Chapter 11

He clung to her chest like a beast to its mother, sucking until Liliana sniffled from the tingling. Raven only lifted his head from her chest when Liliana, unable to bear it, tugged his ear.

“Please… stop…”

Liliana whispered to Raven, her eyes brimming with tears, not knowing this only stirred his desire further.

“Do you want me to suck the other side?”

Of course, Raven interpreted it his own way. Seeing Liliana with only one side exposed, he twisted his lips. Then he roughly pulled down her nightgown altogether. The tattered nightgown fell apart, and the sight of one br*ast swollen and flushed was quite tempting.

Raven rubbed Liliana’s now-sensitive chest with his palm and took the neglected n*pple into his mouth. He tugged it hard, then released it, then sucked it in again.

“Hng!”

Liliana tugged Raven’s hair, but it didn’t bother him at all. As Raven kneaded her chest and sucked her n*pples like a wild colt, Liliana grew wet below. She crossed her legs.

“Hoo…”

Raven ran his hand through his hair and lifted his head. Lowering his pants, Raven rubbed his er*ect member with his palm. He pulled Liliana’s hand to grasp it, moving his hips slowly. Liliana, forgetting her heavy breathing, touched him with a curious expression.

Raven narrowed his eyes, looking over Liliana.

He’d held back from doing this to Liliana all day. So, shouldn’t he allow himself a little more? Raven removed Liliana’s hand and climbed on top of her. He kneaded her ample chest, then slid his member between the valley.

“Raven! What are you doing…!”

“Lily, stick out your tongue.”

Raven growled. Liliana tried to shake her head, but met Raven’s gaze. Drenched in passion, Raven was still beautiful. His eyes were nothing like those of the cruel servants who had tormented her.

Eyes filled with affection and desire.

Liliana blinked, then cautiously stuck out her tongue. Raven rubbed his tip against her tongue. His movements didn’t last long. White fluid spilled hotly onto Liliana’s tongue, neck, and chest.

Raven let out a long sigh.

“Next time, can I suck you below too?”

Only then did Liliana notice the desire shining in his eyes.

“I’ll think about it…”

Liliana answered blankly. Why did Raven look handsome even saying such things?

***

Another week passed. That time was enough to drive Rachel mad. Born as the Duke’s daughter of Kreuten, she had always been adored. It was almost surprising that Rachel lasted a whole week.

When Rachel said she had something to say, Raven went to the annex. By then, most of the servants had been replaced by those Raven had chosen. The maid now guarding Liliana was one of Raven’s own.

That was why Raven could leave Liliana alone.

Raven entered the room where Rachel was confined and sat with his legs crossed. The maids, watching Raven, removed the gag from Rachel’s mouth.

“Speak.”

Raven said, sounding tired. He didn’t have time to deal with Rachel now. Lately, Raven had been too busy scheming how to win Liliana over.

“What do you want to say?”

He already knew, through the servants, what Rachel and the Grand Madam had done. Raven was slowly but surely replacing all the servants.

“It… it was because Mother ordered me!”

Rachel began to pour out words like a dam breaking. She confessed everything the Grand Madam and she had planned and all they intended to do. Raven listened to her rambling, pale-faced, and sighed.

Raven had unknowingly thrown Liliana into the hands of these devils. He’d thought he could rest easy after rescuing Liliana from the Everset, that he could return and enjoy a happy marriage, trying this and that.

But how arrogant and complacent that thought had been. Raven’s enemy was not outside, but inside. Raven’s cold gaze pierced Rachel.

“So your mother hired the servants?”

“Y-yes.”

“And you know who those servants are.”

“I know! I know… So please, Brother…please spare me. Please.”

Rachel spoke, tears streaming down her face. Her trembling was pitiable, but Raven felt nothing. As expected…

Raven curled his thin lips. His eyes were filled with rage. Habitually suppressing his anger, Raven bit out a curse between his teeth.

Rachel’s pupils widened at the crude curse.

“B-Brother…”

“What? You never imagined something like this? Did you think I looked noble, elegant, and kind?”

Raven sneered. His beautiful face twisted in mockery. The armrest of the chair dented under his grip.

“You thought putting a commoner woman in the Duchess’s seat made it truly yours. You’re out of your mind.”

His muttering voice was filled with anger.

“Rachel. You’ll pay for everything you’ve done. When you leave this place…”

Raven tilted his head. He looked like a reaper risen from h*ll. Rachel trembled. She felt as if everything she and the Grand Madam had tried to protect was crumbling. Rachel clenched her teeth. She knew she wouldn’t walk out of here alive.

“Just kill me. Just let me die… It’s all my fault, so kill me…”

Rachel shook her head, pale as a sheet. She’d never experienced pain like this. Rachel remembered clearly what she and the Grand Madam had done. And what the previous Duchesses had chosen.

Raised like a precious jewel, those women had chosen death themselves. Rachel knew she would follow in their footsteps. At her words, Raven cursed again.

“Why should I?”

“Brother…! We… we are still family…”

Rachel pleaded desperately, tears falling. It wasn’t regret or guilt. It was fear and terror. Unfortunately, Rachel had no conscience to feel guilty for what she’d done. Raven read this and laughed quietly in a low voice.

Rachel closed her mouth at the crude, vulgar sight. Raven had never shown her this side before. Soldiers might have rough exteriors, but Raven had never shown it. Rachel swallowed.

“You have no conscience or morals. What do you think I lack?” 

Raven’s face looked devoid of humanity.

“Family?”

Raven spoke as if it was ridiculous.

“Don’t make me laugh. It was my father who took you, Damon, and the Grand Madam in, not me.”

“B-brother…”

“So it’s not my responsibility to take care of you.”

Even as the late Duke was dying, he couldn’t let go of worries about the Grand Madam and her household, perhaps because he knew Raven’s nature. Since childhood, Raven had hated the Grand Madam and her family, who would do anything to climb among the nobles.

He had never felt affection for them. Still, the late Duke had done his best to take responsibility for his own offspring. He had grabbed Raven’s arm and asked him to look after them. Raven had only fulfilled his dying father’s last wish. Rachel realized this and pressed her lips together.

She understood that nothing she said here would work. The person sitting before her was not the gentle Raven, but a demon. A demon who could break her neck at any moment! And she had to admit she herself had called forth that demon.

Raven slowly rose. Now that he had heard all about the Grand Madam’s schemes, he was thinking about what kind of despair to inflict. The reason the Grand Madam and Rachel had done all this was to put Damon in his place. To continue enjoying what they had through Damon! Raven curled his lips. It was truly a disgusting and naive idea.

Did they really think Raven would just hand over his rights and position?

“Rachel, do you want to know Damon’s fate?”

“B-brother! He doesn’t know anything!!!”

It was ironic. They talked about family, but never considered Raven family. To them, family was only each other and Damon. Yet they forced something so unreasonable on Raven. Selfish and biased. Raven gritted his teeth and muttered.

“Not knowing doesn’t mean you’re innocent. Damon will lose the name and rights of the Kreuten Duchy and all protection.”

Raven had the power to make it so. Rachel looked at Raven with a hopeless face.

“Brother… Damon… please save Damon. He’s never done anything wrong. If he loses the protection of the Kreuten Duchy…”

“He’ll become a beggar, won’t he?”

Raven thought of his youngest sibling. It had been so long since he’d seen his face, he couldn’t even recall it.

“Rachel. Then does that mean my former wives and Liliana deserved what happened to them?”

“…”

Raven stood up. There was no reason to deal with Rachel any longer. She was a foolish person, full of self-pity and affection for herself.

“You don’t have to worry about being lonely. Your mother will soon join you here.”

Raven murmured coldly.

There was no way he would leave a woman who dared plot against the Duchess in that seat. Shadows stretched behind Raven. The screams that had paused echoed once more.