‘Is this all I need to do?’

He seemed to like it, which was a relief. She had been worried that she was always the only one feeling good.

“Don’t use your teeth. Just like that.”

“Mmph.”

A large hand cupped the back of her head and pressed down firmly. His c*ck slid deeper into her mouth.

It reached the back of her throat and made it hard to breathe. Tears spilled over.

“Hff, mmph!”

Eldrich began to move his hips, and his c*ck pushed in and out of her mouth at will.

He thr*st in and pulled back repeatedly, fast. Cleve moaned and cried, held in place by him. Saliva ran over the fingers gripping his c*ck, and her breath grew ragged.

“Hgh.”

A low groan, and a sharp, bitter scent reached her. His c*ck pulled free of her mouth.

“Cough, hk, hh.”

Cleve bent forward and spat onto the ground. Her strength gave out entirely, and she collapsed where she was.

She felt arms lift her, and she fell asleep just like that.

❀❀❀

Hereis watched the table go against him again and again and let his eyes move restlessly.

‘At this rate I won’t even keep the principal.’

Just a little more and he could walk away with double. Cheers erupted around him, and applause followed.

“Remarkable. He didn’t fold and kept pushing.”

“Didn’t he walk away with quite a lot last time too?”

“I don’t know who he is, but I’d like to be his friend. They say he only comes once a month…… but every time he shows up he takes an enormous sum. The man must have extraordinary luck.”

Baron Derpoman’s villa held a weekly party for gentlemen. The rules were stricter than most.

Entry was not open to anyone. Only those with a referral could attend. Naturally, nothing that took place inside could ever be mentioned elsewhere. A confidentiality agreement had to be signed before entry was permitted, and collateral of equivalent value was required.

This private gathering was known as Sohm-nee-deh-AH-lis.

The dreamer who chases an ideal.

It sounded distinguished enough, but in truth it was nothing more than a gathering of men chasing a quick fortune.

“D*mn it!”

Another losing hand.

Hereis had been certain this week would be his. It kept feeling just within reach, which only drove him further.

He had started by winning modest amounts, then raised the stakes higher and higher. Now there was very little left in his pocket.

Hereis raised his hand and called for a staff member.

‘Good thing the investment funds come in today. I nearly had to leave early.’

He handed over the colored chip marked with the number 14 in front of him. The staff member stepped away briefly to check, then returned with an uncomfortable expression.

“Number 14, I apologize. As you know, additional credit cannot be extended here until outstanding debts are settled.”

“Do you know who I am? Have I ever failed to repay on time?”

The debt hadn’t been settled. Hereis ran a hand through his hair and looked at the staff member.

‘The money should have come in. Why hasn’t the debt been cleared?’

Something had clearly gone wrong. Hereis forced down any sign of unease and spoke.

“Bring Baron Derpoman to me.”

“I apologize. He is currently away.”

“Number 14, already out of money? Disappointing. I thought your momentum today meant we’d be playing together for a long while.”

“Out of money? As if I would be. Number 25 just arrived and already has his nose in the air.”

“Ha ha ha ha. What good is arriving early? Just from what I’ve won off you so far alone……”

Hereis shot to his feet. He looked ready to grab the man by the collar, and a staff member stepped forward and said politely,

“Number 14, causing a disturbance will result in a one-month ban from the party.”

“……Fine. I’m not in the mood to continue tonight anyway.”

“If the debt remains unsettled next time, first-stage measures will be taken.”

“I know that perfectly well, so mind your own business and get out of my sight.”

Hereis looked down at the staff member and made his threat plain.

The nerve of them, treating him like this. Insufferable.

He gave the staff member an unpleasant pat on the shoulder and left the villa. He boarded a shared carriage and headed for the marquisate residence.

❀❀❀

Hereis walked into the residence in a foul mood. The butler came out at once to meet him and bowed his head.

“What a humiliation. The investment funds didn’t come in. What happened?”

“I was just about to contact you, my lord. House Devonshire did not send this month’s funds.”

“Has the duke finally lost his mind? Failing to honor an agreement.”

“……Could it be that he found out how the funds are being used?”

“Nonsense. You have no idea how tightly that gathering is run.”

“My lord, there is something more urgent than the investment funds.”

He had already left in a state of embarrassment, and now there was something more urgent. Nothing was more urgent than losing the chance to make money because the funds hadn’t arrived.

“Count Gebek and Baron Patron have come.”

“What do they want? Is it about the investment? Wasn’t that already agreed upon?”

“They say they’ve changed their minds.”

Hereis’s face twisted at the butler’s words, and he headed for the reception room.

He put on a smile and walked in at a leisurely pace to greet his guests.

“What brings you both here without word. I was just out meeting another investor.”

“There have been some unfavorable rumors lately, and we’re feeling uneasy. We’ve heard that the hotel venture currently underway has not received its permit. Is that true?”

“Ah, is that all. The permit will go through without any trouble. Has any venture undertaken by the Chartres marquisate ever gone wrong?”

Things had gone well up to now. Every time Cleve married, she had brought in a substantial dowry, and he had used it to pour bribes into the right places. There was no reason for business to fail.

Of course, the returns on investment after that had been purely a matter of luck.

That was why Hereis believed he had a sharp eye for opportunity. But strangely, ever since Cleve’s fourth marriage, things had stopped going smoothly.

It was as though whatever luck had been with him had simply run out.

“Ahem. But we’ve heard that the returns on recent ventures have not been good.”

“Isn’t that true of all business. Surely you’re aware that House Devonshire has also been contributing investment funds.”

“We heard that House Devonshire had invested, but it hasn’t been confirmed.”

Count Gebek cleared his throat and raised his doubts.

He had entered in the first place because Duke Devonshire was said to have invested in the venture, but he had seen with his own eyes from the start that the marriage had been a muddled affair, and it had been nagging at him.

“If that’s how little you trust me, I suppose there’s nothing to be done.”

Hereis was rattled, but his expression didn’t shift. He called the butler over and murmured quietly.

“Bring the records showing that Duke Devonshire provided funds.”

“Pardon? But this month……”

“I’ll handle that. Quickly.”

While Hereis spoke with the butler, Baron Patron rose from his seat.

“If you intend to show us records of the duke’s investment, that won’t be necessary. My lord, I need certainty. The sum my family is investing in this venture is considerable, so I trust you understand why I require this much.”

“This venture matters to me as well.”

Count Gebek straightened his clothes and spoke to Hereis.

“If you bring us a letter of confirmation from Duke Devonshire, we will not withdraw our investment.”

For the first time in front of them, Hereis’s face cracked.

“You’re telling me to go to the duke, who is enjoying his honeymoon, and bring back written confirmation because you don’t trust me?”

“……If that is too difficult, then we have no choice but to withdraw from this venture.”

“Count Gebek!”

“I hope to have a clear answer by my next visit. Good day.”

Hereis felt his insides burn as the two men spoke. If they withdrew their investment, it would create a serious problem for his finances. He had been gambling on the assumption of that money, and the ground seemed to tilt beneath him.

“My lord.”

The butler had been watching and stepped carefully toward Hereis.

“My lord, someone who introduces investment opportunities has been in contact. A person called Bliss. They’ve offered a substantial sum. However……”

“What is it?”

“There is a condition.”

“A condition?”

“The condition is the divorce of the duchess.”

“The duchess?”

“……Miss Cleve, who has become the Duchess of Devonshire.”