“Um, I think I should go now.”

“Ah, are you returning to the party? Allow me to escort you.”

“No, that’s not what I—”

“It seems the lady would prefer to spend time alone. You’re being oblivious, Albert.”

Oh, this voice! Startled, she quickly turned her head to find Duke Carca, Van, standing there with his hair neatly styled. His aristocratic violet eyes stared directly at the other man before shifting to Eurene. His sharp gaze looked particularly cold, making her shoulders instinctively shrink. Van, away from their trysts or ballrooms, exuded a coolly detached atmosphere, like a different person. His lips slid into a movement, adding a touch of cold pleasantness to his stern face.

“Miss Eifel, may I have a word with you?”

“What?”

She swallowed hard. Van’s deeply sunken eyes were commanding:

Right now.

Of course, from past experience, she knew that what Van said in this state was no joke. Eurene followed him with quick steps, like a lost puppy returning to its owner’s arms. The man, whoever he was to the duchess, watched the duke’s retreating back without a second glance and Eurene’s strange expression alternately, then focused on catching up with Van who was walking away rapidly after giving a slight nod in lieu of a proper greeting. Van seemed to know who he was but considered him either of negligible status or someone too annoying to acknowledge.

Curiously, the duke took paths with few people, moving away from both the party venue and the garden, then suddenly stopped, grabbed Eurene’s wrist, and pushed her through a small side door. Eurene went along helplessly, making whimpering sounds.

“You really came when I told you to?”

Eurene, who had fallen onto a sofa as if perfectly timed, brought her feet together and rolled her eyes. Van, closing the door and slowly folding his arms, somehow looked bigger than usual. He massaged his neck, loosened his tie, and took off his formal jacket, hanging it on a vintage chair that showed signs of age. They were in what looked like a small secret storage room. It contained all sorts of odds and ends: dusty books, furniture, baskets, canned fruits, and various miscellaneous items.

Eurene snapped out of her dazed contemplation when a long shadow fell over her head. Van plopped down on the seat opposite her, crossed his long legs, propped them on the table, and rested his chin on the back of his hand. His slightly tilted posture was subtly relaxed, resembling an antique portrait of some leisurely aristocrat who had enjoyed a glass or two of wine. Ah, perhaps that was actually the case.

“My brother kept nagging me to come, so I did. I didn’t want to come either.”

“Did she not insult you?”

“What?”

“My wife, did she not bully or harass you?”

Eurene shook her head vigorously. There was nothing to think deeply about.

“No? On the contrary, she treated me well.”

“I’m not asking if she bullied you outright. She doesn’t prefer that method.”

Van cut off his words like bringing down a dagger. Staring at Eurene, who was looking at him blankly, he sighed. His long index finger rubbed his temple.

“She incites others or sets the stage and drives situations. Like herding prey. Or she bares her teeth only after public opinion and practical benefits are directed toward her. There’s no need to step forward and trample directly. Once you reach her level, you learn you can get what you want without lifting a finger.”

Van wasn’t angry or being sarcastic. He was stating the facts as they were, utterly calm and composed. His violet pupils were deeply settled, shining like mysterious gems. Strangely, Eurene thought that he was more frightening now than at any other time. She didn’t understand why herself, but that’s how she felt.

When Eurene froze awkwardly, Van, seeing her expression, quickly added with a hint of mild amusement, as if suddenly relaxed.

“Right. How could my pure and kind Eurene know such ‘vile’ things? What did she say to you?”

“Nothing special. Just, um, that I have more backbone than I appear and that I’m charming. That I’d be popular with men.”

“Pfft! She said that?”

For some reason, Van burst into laughter. Why is that funny? If he thought it was absurd, Eurene would agree. Anyway, she continued her “report.”

“So she found it strange that I don’t have a boyfriend.”

“And you said you don’t.”

Van lightly continued. He flicked his index finger. Come here. Obediently standing up and sitting on his lap, Eurene placed her hands around the duke’s neck as if it were a practiced routine. Van, moving just his fingertips, stroked her plump lips, round chin, and long neckline. Shivering slightly at the ticklish sensation, Eurene belatedly understood his words.

“Oh, how did you know? That I said that?”

“Because I heard it.”

He murmured lowly while biting her earlobe, so his husky breath touched her hearing. Van looked down at her twitching form with an unreadable expression and slid his hand up her stockinged leg like a snake. His hands were cold. Feeling the slight chill, Eurene clung more tightly to the firm man’s neck.

“Were you there?”

“I’m the owner of this mansion. If I want to know something, there’s nothing I can’t know.”

His tone was smooth like chocolate filled with wine. Her eyes squinted as his hand invaded, parting the voluminous pannier. Van kissed that spot with a peck. This was the duke’s main residence. His wife and other nobles were just steps away, and there must be an incomparably larger number of household members than at Count Eifel’s mansion. Eurene twisted her body and asked quietly.

“Why are you angry?”

The man’s hand, which had been tugging at her stockings as if about to tear them, abruptly stopped. Eurene watched his brief frown and quiet stillness with bated breath.

Van asked with interest. It was amazing that he could convey interest in his intonation without changing his pitch. She had never seen someone with such diverse and effective expressions in her life.

“Do I look angry?”

“Um, a little. No, maybe not. I’m confused, but somehow it feels that way.”

It sounded like she was rambling, but it was exactly how Eurene felt. Van smiled strangely and lowered his head to kiss her lips respectfully. Having become accustomed to kisses that always seemed to pounce or devour, this overly affectionate sensation felt unfamiliar. Ah……

Of course, the naughty hand now burrowing into her underwear was familiar. Very. Her body, instinctively thoroughly trained by him, responded. Just his approaching touch made heat and moisture pool below. She awkwardly grabbed his arm to stop him.

“H-here?”

“Why? Would you prefer outdoors?”

“No! This, this is your house.”

“So what’s the problem? What’s wrong with me taking my lover in my own home?”

Seriously, what kind of man is this? She had always known, but the thought struck her anew. Though it wasn’t for Eurene, the queen of self-justification who lived comfortably by casually defying common norms when convenient, to say, Van seemed to consider ethical consciousness or conscience, things ordinary people possessed, as alien concepts. Finding her bewildered face amusing, he bit her neck hard. He seemed somewhat annoyed that she had rejected him, however slightly. As he began caressing her sensitive areas, her limbs quickly weakened. Mmm, maybe just once. No, the duchess might be waiting. Eurene thought hard about changing the subject.

“Um, who was that person? The one in the garden.”

But her topic change was somewhat misguided. This time, Van’s displeasure was unmistakably evident. Oh my.

“You’re in bed with me and you’re curious about another man?”

Van muttered briefly. His face, which had been constantly licking her plump lips, moved away. Eurene hastily explained.

“No! I, you seemed to dislike him! You seemed to hate him, so I thought……”

“Hmm, is that so. How thoughtful of you.”

He nodded gently, but there was nothing gentle about how he undid her ribbon in one go and roughly grabbed her br*asts after pulling them out from the fabric. The area squeezed by his five knuckles ached. Eurene made a tearful face. When she stroked his waist with her legs, which had been wandering helplessly, Van, who had been keeping his mouth shut, gave a short chuckle. She reminded him of a dull cat trying to be coy.

His mood changed capriciously. With a light movement, he lifted one of her legs straight up. A shriek escaped her. Like a mischievous boy teasing a young girl who showed interest, Van licked Eurene’s neck as she turned her head away, blushing. While stimulating her exposed underwear with one hand, he smiled with his eyes.