Elliope let out a soft gasp, her body instinctively tensing. 

Her eyes darted around as a slight chill ran through her. She recognised this place – it was the corridor near Theodor’s office. 

“San…” 

She started to speak but stopped abruptly, the words catching in her throat as shock washed over her. 

Kallian had lifted her dress and slipped underneath. 

She felt the warmth of his breath on her legs, moving slowly from her calves to her thighs. 

“……!” 

His lips traced a deliberate path along her thigh, gliding higher and higher until they reached her most intimate spot.

The crisp sound of the petticoat being carelessly pushed up filled the air. She felt Kallian’s warm breath right against the thin fabric of her underwear.

And then, as she felt the soft heat pressing against her through the delicate undergarment, Elliope jumped as if struck by lightning.

“Wait, wait a minute.”

A tingling sensation crept up her spine, sending shivers through her body. In the next instant, she caught sight of the head attendant walking down the distant corridor.

“Don’t… don’t do that.”

Unconsciously, she stepped back, only for the cold glass of the window behind her to press against her wings, sending a brief shiver down her skin.

Low bushes were planted outside the window. If anyone was watching, they would surely see her, restless and uncomfortable as she looked out.

“Kallian!”

Instead of responding, Kallian pressed his head against her thigh like a child seeking affection. Even in this nervous situation, Elliope couldn’t help but notice how much he resembled a whining puppy begging for attention – and she immediately scolded herself for thinking such a thing.

This is not the time.

And this was certainly not the place – right in the corridor of the palace, near the Grand Duke’s office. A place where servants often passed and knights took turns standing guard. Hadn’t the head guard just passed by?

“What if… someone sees us…?”

She forced her legs together as she pushed Kallian away. Her heart pounded at the thought that a servant might walk down the corridor at any moment.

If the two of them were caught like this, Theodor would surely find out.

And no doubt Theodor would take it as a challenge.

She didn’t want to provoke a man who was already inclined to treat Kallian unfairly. Kallian had already taken enough risks.

So this shouldn’t go any further…

But instead of responding, Kallian suddenly stood and pushed her further into the alcove before quickly pulling down the curtain that separated them from the corridor. 

In an instant, his deep blue eyes darkened, filled with intensity and quiet restraint. 

“I only did this so you could see it more clearly.” 

At his words, Elliope’s lips parted involuntarily. 

Still dazed, she barely had time to react before Kallian lowered his face and gently caught her lower lip between his teeth. 

However, as if something was bothering him, his eyebrows furrowed slightly.

“Isn’t that allowed?”

“Of course…”

Unintentionally, she stammered in reply, and the next moment Kallian let out a soft breath before lowering himself to press his face against her collarbone.

His action, like a large dog whimpering and pleading, made Elliope’s body stiffen and tremble.

The soft but persistent whimper that brushed against her ear sent a shiver through the fine hairs around it.

“I’ll only use my mouth.”

“…….”

“Is that still not allowed?”

It was one shocking comment after another.

Just as she was about to say no, Kallian lifted his head and planted a kiss on her chin, making an unmistakably suggestive noise.

“Mm…”

Even as Elliope writhed in confusion, Kallian’s hands moved naturally, holding and caressing her waist and back without hesitation.

A low growl escaped between their barely parted lips.

“This makes me angry.”

“…….”

“I really should just gouge his eyes out.”

His voice was cold and sharp, with an unmistakable edge of anger.

Elliope forgot what to say as she felt the searing heat pressing against her body. Once again, Kallian rubbed his face against her collarbone.

“So he can’t look at you like that anymore.”

The moment she heard those words, a wave of emotion hit her chest.

He was the one acting loving, but somehow it felt like she was the one clinging to him instead. 

The truth was that she despised him just as much. 

Every time Theodor’s eyes roamed shamelessly over her body, it felt like insects crawling over her skin. More than once she had to resist the urge to drive a steak knife into the back of his hand as it lay on the table. 

And when he had casually suggested that she become one of his concubines, she had wanted nothing more than to cut his tongue in two.

And when he looked at her as if she were nothing more than a ruined woman – discarded and worthless – she felt an overwhelming urge to gouge out his vile eyes. 

She wanted to pick up everything within reach and hurl it at the Imperial envoy who had nodded so easily to Theodor’s words. 

She wanted to curse the old emperor, to wish for him to collapse and die on the spot. 

She wanted to scream that she didn’t care about this damned empire or this wretched duchy – before finally sinking under the crushing weight of it all.

When she had been a quiet and reserved lady – when she had merely leaned against the walls of her chamber – she had never imagined feeling such intense anger. 

But in the end, she had no choice but to swallow these emotions. 

And so, as the rage that had always been directed inward rather than outward began to tear at her from within, Kallian whispered to her. 

Just as the pain in her stomach flared up again from the overwhelming emotions, a large hand reached out and pulled her into a firm embrace, as if to soothe her.

“…Haah.”

A deep sigh escaped Elliope’s lips before she even noticed.

With his head buried between her br*asts, Kallian lifted only his eyes to look at her.

“Still not allowed?”

“…….”

She couldn’t find the words to answer. Heat kept rising from deep inside her.

A part of her wanted to tell him to take her right here and now.

“Elliope.”

“No, we can’t.”

She was really afraid that if anyone saw them, Theodor would retaliate.

Not against her, but against Kallian.

At her answer, sparks flickered in Kallian’s eyes. Then he whispered in her ear, almost spitting the words out.

“I want to see your face contorted with pleasure because of me.”

“I…”

“I want to see you getting wet because of me.”

“I want to see you crying with pleasure down there, to see you so desperate that you lose your mind because of me.”

It was something Elliope had never expected to hear from Kallian.

“Don’t say things like that.”

She couldn’t bring herself to say more and just stared at him. At that moment, her lips parted slightly in surprise.

“Mm—”

Kallian seized the opening at once, capturing her lips without hesitation.

This time Elliope didn’t pull away.

Her breath and saliva mingled and her thoughts stopped altogether. The place where Kallian gripped her waist tightly burned with searing heat.

When he finally pulled away, Kallian let out a small sigh.

“This is your fault.”

“…….”

“You keep making me like this.”

Elliope didn’t answer, just stood there, dazed, feeling Kallian’s lingering warmth.

“You’re pushing me away with that face.”

Still leaning against her, Kallian finally straightened before turning away and walking away.

“Kallian.”

There was no answer.

***

Left alone, Theodor stormed out of the dining room and wandered through the garden, lost in thought.

Although it was called a garden, there were only a few conifers left at this time of year, creating a bleak and desolate atmosphere. But Theodor had never come to the garden to admire the beauty of the trees or the flowers.

Whenever he wandered into the garden, it was usually because he was tired of the dull gatherings and wanted to slip away among the bushes with a woman. 

He never cared what kind of trees or flowers adorned the place. What mattered to him was the softness of the bodies of the women he tumbled with, and how completely they held him. 

And lately, there was one woman who kept his mind busy. 

“Acting all high and mighty for no reason.” 

Theodor frowned, remembering the cold, unyielding look she had given him. 

The real problem was that he found himself even more attracted to that icy stare.

“Once should be enough.”

Theodor knew himself well.

‘Just once. If I have her just once…’

He would tire of her after that. After all, he had never stayed interested in a lover or a mistress for long.

There was a limit to the physical pleasure a woman could give, and once he had reached that point it was easy to replace her – no one dared to question him. 

He had practically been born the little king of this duchy, and his whole life had been one of unchecked privilege. 

‘Should I just take her by force?’ 

The thought briefly crossed his mind, but he quickly dismissed it, remembering the inevitable uproar his vassals would cause. The idea suddenly seemed more inconvenient than tempting. 

His vassals rarely interfered in his personal affairs, but when it came to Kallian, they became overly cautious and sensitive.

It was probably because the Duchy’s current power rested heavily on the military strength commanded by Kallian. 

“I thought I was raising a dog, but it turned out I was raising a wolf pup.” 

Though the situation would eventually work to his advantage, for the moment Theodor saw Kallian as nothing more than an annoying subordinate – one who stubbornly refused to hand over the woman Theodor desperately wanted, if only once. 

“She is my wife, Your Grace.” 

“Not as someone else’s concubine, but as my wife.” 

At that moment, Theodor had almost lost control, his anger rising to the point where he almost threw his utensils at Kallian. 

The only thing keeping him in check was the presence of the Emperor’s envoy sitting before them.

He refused to display such disgraceful behaviour before the Imperial Court.

“Cap!”

He cursed under his breath as he walked on.

As he wandered aimlessly, he caught sight of red hair in the distance.

‘A woman?’

The redhead stood motionless, seemingly fixated on something.

As he got closer, he finally realised that she was one of the guests who had arrived with the princess’s entourage.

“Your Grace.”

When the woman finally noticed Theodor’s approach, she immediately flashed a dazzling smile.

Looking down at that smile, Theodor’s gaze remained indifferent and uninterested. True, she was more glamorous than most women, but that was all.

“I happened to catch a rather interesting sight.”

The woman whispered as she gracefully linked her arm with Theodor’s.

And the moment his eyes followed the direction she led him, he saw it.

“…….”

Beyond the window came into view the very princess who had been disturbing his thoughts all this time.

“Elliope Kartan.”

Her flushed expression was overly provocative, almost shocking.

Theodor felt heat rising in his lower body.

And at that moment, Kallian emerged from beneath the woman and planted a kiss on Elliope’s lips.

The sight of it sent a wave of rage through him, turning his vision pitch black with fury.

Right now, someone like Kallian Icerick… in front of him… dared to claim his wife…?!

At that moment, Theodor clenched his fist tightly.

A small voice whispered beside him.

“Your Grace, it seems we share the same goal.”

“…….”

The rich scent of roses filled the air. The red-haired woman smiled at him.

“Would you like to join hands with me?”