ITD

CHAPTER XXVlll

Contrary to Courtney’s concerns, the interior looked like an ordinary shop—a very luxurious one at that. Although the windows were sealed with shutters, the room was brightly lit with lamps, making it as bright as daytime, and everything inside was spotlessly clean.

Other than the shopkeeper, who had greeted them—whether they were male or female wasn’t immediately clear—there was no one else present. Courtney glanced around the room.

“This place is…”

“As I said, it’s a shop. A bit of a special one.”

The world was big, and there seemed to be no shortage of peculiar tastes. The shop was filled with an array of items, many whose purposes she couldn’t even begin to guess, all spread across the wide space.

Richard guided Courtney over to a display case along one wall. Inside, a variety of wooden paddles, each differing in size and shape, were arranged as if they were hats or shoes on display.

In the corner of the case, Courtney spotted one that was identical to the paddle she had received the other day. Noticing her gaze, Richard casually continued his explanation.

“The paddle I sent you was the first item I ever bought here.”

“When…?”

“Hmm, about five years ago.”

A question suddenly arose in Courtney’s mind. Had the Crown Prince actually been struck by this paddle, like the men in the book? And if so, by whom? A prostitute from this part of the city?

Richard took a step to the side. The next section of the display held rows of thin, sturdy whips made of either tough leather or flexible metal. Richard picked up one that resembled a conductor’s baton and gave it a quick flick. The whip made a sharp sound as it cut through the air, echoing through the quiet shop.

“Pick one. Something you’ll be comfortable using.”

“I… I really don’t have any interest in this sort of thing…”

Richard chuckled softly at her response, and Courtney felt a sudden wave of frustration. She didn’t curse and swing her fists at Frederick because she enjoyed it—her brother’s endless foolishness simply drove her to anger.

Richard placed another whip in Courtney’s hand. This one was a classic riding crop, with a narrow shxft and a broad leather tip. His voice was full of conviction as he said,

“Trust my eye. You have a natural talent for this.”

That’s not exactly a compliment, Courtney thought bitterly, but she took the riding crop from him anyway. She gave it a tentative swing, and the sharp swishing sound it made as it cut through the air startled her.

This didn’t seem like something you should hit a person with. Still, it was surprisingly light and had a remarkable amount of flexibility. It was, without a doubt, a well-crafted, high-quality whip—though made for a rather dubious purpose.

Feeling emboldened, she picked up a few more items to examine. Each one was meticulously crafted, without a single stitch or wood splinter out of place.

So he really wants to be hit with this? Courtney jabbed Richard’s arm with the tip of the whip. He responded with a subtle smile, raising one corner of his mouth.

“Do you like that one?”

“I’m not sure.”

In any case, if she wanted to get out of here, she figured she had to play along and finish the shopping. Courtney grabbed a whip with a cute tuft of fluff at the end—it seemed like the least painful option.

“What’s this one for?”

“That depends on how you use it.”

Feeling mischievous, Courtney brushed the soft fur under Richard’s chin, tickling him.

“That’s nice. Keep looking.”

“How much?”

“As much as you want.”

It was the perfect thing to say in a jewelry store. But right now, they were in a ‘special shop’, and for Courtney, this was more of a burdensome task than anything else.

After all, it wasn’t even her money, and none of this was for her to use. Courtney picked out a whip similar to the ones she’d seen in the book, and anything that caught her interest was swiftly passed into the hands of the shopkeeper.

If they used all of this, Richard would surely end up beaten to death.

Just as she was pondering that, another challenge appeared.

“And what’s this?”

Courtney pointed to a leather strap with a small, round ball attached to it, about the size of a baby’s fist. The shopkeeper eagerly picked it up and brought it to their mouth.

“It’s a gag. You put it in the mouth and fasten the strap around the back, preventing speech.”

“Ah…”

Of course. She’d seen it in the book. Courtney made no effort to hide her distaste, and Richard chuckled, amused. She shot him a sharp glare.

“Does Your High… um, do you have something like this, Richard?”

“I’ve used it before, but I’m going to buy new ones. Since we’ll be using them together.”

As expected from someone with extreme tastes—he’d already tried them. Courtney absentmindedly fiddled with another gag and, on impulse, asked a question.

“When did you use it?”

“Pardon?”

“No, I mean… who fastened the strap for you?”

The question could have sounded slightly jealous, but Courtney was unfazed. It was only natural to wonder. Who had Richard indulged his strange desires with before proposing marriage to her?

Richard, understanding exactly what she was thinking, let out a small chuckle.

“I did it myself.”

“Pardon?”

“I’ve known about my preferences for a long time, but I’ve never shared them with anyone. There wasn’t anyone special enough to be my… ‘master’, until I met you.”

You are the only one special to me. In a different time and place, it could have been a romantic confession.

But instead, Courtney was holding a sinister-looking gag, and that strange title was wedged awkwardly between them. Her thoughts were far from romantic.

“This is kind of… strange.”

“What is?”

“How can you be so sure about your preferences? You’ve never actually tried it with someone.”

Surely, no one would lie about being a pervert, but Courtney couldn’t understand his certainty.

Perhaps he was just mistaken. Anyone could have vague fantasies, but maybe Richard had taken his too seriously. After all, who on earth would dare to hit and insult the crown prince of the empire?

As if he had anticipated her doubts, Richard didn’t take offense. Instead, he smiled knowingly and replied,

“Then why don’t we test that now? We can settle the score for the punishment I owe from last time.”