Melissa used a whip every time she ‘educated’ Ribeta.

“What if my hands get dirty from hitting you? Whips are satisfying to use and make good sounds too.”

She would never forget the face that smiled while saying such things.

However, Melissa hadn’t ‘educated’ Ribeta for the past few months. More precisely, she couldn’t. If Ribeta couldn’t go out to work, there would be no one to bring in money for living expenses.

“You got it from Alec! Were you thinking of seducing Alec to change your situation? Huh? Speak. Say something!”

The louder Melissa’s voice grew, the fiercer the whipping became. Ribeta clenched her fists tight. Her lips split and bled from holding back her screams.

She had tried screaming before. She had clung to Melissa’s legs and begged many times, saying she was sorry, pleading for forgiveness. But after realizing such behavior only fueled Melissa’s sadism, she stopped doing it.

Melissa was a cruel master who reconfirmed her ownership of Ribeta by watching her cling like that, and took pleasure in it.

“You’re my accessory. Got it? You’re like a hairpin meant to make me stand out. Don’t you dare outshine me, know your place!”

Eventually, blood seeped through Ribeta’s back as well. Melissa threw down the whip with heavy breaths.

“Of all the lies you could come up with, Diego Ruperto? I can’t believe this. Why didn’t you just get sold to Diego Ruperto? At least then I would’ve gotten some money!”

Melissa sneered at Ribeta to her heart’s content before entering her room with a refreshed expression, as if her anger had finally subsided.

Ribeta didn’t move an inch from her curled-up position. Only the faint sound of breathing indicated she was still alive.

Heavy darkness settled over her crumpled form like a corpse.

※※※

Scratch, scratch—the sound of pen moving across paper stopped. Duke Barea, who had been handling official business, slowly lifted his eyes and furrowed his brow.

Duke Barea’s office, filled with deep bronze furniture bordering on black, was dark and imposing. It was a space like the heart of the Barea ducal family. Those who set foot here couldn’t even breathe properly. They were crushed by the towering prestige of the Barea ducal family. Any noble who came was the same.

But the young Count seated on the guest sofa, Diego Ruperto, was not.

His posture was proper and elegant, but his attitude was extremely relaxed. He even brazenly asked the butler who offered tea to bring something good for hangovers.

The Duke, already in a foul mood, left Diego alone and processed his work. He intended to scold him with silence, but Diego didn’t care at all and sipped the tea the butler brought.

In the end, the Duke was the one who set down his pen first. If left alone, Diego seemed ready to request another cup of tea.

“Count Ruperto.”

“Please speak. If you’re very busy, I’ll visit again tomorrow.”

“I’ve finished the urgent matters. Since both you and I are busy, it’s best not to make two trips.”

Diego set down his teacup. Duke Barea moved to sit across from Diego.

“I won’t speak indirectly. Do you not take the marriage proposal seriously?”

“How could I dare treat a proposal you made directly with……?”

“Then why do these absurd rumors never cease?”

The Duke smiled as he looked at Diego. Unlike his gentle voice, his gaze was sharp. Diego silently waited for the Duke’s next words.

“I proposed marriage with my daughter because I highly valued your future. That doesn’t mean you should negatively impact your current reputation. Especially those kinds of rumors. As a father with a daughter, I can only feel heartbroken.”

“I understand what you’re saying.”

At Diego’s courteous answer, the Duke stroked his chin with a slightly softened expression. But Diego’s words weren’t finished.

“However, you must understand my position as well.”

“Speak in detail.”

“My position of having met my fiancée only once.”

Duke Barea’s eyebrow twitched slightly. The Duke tried to hide it with a deep smile, but Diego didn’t miss it.

“I’m quite weak to loneliness, you see.”

“So you’re saying you keep bringing in slaves because you’re lonely?”

“Isn’t human warmth the best for filling an empty heart?”

Diego answered shamelessly. He debauched wildly day after day without a hint of remorse. Duke Barea let out a short “hmm.”

“Should I take that to mean lowly slaves are replacing my daughter’s absence?”

“Then you should let me see the lady.”

“I can’t force a child whose illness hasn’t healed.”

Diego’s eyes blinked slowly. He scoffed inwardly.

It’s not that he can’t, but that I can’t meet her. Because the Barea lady isn’t at the ducal residence right now.

The Barea ducal family only had three sons. Each one resembled Duke Barea with difficult and arrogant temperaments. So every noble knew that the Duchess was extremely lonely and envied ladies who had daughters.

But recently, a lady had suddenly appeared.

The lady, said to be twenty-three this year, had brown hair resembling her father’s. She was a beauty with tidy and graceful charm, even if not flashily eye-catching.

The Duke explained why he had no choice but to reveal his daughter after twenty-three years. The reason was that she had been very ill right after birth, so he sent her to a quiet place for recuperation.

Since it was a rare disease never known before, he thoroughly managed it in case it might be contagious, but fortunately the illness improved and he could finally bring her back—the Duke who said this while gazing at the lady with affectionate eyes looked like a father who loved his daughter dearly. The unfamiliar lady sitting close to the Duke also seemed to feel awkward about her father’s affection yet pleased by it.

If only that were the truth, it would have been better.

Diego genuinely thought so. But truth is not common. That’s why it’s noble and beautiful. It’s not something you can obtain whenever you want, as much as you want, like money or jewels.

Doubt crossed Diego’s smooth face. He tilted his head slightly.

“Didn’t she come to the capital because her condition had improved?”

“Her condition suddenly worsened recently. They say it’s not contagious, so she’s being treated at the residence. The doctor says her physical condition likely worsened because the environment changed.”

The Duke especially emphasized the part about it not being contagious. Diego’s head tilted a bit more to one side. He openly showed suspicion, but the Duke didn’t care.

“My daughter’s worsened condition is partly your fault too, Count. How could she be at ease when her marriage partner buys slaves night after night?”

“I see.”

“What I want, you see, is for you to show sincerity. Your attitude toward my daughter is your attitude toward our family.”

“Sincerity.”

Before asking me for sincerity, shouldn’t the Duke show sincerity to his daughter first?

That’s what Diego thought, knowing the full truth, but Duke Barea would never treat the lady affectionately. He would only think it fortunate that even a daughter with vulgar blood mixed in had some use.

Diego, pulling up the corners of his mouth, pushed the document envelope on the table with his fingertips. The Duke’s eyebrow twitched.

“This is my sincerity toward the lady, the Duke, and furthermore, the great Barea ducal family.”

The Duke pulled out the documents from the envelope and examined them. With each page he turned, his narrowing eyes filled with satisfaction.

Diego poured fresh tea into his empty cup and stirred in plenty of sugar. The Duke, who had spent quite some time reviewing the documents, set down the papers.

“Don’t misunderstand. I’ve never doubted the Count. I had no choice but to interfere as a father because I felt sorry that my cherished daughter was so distressed.”

“I ask that you announce the engagement, Your Grace. As soon as possible.”

At the oddly commanding tone, the Duke frowned with one eye, but didn’t add more words and nodded. It meant he was that satisfied with what he received from Diego.

Diego set down the spoon he’d stirred the teacup with and looked straight at the Duke.

“Then, when might I be able to meet my lovely fiancée?”

“I won’t make you wait long. I’ll send word as soon as her illness recovers.”

“Let us pray that Lady Illeshia recovers quickly.”

Diego smiled pointedly and drank his tea. A sweet yet bitter taste lingered in his mouth. None of the tea the ducal family served suited his taste, so unless he poured in sugar like this, he couldn’t drink even a sip.