Chapter 79. The Trap

Aster forced a faint smile. He had suspected that the Duchess of Blanche was involved in his mother’s death.

But this was the first time he confirmed the method. She used poison to slowly kill her. It was suspicious from the moment a healthy person was given a terminal diagnosis.

At that time, Aster didn’t have enough power to expose the corruption. Instead, he fled to Arendt to escape the threats to his life. Aster spoke with a determined face.

“I won’t let her die easily.”

Camilla held his hand, encouraging him.

“Of course. You will be the one to take revenge for your mother.”

“I will repay her in kind.”

Seeing Aster suppress his anger, Camilla smiled.

“Good. Then shall we set the trap?”

When she mentioned that, Aster looked at Camilla.

“How do you plan to do that?”

“Well, first…”

Camilla started stretching as though she was preparing for a big event. After a moment, she spoke with a confident smile.

“First, I plan to make Isabelle nervous enough to make a mistake. She must already be anxious about having killed Sezad without the Duke’s knowledge.”

Camilla’s plan was this: Isabelle, knowing Sezad was suspicious, dealt with him independently to cover her crimes, causing significant damage to Blanche in the process.

If Sezad were alive, he would have been the only one to go to prison. Killing such an important person without the Duke’s knowledge would surely cause a huge uproar.

Aster seemed to understand the plan even before Camilla explained it.

His eyes sharpened as he spoke softly.

“You plan to make it seem like Isabelle knew about the scam and covered it up.”

“Exactly! As expected…”

Camilla smiled brightly, pleased that Aster understood her plan so quickly.

Isabelle had made a huge mistake. She didn’t think deeply about why Sezad wanted the notebook.

Of course, it was also thanks to Helen hiding the exact date Sezad had pinpointed. If she had mentioned that he had requested the notebook on that day, Isabelle might have suspected a collaboration with Camilla.

‘She was so desperate to hide her crimes that she revealed an even bigger weakness.’

If the Duke knew that Isabelle had not only gone ahead with the marriage despite knowing Sezad was suspicious but had also killed him, especially at a time when he was most troubled about finances?

Just thinking about it made Camilla smile broadly.

“No matter how solid an alliance is, one misstep can cause it to collapse uncontrollably.”

Even the most well-built tower can crumble with a strong enough impact. Isabelle was precariously perched on a spire that would collapse with a mere touch. Camilla already made the sign of the cross as if Isabelle had fallen.

“The cracks have already begun. We just need to keep shaking it.”

At Camilla’s words, Aster moved closer. He gently held her hand and said,

“On the contrary, we are becoming more solid.”

“Now that we understand each other’s hearts.”

Aster kissed the back of her hand. His gaze was tender. He whispered a vow,

“No matter what anyone says, I won’t let it shake us.”

“Really?”

“Even if you were to stab me in the back, I’d gladly take it.”

“That’s not allowed. You need to avoid it.”

Camilla’s face hardened as if she had heard something terrible. Aster had a tendency to be blindly devoted to her.

“I’ll take care of myself. Don’t do anything that might harm you.”

“Understood.”

Aster answered readily. Though she doubted he truly understood, she decided to let it go for now. The problem was that Aster could be quite persistent.

“You handle Isabelle. I’ll take care of the Duke…”

As Camilla was explaining, Aster whispered secretly,

“How long will you keep calling me Aster?”

“Ah.”

“You promised to call me Ash when we’re alone.”

Aster protested strongly, as if he had been bothered by it all along. Camilla, a bit dazed, laughed.

She had been so focused on important matters that she had unconsciously called him Aster. She lightly stroked his cheek and asked,

“How did you manage to hold back all this time?”

“I was afraid you’d hate me.”

“And now you’re not afraid I’ll hate you? Huh, Ash?”

She teased him playfully, but Aster seemed unaffected. He said with a serious face,

“Who could hate someone with eyes like yours?”

“What about my eyes?”

When Camilla leaned in and asked, Aster looked at her intently. For a moment, they gazed into each other’s eyes. Then Aster leaned closer and whispered,

“Eyes that want to kiss.”

“No, they don’t.”

“They don’t?”

“No. My eyes see you wanting to kiss, Ash.”

“That’s true.”

Aster agreed and closed the remaining distance.

“Whenever I see you, I want to kiss you.”

With that, Aster pressed his lips to hers. The sound of their lips meeting filled the room softly.

Their lips brushed softly, mixing hot breaths and tender touches. Camilla followed his lead, enjoying the pleasure he gave.

With her arms around his neck, she provoked him,

“To be honest, I feel the same.”

“……”

“I want to kiss you whenever I see you.”

“That’s a problem, Lala.”

Aster frowned as if he was facing an unfair challenge. Though it seemed he was telling her not to provoke him, the reality was different. Aster retaliated with a playful counterattack.

“I thought I was the only one.”

“What?”

“You should act on it, not just think about it.”

‘Was that the problem?’

Camilla finally understood why Aster was dissatisfied. But his retaliation didn’t stop there. He moved closer, teasing her.

“Tell me more. What do you want to do after a kiss, Camilla?”

“Hmm.”

“I…”

As Aster whispered in her ear, Camilla’s face turned red. Now that their feelings were out in the open, his words were bold.

“And I want to fill you up. Like that time…”

Aster murmured as he caressed her flat belly. His large hand on her abdomen brought back memories.

Aster had a stronger libido than she had expected, and if she didn’t intervene, he would go on endlessly.

It was the same on their first night and during their passionate encounters after his confession.

He wouldn’t stop until he left his mark inside her, until her inner walls were sore. The feeling of him bursting inside, his thrusting hands, and the sticky fluid flowing between her legs.

Even in a daze, he had a strange charm that made her cling to him.

“What about you, Camilla? What do you want me to do?”

Aster asked seductively, narrowing his eyes. He knew her answer but waited for her to say it out loud.

“How much more do I have to say before you answer?”

The more he spoke of his desires, the more helpless Camilla felt. She desired him just as much. From the moment they met at the bar, to discovering his true identity, always.

She had no strength to resist his temptation.

‘Ah, he’s really a fox.’

It was always like this. Allowing one thing led to allowing many more. As a child, his innocent face made her want to care for him. As an adult, his seductive face made her want to devour him.

“Where did a man like Ash suddenly come from?”

“I’ll become what you want.”

“There’s no need. You’re perfect as you are, Ash.”

Aster had always been her perfect friend and man. She had no intention of changing or ruling over him.

She had already given him her body and heart.

She loved him enough to reveal her innermost self, to give her life.

Aster blinked and murmured at her response,

“That makes me want to do better.”

“That’s what I meant.”

“Ah.”

Aster smiled as if he had a revelation. Then he changed his expression and pushed her down.

“Then I’ll be myself.”

His clingy, red eyes looked at her. Camilla tried to protest, but it was too late.

Aster lifted her. The items on the table clattered to the floor. Camilla, sitting on the table, kissed Aster.

A deeper, stickier kiss echoed softly in the room. Aster skillfully undressed her. Soon, Camilla was almost n*ked and exclaimed,

“Wait…!”

“It’s no use stopping me.”

With that warning, Camilla couldn’t say another word. Most of her words were swallowed by him or scattered like wind.

Camilla, half-n*ked, surrendered to Aster. She removed his shirt, revealing his muscular body. As her hands slid down his back, his actions became more intense.

“Ah…!”

Aster bit and licked her n*pple, making Camilla moan. His large fingers invaded her mouth.

“Suck.”

At his low command, Camilla kissed his thick fingers. Like a child with a sweet candy, her persistent actions made Aster’s eyes sharp.

Their gazes met. Camilla signaled with her breath. How long would he make her suck his fingers?

Aster lifted her and moved to the sofa. He worried she might get scratched or hurt on the table.

As her back touched the soft sofa, Aster supported her waist and removed the remaining dress.

He admired her n*ked body for a while before placing his hand on her chest.

“So beautiful.”

“Ash?”

“It drives me crazy.”

His hand slid to her navel, then further down to her secret area. He bit his lip and said,

“It might be rough.”

“Finally doing it in rough places?”

“If you want.”

Aster unbuckled his pants and positioned his c*ck. Just the touch made her wet.

Thanks to the f*replay on the table, Camilla was ready to accept Aster. Seeing her wet entrance, Aster chuckled.

“Who could resist this sweetness?”

“Ah!”

When Aster thrust, Camilla held onto the sofa and moaned. The gentlemanly husband who was only fierce in the bedroom was no more.

He whispered softly as he placed his hand in Camilla’s mouth.

“Hold back your voice if you don’t want to get caught.”

“Ugh.”

“I don’t care if we get caught, though.”

“Ash…!”

“I love hearing my name come out of your mouth like a moan.”

With those words, Aster thrust his hips harder. His c*ck pounded into her roughly, while his thick fingers ravaged her mouth.

He didn’t miss a single thing. Camilla licked his fingers as if biting them, while her hand caressed his chest.

When she persistently teased his ar*ola, he groaned. His sweat-soaked body looked incredibly beautiful.

“So pretty.”

“……”

“My Ash.”

When Camilla smiled sweetly, Aster’s reason snapped. He increased his speed even more. At the same time, he pulled his wet fingers out and kneaded her br*asts.

“Smiling like that is cheating.”

“Ash, ah, Ash…!”

“If you do that, I can’t stop.”

Aster murmured lewdly as he licked and sucked every part of Camilla. The room was already filled with a messy, sticky scent.

After ej*culating once, he remained inside her and sat her on his lap. Just by sitting, Camilla bounced up and down aimlessly.

Plop, squelch.

Lewd sounds echoed through the room, shaking her body.

“Ash!”

“Lala… More, more.”

His incessant demands, which she couldn’t even comprehend, kept urging Camilla on. She used all her strength to move her hips and rub her lips against his. The two, who had discarded their cumbersome clothes, continued their lovemaking on the soft carpet and against the cold wall.

When they did it while pressing against the closed window, she really thought they might get caught. Camilla rubbed her face against the window and screamed.

“Ash, no!”

“It’s okay, there’s a curtain.”

Although there was a curtain, it was quite thin, making her uneasy. Of course, it was a double curtain, so they wouldn’t be seen from outside. Perhaps only their silhouette was visible, but at this hour, not many people would see it.

Even if someone did see, they would probably turn a blind eye, thinking it was the sweet rendezvous of a passionate newlywed couple.

“More, more.”

“Ah… stop!”

“No. You’re the one who drove me crazy, Lala.”

“Ah!”

Aster, as if going berserk, dragged Camilla here and there, thrusting into her. The curtain, the sofa, the carpet, and the table were all left with traces of their passion.

The funny thing was that Camilla, despite having the strength to stop him, didn’t and accepted him willingly.

If she truly disliked it, Aster would have stopped, even if it meant his c*ck would burst.

Knowing this well, Camilla didn’t sincerely tell him to stop. If he stopped, she would be the one left wanting.

Camilla murmured in resignation.

“We need to clean this place up.”

“That’s the second thing I’m best at.”

“What’s the first?”

When Camilla asked grumpily, Aster grinned and kissed her. Then he whispered in her ear.

“What we’re doing now.”

He was truly a man who was lewd to his core.

* * *

In the dark hours, the Duke of Blanche headed towards the outer wall of Blanche Castle. By the time he reached his destination, someone was already there.

“It’s been a while, my lord.”

“Still haven’t found them?”

The Duke went straight to the point in response to the Black Shadow leader’s greeting. It had been almost two months since Sezad and Helen went missing.

For the first month, he had been convinced they were on their honeymoon. After that, he bought Sezad’s business, unaware it was a sham, and suffered losses.

He intended to find Sezad, pin all the charges on him, and throw him in jail. But so far, the Black Shadow hadn’t even found a strand of Sezad’s hair.

“I apologize.”

“Ha! Despite all the support, you still haven’t found them. You must have gotten lax, Marco.”

“It’s not that. We discovered something suspicious during the search.”

“Something suspicious?”

“Yes… Right after the cruise left Apelli, one of our men, under the Duchess’s orders, followed them. The target was Sezad Vaikan.”