Chapter 7

Erich von Schwert, as a high noble, almost always maintained his dignity. Whether he was being sarcastic, acting lazy, behaving as a gentleman, or leading the charge on the battlefield.

But now, he had abandoned all restraint and was exploring between her legs.

To be precise, if he didn’t have s*x with her like this, he’d be paralyzed and die.

Someone who had always lived from the position of strength was now, for the first time, the weak. He had to rely on someone else’s mercy to survive.

Of course, Beatrice wasn’t refusing to have s*x with him… but that didn’t mean she wanted to see him begging.

Still, it seemed fate was finally teaching this man what fairness was.

Serves him right.

How does it feel to be the weak one?

While she was getting duller at s*x, he had gotten more skilled—maybe that was annoying her, even though there was no real reason for it. Feeling mischievous, Beatrice worked her hardest to figure out how to irritate him.

When their eyes met, Erich smiled even more brightly, even as her expression twisted.

He seemed genuinely pleased by her less-than-pleased face.

Is he really the weak one?

Just as Beatrice, full of irritation, was about to say something, Erich suddenly moved his hips.

“Have you rested enough, Honey?”

“Who’s your ‘Honey’?”

“The woman who’s letting me in right now.”

“You bastard…”

“Why, I have the manners to whisper sweet words in bed too.”

I don’t need that kind of courtesy!

Just as Beatrice reached to yank out his thick hair, Erich grabbed her hand, kissed her fingertips, then placed it on her stomach.

“Press down while I thr*st.”

“No.”

Smack. He lightly slapped her hip.

“You used to like it.”

“…”

“If we do it a lot, it’ll cool down faster. Ah, do you like s*x with me so much you want it to last longer? Then I respect that.”

“Why would I?”

“Why, you seem starved for it.”

He spread her legs further, plunging deeper inside.

Feeling liquid trickle, feeling inside being stimulated again, feeling sensitive parts rubbed—unable to handle all these sensations, Beatrice turned her head aside.

When she covered her eyes with one hand, Erich chuckled softly.

Through the obscured vision, she heard a rustling sound. The man seemed to be taking off his shirt.

When Beatrice lowered her hand with a small sigh, Erich was n*ked like her. His muscular upper body boasted the most extreme beauty a human could show.

Even though his chest bore her name and countless scars, the beauty was never diminished. In fact, the marks highlighted his beauty.

He leaned over her.

Trapped in the huge shadow, Beatrice examined his scars one by one.

She remembered how they were formed. A few large ones, she had treated herself.

When his lips came right above hers, Beatrice released her hand from her stomach and grabbed the back of his head.

Maybe because she only grabbed, not pulled, it felt half like a threat.

Even so, the man smiled annoyingly relaxed. Still looking into her eyes, he pulled out and slowly pushed in again.

He moved so slowly she could feel every detail of how he entered.

Because he was thick and long, it took a while to be fully inside. During that time, Beatrice endured by scratching the man’s wrist right next to her face.

“It’s definitely been a while.”

A kiss landed on her earlobe. Erich murmured near her ear. He must have targeted her ear on purpose.

He remembered her ears were sensitive.

“Did I ever tell you how dirty-hot your face is when you endure penetration?”

“Ugh…”

“Don’t worry, Honey. I remember you’re weaker in stamina on this side.”

“What… ha…!”

“I’ll take it slow for the second round.”

“You’re really a bastard.”

“Try to curse more creatively. You haven’t evolved at all, unlike your s*x.”

Beatrice sharpened her nails against his wrist.

“Being with you… feels like sinking in a swamp. It’s unpleasant.”

At her biting remark, Erich momentarily stiffened. He froze like a broken doll, then snorted fiercely.

“Look who’s talking. You always make me the loser.”

“What nonsense…”

“But I admit, that curse was creative.”

Before Beatrice could retort, s*x resumed in earnest. Despite his annoyed expression, Erich kept his promise and went slow for the second round.

The third was wild.

With each round, his skills seemed to improve in real time. By the fifth or sixth, when he played with her cl*toris while thrusting, Beatrice nearly lost her mind.

By the seventh, she was literally exhausted.

* * *

Beatrice slowly regained consciousness to his hand playing with her hair.

She tried to sleep again, but his annoying fingers persisted. Eventually, she frowned and slapped his hand away.

Surprisingly, the touch vanished easily, and Beatrice was able to drift back to sleep, wrapped in magnolia scent like a blanket.

It was a sweet, sensual, and familiar fragrance.

When she finally came to, Beatrice didn’t get up right away, staying sprawled out.

Her whole body hurt, as if she’d been bitten.

Ah, she probably had been bitten—for her chest, waist, inner arms, and between her thighs, all were sore and stinging, so she let out a deep sigh.

She didn’t need to look to know the situation.

The bite marks must be impressively persistent. Erich von Schwert always went three rounds or more, and at the end, he’d bite and mark her all over.

Even after years, his s*x habits hadn’t changed.

“You’re finally awake?”

Beatrice sighed again.

Unlike what she’d braced for when entering this room, she didn’t feel so restless or dirty. Maybe because she’d already done it.

She’d slept with her old lover.

So she’d just have to endure… That’s how she felt.

“How long are you going to lie there?”

Ignoring the distant, indifferent voice, Beatrice just wiggled her fingers.

Her body was cleaned thoroughly. Ah, that was another of his s*x habits—afterward, he always washed and cleaned her body.

Since his positive habits persisted as much as the negative ones, Beatrice decided to cut him some slack.

Before the Grand Duke could show his temper, she slowly raised her upper body. Covering her chest—predictably, the bite marks were vivid—with the blanket, she glanced sideways.

Erich, sitting at the table next to the bed, folded his newspaper.

He wore comfortable clothes with a robe on top. His slipper dangled precariously from his toes.

They observed each other in silence for a moment. As if the wild heat mixing their bodies had never happened, they examined each other coldly and calmly.

Like hunters pondering how to cut off the prey’s breath.

Beatrice studied the man from top to bottom. He must have done the same to her.

…He’s not easy to k*ll.

Beatrice ended her observation with the same conclusion as always. She was curious about Erich’s conclusion, but asked a different question.

“How’s your body?”

Erich raised a hand and flexed his fingers one by one.

“As you can see, it’s fine.”

“Your neck’s a mess.”

“Don’t talk as if you didn’t do it.”

“Yeah, it’s my handiwork. Looks painful.”

With a shameless expression, Beatrice offered her honest opinion. Erich just smiled at her brazen attitude.

“So. Are you staying for breakfast?”

S*x that feels like it’s tearing up your insides can k*ll your appetite. But intense exercise can make you hungrier, too.

Beatrice didn’t even bother to check if her appetite had increased or decreased. She found her dress nearby, put it on, and quickly sat across from the bedroom’s owner.

She never refused delicious food.

Long wars had taught her the valuable lesson: Eat when you can.

“Something not greasy, please.”

“Quinoa bowl.”

“Yes!”

Beatrice nodded enthusiastically.

“Fresh milk, salad, ripe fruit, freshly baked rye bread, and soft scrambled eggs?”

“All good… Perfect…”

“I already ordered just that.”

The Schwert ducal residence always had good food. As she eagerly awaited the meal, Beatrice heard the man across the table clear his throat.

“Yesterday, we…”

Beatrice tilted her head. Erich made a rather annoying face—believe it or not, he looked embarrassed.

“We didn’t use contraception.”