Chapter 3: Thorny Path (Part 6)

Before the marriage discussions with the Loden family arose, she wasn’t mentally prepared, so she postponed it. After the marriage talks began, Duke Dveshi prevented her from doing anything for the Loden family.

Even though she had briefly learned from books, she was bound to be clumsy.

If they found out she was inexperienced, they might mock the Dveshi family for not providing basic education.

Not wanting to disgrace her family, Sophia had to assert herself confidently.

“Even if I learned from a tutor, I have no real experience with men, so you might feel that way. But I won’t be bad at it.”

At that moment, Killian’s lips curled slightly. In the blink of an eye, he was beside her. With a slightly tilted head, captivating eyes, and long, thick eyelashes, he exuded a decadent aura.

Feeling like she might get lost in his burning gaze, Sophia quickly turned her head. He then held her chin and made her meet his gaze again.

“Can you guarantee it?”

“Yes, I can guarantee it.”

Sophia’s eyes trembled with anxiety.

“Then I must check how prepared your body is. So, I’ll retract my earlier statement about ending with just a kiss.”

“What do you mean…?”

Wasn’t he famous for not showing interest in women?

Despite her fear, Sophia could confidently respond because she had heard the rumor that Killian didn’t pay attention to women.

He had many nicknames, such as the Knight of Ice and the Knight of Temptation, but he was also known as the Knight of Abstinence.

So, Sophia was caught off guard by Killian’s behavior.

“Didn’t you just say so yourself that you wouldn’t be bad at it? I intend to verify if that’s true. Is there a problem?”

“N-No.”

Having already spoken, Sophia couldn’t think of a reb*ttal. So, she carefully observed Killian’s face, trying to find an excuse.

However, when she saw the desire in his eyes, she realized it would be useless to make excuses. She never thought even a cold-hearted person would have such l*st.

When she investigated him, she had heard that despite his popularity, he only had eyes for one woman and ignored others. But now, it seemed that information was wrong.

While she was lost in thought, Killian, who had been holding her chin, suddenly used his thumb to pull down her lower lip. Tilting his face slightly, he brought his lips to hers.

Feeling his hot breath and seeing the languid smile on his lips, Sophia couldn’t refuse and closed her eyes.

The hot flesh that slipped into her open mouth roamed around like an intruder, roughly exploring every corner.

Even as she tried to push him away, the refreshing scent that came through her breath made her body feel languid. The kiss deepened, as if to swallow everything, strongly stirring Sophia’s tongue, and only when she was short of breath did their lips part.

As she exhaled heavily, his lips moved downward, and his hot breath scattered over her neck.

“Ugh!”

A strange sensation that was both ticklish and made her lower abdomen throb arose. Her body trembled, and as she tried to push Killian away by placing her hand on his firm chest, he instead wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer.

“Eek!”

Before her scream could stop, the hand that had been around her waist slid down her hip and lifted her long skirt. Killian’s hand was cold, and when it touched her leg, her body flinched.

Having never been touched by another’s hand there, fear surged within her.

Though she wanted to ask why he was touching her there, she had to swallow those words because of what she had already said.

Standing in an unstable position, she had to hold onto Killian’s clothes to stay upright.

His hand slowly moved from her leg to her thigh. The tickling motion made Sophia’s body tremble slightly.

His touch gradually became bolder.

The moment his cold fingers slipped between her parted legs, she felt her breath catch. She tried to push him away by kicking her legs, but his hand showed no sign of stopping.

Instead, it pried deeper inside and began to stir. Her inner walls tightened around the sudden intruder.

“Ugh, ugh.”

She tried to hold back, but a small moan escaped Sophia’s lips against her will. Her breathing also began to grow heavier.

However, she didn’t know how to react. Feeling pl*asure from his touch was shameful, and acting like a stone would reveal that she hadn’t learned proper s*x education.

Her mind was a mess, scattered in confusion. Trying to suppress the strange emotions, Sophia bit her lower lip hard.

Should I just be honest and tell him to stop?

But when she met Killian’s eyes, they were so terrifying that she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

Instead, she shook her head from side to side, trying to deny the unfamiliar sensations, but as the pl*asure slowly rose, her body heated up, and the intimate area began to get wet. Killian’s lips curled up slowly.

“Ah!”

Even though she was doing something absurd with a man she didn’t like, her body was betraying her by getting ar*used, which was utterly embarrassing. 

Why was I getting wet so easily?

Sophia had to cover her face with her hands. If she couldn’t stop the act, she had to at least hide her eyes.

“Oh, you’re not lying.”

But hearing Killian’s low voice in her ear made Sophia’s face flush with humiliation.

“Now that you know, s-stop.”

She did feel tempted to let him touch her more, but the shame was greater, so she hoped Killian would withdraw his hand.

“Not yet.”

But Killian’s hand showed no sign of stopping. Slowly and steadily, he began to stretch her inner walls.

His touch was persistent and thorough, as if determined to explore every inch.

“It’s stretching quite well.”

As the number of fingers entering her increased, Killian looked quite satisfied.

“S-stop it. It’s enough now, isn’t it? You don’t even like touching my body. Ugh!”

Avoiding his gaze, Sophia looked at Killian with pleading eyes. As he continued to stir inside, obsc*ne sounds echoed throughout the room.

“I’ve never felt displ*asure. On the contrary, I enjoy it. Don’t you?”

“No, not really.”

Her face was already flushed red, so she knew her lie wouldn’t work, but Sophia lied anyway.

At that moment, Killian’s eyes sharpened. Meeting his gaze, which seemed to see through everything, made her feel breathless.

Holding her breath, she waited for his words.

“I see.”

Fortunately, he stopped moving immediately, letting her lie slide even though he knew.

Sophia felt the urge to grab his hand and ask him to continue, but she held back.

As his fingers withdrew, the sticky fl*id coated Killian’s hand. Feeling it was dirty, he licked it with his tongue.

“Sweet.”

He’s crazy.

Sophia thought Killian was telling an unbelievable lie. Anyone could see it didn’t look tasty, yet he said it was sweet!

The sticky fl*id dripping from her intimate area ran down her legs, but she had no time to wipe it off. Adjusting her clothes, Sophia glared at Killian.

“Now that you’ve checked, don’t touch me without permission again.”

“Is it alright if I have your permission?”

“Yes, if you can get my permission.”

Knowing she would never allow a kiss or anything beyond that, Sophia answered as if doing him a favor.

“Understood. Since it might be uncomfortable today, I’ll sleep in the study. I hope you have a peaceful time.”

With that, Killian stepped back. As if he hadn’t just done something lewd, he left the room with an unruffled demeanor.

Once the door closed, Sophia’s tense body relaxed. She sank to the floor with a sigh of relief escaping her lips.

Will we continue to sleep separately?

Though the word “today” bothered her a bit, she thought she might have misheard it. She got up, cleaned the wet area, and threw herself onto the wide bed. Her back bounced and sank into the soft blanket.

He won’t touch me again, right?

Sophia hoped Killian would be a man who practiced what he preached. Otherwise, she would have to live in tension for the next year they were together.

***

“Good morning. It’s a nice day for a walk outside; would you like to stroll in the garden this afternoon if you have time?”

Sophia, with sleepy eyes, greeted the Duchess of Loden early in the morning. She suggested a walk, knowing it would be declined, as a matter of courtesy.

“….”

No matter how politely she greeted, there was no response. The Duchess just looked Sophia up and down and then got up and left the room.

Left alone in the room without the Duchess, Sophia rubbed her sleepy eyes to alleviate the awkwardness.

If you’re going to ignore me, why make me greet you early in the morning!

Pouting, Sophia left the room and headed back to her bedroom, where she lay down on the bed again. With no one to bother her except for the morning greetings, she could sleep comfortably.