Chapter 3

Raphael felt his insides scraped by her remark. He didn’t fail to understand why Estelle wanted to end their relationship. As an adopted child in the Dukedom, she probably didn’t want to break the taboo instilled by her father….

Just as their father had said, now that she had come of age she was like a flower in full bloom. If she were not sold off now, her value might decline—that must be his worry. If she failed to be married off, she could suffer harsh oppression.

So she pushed him away.

But for Raphael, his relationship with Estelle was not a fleeting amusement but genuine, so anger surged within him.

He placed his hand on Estelle’s shoulder. She flinched, frowning as if something repulsive had touched her.

Estelle’s acting seemed to grow more skilled by the day. Raphael stared intently at her face, a bitter smile forming on his lips.

If only she would open her heart, he could change everything in this Dukedom for her. Without any formal adoption procedures, he could install her as the rightful lady of the house. How much had he secretly striven for that?

But Estelle did not acknowledge his efforts, and he became increasingly resentful.

Raphael’s lips parted.

“Disgusted, huh… Then, I suppose I can test that right now.”

“‥‥‥!”

“Let’s see if you truly recoil from my touch. After doing everything with me, can you really endure even those sweet sounds?”

As a chilling energy entered his blue eyes, Estelle swallowed dryly.

She did not want to be intimate with Raphael in her bedroom. But he, merciless as ever, insistently lifted her voluminous skirts.

Estelle stepped back, trying to escape his grasp, but it was impossible. He held her shoulder and would not let go.

Despite her resolute expression, Estelle’s voice trembled slightly.

“Stop.”

“No. You know I truly love you, don’t you? Father wouldn’t even let you visit your parents’ graves, worried that other nobles might discover you’re not even an illegitimate child, but a stranger with no blood relation. But I’m different. If you want anything, I can give it to you. Even…”

“Enough. I don’t want to hear any more.”

Unable to fully escape his touch, Estelle cut off Raphael’s words.

His mood soured, and he raised one eyebrow. Thanks to the servant waiting outside the door, Estelle did not resist fiercely.

Raphael frowned at her tone, which rejected him outright. Did she know that the more she refused, the more it stirred his desire?

Surely, she didn’t. That must be why she acted so coldly.

When he finally lowered her undergarments, Estelle’s face flushed with humiliation. Yet she could not even scream, only biting her lower lip. His cruelty was ignited.

Raphael whispered in a low voice.

“If you don’t want to, why not call someone? There’s a servant right outside the door, waiting to attend you. If you call, they’ll come in immediately. Why don’t you call? Is it because you don’t want them to discover our relationship?”

He saw right through her, but asked anyway to provoke her.

Estelle wanted to drive him out at once, but she feared causing a huge scandal.

Her lips were sealed tightly, unable to utter a word.

So.

“Should I call them for you? Say I’m doing something indecent with my younger sister.”

“‥‥‥.”

“In fact, we’ve already done it dozens of times, but blinded by jealousy, I came again to cling to you like a dog in heat. What do you think? Wouldn’t that be amusing? I wonder what expressions the servants would make if they heard that.”

“St-stop…”

“You said touching me was disgusting, so let’s hurry and try it. I want to confirm it right before my eyes.”

“Stop! What do you even want from me!”

Unable to bear it any longer, Estelle finally shouted in terror. Raphael was the type to do whatever he said, so even his jokes often sounded serious.

When her mask shattered in an instant, Raphael finally smiled with satisfaction, as if a weight had been lifted from his chest. He traced Estelle’s lower lip with his fingertip and spoke.

“Don’t bite your lip. I told you before, it’s unsightly if it bursts.”

“‥‥‥.”

“Turn around. And lean over that tea table.”

He pointed to the small tea table with a glance, his smile deepening. Estelle, slightly turning to look, stiffened.

His fingertip dropped from her lower lip.

“Lean over there?”

She asked, unable to believe it, as if needing confirmation. But he nodded without a single sign of hesitation. It was a silent demand not to refuse.

“Yes. If you don’t want to, call the servant now. You’d better tidy up your clothes, since even your undergarments have slipped down so carelessly.”

Raphael, gazing at the undergarments draped between her knees, did not hide his desire. Estelle felt wronged, but she could not protest.

Being conquered like this by Raphael, unable to resist his advances, had become almost routine in her daily life.

In the end, Estelle calmly walked over to the tea table and stopped. Raphael followed behind, gently stroking her red hair with one hand.

“And didn’t I say that when we’re alone, you should always speak casually to me? That still applies now. You don’t need to be so formal, Estelle.”

She had deliberately spoken formally because she wanted to avoid this, but he put her to the test anyway.

Estelle did not respond to his words. The small tea table was only wide enough for her upper body. That meant…

“Are you telling me to stick my hips out?”

“Yes, any way you like.”

As soon as he answered, her face flushed again. Even though she asked, she couldn’t hide her embarrassment.

But since she couldn’t escape, she hesitated before leaning over the tea table. Her hands nervously gripped the edge of the table. As she tried to steady herself, her hips naturally shifted backward.

Raphael, admiring her from behind, let out a low chuckle. Whether he was pleased or amused by Estelle’s willingness to take such a humiliating posture just to silence him, it was unclear.

He simply said…

“You really don’t want anyone to find out, do you? You act like you’re about to push me away, but you follow my directions so easily. Will you act like this in front of other men? Will you do this in front of Duke Blythe?”

“It’s what you wanted, isn’t it, Brother?”

“Ah, I wonder if you’d do this for another b*stard besides the Duke of Blythe.”

Just as Estelle ignored his request to speak informally, Raphael also paid little attention to her words.

As the heavy skirts kept slipping, he seemed annoyed and grabbed the lace hem with both hands. With a tearing sound, Raphael ripped the fine fabric and, as if nothing had happened, looked down at her pale, exposed skin.

Estelle was startled by his sudden action but tried to act as if it was nothing. Her bare hips, exposed to the air, gave her goosebumps.

Resisting Raphael now was pointless. Sometimes, she wished to be used quickly, like a tool to expel his impurities, but complicated emotions welled up within her.

It was a feeling she could not define.

Trying not to reveal her feelings, Estelle attempted to speak calmly.

“Stop with the pointless talk and get it over with, if you must. You know the servant is waiting outside. I don’t want to waste time and have them notice. I dislike how you deliberately stall, knowing that.”

Though she was a precious Lady of the Dukedom, Estelle, who was not formally adopted and had no real standing in the family, sometimes had to be wary of even the servants. Raphael’s gaze seemed to see her as a foolish woman, but also burned with longing that he could not touch.

He whispered,

“I could take your hand anytime you’d just reach out.”

“……”

“You really are dull. Sometimes it’s pitiful, but other times you drive me impatient and make my insides burn. Just like right now.”

He abruptly grabbed her rounded hips and spread them apart.

Estelle was startled by the sudden touch but managed to keep her posture over the table.

After all, she had hidden from Raphael the fact that she would marry the Duke of Blythe…. He likely wanted to vent his anger using that as an excuse.

Estelle gritted her teeth, repeating to herself that this was all there was to it.

“‥‥‥!”

Because her knees did not part, Raphael’s hand moved to even more secret places.

When he pulled gently at both sides with his fingertips, the red fruit was revealed.

Estelle’s legs trembled just from his rough fingers spreading her intimate area. Her toes curled instinctively.

“Ugh…”

A moan she didn’t want to make slipped out between her teeth, and her vision blurred. Kneeling behind her to closely observe Estelle’s private area, Raphael let out a light laugh. Whether he was mocking her or simply pleased, she couldn’t tell.

“For someone who said it was disgusting, you’re already acting like you’re losing your mind, Estelle. Do you really hate it?”

His hot breath was felt between her legs every time he spoke.

Estelle had learned something from the dozens of times she’d been intimate with Raphael: he sometimes tried to mesmerize her with subtle words, as if to steal her soul… He would throw out statements meant to stir up her mind.