Rather than feeling such filthy emotions, it seemed better if Eurene were to cling and stalk him like other women, begging…… Wait, come to think of it, that’s not bad at all. A strange light passed through his violet eyes, like someone who had found a gem in an unexpected place. He had deliberately or seemingly unintentionally swayed many women’s hearts, and there were not a few noblewomen or ladies who went too far in their adoration of him. Love letters were basic, and some would even follow him around everywhere, which had been quite annoying.

But if Eurene were to follow him around all day and stalk him(?), it might be quite thrilling. Then, if the mood struck, he could drag his stalker into an alley or carriage for a romp. The tingling sensation spreading around his waist made him seriously consider when to try this stalker role-play.

“I wonder if I’m really becoming a pervert.”

Surely if he asked her to act like a stalker, Eurene would complain with a red face, calling him a pervert. Since it actually was perverted, he had nothing to say, but Eurene would do as she was told. He wondered if his perversion was growing daily because of her compliance. While muttering things that would astonish Eurene if she heard them, he thought about where to call her. Should he call her to the villa as usual? But he wanted to try something different. Maybe an outdoor excursion for a change. Since she was almost always at home, it would be good to let her get some sunshine. In truth, he had something more inappropriate in mind, but believe it or not, Van rationalized it as being for Eurene’s benefit.

“Hey, Van!”

As his steps quickened due to his various fantasies making him impatient, someone stopped him. Van’s eyebrows naturally rose, as there weren’t many who could call him by name so familiarly. Displeasure welled up as if he had been interrupted. Especially if the voice was unfamiliar to him. Sure enough, it was a face he couldn’t even remember. He smiled with slightly visible irritation.

“Who are you?”

“Don’t you recognize me? I’m Oliver Petrarca, your childhood friend. We used to go hunting together and play. It feels like just yesterday! You’ve really made it big!”

“Oliver?”

Who was that? The only Oliver-like thing he knew was the olive fruit he ate one or two of during meals. Rummaging through his memories like clearing away items, he looked down at the shorter man and barely recalled who he was. He vaguely remembered. As the man said, they had played together as youngsters, but they weren’t close enough to call each other by name and act familiar. In short, he was likely someone trying to see what he could get from Van. His suppressed irritation surged. As mentioned before, Van lacked patience.

“Yes, it’s been a while. I’m sorry, but I have business to attend to.”

“Ah, are you also going to your wife’s tea party?”

“……I suppose Sonya invited you?”

Was that today? He had completely forgotten. Van suddenly recalled Eurene, who had been deliberating whether to accept his wife’s invitation.

* * *

Eurene hated risks and feeling heart-pounding tension.

She disliked standing out and didn’t like being the subject of gossip. Wasn’t it most comfortable to just be ordinary and quiet? And until she met Van, she had naturally considered this her innate nature. No, to be precise, her tendencies hadn’t changed, but she had discovered another self curled up inside her.

Eurene truly swore she never knew she could become so uninhibited.

Things like dangerous thrills, intense and lewd s*x, and being a mischievous secret lover. Of course, it was Van who had extracted and developed such inappropriate things from the dull raw material that was Eurene. He was a man who had to have what he wanted by any means necessary. Perhaps taming one dull and defenseless girl to his taste might have been amusing to him.

Eurene sat with her nostrils flaring as she looked out the window of the moving carriage, all dressed up. It felt exactly like a carriage to hell. Crumpling the duchess’s invitation, she unusually reflected on how she had fallen into such a headache-inducing situation. If she hadn’t gotten involved with Van, she wouldn’t have had to worry day after day about being caught by her family and friends, nor would she have caught the duchess’s eye.

Thinking about it, Eurene had tried in her own way after that night when she had acted recklessly. After passing out following their first rough coupling in a back room at the ball, she woke up surprisingly in her own room at Count Eifel’s mansion. When she asked why her clothes were clean and tidy despite her confusion, the maid said she had passed out drunk and been carried home by the party host’s maids. At those words, she thought the man had done as he pleased with her and left, and she had been fortunate enough to be taken care of by the host’s maids.

In reality, it had been the duke’s consideration, making arrangements in advance for the sake of Eurene’s reputation as a lady, but Eurene hadn’t thought that far. If he had taken her home himself, there would have been more gossip.

She had naturally thought, perhaps obviously, that it would end with that encounter. It was common for noble men and women to meet at evening parties and spend a night together. So Eurene had naturally thought, “I had an incredible, unexpected experience. Well, it was good, so let’s leave it at that,” and was gradually forgetting the passionate memory. Or maybe she had dreamed it all. Honestly, she also thought there was no way someone like her could be involved with such a handsome and powerful man.

Unfortunately for Eurene, Van had the remarkable talent of backstabbing others without a second thought. He even enjoyed it.

After spending a whole week rolling around in the count’s mansion, earning her brother’s glares with the excuse that her body ached—which was somewhat true—she finally left the mansion in a bonnet and light dress, planning to visit Rona’s house. The weather was nice too. The clear, cool blue air made her hum spontaneously.

How far had she walked, plodding along happily? It wasn’t until she had crossed four blocks and was about to enter an alley that the dull Eurene sensed someone following her. Despite the bright sunshine that made the ground look yellow, shadows kept falling near her strangely.

Eurene clutched her parasol and suddenly felt afraid. Oh, could these be those bad people she’d only heard about who kidnap wealthy young people for ransom? Did they know she was a noble lady? They probably weren’t human traffickers. She wouldn’t sell well anyway. Swallowing hard, she regretted. Ugh, she should have listened to her brother’s nagging about having a guard or maid accompany a young lady. She had always gone out alone or with Rona because having someone along was troublesome and burdensome.

Her heart pounded so hard she could barely breathe. Plus, this street seemed deserted. She shouldn’t have taken this shortcut. Squeak—she heard the sound of carriage wheels rolling. She finally decided to run. And just as she took her first step after a deep breath, her nape was suddenly grabbed, and she was pulled somewhere.

“Well now, where are you going?”

Too shocked to even scream, Eurene let out a squeal like she’d been burned when she heard the low voice whispering in her ear as she was held against someone’s chest. The man let out a strange laugh, half startled and half amused, as he quietly soothed her. And the next moment, silence fell in the carriage as if by magic. The reason Eurene had promptly quieted down was very simple. He had casually grabbed her br*ast that protruded through her dress. It was as natural as gripping a sword handle. Experiencing such blatant s*xual harassment for the first time in her life, Eurene gaped in mental breakdown.

What is this, what is this!

“Good girl.”

The man whispered softly. As soon as she heard that voice, Eurene was startled. It was someone she knew.

“D-Duke?”

“I believe I told you to call me Van.”

The dark blonde hair falling over his forehead and his violet eyes curved like half-moons looked so enchantingly handsome that her mind went blank for a moment. He stroked her cheek and then pulled the partially open curtain all the way. Soon the carriage began to move.

Eurene shook her dazed head and cautiously got off his lap, pressing herself against the wall. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. At that time, she had been drunk, and the event had been so shocking that it hadn’t felt real.

Seeing her frightened rabbit-like appearance, Duke Carca sighed, “Hmm,” and pressed his index finger against his well-shaped lips. In the dim interior, his sharp silhouette vaguely formed an impressive line.

“It’s been quite difficult to see your face. I suppose you don’t go out much?”

“What? Yes, uh.”

Eurene mumbled in confusion. Why on earth did this person drag me here? Van spoke somewhat irritably, as if he disliked her looking confused and somewhat intimidated.

“Am I not welcome?”

“Wh-what? No, that’s not it.”

“It doesn’t seem that way, but I’ll believe you.”

Van smiled kindly and leaned forward. The distance between them closed instantly, and the nobleman’s expensive cologne tickled her nose. He whispered in a deliberately lowered voice.

“I’ve missed you very much.”

“Ah!”

When her wrist was suddenly grabbed and pulled, Eurene frantically grabbed the curtain with her other hand. Her fingertips brushed his lips, and she felt a jolt like lightning. She was distracted by his violet eyes looking at her as if they would devour her.