, lewd, vulgar, and seductive, he expected that he would be deeply disappointed and not horny by the real Ines.

Well, of course, in the bedroom, feeling desire to a certain extent is necessary to make a successor, but... wouldn't it be better to have a line where one can maintain a decent level of dignity? In anything.

“My lord, in public gatherings, please refrain from such words and actions with dignity.”

Yes, dignity. The virtue that Ines had ingrained in him since childhood.

Cárcel had never experienced days where he succumbed to desire like this before. [ʏᴜʟʜᴇʏᴜɴ] He had lived without knowing any regrets or hunger because everything was given to him before he even desired it. And any woman wanted him before he wanted her.

Amidst those comfortable days, there were no particularly memorable experiences or women. There was no reason to give his heart to a woman he wouldn't marry or feel love for. Despite Oscar's blunt assessments, he had been quite rational from a young age. So, it was somewhat fortunate that the first protagonist of his vulgar dreams would eventually be the woman he would marry.

However, the fact that it had come to this, the anticipation of a future where he couldn't simply live faithfully, knowing only his wife but had to say, ‘I live like this because I can't get an erection for other women,’ due to his marriage, irked him in every way.

This is, in a sense, a matter of choices and capabilities.

He could do that—he could biologically sleep with other women, but he has the will, morals, trust, and formality befitting the highest nobleman.….

“I was sorry about the other day. I don't know why, but you looked a little shocked……”

Oh, a man you don't even like? Shocked...? Me? Why? He tried to ignore the lame yet frivolous questions that came to mind in an instant.

Then he couldn't think of an appropriate response. While Cárcel stared directly at the performers, Ines spoke quietly again.

"So, I thought I should see my lord at least once before his vacation ends. Just to make sure there's no misunderstanding.”

She said she just doesn't like him. So she said it wasn't worth the effort. Even if he betrayed her, he wasn't worth killing.…. Is there any misunderstanding here?

Cárcel responded calmly.

"We can see each other anytime, not just in a place like this."

"No need to create a separate space just to see each other."

"..….”

It felt like he was hit on the head again. This time, with something heavy like a chunk of iron.

"...Ah, because we're not in that kind of relationship?"

"No, because there's no big deal... Did I perhaps upset my lord again?"

"Why 'my lord' again?”

“Shall I call you Captain Escalante?”

“I’m uncomfortable with honorifics. It's gross, don't do it. Because it seems like I’m the only one who has no case.”

"Oh is that so?"

"This time, you're listening well.”

Ines frowned when he said that without answering her question.

"Why are you acting so crooked?”

It wasn't that hard not to imagine her n*aked body. [ʏᴜʟʜᴇʏᴜɴ] Not since he felt like he had been hit on the head.

Certainly, he thought so.

"Escalante?”

Ines tilted her head in front of Cárcel, as if examining his face. Her face stopped just a span away. Without warning.

At that moment, Cárcel's breathing stopped.

She looked more beautiful than a dream.