Chapter 9

“All of a sudden?”

She had been certain she would be dismissed, yet instead, she was being transitioned to a live-in position?

“It may seem sudden, but it was a decision made with His Grace’s strong will.”

The butler, who had always been kind to Amelie, spoke in a gentle tone, as though understanding her bewilderment.

“He has instructed us to prepare a room for you immediately. Most necessities are already provided within the Ducal household, but if there’s anything else you require, please let us know.”

“Well, um…”

“If you provide your address, we can send someone to retrieve your belongings.”

Amelie felt utterly at a loss.

‘What should I do? I need to think carefully.’

No matter how much she thought about it, the answer was clear.

Above all, Amelie wanted to finish teaching Ethan for the agreed-upon period. The child had grown attached to her, and the lessons were progressing smoothly. Changing tutors abruptly could leave emotional scars on someone Ethan’s age.

Though her relationship with the Duke had grown awkward, she figured she could manage if she minimized their encounters.

‘I could even report on Ethan’s progress in writing.’

In fact, this might allow her to teach the child more systematically.

As a father, Kailo was likely just as embarrassed by the situation as she was. She assumed he would avoid her just as much as she wanted to avoid him.

‘…Then why did he suddenly insist on a live-in tutor?’

The answer came to her quickly after just a bit of thought.

〈You claim you’re not seeing anyone, yet you wear undergarments like this, catering to someone’s taste.〉  

〈Are you entering the Ducal household to seduce the knights?〉  

〈How obscene.〉  

…It was likely that he thought she was a promiscuous woman based on her choice of undergarments, her interactions with the knights, and his own assumptions about her “preferences.”

The reputation of the Estricen Ducal Household was a precious value that had to be protected at all costs. If rumors spread that a tutor with questionable morals was responsible for the heir’s education, it would undoubtedly cause trouble.

Kailo’s decision was, in fact, entirely reasonable and logical as the head of the Ducal Household.

‘If anything, it’s a merciful decision.’

Instead of dismissing her outright, he had chosen to monitor her conduct.  

Even so, Amelie couldn’t help but feel a sense of defeat.

“I’ll do it. I’ll be the live-in tutor.”

“Miss Amelie, are you certain?”

The butler’s face, which had seemed clouded with concern, brightened considerably at her acceptance.

“Thank you so much. We’ll ensure that everything is prepared promptly and without issue.”

The butler’s excessive joy left Amelie feeling slightly puzzled. Still, she figured the Duke must have been furious over the misunderstanding and resolved to keep her head down.

After providing her address for the retrieval of her belongings and leaving a brief note for Nina, Amelie went on to teach Ethan as usual. However, Kailo von Estricen did not appear.

‘He used to always observe the lessons and receive progress reports.’

Though she couldn’t help but feel a little disheartened, she understood.

How could he possibly entrust his son to a woman who had behaved so indecently on top of him?

‘I should just be grateful I’m still allowed to work.’

After finishing her lesson and having dinner, Amelie returned to her room to find her belongings had already arrived.

“Why is there so much?”

Her possessions were modest, and the room assigned to her within the Ducal household was so spacious and luxurious that it left her in awe.

Yet, her belongings didn’t seem out of place in the room. In fact, they were accompanied by dozens of elegant mint-colored shopping bags.

“This!”

One of the bags caught her attention. Upon recognizing a familiar logo, Amelie gasped.

〈What do you think? This will be the emblem of my shop.〉

It was the logo Nina had spent days refining before proudly showing her the final design. And now, it was stamped on the mint-colored shopping bags.

“That means…”

Amelie’s complexion turned pale.

As she feared, the bags were filled with nothing but provocative lingerie.

‘What would people think of me if I wore something like this?!’

She ruffled her pale blonde hair in frustration. While the Duke, as the head of the household, had already seen her in such attire, it was an entirely different matter if the other staff of the Ducal household found out.

“L-let’s just put everything in the wardrobe for now.”

No one would dare open her wardrobe without permission. As long as she stored everything inside, her privacy would be protected.

‘I’ll wash them myself, lock the door, and dry them in here.’ 

She planned mentally.

It was at that moment—

Thud.

While unpacking the delicate, barely-there pieces of string that could barely be called clothing, something heavy fell out of one of the bags.

A small note fluttered down alongside it.

I knew you could do it. Have fun. N.

“…”

Nina, you little…!

On a hunch, she flipped the note over. The back carried an additional message:

P.S. You know how to use a vibrator, right?

Amelie’s face turned an alarming shade of red, as though it might burst.

Cautiously, she reached out and picked up the round object that had fallen.

The vibrator, crafted in a smooth, pale pink hue, was magic-powered and activated with the press of a button.

It was Nina who had taught her what a vibrator was and that it was a device for self-pleasure. Amelie had learned this during a visit to Nina’s room to discuss lingerie, where she had stumbled upon a similar item and shown curiosity. Nina had casually explained its purpose without hesitation.

At the time, Amelie had been shocked but had pretended to be nonchalant.

And now, a device of the same type had come to her as a gift.

“Nina, honestly… Ahem.”

She set the indecent object aside and continued tidying up her room.

No matter how much she tried not to think about it, her gaze kept drifting back to the pale pink object lying on her bed.

‘…Should I try it?’

The thought finally crossed her mind.

Although this was the Duke’s estate, this room was hers. She wasn’t inviting a man in; she was simply addressing her own needs. As long as no one found out, there was no one to scold her.

‘Desire.’

She vividly recalled the overwhelming force of desire she had felt in the library with the Duke of Estricen. The memory of her shamelessly moving her hips made her want to bury her face in a puddle of water in shame. Yet, even if she could turn back time, she wasn’t sure she could resist.

In fact, if she could go back, she might have been bold enough to try something even more daring.

“Kailo…”

The image of the man, his eyes clouded with lust directed at her, remained vivid in her mind. She could still recall the heated breaths he exhaled and the weight she had felt between his legs.

Looking back, Amelie realized she liked the Duke.

She had been captivated at first sight. His beauty, strength, composure, and the cold intelligence in his gaze—everything about him was unparalleled.

And yet, he was always kind. Kind, but every word, every glance, and every action of his made her tense.

Perhaps that was why she had been so excited in the library. Because the man who was always so kind had scolded her.

But this feeling was one she had to keep to herself.

No matter what misunderstandings Nina had, the reality was the opposite.

The Duke hadn’t brought her into his household to keep her close. He had confined her to prevent her from wandering outside and tarnishing the reputation of the Ducal family.

Just like today, she would continue to be ignored. To Kailo von Estricen, she was merely a woman who had briefly taught his son—a trivial existence that would soon be forgotten.

‘Still…’

Amelie bit her lip, stood up, and began undressing.

The mirror on one wall reflected the image of an elegant and alluring woman.

Her lingerie accentuated her glamorous figure, highlighting her curves. The black lace covering her chest stretched just enough to reveal the soft, pale skin beneath.

She sat on the bed with her legs spread, pulling aside the open crotch of her underwear. The act alone made her cheeks flush red with embarrassment, as though she were already doing something indecent.

After a moment of hesitation, Amelie turned on the vibrator in her hand and brought it close to her exposed area.

“Haa…”

Kailo had been her first love. Though it was a love doomed to fail, the sensuality he had awakened in her was unforgettable.

“Hnn, ah…”

As she pressed the vibrating device against her most sensitive spot, her body trembled, and she bit her lip. The sensation was different from when he had rubbed the string of her underwear with his hand.

Amelie reduced the intensity of the vibrations, circling the device gently around the area. Her legs spread wider as she continued.

“Ahh, mm…”

Her hands were already trembling, and sweet fluids pooled and trickled down. Each time the vibrator touched and withdrew with just the right pressure, her mind went blank, and her breathing grew louder against her will.

“Haa! Kailo, Kailo…”

If it felt this good with just the vibrator, what would it feel like if he removed her underwear and rubbed her directly with his hands?

The thought of his long, firm fingers made her body clench tightly as she was overwhelmed by the vibrations. Amelie gasped for air.