After that, Chloe continued to shake mercilessly. She moaned in pain, unable to even make a sound, at the feeling of nibbling on her earlobe, nape, and shoulder blade. Though she desperately clutched at everything within reach, it was no match for the pleasure that overflowed without knowing moderation.

It was then that a low whisper came.

“Chloe.”

And before she could answer, her vision spun. Chloe, who suddenly lay on her back on the bed, embraced Andert with all her strength.

He willingly offered his neck and shoulders to the arms wrapping around him. Chloe clinging to him was indescribably lovely. The fact that only he could see this flushed face blew away even the thread-like self-control that remained.

Andert’s eyes, which grasped the br*asts swaying with his fierce movements, sank into an unfathomable light. He who had placed her two powerless legs wide apart on his shoulders, strongly thr*st his hips downward.

With her body half-lifted and thr*st into so deeply she felt dizzy, Chloe felt as if her entire body was being pierced through. Though she clearly felt the difference in strength, she didn’t want to avoid it. As more force was applied to the penetrating body and large hands, her cries mixed with sobs deepened.

She liked him excited as if nothing else mattered. She also liked the glistening desire that appeared as if it had been waiting when his composed gaze disappeared.

When facing the bare face that the rigid man showed only to her, an indescribable elation seemed to rise.

‘……Only to me.’

It was a strange feeling of monopolizing a preciousness permitted only to one person, not wanting to give it to anyone else.

Chloe surrendered herself to the explicit joy she didn’t know existed within herself. She simply moved as he led and shook thoroughly. Andert’s groan, scratching his throat, was added to the space filled with rough breathing whose owner was unknown.

Chloe, who barely managed to release her tightly embracing arms, gently caressed his shoulders. Though the gunshot wound had healed long ago, the scar left on his skin would not be erased for a long time.

Chloe gently stroked his shoulder with affection. The heat in Andert’s eyes, which had been quietly looking down at her movements while catching his breath, instantly rose before it could subside.

Of course, he knew it was just a comforting touch offered kindly. And that he alone had interpreted it differently. By this point, he found himself ridiculous for acting so naively the more he dwelled on it.

“Andert.”

But before her calm call, Andert moved first.

He embraced Chloe, who was trying to move back, and kissed her sweat-soaked shoulders and chest in turn. When his slipped lips reached the reddened peak, nothing else came to mind.

Soft lips and a wet tongue devoured Chloe’s br*ast in an instant. Andert crushed the peak that had stiffened from stimulation with his tongue and then sucked strongly.

Chloe looked with astonished eyes at the man persistently hanging on her br*ast. The short hair that fell with his movements continuously tickled her chest area. But when the stimulation of gently grinding the sensitive flesh between his teeth was added, she ended up closing her eyes.

After a long time, Andert, who raised his head from her reddened br*ast, grasped Chloe’s knees.

Outside the window, countless stars filled the sky, and the sea surrounding them was quiet. And Chloe, lying below with reddened eyes, was beautiful beyond words.

Proper and elegant Chloe, exposing her br*asts soaked with his saliva. At that stark contrast, desire swelled fiercely.

So perhaps it wasn’t just because of his greed.

It was a shameless self-justification. But his thoughts couldn’t continue further.

He couldn’t tell whether the uncontrollable thirst was due to the pounding in his chest or the excitement that had rushed to his mind. But it didn’t matter.

Because all this resonance was directed only toward Chloe.

* * *

The cruise ship that circled the eastern coast from Larcel followed a route that returned to its departure point exactly six days later.

Of course, the schedule wasn’t about staying on the ship the entire time, as there were opportunities to explore cities at stopover points. The massive cruise ship slowly entered the harbor of Molde, a quiet small town.

“We will depart again at 6 PM. Please complete boarding before then.”

Following the crew’s guidance, Chloe stepped onto the pier and chose a course that followed the castle walls. The walking path, proudly listed on her meticulously planned schedule created over several days, was serene.

Wanting to walk in the sunshine, Chloe slowly took in the scenery of the unfamiliar town. The castle walls extending over a low hill showed traces of collapse in places. When she took a deep breath, the scent of moisture-laden grass intensified.

“It seems other passengers have gone to souvenir shops or toward the lighthouse. I hardly see anyone walking on this path.”

At Chloe’s words as she walked along a path densely lined with olive trees, Andert looked around. As she guessed, there seemed to be no one braving a walk against the blazing sun.

In truth, he had no desire to choose this course he had seen in the guidebook. But after seeing Chloe smile brightly and point to the page, he didn’t offer any other opinion.

“How about here? I’d like to walk a bit since we’ve been on the ship.”

“Let’s do that. We can take our time looking around and then return.”

Since Chloe wanted to do it, there was no reason to consider anything else. He wasn’t curious about the other remaining options anyway.

He had Chloe, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, stand in the shade before checking the time. 4:10 PM. They had roughly finished touring the castle walls, so there was plenty of time to return to the harbor.

“Well then, let’s rest a little here and then board the ship.”

“Yes, that sounds good. Oh, shouldn’t we hurry if we want to stop by the souvenir shops?”

“If we go down now, there won’t be any problem making it in time. But do you need something?”

“No, not exactly, but I’d like to get some memorable gifts for the people who came with us.”

Chloe wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief and gathered her small handbag.

Andert followed Chloe’s lead this time too. Choosing gifts one by one for the servants who had accompanied them from House Dietrich was something he couldn’t understand within his common sense.

‘There’s no need to……’

Though he thought it unnecessary, he didn’t want to hinder Chloe’s steps, which looked so joyful. If you like it, gladly. It wasn’t a difficult thing anyway.

He was also the one who took the bags filled with items like fig cookies and olive tree ornaments from the shop owner.

“Thank you. Have a good day.”

The shop owner’s greeting was loud as he received payment from the unusually generous customer.

Though they stayed at the souvenir shop longer than expected, fortunately, they completed boarding before 6 PM. Of course, even if they had arrived late, the ship wouldn’t have left without them.

Most likely, the cruise ship company wouldn’t leave behind a passenger who happened to be the shipping company’s largest investor. Andert, who escorted Chloe, stepped onto the gangplank with ease.

“Good day, Your Grace. Is there anything uncomfortable about your stay? This is my first greeting to the Duchess. I am Harvey Powell, captain of the Cillian. Please let me know immediately if there are any special concerns.”

A middle-aged man who removed his hat bowed deeply as they headed toward their cabin through the corridor. The greeting from the captain in charge of operating the cruise ship was respectful.

“It is an honor to have such distinguished guests on the ship I operate. I wish Duke and Duchess Dietrich a pleasant journey.”

“Yes, thank you.”

After Chloe’s response, the captain, who had left somewhat grandiose final words, gradually moved away. Until then, Chloe, who had been responding with customary replies, tilted her head slightly toward him.

“Andert, do you know the captain here?”

“No. I have no personal acquaintance with him.”

Andert answered truthfully. It was clear that he wasn’t acquainted with the person in charge of this ship.

But there was a playful smile on his lips. Looking at the puzzled Chloe, he casually added one fact.

“To be precise, I know the CEO of the shipping company that owns this cruise ship. Though only as an investor.”

“Ah……”

Though not a lengthy explanation, it was enough to understand the previous situation.

There was a clear reason for the captain’s excessively formal attitude. Come to think of it, Andert also seemed to communicate quite well with Kate’s husband, who knew everything about ships.

“Do you have business connections with Kate’s husband too?”

It was a curiosity that suddenly occurred to her. Chloe, who hadn’t heard such stories from Kate, wondered. Then Andert, who had reached the front of their cabin, gave a clear answer.

“No, not yet. The shipping company where Kate’s husband works and the one I’ve invested in are clearly different sectors.”