The doors of Duke Felix’s mansion opened easily. Several soldiers who recognized Erica’s face showed awkward expressions when she returned. 

Erica got out of the carriage and walked to where the soldiers were training. Having just come from a party, she was fully dressed up with makeup and fancy clothes.

The one training the soldiers was Freddy Reynolds, Duke Felix’s assistant. Freddy looked flustered when he saw Erica.

“Lady Erica? I heard you had returned to your family home…”

The atmosphere wasn’t particularly welcoming, but that didn’t matter. What mattered now was how Duke Felix thought of her.

“Where is Kai?”

“He’s in the study. Actually, he was about to go to the Count’s mansion to look for you…”

Before Freddy could finish speaking, Erica was already heading up to the study. The maids who saw her made uncomfortable expressions and slowly moved away. It seemed that when the Duke was in the mansion, the employees were careful with their behavior.

Having reached the study, Erica let out a deep sigh. Her heart felt frozen like the cold weather. It took a lot of courage to come here. When there was no answer to her knock, Erica simply opened the door.

She was startled. Duke Felix was standing right in front of her.

“…Kai.”

Seeing Duke Felix’s face, her mind went blank. Could she persuade him? How should she approach someone who didn’t trust her?

‘But if I tell the truth, he’ll believe me… He might not recognize lies, but the truth will get through.’

“Why did you return home without my permission? Erica.”

Duke Felix’s hand gripped Erica’s chin so hard it might crush it. Erica winced in pain but looked straight into his eyes.

“Because your soldier sexually harassed me.”

“…Harassment?”

“…He didn’t go all the way, but it was dangerous. If the maid hadn’t saved me, who knows what would have happened…”

The strength left Duke Felix’s hand. He frowned and looked at the butler standing beside him. In response to his questioning gaze, the butler answered calmly.

“I didn’t witness it myself, but I know the maid who was with Lady Erica at that time, my lord.”

“Bring the maid here.”

“Yes, sir.”

After the butler withdrew, Duke Felix pointed to the sofa.

“Sit.”

“…Yes.”

When Erica sat on the sofa, Duke Felix rang a bell to call another maid. The maid bowed deeply when told to bring snacks and tea.

‘If that maid explains properly, the misunderstanding will be cleared. Then Jamie can be punished too.’

She had run away because she hated being in the same space with Jamie. No, she had been scared because everyone here seemed hostile toward her. She never thought she would feel this way about commoners. Erica lowered her eyes slightly while drinking tea.

“…Are you afraid?”

“Pardon?”

“You’re definitely not the person I knew.”

“?”

‘The person you knew?’

She wondered what kind of person she was to Duke Felix.

Just then, with a knock, the maid who had saved her from Jamie entered the study. The maid kept her head bowed. Duke Felix, leaning against the wall, nodded slightly.

“I heard Erica was sexually harassed by my soldier. Is that true?”

The maid silently looked at Erica for a moment. Erica gazed at her desperately, but the maid avoided her eyes.

“No, it’s not.”

“…It’s not true?”

“No. …It was snowing heavily that day. I went to distribute bread to the soldiers who were clearing the snow. Before I knew it, the soldiers had started a snowball fight, and during the commotion, Lady Erica was secretly kissing one of your soldiers. I was surprised and tried to stop her, but she pretended not to hear me. Then she went to the garden with the soldier and…”

“…What did they do in the garden?”

“Buried in the snow, they did… embarrassing things I can’t even speak of.”

“I understand. You may leave.”

“…Yes.”

After the maid left, Erica stared at her retreating figure in disbelief. The heavy study door closed. Duke Felix was looking down at Erica with piercing eyes. Erica trembled at the sight of those blood-red eyes filled with murderous intent.

“…So you had some fun with my soldiers while I was away. And when the maid caught you, you returned to your family home?”

“You believe that? It’s all lies…”

“I’ll know whether it’s really a lie or not when I see for myself.”

Duke Felix grabbed Erica’s shoulders and pushed her back. Erica, now lying on the sofa, looked up at him when he firmly grabbed her ankle and lifted it.

“What…!”

“I need to check whether you’ve been unfaithful or not, don’t I?”

“…What?”

‘What kind of check is he talking about?’

Erica looked at him with a puzzled expression. Duke Felix removed her undergarments and put his face under her dress. Suddenly, she felt hot breath between her thighs.

“Ah!”

Erica’s face turned bright red. She could only see Duke Felix’s broad back as he went under her dress, not knowing what he was trying to do.

“Huah…”

When he exhaled deeply under her skirt, Erica’s legs twitched from the ticklish sensation. Suddenly, a thick finger stirred inside her.

“Ungh…!”

Having not had s*x recently, even just a finger hurt. After confirming that his finger entered tightly into the dry area, Duke Felix came out from under the dress with a smirk. Erica blinked at Duke Felix.

“…How was it?”

“…I’m not sure. I think I need to put it in to know.”

“What?”

When Duke Felix undid his pants, Erica closed her thighs. Was this appropriate in the study rather than a bedroom? 

Her face reddened thinking about what the butler and maids waiting outside would think of her.

“No, you can’t!”

When Erica pressed her legs together, Duke Felix grabbed her knees and forced them apart. Looking at her red opening, he stroked his shaft with his hand.

“Why? You need to prove your innocence, Erica. …Or can’t you be confident? Did you really do bad things with my soldier?”

“Bad things… We’re not even married yet, so why would that be bad?”

A blue vein bulged on Duke Felix’s forehead.

“Ah. So you’re saying you’ll sleep with other men all you want before the wedding ceremony? How many men have you slept with?”

“That’s not what I meant…!”

“Then spread your legs.”

Erica bit her lip. She didn’t understand why she had to mix bodies with a man who wouldn’t believe her anyway.

“…Why should I?”

“You’re talking back a lot today.”

“I’m not your apprentice anymore… And we’re not going to have the wedding, right? You’ve lost all affection for me…”

She had thought the maid would prove her innocence. If Duke Felix had trusted her more than the maid from the beginning, there wouldn’t have been a problem. However, there was no trust between the two of them.

While Erica hesitated, Duke Felix sat between her thighs. Then he began to rub himself against her entrance.

“Ugh… Kai, please stop…”

When Erica tried to pull her hips back, Duke Felix firmly grabbed her waist. His strength was so overwhelming that she couldn’t escape. Suddenly, a hard, thick head scraped against her dry walls as it entered. Erica’s head fell back.

“Aah…!”

“Phew… You’re not wet. D*mn tight.”

“Ugh.”

Erica gasped for breath, tears flowing. Duke Felix held one of her legs up while stirring inside her. Every time he moved, there was a sound of friction against the leather sofa.

“Ahng, ungh…!”

“Let me finish once… ugh… I’ve been busy with work, so it’s been building up.”

“Hic, you don’t even believe me…”

Erica shed tears of sorrow. Seeing this, Duke Felix smirked.

“Erica. Shall we get married right away?”

“…What? Ungh…”

She didn’t understand what that random statement meant. Duke Felix’s slick smile seemed to be mocking her.

Duke Felix kissed her lips and pulled down the top of her dress. Then he kneaded her br*asts hard enough to hurt. When he devoured her n*pple, Erica’s body trembled.

“Ah, ugh, ungh…!”

Her inner walls, which had been dry due to lack of f*replay, were now moist. Duke Felix smiled and lightly bit her n*pple.

“Ahng…! It hurts!”

She covered her br*asts with both hands.

“…I’m biting to make it hurt. You need to be punished for behaving improperly. Did you think I’d just let it go?”

Erica glared at him, feeling wronged.

‘What does he mean by getting married right away?’

At that moment, Duke Felix thr*st his hips roughly, clouding her rational thought.

“Aaaaahh…!”

Thump, thump, his head scraped her inner walls fiercely. It was fortunate that her juices had come out; if she had remained dry like before, it would have been very painful. Trying to reduce his movements a little, Erica embraced his body.

“Sl-slower…! Ugh, mmmm…!”

“Erica.”

When he called, Erica unconsciously opened her mouth. His tongue entered, tracing her teeth and scraping her palate. Then he firmly grabbed her tongue and sucked it with loud noises. 

The familiar scent comforted Erica. Embracing Duke Felix and kissing him made everything feel at ease. She had entered his shadow again.

As long as he didn’t push her away, this shadow would be extremely safe.

“Please don’t abandon me, Kai. Ugh…”

“That’s what I want to say.”

Unlike his sweet answer, his body savagely crushed her. Her lower region burned and stung. His actions became rougher, perhaps because he was approaching cl*max.

“Ungh…!”

Erica unconsciously wanted to push him away, but her hands were trapped between their chests.

Fearing she might escape, Duke Felix’s arms imprisoned Erica. Thick, distinct veins bulged prominently on the Duke’s arms.

“Ah, ugh…!”

Erica’s legs tensed up because of his manhood deeply probing her insides. Just when her inner walls tightened and her juices gushed out, Duke Felix *jaculated inside her.

“Ugh…!”

Duke Felix continued to probe her sensitized insides several more times.

“Hik, st-stop…! Ah, ungh…! Mmmmph!”

She pushed his face away with her palm while her legs trembled, but Duke Felix leisurely licked her palm instead. Even after ejaculating, Duke Felix didn’t withdraw. His manhood was gradually increasing in volume inside her.

The foreign object occupying her insides, claiming it for itself, showed no intention of leaving.

“K-Kai…?”

“…What?”

He smiled slyly and moved inside her again, swimming-like. The sound of mixed s*men and juices squelching loudly filled the room. Duke Felix moved a few times and lightly kissed Erica’s lips.

“We haven’t done it for days…”

“Ungh… B-but it’s been too long for me…”

‘Moreover, Kai’s organ is thicker and longer than Otis’s! After doing it once, I’m completely drained and can’t handle it!’

But she couldn’t say that. It seemed better for her well-being not to mention anything about Otis at all.

“Ungh…! That’s enough…!”

“Huu, Erica…!”

Duke Felix’s manhood began to scrape her inner walls mercilessly again. Just as Erica was about to complain, Duke Felix blocked her lips and smiled with his eyes. His hand firmly gripped and fixed Erica’s wrists that were trying to push him away.

“Umph…! Ah…!”

Every time his manhood entered deeply, Erica’s pupils dilated and tears streamed down. Duke Felix kissed her savagely, seemingly trying to pull out her tongue. After separating their lips, he licked her ear and whispered.

“When you cry, it turns me on more… You’re not getting out of here today. Right?”

“Hah, ungh. …Kai…mmmm, Kai…! Aahh!”

The cold red eyes looking down at her were like those of a monster. However, those eyes flickered with persistent obsession not to let her go. Perhaps the place where she was wasn’t a safe shadow, but a prison.

‘But I like it…’

Because it was a prison she entered willingly to survive.