“……”

Was it the sudden question that made her tense? Her entire body froze stiff.

How should she answer? Could she be honest? Part of her wanted to tell him everything and ask for help.

But he wasn’t simply a kind person. He rarely revealed his inner thoughts, making it impossible to understand his intentions behind this question.

It was too risky to speak carelessly about something so vital to Vivianne’s survival.

“That was a stupid question. You couldn’t possibly answer it anyway.”

A low, bitter laugh broke the momentary silence.

Vivianne’s hesitant lips moved silently.

“Vivianne. You only know your name, right?”

“……”

Just like he asserted, the words caught in her throat. Or perhaps she still couldn’t trust him. While wanting him to trust her, she couldn’t bring herself to trust him either.

It was upsetting, but true.

Her hand trembled in his grip.

“Anyway, why are you here at this hour?”

“I baked cookies with Matilda. I w-wanted to give them to K-Kian.”

His sharp questioning continued.

She hadn’t done anything wrong, but fear made her stutter.

“They’re f-food, so to enjoy them at their b-best… I thought I should deliver them quickly. I’m sorry if I woke you. And for coming to your office earlier… without permission.”

Looking at his empty gaze made her anxious, compelling her to keep talking until he responded.

He glanced at the cookie package and card on the side table, then fixed his gaze back on Vivianne’s face.

“You’re always sorry about so many things. And always wanting to give me things.”

Pathetically, even as she heard this, she nearly apologized again. Vivianne bit her lower lip hard with self-loathing.

Without such gestures, she felt she couldn’t reach this man at all.

She could never predict his actions, and for unknown reasons, he would suddenly become distant like this.

That’s all there was to it.

“Wildflowers in the newspaper… and now cookies.”

One corner of his mouth twisted. It was clearly a sneer.

“Vivi. Shall I guess why you keep doing these pointless things?”

Pointless things. The knife-like words stabbed her heart. Her chest ached.

“It’s because you’re anxious, isn’t it?”

His words hurt not just because they were sharp, but because they were accurate. Creating opportunities to see his face.

Using these gifts as an excuse to gauge his reaction and reassure herself.

Despite him working, despite the late hour, she had manufactured reasons to seek him out because she was indeed anxious.

“If you’re anxious, Vivi, you don’t need these things. You just need to fulfill your role.”

“…My role?”

Instead of answering, Kian rose and lifted Vivianne. He sat her on his neatly arranged desk and trapped her between his strong arms.

When he tried to kiss her, Vivianne pushed against his collarbone and turned her head away.

“Why are you avoiding me?”

“Because…”

His cold voice made her throat tighten, but she felt she had to speak now or never.

“Kian doesn’t… want a baby. That’s why you gave me that chocolate…”

She tried not to cry, but her voice kept breaking.

“Blood runs thicker than water, I suppose. Neither of my parents ever wanted me.”

She knew, but hoped he would deny it. Hoped it was a misunderstanding, or that there was some explanation.

But Kian readily admitted his guilt.

Tears flowed endlessly down her cheeks. Kian made no move to wipe them away. He merely watched, seemingly observing how they pooled and fell.

“You may not have heard, but my birth mother was a maid. My father took this woman who had nothing, as he pleased. I was born because that bastard didn’t care whether she got pregnant or not.”

Despite her tears, Vivianne looked straight into his eyes. Even while speaking about his own parents, he seemed detached, talking about them like strangers.

“Do you know what my birth mother was like? She actually told my so-called father, and his reaction was absurd. So she tried everything to get rid of me while I was still in her womb. But I clung to her like a leech. So she had no choice but to give birth to me. I was born only because she had no other option.”

She had heard that Kian was born to a maid, but never knew these intimate details. He seemed indifferent, but somehow his calm expression and tone made it all the more heartbreaking.

…Her heart softened, but still.

This needed to be clear.

“Then why… are you trying to touch me? Am I really just Kian’s…”

…toy?

That’s what she wanted to ask.

But trying to say those words aloud brought a tide of sorrow. Consumed by sobs, she couldn’t continue.

“You want to have a child, don’t you?”

“But Kian…you said you don’t.”

“I changed my mind. That’s better, isn’t it? Since there’s someone who wants it.”

Again, he muttered indifferently, like he was merely discussing someone else’s affairs.

Making it clear that only Vivianne wanted a child.

Vivianne felt the blood drain from her body.

“To be precise, no, I don’t want a child. What I really want is for you to carry my child.”

“What does…hic…that mean?”

Vivianne momentarily doubted her ears. She couldn’t believe it. It was such a bizarre sophism that she couldn’t comprehend it at once.

“I want to see with my own eyes your belly growing round with my child inside.”

Kian murmured, pressing his body against hers.

“…Yes. Then I won’t need to ask who you are.”

Because all his delusions would be proven false.

No, it wouldn’t even take pregnancy to confirm. That was just the final step of verification. He could find out right here by taking this woman.

Unless she wasn’t human, she couldn’t embrace him and stay dry.

After spreading those slender legs and penetrating her, after thrusting his c*ck inside her, roughly handling her, breathing heavily, and ej*culating… he felt he could evaporate all those useless delusions connecting her to a mermaid.

He kissed Vivianne, who kept her head bowed, silently dropping tears.

Her pale face looked bloodless even in the darkness. She was unresponsive, like kissing a marble statue.

Her stillness made Kian’s mood even fouler.

“This is getting boring. Damn it.”

His usually smooth brow contorted, and the hand gripping her chin tightened. Her tear-soaked, disheveled face trembled as he forced her to meet his gaze.

“When I kiss you, you should open your mouth, Vivi.”

“Hic, huu…”

“I’ve taught you this many times. Did you forget so quickly after a few days of leniency?”

Vivianne looked at Kian, trembling like a rain-soaked bird.

Her gaze was slack, like something inside her had broken.

It was the same look she had when she woke after overdosing on contraceptives.

“I guess I’ve been too indulgent with your whims.”

She was terrified, not knowing what he might do in this state.

“Right, Vivi?”

Her closed knees were forced apart by his hand, and he pressed himself against the desk to prevent her from closing her legs again. Before she could move away, his upper body slowly leaned forward.

“You seem to have forgotten your role in this house. Let me personally remind you.”

The mahogany desk against her back felt ice-cold. Before she realized it, he had grabbed both her wrists, caging her body between his arms.

Binding her fragile body with his large frame, he whispered in her ear.

“Your role is to eat only what I give you in my room, wear the clothes I buy you, and wait obediently for the sound of my footsteps.”

She was already doing that. Waiting in the comfortable trap he provided, anticipating when he would offer the bait of affection, waiting only for his arrival.

He knew all along.

He knew and still did this.

That made her feel even more miserable and sorrowful.

“And when I kiss you, you open your mouth. Understood?”

Kian grabbed her chin again with one hand. When he pressed his thumb firmly against her lower lip, her mouth opened involuntarily, and his thick finger invaded, probing the tender membranes inside.

“You want to get pregnant, right? Just undress when told, suck when told. What’s the problem? I’ll f*ck you so you can have a baby.”

As her reddened eyes became hopelessly wet, he removed his finger and pressed his lips against hers.