I Became a Gallery Manager in Another World

Chapter 144

A bedroom decorated with extravagant ornaments, unmistakably showing it belonged to a high-ranking noble.

“…Haa.”

“Do you think it won’t work again today?”

A naked woman lying on the bed asked.

“Mm… Sorry… I thought it would work today…”

“It’s hard to believe that I lack enough charm to seduce even one man I love… Could it be that your love for me has cooled?”

“No! It’s just that I…!!”

As Terrace answered seriously, Valentine Mapleflower smiled softly.

“Haha… It was a joke, Terrace. There’s no need to rush. Aren’t we married? If it’s not today, then tomorrow, and if not tomorrow, then the day after.”

“Besides, intercourse isn’t the only way to prove a couple’s love, is it? I can already feel how much you love me… And though it’s a bit inappropriate to say this in front of my husband, you know that I’m not particularly fond of intercourse, don’t you?”

“…I know. But still…”

“Oh, I see. Since I suggested sharing the bed tonight, you must have wanted to give it your best.”

“…Yeah.”

“Haha… As happy as your intentions make me, the reason I wanted to share the bed with you tonight…”

Valentine, who was about to answer, felt her face blush.

“Hm… This is… more embarrassing to say than I thought.”

“…Valentine?”

“I’ve known it since I was young, but… You really are a dull man… Still, since you seem eager to hear it from my own lips, I’ll tell you.”

Valentine swept Terrace’s hair aside and whispered in his ear.

“It’s not the intercourse that I like; it’s this moment when I’m with you, Terrace. Lying here by your side, sharing your warmth and breath makes me truly happy. Haha… So, don’t worry.”

Valentine gave Terrace a gentle kiss on the cheek.

“Just having this moment to myself is more than enough for me. After all, wouldn’t any woman be happy to have such a wonderful man all to herself?”

“Valentine…”

“Haha, no matter how much I love you, it’s still embarrassing to speak of love like this. I’ll go wash up, so wait here.”

Valentine, as if to hide her flushed face, draped a silk robe over herself and entered the bathroom.

Swoosh—

“Haa…”

Under the strong stream of water, Valentine sighed.

“What could be the problem…”

Though she had reassured Terrace earlier, the fact that he couldn’t become aroused was a bigger problem than she had let on.

It wasn’t about the sex.

The statement about not enjoying intercourse wasn’t just to comfort Terrace—it was the truth.

Valentine had never once experienced ‘a woman’s pleasure,’ whether in sex or self-pleasure.

It wasn’t in her nature to desire intercourse.

But…

‘…Mother’s pressure to produce an heir is getting more intense.’

Though she had managed to buy time by asking for patience, that was now reaching its limit.

Valentine’s mother, Elizabeth Mapleflower, was a woman of inherently free-spirited nature, only restrained by her imperial position.

If her mother had even one other sister, she would never have ascended to the throne.

Valentine gently stroked her empty abdomen.

The succession to the Mapleflower throne began with the birth of a daughter.

Conversely, if no daughter was born, succession to the throne could not occur.

‘At this rate, Laplace will ascend to the throne…’

It wasn’t that Valentine was obsessed with the throne.

If Laplace wanted the throne, she would gladly yield it.

But throughout all these years, Laplace had never shown any desire for the throne.

‘Still, I can’t shamelessly ask for it.’

Although Valentine wasn’t fixated on the throne, she had enjoyed many privileges as the designated successor, more than Laplace ever had.

She had never felt guilty about it.

It was her right as the heir.

Now, however, to declare she would not succeed the throne would be a betrayal to her people and her sister.

‘…Am I truly that lacking in charm?’

Her breasts were as beautiful as water droplets, her skin white as snow, and her red eyes gleamed.

It was embarrassing to admit, but her reflection in the mirror showed a figure that was undeniably attractive, with hardly any flaw to be found.

However, to Valentine, none of it mattered if she couldn’t satisfy the one man she loved.

‘Oh no… I said I’d come out quickly, but I got lost in thought.’

Drip—

Thinking of Terrace waiting for her, she quickly wiped the water from her body and opened the bathroom door.

“…Sorry. I’m a little la—”

Creak— Creak—

The sight that unfolded before Valentine left her speechless.

‘…Te…Terrace?’

It wasn’t that she didn’t understand what was happening.

She knew exactly what Terrace was doing.

“Haa…! Haa… Ugh!”

Terrace was… pleasuring himself.

The same Terrace who couldn’t even get aroused when they were supposed to be intimate.

Thud!

The shocking sight made Valentine step back and accidentally make a noise, causing Terrace to finally realize the situation.

“…V-Valentine?”

“…Terrace…”

“No… No! You’ve got it all wrong! This isn’t… what it looks like!”

“…It’s… fine… Y-you… have desires too, I suppose… B-but… may I ask just one thing?”

She hadn’t intended it, but Valentine’s voice began to tremble.

“Am… Am I not enough for you? Am I truly unable to satisfy you?”

“No!… That’s not what I meant at all!”

“Then why!! …Haa… Terrace. For the sake of all we’ve shared, be honest with me… Is there no longer a place for me in your heart?”

“Valentine! That’s not true at all! There’s only you for me.”

“…Then tell me! Why is it that you, who can’t even get aroused with me, were pleasuring yourself while thinking of someone else?”

At Valentine’s near-crying question, Terrace bit his lip.

“Haha… I guess… you can’t answer. I understand now. I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can stay with you tonight… I have work tomorrow, after all.”

Tap—

As Valentine turned to leave the room, Terrace grabbed her wrist and shouted.

“It was you, Valentine! I was thinking of you when I did it!”

“Let me go… You’re the one who can’t respond to my body. Please don’t try to comfort me with lies.”

“No! It’s not a lie! I’m serious! Look! Look at what I was using!”

Swish—

Terrace boldly spread out his hands, revealing Valentine’s underwear, which she had taken off earlier.

“T-that’s… my underwear, isn’t it?”

“Yes! I was thinking of you when I did it!”

“W-wait a minute… I don’t understand…”

If Terrace had mentioned another woman’s name, she might have felt betrayed, but she wouldn’t have been as utterly confused as she was now.

“Why? If you want me, I’d offer myself to you anytime. …So why? Weren’t you worried about not being able to get aroused in the first place?”

“…That’s…”

“Please, tell me. I don’t want to doubt you, but I’m feeling very uncertain.”

“…I can’t. If I tell you, you’ll surely despise me.”

“You foolish man… After all this time, do you still not know me? I love you. No matter what your reasons are, I’ll accept them!”

At Valentine’s sincere cry, Terrace remained silent for a long while before finally speaking.

“I… I have a kink.”

“…A kink?”

Since Terrace’s erectile dysfunction began, Valentine had tried everything.

She had cooked foods known to be good for men, worn a nun’s outfit, a cheerleader’s costume, and more.

She had done her best to seduce him with anything that might appeal to him.

But none of it had ever elicited a response from Terrace.

“What kind of kink?”

“….”

“Tell me. I won’t know unless you do.”

“…Valentine.”

“Yes, I’m listening.”

Grip—

Holding Valentine’s hand tightly, Terrace seemed to gather his resolve and finally spoke.

“Valentine… I want to see you in another man’s arms.”

“…What did you just say?”

Though she had resolved to accept whatever kink Terrace had, this was beyond what she expected.

“I know! I know… how disgusting my kink is… That’s why I couldn’t tell you!”

“…Te…Terrace…”

“I hate this part of myself too! But the more I’m with you, the more I can only imagine you being taken by another man! …That’s why, even though I desperately want you, I can’t bring myself to hold you.”

“….”

The thought of being with another man had never even crossed Valentine’s mind, making Terrace’s confession all the more shocking.

But…

“…You.”

“Yes… Valentine… You must hate me, right?… That’s why… I didn’t want to confess.”

“I’ll ask you one last thing… Do you truly, genuinely want to see me with another man?”

“….”

Flinch— Flinch—

Terrace didn’t answer, but he didn’t need to.

Just imagining it was enough to cause him to become aroused again.

“You’re… getting excited.”

“I’m sorry…”

“You don’t need to apologize. I asked you the question… But I… I’ll need… time.”

“…Time? What do you mean by that?”

“…Time to come to terms with it.”

Terrace, panicking at Valentine’s words, spoke quickly.

“Come to terms with it? No, wait! Valentine, yes, I want to see it, but… I also want you to be only mine! Otherwise, I wouldn’t have hidden it for so long!”

“But I can’t make you aroused, can I? Unless… you can embrace me right now?”

“…That… that’s…”

Droop—

Even just imagining being with Valentine caused Terrace’s arousal to subside, his erection wilting.

“Haha… Your body speaks the truth. But that’s alright. I’m happy knowing your heart hasn’t left me.”

“My heart will never leave you.”

“Mine won’t either. But… it’s true that I’m shocked.”

“…Valentine.”

Grip—

“So, as punishment, I want you to stay by my side and stroke my hair until I fall asleep.”

Valentine whispered softly, nestled in Terrace’s arms.