Jamie and the unnamed maid had disappeared. The Duke’s soldiers seemed to know something, but Erica remained in the dark. The soldiers avoided her gaze with frightened expressions.

“The Duke said he has a gift for you today, my lady.”

“…A gift?”

“Yes. You can look forward to it.”

There was another change. Hali Chamber, Duke Felix’s right-hand man, began training alongside Erica and serving as her bodyguard. When training ended, Ella, her personal maid, waited inside the mansion with a towel.

After completing all 20 laps, Hali looked extremely surprised.

“Your stamina is impressive!”

“Well, it’s necessary to become a knight.”

“Hmm… that’s true.”

After running with ease, Erica went to the bathroom with Ella to bathe. Ella had been at Count Mills’ mansion but came here at Duke Felix’s request. She looked around the large bathroom in admiration.

“My lady, everything here is so big and magnificent! It doesn’t compare to the Count’s residence.”

“Right? There are many more maids than at our home too.”

When the topic of maids came up, Ella spoke thoughtfully.

“Ah… you asked me to find out about that missing maid and the soldier named Jamie, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

Ella told Erica what she had gathered from various sources and inquiries at the guild.

“The maid was dismissed without a letter of recommendation. And that soldier Jamie supposedly died in a carriage accident while running an errand for the Duke in another country. The Duke gave compensation to the soldier’s family living in his territory.”

“…He’s dead?”

The word ‘dead’ felt unsettling. Erica wondered if Duke Felix had arranged it, but if it had been him, it would have been easier to k*ll with his sword directly. It seemed unlikely he would go to the trouble of staging a carriage accident.

‘Did Kai believe me?’

Whether he believed her or not, he had removed both people from her sight. When Erica stood up after finishing her bath, Ella quickly wrapped her body with a towel. Ella spoke in an excited voice.

“There was a party yesterday to select the Crown Prince’s bride, wasn’t there?”

“Yes.”

“I quickly heard through the guild who caught the Crown Prince’s fancy!”

“…Who was it?”

Could it really be Sienna Harper? Of course, considering her family background, she would be the most likely candidate. Ella’s eyes sparkled brightly.

“It was Lady Cora Grey!”

“…What?”

“I was shocked too when I heard. Your friend received dance invitations from the Crown Prince twice.”

“Really?”

Baron Grey’s family was far less prestigious than Marquis Harper’s. Her friend Cora, the second daughter of Baron Grey, had plain brown hair and blue eyes. She had an ordinary appearance that could be seen anywhere and was shy with strangers, but once she became close, she was an honest friend who opened up completely.

‘It’s surprising that she caught the Crown Prince’s attention.’

Since the Fifth Prince had lost all his power with Duke Cox’s death, there was no need to take a bride from a powerful family for the Crown Prince.

‘But… being from a baronial family might make it difficult to become the Crown Princess. She might enter as a secondary consort instead.’

Even so, it was cause for celebration.

“I should write a letter to Cora.”

“Yes. I’ll bring writing materials right away!”

Ella hurried outside. After changing clothes in the bathroom, Erica came out into the corridor to go to her room. While walking down the hallway, another maid glared at her openly. Rather than feeling indignant, Erica was curious about the reason.

“…Do you have something to say to me?”

The maid spoke carefully with a disgruntled expression.

“It’s about Tilly. Tilly saved you from the Duke’s soldier, didn’t she? But she was suddenly expelled!”

It seemed the maid’s name was Tilly.

“…I didn’t expel her, and she lied to the Duke. Do you know why?”

The maid hesitated, apparently unaware that Tilly had lied.

“…Tilly was in love with Duke Felix.”

“…What?”

“Even if she lied, she was the only one who saved you when you were in trouble. Many employees and the butler witnessed you almost being assaulted by the soldier, but no one stepped forward. We tried to stop Tilly, but she said she couldn’t stand by and watch, so she saved you! Why should she be expelled without even a letter of recommendation?”

Just then, the butler was approaching from the end of the corridor. The maid closed her mouth and brushed past Erica. The butler bowed respectfully to Erica.

“Lady Erica. The master has arrived. I believe you should wait in his room.”

“…Alright.”

The butler always maintained a calm demeanor and spoke little.

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

He had lied to Duke Felix then.

‘Is she saying the butler witnessed the scene but pretended not to know?’

Perhaps he believed the rumors about her eloping with Young Master Otis were true and felt resentful. After all, butlers who had worked for a family for a long time were extremely loyal to their masters.

‘The lying is inexcusable, but I should help this maid Tilly.’

Writing a letter of recommendation wasn’t difficult. While writing to Cora, Erica also wrote a recommendation letter and handed it to Ella.

“This is a recommendation letter for the maid named Tilly. If you ask the butler, you’ll find out where she lives.”

“A recommendation letter?”

“Yes. Oh, if the butler offers to deliver it, ignore him. Meet Tilly yourself and give it to her. Understood?”

“Yes.”

Ella left the room with the letter and recommendation.

Erica lay on Duke Felix’s bed and inhaled his scent. She felt safe here. Even when everyone misunderstood that she had eloped with Otis, the Duke hadn’t let go of her hand. Though their relationship had been rocky, he had brought her back to his side.

He was as reliable as his firm chest.

Dangers lurked everywhere, but she felt it wouldn’t matter as long as she could stay by his side.

‘I wonder what the gift is? Could it be a proposal? No, that’s unlikely…’

That stoic man probably wouldn’t propose. He had simply announced their wedding date without ceremony.

‘But I’m fine with that.’

Though his obsession with her was sometimes frightening, it was better than being coldly ignored.

While rolling around on the bed, the door opened and Duke Felix entered. He smiled seeing Erica on the bed.

“…You’re just like a pet.”

“If I’m a pet… am I a dog? Or a cat?”

“Neither.”

“Then what am I?”

Nobles typically kept dogs and cats. But cats were fierce, so they generally preferred dogs. Erica pondered what other pets might exist. However, Duke Felix gave an unexpected answer.

“A bear.”

“What? A bear?”

Do people keep bears as pets? Erica thought in a different direction, but soon realized what bears looked like and frowned. She threw a pillow at Duke Felix. He caught it easily while changing into comfortable clothes.

“You look like a fierce cat on the outside, but inside you’re a bear.”

“…?”

“I’m not that fat.”

Had she gained weight recently? Erica touched her stomach. But running 20 laps around the garden every day would reduce belly fat, not increase it. Duke Felix chuckled at her reaction. He approached the bed and laid Erica down.

“See, you’re a bear.”

He placed his knee between her thighs and pressed firmly. Startled, Erica pushed Duke Felix away and quickly retreated to the head of the bed. She spoke warily, like a frightened animal.

“…You mentioned a gift?”

She hoped he wasn’t just planning to have s*x again. There was something he had said during their previous encounter.

[Shall we get married right away?]

Since she also wanted an early wedding, she looked at Duke Felix with expectant eyes. One of Duke Felix’s eyebrows rose slightly.

“Who said gifts come free?”

Duke Felix came to the head of the bed and trapped Erica between his arms. He laid her beneath him again and firmly grasped her br*asts.

“Ungh…!”

“You must pay the price.”

He tore off her top, ripping it apart. Buttons flew off and rolled across the floor. When her snow-white br*asts sprang out, Duke Felix took them into his mouth. He sucked them loudly like a baby nursing.

“Wait… Kai…! Ugh…”

Duke Felix’s hand moved down past her navel to lower regions. He sniffed around the undergarments that concealed soft golden body hair. Then he tore the center of her undergarments.

The ripping sound made Erica try to raise her upper body, but his hand stopped her.

“What are you doing…! Ungh…!”

Through the round tear, her moist womanhood was exposed. Duke Felix extended his tongue and began to s*ck it strongly. Her delicate flesh seemed to be drawn in, adhering to his lips.

“Ungh…!”

Unlike before, he seemed determined to provide proper f*replay. Erica unconsciously clutched at the bed covers. The more Duke Felix sucked below, the hazier Erica’s eyes became. She felt neither pain nor discomfort, only a languid sensation.