Chapter 5 – Part 11

“Your will is so powerless, Lieselote.”

His face, which she believed couldn’t get any closer, suddenly leaned in. A shadow engulfed her, and before she could comprehend, his cheek and ear brushed against her lips. Only after feeling the moist sensation on her neck did she realize Marcus had kissed her neck.

“Ah…!”

It was an unfamiliar sensation that she’d never experienced before. She moaned at the sensation of licking, sucking, and biting the sensitive flesh. It was the first time she’d ever heard it, even though it came from her own mouth.

His grip, which had held her wrist, now slid down to interlace their fingers. The other hand had wrapped around her waist, pulling her body tight against his. Liese could feel the thumping of his chest against hers.

Then, she felt the unbelievably large and firm contours of his lower body pressing against hers. It was a moment when warning bells went off in her mind.

“Let… let go!”

Liese struggled, slapping Marcus’s shoulder as he held her. Despite her best efforts, his rock-hard body didn’t budge. He only kissed her more fiercely, as if spurred on by her struggles.

“Your Grace!”

The sound of each sucking on her flesh echoed in his ears. His lips traveled down the line of her neck, settling on the hollow of her collarbone. Something dull continued to squeeze and rub between her legs, a blatant attempt to elicit some sort of response from her.

What was even more embarrassing was that I started to feel really ticklish. The strange sensation came from deep within her, responding to the man’s heat that radiated through the fabric of her clothes.

Horrified, Liese slammed her fist down on the duke’s shoulder.

“Please let go!”

Drenched to the skin, Marcus pulled his lips away. Liese exhaled and glared at him, her face bright red. The nape of her white throat was streaked with bruises and raw redness.

“You smell so good, so I thought you’d taste sweet. Turns out, it’s just average. Soft enough to lick, though.”

“You… you pervert

Marcus dropped his gaze downward after locking eyes with her. Somewhere down her legs, which were writhing from the tickling stimulation, to be precise. He smirked as he realized what was happening beyond the flimsy dress.

“Why are you so excited while being molested by a pervert?”

Liese’s cheeks flushed even more at the obvious mockery. Raising her arms, she shoved Marcus with all her might. Her fists curled into balled fists and pounded against his unmoving, solid body.

“Let go…! Let go of me!”

Amidst it all, the injustice of not being able to strike back hit her hard. How could there be such a huge difference when they were the same person?

But what bothered her most was the smug look in his eyes as he watched her helplessly. It was a gaze as if he were watching an irritated cat being touched by a sudden breeze. It was a look that confirmed her helplessness.

Marcus took a step back, and Liese’s windblown nails raked the underside of his neck. But it was Liese who flinched, not Marcus.

In the heavy silence, Marcus slowly brought his hand to his throat. His fingertips were dotted with blood, and he mocked lowly, as if he’d been scratched by a lowly beast.

“Not bad.”

And with a tone of satisfaction, he snapped. Alarmed, Liese wondered if he had gone full circle.

“You’re a sight to behold. Go home and take a look in the mirror. The marks are quite beautiful.”

The woman, whose flesh was so soft that even the slightest grip left a mark, had left a blotchy trail wherever his lips had touched. Marcus held out his hand to Liese, who was shaking with shame.

“Now that we’ve left our marks, let’s be on our way, so that everyone will think we’ve had a passionate enough lovemaking, albeit earlier than I expected, and blame you for provoking a man to lust.”

“You wretch…!”

An impatient Liese threw up her hands, only to have her wrists grabbed in a frightening grip.

“If you do this, we’ll be misunderstood, Liese.”

“…….”

“If you punch me in the cheek and bust my lip, won’t it look like I’ve been injured while forcibly holding you?”

“That wouldn’t leave a scratch on the your body!”

“Then hit me with all your might.”

Marcus let go of her hand.

“I’ll kiss you again in return, and this time you can look forward to where I’ll suck and lick you.”

The corners of Liese’s mouth twitched. She glared at the smug-faced man and pushed him away with all her might. Leaving Marcus behind, who obediently moved out of the way, Liese walked quickly and grabbed the handle of the balcony door.

When she couldn’t get it open on her own, Marcus shuffled over and held it open for her, and she shuddered at the feel of the man’s body against her back and the heavy scent of his cologne. This whole situation was almost too much to bear.

It was even more difficult to hold his hand again and return to her seat with a smiling mask on.

Long after the dessert, the final course of the feast, had been cleared away and the guests had retired to the small banquet hall, they were gathered in small groups, sipping their drinks. They exchanged strange glances at the late returning duke and his young lover.

Liese tried to cover her neck with her loose hair. But Marcus, who had short hair and made no attempt to hide his scratches, simply joined them with a straight face. He wrapped his arms tightly around Liese’s waist.

“Can I get you a glass of water?”

The Marchioness Witrock asked with a smile, her face so friendly that it was hard to refuse, even though she knew the implications of her good intentions. Liese forced a smile and nodded.

“…Please. Thank you, My Lady.”

“You’re welcome.”

The beaming Marchioness patted Liese on the shoulder, then frowned at Marcus.

Feeling suffocated by the man’s presence at her side, Liese would have rather spoken to Claudia, but the hand that held her like a fiend’s grip prevented her from leaving Marcus’ side for a moment.

Half-hugged by him, Liese greeted the guests and made eye contact with Trevor Miller, who was smirking in the distance, wondering when she had joined them. All she wanted to do was stick her nose in her plate.

***

The mansion was deserted after the guests left.

Liese wanted to go home before anyone else, but she had to stay by Marcus’ side to see them off. As soon as the last guest left and the door to the annex closed behind them, Liese wiped the forced smile off her face.

“I’ll take my leave now.”

“Aren’t you going to take the money?”

The question caught her off guard. In her panic, she’d almost forgotten the most important thing.

“Come here, Liese.”

Marcus, sitting cross-legged in front of the immaculately set dinner table, beckoned. He’d always wanted to hand over the money himself, not through a servant’s hands.

Liese walked over and stood in front of him, uncomfortable. She clasped her hands together politely in front of her. Marcus stared at her, then pulled out a wad of money and tossed it onto the table. Liese stared at the white envelope with sinking eyes. She couldn’t bring herself to pick it up.

“Take it, I’ve put more in it than I promised for your salary.”

“…Thank you.”

“And you didn’t ask why?”

“I think I know without asking.”

“Just count the money.”

She almost felt like she was going to cry. She stared at Marcus with tear-filled eyes and started counting the bills. It didn’t take long before she glared at him with narrowed eyes. It was more than twice the amount.

“Thanks to you, I had a good time, so I made sure you are satisfied with it”

“Thank you.”

“Do not repeat the same words like a machine. Is the money enough?”

“… Yes, it’s enough.”

“No way. If you want more, tell me honestly.”

She felt like she was going to cry. Even when she took off my maid’s clothes in front of him, even today when she was harassed, she received more than what he had promised.

‘What am I supposed to give in order to get more here?’

“How much do you want? I can take your family out of poverty once and for all. Does your family owe anyone?”

“I wish to go home, and I beg you to let me go, Your Grace.”

“If you want to quit the whole act, let me know, I’m tired of watching you move around like a woodcarving doll. Why don’t you see if you can extort money from me in some other way.”

“I don’t want to quit, I don’t want to find out, just send me home.”

“You know there’s an easier way than this, Liese. A path that you and I can both be happy with.”

“That’s enough…please!”

Liese gasped, her breath hitting the ground.

At that moment, beaded tears rolled down her cheeks. Marcus, who was lazily twiddling her fingers on the table, stopped. A faint flicker of embarrassment crossed his narrowed face.

The woman who had never shed a tear, no matter how many times he’d prodded her with unspeakable insults, was sobbing.

It was as if her sturdy sandcastle had been crumbling under the onslaught of waves. Liese’s small face contorted as tears pooled in her blue eyes.

Marcus had always wondered what she would look like when she was wet with tears. He knew all too well the satisfying feeling of conquest that comes from seeing someone who has held out finally give in.

But as he watched Lieselotte sobbing, Marcus felt a perverse sense of dread.

He hadn’t meant to be sarcastic earlier. It had been a sincere offer, and he hadn’t expected to see her cry.

“Your Excellency.”

Florence, the maid, quietly entered through the arched doorway. Liselotte hastily wiped her tear-streaked face with the back of her hand. Marcus didn’t avert his gaze.

“The carriage to take Miss Brennan is ready. Shall we bring her in now?”

The loyal maid never dared to interrupt a conversation the duke was having with someone. This time, sensing an untoward undercurrent in Liese’s rising tones, she unnecessarily intervened.

With a sigh of resignation, Liselotte asked for his permission, her voice trembling with sorrow.

“Please let me go.”

“Go.”