***

“Sister-in-law. You’re doing this on purpose to provoke me, aren’t you?”

His mocking voice cut through the air as he pushed her roughly upwards.

“Ah, mmph!”

“Did you enjoy the taste of your husband’s c*ck so much? Hm? Sister-in-law.”

Breathing heavily, Cajetan thrust into her so hard that the sound of flesh meeting flesh echoed through the room. Grace could only moan, unable to form coherent words under the relentless assault.

It was always like this.

Despite Cajetan’s threats, Grace hadn’t refused Velenus in bed. And each time, as if he somehow knew, Cajetan would come the next day and vent his rage by taking her roughly.

He devoured her completely, leaving her tongue sore from his kisses and her deepest parts marked as if to claim them as his own.

“Haah… ah!”

Grace cried out, her voice a mixture of pain and pleasure, helpless under the overwhelming intensity of his touch.

The mingled sounds of her screams and moans only seemed to fuel Cajetan’s beastly growl. He bit the shell of her ear and his hands cupped her br*asts so hard they would surely leave marks. His fingers circled her hardened n*pples before pinching the stiff tips mercilessly.

“It hurts… ahh!”

“Or is that what you want? Are you deliberately provoking me, hoping to be treated so roughly? Huh? Sister-in-law.”

“N-no… ahh!”

“Why not just say it? Tell me you want it rough and I’ll give you exactly what you crave.”

His hot breath spilled over her lips as he pulled her trembling tongue into his mouth and bit down on the soft flesh with sharp teeth.

“Ah!”

Her tongue hung out with every panting breath, her saliva dripping down her chest, soaking her skin. He truly resembled a wild animal – vulgar, depraved and relentless.

Grace thought as she pounded her fists against his shoulders in a desperate attempt to stop him. But Cajetan showed no intention of releasing her tongue, nor any inclination to stop his rough, shameless actions.

“Ah, ah…”

Her mind felt like it was melting into a haze. Each deep thrust into her brought ragged breaths from her lips while her tongue throbbed with pain.

Her insides prickled and burned, a strange mix of sensations overwhelming her. Grace’s hands clung to his clothing. She couldn’t push him away, but she couldn’t pull him closer either.

Her trembling hands simply clung to Cajetan’s clothes, as if to anchor themselves in the chaos.

***

Grace found herself staring at Velenus, who was dressed differently from his usual attire. He had risen early, which was not unusual, but his choice of clothing was. He was even wearing leather boots, a sight that for some inexplicable reason unsettled her. Unable to contain her curiosity, she asked.

“Where are you going?”

“Cajetan suggested we go hunting together. It’s been a while.”

Hunting. The word alone filled Grace with a sense of foreboding, and before she realised it, she had gripped Velenus’s arm tightly. The thought of blood seemed to hang in the air.

“What are you hunting?”

“It’s the perfect time of year for hunting. Would you like to join us?”

Should she go with them? But she didn’t like the idea of killing animals. If it was just a ride, maybe…

“I… I’ll…”

“If I catch a fox, I’ll make you a nice shawl.”

Velenus said with a carefree smile, pulling her closer to kiss her cheek.

His words and gesture brought no comfort, and the uneasy feeling in her chest remained.

“Just the two of you…?”

If they were going alone, she decided she would have to go with them. She didn’t enjoy hunting, but she couldn’t bear the thought of losing her husband.

‘He might kill him.’

No matter how late in the season it was, why did Cajetan suddenly suggest going hunting now? The thought of blood filled her mind and her fear only grew. Velenus, who didn’t suspect his brother in the slightest, was the easiest target for someone with ill intentions.

At her uneasy question, Velenus tilted his head in confusion, a slight frown creasing his brow.

“Of course, the knights will accompany us. Why do you ask?”

“Ah…”

So it wouldn’t just be the two of them. Feeling a small wave of relief wash over her, she loosened her grip on the hem of Velenus’ jacket.

“I told you, Cajetan is a dangerous man.”

“You’re telling me to be careful, aren’t you?”

“Please, believe me. Trust what I’m saying.”

“I believe you.”

His words were kind, but Grace could feel the gap between them – a gap created by Velenus’ inability to truly grasp the danger she was trying to warn him about.

There was no hint of seriousness in his gentle smile. It was clear that Velenus still did not see his brother as a threat. Grace felt a wave of despair wash over her as she closed her eyes tightly, then opened them again.

“Please, be careful. Don’t be alone with him.”

“You really do worry too much, don’t you? Do I seem so incapable to you?”

“It’s not you I don’t trust…”

It wasn’t Velenus – it was Cajetan who frightened her.

“I beg you…”

“All right, I understand. You don’t want me to be alone with Cajetan, do you?”

Velenus replied, still smiling warmly as he planted a kiss on her forehead.

“Try not to worry too much.”

“…”

“I’ll be back,” he said as he turned towards the door.

“Come back safe.”

Should she beg him not to go? Or insist on going with him?

‘No, he said others would be there too’.

Grace reassured herself as best she could and forced a faint smile as she watched her husband leave. But the dark shadow of unease began to creep up from her feet, slowly enveloping her.

***

That afternoon, Grace was faced with her husband’s body, still warm yet lifeless.

***

“You killed him!”

From the moment she had heard the word ‘hunt’, the air had smelled of blood. Why had she let him go? She should have held him tighter, told him not to go. Or she should have gone with him. No – she should have killed Cajetan first.

As Grace’s voice rang out in a desperate cry, the queen stepped forward and gently wrapped her arms around her shoulders.

“Grace, it was the horse that went wild.”

“It must have been him. I know it was him, Mother. That man did it!”

Tears streamed down Grace’s face. When asked if she’d loved Velenus more than anyone, she couldn’t say yes. Yet he had been the kindest person to her.

He had tried so hard to be the perfect husband, always treating her with kindness.

She had thought, I could spend the rest of my life with this man.

And now that life was gone.

“Your Grace… His Highness’s horse suddenly went wild. He fell, and…”

The man before her, his face etched with despair, knelt as if begging forgiveness.

“It’s all my fault. It was my duty to protect His Highness and I failed.”