In the Doghouse - Chapter 21
Huu. With a sigh, she picked up the book and the note. Setting the ominous book back down on the bed, she unfolded the note.
「 To my bride, may this book serve as your guide.
—R. 」
The message was written in elegant handwriting on smooth paper, almost too normal, making it seem abnormal. If she had read it before opening the book, Courtney might have thought it was some kind of recommendation for a grand, intellectual read.
She almost crumpled the note in her hand but restrained herself and carefully tucked it back inside the cover.
“That crazy punk…”
As her heart finally calmed down, a curse slipped out of her mouth. First, he asked her to curse him, and now he was doing things to deserve it. The Crown Prince was undoubtedly crazier than she’d ever imagined—much crazier.
Taking a deep breath, Courtney opened the book again. This time, she flipped to a different page, but once again, her eyes were assaulted by an image that nearly made them pop out of her head.
A man, scantily clad in provocative clothing that barely covered anything, was bound tightly, dangling in mid-air. Beside him stood a woman dressed in what appeared to be riding breeches, but even those were scandalously revealing between her legs.
Honestly, it would have been better if she were naked—what was the point of wearing something like that?
In the woman’s hand was a rectangular wooden paddle—the exact same one Courtney had seen earlier.
…Now she understood its intended use, and her expression twisted in disgust as she glared at the wooden object.
The illustration was quite lifelike, a testament to the skill of the artist. What a waste of talent. Just earlier, she had been reading about a farmer harvesting wheat with her nephew, and now she was staring at… this. She shook her head and flipped through the pages.
Not every page had an illustration. Like a children’s book, it alternated between images and text. After reading a little, Courtney realized that the book wasn’t a novel or a play but some kind of encyclopedia. One intended to help a normal person understand the mind of a deviant.
<Effective Spanking Techniques for Taming a Boar>
“Uuugh…!”
Both the images and the words were enough to rot her eyes.
Frustrated, Courtney slammed the book shut.
It was clear now what Richard was trying to convey. That insufferable Crown Prince was giving her an explicit, very detailed message about what he expected from her.
She had half a mind to storm the palace, grab him by the neck, and shake him until he explained why, why of all people, she had to be the one dealing with this.
Unfortunately, Courtney needed him. As distasteful as the situation was, it was better than starving. Besides, unlike the other Devon family members, she still had a sense of responsibility.
If she was receiving his wealth, it was only fair to provide something in return.
Just as a stable hand cares for horses, and a pig keeper looks after pigs, if she were to become the Crown Prince’s consort, she would have the obligation to manage the mentally unhinged Crown Prince.
With that thought in mind, she reluctantly shoved the ghastly book under her pillow.
And from then on, every night, sighs of frustration and groans of exasperation alternated from her bedroom on the second floor.
***
Whether she wanted it or not, preparations for the wedding proceeded smoothly. While the exact date had yet to be set, it was certain the ceremony would take place before the summer was over.
Every day, she spent her mornings preparing for the wedding and learning imperial etiquette. At night, she read that book, <Understanding Perverts: A Beginner’s Guide>. Of course, the title was one she made up.
Today was the day when the women of the Devon household were to select their outfits for the wedding. While Patricia and Elise tried on an endless array of dresses, Courtney sat absentmindedly by the window.
Patricia, clad in a pink dress adorned with silver thread, fiddled with a large ribbon pinned to her chest.
“What if we add flowers here?”
“Um… if we add flowers, the focus might get a bit too scattered…”
The seamstress hesitated, trying to be polite. Today’s task of sewing outfits for House Devon women was far more challenging than creating the gown for the future Crown Princess.
Normally, the bride would be the one to stand out most during the wedding, but not in this case. The women of House Devon showed no consideration for Courtney at all, demanding the most extravagant fabrics and decorations for themselves.
Even if the aesthetic aspect could be forgiven, it was clear that dressing more lavishly than the bride herself was going to be absurdly laughable.
“It feels too plain for such a happy occasion, doesn’t it?” murmured the Countess.
The seamstress quickly picked up the most eye-catching material she could find and held it up to the ribbon.
“Then how about adding a brooch here?”
“Hmm, yes, that could work.”
The seamstress finally sighed in relief, but then Elise’s voice piped up from behind.
“Wow, this is so beautiful!”
“Please don’t touch that! It’s not fastened yet!”
“Oh my.”
Pearls, precariously placed on a delicate veil, tumbled to the floor. The seamstress let out an exasperated sigh as tears began to well up in Elise’s eyes.
“I’m sorry…”
Amid all this noise and chaos, none of it reached Courtney’s ears. She remained at the window, staring blankly outside. From her vantage point, she could see the gardener Hanson had called working diligently to trim the overgrown bushes in the garden.
