2.2

Clara Belle.  

Lucius bit into his meat, chewing furiously as thoughts of her consumed his mind. Over the past few days, she had been wreaking havoc in his head, driving him to the brink of madness.

Why on earth was she hiding so thoroughly?  

After visiting the Earl’s estate a few more times, he was repeatedly told that Clara wasn’t home or that she was unwell.  

After being turned away so many times, even the Countess seemed embarrassed and barged into Clara’s room, declaring she would settle the matter. But in the end, she lost to her daughter.  

‘I’m sorry, Baron Lucius. It seems my daughter’s health is still not well.’

He knew it was a lie, but there was nothing Lucius could do. He had no choice but to return home empty-handed.  

“Liz.”  

“Yes, brother?”  

“Go visit the Earl’s estate.”  

At Lucius’s command, Liz, who had been tending to their younger sibling’s meals, widened her eyes in surprise, as if to ask what he was suddenly talking about.

“Have you been meeting Clara lately?”  

“I see her every day. I visit the Earl’s residence, don’t I?”

“…Every day?”

Lucius frowned at her response.  

She wouldn’t even show her face when he visited, but she seemed delighted to chat when Liz came by.  

“She did look pale after being sick for a few days.”  

“They said she was very ill.”

“Was it her body that was sick, or her heart? Either way, she’s much better now.”  

Liz casually wiped soup off their younger sibling’s mouth as she spoke, but Lucius’s expression darkened as he listened.  

If she had been sick for a few days, that would explain why she hadn’t shown her face. Clara always appeared in her best form whenever she visited here.  

“Oh, right. Belle’s getting engaged, apparently.”

Clang.  

Lucius’s spoon fell onto the table. Startled by the loud noise, the younger sibling began to cry, and Liz also looked at him with wide eyes.  

“What’s with the noise? You scared me.”

“Clara Belle is… engaged? To whom?”  

“Don’t raise your voice.”  

“She’s getting engaged.”  

“Yes. Who was it again? Aiden, Sky…”

“Aiden Sky. The second son of the Sky Earldom.”  

“Yes, that’s it.”  

Liz nodded and continued feeding soup to their sibling.  

Aiden Sky?  

Right. He had heard that name a few times before.  

Women who climbed into his bed often giggled, saying things like, ‘Isn’t Young Master Aiden so charming? I heard he’s very polite, too.’  

At the time, he didn’t think much of it. 

But now? An engagement? With that little brat?

“She sleeps with me but marries someone else.”  

Lucius ground his teeth.  

When she came into his bedroom, he thought she would cling to him until the end. 

Did she change her mind? Did she decide to enjoy me once and then marry someone more suitable?  

‘Of course, I did advise her to do so.’  

“Well, it’s for the best. Clara doesn’t suit you anyway.”  

“…Right.”  

She wasn’t wrong.  

Maybe this was for the better.  

There would be no more talk of marriage shackles, and he could return to his original lifestyle.  

That wild, hedonistic life.  

“What? Are you disappointed?”  

“Liz, don’t push it. I still haven’t forgiven you for feeding me that herb.”  

“Pfft, you enjoyed it too.”  

“Liz Tempe.”  

At the sound of her full name, Liz pursed her lips. She admitted to herself that using the herb to help her best friend, who had been crying her eyes out, had crossed a line.  

If Lucius weren’t so forgiving toward his siblings, she would have been kicked out of the mansion long ago.  

“Well, you should’ve just married Clara. Where else could you find someone like her?”  

But she didn’t stop herself from adding that one comment.  

“Marriage is completely different from maintaining a close friendship.”  

Lucius ignored his sister’s childish grumbling. He thought Liz was still just a child, but after holding Clara in his arms, his perspective changed.  

Although she currently managed the mansion and cared for their younger sibling, Liz would eventually marry if she found someone she liked.  

“You have to consider the family’s reputation, character, wealth, and many other factors.”  

“Yes, yes. Of course.”  

“Liz.”  

“By those standards, wouldn’t you score zero in the marriage market? Sure, you have some money, but you don’t have a high status, you’re a scoundrel, and you don’t even have parents.”  

“Liz!”  

At her over-the-line remark, Lucius called her name sternly.  

Realizing her mistake, Liz immediately shut her mouth. She regretted bringing up their parents.  

She had seen firsthand how much Lucius struggled to protect the Baron’s family after their parents’ sudden deaths.  

No one stood by his side during those exhausting times. To him, his younger siblings must have felt like nothing but a burden.  

Yet Lucius handled everything perfectly—he played the roles of head of the family, brother, and even guardian.  

‘So pushing him like this isn’t right.’  

Even if it was disappointing that he didn’t end up with Clara.  

“Brother, I went too far, didn’t I?”  

“You. Just like you advised Clara, you’re not planning to barge into a man’s bedroom, are you?”

“Well… if I find someone I like?”  

“Sigh.”  

Lucius put down his knife and fork, as if he had lost his appetite.  

“You really are my sister.”  

With that, he threw out a single remark and stood up. Liz rolled her eyes and shouted at his retreating back.  

“What’s that supposed to mean? I’m not a scoundrel like you, you know? Brother!”  

Hearing Liz’s yelling, Lucius felt his chaotic thoughts settle a little.  

Right.  

I had always been a scoundrel, and I just needed to return to my old life.  

That little girl…

I would forget her after spending time with other women.

***

It didn’t take long for Lucius to realize how foolish that thought was.

“Are you not feeling well today, Baron Lucius?”

Serena, known as the most beautiful woman in the Empire, tapped his lifeless manhood with her finger.

But his already dead manhood showed no signs of responding to her soft touch.

“Hm, what’s going on here?”

Her golden hair swayed lovingly before Lucius’ eyes. Normally, he would have grabbed that hair and mercilessly thrust into her pale b*ttocks, but the problem now was that he had no such desire.

He had already confirmed, after being with several women, that his manhood refused to rise. He had thought it might be different with Serena, but her touch was more repulsive than he had expected.

Not long ago, everything had been fine. So why all of a sudden?

“If my hand doesn’t work, maybe my tongue will help?”

She smiled sweetly, sticking out her pink tongue. And at that moment, an image of a girl with pink n*pples flashed through Lucius’ mind.

Clara’s face, crying out in pleasure on the bed.

As soon as her face came to mind, his lower half twitched and began to rise.

“Oh my, it reacted just from a slight touch of my tongue.”

Serena smiled brightly, clearly pleased that her tongue had managed to rouse him. But when she brought her tongue to him again, the slightly risen manhood wilted completely.

“Hm?”

“That’s enough. Stop.”

“Stop? Why?”

Serena grabbed the collar of Lucius’ robe, which he was about to drape over himself, looking as though she found him even more appealing as he sat there, appearing more innocent than before.

She wanted to win his heart and secure a place by his side. But if that wasn’t possible, she at least wanted to dominate him as a lover.

Lucius had often let her get away with being a little cheeky, finding it endearing.

But the disgusted expression he wore now was one Serena had never seen before.

“Baron.”

“I said stop.”

Lucius yanked his collar from her grasp, as if rejecting any contact with her. Serena was visibly shocked by his actions.

“If this is how it’s going to be, why did you call me today? I… I was so happy you called me after such a long time…”

Serena turned her head, her eyes glistening with tears. If any other man had seen her, they would have praised her as a goddess of the moon. They would have immediately risen to the occasion and laid her beneath them.

But maddeningly, Lucius’ heart remained calm.

Confirming this one last time with Serena, he realized one thing for certain:

He could no longer play the role of a philanderer with other women.

“Go home, Serena.”

“…When will you call me again?”

“I probably won’t. Don’t wait for me.”

Serena flinched at his words and looked up at him. Then, her trembling eyes met his cold gaze.

Serena’s lips quivered.

She had thought it couldn’t possibly be true, but his eyes told her he genuinely meant it.

“Baron, I…”

“I’ll call for a carriage.”

“If I leave like this, I’ll… I’ll tell everyone about your problem. Wouldn’t it be troublesome if rumors spread?”

This was Serena’s last desperate attempt.

If she couldn’t remain even as a lover, she would at least leave a scratch with her weak claws. Perhaps, as he looked at the wound, he might call for her someday.

But Serena had to let go of even that faint hope.

“Do as you please. If it makes you feel better, go ahead.”

Lucius answered coldly and left the room.

Left alone, Serena quietly shed tears and bit her lips.

When a man changed like that, there was only one reason.

There was another woman.

One who had settled in his heart.

‘Baron Lucius, the notorious philanderer, is settling down?’

She couldn’t allow it.

When he belonged to everyone, she thought she might have a chance. But if he became someone else’s man, it would mean eternal separation.

‘If I can’t have him, no one can.’

Serena’s red eyes glowed brightly.