Chapter 9

“What? Marquis…?”

Vivian was bewildered by the plan made without her consent, and looked at Cassius. When their eyes met, Cassius winked at her.

“…!”

His unexpected action left Vivian speechless. It was a highly stimulating and beautiful sight. Meanwhile, the sibling quarrel between the Lofaere siblings began.

“You seem to be mistaken. Last night, Vivian stayed because she indulged my whims. No matter what, you can’t keep her here.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Vivian came here because she wanted to. Isn’t that right, Vivian?”

“Uh…. Yes…”

Cassius whispered kindly to Vivian, unlike the tone he used with Grace. Vivian could only nod slightly, unable to lift her reddened face.

“Brother, don’t pressure Vivian.”

“Grace, I’ve never seen such rudeness as barging into a bedroom the day after a man and woman spend the night together. Even though you’re my sister, you can’t interfere in relationships between men and women.”

“What?! Don’t talk as if it’s a scandal! I’m just trying to….”

Grace reached out to Vivian again, but Cassius blocked her hand.

“Peter, take Grace out.”

Cassius’s voice followed, firm and commanding.

“Yes, understood.”

Peter, the aide, appeared as if he had been waiting and grabbed Grace’s arm, pulling her from the room.

“What is this? Let go!”

“Let’s go, Miss.”

Grace’s body was dragged away by Peter as she floundered in disbelief.

“No, wait…! Wait!”

Despite Grace’s cries, Peter didn’t budge and led her out. The bedroom door closed, and Grace’s voice, still protesting the absurd situation, could be heard from outside.

However, once outside, Peter didn’t release her immediately, and her voice gradually faded until it was no longer heard.

Vivian, watching the situation, turned to Cassius once Grace was gone, and asked.

“Uh, Marquis…. Wasn’t that too much for Grace…?”

“Oh, Vivian. Too much? She was interrupting our time. It was necessary. But now there’s a more important issue to discuss. It’s something we must address.”

Cassius’s expression shifted from gentle to stern and decisive.

“Uh? What is it?”

“The story about Grace forcing you. I thought you were just embarrassed last night and mentioned Grace as an excuse. But your story and Grace’s match, so it seems it was true.”

“Well, that’s…”

Vivian hesitated, watching Cassius’s reaction. After spending the night together, she feared he would be angry if she told him the truth now. She was afraid of his reaction, so she couldn’t bring herself to speak. Cassius, silently watching her, quietly sat across from her.

“I won’t get angry. Please tell me honestly what happened.”

“Oh…. Actually…. I mentioned last night that Grace is obsessed with novels, right?”

“Yes, I remember.”

“After finishing my bath last night, Grace came into the room. She said I probably hadn’t prepared pajamas and handed me these.”

“Oh…. You mean this overly promiscuous outfit? It deviates so much from the purpose of pajamas that I didn’t even realize it was one.”

Cassius replied, lifting the piece of cloth that had been lying on one side of the bed. Vivian’s face flushed at his assessment of the pajamas. She had worn it, albeit with a nightgown over it, as she walked down the hallway.

“Of course, Vivian, you looked truly beautiful in it.”

Cassius unexpectedly whispered sweetly in her ear, making her startle and lift her head.

“…Oh! Ah, those words are….”

“Ha ha, I understand. Please continue.”

Realizing her discomfort, Cassius smoothly returned to the previous topic.

“Anyway, I changed into the pajamas and drank with her…. Then she asked me again about what happened during the day…. Somehow, things turned out that way…. I’m sorry.”

Vivian, worried that revealing Grace’s use of the potion would cause trouble, omitted that part. Thus, her explanation of how she ended up in Cassius’s bedroom was vague.

“Hmm…. So Grace’s words weren’t wrong.”

Cassius looked at Vivian with an inscrutable expression.

“Yes….”

“So, you’re saying it wasn’t your intention, and you lost your purity over such a trivial request? It’s too shocking, Vivian….” 

Cassius seemed deeply shocked, holding his forehead. Vivian felt her heart sink at his voice, which sounded like he was reproaching her. The image of him whispering love with such a tender face last night overlapped with his current demeanor, causing Vivian to feel intense guilt.

“Th-that’s… Marquis, that’s not it….” 

She stammered, trying to explain.

But Cassius interrupted her attempt to speak.

“I allowed myself to believe you were sincere with me, Vivian. Yet, you mocked me like this…. Did you conspire with Grace and play with my body as if it were a game? How cruel can you be….” 

Cassius’s eyes turned red, and tears welled up. He seemed unable to hold back his sadness from feeling deceived. Vivian, who had tried to explain, stood frozen, watching him. A single tear rolled down his cheek. He trembled, looking down, as if overwhelmed by sorrow.

His long eyelashes cast a shadow, making him appear even more forlorn. Even amidst his tears, Vivian thought his appearance was excessively beautiful. Simultaneously, she felt guilty for having such thoughts in front of someone grieving.

“I’m sorry. I know it’s hard to understand no matter what I say. But my feelings are genuine.”

“I want to trust you too, Vivian. Do you want to regain my trust and receive forgiveness?”

“…Of course. What should I do for you to trust and forgive me?”

Vivian looked at Cassius with determination. She seemed willing to do anything he wanted.

“Then, stay here for a month. If you remain by my side, I think my emotional shock will heal.”

“A month….”

Vivian repeated the duration Cassius mentioned, pondering it. Enchanted by his beautiful face, she was ready to agree to anything, but the mention of a month made her eyes waver.

“Do you dislike it?”

Cassius looked at Vivian with tearful eyes.

“Oh, it’s not that I dislike it…”

Vivian avoided his gaze, mumbling.

“But?”

Cassius urged her to continue.

“Well…, isn’t a month a bit long? The social season is approaching…”

Vivian finally revealed her honest thoughts. A month meant many commitments. As she mentioned, the social season was nearing. Invitations to the estate needed checking, places to visit had to be decided, and replies sent.

Her family was a mere barony, so there weren’t many places inviting her. Most invitations came because she was Grace’s friend. She hadn’t even arranged a dress for the parties yet. Although she wanted to comply with Cassius’s wishes, staying at the estate for a month would cause significant losses.

“Hmm…, were you planning to attend the social season? That’s surprising.”

Cassius, seemingly recovered from his earlier tears, looked at her sharply.

“Huh? Isn’t it natural to participate…?”

For unmarried nobles, attending the social season was expected.

Wasn’t it natural to attend, and shouldn’t Cassius also participate?

Vivian thought, her eyes darting under his gaze as she answered.

“So, Vivian, you plan to sneak into my bedroom, take my body as you please, and during the social season, interact with other men and repeat the same actions with any you fancy?”

Vivian jumped in shock at his unexpected words, denying them.

“No! That’s not what I meant…. My family lacks resources, so I thought it would be good to build connections with other families….”

“…….”

Despite her explanation, Cassius looked at her with cold eyes, unconvinced.

“It’s true. Please believe me…. Uh…, then, could we make it two weeks…? No, a week?”

Vivian, conscious of his gaze, timidly answered. Even while trying to reduce the duration, she was still attempting to negotiate.

“I guess you didn’t understand well. Was I too gentle in my approach?”

Cassius’s voice was low, his mouth smiling, but his eyes were not. Meeting those eyes, Vivian found herself collapsing onto the bed. Cassius’s figure filled her vision.

“Ah…! Uh, uh…”

Vivian tried to speak, but Cassius placed his finger on her lips, silencing her.

“Shh! I won’t listen further. You’ve lost all opportunities for negotiation. The chance to regain my trust and receive forgiveness is gone. It’s time for an appropriate punishment.”

Despite the terrifying content, Cassius’s voice was overly sweet.

“Marquis…”

Vivian’s voice trembled with fear.

“It’s too late for regrets, Vivian. If you wish to leave so badly, I’ll make sure you can’t walk…”

Cassius moved his hand from her lips to her cheek, stroking it gently. Though careful, his chilling words made her tremble. Cassius seemed intent on not sparing her.

Afterward, a dreadful time awaited her. His member forced its way into her insufficiently wet entrance.

* * *

“Ah, ah…!”

The enormous masculine organ repeatedly entered her fluid-filled entrance. The junction was a mix of previous ejaculations and Vivian’s fluids, forming white bubbles, with the viscous liquid stretching and falling repeatedly. Vivian couldn’t remember how many times he had cl*maxed inside her. Her reason crumbled before the relentless pleasure, her senses blurred.

“Ah, ah…. I was wrong…”

Shaking beneath Cassius, Vivian admitted fault despite having done nothing wrong. Her abused entrance was red and swollen, and her br*asts and shoulders bore marks from his possessive bites and kisses.

Even if he let her go now, she couldn’t walk around outside in such a state.

“What are you, ah…, saying, Vivian?”

Cassius, overflowing with energy, gently lifted her insides as he asked.

“I’ll stay. A month…. So…”

“If that’s the case, the opportunity has already passed.”

Cassius replied firmly.

“Please let me choose again…”

Endless pleasure began to turn painful. Unable to endure, Vivian clung to Cassius, pleading.

“Didn’t you refuse earlier? You don’t understand my desire to forgive you…”

“I understand. Even if I didn’t, I’ll learn from now on.”

Vivian gasped, desperately shouting.

“If you say so…. Now you understand my feelings.”

Finally, Cassius stopped moving, smiling brightly as he embraced Vivian.

‘I thought I would die.’

Vivian realized once again that excessive pleasure becomes pain, as she had the previous night.

“Fortunately. If you insisted on going despite my persuasion, I was thinking of going to the Baronet’s house and staying by your side for that month.”

“Pardon?”

“During the social season, I planned to create such good memories with you that you wouldn’t think of interacting with other men….”

Cassius brushed Vivian’s hair back and kissed her hair. He subtly emphasized the words ‘good memories’ that he mentioned at the end. Vivian instinctively felt that whatever it was, it wouldn’t be good for her.

“Well then, I look forward to the next month, Vivian.”

Cassius smiled beautifully with his eyes gracefully curved. Vivian couldn’t believe that this breathtakingly handsome man was the one who had cornered her until now.

In any case, she was now stuck at the Lofaere Marquis Estate for a month.